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DIARY^AXND CTJRRE5PO^TJEmrE~

OF

amuel

ESQ., F.R.S.
FROM HIS MS. CYPHER IN THE PEPYSIAN
LIBRARY, WITH A LIFE AND
NOTES BY
RICHARD LORD BRAYBROOKE.
DECIPHERED, WITH ADDITIONAL
NOTES, BY
REV. MYNORS BRIGHT, M.A.,
SENIOR FELLOW OF. MAGDALENE COLLEGE,
CAMBRIDGE.
WITH NUMEROUS PORTRAITS FROM THE COLLECTION
IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY, PRINTED IN
PERMANENT WOODBURYTYPE.

10*1

VOL. IV.

LONDON:
BICKERS AND SON, I, LEICESTER SQUARE.
1877.

Fold out

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.

July ist (Sunday), 1666.
P betimes, and to the office receiving
letters, two or three one after another
from Sir W.' Coventry, and sent as
many to him, being full of variety of
business and hurry, but among the
chiefest is the getting of these pressed men out of
the City down the river to the fleete. While I was
hard at it comes Sir W. Pen to towne, which I little
expected, having invited my Lady and her daughter
Pegg to dine with me to-day; which at noon they
did, and Sir W. Pen with them : and pretty merry
we were. And though I do not love him, yet I find
it necessary to keep in with him ; his good service
at Shearnesse in getting out the fleete being much
taken notice of, and reported to the King and Duke,
even from the Prince and Duke of Albemarle them
selves, and made the most of to me and them by Sir
W. Coventry : therefore I think it discretion, great
and necessary discretion, to keep in with him. To
the Tower several times, about the business of the
pressed men, and late at it till twelve at night,
shipping of them. But, Lord! how some poor

2 DIARY OF July 2
women did cry ; and in my life I never did see such
natural expression of passion as I did here in some
women's bewailing themselves, and running to every
parcel of men that were brought, one after another,
to look for their husbands, and wept over every
vessel that went off, thinking they might be there,
and looking after the ship as far as ever they could
by moone-light, that it grieved me to the heart to
hear them. Besides, to see poor patient labouring
men and housekeepers, leaving poor wives and fami
lies, taken up on a sudden by strangers, was very
hard, and that without press-money, but forced
against all law to be gone. It is a great tyranny.
2nd. Up betimes, and forced to go to my Lord
Mayor's, about the business of the pressed men ;
and indeed I find him a mean man of understand
ing and dispatch of any publique business. Thence
out of curiosity to Bridewell to see the pressed men,
where there are about 300 ; but so unruly that I
durst not go among them : and they have reason to
be so, having been kept these three days prisoners,
with little or no victuals, and pressed out, and,
contrary to all course of law, without press-money,
and men that are not liable to it. Here I met with
prating Colonel Cox, one of the City collonells,
heretofore a great presbyter : but to hear how the
fellow did commend himself, and the service he do
the King ; and, like an asse, at Paul's did take me
out of my way on purpose to show me the gate,
(the little north gate) where he had two men shot
close by him on each hand, and his own hair burnt
by a bullet-shot in the insurrection of Venner, and
himself escaped. To dinner, and thence to the
Excise _ office by appointment to meet my Lord
Bellassis and the Commissioners, which we did and
soon dispatched, and so I home, and there was called
by Pegg Pen to her house, where her father and

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 3
mother, and Mrs. Norton, the second Roxalana,1 a
fine woman, indifferent handsome, good body and
hand, and good mine,8 and pretends to sing, but do it
not excellently. However I took pleasure there,
and my wife was sent for. Thence weary of losing
so much time I to the office, and thence presently
down to Deptford ; but to see what a consternation
there is upon the water by reason of this great press,
that nothing is able to get a waterman to appear almost.
I found one of the vessels loaden with the Bridewell
birds in a great mutiny, and they would not sail, not
they ; but with good words, and cajoling the ring
leader into the Tower, (where, when he was come,
he was clapped up in the hole,) they were got very
quietly ; but I think it is much if they do not run
the vessel on ground. But away they went, and I
to the Lieutenant of the Tower, and having talked
with him a little, then home to supper very late and
to bed weary.
3rd. To my Lord Treasurer's to have met my
Lord Bellassis and Commissioners of Excise, but
they did not meet, my Lord being abroad. How
ever Mr. Finch, one of the Commissioners, I met
there, and he and I walked two houres together in
the garden, talking of many things ; sometimes of Mr.
Povy, whose vanity, prodigality, neglect of his busi
ness, and committing to unfit hands hath undone him
and outed him of all his publique employments, and
the thing set on foot by an accidental revival of a busi
ness, wherein he had three or four years ago, by sur
prize, got the Duke of York to sign to the having a
sum of money paid out of the Excise, before some
that was due to him, and now the money is fallen
short, and the Duke never likely to be paid. This
1 The first having been Mrs. Davenport.
2 The old orthography for mien, countenance. See Nares'
Glossary. (M. B.-)

4 DIARY OF J^y 4
being revived hath undone Povy. Then we fell
to discourse of the Parliament, and the great men
there: and among others, Mr. Vaughan,1 whom
he reports as a, man of excellent judgement and
learning, but most passionate and opiniastre. He
had done himself the most wrong (though he values
it not), that is, the displeasure of the King in his
standing so long against the breaking of the Act for
a triennial parliament ; but yet do believe him to be
a most loyall gentleman. He told me Mr. Prin's
character ; that he is a man of mighty labour and
reading and memory, but the worst judge of matters,
or layer together of what he hath read, in the world ;
which I do not, however, believe him in ; that he
believes him very true to the King in his heart, but
can never be reconciled to episcopacy ; that the
House do not lay much weight upon him, or any
thing he says. He told me many fine things, and
so we parted, and I home and hard to work a. while
at the office and till midnight about settling my last
month's accounts, and to my great joy find myself
worth above 5,600/., for which the Lord's name be
praised! So with my heart full of content to bed.
Newes came yesterday from Harwich, that the Dutch
had appeared upon our coast with their fleete, and
we believe did go to the Gun-fleete, and they are
supposed to be there now ; but I have heard nothing
of them to-day. Yesterday Dr. Whistler, at Sir W.
Pen's, told me that Alexander Broome,2 the great
song-maker, is lately dead.
4th. Visited very betimes by Mr. Shepley. I out
and walked along with him as far as Fleet Streete
it being a fast day, the usual fast for the plague, and
few coaches to be had. Thanks be to God' the
1 See 28th March, 1664.
2 He died 30th June, 1666, and was buried, by his own desire
under Lincoln's Inn Chapel, by the side of Prynne. '

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 5
plague is, as I hear, encreased but two this week ;
but in the country in several places it rages mightily, .
and particularly in Colchester, where it hath long
been, and is believed will quite depopulate the place.
With the Duke, all of us, among other things, dis
coursing about the places where to build ten great
ships ; the King and Council have resolved on none
to be under third-rates ; but it is impossible to do it,
unless we have more money towards the doing it
than yet we have in any view. But, however, the show
must be made to the world. Thence to my Lord
Bellassis to take my leave of him, he being going
down to the North to look after the Militia there,
for fear of an invasion. Thence home, and dined
and to the office, where busy all day, and in the
evening Sir W. Pen came to me, and we walked to
gether, and talked of the late fight. I find him very
plain, that the whole conduct of the last fight was
ill ; that two-thirds of the commanders of the whole
fleete have told him so : they all saying, that they
durst not oppose it at the Council of War, for fear of
being called cowards, though it was wholly against
their judgement to fight that day with the dispropor
tion of force, and then we not being able to use one
gun of our lower tier, which was a greater dispropor
tion than the other. Besides, we might very well
have staid in the Downs without fighting, or any
where else, till the Prince could have come up to
them ; or at least till the weather was fair, that we
might have the benefit of our whole force in the
ships that we had. He says three things must be
remedied, or else we shall be undone by this fleete.
1. That we must fight in a line, whereas we fight
promiscuously, to our utter and demonstrable ruine ;
the Dutch fighting otherwise ; and we, whenever we
beat them. 2. We must not desert ships of our
own in distress, as we did, for that makes a captain

6 DIARY OF July 5
desperate, and he will fling away his ship, when
there are no hopes left him of succour. 3. That
ships, when they are a little shattered, must not take
the liberty to come in of themselves, but refit them
selves the best they can, and stay out — many of our
ships coming in with very small disablenesses. He
told me that our very commanders, nay, our very
flag-officers, do stand in need of exercising among
themselves, and discoursing the business of com
manding a fleete ; he telling me that even one of our
flag-men in the fleete did not know which tacke lost
the wind, or which kept it, in this last engagement.
He says it was pure dismaying and fear that made
them all run upon the Galloper, not having their
wits about them; and that it was a miracle they
were not all lost. He much inveighs upon my dis
coursing of Sir John Lawson's saying heretofore,
that sixty sail would do as much as one hundred ;
and says that he was a man of no counsel at all, but
had got the confidence to say as the gallants did,
and did propose to himself to make himself great
by them, and saying as they did ; but was no man
of judgement in his business, but hath been out in
the greatest points that have come before them.
And then in the business of fore-castles, which he
did oppose, all the world sees now the use of them
for shelter of men. He did talk very rationally to
me, insomuch that I took more pleasure this night
in hearing him discourse, than I ever did in my life
in any thing that he said.
5th. At noon dined and Mr. Shepley with me,
who came to towne the other day. I lent him 30/!
in silver upon 30 pieces in gold. But to see how apt
every body is to neglect old kindnesses! I must
charge myself with the ingratitude of being unwilling-
to lend him so much money without some pawne if
he should have asked it, but he did not aske it poor

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 7
man, and so no harm done. After dinner to Lum-
bard Streete about money, and then to my office till
late, and then a song with my wife and Mercer in
the garden, and so with great content to bed.
6th. To Lumbard Stfeete, in preparation for my
having some good sum in my hands, for fear of a
trouble in the State, that I may not have all I have
in the world out of my hands and so be left a beggar.
So to the Tower, about shipping 6f some more
pressed men, and that done, away to Broad Streete,
to Sir G. Carteret, who is at a pay of tickets all
alone, and I believe not less than one thousand
people in the streets. But it is a pretty thing to
observe that both there and every where else, a
man shall see many women now-a-days of mean
sort in the streets, but no men ; men being so afeard
of the press. I dined with Sir G. Carteret, and
after dinner had much discourse about our publique
business ; and he do seem to fear every day more
and more what I do ; which is, a general confusion
in the State ; plainly answering me to the question,
who is it that the weight of the warr depends upon ?
that it is only Sir W. Coventry. He tells me,
too, the Duke of Albemarle is dissatisfied, and that
the Duchesse do curse Coventry as the man that
betrayed her husband to the sea : though I believe
that it is not so. Thence to Lumbard Streete, and
received 2,000/., and carried it home : whereof 1,000/.
in gold. The greatest quantity not only that I ever
had of gold, but that ever I saw together and is not
much above half a ioolb. bag full, but is much
weightier. This I do for security sake, and con
venience of carriage ; though it costs me above 70/.
the change of it, at i8%d. per piece. Being at home,
I there met with a letter from Bab Allen,1 to invite
1 Mrs. Knipp. See Jan. 5, 1665-6, ante.

8 DIARY OF Julys
me to be god-father to her boy, with Mrs. Williams,
which I consented to, but know not the time when it
is to be. At night a song in the garden and to bed.
7th. Dined at home and Creed with me, he tells
me he finds all things mighty dull at Court; and
that they now begin to lie long in bed ; it being, as
we suppose, not seemly for them to be found playing
and gaming as they used to be ; nor that their minds
are at ease enough to follow those sports, and yet
not knowing how to employ themselves, (though
there be work enough for their thoughts and councils
and pains,) they keep long in bed. But he thinks
with me, that there is nothing in the world can
helpe us but the King's personal looking after his
business and his officers, and that with that we may
yet do well ; but otherwise must be undone : nobody
at this day taking care of any thing, nor hath any
body to call him to account for it. At night into the
garden to my wife and Lady Pen and Pegg. My
Lady Pen did give us a tarte and other things and
so broke up late and I to bed. It proved the hottest
night that ever I was in in my life, and thundered
and lightened all night long and rained hard. But,
Lord ! to see in what fear I lay a good while, hear
ing of a little noise of somebody walking in the
house : so rung the bell, and it was my mayds going
to bed about one o'clock in the morning. But the
fear of being robbed, having so much money in the
house, was very great, and is still so, and do much
disquiet me.
8th. (Lord's day.) To church, wife and Mercer
and I, in expectation of hearing some mighty
preacher to-day, Mrs. Mary Batelier sending us word
so ; but it proved our ordinary silly lecturer, which
made me merry, and she laughed upon us to see
her mistake. I expected to have had newes sent
me of Knipp's christening to-day; but, hearing

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 9
nothing of it, I did not go, though I fear it is but
their forgetfulness and so I may disappoint them.
To church, after dinner, again, a thing I have not
done a good while before, go twice in one day.
After church with my wife and Mercer and Tom by
water through bridge to the Spring Garden at Fox
Hall, and thence down to Deptford and there did a
little business, and so back again and to bed.
9th. To Sir G. Downing's, but missed of him.
After dinner to my office, where busy till come to
by Lovett and his wife, who have brought me some
sheets of paper varnished on one side, which lies
very white and smooth and, I think, will do our
business most exactly, and will come up to the use
that I intended them for, and I am apt to believe
will be an invention that will take in the world. I
have made up a little book of it to give Sir W.
Coventry to-morrow, and am very well pleased with
it. Home with them, and there find my aunt Wight
with my wife come to take her leave of her, being
going for the summer into the country; and there
was also Mrs. Mary Batelier and her sister, newly
come out of France, a black, very black woman, but
mighty good-natured people both, as ever I saw.
Here I made the black one sing a French song,
which she did mighty innocently ; and then Mrs.
Lovett play on the lute, which she do very well ;
and then Mercer and I sang; and so, with great
pleasure, I left them, having showed them my
chamber, and 1,000/. in gold, which they wondered
at, and given them sweetmeats, and shewn my aunt
Wight my father's picture, which she admires. So
I left them and to the office, where Mr. Moore came
to me and talking of my Lord's family business tells
me that Mr. Shepley is ignorantly, we all believe,
mistaken in his accounts above 700/. more than he
can discharge himself of, which is a mighty mis-

IO

DIARY OF Juiyio

fortune, poor man, and may undo him, and yet every
body believes that he do it most honestly. I am
troubled for him very much. He gone, I hard at
the office till night, then home to supper and to bed.
ioth. Busy all the morning, and presented Sir W.
Coventry with my little book made up of Lovett's
varnished paper, which he and the whole board
liked very well. At noon home to dinner and then
to the office ; the yarde being very full of women
(I believe above three hundred) coming to get money
for their husbands and friends that are prisoners in
Holland ; and they lay clamouring and swearing and
cursing us, that my wife and I were afeard to send a
venison-pasty that we have for supper to-night to
the cook's to be baked, for fear of their offering
violence to it : but it went, and no hurt done. Then
I took an opportunity, when they were all gone into
the foreyarde, and slipt into the office and there busy
all the afternoon, but by and by the women got into
the garden, and came all to my closett window, and
there tormented me, and I confess their cries were
so sad for money, and laying down the condition of
their families and their husbands, and what they have
done and suffered for the King, and how ill they are
used by us, and how well the Dutch are used here
by the allowance of their masters, and what their
husbands are offered to serve the Dutch abroad, that
I do most heartily pity them, and was ready to cry
to hear them, but cannot helpe them. However,
when the rest were gone, I did call one to me that I
heard complaine only and pity her husband and did
give her some money, and she blessed me and went
away. Anon my business at the office being done
I to the Tower to speak with Sir John Robinson,
principally about the bad condition of the pressed
men for want of clothes, as it is represented from the
fleete, and so to provide them shirts and stockings and

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. n
drawers. Home, and there find my wife and the two
Mrs. Bateliers walking in the garden. I with them
till almost 9 at night, and then they and we and Mrs.
Mercer, the mother, and her daughter Anne, and
our Mercer, to supper to a good venison-pasty and
other good things, and had a good supper, and very
merry, Mistress Bateliers being both very good-
humoured. We sang and talked, and then led them
home, and there they made us drink ; and, among
other things, did show us, in cages, some birds
brought from about Bordeaux, that are all fat, and,
examining' one of them, they are so, almost all fat.
Their name is [Ortolans], which are brought over to
the King for him to eat, and indeed are excellent
things. We parted from them and so home to bed.
nth. By water to Sir G. Downing's, there to dis
course with him about the reliefe of the prisoners in
Holland ; which I did, and we do resolve of the
manner of sending them some. So I away by coach
to St. James's, and there hear that the Duchesse is
lately1 brought to bed of a boy. By and by called
to wait on the Duke, the King being present ; and
there agreed, among other things, of the places to
build the ten new great ships ordered to be built, and
as to the relief of prisoners in Holland. And then
about several stories of the basenesse of the King
of Spayne's being served with officers : they in
Flanders having as good common men as any Prince
in the world, but the veriest cowards for the officers,
nay for the generall officers, as the Generall and
Lieutenant-generall, in the whole world. But, above
all things, the King did speake most in contempt of
the ceremoniousnesse of the King of Spayne, that
he do nothing but under some ridiculous form or
other. Thence to Westminster Hall and there staid
1 On the 4th. Charles, Duke of Kendall, died 22nd May, 1667.

12

DIARY OF July"

a while, and then to the Swan and kissed Sarah, and
so home to dinner, and after dinner out again to Sir
Robert Viner, and there did agree with him to ac
commodate some business of tallys so as I shall get
in near 2,000/. into my own hands, which is in the
King's, upon tallys ; which will be a pleasure to me,
and satisfaction to have a good sum in my own
hands, whatever evil disturbances should be in the
State ; though it troubles me to lose so great a profit
as the King's interest of ten per cent, for that money.
When I came to the office, I there met with a com
mand from my Lord Arlington, to go down to a
galliott at Greenwich, by the King's particular com
mand, that is going to carry the Savoy Envoye over,
and we fear that there may be many Frenchmen there
on board ; and so I have a power and command to
search for and seize all that have not passes from
one of the Secretarys of State, and to bring them and
their papers and everything else in custody. So I
to the Tower, and got a couple of musquetiers with
me, and Griffen and my boy Tom and so down ; and,
being come, found none on board but two or three
servants, looking to horses and doggs, there on
board, and, seeing no more, I staid not long there
but away and on shore at Greenwich, the night
being late and the tide against us ; so, having sent
before, to Mrs. Clerke's and there I had a good bed,
and well received, the whole people rising to see me,
and among the rest young Mrs. Daniel, whom I
kissed again and again. So by and by to bed and
slept pretty well,
1 2th. But was up again by five o'clock, and was
forced to rise, having much business, and away to
the Tower, and thence, having shifted myself, to St.
James's, to Goring House, there to wait on my Lord
Arlington to give him an account of my night's
worke, but he was not up, being not long since mar-

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 13
ried : * so, after walking up and down the house
below, — being the house I was once at Hartlib's2
sister's wedding, and is a very fine house and finely
furnished, — and then thinking it too much for me to
lose time to wait my Lord's rising, I away to St.
James's, and so with Sir W. Coventry into London,
to the office. And all the way I observed him
mightily to make mirth of the Duke of Albemarle
and his people about him, saying, that he was the
happiest man in the world for doing of great things
by sorry instruments. And so particularized in Sir
W. Clerke, and Riggs, and Halsey, and others. And
then again said that the only quality eminent in him
was, that he did persevere ; and indeed he is a very
drudge, and stands by the King's business. And
this he said, that one thing he was good at, that he
never would receive an excuse if the thing was not
done ; listening to no reasoning for it, be it good or
bad. But then I told him, what he confessed, that
he would however give the man, that he employs,
orders for removing of any obstruction that he thinks
he shall meet with in the world, and instanced in
several warrants that he issued for breaking open of
houses and other outrages about the business of
prizes, which people bore with either for affection or
fear, which he believes would not have been borne
with from the King, nor Duke, nor any man else in
England, and I thinke he is in the right, but it is
not from their love of him, but from something else
I cannot presently say. Sir W. Coventry did further
say concerning Warcupp, his kinsman, that had the
1 To Isabella, daughter of Louis de Nassau, Lord of Bever-
weert, and Count of Nassau, natural son of Prince Maurice. She
was sister of the Countess of Ossory; her daughter by Lord
Arlington was afterwards first Duchess of Grafton. See 15 th
Nov. 1666.
2 See July 10, 1660.

H

DIARY OF July 12

simplicity to tell Sir W. Coventry, that the Duke did
intend to go to sea and to leave him his agent on
shore for all things that related to the sea. But, says
Sir W. Coventry, I did believe that the Duke of
York would expect to be his agent on shore for all
sea matters. And then he begun to say what a
great man Warcupp was, and something else, and
what was that but a great Iyer ; and told me a story,
how at table he did, they speaking about antipathys,
say, that a rose touching his skin any where, would
make it rise and pimple ;x and, by and by, the dessert
coming, with roses upon it, the Duchesse2 bid him
try, and they did ; but they rubbed and rubbed, but
nothing would do in the world, by which his lie was
found out then. He spoke contemptibly of Holmes
and his mermidons, that came to take down the ships
from hence, and have carried them without any ne
cessaries, or any thing almost, that they will certainly
be longer getting ready than if they had staid here.
In fine, I do observe, he hath no esteem nor kind-
nesse for the Duke's matters, but, contrarily, do
slight him and them ; and I pray God the Kingdom
do not pay too dear by this jarring; though this
blockheaded Duke I did never expect better from.
To dinner and thence to the office, where Mrs. Bur
roughs, my pretty widow, was and so I did her busi
ness and sent her away by agreement, and presently
I by coach after and took her up in Fenchurch
Streete and away through the City, hiding my face as
much as I could, but she being mighty pretty and
1 See Evelyn's Diary, 18th June, 1678 : " Lord Stafford rose from
table, in some disorder, because there were roses stuck about the
fruit when the dessert was set upon the table ; such an antipathy,
it seems, he had to them as once Lady Selenger also had, and to
that degree that, as Sir Kenelm Digby tells us, laying but a rose
upon her cheek, when she was asleep, it raised a blister; but Sir
Kenelm was a teller of strange things." (M. B.)
2 Of Albemarle.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 15
well enough clad, I was not afeard, but only lest
somebody should see me and think me idle. I quite
through with her, and so into the fields Uxbridge
way, a mile or two beyond Tyburne, and then back and
then to Paddington, and then back to Lyssen green,
a place the coachman led me to (I never knew in
my life) and there we eat and drank and so back to
Charing Crosse, and there I set her down. All" the
way most excellent pretty company. I had her lips
as much as I would, and a mighty pretty woman she
is and very modest and yet kinde in all fair ways.
All this time I passed with mighty pleasure, it being
what I have for a long time wished for, and did pay
this day 5s. forfeite for her company. She being
gone, I to White Hall and thereto Lord Arlington's,
and met Mr. Williamson, and find there is no more
need of my trouble about the Galliott, so with content
departed, and went straight home and at the office
did the most in the wearied and sleepy state I could,
and so to supper, and after supper falling to singing
with Mercer did however sit up with her, she pleas
ing me with her singing of " Helpe, helpe," till past
midnight and I not a whit drowsy, and so to bed.
13th. To the office where till about noon, then
out to the 'Change and so home to dinner. Then
out again to Sir R. Viner, and there to my content
settled the business of two tallys, so as I shall have
2,000/. almost more of my owne money in my hand
which pleases me mightily, and so to the office where
mighty busy, and then home to supper and to even
my Journal! and to bed. Our fleete being now in all
points ready to sayle, but for the carrying of the two
or three new ships which will keepe them a day or
two or three more.
14th. Up betimes to the office, to write fair a labo
rious letter I wrote as from the Board to the Duke
of York, laying out our want of money again ; and

1 6 DIARY OF July is
particularly the business of Captain Cocke's tender1
of hemp, which my Lord Brouncker brought in under
an unknown hand without name. Wherein his Lord
ship will have no great successe, I doubt. That being
done, I down to Thames-streete, and there agreed
for four or five tons of corke, to send this day to the
fleete, being a new device to make barricados with,
instead of junke. By this means I came to see and
¦ kiss Mr. Hill's young wife and a blithe young woman
she is. So to the office and sent for young Michell
and employed him all the afternoon about weighing
and shipping off of the corke, having by this means
an opportunity of getting him 30 or 405-. To the
office very late, very busy and did indeed dispatch
much business and so to supper and after a song in
the garden, which is now the greatest pleasure I
take, and indeed do please me mightily, to bed.
This evening I had Davila2 brought home to me,
and find it a most excellent history as ever I read.
15th. (Lord's day.) To church, where our lecturer.
made a sorry silly sermon, upon the great point of
proving the truth of the Christian religion. Had a
good dinner, there comes young Michell and his wife,
whom my wife concurs with me to be a pretty
woman and with her husband is a pretty innocent
couple. Mighty pleasant we were and I mightily
pleased in her company and to find my wife so well
pleased with them also. After dinner he to the
Abbey, and I to White Hall, but met with nobody
to discourse with, having no great mind to be found
idling there, and be asked questions of the fleete, so
walked only through to the Parke, and there, it being
mighty hot and I weary, lay down by the canalle,
upon the grasse, and slept awhile, and was thinking of
1 For which Pepys was to receive 500/.
2 The work referred to is Storia delle guerre civili di Francia, by
Arrigo Caterino Davila. It is still a very popular book.

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 17
a lampoone which hath run in my head this weeke,
to make upon the late fight at sea, and the mis
carriages there ; but other businesses put it out of
my head, and so home and there drank a great deale
of small beer ; and so took up my wife and Betty
Michell and her husband, and away into the fields,
to take the ayre, as far as beyond Hackny, and so
back again, in our way drinking a great deale of
milke, which I drank to take away my heartburne.
So home and supped and away went Michell and his
wife, of whom I stole two or three salutes and so to
bed in some pain and in fear of more, which accord
ingly I met with, for I was in mighty pain all night
long, which I impute to the milke that I drank after
so much beer, but the cold, to my washing my feet
the night before.
1 6th. A wonderful dark sky, and shower of rain
this morning. At Harwich a shower of hail as big
as walnuts. In great pain all the morning. Passed
the day with Baity, who is come from sea for a
day or two before the fight, and I perceive could be
willing fairly to be out of the next fight, and I cannot
much blame him, he having no reason by his place
to be there ; however would not have him to be
absent, manifestly to avoid being there.
1 7th. Able to rise to go to the office and there sat
but in pain. I went and bought a common riding-
cloake for myself, to save my best. It cost me but
305-., and will do my turne mighty well. Thence home
and walked in the garden with Sir W. Pen a while,
and saying how the riding in the coach do me good,
he ordered his to be got ready, and so abroad he and
I after 8 o'clock at night, as far almost as Bow, and so
back again, and so home to supper and to bed. This
day I did bid Baity to agree with  , the Dutch
paynter, which he once led me to, to see landskipps,
for a winter piece of snow, which indeed is a good

1 8 DIARY OF July 18
piece, and costs me but 405., which I would not take
the money again for, it being, I think, very good.
1 8th. To St. James's after my fellows and there
did our business, which is mostly every day to com
plain of want of money, and that only will undo us
in a little time. Here, among other things, before
us all, the Duke of York did say, that now at length
he is come to a sure knowledge that the Dutch did
lose in the late engagements twenty-nine captains
and thirteen ships. Upon which Sir W. Coventry
did publickly move, that if his Royal Highness had
this of a certainty, it would be of use to send this
down to the fleete, and to cause it to be spread about
the fleete, for the recovering of the spirits of the
officers and seamen ; who are under great dejected-
ness for want of knowing that they did do any thing
against the enemy, notwithstanding all that they did
to us. Which, though it be true, yet methought
was one of the most dishonourable motions to our
countrymen that ever was made ; and is worth re
membering. Thence with Sir W. Pen home, calling
at Lilly's, to have a time appointed when to be drawn
among the other Commanders of Flags the last year's
fight. And so full of work Lilly is, that he was fain
to take his table-book out to see how his time is
appointed, and appointed six days hence for him to
come between seven and eight in the morning.
Thence with him home ; and there by appointment I
find Dr. Fuller, now Bishop of Limericke, in Ireland;
whom I knew in his low condition at Twittenham,1 and
find the Bishop the same good man as ever ; and in
a word, kind to us, and, methinks, one of the corae-
liest and most becoming prelates in all respects that
ever I saw in my life. During dinner comes an
acquaintance of his, Sir Thomas Littleton;2 whom
1 Twickenham, where he kept a school.
2 Afterwards made Treasurer of the Navy, in conjunction with

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS.

i9

I knew not while he was in my house, but liked his
discourse : and afterwards, by Sir W. Pen, do come
to know that he is one of the greatest speakers in
the House of Commons, and the usual second to the
great Vaughan. So was sorry I did observe him no
more, and gain more of his acquaintance. Walked
to Woolwich, reading " the Rivall Ladys " all the
way, and find it a most pleasant and fine writ play.
19th. To the office, where all the morning. Full
of wants of money, and much stores to buy, for to
replenish the stores, and no money to do it with, nor
anybody to trust us without it. So at noon home
to dinner, Baity and his wife with us. By and by
Baity takes his leave of us, he going away towards
the fleete, where he will pass through one great en
gagement more before he be two days older, I believe.
After I was in bed I had a letter from Sir W. Coven
try that tells me that the fleete is sailed this morn
ing ; God send us good newes of them !
20th. To White Hall, and there the Duke of York
did bid Sir W. Pen to stay to discourse with him
and the King about business of the fleete, which
troubled me a little, but it was only out of envy, for
which I blame myself, having no reason to expect to
be called to advise in a matter I understand not. So
I away to Lovett's, there to see how my picture
goes on to be varnished, a fine Crucifix,1 which will
be very fine ; and here I saw some fine prints,
brought from France by Sir Thomas Crew. Lovett
did present me with a varnished staffe, very fine and
Sir Thomas Osborne. He was the eldest son of Sir Adam Little
ton, of Stoke Milburgh, Salop, who had been created a baronet
in 1642. He married Anne, daughter and heir of Edward Lord
Littleton, the Lord Keeper, and died in 1681, aged 57. Sir
Thomas Littleton, the only son of this match, became Speaker of
the House of Commons, and deceased, s. p., in 1709.
1 This crucifix occasioned Pepys trouble long afterwards, having
been brought as evidence that he was a Papist. See Life, vol. i.

20

DIARY OF July 22

light to walk with. So home and to dinner, there
coming young Mrs. Daniel and her sister Sarah, and
dined with us ; and old Mr. Hawly, whose condition
pities me, he being forced to turne under parish-
clerke at St. Giles's, I think at the other end of the
towne. Thence I to the office, where busy all the
afternoon and in the evening with Sir W. Pen walk
ing in the garden, with whom I am of late mighty
great, and it is wisdom to continue myself so, for he
is of all the men of the office at present most mani
festly usefull and best thought of. He and I supped
together upon the seat in the garden and then, he
gone, my wife and Mercer came and walked and
sang late, and then home to bed.
2 1 st. At noon walked in the garden with Commis
sioner Pett (newly come to towne), who tells me how
infinite the disorders are among the commanders
and all officers of the fleete. No discipline : nothing
but swearing and cursing, and every body doing
what they please ; and the Generalls, understanding
no better, suffer it, to the reproaching of this Board,
or whoever it will be. He himself hath been chal
lenged twice to the field, or something as good, by
Sir Edward Spragge and Capt. Seamour. He tells
me that captains carry, for all the late orders, what
men they please ; demand and consume what pro
visions they please. So that he fears, and I do no
less, that God Almighty cannot bless us while we
keep in this disorder that we are in : he observing
to me too, that there is no man of counsel or advice
in the fleete ; and the truth is, the gentlemen captains
will undo us, for they are not to be kept in order,
their friends about the King and Duke, and their
own houses, are so free, that it is not for any per
son but the Duke himself to have any command ,
over them.
22nd. (Lord's day.) Up, and to my chamber, and

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 21
there till noon mighty busy, setting many matters,
and other things of mighty moment to rights to the
great content of my mind, I finding that accounts
but a little let go can never be put in order by-
strangers, for I cannot without much difficulty do it
myself. After dinner to them again till about four
o'clock and then walked to White Hall, where saw
nobody almost, but walked up and down with Hugh
May, who is a very ingenious man. Among other
things, discoursing of the present fashion of gardens
to make them plain, that we have the best walks of
gravell in the world, France having none, nor Italy ;
and our green of our bowling allies is better than
any they have. So our business here being ayre,
this is the best way, only with a little mixture of
statues, or pots, which may be handsome, and so
filled with another pot of such or such a flower or
greene as the season of the year will bear. And then
for flowers, they are best seen in a little plat by them
selves ; besides, their borders spoil the walks of an
other garden : and then for fruit, the best way is to
have walls built circularly one within another, to the
South, on purpose for fruit, and leave the walking
garden only for that use. Thence walked through
the House, where most people mighty hush and,
methinks, melancholy. I see not a smiling face
through the whole Court; and, in my conscience,
they are doubtfull of the conduct again of the Gene-
rails, and I pray God they may not make their fears
reasonable. Guyland is lately overthrown wholly in
Barbary by the King of Tafiletta. Sir Richard
Fanshaw is lately dead1 at Madrid. The fleete can
not yet get clear of the River, but expect the first
wind to be out, and then to be sure they fight. The
Queene and Maids of Honour are at Tunbridge.
1 He died 16th June, 1666.

22

DIARY OF July 23

23rd. Up, and to my chamber doing several things
there of moment, and then comes Sympson,_ the
Joyner; and he and I with great pains contriving
presses to put my books up in : they now growing
numerous, and lying one upon another on my chairs,
I lose the use to avoyde the trouble of removing
them, when I would open a book. Thence out to
the Excise office about business and then home
wards met Colvill, who tells me he has 1,000/. ready
for me upon a tally; which pleases me, and yet I
know not now what to do with it, having already as
much money as is fit for me to have in the house,
but I will have it. I did also meet Alderman Backe-
well who tells me of the hard usage he now finds
from Mr. Fen, in not getting him a bill or two paid,
now that he can be no more usefull to him ; telling
me that what by his being abroad and Shaw's death
he has lost the ball, but that he doubts not to come
to give a kicke at it still, and then he shall be wiser
and keepe it while he has it. But he says he has a
good master, the King, who will not suffer him to be
undone,1 as otherwise he must have been, and I be
lieve him. So home and to dinner, where I confess
reflecting upon the ease and plenty that I live in, of
money, goods, servants, honour, everything, I could
not but with hearty thanks to Almighty God ejacu
late my thanks to Him while I was at dinner, to my
self. After dinner to the office and there till five or
six o'clock and then by coach to St. James's and
there with Sir W. Coventry and Sir G. Downing to
take the ayre in the Parke. All full of expectation of
the fleete's engagement, but it is not yet. Sir W.
Coventry says they are eighty-nine men-of-warr, and
but one fifth-rate ; and that, the Sweepstakes, which
1 He had reason afterwards to alter his opinion of his "good
master, the King," by whom he was ruined. See note, 26th Tune.
1660. (M. B.)

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 23
carries forty guns. They are most infinitely manned.
He tells me the Loyall London, Sir J. Smith (which,
by the way, he commends to be the best ship in the
world, large and big), hath above eight hundred
men ; and moreover takes notice, which is worth
notice, that the fleete hath laine now near fourteen
days without any demand for a farthing-worth of
any thing of any kind, but only to get men. He
also observes, that with this excesse of men, never
theless, they have thought fit to leave behind them
sixteen ships, which they have robbed of their men,
which certainly might have been manned, and they
been serviceable in the fight, and yet the fleete well-
manned, according to the excesse of supernumeraries,
which we hear they have. At least two or three of
them might have been left manned, and sent away
with the Gottenburgh ships. They conclude this to
be much the best fleete, for force of guns, greatnesse
and number of ships and men, that ever England did
see ; being, as Sir W. Coventry reckons, besides
those left behind, eighty-nine men of warr, and
twenty fire-ships, though we cannot hear that they
have with them above eighteen. The French are
not yet joined with the Dutch, which do dissatisfy
the Hollanders, and if they should have a defeat,
will undo De Witt ¦} the people generally of Holland
do hate this league with France. We cannot think
of any business, but lie big with expectation of the
issue of this fight, but do conclude that, this fight
being over, we shall be able to see the whole issue
of the warr, good or bad. So homeward, and walked
over the Parke (St. James's) with Sir G. Downing,
and at White Hall took a coach, and there to supper
with much pleasure and to bed.
24th. Up, and to the office, where little business
1 Pepys seems to have foreseen the fate of De Witt.

24 DIARY OF July 25
done, our heads being full of expectation of the
fleete's being engaged, but no certain notice of it.
At noon to dinner and after dinner with Mercer (as
of late my practice is) a song and so to the office
and busy very late, till midnight, drawing up a re
presentation of the state of my victualling business
to the Duke, I having never appeared to him doing
anything yet and therefore I now do it in writing, I
now having the advantage of having had two fleetes
dispatched in better condition than ever any fleetes
were yet, I believe ; at least, with least complaint,
and by this means I shall with the better confidence
get my bills out for my salary.
25th. By hackney coach to St. James's, where the
Duke is gone abroad with the King to the Parke,
but anon came back to White Hall, and we, after an
houre's waiting, walked thither. At White Hall we
find the Court gone to Chappell, it being St. James's-
day. And by and by, while they are at chappell, and
we waiting chappell being done, come people out of
the Parke, telling us that the guns are heard plainly.
And so every body to the Parke, and by and by the
chappell done, and the King and Duke into the
bowling-green, and upon the leads, whither I went,
and there the guns were plain to be heard ; though
it was pretty to hear how confident some would be
in the loudnesse of the guns, which it was as much
as ever I could do to hear them. By and by the
King to dinner, and I waited there his dining ; but,
Lord ! how little I should be pleased, I think, to
have so many people crowding about me ; and among
other things it astonished me to see my Lord Barke-
shire1 waiting at table, and serving the King drink,
in that dirty pickle as I never saw man in my life.
Here I met Mr. Williams, who would have me to
1 Thomas Howard, second son of Thomas, first Earl of Suffolk,
created Earl of Berkshire, 1625-26, K.G. Ob. 1669, agednearly 90.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 25
dine where he was invited to dine, at the Backe-
stayres. So after the King's meat was taken away,
we thither ; but he could not stay, but left me there
among two or three of the King's servants, where we
dined with the meat that came from his table ; which
was most excellent, with most brave drink cooled in
ice (which at this hot time was welcome), and I
drinking no wine, had metheglin for the King's owne
drinking, which did please me mightily.
26th. To the office where all the morning. At
noon dined at home : Mr. Hunt and his wife, who is
very gallant, and newly come from Cambridge, be
cause of the sicknesse, with us. Very merry at table,
and the people I do love mightily, but being in
haste to go to White Hall I rose, and Mr. Hunt
with me and by coach thither, where I left him in
the boarded gallery, and I by appointment to attend
the Duke of York at his closett, but being not come,
Sir G. Carteret and I did talke together, and he
advises me, that, if I could, I would get the papers
of examination touching the business of the last
year's prizes, which concern my Lord Sandwich, out
of Warcupp's hands, who being now under disgrace
and poor, he believes may be brought easily to part
with them. My Lord Crew, it seems, is fearfull yet
that matters may be enquired into. This I will en
deavour to do, though I do not thinke it signifies
much. By and by the Duke of York comes and we
had a meeting and, among other things, I did read
my declaration of the proceedings of the Victualling
action this yeare, and desired his Royall Highnesse
to give me the satisfaction of knowing whether his
Royall Highnesse were pleased therewith. He told
me he was, and that it was a good account, and that
the business of the Victualling was much in a better
condition than it was the last yeare ; which did much
joy me, being said in the company of my fellows,

26 DIARY OF July 27
by which I shall be able with confidence to de
mand my salary and the rest of the subsurveyors.
Thence away mightily satisfied to Mrs. Pierce's,
there to find my wife. Mrs. Pierce has lain in of. a
boy about a month. The boy is dead this day. She
lies in good state, and very pretty she is, but methinks
do every day grow more and more great, and a little
too much, unless they get more money than I fear
they do. Thence with my wife and Mercer to my Lord
Chancellor's new house, and there carried them up
to the leads, where I find my Lord Chamberlain,
Lauderdale, Sir Robert Murray, and others, and do
find it the most delightfull place for prospect that
ever was in the world, and even ravishing me, and
that is all, in short, I can say of it. Thence to Isling
ton to our old house and eat and drank, and so
round by Kingsland home and there to the office a
little and Sir W. Batten's, but no newes at all from
the fleete and so home to bed.
27th. At noon dined at home and then to the
office again and there walking in the garden with
Captain Cocke till 5 o'clock. His great bargaine
of Hempe with us by his unknown proposition is
disliked by the King, and so is quite off; of which
he is glad, by this means being rid of his obligation
to my Lord Brouncker, which he was tired with, and
especially his mistresse, Mrs. Williams, and so will
fall into another way about it, wherein he will advise
only with myself, which do not displease me, and
will be better for him and the King too. Much
common talke of publique business, the want of
money, the uneasinesse that Parliament will find in
raising any, and the ill condition we shall be in if they
do not, and his confidence that the Swede is true to
us, but poor, but would be glad to do us all manner
of service in the world. He gone, I away by water
from the Old Swan to White Hall. The waterman

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 27
tells me that newes is come that our ship Resolution
is burnt, and that we had sunke four or five of the
enemy's ships. To Sir W. Coventry's lodging, and
there he showed me Captain Talbot's letter, wherein
he says that the fight begun on the 25th ; that our
White squadron begun with one of the Dutch
squadrons, and then the Red with another, so hot
that we put them both to giving way, and so they
continued in pursuit all the day, and as long as he
stayed with them : that the Blue fell to the Zealand
squadron ; and after a long dispute, he against two
or three great ships, he received eight or nine danger
ous shots, and so came away ; and says, he saw the
Resolution burned by one of their fire-ships, and four
or five of the enemy's. But says that two or three
of our great ships were in danger of being fired by
our owne fire-ships, which Sir W. Coventry nor I
cannot understand. But upon the whole, he and I
walked two or three turns in the Parke under the
great trees, and do doubt that this gallant is come
away a little too soon, having lost never a mast
nor sayle. And then we did begin to discourse
of the young gentlemen captains, which he was very
free with me in speaking his mind of the unruliness
of them ; and what a losse the King hath of his old
men, and now of this Hannam, of the Resolution, if
he be dead, and that there is but few old sober men
in the fleete and if these few of the Flags that are
so should die, he fears some other gentlemen-captains
will get in, and then what a council we shall have,
God knows. He told me how he is disturbed to hear
the commanders at sea called cowards here on shore,
and that he was yesterday concerned publiquely at
a dinner to defend them, against somebody that said
that not above twenty of them fought as they should
do, and indeed it is derived from the Duke of Albe
marle himself who wrote so to the King and Duke,

28 DIARY OF July 27
and that he told them how they fought four days,
two of them with great disadvantage. The Count
de Guiche,1 who was on board De Ruyter, writing
his narrative home in French of the fight, do lay all
the honour that maybe upon the English courage
above the Dutch, and that he himself (Sir W. Coven
try) was sent down from the King and Duke of
York after the fight, to pray them to spare none that
they thought had not done their parts, and that they
have removed but four, whereof Du Tell is one, of
whom he would say nothing; but, it seems, the Duke
of York hath been much displeased at his removal,
and hath now taken him into his service,2 which is a
plain affront to the Duke of Albemarle ; and two of
the others, Sir W. Coventry did speake very slenderly
of their faults. Only the last, which was old Teddi-
man, he says, is in fault, and hath little to excuse
himself with ; and that, therefore, we should not be
forward in condemning men of want of courage,
when the Generalls, who are both men of metal, and
hate cowards, and had the sense of our ill successe
upon them (and by the way must either let the world
thinke it was the miscarriage of the Captains or their
owne conduct) have thought fit to remove no more
of them, when desired by the King and Duke of
York to do it, without respect to any favour any of
them can pretend to in either of them. At last we
concluded that we never can hope to beat the Dutch
with such advantage as now in number and force
and a fleete in want of nothing, and he has often
repeated now and at other times industriously that
1 Eldest son of the Duke de Grammont.
2 As Yeoman of the Cellar and Cup-bearer. This most im
proper step of the Duke of York is alluded to in the " Poems on
State Affairs," vol. i. p. 36, ed. 1703 : —
" Cashier the memory of Dutell, raised up
To taste, instead of death, his Highness' cup."

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS.

29

many of the Captains have declared that they want
nothing, and again, that they did lie ten days to
gether at the Nore without demanding of any thing
in the world but men, and of them they afterward,
when they went away, the generalls themselves ac
knowledge that they have permitted several ships to
carry supernumeraries, but that if we do not speede
well, we must then play small games and spoile their
trade in small parties. And so we parted, and I,
meeting Creed in the Parke again, did take him by
coach and to Islington, thinking to have met my
Lady Pen and wife, but they were gone, so we eat
and drank and away back, setting him down in
Cheapside and I home, and there after a little while
making of my tune, " It is decreed," to bed.
28th. Up, and to the office, where no more newes
of the fleete than was yesterday. Here we sat and
at noon to dinner to the Pope's Head, where my
Lord Brouncker and his mistresse dined and Com
missioner Pett, Dr. Charleton,1 and myself,, enter
tained with a venison pasty by Sir W. Warren.
Here very pretty discourse of Dr. Charleton's, con
cerning Nature's fashioning every creature's teeth
according to the food she intends them ; and that
men's, it is plain, was not for flesh, but for fruit, and
that he can at any time tell the food of a beast un
known by the teeth. My Lord Brouncker made one
or two objections to it that creatures find their food
proper for their teeth rather than that the teeth were
fitted for the food, but the Doctor, I think, did well ,
observe that creatures do naturally and from the
first, before they have had experience to try, do love
such a food rather than another, and that all children
love fruit, and none brought to flesh, but against
1 Walter Charleton, a native of Somersetshire, physician in
ordinary to Charles II. during his exile and after the Restoration.
He was a learned and voluminous author, and died in 1707.

3Q

DIARY OF July 28

their wills at first. Thence with rny Lord to his
coach-house, and there put in his six horses into his
coach, and he and I alone to Highgate. All the way
going and coming I learning of him the principles
of Optics, and what it is that makes an object seem
less or bigger and how much distance do lessen an
object and that it is not the eye at all, or any
rule in optics, that can tell distance, but it is only
an act of reason comparing of one mark with an
other, which did both please and inform me mightily.
Being come thither we went to my Lord Lauder
dale's house1 to speake with him, about getting a man
at Leith to joyne with one we employ to buy some
prize goods for the King ; we find him and his lady
and some Scotch people at supper. Pretty odd com
pany ; though my Lord Brouncker tells me, my
Lord Lauderdale is a man of mighty good reason
and judgement. But at supper there played one of
their servants upon the viallin some Scotch tunes
only ; several, and the best of their country, as they
seemed to esteem them, by their praising and ad
miring them : but, Lord ! the strangest ayre that
ever I heard in my life, and all of one cast. But
strange to hear my Lord Lauderdale say himself
that he had rather hear a cat mew, than the best
musique in the world ; and the better the musique,
the more sicke it makes him ; and that of all instru
ments, he hates the lute most, and next to that, the
baggpipe. Thence back with my Lord to his house,
all the way good discourse, informing myself about
optics still, and there left him and by a hackney home,
and after writing three or four letters, home to supper
and to bed.
1 Lord Lauderdale's house was on the eastern part of Highgate
Hill, and is still known by that name. It was lately inhabited by
Lord Westbury; it is now the residence of James Yates, Esq., of
Liverpool.

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 31
29th. (Lord's day.) All the morning in my chamber
making up my accounts in my book with my father
and brother and stating them. Towards noon before
sermon was done at church comes newes by a letter
to Sir W. Batten, to my hand, of the late fight, which
I sent to his house, he at church. But, Lord ! with
what impatience I staid till sermon was done, to
know the issue of the fight, with a thousand hopes
and fears and thoughts about the consequences of
either. At last sermon is done and he came home,
and the bells immediately rung soon as the church
was done. But coming to Sir W. Batten to know
the newes, his letter said nothing of it ; but all
the towne is full of a victory. By and by a letter
from Sir W. Coventry tells me that we have the
victory. Beat them into the Weelings ; had taken
two of their great ships ; but by the orders of the
Generalls they are burned. This being, methought,
but a poor result after the fighting of two so great
fleetes, and four days having no tidings of them, I
was still impatient ; but could know no more. So away
home to dinner, where Mr. Spong and Reeves dined
with me by invitation. After dinner to our business
of my microscope to be shown some of the observ-
ables of that, and then down to my office to looke in
a darke room with my glasse and tube, and most
excellently things appeared indeed beyond imagina
tion. This was our worke all the afternoon trying
the several glasses and several objects, among others,
one of my plates where the lines appeared so very
plain that it is not possible to thinke how plain it
was done. Thence satisfied exceedingly with all
this we home and to discourse many pretty things
and then they away and I to Sir W. Batten, where
the Lieutenant of the Tower1 was, and Sir John
1 Sir John Robinson.

32

DIARY OF July 3°

Minnes, and the newes I find no more or less than
what I had heard before ; only that our Blue squa
dron, it seems, was pursued the most of the time,
having more ships, a great many, than its number
allotted to its share. Young Seamour is killed, the
only captain slain. The Resolution burned ; but, as
they say, most of her crew and commander saved.
This is all, only we keep the sea, which denotes a
victory, or at least that we are not beaten ; but no
great matters to brag of, God knows.
30th. Up, and did some business in my chamber,
then by and by comes my boy's Lute-Master and I
did direct him hereafter to begin to teach him to
play his part on the Theorbo, which he will do, and
that in a little time I believe. So to the office, and
there with Sir W. Warren, with whom I have spent
no time a good while. We set right our business of
the Lighters, wherein I thinke I shall get 100/. At
noon home to dinner and there did practise with
Mercer one of my new tunes that I have got Dr.
Childe to set me a base to and it goes prettily.
Thence abroad to pay several debts at the end of
the month, and so to Sir W. Coventry, at St. James's,
where I find him in his new closett, which is very
fine, and well supplied with handsome books. I find
him speak very slightly of the late victory : dislikes
their staying with the fleete up their coast, believing
that the Dutch will come out in fourteen days, and
then we with our unready fleete, by reason of some
of the ships being maymed, shall be in bad condition
to fight them upon their owne coast : is much dis
satisfied with the great number of men, and their
fresh demands of twenty-four victualling ships, they
going out but the other day as full as they could
stow. I asked him whether he did never desire an
account of the number of supernumeraries, as I have
done several ways, without which we shall be in

DE .RUYTEIl.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 33
great errour about the victuals ; he says he has done
it again and again, and if any mistake should happen
they must thanke themselves. He spoke slightly of
the Duke of Albemarle, saying, when De Ruyter
came to give him a broadside — "Now," says he,
chewing of tobacco the while, " will this fellow come
and give me two broadsides, and then he will run ;"
but it seems he held him to it two hours, till the
Duke himself was forced to retreat to refit, and
was towed off, and De Ruyter staid for him till he
came back again to fight. One in the ship saying to
the Duke, " Sir, methinks De Ruyter hath given us
more than two broadsides ; " — " Well," says the
Duke, " but you shall find him run by and by," and
so he did, says Sir W. Coventry ; but after the Duke
himself had been first made to fall off. The Reso
lution had all brass guns, being the same that Sir J.
Lawson had in her in the Straights. It is observed,
that the two fleetes were even in number to one
ship. Thence home ; and to sing with my wife and
Mercer in the garden ; and coming in I find my
wife plainly dissatisfied with me, that I can spend so
much time with Mercer, teaching her to sing, and
could never take the pains with her. Which I acknow
ledge ; but it is because that the girl do take musique
mighty readily, and she do not, and musique is the
thing of the world that I love most, and all the plea
sure almost that I can now take. So to bed in some
little discontent, but no words from me.
31st. Good friends in the morning and up to the
office. While at table we were mightily joyed with
newes brought by Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten
of the death of De Ruyter, but when Sir W. Coventry
came, he told us there was no such thing, which
quite dashed me again, though, God forgive me ! I
was a little sorry in my heart before lest it might
give occasion of too much glory to the Duke of
° A D

34 DIARY OF July 31
Albemarle. , Great bandying this day between Sir
W. Coventry and my Lord Brouncker about Captain
Cocke, which I am well pleased with, while I keepe
from any open relyance on either side, but rather on
Sir W. Coventry's. At noon had a haunch of venison
boiled and a very good dinner besides, there dining
with me on a sudden invitation the two mayden
sisters, Bateliers, and another elder brother, a pretty
man, understands and well discoursed, much pleased
with his company. Having dined myself I rose to
go to a Committee of Tangier, and did come thither
time enough to meet Povy and Creed and none else.
The Court being empty, the King being gone to
Tunbridge, and the Duke of York a-hunting. I had
some discourse with Povy, who is mightily discon
tented, I find, about his disappointments at Court;
and says, of all places, if there be hell, it is here.
No faith, no truth, no love, nor any agreement be
tween man and wife, nor friends. He would have
spoke broader, but I put it off to another time ; and
so parted. Povy discoursed with me about my Lord
Peterborough's 50/. which his man did give me from
him, the last year's salary I paid him, which he would
have Povy pay him again ; but I have not taken it
to myself yet, and therefore will most heartily return
him, and mark him out for a coxcomb. Povy went
down to Mr. Williamson's, and brought me up this
extract out of the Flanders' letters to-day come : —
That Admiral Everson, and the Admiral and Vice-
Admiral of Freezeland, with many captains and men,
are slain ; that De Ruyter is safe, but lost 250 men
out of his own ship ; but that he is in great disgrace,
and Trump in better favour ; that Bankert's ship is
burned, himself hardly escaping with a few men on
board De Haes ; that fifteen captains are to be tried
the seventh of August ; and that the hangman was
se'nt from Flushing to assist the Council of Warr.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 35
How much of this is true, time will show. Then by
water home, all the way reading the narrative of the
last fight in order, it may be, to the making some
marginal notes upon it. At the Old Swan found my
Betty Michell at the doore, where I staid talking to
her a pretty while, it being dusky, and kissed her
and so away home and wrote my letters and then
home to supper, where the brother and Mary Batelier
are still and Mercer's two sisters. They have spent
the time dancing this afternoon and we were very
merry and then after supper into the garden and
there walked and then home with them and then
back again, my wife and I and the girle, and sang in
the garden and then to bed. Colvill was with me
this morning and to my great joy I could now have
all my money in, that I have in the world. But the
times being open again, I thinke it is best to keepe
some of it abroad. Mighty well and end this month
in content of mind and body. The publique matters
looking more safe for the present than they did, and
we having a victory over the Dutch just such as I
could have wished, and as the kingdom was fit to
bear, enough to give us the name of conquerors, and
leave us masters of the sea, but without any such
great matters done as should give the Duke of Albe
marle any honour at all, or give him cause to rise to
his former insolence.
August 1st. Up betimes to the settling of my last
month's accounts, and I bless God I find them very
clear, and that I am worth 5,700/., the most that ever
my book did yet make out. So prepared to attend
the Duke of York as usual, but Sir W. Pen, just as
I was going out, comes home from Sheernesse, and
held me in discourse about publique business, till I
came by coach too late to St. James's, and there find
that every thing stood still, and nothing done for
want of me. Thence walked over the Parke with

36 DIARY OF Aug. 2
Sir W. Coventry, who I clearly see is not thoroughly
pleased with the late management of the fight, nor
with any thing that the Generalls do ; only is glad ,
to hear that De Ruyter is out of favour, and that
this fight hath cost them 5,000 men, as they them
selves do report. And it is a strange thing, as he
observes, how now and then the slaughter runs on
one hand ; there being 5,000 killed on theirs, and not
above 400 or 500 killed and wounded on ours, and
as many flag-officers on theirs as ordinary captains;
in ours \ these being Everson, and the Admiral and
Vice- Admiral of Freezeland on theirs, and Seamour,
Martin, and  , on ours. I left him going to
Chappell, it being the common fast day, and the Duke
of York at Chappell. So home, and there much
pleased with my wife's drawing to-day in her pictures.
2nd. To the office, where we sat and in discourse
at the table with Sir W. Batten, I was obliged to tell
him it was an untruth, which did displease him
mightily, and parted at noon very angry with me.
At home find Lovett, who showed me my crucifix,
which will be very fine when done. He dined with
me and Balty's wife, who is in great pain for her
husband, not hearing of him since the fight ; but I
understand he was not in it, going hence too late,
and I am glad of it. Hence by coach to see 'my
Lord Brouncker, who it seems was not well yester
day, but being come thither, I find his coach
ready to carry him abroad, but Tom, his footman,
whatever the matter was, was lothe to desire me to
come in, but I walked a great while in the Piazza
till I was going away, but by and by my Lord him
self comes down and coldly received me. So I soon
parted, having enough for my over officious folly in
troubling myself to visit him, and I am apt to think
that he was fearfull that my coming was out of de-

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 37
sign to see how he spent his time rather than to en
quire after his health. So parted, and he carried me
down to the New Exchange Stairs, and there I took
water. So home, and then down to Woolwich, read
ing and making an end of the Rivall Ladys, and I
find it a very pretty play. At Woolwich, it being
now night, I find my wife and Mercer, and Mr.
Batelier and Mary there, and a supper getting ready.
So I staid, in some pain, it being late, and post
night. So supped and merrily home, but it was
twelve at night first. However, sent away some
letters, and home to bed.
3rd. To the office, where Sir W. Batten and I sat
to contract for some fireships. I there close all the
morning. At noon home to dinner, and then abroad
to Sir Philip Warwick at White Hall about Tangier
Quarter's tallys, and there had some serious discourse
touching money, and the case of the Navy, wherein
all I could get of him was that we had the full under
standing of the treasure as much as my Lord Trea
surer himself, and knew what he can do, and that
whatever our case is, more money cannot be got till
the Parliament. So talked of getting an account
ready as soon as we could to give the Parliament,
and so very melancholy parted. So home, and busy
till night, and then to Sir W. Pen, with my wife, to
sit and chat, and a small supper, and home to bed.
The death of Everson, and the report of our success,
beyond expectation, in the killing of so great a
number of men, hath raised the estimation of the
late victory considerably ; but it is only among fools :
for all that was but accidental. But this morning,
getting Sir W. Pen to read over the Narrative with
me, he did sparingly, yet plainly, say that we might
have intercepted their Zealand squadron coming
home, if we had done our parts ; and more, that we

38 DIARY OF Aug. 5
might have spooned1 before the wind as well as they,
and have overtaken their ships in the pursuit, in all
the while.
4th. Mr. Cooke dined with us, who is lately come
from Hinchingbroke. The family all well. This
evening, Sir W. Pen came into the garden, and
walked with me, and told me that he had certain
notice that at Flushing they are in great distraction.
De Ruyter dares not come on shore for fear of the
people ; nor any body open their houses or shops for
fear of the tumult : which is a very good hearing.
5th. (Lord's day.) To St. James's, and there had
a meeting before the Duke of York, complaining of
want of money, but nothing done to any purpose for
which we ask, so that now our advices to him signify
nothing. Here Sir W. Coventry did acquaint the
Duke of York how the world do discourse of the ill
method of our books, and that we would consider
how to answer any enquiry which shall be made
after our practice therein, which will I think concern
the Controller most, but I shall make it a memento to
myself. Thence walked to the Parish Church to
have one look upon Betty Michell, and so away
homeward by water, and landed to go to the church,
where, I believe, Mrs. Horsely goes, by Merchant-
tailors' Hall, and there I find in the pulpit Elborough,2
my old schoolfellow and a simple rogue, and yet I
find him preaching a very good sermon, and in as
right a parson-like manner, and in good manner too,
I as I have heard any body ; and the church very full,
which is a surprising consideration. So home, and
had a good dinner, and after dinner with my wife,
and Mercer, and Jane by water, all the afternoon up
as high as Mortlake with great pleasure, and a fine
1 To spoom, or spoon, is to go right before the wind, without
any sail. — Sea Dictionary, 1708.
2 See 2nd September, 1666.

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS.

39

day, reading over the second part of the Siege of
Rhodes, with great delight. We landed and walked
at Barne-elmes, and then at the Neat Houses I
landed and bought a millon, and we did also land
and eat and drink at Wandsworth, and so to the Old
Swan, and thence walked home. It being a mighty
fine cool evening, my wife and I spent an houre in
the garden talking of our living in the country, when
I shall be turned out of the office, as I fear the
Parliament may find faults enough with the office to
remove us all, and I am joyed to think in how good
a condition I am to retire thither, and have where
with very well to subsist. Nan, at Sir W. Pen's,
lately married to one Markeham, a kinsman of Sir
W. Pen's, a pretty wench she is.
6th. To the office a while, and then by water to
my Lady Montagu's, at Westminster, and there
visited my Lord Hinchingbroke, newly come from
Hinchingbroke, and find him a mighty sober gentle
man, to my great content. In Fenchurch-streete
met with Mr. Battersby ; says he, " Do you see Dan
Rawlinson's 1 door shut up ? " (which I did, and
wondered.) " Why," says he, " after all the sick
ness, and himself spending all the last year in the
country, one of his men is now dead of the plague,
and his wife and one of his mayds sicke, and himself
1 In the church of St. Dionis Backchurch, amongst other me
morials of different members of his family, is a monument on a
pillar for Daniel Rawlinson, the person mentioned in the text.
He was a London wine merchant, descended from the Graisdales
of Lancashire, born in this parish, and died in 1679, aged 65.
He was the father of Sir Thomas Rawlinson, President of Bride
well Hospital, and Lord Mayor in 1706; two of whose sons,
Thomas and Richard, LL.D., were well known in the literary
world as eminent antiquaries and book collectors, though their
extensive libraries were ultimately consigned to the hammer.
Richard, who had been educated at St. John's College, Oxford,
will long be remembered as a munificent benefactor to that uni
versity. — See Malcolm's London, vol. iii. p. 438, edit. 1803.

4Q

DIARY OF Aug. 6

shut up ; " which troubles me mightily. So home ;
and there do hear also from Mrs. Sarah Daniel, that
Greenwich is at this time much worse than ever it
was, and Deptford too : and she told us that they
believed all the towne would leave the towne and
come to London ; which is now the receptacle of all
the people from all infected places. God preserve
us ! After dinner in comes Mrs. Knipp, and I being
at the office went home to her, and there I sat and
talked with her, it being the first time of her being
here since her being brought to bed. I very
pleasant with her ; but I perceive my wife hath
no great pleasure in her being here, she not being
pleased with my kindnesse to her. However, we
talked and sang, and were very pleasant. By and
by comes Mr. Pierce and his wife, the first time she
also hath been here since her lying-in, both having
been brought to bed of boys, and both of them dead.
And here we talked, and were pleasant, only my
wife in a chagrin humour, she not being pleased with
my kindnesse to either of them, and by and by she
fell into some silly discourse wherein I checked her,
which made her mighty pettish, and discoursed
mighty offensively to Mrs. Pierce, which did dis
please me, but I would make no words, but put the
discourse by as much as I could (it being about a
report that my wife said was made of herself and
meant by Mrs. Pierce, that she was grown a gallant,
when she had but so few suits of clothes these two
or three years, and a great deale of that silly dis
course), and by and by Mrs. Pierce did tell her that
such discourse should not trouble her, for there went
as bad on other people, and particularly of herself at
this end of the towne, meaning my wife, that she was
crooked, which was quite false, which my wife had
the wit not to acknowledge herself to be the speaker
of, though she has said it twenty times. But by this

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 41
means we had little pleasure in their visit ; however,
Knipp and I sang, and then I offered them to carry
them home, and to take my wife with me, but she
would not go : so I with them, leaving my wife in a
very ill humour, and very slighting to them, which
vexed me. However, I would not be removed from
my civility to them, but sent for a coach, and went
with them ; and, in our way, Knipp saying that she
came out of doors without a dinner to us, I took
them to Old Fish Streete, to the very house and
woman where I kept my wedding dinner,1 where I
never was since, and there I did give them a jole of
salmon, and what else was to be had. And here we
talked of the ill-humour of my wife, which I did ex
cuse as much as I could, and they seemed to admit
of it, but did both confess they wondered at it ; but
from thence to other discourse, and among others to
that of my Lord Brouncker and Mrs. Williams, who
it seems do speake mightily hardly of me for my not
treating them, and not giving her something to her
closett, and do speake worse of my wife, and
dishonourably, but it is what she do of all the
world, so I value it not. But they told me how
poorly my Lord carried himself the other day to his
kinswoman, Mrs. Howard, and was displeased be
cause she called him uncle to a little gentlewoman
that is there with him, which he will not admit of ;
for no relation is to be challenged from others to a
lord, and did treat her thereupon very widely and
ungenteely. Knipp tells me also that my Lord keeps
another woman besides Mrs. Williams ; and that,
when I was there the other day, there was a great
hubbub in the house, Mrs. Williams being fallen
sicke, because my Lord was gone to his other mis-
1 The tavern was evidently selected to mark Pepys's disgust at
his wife's ill- humour ; but he probably did not venture to mention
the circumstance on his return home.

42 DIARY OF Aug. 7
tresse, making her wait for him till his return from
the other mistresse ; and a great deale of do there
was about it ; and Mrs. Williams swounded at it, at
the very time when I was there and wondered at
the reason of my being received so negligently. I
set them both at home, Knipp at her house, her
husband being at the doore ; and glad she was to be
found to have staid out so long with me and Mrs.
Pierce, and none else ; and Mrs. Pierce at her house,
and am mightily pleased with the discretion of her
during the simplicity and offensiveness of my wife's
discourse this afternoon. So I home, calling on W.
Joyce in my coach, and staid and talked a little with
him, who is the same silly prating fellow that ever he
was, and so home, and there find my wife mightily
out of order, and reproaching of Mrs. Pierce and
Knipp as wenches, and I know not what. But I did
give her no words to offend her, and quietly let all
pass, and so to bed without any good looke or words
to or from my wife.
7th. To the office, where we sat all the morning, and
home to dinner ; being pretty good friends with my
wife again, no angry words passing ; but she finding
fault with Mercer, suspecting that it was she that must
have told Mary, that must have told her mistresse
of my wife's saying that she was crooked. But the
truth is, she is jealous of my kindnesse to her. After
dinner, to the office, and did a great deale of busi
ness. In the evening comes Mr. Reeves, with a
twelve-foote glasse, so I left the office and home,
where I met Mr. Batelier with my wife, in order to
their going to-morrow, by agreement, to Bow to see
a dancing meeting. But Lord ! to see how soon I
could conceive evil fears and thoughts concerning
them; so Reeves and I and they up to the top
of the house, and there we endeavoured to see the
moon, and Saturn and Jupiter; but the heavens

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 43
proved cloudy, and so we lost our labour, having
taken pains to get things together, in order to the
managing of our long glasse. I receive fresh intel
ligence that Deptford and Greenwich are now afresh
exceedingly afflicted with the sickness more than
ever. 8th. Discoursed with Mr. Hooke, whom I met in
the streete, about the nature of sounds, and he did
make me understand the nature of musicall sounds
made by strings, mighty prettily ; and told me that
having come to a certain number of vibrations
proper to make any tone, he is able to tell how many
strokes a fly makes with her wings (those flies that
hum in their flying) by the note that it answers to in
musique, during their flying. That, I suppose, is a
little too much refined ; but his discourse in general
of sound was mighty fine. To St. James's, where
we attended with the rest of my fellows on the
Duke, whom I found with two or three patches
upon his nose and about his right eye, which came
from his being struck with the bough of a tree the
other day in his hunting ; and it is a wonder it did
not strike out his eye. After we had done our busi
ness with him, which is now but little, the want of
money being such as leaves us but little to do but to
answer complaints of the want thereof, and nothing
to offer to the Duke, the representing of our want of
money being now become useless, I to the Exche
quer about my Tangier Quarter's Tallys, and so by
coach home to Bow, to my Lady Pooly's,1 where my
wife was with Mr. Batelier and his sisters, and there
I found a noble supper, and every thing exceeding
pleasant, and their mother, Mrs. Batelier, a fine
woman, but mighty passionate — their company
mighty innocent and pleasant, we having never
1 Wife of Sir Edmund Pooly, mentioned before.

44 DIARY OF Aug.9
been here before. About ten o'clock we rose from
table, and sang a song, and so home in two coaches
(Mr. Batelier and his sister Mary and my wife and I
in one, and Mercer alone in the other) ; and after
being examined at Allgate, whether we were hus
bands and wives, home. I find Reeves there, it
being a mighty fine bright night, and so upon my
leads, though very sleepy, till one in the morning,
looking on the moon and Jupiter, with the twelve-
foote glasse and another of six foote, that he hath
brought with him to-night, and the sights mighty
pleasant, and one of the glasses I will buy, it being
very usefull. So to bed mighty sleepy, but with
much pleasure. Reeves lying at my house; and
l mighty proud I am (and ought to be thankfull to
I God Almighty) that I am able to have a spare bed
' for my friends.
9th. To the office. Here we sat, but to little pur
pose, nobody coming at us but to ask for money, not
to offer us any goods. At noon home to dinner,
mightily pleased with a Virgin's head that my wife
is now doing of. In the evening to Lumbard-streete,
about money, to enable me to pay Sir G. Carteret's
3000/., which he hath lodged in my hands, in behalf
of his son and my lady Jemimah, towards their por
tion, which, I thank God, I am able to do at a
minute's warning. In my way I inquired, and find
Mrs. Rawlinson is dead of the sickness, and her
mayde continues mighty ill. He 1 himself is got out
of the house. I met also with Mr. Evelyn in the
streete, who tells me the sad condition at this very
day at Deptford for the plague, and more at Deale
(within his precinct as one of the Commissioners for
sick and wounded seamen), that the towne is almost
quite depopulated. 1 Her husband, Daniel Rawlinson.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 45
10th. To the Exchange, where little newes but
what is in the Book, and, among other things, of a
man sent up for by the King and Council for saying
that Sir W. Coventry did give intelligence to the
Dutch of all our matters here. Thence to Sympson,
the joyner, and I am mightily pleased with what I
saw of my presses for my books, which he is making
for me. So homeward, and hear in Fenchurch-
streete, that now the mayde also is dead at Mr. Raw
linson' s ; so that there are three dead in all, the wife,
a man-servant, and mayde-servant. After dinner to
the office, and anon with my wife and sister Baity
abroad, left them in Paternoster Row, while Creed
and I to Westminster; and leaving him in the
Strand, I to my Lord Chancellor's, and did very little
business, and so away home by water, with more and
more pleasure, I every time reading over my Lord
Bacon's Faber Fortunae. So home, and there did a
little business, and so to supper, and to bed. Pleased
to hear of Mrs. Barbara Sheldon's good fortune, who
is like to have Mr. Wood's son, the mast-maker, a
very rich man, and to be married speedily, she being
mighty fine upon it.
nth. Up and to the office. Then to Colvill's, and
with him did come to an agreement about my 2600/.
assignment on the Exchequer, which I had of Sir
W. Warren ; and, to my great joy, I think I shall
get above 100/. by it, but I must leave it to be
finished on Monday. This afternoon I hear as if we
had landed some men upon the Dutch coasts, but I
believe it is but a foolery either in the report or the
attempt. 1 2th. (Lord's Day.) Up and to my chamber, where
busy all the morning, and my thoughts very much
upon the manner of my removal of my closett
things the next weeke into my present musique
room, if I find I can spare or get money to furnish it.

46 DIARY OF Aug. 13
By and by, in comes Betty Michell and her husband,
and so to dinner, I mightily pleased with their com
pany. In the evening, all parted, and I and my
wife up to her closett to examine her kitchen ac
counts, and there I took occasion to fall out with
her for her buying a laced handkercher and pinner
without my leave. Though the thing is not much,
yet I would not permit her to begin to do so, lest
worse should follow. From this we began both to
be angry, and so continued till bed, and did not sleep
friends. 13th. Up, without being friends with my wife, nor
great enemies, being both quiet and silent. To
Paul's Church-yarde, to treat with a bookbinder, to
come and gild the backs of all my books, to make
them handsome, to stand in my new presses, when
they come. So back again to Colvill's, and there
did end our treaty, to my full content, about my
Exchequer assignment of 2,600/. of Sir W. War
ren's, for which I gave him 170/. to stand to the
hazard of receiving it. So I shall get clear by it
230/., which is a very good jobb. God be praised
for it ! Having done with him, then he and I took
coach, and I carried him to Westminster, and there
set him down, in our way speaking of several things.
I find him a bold man to say anything of anybody,
and finds fault with our great ministers of state that
nobody looks after anything ; and I thought it dan
gerous to be free with him, for I do not think he
can keep counsel, because he blates to me what
has passed between other people and him. Thence
I to St. James's, and there missed Mr. Coventry;
but taking up Mr. Robinson in my coach, I towards
London, and there in the way met Sir W. Coventry,
and followed him to Whitehall, where a little dis
course very kind, and thence to Stokes the gold
smith, and sent him to and again to get me 1000/. in

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 47
gold ; and so home to dinner, my wife and I friends,
without any words almost of last night. After din
ner, I abroad to Stokes, and there did receive 1000/.
worth in gold, paying \%>\d. and 19^. for others ex
change. Home with them, and there to my office
to business, and anon home in the evening to supper
and to bed.
14th. (Thanksgiving day.1) Up, and comes Mr.
Foley and his man, with a box of a great variety of
carpenter's and joyner's tooles, which I had bespoke,
which please me mightily ; but I will have more.
To White Hall, where I found them at Chappell,
and met with Povy, who tells me how mad my letter
makes my Lord Peterborough, and what a furious
letter he hath writ to me in answer, though it is not
come yet. This did trouble me ; for though there
be no reason, yet to have a nobleman's mouth open 1
against a man may do a man hurt ; so I endeavoured
to have found him out and spoke with him, but could
not. So to the chappell, and heard a piece of the
Dean of Westminster's 2 sermon, and a special good
anthemne before the king, after a sermon, and then
home by coach with Captain Cocke, who is in pain
about his hempe, of which he says he has bought
great quantities, and would gladly be upon good
terms with us for it, wherein I promise to assist him.
So we light at the 'Change, where, after a small turn
or two, taking no pleasure now-a-days to be there,
because of answering questions that would be asked
there which I cannot answer, home ; and after din
ner, with my wife and Mercer to the Beare-garden,3
1 In honour of the naval success.
2 John Dolben, afterwards Archbishop of York. The sermon
was printed.
3 The Bear Garden was situated on Bankside, close to the pre
cinct of the Clinke Liberty, and very near to the old Palace of the
bishops of Winchester. The name still exists in a street or lane
sX the foot of Southwark Bridge. This old English, but barbarous

48 DIARY OF Aug. i4
where I have not been, I think, of many years, and
saw some good sport of the bull's tossing of the
dogs : one into the very boxes. But it is a very rude
I and nasty pleasure. We had a great many hectors
in the same box with us (and one very fine went
into the pit, and played his dog for a wager, which
was a strange sport for a gentleman), where they
drank wine, and drank Mercer's health first, which I
pledged with my hat off. Thence home, well enough
satisfied, however, with the variety of this afternoon's
exercise ; and so I to my chamber, till in the evening
our company came to supper. We had invited to a
venison pasty Mr. Batelier and his sister Mary, Mrs.
Mercer, her daughter Anne, Mr. Le Brun, and
W. Hewer ; and so we supped, and very merry.
And then about nine o'clock to Mrs. Mercer's gate,
where the fire and boys expected us, and her son had
provided abundance of serpents and rockets; and
there mighty merry (my Lady Pen and Pegg going
thither with us, and Nan Wright), till about twelve
at night, flinging our fireworks, and burning one
another and the people over the way. And at last
our businesses being most spent, we into Mrs. Mer
cer's, and there mighty merry, smutting one another
with candle grease and soot, till most of us were like
devils. And that being done, then we broke up,
and to my house ; and there I made them drink, and
upstairs we went, and then fell into dancing (W.
Batelier dancing well), and dressing him and I and
one Mr. Banister (who with his wife came over also
with us) like women ; and Mercer put on a suit of
Tom's, like a boy, and mighty mirth we had, and
Mercer danced a jigg; and Nan Wright and my
sport, which had been suppressed by the Puritans, was revived at
the Restoration. There are many particulars about the Bear
Garden in the " Gentleman's Magazine " for 1833, part i. p. 483 ;
part ii. p. 507.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 49
wife and Pegg Pen put on perriwigs. Thus we
spent till three or four in the morning, mighty merry;
and then parted, and to bed.
1 5th. Mighty sleepy ; slept till past eight of the
clock, and was called up by a letter from Sir W.
Coventry, which, among other things, tells me how
we have burned one hundred and sixty ships of the
enemy within the Fly. I up, and with all possible
haste, and in pain for fear of coming late, it being
our day of attending the Duke of York to St.
James's, where they are full of the particulars ; how
they are generally good merchant ships, some of
them laden and supposed rich ships. We spent five
fire-ships upon them. We landed on the Schelling
(Sir Philip Howard with some men, and Holmes, I
think, with others, about 1000 in all), and burned a
town ; and so came away. By and by the Duke of
York with his books showed us the very place and
manner, and that it was not our design and expecta
tion to have done this, but only to have landed on
the Fly, and burned some of their stores ; but being
come in, we spied those ships, and with our long
boats, one by one, fired them, our ships running all
aground, it being so shoal water. We were led to
this by, it seems, a renegado captain of the Hol
landers, who found himself ill used by De Ruyter
for his good service, and so came over to us, and
hath done us good service ; so that now we trust
him, and he himself did go on this expedition. The
service is very great, and our joys as great for it.
All this will make the Duke of Albemarle in repute
again, I doubt, though there is nothing of his in this.
But, Lord ! to see what successe do, whether with or \
without reason, and making a man seem wise, not- '¦
withstanding never so late demonstration of the pro- /
foundest folly in the world. Thence walked over
the Parke with Sir W. Coventry, in our way talking
4. E

50 DIARY OF Aug. 15
of the unhappy state of our office ; and I took an
opportunity to let him know, that though the back
wardness of all our matters of the office may be well
imputed to the known want of money, yet, perhaps,
there might be personal and particular failings ; and
that I did, therefore, depend still upon his promise
of telling me whenever he finds any ground for any
defect or neglect on my part, which he promised
me still to do ; and that there was none he saw, nor,
indeed, says he, is there room now-a-days to find fault
with any particular man, while we are in this condi
tion for money. This, methought, did not so well
please me ; but, however, I am glad I have said this,
thereby giving myself good grounds to believe that
at this time he did not want an occasion to have said
what he pleased to me, if he had had anything in his
mind, which by his late distance and silence I have
feared. But then again I am to consider he is
grown a very great man, much greater than he was,
and so must keep more distance ; and, next, that the
condition of our office will not afford me occasion of
shewing myself so active and deserving as heretofore;
and, lastly, the muchness of his business cannot
suffer him to mind it, or give him leisure to reflect
on anything, or shew the freedom and kindnesse
that he used to do. But I think I have done some
thing considerable to my satisfaction in doing this ;
and that if I do but my duty remarkably from this
time forward, and not neglect it, as I have of late
done, and minded my pleasures, I may be as well as
ever I was. Thence to the Exchequer, but did
nothing, they being all gone from their offices ; and
so to the Old Exchange, where the towne full of the
good newes, but I did not stay to tell or hear any,
but home, my head akeing and drowsy, and to din
ner. So down the river, reading " The Adventures
of Five Houres," which the more I read the more I

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 51
admire. So down below Greenwich, but the wind
and tide being against us, I back again to Deptford,
and did-' a little business there, and thence walked to
Redriffe ; and so home, and to the office a while.
In the evening comes W. Batelier and his sister, and
my wife, and fair Mrs. Turner into the garden,
and there we walked, and then with my Lady Pen
and Pegg in a-doors, and eat and were merry, and
so pretty late broke up, and to bed. The guns of
the Tower going off, and there being bonfires also in
the street for this late good successe.
1 6th. Up, having slept well, and after entering my
Journal, to the office, where all the morning, but of
late Sir W. Coventry has not come to us, he being
discouraged from the little we have to do but to
answer the clamours of people for money. At noon
home, and there dined with me my Lady Pen only
and W. Hewer at a haunch of venison boiled, where
pretty merry, only my wife vexed me a little about
demanding money to go with my Lady Pen to the Ex
change to lay out. I to the office, where all the after
noon doing much business ; but here I had a most
eminent experience of the evil of being behindhand
in business. I was the most backward to begin any
thing, and would fain have framed to myself an occa
sion of going abroad, and should, I doubt, have done
it, but some business coming in, one after another,
kept me there, and I fell to the ridding away of a
great deale of business, and when my hand was in
it was so pleasing a sight to see my papers disposed
of, and letters answered, which troubled my book
and table, that I could have continued there with de
light all night long, and did till called away by my
Lady Pen and Pegg and my wife to their house to
eat with them ; and there I went, and exceeding
merry, there being Nan Wright, now Mrs. Mark
ham, and sits at table with my Lady. So mighty

52

DIARY OF Aug. 17

merry, home and to bed. This day Sir W. Batten
did show us at the table a letter from Sir T. Allen,
which says that we have taken ten or twelve ships
(since the late great expedition of burning their ships
and towne), laden with hempe, flax, tarr, deales, &c.
This was good newes; but by and by comes in Sir
G. Carteret, and he asked us with full mouth what we
would give for good newes. Says Sir W. Batten,
" I have better than you, for a wager." They laid
sixpence, and we that were by were to give sixpence
to him that told the best newes. So Sir W. Batten
told his of the ten or twelve ships. Sir G. Carteret
did then tell us that upon the newes of the burning
of the ships and towne the common people of
Amsterdam did besiege De Witt's house, and he
was forced to flee to the Prince of Orange, who is
gone to Cleve to the marriage of his sister. This we
concluded all the best newes, and my Lord Brouncker
and myself did give Sir G. Carteret our sixpence
a-piece, which he did give Mr. Smith to give the
poor. Thus we made ourselves mighty merry.
17th. Up and betimes with Captain Erwin down
by water to Woolwich. Being come thither I did
some business there and at the Rope Yarde, and had
a piece of bride-cake sent me by Mrs. Barbary1 into
the boate after me, she being here at her uncle's, with
her husband, Mr. Wood's son, the mast maker, and
mighty nobly married, they say, she was, very fine,
and he very rich, a strange fortune for so odd a looked
mayde, though her hands and body be good, and nature
very good, I think. Back with Captain Erwin, discours
ing about the East Indys, where he hath often been.
And among other things he tells me how the King
of Syam seldom goes out without thirty or forty
thousand people with him, and not a word spoke,
nor a hum or cough in the whole company to be
1 Mrs. Barbara Sheldon.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 53
heard. He tells me the punishment frequently
there for malefactors is cutting off the crown e of
their head, which they do very dexterously, leav
ing their brains bare, which kills them presently.
He told me what I remember he hath once done
heretofore : that every body is to lie flat down at
the coming by of the King, and nobody to look
upon him upon pain of death. And that he and his
fellows, being strangers, were invited to see the
sport of taking of a wild elephant, and they did only
kneel, and look toward the King. Their drugger-
man1 did desire them to fall down, for otherwise he
should suffer for their contempt of the King. The
sport being ended, a messenger comes from the
King, which the druggerman thought had been to
have taken away his life ; but it was to enquire how
the strangers liked the sport. The druggerman
answered that they did cry it • up to be the best
that ever they saw, and that they never heard of
any Prince so great in every thing as this King.
The messenger being gone back, Erwin and his
company asked their druggerman what he had said,
which he told them. " But why," say they, " would
you say that without our leave, it being not true ?"
" It is no matter for that," says he, " I must have said
it, or have been hanged, for our King do not live by
meat, nor drink, but by having great lyes told him."
In our way back we come by a little vessel that
came into the river this morning, and says she left
the fleete in Sole Bay, and that she hath not heard
(she belonging to Sir W. Jenings, in the fleete) of
any such prizes taken as the ten or twelve I inquired
about, and said by Sir W. Batten yesterday to be
taken, so I fear it is not true. So to Westminster,
and there, to my great content, did receive my
2,000/. of Mr. Spicer's telling, which I was to receive
1 Dragoman.

54 DIARY OF Aug. 17
of Colvill, and brought it home with me to my house
by water, and there I find one of my new presses for
my books brought home, which pleases me mightily.
So, also, do my wife's progresse upon her head that
she is making. So to dinner, and thence abroad with
my wife, leaving her at Unthanks'; I to White Hall,
waiting at the Council door till it rose, and there
spoke with Sir W. Coventry, who and I much fear
our Victuallers, they having missed the fleete in their
going. But Sir W. Coventry says it is not our fault,
but theirs, if they have not left ships to secure them.
This he spoke in a chagrin sort of way, methought.
After a little more discourse of several businesses, I
away homeward, having in the gallery the good
fortune to see Mrs. Stewart, who is grown a little too
tall, but is a woman of most excellent features. The
narrative of the late expedition1 in burning the ships
is in print, and makes it a great thing, and I hope it
is so. So took up my wife and home, and I to the
office. Then to Sir W. Batten's, where Sir Richard
Ford did, very understandingly, methought, give us
an account of the originall of the Hollands Bank,
and the nature of it, and how they do never give
any interest at all to any person that brings in their
money, though what is brought in upon the public
faith interest is given by the State for. The unsafe
condition of a Bank under a Monarch, and the little
safety to a Monarch to have any; or Corporation
alone (as London in answer to Amsterdam) to have
so great a wealth or credit, it is, that makes it hard
to have a Bank here. And as to the former, he did
tell us how it sticks in the memory of most mer
chants how the late King (when by the war between
Holland and France and Spayne all the bullion oi
Spayne was brought hither, one-third of it to be
coyned ; and indeed it was found advantageous to the
1 See 15 th August, ante.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 55
merchant to coyne most of it), was persuaded in a
strait by my Lord Cottington1 to seize upon the
money in the Tower, which, though in a few days
the merchants concerned did prevail to get it re
leased, yet the thing will never be forgot. So home
to supper and to bed, understanding this evening,
since I came home, that our Victuallers are all come
into the fleete, which is good newes. Sir John
Minnes came home to-night not well, from Chat
ham, where he hath been at a pay, holding it at
Upnor Castle, because of the plague so much in the
towne of Chatham. He hath, they say, got an ague,
being so much on the water.
1 8th. All the morning at my office ; then to the
Exchange; so home, calling at my little mercer's in
Lumbard Streete, who hath the pretty wench, like
the old Queene, and there cheapened some stuffs to
hang my roome, that I intend to turn into a closett.
After dinner comes Creed to discourse with me
about several things of Tangier concernments and
accounts, among others starts the doubt, which I was
formerly aware of, but did wink at it, whether or no
Lanyon and his partners be not paid for more than
they should be, which he presses, so that it did a
little discompose me ; but, however, I do think no
harm will arise thereby. He gone, I to the office,
and there very late, very busy, and so home to sup
per and to bed.
1 Sir Francis Cottington, a younger son of Philip Cottington, of
Godmanston, Somerset, was created by Charles I. Lord Cotting
ton, of Hanworth. He became successively one of the Clerks of
the Council, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Ambassador into Spain,
and Lord Treasurer of England under the two elder Stuarts. He
died at Valladolid in 1653, s. p., and his body was brought to
England and interred under a stately monument in Westminster
Abbey, erected by Charles Cottington, his nephew and heir.
See 6th December, 1667, for an account of his disinheriting a
nephew for a foolish speech.

56 DIARY OF Aug. 20
19th. (Lord's Day.) Up and to my chamber, and
there began to draw out fair and methodically my
accounts of Tangier, in order to shew them to the
Lords. But by and by comes by agreement Mr.
Reeves, and after him Mr. Spong, and all day with
them, both before and after dinner, till ten o'clock at
night, upon opticke enquiries, he bringing me a
frame he closes on, to see how the rays of light do
cut one another, and in a darke room with smoake,
which is very pretty. He did also bring a lanthorne
with pictures in glasse, to make strange things
appear on a wall, very pretty. We did also at night
see Jupiter and his girdle and satellites, very fine,
with my twelve-foote glasse, but could not Saturne,
he being very dark. Spong and I had also several
fine discourses upon the globes this afternoon, par
ticularly why the fixed stars do not rise and set
at the same houre all the yeare long, which he
could not demonstrate, nor I neither, the reason of.
So, it being late, after supper they away home.
But it vexed me to understand no more from
Reeves and his glasses touching the nature and
reason of the several refractions of the several
figured glasses, he understanding the acting part,
but not one bit the theory, nor can make any
body understand it, which is a strange dullness,
methinks. 20th. Waked this morning about six o'clock, with
a violent knocking at Sir J. Minnes's doore, to call
up Mrs. Hammon, crying out that Sir J. Minnes is
a-dying. I saw him on Saturday, after his fit of the
ague, and then he was pretty lusty. Which troubles
me mightily, for he is a very good, harmless, honest
gentleman, though not fit for business. Up, and
to Deptford by water, reading " Othello, Moore of
Venice," which I ever heretofore esteemed a mighty
good play, but having so lately read " The Adven-

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 57
tures of Five Houres," it seems a mean thing. So
home, and all the afternoon upon my Tangier ac
counts, getting Tom Wilson to help me in writing as
I read ; and I find myself right to a farthing in an
account of 127,000/. This afternoon I visited Sir
J. Minnes, who, poor man, is much impatient by
these few days' sickness, and I fear indeed it will
kill him.
2 1st. Up, and to the office, where much business
and Sir W. Coventry there, who of late has wholly
left us, most of our business being about money,
to which we can give no answer, which makes him
weary of coming to us. He made an experiment
to-day, by taking up a heape of petitions that lay
upon the table. They proved seventeen in number,
and found them thus : one for money for reparation
for clothes, four desired to have tickets made out to
them, and the other twelve were for money. Dined
at home, and sister Baity with us. My wife snappish
because I denied her money to lay out this afternoon ;
however, good friends again, and by coach set them
down at the New Exchange, and I to the Exchequer,
and there find my business of my tallys in good
forwardness. So away, and taking up my wife,
went homewards. I 'light and to my mercer's in
Lumbard Streete, and there agreed for our purple
serge for my closett. So home and late at the
office, and then home, and there found Mr. Batelier
and his sister Mary, and we sat chatting a great
while, talking of witches and spirits, and he told me
of his own knowledge, being with some others at
Bourdeaux, making a bargain with another man at a
taverne for some clarets, they did hire a fellow to
thunder (which he had the art of doing upon a deale
board) and to rain and hail, that is, make the noise
of, so as did give them a pretence of undervaluing
their merchants' wines, by saying this thunder would

58 DIARY OF Aug. 22
spoil and turne them. Which was so reasonable to
the merchant, that he did abate two pistolls per ton
for the wine in belief of that.
22nd. I to St. James's, and there with the Duke
of York. I had opportunity of much talk with Sir
W. Pen to-day (he being newly come from the fleete) ;
and he do much undervalue the honour that is given
to the conduct of the late business of Holmes in
burning the ships and town,1 saying it was a great
thing indeed, and of great profit to us in being of
great losse to the enemy, but that it was wholly a busi
ness of chance, and no conduct employed in it. I
find Sir W. Pen do hold up his head at this time
higher than ever he did in his life. I perceive he
do look after Sir J. Minnes's place if he dies, and
though I love him not nor do desire to have him in,
yet I do think he is the first man in England for it.
To the Exchequer, and there received my tallys, and
paid my fees in good order, and so home, and there
find Mrs. Knipp and my wife going to dinner. She
tells me my song of " Beauty Retire " is mightily
cried up, which I am not a little proud of; and do
think I have done " It is Decreed " better, but I have
not finished it. My closett is doing by upholsters,
which I am pleased with, but fear my purple will be
too sad for that melancholy roome. After dinner
and doing something at the office, I with my wife,
Knipp, and Mercer, by coach to Moorefields, and
there saw " Polichinello," which pleases me mightily.
Thence carried Knipp home, calling at the Cocke
alehouse at the doore and drank, and so home, and
there find Reeves, and so up to look upon the stars,
1 The town burned (see 15th August, ante) was Brandaris, a
place of 1,000 houses, on the isle of Schelling; the ships lay
between that island and the Fly [i.e. Vlieland), the adjoining
island. This attack probably provoked that by the Dutch on
Chatham. See Pepys's remarks, 30th June, 1667, post.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 59
and do like my glasse very well, and did even with
him for it and a little perspective and the Lanthorne
that shows tricks, altogether costing me gl. 5s. od.
So to bed.
23rd. Sir W. Coventry sent me word that the
Dutch fleete is certainly abroad ; and so we are to
hasten all we have to send to our fleete with all
speed. But, Lord ! to see how my Lord Brouncker
undertakes the despatch of the fire-ships, when he is
no more fit for it than a porter ; and all the while
Sir W. Pen, who is the most fit, is unwilling to
displease him, and do not look after it ; and so the
King's work is like to be well done. At noon dined
at home, Lovett with us ; but he do not please me
in his business, for he keeps things long in hand, and
his paper do not hold so good as I expected — the
varnish wiping off in a little time — a very sponge ; and
I doubt by his discourse he is an oddekind of fellow,
and, in plain terms, a very rogue. He gone, I to
the office (having seen and liked the upholsters'
work in my roome — which they have almost done),
and there late, and in the evening find Mr. Batelier
and his sister there, and then we talked and eat and
were merry, and so we parted late, and to bed.
24th. Up, and dispatched several businesses at
home in the morning, and then comes Sympson to
set up my other new presses1 for my books, and so
he and I fell in to the furnishing of my new closett,
and taking out the things out of my old, and I kept him
with me all day, and he dined with me, and so all the
afternoon till it was quite darke hanging things, that is
my maps and pictures and draughts, and setting up
my books, and as much as we could do, to my most
1 These presses still exist, and, according to Pepys's wish, they
are placed in the second court of Magdalene College in a room
which they exactly fit, and the books are arranged in the presses
just as they were when presented to the college. (M. B.)

60 DIARY OF Aug. 26
extraordinary satisfaction ; so that I think it will be
as noble a closett as any man hath, and light enough
— though, indeed, it would be better to have had a
little more light. He gone, my wife and I to talk
and supper, and then to setting right my Tangier
accounts and enter my Journall, and then to bed with
great content in my day's worke. This afternoon
comes Mrs. . Barbary Sheldon, now Mrs. Wood, to
see my wife : I was so busy I would not see her.
But she came, it seems, mighty rich in rings and fine
clothes, and like a lady, and says she is matched
mighty well, at which I am very glad, but wonder
at her good fortune and the folly of her husband,
and vexed at myself for not paying her the respect
of seeing her, but I will come out of her debt
another time.
25th. All the morning at the office. After dinner
up to my new closett, which pleases me mightily ;
and then to the office, and then wrote my letters,
and then in mighty good humour home to supper
and to bed.
26th. (Lord's Day.) Up betimes, and to the
finishing the setting things in order in my new
closett, which I did thoroughly by the time sermon
was done at church, to my exceeding joy, only I was
a little disturbed with newes my Lord Brouncker
brought me, that we are to attend the King at
White Hall this afternoon, and that it is about a
complaint from the Generalls against us. Sir W.
Pen dined by invitation with me, his Lady and
daughter being gone into the country. We very
merry. After dinner to my office, whither I sent
for Mr. Lewes and instructed myself fully in the
business of the Victualling, to enable me to answer
in the matter ; and then Sir W. Pen and I by coach
to White Hall, and there staid till the King and
Cabinet were met in the Green Chamber, and then

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 61
we were called in ; and there the King begun with
me, to hear how the victualls of the fleete stood.
I did in a long discourse tell him and the rest (the
Duke of York, Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer,
both the Secretarys, Sir G. Carteret, and Sir W.
Coventry,) how it stood, wherein they seemed
satisfied, but press mightily for more supplies ; and
the letter of .the Generalls, which was read, did lay
their not going or too soon returning from the Dutch
coast, this next bout, to the want of victuals. They
then proceeded to the enquiry after the fire-ships ;
and did all very superficially, and without any severity
at all. But, however, I was in pain, after we came
out, to know how I had done ; and hear well enough.
But, however, it shall be a caution to me to prepare
myself against a day of inquisition. Being come
out, I met with Mr. Moore, and he and I an houre
together in the Gallery, telling me how far they are
gone in getting my Lord Sandwich's pardon, so as
the Chancellor is prepared in it ; and Sir H . Bennet
do promote it, and the warrant for the King's sign
ing is drawn. The business between my Lord
Hinchingbroke and Mrs. Mallett is quite broke off;
he attending her at Tunbridge, and she declaring her
affections to be settled ; and he not being fully
pleased with the vanity and liberty of her carriage.
He told me how my Lord has drawn a bill of
exchange from Spayne of 1,200/., and would have
me supply him with 500/. of it, but I avoyded it,
being not willing to embarke myself in money there,
where I see things going to ruine. Thence to dis
course of the times ; and he tells me he believes
both my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry, as
well as my Lord Sandwich and Sir G. Carteret,
have reason to fear, and are afeard of this Parlia
ment now coming on. He tells me that Bristoll's
faction is getting ground apace against my Lord

62 DIARY OF Aug. 27
Chancellor. He told me that my old Lord Coventry1
was a cunning, crafty man, and did make as many
bad decrees in Chancery as any man ; and that in
one case, that occasioned many years' dispute, at last
when the King came in, it was hoped by the party
grieved, to get my Lord Chancellor to reverse a
decree of his. Sir W. Coventry took the opportu
nity of the business between the Duke of York and
the Duchesse, and said to my Lord Chancellor, that
he had rather be drawn up Holborne to be hanged,
than live to see his father's grave defiled (in these
very terms) and any decree of his reversed. And
so the Chancellor did not think fit to do it, but it
still stands, to the undoing of one Norton, a printer,
about his right to the printing of the Bible, and
Grammar, &c.2 Sir J. Minnes had a very bad fit all
this day, and a hickup do take him, which is a very
bad sign, which troubles me truly.
27th. Up, and to my new closett. Then to break
open a window to the leads' side in my old closett,
which will enlighten the room mightily, and make
it mighty pleasant. Then to the office, and thither
came and walked an hour with Sir G. Carteret, who
tells me what is done about my Lord's pardon, and
is not for letting the Duke of York know any thing
of it beforehand, but to carry it as speedily and
quietly as we can. He seems to be very appre
hensive that the Parliament will be troublesome
and inquisitive into faults, but seems not to value
them as to himself. He gone, I to the Victualling
Office, setting the business of the state of the fleete's
1 The Lord Keeper. Ob. 1639-40.
2 Roger Norton, of Little Britain, printer of Latin, Greek, and
Hebrew to His Majesty, and one of the Patentees in the office of
King's Printer, in whom, as well as in the universities of Oxford
and Cambridge, is still vested the exclusive right of printing the
authorized English Version of the Scriptures. He was Master of
the Stationers' Company in 1684. Ob. 26th October, 1723.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 63
victualling even and plain. I have another memento
from Sir W. Coventry of the want of provisions in
the fleete, which troubles me, though there is no
reason for it ; but it will have the good effect of
making me more wary.
28th. At noon I, with my wife and Mercer, to
Philpott Lane, a great cook's shop, to the wedding
of Mr. Longracke, our purveyor, a good, sober, civil
man, and hath married a sober, serious mayde.
Here I met much ordinary company, I going thither
at his great request ; but there was Mr. Madden
and his lady, a fine, noble, pretty lady, and he a
fine gentleman seems to be. We four were most
together ; but the whole company was very simple
and innocent. A good dinner, and, what was best,
good musique. After dinner the young women
went to dance ; among others Mr. Christopher Pett
his daughter, who is a very pretty, modest girle, I
am mightily taken with her ; and that being done
about five o'clock, home, very well pleased with the
afternoon's work. And so we broke up mightily
civilly, the bride and bridegroom going to Green
wich, they keeping their dinner here only for my
sake. We home, where I to the office, and anon
am on a sudden called to meet Sir W. Pen and Sir
W. Coventry at the Victualling Office, which did put
me out of order to be so surprised. But I went,
and there Sir William Coventry did read me a letter
from the Generalls to the King, a most scurvy letter,
reflecting most upon Sir W. Coventry, and then
upon me for my accounts (not that they are not
true, but that we do not consider the expence of
the fleete), and then upon the whole office, in
neglecting them and the King's service, and this in
very plain and sharp and menacing terms. I did
give a good account of matters according to our
-computation of the expence of the fleete. I find

64 DIARY OF Aug. 29.
Sir W. Coventry willing enough to accept of any
thing to confront the Generalls. But a great supply
must be made, and shall be in grace of God ! But,
however, our accounts here will be found the true
ones. Having done here, and much work set me, I
with greater content home than I thought I should
have done, and so to the office awhile, and then
home, and awhile in my new closet,, which delights
me every day more and more, and so late to bed.
29th. Up betimes, and then, by appointment with
Sir W. Pen, to my Lord Bellassis, he sitting in the
coach the while, while I up to my Lord and there
offered him my account of the bills of exchange I
have received and paid for him, wherein we agree
all but one 200/. bill of Vernatty's drawing, wherein
I doubt he has endeavoured to cheate my Lord ;
but that will soon appear. Thence took leave, and
found Sir W. Pen talking to Orange Moll, of the
King's house, who, to our great comfort, told us that
they begun to act on the 18th of this month. So on
to St. James's, in the way Sir W. Pen telling me that
Mr. Norton,1 that married Sir J. Lawson's daughter,
is dead. She left 800/. a year jointure, a son to
inherit the whole estate. She freed from her father-
in-law's tyranny, and is in condition to helpe her
mother, who needs it; of which I am glad, the
young lady being very pretty. To St. James's, and
there Sir W. Coventry took Sir W. Pen and me
apart, and read to us his answer to the Generalls'
letter to the King that he read last night ; wherein
he is very plain, and states the matter in full defence
of himself and of me with him, which he could not
avoid ; which is a good comfort to me, that I hap
pen to be involved with him in the same cause.
And then, speaking of the supplies which have been
1 See 6th July, 1665.

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 65
made to this fleete, more than ever in all kinds to
any, even that wherein the Duke of York himself
was, " Well," says he, " if this will not do, I will say,
as Sir J. Falstaffe did to the Prince, 'Tell your ,
father, that if he do not like this let him kill the
next Piercy himself.' " So I into the Parke and
home, and there find Mrs. Mary Batelier, and she
dined with us ; and thence I took them to Islington,
and there eat a custard ; and so back to Moorfields,
and shewed Batelier, with my wife, Polichinello, 1
which I like the more I see it ; and so home with
great content, she being a mighty good-natured,
pretty woman. No newes where the Dutch are.
We begin to think they will steale through the
Channel to meet Beaufort. We think our fleete
sayled yesterday, but we have no newes of it.
30th. In the afternoon, and at night till two in
the morning, framing my great letter about the
victualling of the fleete, about which there has been
so much ado and exceptions taken by the Generalls.
31st. Wrote it fair, which done I sent it to Sir
W. Coventry to peruse and send to the fleete by
the first opportunity ; and so pretty betimes to bed.
Much pleased to-day with the thoughts of gilding
the backs of all my books alike in my new presses.
September 1st. My wife and I to Polichinello, \
but were there horribly frighted to see Young Killi-
grew come in with a great many more young sparks ;
but we hid ourselves, so as we think they did not
see us. By and by they went away, and then we
were at rest again ; and so, the play being done, we
to Islington, and there eat and drank and mighty
merry ; and so home singing, and, after a letter or
two at the office, to bed.
2nd. (Lord's-day.) Some of our mayds sitting up
late last night to get things ready against our feast
to-day, Jane called us up about three in the morning,
4. F

66 DIARY OF Sept. 2
to tell us of a great fire they saw in the City. So I
rose and slipped on my night-gowne, and went to
her window, and thought it to be on the back-side
of Marke-lane at the farthest; but, being unused
to such fires as followed, I thought it far enough
off; and so went to bed again and to sleep. About
seven rose again to dress myself, and there looked
out at the window, and saw the fire not so much as
it was and further off. So to my closett to set
things to rights after yesterday's cleaning. By and
by Jane comes and tells me that she hears that
above 300 houses have been burned down to-night
by the fire we saw, and that it is now burning down
all Fish-street, by London Bridge. So I made myself
ready presently, and walked to the Tower, and there
got up upon one of the high places, Sir J. Robinson's
little son going up with me ; and there I did see the
houses at that end of the bridge all on fire, and
an infinite great fire on this and the other side
the end of the bridge; which, among other people,
did trouble me for poor little Michell and our Sarah
on the bridge. So down, with my heart full of
trouble, to the Lieutenant of the Tower, who tells
me that it begun this morning in the King's baker's1
house in Pudding-lane, and that it hath burned
St. Magnus's Church and most part of Fish-street
already. So I down to the water-side, and there
got a boat and through bridge, and there saw a
lamentable fire. Poor Michell's house, as far as the
Old Swan, already burned that way, and the fire
running further, that in a very little time it got as
far as the Steele-yard, while I was there. Everybody
endeavouring to remove their goods, and flinging
into the river or bringing them into lighters that
lay off; poor people staying in their houses as long
1 His name was Faryner.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 67
as till the very fire touched them, and then running
into boats, or clambering from one pair of stairs by
the water-side to another. And among other things,
the poor pigeons, I perceive, were loth to leave their
houses, but hovered about the windows and bal-
conys till they, some of them, burned their wings,
and fell down. Having staid, and in an hour's time
seen the fire rage every way, and nobody, to my
sight, endeavouring to quench it, but to remove their
goods, and leave all to the fire, and having seen it
get as far as the Steele-yard, and the wind mighty
high and driving it into the City ; and every thing,
after so long a drought, proving combustible, even
the very stones of churches, and among other things
the poor steeple 1 by which pretty Mrs.  lives,
and whereof my old schoolfellow Elborough is
parson, taken fire in the very top, and there burned
till it fell down : I to White Hall (with a gentleman
with me who desired to go off from the Tower, to
see the fire, in my boat) ; and there up to the King's
closett in the Chappell, where people came about
me, and I did give them an account dismayed them
all, and word was carried in to the King. So I was
called for, and did tell the King and Duke of York
what I saw, and that unless his Majesty did com
mand houses to be pulled down nothing could stop
the fire. They seemed much troubled, and the
King commanded me to go to my Lord Mayor2
from him, and command him to spare no houses,
but to pull down before the fire every way. The
Duke of York bid me tell him that if he would
have any more soldiers he shall ; and so did my
Lord Arlington afterwards, as a great secret. Here
meeting with Captain Cocke, I in his coach, which
1 St. Lawrence Poultney, of which Thomas Elborough was
curate. 2 Sir Thomas Bludworth. See 30th June, 1666.

68 DIARY OF Sept. 2
he lent me, and Creed with me to Paul's, and there
walked along Watling-street, as well as I could,
every creature coming away loaden with goods to
save, and here and there sicke people carried away
in beds. Extraordinary good goods carried in carts
and on backs. At last met my Lord Mayor in
Canning-street, like a man spent, with a hand-
kercher about his neck. To the King's message
he cried, like a fainting woman, " Lord ! what can
I do ? I am spent : people will not obey me. I
have been pulling down houses ; but the fire over
takes us faster than we can do it." That he needed
no more soldiers ; and that, for himself, he must go
and refresh himself, having been up all night. So
he left me, and I him, and walked home, seeing
people all almost distracted, and no manner of means
used to quench the fire. The houses, too, so very
thick thereabouts, and full of matter for burning, as
pitch and tarr, in Thames-street; and warehouses
of oyle, and wines, and brandy, and other things.
Here I saw Mr. Isaac Houblon, the handsome man,
prettily dressed and dirty, at his door at Dowgate,
receiving some of his brother's things, whose houses
were on fire ; and, as he says, have been removed
twice already ; and he doubts (as it soon proved)
that they must be in a little time removed from his
house also, which was a sad consideration. And to
see the churches all filling with goods by people who
themselves should have been quietly there at this
time. By this time it was about twelve o'clock ; and
so home, and there find my guests, who were Mr.
Wood, and his wife Barbary Sheldon, and also Mr.
Moone : she mighty fine, and her husband, for aught
I see, a likely man. But Mr. Moone's design and
mine, which was to look over my closett and please
him with the sight thereof, which he hath long de
sired, was wholly disappointed ; for we were in great

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS 69
trouble and disturbance at this fire, not knowing
what to think of it. However, we had an extra
ordinary good dinner, and as merry as at this time
we could be. While at dinner Mrs. Batelier came
to enquire after Mr. Woolfe and Stanes (who, it
seems, are related to them) whose houses in Fish-
street are all burned, and they in a sad condition.
She would not stay in the fright. Soon as dined, I
and Moone away, and walked through the City, the
streets full of nothing but people and horses and
carts loaden with goods, ready to run over one
another, and removing goods from one burned house
to another. They now removing out of Canning-
streete (which received goods in the morning) into
Lumbard-streete, and further ; and among others I
now saw my little goldsmith, Stokes,1 receiving some
friend's goods, whose house itself was burned the
day after. We parted at Paul's ; he home, and I to
Paul's Wharf, where I had appointed a boat to at
tend me, and took in Mr. Carcasse2 and his brother,
1 Humphrey Stocks, at the Black Horse in Lombard Street.
2 James Carcasse, who is again frequently mentioned, was a
clerk in the office for issuing tickets to the seamen. He pub
lished a 4to. volume of poems in 1679, called " Lucida Intervalla,"
the following extract from which strongly reflecting upon Pepys,
has been printed in "Notes and Queries," vol. ii. p. 87 : —
" Get thee behind me, then, dumb devil begone,
The Lord hath Ephthatha said to my tongue.
Him I must praise who open'd hath my lips,
Sent me from Navy to the Ark by Pepys ;
By Mr. Pepys, who hath my rival been
For the Duke's favour, more than years thirteen ;
But I excluded, he high and fortunate,
This secretary I could never mate.
But clerk of th' Acts, if I'm a parson, then
I shall prevail, the voice outdoes the pen ;
Though in a gown, the challenge I may make,
And wager win, save, if you can, your stake.
To th' Admiral I all submit, and vail  "
The concluding line cut off and imperfect.

70 DIARY OF Sept. 2
whom I met in the streete, and carried them below
and above bridge to and again to see the fire, which
was now got further, both below and above, and no
likelihood of stopping it. Met with the King and
Duke of York in their barge, and with them to
Queenhithe, and there called Sir Richard Browne
to them. Their order was only to pull down houses
apace, and so below bridge at the water-side ; but
little was or could be done, the fire coming upon
them so fast. Good hopes there was of stopping it
at the Three Cranes above, and at Buttolph's Wharf
below bridge, if care be used ; but the wind carries
it into the City, so as we know not by the water-side
what it do there. Riverjull of lighters and boats
taking in goods, and good goods swimming in the
water, and only I observed that hardly one lighter
or boat in three that had the goods of a house in,
but there was a pair of Virginalls1 in it. Having
seen as much as I could now, I away to White Hall
by appointment, and there walked to St. James's
Parke, and there met my wife and Creed and Wood
and his wife, and walked to my boat ; and there
upon the water again, and to the fire up and down,
it still encreasing, and the wind great. So near the
fire as we could for smoke ; and all over the Thames,
with one's face in the wind, you were almost burned
with a shower of fire-drops. This is very true ; so as
houses were burned by these drops and flakes of
fire, three or four, nay, five or six houses, one from
another. When we could endure no more upon the
water, we to a little ale-house on the Bankside, over
against the Three Cranes, and there staid till it was
dark almost, and saw the fire grow ; and, as it grew
darker, appeared more and more, and in corners and
upon steeples, and between churches and houses, as
1 A sort of spinet, so called from young women playing upon it.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 71
far as we could see up the hill of the City, in a most
horrid malicious bloody flame, not like the fine flame
of an ordinary fire. Barbary and her husband away
before us. We staid till, it being darkish, we saw
the fire as only one entire arch of fire from this to
the other side the bridge, and in a bow up the hill
for an arch of above a mile long : it made me weep
to see it. The churches, houses, and all on fire
and flaming at once ; and a horrid noise the flames
made, and the cracking of houses at their ruine.
So home with a sad heart, and there find every body
discoursing and lamenting the fire ; and poor Tom
Hater came with some few of his goods saved out
of his house, which is burned upon Fish-streete
Hill. I invited him to lie at my house, and did re
ceive his goods, but was deceived in his lying there,
the newes coming every moment of the growth of
the fire ; so as we were forced to begin to pack up
our owne goods, and prepare for their removal ; and
did by moonshine (it being brave dry, and moon
shine, and warm weather) carry much of my goods
into the garden, and Mr. Hater and I did remove
my money and iron chests into my cellar, as thinking
that the safest place. And got my bags of gold into
my office, ready to carry away, and my chief papers
of accounts also there, and my tallys into a box by
themselves. So great was our fear, as Sir W. Batten
hath carts come out of the country to fetch away his
goods this night. We did put Mr. Hater, poor man,
to bed a little ; but he got but very little rest, so much
noise being in my house, taking down of goods.
3rd. About four o'clock in the morning, my Lady
Batten sent me a cart to carry away all my money,
and plate, and best things, to Sir W. Rider's at
Bednall-greene. Which I did, riding myself in my
night-gowne in the cart ; and, Lord ! to see how the
streets and the highways are crowded with people

72 DIARY OF Sept. 3
running and riding, and getting of carts at any rate
to fetch away things. I find Sir W. Rider tired with
being called up all night, and receiving things from
several friends. His house full of goods, and much
of Sir W. Batten's and Sir W. Pen's. I am eased
at my heart to have my treasure so well secured.
Then home, with much ado to find a way, nor any
sleep all this night to me nor my poor wife. But
then and all this day she and I, and all my people
labouring to get away the rest of our things, and did
get Mr. Tooker to get me a lighter to take them in,
and we did carry them (myself some) over Tower
Hill, which was by this time full of people's goods,
bringing their goods thither; and down to the
lighter, which lay at the next quay, above the Tower
Docke. And here was my neighbour's wife, Mrs.
 , with her pretty child, and some few of her
things, which I did willingly give way to be saved
with mine ; but there was no passing with any thing
through the postern, the crowd was so great. The
Duke of York came this day by the office, and spoke
to us, and did ride with his guard up and down the.
City to keep all quiet (he being now Generall, and
having the care of all). This day, Mercer being not
at home, but against her mistress's order gone to her
mother's, and my wife going thither to speak with
W. Hewer, met her there, and was angry ; and her
mother saying that she was not a 'prentice girl, to
ask leave every time she goes abroad, my wife with
good reason was angry, and, when she came home,
bid her be gone again. And so she went away,
which troubled me, but yet less than it would, be
cause of the condition we are in, in fear of coming
in a little time to being less able to keepe one in her
quality. At night lay down a little upon a quilt of
W. Hewer's in the office, all my owne things»being
packed up or gone ; and after me my poor wife did
the like, we having fed upon the remains of yester-

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 73
day's dinner, having no fire nor dishes, nor any
opportunity of dressing any thing.
4th. Up by break of day to get away the re
mainder of my things ; which I did by a lighter at
the Iron gate : * and my hands so few, that it was
the afternoon before we could get them all away.
Sir W. Pen and I to Tower-streete, and there -met
the fire burning three or four doors beyond Mr.
Howell's, whose goods, poor man, his trayes, and
dishes, shovells, &c. were flung all along Tower-
street in the kennels, and people working] therewith
from one end to the other ; the fire coming on in
that narrow streete, on both sides, with infinite fury.
Sir W. Batten not knowing how to remove his wine,
did dig a pit in the garden, and laid it in there ; and
I took the opportunity of laying all the papers of my
office that I could not otherwise dispose of. And
in the evening Sir W. Pen and I did dig another,
and put our wine in it ; and I my Parmazan cheese,
as well as my wine and some other things. The
Duke of York was at the office this day, at Sir W.
Pen's ; but I happened not to be within. This
afternoon, sitting melancholy with Sir W. Pen in
our garden, and thinking of the certain burning
of this office, without extraordinary means, I did pro
pose for the sending up of all our workmen from
Woolwich and Deptford yards (none whereof yet
appeared), and to write to Sir W. Coventry to have
the Duke of York's permission to pull down houses,
rather than lose this office, which would much hinder
the King's business. So Sir W. Pen went down
this night, in order to the sending them up to-morrow
morning ; and I wrote to Sir W. Coventry about the
business,2 but received no answer. This night Mrs.
1 Irongate Stairs, Lower Thames Street.
2 A copy of this letter, preserved among the Pepys MSS. in the
author's own handwriting, is subjoined : —
Sir, — The fire is now very neere us as well on Tower Streete as

74 DIARY OF SePt.4
Turner (who, poor woman, was removing her goods
all this day, good goods into the garden, and knew
not how to dispose of them), and her husband supped
with my wife and me at night, in the office, upon a
shoulder of mutton from the cook's, without any
napkin or any thing, in a sad manner, but were
merry. Only now and then walking into the garden,
and saw how horridly the sky looks, all on a fire in
the night, was enough to put us out of our wits ; and,
indeed, it was extremely dreadful, for it looks just as
if it was at us, and the whole heaven on fire. I after
supper walked in the darke down to Tower-streete,
and there saw it all on fire, at the Trinity House on
that side, and the Dolphin Taverne on this side,
which was very near us ; and the fire with extra
ordinary vehemence. Now begins the practice of
blowing up of houses in Tower-streete, those next
the Tower, which at first did frighten people more
than any thing ; but it stopped the fire where it was
done, it bringing down the houses to the ground in
the same places they stood, and then it was easy to
quench what little fire was in it, though it kindled
Fanchurch Street side, and we little hope of our escape but by
that remedy, to ye want whereof we doe certainly owe ye loss of y°
City, namely, ye pulling down of houses, in ye way of y* fire.
This way Sir W. Pen and myself have so far concluded upon ye
practising, that he is gone to Woolwich and Deptford to supply
himself with men and necessarys in order to the doeing thereof, in
case at his returne our condition be not bettered and that he
meets with his R. Hs approbation, which I have thus undertaken
to learn of you. Pray please to let me have this night (at what
ever hour it is) what his R. HB directions are in this particular.
Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten having left us, we cannot add,
though we are well assured of their, as well as all ye neighbour
hood's concurrence. Yr obedient Servnt,
S. P.
Sir W. Coventry,
Septr. 4, 1666.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 75
nothing almost. W. Hewer this day went to see how
his mother did, and comes late home, telling us how
he hath been forced to remove her to Islington,
her house in Pye-corner being burned ; so that the
fire is got so far that way, and all the Old Bayly, and
was running down to Fleet-streete ; and Paul's is
burned, and all Cheapside. I wrote to my father
this night, but the post-house being burned, the
letter could not go.
5th. I lay down in the office again upon W.
Hewer's quilt, being mighty weary, and sore in my
feet with going till I was hardly able to stand. About
two in the morning my wife calls me up and tells me
of new cryes of fire, it being come to Barking
Church, which is the bottom of our lane.1 I up,
and finding it so, resolved presently to take her
away, and did, and took my gold, which was about
2,350/., W. Hewer, and Jane, down by Proundy's
boat to Woolwich ; but Lord ! what a sad sight it
was by moone-light to see the whole City almost on
fire, that you might see it plain at Woolwich, as if
you were by it. There, when I came, I find the
gates shut, but no guard kept at all, which troubled
me, because of discourses now begun, that there is a
plot in it, and that the French had done it. I got
the gates open, and to Mr. Shelden's, where I
locked up my gold, and charged my wife and W.
Hewer never to leave the room without one of
them in it, night or day. So back again, by the
way seeing my goods well in the lighters at Dept
ford, and watched well by people. Home, and
whereas I expected to have seen our house on fire,
it being now about seven o'clock, it was not. But to
the fire, and there find greater hopes than I ex
pected ; for my confidence of finding our Office on
' Seething Lane.

76 DIARY OF Sept. 5
fire was such, that I durst not ask any body how it
was with us, till I came and saw it was not burned.
But going to the fire, I find by the blowing up of
houses, and the great helpe given by the workmen
out of the King's yards, sent up by Sir W. Pen,
there is a good stop given to it, as well as at Marke-
lane end as ours ; it having only burned the dyall
of Barking Church, and part of the porch, and was
there quenched. I up to the top of Barking steeple,
and there saw the saddest sight of desolation that
I ever saw ; every where great fires, oyle- cellars,
and brimstone, and other things burning. I be
came afeard to stay there long, and therefore down
again as fast as I could, the fire being spread as
far as I could see it ; and to Sir W. Pen's, and there
eat a piece of cold meat, having eaten1 nothing since
Sunday, but the remains of Sunday's dinner. Here
I met with Mr. Young and Whistler; and having
removed all my things, and received good hopes
that the fire at our end is stopped, they and I
walked into the town, and find Fenchurch-streete,
Gracious-streete, and Lumbard-streete all in dust.
The Exchange a sad sight, nothing standing there,
of all the statues or pillars, but Sir Thomas Gres-
ham's picture in the corner. Walked into Moore-
fields (our feet ready to burn, walking through
the towne among the hot coles), and find that full
of people, and poor wretches carrying their goods
there, and every body keeping his goods together
by themselves (and a great blessing it is to them
that it is fair weather for them to keep abroad
night and day) ; drunk there, and paid twopence for
a plain penny loaf. Thence homeward, having
passed through Cheapside and Newgate Market, all
burned, and seen Anthony Joyce's house in fire.
1 He forgot the shoulder of mutton from the cook's the day
before.

SIR THOMAS GRESHA.M.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 77
And took up (which I keep by me) a piece of glasse
of Mercers' Chappell in the streete, where much
more was, so melted and buckled1 with the heat of
the fire like parchment. I also did see a poor cat
taken out of a hole in a chimney, joyning to the
wall of the Exchange, with the hair all burned off
the body, and yet alive. So home at night, and
find there good hopes of saving our office ; but
great endeavours of watching all night, and having
men ready; and so we lodged them in the office,
and had drink and bread and cheese for them. And
I lay down and slept a good night about midnight,
though when I rose I heard that there had been
a great alarme of French and Dutch being risen,
which proved nothing. But it is a strange thing to
see how long this time did look since Sunday, having
been always full of variety of actions, and little
sleep, that it looked like a week or more, and I had
forgot almost the day of the week.
6th. Up about five o'clock, and there met Mr.
Gauden at the gate of the office (I intending to go
out, as I used, every now and then to-day, to see
how the fire is) to call our men to Bishop's-gate,
where no fire had yet been near, and there is now
one broke out : which did give great grounds to
people, and to me too, to think that there is some
kind of plot in this (on which many by this time
have been taken, and it hath been dangerous for any
stranger to walk in the streets), but I went with the
men, and we did put it out in a little time ; so that
that was well again. It was pretty to see how hard
the women did work in the cannells, sweeping of
water ; but then they would scold for drink, and be
as drunk as devils. I saw good butts of sugar broke
open in the street, and people go and take handsfull
1 Buckled, i.e., bent, in which sense it is used by Shakespeare,
" Henry IV.," part ii. act i. scene i.

78 DIARY OF Sept 6
out, and put into beer, and drink it. And now all
being pretty well, I took boat, and over to South-
warke, and took boat on the other side the bridge,
and so to Westminster, thinking to shift myself,
being all in dirt from top to bottom; but could not
there find any place to buy a shirt or pair of gloves,
Westminster Hall being full of people's goods, those
in Westminster having removed all their goods, and
the Exchequer money put into vessels to carry to
Nonsuch;1 but to the Swan, and there was trimmed;
and then to White Hall, but saw nobody; and so
home. A sad sight to see how the River looks : no
houses nor church near it, to the Temple, where it
stopped. At home, did go with Sir W. Batten, and
our neighbour, Knightly (who, with one more, was
the only man of any fashion left in all the neigh
bourhood thereabouts, they all removing their goods
and leaving their houses to the mercy of the fire), to
Sir R. Ford's, and there dined in an earthen platter
— a fried breast of mutton ; a great many of us, but
very merry, and indeed as good a meal, though as
ugly a one, as ever I had in my life. Thence down
to Deptford, and there with great satisfaction landed
all my goods at Sir G. Carteret's safe, and nothing
missed I could see, or hurt. This being done to my
great content, I home, and to Sir W. Batten's, and
there with Sir R. Ford, Mr. Knightly, and one
Withers, a professed lying rogue, supped well, and
mighty merry, and our fears over. From them to
the office, and there slept with the office full of
labourers, who talked, and slept, and walked all
night long there. But strange it was to see Cloth-
workers' Hall on fire these three days and nights
in one body of flame, it being the cellar full of
oyle.
1 Nonsuch House, near Epsom, where the Exchequer had been
kept during the Plague.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 79
7th. Up by five o'clock; and, blessed be God!
find all well; and by water to Paul's Wharfe.
Walked thence, and saw all the towne burned, and
a miserable sight of Paul's church, with all the roofs
fallen, and the body of the quire fallen into St.
Fayth's ; Paul's school also, Ludgate, and Fleet-
street, my father's house, and the church, and a
good part of the Temple the like. So to Creed's
lodging, near the New Exchange, and there find
him laid down upon a bed ; the house all unfur
nished, there being fears of the fire's coming to
them. There borrowed a shirt of him, and washed.
To Sir W. Coventry, at St. James's, who lay with
out curtains, having removed all his goods ; as the
King at White Hall, and every body had done, and
was doing. He hopes we shall have no publique
distractions upon this fire, which is what every body-
fears, because of the talke of the French having a
hand in it. And it is a proper time for discontents ,-
but all men's minds are full of care to protect them
selves, and save their goods : the militia is in arms
every where. Our fleetes, he tells me, have been in
sight one of another, and most unhappily by fowle
weather were parted, to our great losse, as in reason
they do conclude ; the Dutch being come out only
to make a shew, and please their people ; but in
very bad condition as to stores, victuals, and men.
They are at Boulogne, and our fleete come to St.
Ellen's. We have got nothing, but have lost one
ship, but he knows not what. Thence to the Swan,
and there drank; and so home, and find all well.
My Lord Brouncker, at Sir W. Batten's, tells us the
Generall1 is sent for up, to come to advise with the
King about business at this juncture, and to keep
all quiet; which is great honour to him, but I am
1 The Duke of Albemarle.

80 DIARY OF Sept. 8
sure is but a piece of dissimulation. So home, and
did give orders for my house to be made clean ; and
then down to Woolwich, and there find all well.
Dined, and Mrs. Markham came to see my wife.
This day our Merchants first met at Gresham Col
lege, which, by proclamation, is to be their Exchange.
Strange to hear what is bid for houses all up and
down here ; a friend of Sir W. Rider's having 1 50/.
for what he used to let for 40/. per annum. Much
dispute where the Custome-house shall be ; thereby
the growth of the City again to be foreseen. My
Lord Treasurer, they say, and others, would have it
at the other end of the towne. I home late to Sir
W. Pen's, who did give me a bed ; but without cur
tains or hangings, all being down. So here I went
the first time into a naked bed, only my drawers on ;
and did sleep pretty well : but still both sleeping
and waking had a fear of fire In my heart, that I
took little rest. People do all the world over cry-
out of the simplicity of my Lord Mayor in generall ;
and more particularly in this business of the fire,
laying it all upon him. A proclamation is come out
for markets to be kept at Leadenhall and Mile-end-
greene, and several other places about the towne ;
and Tower-hill, and all churches to be set open to
receive poor people.
8th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen
by water to White Hall and they to St. James's.
I stopped with Sir G. Carteret to desire him to
go with us, and to enquire after money. But the
first he cannot do, and the other as little, or says,
|' when we can get any, or what shall we do for
it?" He, it seems, is employed in the correspon
dence between the City and the King every day,
in settling of things. I find him full of trouble,
to think how things will go. I left him, and to St.
James's, where we met first at Sir W. Coventry's

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 81
chamber, and there did what business we can,
without any books. Our discourse, as every thing
else, was confused. The fleete is at Portsmouth,
there staying a wind to carry them to the Downes,
or towards Boulogne, where they say the Dutch
fleete is gone, and stays. We concluded upon pri
vate meetings for a while, not having any money to
satisfy any people that may come to us. I bought
two eeles upon the Thames, cost me six shillings.
Thence with Sir W. Batten to the Cock-pit, whither
the Duke of Albemarle is come. It seems the King
holds him so necessary at this time, that he hath
sent for him, and will keep him here. Indeed, his
interest in the City, being acquainted, and his care
in keeping things quiet, is reckoned that wherein he
will be very serviceable. We to him : he is courted
in appearance by every body. He very kind to us ;
and I perceive he lays by all business of the fleete
at present, and minds the City, and is now hastening
to Gresham College, to discourse with the Alder
men. Sir W. Batten and I home (where met by
my brother John, come to town to see how things
are with us), and then presently he with me to
Gresham College ; where infinity of people, partly
through novelty to see the new place, and partly to
find out and hear what is become one man of another.
I met with many people undone, and more that have
extraordinary great losses. People speaking their
thoughts variously about the beginning of the fire,
and the rebuilding of the City. Then to Sir W.
Batten's, and took my brother with me, and there
dined with a great company of neighbours, and
much good discourse ; among others, of the low
spirits of some rich men in the City, in sparing any
encouragement to the poor people that wrought for
the saving their houses. Among others, Alderman
Starling, a very rich man, without children, the fire
4. g

82 DIARY OF Sept. 9
at next door to him in our lane, after our men had
saved his house, did give 2s. 6d. among thirty of
them, and did quarrel with some that would remove
the rubbish out of the way of the fire, saying that
they came to steal. Sir W. Coventry told me of
another this morning in Holborne, which he showed
the King : that when it was offered to stop the fire near
his house for such a reward that came but to 2s. 6d.
a man among the neighbours he would give but i8d.
Thence to Bednall Green by coach, my brother with
me, and saw all well there, and fetched away my
journall-book to enter for five days past. I was
much frighted and kept awake in my bed, by some
noise I heard a great while below stairs ; and the
boys not coming up to me when I knocked. It was
by their discovery of some people stealing of some
neighbours' wine that lay in vessels in the streets.
So to sleep ; and all well all night.
9th. (Sunday.) Up ; and was trimmed, and ,sent
my brother to Woolwich to my wife, to dine with
her. I to church, where our parson made a melan
choly but good sermon ; and many and most in the
church cried, specially the women. The church
mighty full ; but few of fashion, and most strangers.
I walked to Bednall Green, and there dined well,
but a bad venison pasty at Sir W. Rider's. Good
people they are, and good discourse ; and his daugh
ter, Middleton, a fine woman, discreet. Thence
home, and to church again, and there preached Dean
Harding j1 but, methinks, a bad, poor sermon, though
proper for the time ; nor eloquent, in saying at this
time that the City is reduced from a large folio to a
decimo-tertio. So to my office, there to write down
my journall, and take leave of my brother, whom I
sent back this afternoon, though rainy ; which it hath
not done a good while before. But I had no room
1 Nathaniel Hardy, Dean of Rochester.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 83
or convenience for him here till my house is fitted ;
but I was very kind to him, and do take very well of
him his journey. I did give him 40^. for his pocket,
and so, he being gone, and, it presently raining, I
was troubled for him, though it is good for the fyre.
Anon to Sir W. Pen's to bed, and made my boy
Tom to read me asleep.
10th. All the morning clearing our cellars, and
breaking in pieces all my old lumber, to make room,
and to prevent fire. And then to Sir W. Batten's,
and dined ; and there hear that Sir W. Rider says
that the towne is full of the report of the wealth
that is in his house, and would be glad that his
friends would provide for the safety of their goods
there. This made me get a cart ; and thither, and
there brought my money all away. Took a hackney-
coach myself (the hackney-coaches now standing at
Allgate). Much wealth indeed there is at his house.
Blessed be God, I got all mine well thence, and
lodged it in my office ; but vexed to have all the
world see it. And with Sir W. Batten, who would
have taken away my hands before they were stowed.
But by and by comes brother Baity from sea, which
I was glad of ; and so got him, and Mr. Tooker, and
the boy, to watch with them all in the office all night,
while I went down to my wife to Woolwich, and
there find my wife out of humour and indifferent, as
she uses upon her having much liberty abroad.
nth. Lay there, and up betimes, and by water
with my gold, and laid it with the rest in my office.
In the evening at Sir W. Pen's, with my wife, at
supper : he in a mad, ridiculous, drunken humour ;
and it seems there have been some late distances
between his lady and him, as my wife tells me.
After supper, I home, and with Mr. Hater, Gibson,1
and Tom alone, got all my chests and money into
1 Probably Clerk of the Cheque at Deptford in 1688.

84 DIARY OF Sept. i4
the further cellar with much pains, but great content
to me when done. So very late and weary to bed.
1 2th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W.
Pen to St. James's by water, and there did our usual
business with the Duke of York. Away home, and
to dinner, with Baity and his wife. After dinner I
took him down with me to Deptford, and there, by
the Bezan, loaded above half my goods, and sent
them away.
1 3th. Up, and down to Tower Wharfe ; and there,
with Baity and labourers from Deptford, did get my
goods housed well at home. So down to Deptford
again to fetch the rest, and there eat a bit of dinner
at the Globe, with the master of the Bezan with me,
while the labourers went to dinner. Here I hear
that this poor towne do bury still of the plague seven
or eight in a day. So to Sir G. Carteret's to work,
and there did to my content ship off into the Bezan
all the rest of my goods, saving my pictures and fine
things, that I will bring home in wherrys when the
house is fit to receive them : and so home, and un
load them by carts and hands before night, to my
exceeding satisfaction : and so after supper to bed in
my house, the first time I have lain there ; and lay
with my wife in my old closett upon the ground, and
Baity and his wife in the best chamber, upon the
ground also.
14th. Up, and to work, having carpenters come
to helpe in setting up bedsteads and hangings ;
and at that trade my people and I all the morning,
till pressed by publique business to leave them
against my will in the afternoon : and yet I was
troubled in being at home, to see all my goods lie
up and down the house in a bad condition, and
strange workmen going to and fro might take what
they would almost. All the afternoon busy ; and
Sir W. Coventry came to me, and found me, as God

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 85
would have it, in my office, and people about me
setting my papers to rights ; and there discoursed
about getting an account ready against the Parlia
ment, and thereby did create me infinite of business,
and to be done on a sudden ; which troubled me :
but, however, he being gone, I about it late, and to
good purpose. And so home, having this day also
got my wine out of the ground again, and set in my
cellar ; but with great pain to keep the porters that
carried it in from observing the money-chests there.
This day, poor Tom Pepys, the turner, was with me,
and Kate Joyce, tobespeake places ; one for himself,
the other for her husband. She tells me he hath lost
140/. per annum, but hath seven houses left.
15th. All the morning at the office. Dined with
Sir W. Batten. Wrote near thirty letters and orders
with my owne hand. At it till eleven at night ; and
it is strange to see how clear my head was, being
eased of all the matter of all these letters ; whereas
one would think that I should have been dazed. I
never did observe so much of myself in my life. In
the evening there comes to me Captain Cocke, and
walked a good while in the garden. He says he
hath computed that the rents of houses lost this fire
in the City comes to 600,000/. per annum ; that this
will make the Parliament more quiet than otherwise
they would have been, and give the King a more
ready supply ; that the supply must be by excise, as
it is in Holland ; that the Parliament will see it
necessary to carry on the warr ; that the late storm
hindered our beating the Dutch fleete, who were gone
out only, to satisfy the people, having no business to
do but avoid us ; that the French, as late in the yeare
as it is, are coming ; that the Dutch are really in bad
condition, but that this unhappinesse of ours do give
them heart ; that there was a late difference between
my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry about

86 DIARY OF Sept. 17
neglect in the latter to send away an express of the
other's in time ; that it came before the^ King, and
the Duke of York concerned himself in it ; but this
fire hath stopped it. The Dutch fleete is not gone
home, but rather to the North, and so dangerous to
our Gottenburgh fleete. That the k Parliament is
likely to fall foul upon some persons ; and, among
others, on the Vice-chamberlaine,1 though we both
believe with little ground. That certainly never so
great a loss as this was borne so well by citizens in
the world ; he believing that not one merchant upon
the 'Change will break upon it. That he do not
apprehend there will be any disturbances in State
upon it ; for that all men are busy in looking after
their owne business to save themselves. He gone,
I to finish my letters, and home to bed ; and find
to my infinite joy many rooms clean ; and myself and
wife lie in our own chamber again. But much terri
fied in the nights now-a-days with dreams of fire, and
falling down of houses.
1 6th (Lord's day). At noon, with my wife, against
her will, all undressed and dirty, dined at Sir W.
Pen's, where was all the company of our families
in towne ; but, Lord ! so sorry a dinner : venison
baked in pans, that the dinner I have had for his
lady alone hath been worth four of it. Thence,
after dinner, displeased with our entertainment, to my
office again, and there till almost midnight, and then
home, my head aching mightily about our accounts.
17th. Up betimes, and shaved myself after a
week's growth : but, Lord ! how ugly I was yester
day and how fine to-day! By water, seeing the
Cityall the way, a sad sight indeed, much fire being
still in. To Sir W. Coventry, and there read over
my yesterday's work : being a collection of the
1 Sir G. Carteret.

'666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 87
particulars of the excesses of charge created by a war,
with great content. Sir W. Coventry was in great
pain lest the French fleete should be passed by our
fleete, who had notice of them on Saturday, and were
preparing to go meet them ; but their minds altered,
and judged them merchant-men, when the same day
the Success, Captain Ball, made their whole fleete,
and came to Brighthelmstone, and thence at five
o'clock afternoon, Saturday, wrote Sir W. Coventry
newes thereof; so that we do much fear our miss
ing them. Here came in and talked with him
Sir Thomas Clifford,1 who appears a very fine gentle
man, and much set by at Court for his activity in
going to sea, and stoutness every where, and stirring
up and down. Thence by coach over the ruines,
down Fleete Streete and Cheapside to Broad Streete
to Sir G. Carteret. Thence, after some discourse
with him upon our publique accounts, I back home,
and all the day with Harman and his people finish
ing the hangings and beds in my house. They gone
and I weary, my wife and I, and Baity and his wife,
who came hither to-day to helpe us, to a barrel of
oysters, and so to bed.
1 8th. It was a sad rainy and tempestuous night.
I did my business in the afternoon, in forwarding the
settling of my house, very well. Troubled at my
wife's haire coming off so much. This day the
Parliament met, and adjourned till Friday, when the
King will be with them.
19th. To St. James's, and did our usual business
before the Duke of York ; which signified little, our
1 Eldest son of Hugh Clifford, Esq., of Ugbrooke, M.P. for
Totness, 1661, and knighted for his conduct in the sea-fight 1665.
After filling several high offices, he was, in 1672, created Baron
Clifford of Chudleigh, and constituted High Treasurer, which
place he resigned the following year, a few months before his
death.

88 DIARY OF Sept 19
business being only complaints of lack of money.
Here I saw a bastard of the late King of Sweden's
come to kiss his hands ; a mighty modish French
like gentleman. Thence to White Hall, with Sir
W. Batten and W. Pen, to Wilkes's ; and there did
hear many stories of Sir Henry Wood,1 about Lord
Norwich drawing a tooth at a health. Another time,
he and Pinchbacke and Dr. Goffe,2 now a religious
man, Pinchbacke did begin a frolick to drink out of
a glass with a toad in it : he did it without harm.
Goffe, who knew sacke would kill the toad, called for
sacke ; and when he saw it dead, says he, " I will
have a quick toad, and will not drink from a dead
toad."3 By that means, no other being to be found,
he escaped the health. Thence home, and dined, and
to Deptford and got all my pictures put into wherries,
and my other fine things, and landed them all very
well, and brought them home, and got Sympson to
set them all up to-night ; and he gone, and I and
the boy to finish and set up my books, and every
else in my house, till two o'clock in the morning, and
then to bed ; but mightily troubled, and even in my
sleep, at my missing four or five of my biggest books,
Speed's Chronicle and Maps, and the two parts of
Waggoner,4 and a book of cards, which I suppose I
have put up with too much care, that I have forgot
where they are, for sure, they are not stole. Two
1 Clerk of the Spicery to Charles I., and after the Restoration,
Clerk to the Board of Green Cloth.
2 Dr. Stephen Goffe, Clerk of the Queen's Closet, and her
Assistant Confessor. He had been Chaplain to Colonel Goring,
but became, m 1641, a Roman Catholic— Evelyn's Diary, vol. i.
p. 19, edit. 1850.
3 They swallow their own contradictions as easily as a hector
can drink a frog in a glass of mae.—Bentivogtio and Urania,
book v. p. 92, 3rd edit.
* Apparently Wagenaer's "Speculum Nauticum," published at
Leyden in 1585, and translated into English by Anthony Ashley
about the year 1588.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 89
little pictures of sea and ships, and a little gilt frame
belonging to my plate of the River, I want ; but my
books do heartily trouble me. Most of my gilt
frames are hurt, which also troubles me. This day
I put on two shirts, the first time this year, and do
grow well upon it ; so that my disease is nothing but
wind. 20th. Up to the setting to my closett to rights,
and Sir W. Coventry takes me at it, which did not
displease me. He and I to discourse about our
accounts, and the bringing them to the Parliament,
and with much content to see him rely so well on
my part. To Sir Carteret, he tells me how the
fleete is come into the Downes. Nothing done, nor
French fleete seen : we drove all from our anchors.
But he says newes is come that De Ruyter is dead,
or very near it, of a hurt in his mouth, upon the dis
charge of one of his own guns ; which put him into
a fever, and he likely to die, if not already dead.
In the afternoon, out by coach, my wife with me
through all the ruines, to shew her them, which frets
her much, and is a sad sight indeed. Set her down
at her brother's, and thence I to Westminster Hall,
and there staid a little while, and called her home.
She did give me an account of great differences be
tween her mother and Balty's wife. The old woman
charges her with going abroad and staying out late,
and painting in the absence of her husband, and I
know not what ; and they grow proud, both he and
she, and do not help their father and mother out of
what I help them to, which I do not like, nor my wife.
So home, and to the office, to even my journall, and
then home.
2 1 st. Up, and mightily pleased with the setting of
my books the last night in order, and that which did
please me most of all is that W. Hewer tells me
that upon enquiry he do find that Sir W. Pen hath a

90 DIARY OF Sept. 22
hamper more than his own, which he took for a
hamper of bottles of wine, and are books in it. I
was impatient to see it, but they were carried into a
wine-cellar, and the boy is abroad with him at the
House, where the Parliament met , to-day, and the
King to be with them. At noon after dinner I sent
for Harry, and he tells me it is so, and brought me
by and by my hamper of books to my great joy,
with the same books I missed, and three more great
ones, and no more. I did give him $s. for his pains.
And so home with great joy, and there after a little
doing at the office about our accounts, which now
draw near the time they should be ready, the House
having ordered Sir G. Carteret, upon his offering
them, to bring them in on Saturday next, home, and
there, with great pleasure, very late new setting all
my books ; and now I am in as good condition as I
desire to be in all worldly respects. The Lord of
Heaven make thankfull, and continue me therein !
22nd. My house is so clean as I never saw it, or
any other house in my life, and every thing in as
good condition as ever before the fire ; but with, I
believe, about 20/. cost one way or other, besides
about 20/. charge in removing my goods, and do not
find that I have lost any thing but two little pictures
of ships and sea, and a little gold frame for one of
my sea-cards. My glazier, indeed, is so full of
worke that I cannot get him to come to perfect my
house. To the office, and there busy now for good
and all about my accounts. My Lord Brouncker
came thither. He do now give me a watch, a plain
one, in the roome of my former watch with many
moulds which I did give him. If it goes well, I
care not for the difference in worth, though I believe
there is 5/. In the afternoon comes Anthony Joyce
to see me, and with tears told me his losse, but yet
that he had something left that he can live well upon,

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 91
and I doubt it not. But he would buy some place
that he could have, and yet keepe his trade. He
gone, I to the office again, and then to Sir G.
Carteret, and there found Mr. Wayth, but, Lord !
how fretfully Sir G. Carteret do discourse with Mr.
Wayth about his accounts, like a man that under
stands them not one word. I held my tongue and
let him go on like a passionate foole. In the after
noon I paid for the two lighters that carried my
goods to Deptford, and they cost me 8/. Till past
midnight at our accounts, and have brought them to
a good issue, but must work to-morrow, which T.
Hater had no mind to, it being the Lord's day, but,
being told the necessity, permitted, poor man ! This
day wrote for brother John to come to towne.
Among other reasons, my estate lying in money, I
am afeard of any sudden miscarriage. So to bed
mightily contented in dispatch of so much business.
23rd. (Lord's day.) Up, and after being trimmed,
all the morning at the office till about one o'clock,
and then home, and my people with me, and Mr.
Wayth and I eat a bit of victuals, and my house
being so clean makes me mightily pleased, but only
I do lacke Mercer or somebody in the house to sing
with. As soon as eat a bit Mr. Wayth and I by
water to White Hall, and there at Sir G. Carteret's
lodgings Sir W. Coventry met, and we did debate
the whole business of our accounts to the Parlia
ment ; where it appears to us that the charge of the
war from September 1st, 1664, to this Michaelmas,
will have been but 3,200,000/., and we have paid in
that time somewhat about 2,200,000/. ; so that we
owe above 900,000/. : but our method of accounting,
though it cannot, I believe, be far wide from the
mark, yet will not abide a strict examination if the
Parliament should be troublesome. Here happened
a pretty question of Sir W. Coventry, whether this

92 DIARY OF Sept. 25
account of ours will not put my Lord Treasurer to a
difficulty to tell what is become of all the money the
Parliament have given in this time for the war,
which hath amounted to about 4,000,000/., which
nobody there could answer ; but I. perceive they did
doubt what his answer could be. Having done,
Wayth and I back again, and my wife and I for
pleasure to Fox-hall, and there eat and drank, and
so back home, and I to the office till night drawing
the letter we are to send with our account to my
Lord Treasurer, and that being done to my mind, I
home to bed.
24th. To St. James's, and up and down to look for
Sir W. Coventry ; and at last found him and Sir G.
Carteret with the Lord Treasurer at White Hall,
consulting how to make up my Lord Treasurer's
general account, as well as that of the Navy parti
cularly. Here I brought the letter, but found that
Sir G. Carteret had altered his account since he did
give me the abstract of it : so all my letter must be
writ over again. So to Sir G. Carteret's lodgings,
to speak a little about the alteration ; and there
looking over the book Sir G. Carteret intends to de
liver to the Parliament of his payments since
September 1st, 1664, I find my name the very
second for flags, which I had bought for the Navy,
of calico, once, about 500 and odd pounds, which
vexed me mightily. At last, I concluded of scrap
ing out my name and putting in Mr. Tooker's, which
eased me ; though the price was such as I should
have had glory by. Here I saw my Lady Carteret
lately come to towne, who, good lady ! is mighty
kind, and I must make much of her, for she is a
most excellent woman.
25th. Up betimes, with all my people to get the
letter writ over, and other things done, which I did,
and by coach to Lord Brouncker's, and got his hand

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 93
to it ; and then to the Parliament House and got it
signed by the rest, and then delivered it at the
House-door to Sir Philip Warwicke ; Sir G. Carteret
being gone into the House with his book of accounts
under his arme, to present to the House. I had
brought my wife to White Hall, and leaving her
with Mrs. Michell, where she sat in her shop and
had burnt wine sent for her, I walked in the Hall,
and among others with Ned Pickering, who con
tinues still a lying, bragging, coxcombe, telling me
that my Lord Sandwich may thank himself for all
his misfortune ; for not suffering him and two or
three good honest fellows more to take them by the
throats that spoke ill of him, and told me how basely
Lionell Walden1 hath carried himself towards my
Lord, by speaking slightly of him, which I shall re
member. Thence took my wife home to dinner,
and then to the office, and late at night to Mrs.
Turner's, where she had got my wife and Lady
Pen and Pegg, and supped, and after supper and the
rest of the company by design gone, Mrs. Turner
and her husband did lay their case to me about
their lodgings, Sir J. Minnes being now gone wholly
to his owne, and now, they being empty, they doubt
Sir T. Harvy or Lord Brouncker may look after the
lodgings. I did give them the best advice, poor
people, that I could, and would do them any kind
nesse, though it is strange that now they should
have ne'er a friend of Sir W. Batten or Sir W. Pen
to trust to but me, that they have disobliged. So
home to bed, and all night still mightily troubled in
my sleepe with fire and houses pulling down.
26th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes by coach to St.
James's where every body going to the House, I
away by coach to White Hall, and after a few turns,
1 M.P. for Huntingdon.

94 DIARY OF Sept. 26
and hearing that our accounts came into the House
but to-day, I away by coach home, taking up my
wife and calling at Bennet's, our late mercer, who is
come into Covent Garden to a fine house look
ing down upon the Exchange ; and I perceive
many Londoners every day come ; and Mr. Pierce
hath let his wife's closett, and the little blind bed
chamber, and a garret to a silke man for 50/. fine,
and 30/. per annum, and 40/. per annum more for
dieting the master and two prentices. By Mr. Dug-
dale1 I hear the great loss of books in St. Paul's
Church-yarde, and at their Hall also, which they
value at about 150,000/.; 'some booksellers being
wholly undone, and among others, they say, my
poor Kirton. And Mr. Crumlum,2 all his books and
household stuff burned ; they trusting to St. Fayth's,
and the roof of the church falling, broke the arch
down into the lower church, and so all the goods
burned. A very great loss. His father3 hath lost
above 1,000/. in books ; one book newly printed, a
Discourse, it seems, of Courts. Here I had the hap
to see my Lady Denham : and at night went into
the dining-room and saw several fine ladies ; among
others, Castlemaine, but chiefly Denham again ; and
the Duke of York taking her aside and talking to
her in the sight of all the world, all alone ; which was
strange, and what also I did not like. Here I met
with good Mr. Evelyn, who cries out against it, and
calls it bitchering, for the Duke of York talks a little
to her, and then she goes away, and then he follows
1 John Dugdale, Chief Gentleman of the Chamber to Lord
Chancellor Clarendon, and afterwards Windsor Herald. He died
in 1700.
2 Samuel Cromleholme, or Crumlum, Master of St. Paul's
School. 3 William Dugdale, then Norroy Herald, knighted in 1676-7
and made Garter King-at-Arms. The work alluded to was the
" Origines Juridiciales."

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 95
her again like a dog. He observes that none of the
nobility come out of the country at all to help the
King, or comfort him, or prevent commotions at this
fire ; but do as if the King were nobody ; nor ne'er
a priest comes to give the King and Court good
council, or to comfort the poor people that suffer;
but all is dead, nothing of good in any of their
minds : he bemoans it, and says he fears more ruin
hangs over our heads. Thence away by coach, and
called my wife at Unthank's, where she tells me
she hath bought a gowne of 1 5s. per yard ; the
same, before her face, my Lady Castlemaine this
day bought also, which I seemed vexed for, though
I do not grudge it her, but to incline her to have
Mercer again, which I believe I shall do, but the
girle, I hear, has no mind to come to us again, which
vexes me. Being come home, I to Sir W. Batten's,
and there hear our business was tendered to the
House to-day, and a Committee of the whole House
•chosen to examine our accounts, and a great many
Hotspurs enquiring into it, and likely to give us
much trouble and blame, and perhaps (which I am
afeard of) will find faults enow to demand better
officers. This I do truly fear. Thence away with
Sir W. Pen, who was there, and he and I walked in
the garden by moonlight, and he proposes his and
my looking out into Scotland about timber, and to
use Pett there ; for timber will be a good commodity
this time of building the City ; and I like the motion,
and doubt not that we may do good in it. I was
mightily pleased with our discourse, and so parted,
and to the office to finish my journall for three or
four days, and so home to supper, and to bed. Our
fleete abroad, and the Dutch too, for all we know ;
the weather very bad ; and under the command of
an unlucky man, I fear. God bless him, and the
fleete under him !

96 DIARY OF Sept. 27
27th. A very furious blowing night all the night ;
and my mind still mightily perplexed with dreams,
and burning the rest of the town, and waking
in much pain for the fleete. I to look out Penny,
my tailor, to speak for a cloak and cassock for
my brother, who is coming to town ; and I will
have him in a canonical dress, that he may be the
fitter to go abroad with me. I then to the Ex
chequer, and there, among other things, spoke to Mr.
Falconbridge about his girle I heard sing at Non
such, and took him and some other Exchequer men
to the Sun Taverne, and there spent 2.?. 6d. upon
them, and he sent for the girle, and she has a pretty
way of singing, but has almost forgot for want of
practice. She is poor in clothes, and not bred to any
carriage, but will be soon taught all, and if Mercer do
not come again, I think we may have her upon better
terms, and breed her to what we please. Thence to
Sir W. Coventry's, and there dined with him and
Sir W. Batten, the Lieutenant of the Tower, and Mr.
Thin,1 a pretty gentleman, going to Gottenburgh.
Having dined, Sir W. Coventry, Sir W. Batten, and
I to consider of some things more to be done in a
list to be given to the Parliament of all our ships, and
time of entry and discharge. Sir W. Coventry
seems to think they will soon be weary of the business,
and fall quietly into the giving the King what is fit.
This he hopes. Thence home to the office till night,
and thence to Sir W. Batten's, and eat a barrel of
oysters I did give them, and so home, and to bed.
No newes of the fleete yet, but that they went by
Dover on the 25th towards the Gun-fleete, but
1 Thomas Thynne, Envoy Extraordinary to Sweden. He was
the eldest son of Sir Thomas Thynne, Bart., of Kempsford, by
Mary, daughter of Thomas, first Lord Coventry, and on the
murder of his cousin, Thomas Thynne, of Longleate, succeeded
to all his possessions. In 1692 he was created Viscount Wey
mouth, and died in 17 14, Bet. 74.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 97
whether the Dutch be yet abroad, or no, we hear
not. De Ruyter is not dead, but like to do well.
Most think that the gross of the French fleete are
gone home again.
28th. Lay long in bed, and am come to agreement
with my wife to have Mercer again, on condition she
may learn this winter two months to dance, and she
promises me she will endeavour to learn to sing, and
all this I am willing enough to. So up, and by and
by the glazier comes to finish the windows of my
house, which pleases me, and the bookbinder to gild
the backs of my books. I got the glass of my book-
presses to be done presently, which did mightily
content me ; and so to my office to my people, busy
about our Parliament accounts; and so to dinner,
and then at them again close. At night comes Sir
W. Pen, and he broke to me a proposition of his and
my joining in a design of fetching timber and deals
from Scotland, by the help of Mr. Pett upon the
place ; which, while London is building, will yield
good money. I approve it. We judged a third
man, that is knowing, is necessary, and concluded on
Sir W. Warren, and sent for him to come to us to
morrow morning. I full of this all night, and the
project of our man of war ; but he and I both dis
satisfied with Sir W. Batten's proposing his son to
be Lieutenant, which we, neither of us, like. He
gone, I discoursed with W. Hewer about Mercer,
having a great mind she should come to us again,
and instructed him what to say to her mother about
it. And so home, to supper, and to bed.
29th. A little meeting at the office by Sir W.
Batten, Sir W. Pen, and myself, being the first since
the fire. We rose soon, and comes Sir W. Warren,
by our desire, and with Sir W. Pen and I talked of
our Scotch motion, which Sir W. Warren did seem
to be stumbled at, and did give no ready answer,
* 11

98 DIARY OF Sept. 30
but proposed something previous to it, which he
knows would find us work, or writing to Mr. Pett
to be informed how matters go there as to cost and
ways of providing sawyers or saw-mills. We
parted without coming to any good resolution in
it, I discerning plainly that Sir W. Warren had no
mind to it, but that he was surprised at our motion.
He gone, I to some office business, and got done by
night the lists that are to be presented to the Par
liament Committee of the ships, number of men, and
time employed since the war, and then I with it to
St. James's, where Sir W. Coventry staid for me,
and he and I perused our lists, and find to our
great joy that the wages, victuals, wear and tear, cast
by the medium of the men, will come to above
3,000,000 ; and that the extraordinaries, which all
the world will allow us, will arise to more than
will justify the expence we have declared to have
been at since the war, viz., 320,000/., he and I being
both mightily satisfied, he saying to me, that if
God send us over this rubb, we must take another
course for a better Comptroller. So we parted,
and I to my wife at Unthanke's, who staid for the
finishing her new best gowne (the best that
ever I made her), coloured tabby, flowered, and
so took it and her home; and then to my people,
and having cut them out a little more work than
they expected, viz., the writing over the lists in a
new method, I home to bed, being in good humour,
and glad of the end we have brought this matter to.
30th. (Lord's day.) Up, and to church, where I
have not been a good while : and there the church
infinitely thronged with strangers since the fire
came into our parish ; but not one handsome face
in all of them, as if, indeed, there was a curse, as
Bishop Fuller heretofore said, upon our parish.
Here I saw Mercer come into the church, which I

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 99
had a mind to, but she avoided looking up, which
vexed me. A pretty good sermon, and then home,
and a good dinner ; and then to have my haire cut
against winter close to my head, and then to church
again. A sorry sermon, and then away home. W.
Pen and I to walk to talk about several businesses,
and then home; and my wife and I to read in
Fuller's Church History, and so to supper and to
bed. This month ends with my mind full of busi
ness and concernment how this office will speed with
the Parliament, which begins to be mighty severe in
the examining our accounts, and the expence of the
Navy this war.
October 1st. All the morning at the office, getting
the list of all the ships and vessels employed since
the war, for the Committee of Parliament. At noon
with it to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and there
dined with him. Thence I to White Hall, and there
did hear Betty Michell was at this end of the towne,
and so without breach of vowe did stay to endea
vour to meet with her and carry her home ; but she
did not come, so I lost my whole afternoon. But
pretty ! how I took another pretty woman for her,
taking her a clap on the breech, thinking verily it
had been her. So away home, and my wife do tell
me that W. Hewer tells her that Mercer has no
mind to come. So I was angry at it, and resolved
with her to have Falconbridge's girle, and I think it
will be better for us, and will please me better with
singing. With this resolution, to supper and to
bed. 2nd. Up, and am sent for to Sir G. Carteret, and
to him, and there he tells me how our lists are re
ferred to a Sub-committee to consider and examine,
and that I am ordered to be there this afternoon. So
I away to White Hall to the House, and spoke to
Sir W. Coventry, where he told me I must attend

ioo

DIARY OF Oct. 2

the Committee in the afternoon, and received some
hints of more work to do. So I away to the Ex
chequer, and thence to an alehouse, and found Mr.
Falconbrige, and agreed for his kinswoman to come
to me. He says she can dress my wife, and will do
anything we would have her to do, and is of a good
spirit and mighty cheerful. So away home, and eat
a short dinner, and then with Sir W. Pen to White
Hall, and do give his boy my book of papers to hold
while he went into the Committee Chamber in the
Inner Court of Wards, and I walked without with
Mr. Slingsby, of the Tower, who did inform me
mightily in several things ; among others, that the
heightening or lowering of money is only a cheat,
and do good to some particular men, which, if I
can but remember how, I am now by him fully con
vinced of. I into the Committee Chamber before
the Committee sat, and there heard Birch discourse
highly and understandingly about the Navy business
and a proposal made heretofore to farm the Navy;
but Sir W. Coventry did abundantly answer him,
and is a most excellent person. By and by the Com
mittee met, and appointed me to attend a Committee
of them to-morrow at the office to examine our lists.
This put me into a mighty fear and trouble, they
doing it in a very ill humour, methought. So I
away home full of trouble in mind to think what I
shall be obliged to answer, that am neither fully fit,
nor in any measure concerned to take the shame and
trouble of this office upon me, but only from the
inability and folly of the Comptroller that occasions
it. When come home I to Sir W. Pen's, to his boy,
for my book, and there find he hath it not, but de
livered it to the doore-keeper of the Committee for
me. This, added to my former disgust, made me
stark mad, considering all the nakedness of the
office lay open in papers within these covers. I

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 101
could not tell in the world what to do, but was
mad on all sides, and that which made me worse
Captain Cocke was there, and he did so curse and
swear at the boy that told me. But coming to our
rendezvous at the Swan Taverne, in King Streete, I
found they have found the housekeeper, and the
book simply locked up in the Court. So I staid and
drank, and rewarded the doore-keeper, and away
home, my heart lighter by all this, but to bed very
sad notwithstanding, in fear of what will happen
to-morrow. 3rd. Waked betimes, mightily troubled in mind,
and in the most true trouble that I ever was in my
life, saving in the business last year of the East India
prizes. So up ; and by and by, by eight o'clock,
comes Birch, the first, with the lists and books of
accounts delivered in. He calls me to work, and
there he and I begun, when, by and by, comes Gar-
raway,1 the first time I ever saw him, and Sir W.
Thompson and Mr. Boscawen. They to it, and I
did make shift to answer them better than I ex
pected. Sir W. Batten, Lord Brouncker, W. Pen,
came in, but presently went out ; and J. Minnes
came in, and said two or three words from the pur
pose, but to do hurt ; and so away he went also, and
left me all the morning with them alone to stand or
fall. At noon Sir W. Batten comes to invite them
(though fast day) to dinner, which they did, and
good company they were, but especially Garraway.
After dinner to work again, only the Committee
and I, till dark night. And it ended with good
peace, and much seeming satisfaction ; but I find
them wise and reserved, and instructed to hit all
1 He was an M.P., and appointed by the House to confer with
Lord Shaftesbury respecting the charge against Pepys being po-
pishly affected. See note to the Life, vol. i., and for his character,
6th October, 1666.

102 DIARY OF Oct. 4
our blots, as among others, that we reckon the
ships full manned from the beginning. They gone,
and my heart eased of a great deale of fear and
pain, and reckoning myself to come off with victory,
because not overcome in anything or much foiled, I
away to White Hall, and there among the ladies,
and saw my Lady Castlemaine never looked so ill,
nor Mrs. Stewart neither, as in this plain, natural
dress. I was not pleased with either of them. So
home, and there find my father and my brother come
to towne — my father without my expectation ; but
glad I am to see him. And so to supper with him,
and to work again at the office ; then home, to set
up all my folio books, which are come home gilt on
the backs, very handsome to the eye. This night
W. Pen told me W. Batten swears he will have
nothing to do with the Privateer if his son do not
go Lieutenant, which angers me and him ; but we
will be even with him, one way or other.
4th. Up, and mighty betimes, to Sir W. Coventry,
to give him an account of yesterday's work, which
do give him good content. He did then tell me his
speech lately to the House in his owne vindication
about the report of his selling of places, he having a
small occasion offered him by chance, which he did
desire, and took, and did it to his content, and, he
says, to the House's seeming to approve of it by
their hum. He confessed how long he had done it,
and how he desired to have something else; and,
since then, he had taken nothing, and challenged all
the world. I was glad of this also. Thence up to
the Duke of York, by appointment, with my fellow
officers, to complaine, but to no purpose, of want of
money, and so away. I to Sir G. Carteret, to his lodg
ing, and here discoursed much of the want of money
and our being designed for destruction. How the
King hath lost his power, by submitting himself to

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 103
this way of examining his accounts, and is become
but as a private man. He says the King is troubled
at it, but they talk an entry1 shall be made, that it is
not to be brought into example ; that the King must,
if they do not agree presently, make them a coura
geous speech, which he says he may do, the City of
London being now burned, and himself master of an
army, better than any prince before him, and so I
believe. Thence home, about noon. After dinner
the bookbinder came, and I sent by him some more
books to gild. I to the office all day, and spent
most of it with Sir W. Warren, and when all is
done I do find him a mighty wise man as any I
know, and his counsel as much to be followed. Late
with Mr. Hater upon comparing the charge and hus
bandry of the last Dutch war with ours now, and do
find good roome to think we have done little worse
than they, whereof good use may and will be made.
So home to supper, and to bed.
5th. Up, and with my father talking awhile, then
to the office, and there troubled with a message from
Lord Peterborough about money; but I did give as
kind an answer as I could, though I hate him. Then
to Sir G. Carteret to discourse about paying of part
of the great ships come in, and so home again to
compare the comparison of the two Dutch wars'
charges for Sir W. Coventry, and then by water
(and saw old Mr. Michell digging like a painfull
father for his son) to him, and found him at dinner.
After dinner to look over my papers, and comparing
them with some notes of his. Then examined and
liked well my notes, and away together to White
Hall, in the way discoursing the inconvenience of
the King's being thus subject to an account, but it
will be remedied for the time to come, he thinks, if
1 In the Journals of the House of Commons.

104 DIARY OF Oct 5
we can get over this, and I find he will have the
I Comptroller's business better done, swearing he will
I never be for a wit to be employed on business again.
Thence home, and back again to White Hall, and
there walked till night that the Committee came
down, and there Sir W. Coventry tells me that the
Sub-committee have made their report to the Grand
Committee, and in pretty kind terms, and have
agreed upon allowing us 4/. per head, which I am
sure will do the business. But I have more worke
cut out for me, to prepare a list of the extraordinaies,
not to be included within the 4/., against Monday.
So away, and met with the Vice-Chamberlain, and I
told him I had this evening in coming hither met
with Captain Cocke, and he told me of a wild motion
made in the House of Lords by the Duke of Buck
ingham for all men that had cheated the King to be
declared traitors and felons, and that my Lord Sand
wich was named. This put me into a great pain ; so
the Vice-Chamberlain, who had heard nothing of it,
having been all day in the City, away with me to
White Hall; and there came to me and told me
that, upon Lord Ashly's asking their direction
whether, being a peer, he should bring in his
accounts to the Commons, which they did give
way to, the Duke of Buckingham did move that,
for the. time to come, what I have written above
might be declared by some fuller law than hereto
fore. Lord Ashly answered, that it was not the
fault of the present laws, but want of proof;, and so
said the Lord Chancellor. He answered, that a
better law, he thought, might be made: so the
House laughing, did refer it to him to bring in a
Bill to that purpose, and this was all. This day,
coming home, Mr. Kirton's kinsman, my bookseller,
came in my way; and so I am told by him that Mr.
Kirton is utterly undone, and made 2 or 3,000/.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 105
worse than nothing, from being worth 7 or 8,000/.
That the goods laid in the Churchyarde fired through
the windows those in St. Fayth's church ; and those
coming to the warehouses' doors fired them, and
burned all the books and the pillars of the church, so
as the roof falling down, broke quite down, which it
did not do in the other places of the church, which is
alike pillared (which I knew not before) ; but being
not burned, they stand still. He do believe there
is above 1 50,000/. of books burned ; all the great
booksellers almost undone : not only these, but their
warehouses at their Hall, and under Christchurch, and
elsewhere being all burned. A great want thereof
there will be of books, specially Latin books and
foreign books ; and, among others, the Polyglottes1
and new Bible, which he believes will be presently
worth 40/. a-piece.
6th. Up, and having seen my brother in his cas-
socke, which I am not the most satisfied in, being
doubtfull at this time what course to have him pro
fess to soon, to the office and there busy about a list
of the extraordinaries of the charge of the fleete this
war ; and was led to go to the office of the ordnance
to be satisfied in something, and find their accounts
and books kept in mighty good order, but that they
can give no light, nor will the nature of their affairs
permit it to tell what the charge of the ordnance
comes to a man a month. So home and to dinner,
there coming Creed to me ; but what with business
1 Bishop Walton's great work, published in 1657, entitled
" Biblia Sacra Polyglotta," in six large folio volumes. Nine lan
guages are used in it, though no one book of the Bible is printed
in so many. It was printed by subscription, under the patronage
of Oliver Cromwell ; but the Protector dying before it was finished,
the bishop cancelled two leaves of the preface commendatory of
his patron, and others were printed complimentary to Charles II.
Hence the distinction of republican and loyal copies. The former
are the most valued.

106 DIARY OF Oct. 6
and my hatred to the man, I did not spend any time
with him, but to Westminster Hall and then to St.
James's, and there found Sir W. Coventry waiting
for me, and I did give him a good account to his
mind of the business he expected about extraordi-
naries and then fell to other talke, among others,
our sad condition by want of a Comptroller 51 and it
was his words, that he believes, besides all the shame
and trouble he hath brought on the office, the King
had better have given 100,000/. than ever have
had him there. He did discourse about some of
these discontented Parliament-men, and says that
Birch is a false rogue, but that Garraway is a man
that hath not been well used by the Court, though
very stout to death, and hath suffered all that is pos
sible for the King from the beginning. But discon
tented as he is, yet he never knew a Session of
Parliament but he hath done some good deed for
the King before it rose. I told him the passage
Cocke told me of-^-his having begged a brace of
bucks of the Lord Arlington for him, and when they
came to him, he sent them back again. Sir W.
Coventry told me, it is much to be pitied that the
King should lose the service of a man so able and
faithfull ; and that he ought to be brought over, but
that is always observed, that by bringing over one
discontented man, you raise up three in his room ;
which is a State lesson I never knew before. But
when others discover you fear, and that discontent
procures favour, they will be discontented too, and
impose on you. This morning my wife told me of
a fine gentlewoman my Lady Pen tells her of, for
20/. per annum, that sings, dances, plays on four or
five instruments and many other fine things, which
pleases me mightily : and she sent to have her see
1 Sir John Minnes performing the duties inefficiently.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 107
her, which she did this afternoon ; but sings basely,
and is a tawdry wench that would take 81., but
neither my wife nor I think her fit to come.
7th. (Lord's day.) To church, and then home to
dinner. Little Michell and his wife came to dine
with us. After dinner to White Hall, where met by
Sir W. Batten and Lord Brouncker, to attend the
King and Duke of York at the Cabinet ; but nobody
had determined what to speak of, but only in general
to ask for money. So I was forced immediately
to prepare in my mind a method of discoursing.
And anon we were called in to the Green Room,
where the King, Duke of York, Prince Rupert,
Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, Duke of Albe
marle, Sirs G. Carteret, W. Coventry, Morrice. No
body beginning, I did, and made a current, and I
thought a good speech, laying open the ill state
of the Navy : by the greatness of the debt ; great
ness of work to do against next yeare ; the time and
materials it would take ; and our incapacity, through
a total want of money. I had no sooner done, but
Prince Rupert rose up and told the King in a heat,
that whatever the gentleman had said, he had brought
home his fleete in as good a condition as ever any
fleete was brought home ; that twenty boats would
be as many as the fleete would want : and all the
anchors and cables left in the storm might be taken
up again. This arose from my saying, among other
things we had to do, that the fleete was come in —
the greatest fleete that ever his Majesty had yet
together, and that in as bad condition as the enemy
or weather could put it; and to use Sir W. Pen's
words, who is upon the place taking a survey, he
dreads the reports he is to receive from the Sur
veyors of its defects. I therefore did only answer,
that I was sorry for his Highness's offence, but that
what I said was but the report we received from

108 DIARY OF Oct. 7
those entrusted in the fleete to inform us. He mut
tered and repeated what he had said ; and so, after
a long silence on all hands, nobody, not so much as
the Duke of Albemarle, seconding the Prince, nor
taking notice of what he said, we withdrew. I was
not a little troubled at this passage, and the more
when speaking with Jacke Fenn about it, he told me
that the Prince will be asking now who this Pepys
is, and find him to be a creature of my Lord Sand
wich's, and therefore this was done only to disparage
him. Anon they broke up, and Sir W. Coventry
came out ; so I asked his advice. He told me he
had said something to salve it, which was, that his
Highnesse had, he believed, rightly informed the
King that the fleete is in good condition to have
staid out yet longer, and have fought the enemy, but
yet that Mr. Pepys his meaning might be, that,
though in so good condition, if they should come in
and lie all the winter, we shall be very loth to send
them to sea for another year's service without great
repairs. He said it would be no hurt if I went to
him, and showed him the report himself brought up
from the fleete, where every ship, by the Com
mander's report, do need more or less, and not to
mention more of Sir W. Pen for doing him a mis
chief. So I said I would, but do not think that all
this will redound to my hurt, because the truth of
what I said will soon appear. Thence, having been
informed that, after all this pains, the King hath
found out how to supply us with 5 or 6,000/., when
100,000/. were at this time but absolutely necessary,
and we mentioned 50,000/. This is every day a
greater and greater omen of ruine. God fit us for
it ! Home to supper with my father, and then all to
bed. I made my brother in his cassocke to say grace
this day, but I like his voice so ill that I begin to be
sorry he hath taken this order upon him.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 109
8th. Towards noon, by water to Westminster
Hall, and there by several hear that the Parliament
do resolve to do something to retrench Sir G. Car
teret's great salary ; but cannot hear of any thing
bad they can lay to his charge. The House did this
day order to be engrossed the Bill against importing
Irish cattle : a thing, it seems, carried on by the
Western Parliament-men, wholly against the sense
of most of the rest of the House ; who think if you
do this, you give the Irish again cause to rebel.
Thus plenty on both sides makes us mad. The
Committee of the Canary Company of both factions
came to me for my Cozen Roger that is of the
Committee. To Unthank's where Mr. Falconbridge's
girle is, and by and by comes my wife who likes her
well, though I confess I cannot (though she be of
my finding out and sings pretty well), because she
will be raised from so mean a condition to so high
all of a sudden ; but she will be much to our profit,
more than Mercer, less expense. Here we bespoke
a new gowne for her, and to come to us on Friday.
I by water with Mr. Pierce to White Hall, he in
the way telling me how the Duke of York and Duke
of Albemarle do not agree. The Duke of York is
wholly given up to this Denham. The Duke of
Albemarle and Prince Rupert do less agree. So
that we are all in pieces, and nobody knows what
will be done the next year. The King hath yester
day in Council declared his resolution of setting a
fashion for clothes, which he will never alter.1 It will
be a vest, I know not well how ; but it is to teach
the nobility thrift, and will do good. By and by
comes down from the Committee Sir W. Coventry,
and I find him troubled at several things happened
this afternoon, which vexes me also ; our business
1 See 13th and 15 th of this month.

no DIARY OF Oct. 10
looking worse and worse, and our worke growing
on our hands. Time spending, and no money to
set anything in hand with ; the end thereof must be
speedy ruine. The Dutch insult and have taken off
Bruant's head, which they have not dared to do
(though found guilty of the fault he did die for, of
something of the Prince of Orange's faction) till just
now, which speaks more confidence in our being
worse than before. Alderman Maynell, I hear, is
dead. Thence returned in the darke by coach all
alone, full of thoughts of the consequences of this ill
complexion of affairs, and how to save myself and
the little I have, which if I can do, I have cause to
bless God that I am so well, and shall be well con
tented to retreat to Brampton, and spend the rest of
my days there. So to my office, and finished my
Journall with resolutions, if God bless me, to apply
myself soberly to settle all matters for myself, and
expect the event of all with comfort.
9th. To the office, where we sat the first day since
the fire, I think. At noon home, and my uncle
Thomas was there, and dined with my brother and
I. At night to Sir W. Batten, where Sir R. Ford
did occasion some discourse of sending a convoy to
the Madeiras ; and this did put us upon some new
thoughts of sending our privateer thither on mer
chants' accounts, which I have more mind to, the
profit being certain and occasion honest withall. So
home, and to supper with my father, and then to set
my remainder of my books gilt in order with much
pleasure, and so late to bed.
10th. (Fast-day for the fire.) With Sir Batten by
water to White Hall, and anon had a meeting before
the Duke of York, where pretty to see how Sir W.
Batten, that carried the surveys of all the fleete with
him, to show their ill condition to the Duke of York,

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. in
when he found the Prince there, did not speak one
word, though the meeting was of his asking — for
nothing else. And when I asked him, he told me
he knew the Prince too well to anger him, so that
he was afeard to do it. Thence with him to West
minster, to the parish church,1 where the Parlia
ment-men, and Stillingfleete in the pulpit. So full,
no standing there ; so he and I to eat herrings at
the Dog Taverne. And then to church again,
and there was Mr. Frampton2 in the pulpit, whom
they cry up so much, a young man, and of a mighty
ready tongue. I heard a little of his sermon, and
liked it ; but the crowd so great, I could not stay.
So to the Swan, and baisais la fille, and drank, and
then home by coach, and took father, wife, brother,
and W. Hewer to Islington, where I find mine host
dead. Here eat and drank, and merry; and so
home, and with Captain Cocke into the office to
hear his newes, who is mighty conversant with Gar-
raway and those people, who tells me what they
object as to the mal-administration of things as
to money. But that they mean well, and will
do well ; but their reckonings are very good, and
show great faults, as I will insert here. They say
the king hath had towards this war expressly, thus
much : —

1 St. Margaret's. Dr. Sancroft, Dean of St. Paul's, preached before
His Majesty at the Cathedral ; Seth Ward, Bishop of Exeter, before
the House of Lords, in Westminster Abbey ; and Dr. Stillingfleet
and Dr. Frampton before the House of Commons, at St. Mar
garet's, Westminster. — -The London Gazette, No. 94.
2 Robert Frampton, a native of Pimpern, in Dorsetshire, edu
cated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and afterwards a student
of Christ Church, and Chaplain to a man-of-war. In 1673 he
became Dean of Gloucester, and in 1681 Bishop of that See;
but refusing to take the oaths of allegiance to William and Mary,
le was deprived, and retired into private life. Ob. 25th May,
1708.

ii2 DIARY OF Oct. n
Royal Ayde  ,£2,450,000
More ......... 1,250,000
Three months tax given the King by a power of
raising a month's tax of 70,000/. every year for
three years  0,210,000
Customes, out of which the King did promise to
pay 240,000/. which for two years come to . 0,480,000
Prizes, which they moderately reckon at . . 0,300,000
A debt declared by the Navy, by us . . . 0,900,0005,590,000

The whole charge of the Navy, as we state it for
two years and a month, hath been but . . 3,200,000
1 So what is become of all this sum? . . £2,390,000
He and I did bemoan our public condition. He
tells me the Duke of Albemarle is under a cloud,
and they have a mind at Court to lay him aside.
This I know not ; but all things are not right with
him, and I am glad of it, but sorry for the time. So
home to supper, and to bed, it being my wedding
night,2 but how many years I cannot tell ; but my
wife says ten.3
nth. Up, and discoursed with my father of my
sending some money for safety into the country, for
I am in pain what to do with what I have. I did
give him money, poor man, and he overjoyed. So
left him, and to the office, where nothing but sad
evidences of ruine coming on us for want of money.
Memorandum. I had taken my Journall during
the fire and the disorders following in loose papers
until this very day, and could not get time to enter
them in my book till January 18, in the morning,
1 The remainder of the receipts.
2 According to the extract from the register of St. Margaret's
Parish, Westminster, Pepys was married 1st December, 1655.
(M. B.)
3 It was eleven years.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 113
having made my eyes sore by frequent attempts this
winter to do it. But now it is done, for which I
thank God, and pray never the like occasion may
happen. 1 2th. Up, and after taking leave of my poor
father, who is setting out this day for Brampton by
the Cambridge coach, he having taken a journey to
see the city burned, and to bring my brother to
towne, I out by water; and so by coach to St.
James's, the weather being foul; and there, from Sir
W. Coventry, do hear how the House have cut us
off 150,000/. of our wear and tear, for that which
was saved by the King while the fleete lay in har
bour in winter. However, he seems pleased, and
so am I, that they have abated no more, and do
intend to allow of 28,000 men for the next year;
and this day have appointed to declare the sum they
will give the King,1 and to propose the way of rais
ing it; so that this is likely to be the great day.
This done in his chamber, I with him to Westmin
ster Hall, and find that people have a mighty mind
to have a fling at the Vice-Chamberlain, if they
could lay hold of anything, his place being, indeed,
too much for such, they think, or any single subject
of no greater parts and quality than he, to enjoy.
But I hope he may weather all, though it will not
be by any dexterity of his, I dare say, if he do stand,
but by his fate only, and people's being taken off by
other things. So home, and find my wife come home,
and hath brought her new girle I have helped her
to, of Mr. Falconbridge's. She is wretched poor,
and but ordinary favoured ; and we fain to lay out
seven or eight pounds worth of clothes upon her
back, which, methinks, do go against my heart ; and I
do not think I can ever esteem her as I could have
1 The Parliament voted this day a supply of 1,800,000/.
sterling. 4 I

n4 DIARY OF Oct. 13
done another that had come fine and handsome ;
and which is more, her voice, for want of use, is so
furred, that it do not at present please me ; but her
manner of singing is such, that I shall, I think, take
great pleasure in it. Well, she is come, and I wish
us good fortune in her. Here I met with notice of
a meeting of the Commissioners for Tangier to
morrow, and so I must have my accounts ready for
them. 13th. My accounts cost me till four o'clock in the
morning, and, which was pretty to think, I was
above an hour, after I had made all right, in casting
up of about twenty sums, being dozed with much
work, and had for forty times together forgot to
carry the 60 which I had in my mind, in one de
nomination which exceeded 60 ; and this did con
found me for above an hour together. At last all
even and done, and so to bed. Up at seven, and
so to the office. At noon to dinner at a cook's, and
thence to my Lord Bellassis', whom I find kind ;
but he had drawn some new proposal to deliver to
the Lords Commissioners to-day, wherein one was,
that the garrison would not be well paid without
some goldsmith's undertaking the paying of the bills
of exchange for Tallys. He professing so much
kindness to me, and saying that he would not be
concerned in the garrison without me ; and that if he
continued in the employment, no man should have to
do with the money but myself. I did ask his Lord
ship's meaning of the proposition in his paper. He
told me he had not much considered it, but that he
meant no harm to me. I told him I thought it
would render me useless; whereupon he did very
frankly, after my seeming denials for a good while,
cause it to be writ over again, and that clause left
out, which did satisfy me abundantly. It being
done, he and I together to White Hall, and there

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 115
the Duke of York (who is gone over to all his plea
sures again, and leaves off care of business, what
with his woman, my Lady Denham, and his hunting
three times a week) was just come in from hunting.
So I stood and saw him dress himself, and try on
his vest, which is the King's new fashion, and he
will be in it for good and all on Monday next, and
the whole Court : it is a fashion, the King says, he
will never change. He being ready, he and my
Lord Chancellor, and Duke of Albemarle, and
Prince Rupert, Lord Bellassis, Sir H. Cholmly,
Povy, and myself, met at a Committee for Tangier.
My Lord Bellassis's propositions were read and dis
coursed of, about reducing the garrison to less charge;
and indeed I am mad in love with my Lord Chan
cellor, for he do comprehend and speak out well,
and with the greatest easinesse and authority that
ever I saw man in my life. I did never observe f
how much easier a man do speak when he knows all '
the company to be below him, than in him ; for !
though he spoke, indeed, excellent well, yet his ;
manner and freedom of doing it, as if he played |
with it, and was informing only all the rest of the '
company, was mighty pretty. He did call again
and again upon Mr. Povy for his accounts. I did
think fit to make the solemn tender of my accounts
that I intended. I said something that was liked,
touching the want of money, and the bad credit of
¦our tallys. My Lord Chancellor moved, that with
out any trouble to any of the rest of the Lords, I
might alone attend the King, when he was with his
private Council, and open the state of the garrison's
want of credit ; and all that could be done, should.
Most things moved were referred to Committees,
and so we broke up. And at the end Sir W. Co
ventry came ; so I away with him, and he discoursed
with me something of the Parliament's business.

n6 DIARY OF Oct. i4
They have voted giving the King for next year
1,800,000/. ; which, were it not for his debts, were
a great sum. He says, he thinks the House may
say no more to us for the present, but that we must
mend our manners against the tryall, and mend
them we will. But he thinks it not a fit time to be
found making of trouble among ourselves, meaning
about Sir J. Minnes, who most certainly must be
removed, or made a Commissioner, and somebody
else Comptroller. But he tells me that the House
has a great envy at Sir G. Carteret, and that had
he ever thought fit in all his discourse to have
touched upon the point of our want of money and
badness of payment, it would have been laid hold
on to Sir G. Carteret's hurt; but he hath avoided
it, though without much reason for it, most studiously,
and in short did end thus, that he has never shown
so much of the pigeon in all his life as in his inno
cence to Sir G. Carteret at this time; which I believe,
and will desire Sir G. Carteret to thank him for it.
j 4th. (Lord's day.) Lay long in bed, among other
things, talking of my wife's renewing her acquain
tance with Mrs. Pierce, which, by my wife's ill using
her when she was here last, has been interrupted.
Herein we were a little angry together, but pre
sently friendly again ; and so up, and I to church,
which was mighty full, and my beauties, Mrs. Leth-
alier1 _ and fair Batelier, both there. A very foul
morning, and rained ; and sent for my cloake to go
out of the church with. After dinner to West
minster Abbey. Here I met with Sir Stephen Fox,
who told me how much right I had done myself, and
how well it was represented by the Committee to
the House, my readinesse to give them satisfaction
in everything when they were at the office. I was
1 See 13th December, 1665.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 117
glad of this. He did further discourse of Sir W.
Coventry's great abilities, and how necessary it were
that I were of the House to assist him. I did not
owne it, but do myself think it were not unneces
sary if either he should die, or be removed to the
Lords, or any thing happen to hinder his doing the
like service the next trial, which makes me think
that it were not a thing very unfit ; but I will not
move in it.
1 5th. Called up, though a very rainy morning, by
Sir H. Cholmley, and he and I -most of the morning
together evening of accounts, which I was very glad
of. Then he and I out to Sir Robt. Viner's, at the
African house (where I have not been since he came
thither) ; but he was not there ; but I did some
business with his people, and then to Covill's, who,
I find, lives now in Lyme Streete, and with the
same credit as ever, this fire having not done them
any wrong that I hear of at all. Thence he and I
together to Westminster Hall, in our way talking of
matters and passages of state, the viciousness of the
Court ; the contempt the King brings himself into
thereby ; his minding nothing, but doing all things
just as his people about him will have it ; the Duke
of York becoming a slave to this strumpet Denham,
and wholly minds her ; that there really were amours
between the Duchesse and Sidney ; that there is
reason to fear that, as soon as the Parliament have
raised this money, the King will see that he hath
got all that he can get, and then make up a peace.
He tells me, what I wonder at, but that I find it
confirmed by Mr. Pierce, whom I met by-and-by in
the Hall, that Sir W. Coventry is of the caball with
the Duke of York, and Brouncker, with this Lady
Denham ; which is a shame, and I am sorry for it,
and that Sir W. Coventry do make her visits ; but
yet I hope it is not so. Pierce tells me, that as litde

n8 DIARY OF Oct. 15
agreement as there is between the Prince1 and
Duke of Albemarle, yet they are likely to go to sea
again ; for the first will not be trusted alone, and
nobody will go with him but this Duke of Albemarle.
He tells me much how all the commanders of the
fleete and officers that are sober men do cry out
upon their bad discipline, and the ruine that must
follow it if it continue. But that which I wonder
most at, it seems their secretaries have been the
most exorbitant in their fees to all sorts of the
people, that it is not to be believed that they durst do
it, so as it is believed they have got 800/. apiece by
the very vacancies in the fleete. He tells me that
Lady Castlemaine is concluded to be with child
again ; and that all the people about the King
do make no scruple of saying that the King do
intrigue with Mrs. Stewart, who, he says, is a most
excellent-natured lady. This day the King begins
to put on his vest, and I did see several persons
of the House of Lords and Commons too, great
courtiers, who are in it ; being a long cassocke close
to the body, of black cloth, and pinked with white
silke under it, and a coat over it, and the legs ruffled
with black riband like a pigeon's leg ; and, upon the
whole, I wish the King may keep it, for it is a very
fine and handsome garment.2 Out comes Sir W.
1 Prince Rupert.
2 Rugge, in his " Diurnal," thus describes the new Court cos
tume : — " 1666, Oct. n. In this month His Majestie and whole
Court changed the fashion of their clothes — viz, a close coat of
cloth pinkt, with a white taffety under the cutts. This in length
reached the calf of the leg, and upon that a sercoat cutt at the
breast, which hung loose and shorter than the vest six inches.
The breeches the Spanish cut, and buskins some of cloth, some of
leather, but of the same colour as the vest or garment; of never
the like fashion since William the Conqueror." Evelyn says, " It
was a comely and manly habit, too good to hold, it being impos
sible for us, in good earnest, to leave the Monsieur's vanities long."
See also his "Diary," Oct. 18, 1666. Charles resolved never

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 119
Coventry, and he and I talked of business. Among
others I proposed the making Sir J. Minnes a Com
missioner, and make somebody else Comptroller.
He tells me it is the thing he has been thinking of,
and hath spoke to the Duke of York of it. He
believes it will be done ; but that which I fear is
that Pen will be Comptroller, which I shall grudge
a little. The Duke of Buckingham called him aside
and spoke a good while with him. I did presently fear
it might be to discourse something of his design to
blemish my Lord of Sandwich, in pursuance of the
wild motion he made the other day in the House.
Sir W. Coventry, when he came to me again, told me
that he had wrought a miracle, which was, the con
vincing the Duke of Buckingham that something — he
did not name what — that he had intended to do was
not fit to be done, and that the Duke is gone away
of that opinion. This makes me verily believe it was
something like what I feared. By and by the House
rose, and then I with Sir G. Carteret, and walked
in the Exchequer Court, discoursing of business.
Among others, I observing to him how friendly Sir
W. Coventry had carried himself to him in these
late inquiries, when, if he had borne him any spleen,
he could have had what occasion he pleased offered
him, he did confess he found the same thing, and
would thanke him for it. I did give him some other
advices, and so away with him to his lodgings at
White Hall to dinner, where my Lady Carteret is,
to alter it, and " to leave the French mode, which had hitherto ob
tained, to our great expence and reproach." But his inconsistency
was so well known that " divers gentlemen and courtiers gave him
gold, by way of wagers, that he would not persist in his reso
lution." — Quarterly Review, vol. xix. p. 41. It is represented in a
portrait of Lord Arlington, by Sir P. Lely, formerly belonging to
Lord de Clifford, and engraved in Lodge's " Illustrious Persons."
Louis XIV. ordered his servants to wear the dress. See Nov. 22,
1666, post.

i2o DIARY OF Oct. 15
and mighty kind, both of them, to me. Their son
and my Lady Jemimah will be here very speedily.
She tells me the ladies are to go into a new fashion
shortly, and that is, to wear short coats, above their
ancles ; which she and I do not like, but conclude
this long trayne to be mighty graceful. But she
cries out of the vices of the Court, and how they
are going to set up plays already ; and how, the next
day after the late great fast, the Duchesse of York
did give the King and Queene a play. Nay, she
told me that they have heretofore had plays at
Court the very nights before the fast for the death
of the late King. She do much cry out upon these
things, and that which she believes will undo the
whole nation ; and I fear so too. After dinner
away home, Mr. Brisband along with me as far as
the Temple, and there looked upon a new booke,
set out by one Rycault,1 secretary to my Lord Win-
chelsea, of the policy and customs of the Turks,
which is, it seems, much cried up. But I could not
stay, but home. I find Baity come back, and with
him some muster-books, which I am glad of, and
hope he will do me credit in his employment. At
Sir W. Batten's I met Sir W. Pen, lately come from
the fleete at the Nore ; and here were many good
fellows, among others Sir Ralph Holmes, who is ex-
1 ceeding kind to me, more than usual, which makes
I me afeard of him, though I do much wish his friend
ship. Thereupon, after a little stay, I withdrew,
and to the office awhile, and then home to supper
and to my chamber to settle a few papers, and then
to bed. This day the great debate was in Parlia
ment, the manner of raising the 1,800,000/. they
1 Sir Paul Ricaut or Rycaut. In 1661 he accompanied Lord
Winchelsea, the ambassador at the Ottoman Court, as secretary,
and while there he wrote " The Present State of the Ottoman
Porte," in three books. (M. B.)

'.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 121
voted the King on Friday ; and at last, after many
proposals, one moved that the Chimney-money
might be taken from the King, and an equal revenue
of something else might be found for the King, and
people be enjoyned to buy off this tax of Chimney-
money for ever at eight years' purchase, which will
raise present money, as they think, 1,600,000/., and
the State be eased of an ill burthen and the King
be supplied of something as good or better for his
use. The House seems to like this, and put off the
debate to to-morrow.
1 6th. Up, and to the office, where sat to do little
business but hear clamours for money. To dinner,
and to the office again, after hearing my brother
play a little upon the Lyra viall, which he do so as
to show that he hath a love to musique and a spirit
for it, which I am well pleased with. All the after
noon at the office, and at night with Sir W. Batten,
Sir W. Pen, and Sir J. Minnes, at Sir W. Pen's
lodgings, advising about business and orders fit pre
sently to make about discharging of ships come into
the river, and which to pay first, and many things in
order thereto. But it vexed me that, it being now
past seven o'clock, and the business of great weight,
and I had done them by eight o'clock, and sending
them to be signed, they were all gone to bed, and
Sir W. Pen, though awake, would not, being in bed,
have them brought to him to sign ; this made me
quite angry. Late at work at the office, and then
home to supper and to bed. Not come to any re
solution at the Parliament to-day about the manner
of raising this 1,800,000/.
17th. To dinner, alone with my brother, with
whom I had now the first private talke I have had,
and find he hath preached but twice in his life. I
did give him some advice to study pronunciation ;
but I do fear he will never make a good speaker,

122

DIARY OF Oct 17

nor, I fear, any general good scholar, for I do not
see that he minds optickes or mathematiques of any
sort, nor anything else that I can find. I know not
what he may be at divinity and ordinary school-
learning. However, he seems sober, and that pleases
me. After dinner I took him and my wife and Barker
(for so is our new woman called, and is yet but a
sorry girle), and set them down at Unthanke's, and
so to White Hall, and there found some of my
brethren with the Duke of York, but so few I put
off the meeting. We staid and hear the Duke dis
course, which he did mighty scurrilously, of the
French, and with reason, that they should give
Beaufort1 orders when he was to bring, and did
bring, his fleete hither, that his rendezvous for his
fleete, and for all sluggs to come to, should be be
tween Calais and Dover; which did prove the taking
of La Roche, who, among other sluggs behind, did,
by their instructions, make for that place, to ren
dezvous with the fleete ; and Beaufort, seeing them
as he was returning, took them for the English fleete,
and wrote word to the King of France that he had
passed by the English fleete, and the English fleete
durst not meddle with him. The Court is all full
of vests, only my Lord St. Albans not pinked but
plain black ; and they say the King says the pinking
upon whites makes them look too much like mag-
pyes, and therefore hath bespoke one of plain velvet.
Thence to St. James's by coach, and spoke, at four
o'clock or five, with Sir W. Coventry, newly come
from the House, where they have sat all this day
1 Francois de Vendome, Due de Beaufort, well known in the
annals of France, was born in 1616, and in 1664 and 1665 com
manded a naval expedition against the African corsairs. (See
nth October, 1664, ante.) The following year he had the charge
of a fleet intended to act in concert with the Dutch against Eng
land, but which was merely sent out as a political demonstration.
He was killed at the siege of Candia in 1669.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 123
and not come to an end of the debate how the
money shall be raised. He tells me that what I pro
posed to him the other day was what he had him
self thought on and determined, and believes it
will speedily be done — the making Sir J. Minnes a
Commissioner, and bringing somebody else to be
Comptroller, and that (which do not please me, I
confess, for my own particular, so well as Sir J.
Minnes) will, I fear, be Sir W. Pen, for he is the only
fit man for it. Home, and late upon making up an
account for the Board to pass to-morrow, if I can
get there, for the clearing all my imprest1 bills, which
if I can do, will be to my very good satisfaction.
Having done this, then to supper and to bed.
1 8th. To the office, where we sat all the morning.
The waters so high in the roads, by the late rains,
that our letters came not in till to-day. My Lord
Brouncker proffered to carry me and my wife into a
play at Court to-night, and to lend me his coach
home, which tempted me much ; but I shall not do
it. Homewards, met my wife, and so away by coach
towards Lovett's ; in the way wondering at what a
good pretty wench our Barker makes, being now
put into good clothes, and fashionable, at my charge ;
but it becomes her, so that I do not now think much
of it, and is an example of the power of good clothes !
and dress. To Lovett's house, where I stood god
father. But it was pretty, that, being a Protestant,
a man stood by and was my Proxy to answer for
me. A priest christened it, and the boy's name is
Samuel. The ceremonies many, and some foolish.
The priest in a gentleman's dress, more than my
1 See note 28th November, 1660, and "Notes and Queries,"
1 st series, vol. ii. page 40: "When a person fulfilling any employ
ment under any of the Government Boards has occasion to draw
' money on account,' an ' imprest ' addressed to the paymaster
under that Board is issued for the required sum." (M. B.)

124 DIARY OF Oct. 19
owne ; but is a Capuchin, one of the Queene-
mother's priests. He did give my proxy and the
woman proxy (my Lady Bills,1 absent, had a proxy
also,) good advice to bring up the child, and, at the
end, that he ought never to marry the. child nor the
godmother, nor the godmother the child or the god
father : but, which is strange, they say the mother of
the child and the godfather may marry. By and by
the Lady Bills came in, a well-bred but crooked
woman. The poor people of the house had good
wine, and a good cake ; and she a pretty woman in
her lying-in dress. It cost me near 405. the whole
christening : to midwife 20^., nurse io.r.,mayde2.s-. 6d.,
and the coach 5s. The business of buying off the
Chimney-money is passed in the House ; and so the
King to be satisfied some other way, and the King
supplied with the money raised by this purchasing
off of the chimnies. So home, mightily pleased in
mind that I have got my bills of imprest cleared by
bills signed this day, to my good satisfaction. To
supper, and to bed.
19th. To Povy's, who continues as much con
founded in all his business as ever he was ; and would
have had me paid money, as like a fool as himself,
which I troubled him in refusing ; but I did persist in
it. After a little more discourse, I to White Hall,
where I met with Sir Robert Viner, who told me a
little of what, in going home, I had seen ; also a little
of the disorder and mutiny among the seamen at the
Treasurer's office, which did trouble me then and all
day, considering how many more seamen will come
1 Lady Diana Fane, daughter of Mildmay Fane, second Earl of
Westmoreland, widow of Edward Pelham, Esq., of Brocklesby, in
Lincolnshire, remarried John Bills, Esq., of Caen Wood, High-
gate. Her only child, Diana, by her second husband, died the
widow; of Captain Francis D'Arcy Savage, 23rd May, 1726, and
is buried at Barnes. Lady Diana Bills was at this time in her
36th year..

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 125
to towne every day, and no money for them. A
Parliament sitting, and the Exchange close by, and
an enemy to hear of, and laugh at it.1 Viner too,
and Backewell, were sent for this afternoon ; and
was before the King and his Cabinet about money ;
they declaring they would advance no more, it being
discoursed of in the House of Parliament for the
King to issue out his privy-seals to them to com
mand them to trust him, which gives them reason to
decline trusting. But more money they are persuaded
to lend, but so little that, (with horrour I speake it)
coming after the Council was up, with Sir G. Car
teret, Sir W. Coventry, Lord Brouncker, and myself,
I did lay the state of our condition before the Duke
of York, that the fleete could not go out without
several things it wanted, and we could not have
without money, particularly rum and bread, which
we had promised the man Sway to helpe him to
200/ of his debt, and a few other small sums of
200/. a piece to some others, and that I do forsee
the Duke of Yorke would call us to an account why
the fleete is not abroad, and we cannot answer other
wise than our want of money ; and that indeed we
do not do the King any service now, but do rather
abuse and betray his service by being there, and
seeming to do something, while we do not. Sir
G. Carteret asked me (just in these words, for in
this and all the rest I set down the very words for
memory sake, if there should be occasion,) whether
50/. or 60/. would do us any good ; and when I told
him the very rum man2 must have 200/., he held
up his eyes as if we had asked a million. Sir W.
Coventry told the Duke of Yorke plainly he did
rather desire to have his commission called in than
serve in so ill a place, where he cannot do the King
1 War was declared against Denmark this day.
2 Mr. Sway. (M. B.)

126 DIARY OF Oct. 20
service, and I did concur in saying the same. This
was all very plain, and the Duke of York did con
fess that he did not see how we could do anything
without a present supply of 20,000/., and that he
would speak to the King next Council day, and I
promised to wait on him to put him in mind of it.
This I set down for my future justification, if need
be, and so we broke up, and all parted. So I home
by coach, considering what the consequence of all
this must be in a little time. Nothing but distrac
tion and confusion ; which makes me wish with all
my heart, that I were well and quietly settled with
what little I have got at Brampton, where I might
live peaceably, and study, and pray for the good of
the King and my country. Home, and to Sir W.
Batten's, who was at the pay to day, and tells me how
rude the men were, but did go away quietly, being
promised pay on Wednesday next. God send us
money for it ! So to the office, and then to supper
and to bed. Among other things proposed in the
House to-day, to give the King in lieu of chimneys,
there was the bringing up of sealed paper, such
as Sir J. Minnes showed me to-night, at Sir W.
Batten's, is used in Spayne, and brings the King a
great revenue ; but it shows what shifts we are put
to too much.
20th. I walked a good while with Mr. Gauden in
the garden, who is lately come from the fleete at
the buoy of the Nore, and he do tell me how all the
sober commanders, and even Sir Thomas Allen
himself, do complain of the ill government of the
fleete. How Holmes and Jennings have commanded
all the fleete this yeare, that nothing is done upon
deliberation, but if a sober man gives his opinion
otherwise than the Prince would have it the Prince
would cry, " D — : — n him, do you follow your orders,
and that is enough for you." He tells me he hears

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 127
of nothing but of swearing and drinking and de
bauchery, and all manner of profanenesses, quite
through the whole fleete. He being gone, there
comes to me Commissioner Middleton,1 whom I
took on purpose to walk in the garden, and to learn
what he observed when the fleete was at Portsmouth.
He says that the fleete was in such a condition, as \
to discipline as if the Devil had commanded it ; so
much wickedness of all sorts. Enquiring how it
came to pass that so many ships had miscarried this
year, he tells me that he enquired ; and the pilots
do say, that they dare not do nor go but as the
Captains will have them ; and if they offer to do
otherwise, the Captains swear they will run them
through. He says that he heard Captain Digby2
(my Lord of Bristoll's son, a young fellow that never
was but one year, if that, in the fleete,) say that he
did hope he should not see a tarpaulin3 have the
command of a ship within this twelve months. He
observed while he was on board the Admirall, when
the fleete was at Portsmouth, that there was a faction
there. Holmes commanded all on the Prince's side,
and Sir Jeremy Smith on the Duke's, and every
body that came did apply themselves to one side or
other ; and when the Duke of Albemarle was gone
away to come hither, then Sir Jeremy Smith did
hang his head, and walked in the Generall's ship but
like a private commander. He says he was on
board the Prince, when the newes come of the
burning of London ; and all the Prince said was,
that now Shipton's prophecy was out ;4 and he heard
1 Thomas Middleton, made a Commissioner of the Navy, 1664.
2 Francis Digby, afterwards Colonel. He was killed in the
sea-fight at Solebay.
3 See Trench's Select Glossary, p. 207, "Tarpaulin. Not any
longer used except in the shorter form of ' tar ' for sailor." (M. B.)
* Evidently the concluding passage of " Mother Shipton's Pro
phecies," viz., " A ship come sayling up the Thames to London,

128 DIARY OF Oct. 20
a young commander presently swear, that now a
citizen's wife that would not take under half a piece
before, would be contented with half-a-crowne : and
made mighty sport of it. He says he do wonder
that there has not been more mischief this year than
there has. He says the fleete came to anchor be
tween the Horse and the Island, so that when they
came to weigh many of the ships could not turn,
but run foul of the Horse, and there stuck, but that
the weather was good. He says that nothing can
do the King more disservice, nor please the standing
officers of the ship better than these silly commanders
that now we have, for they sign to anything that
their officers desire of them, nor have judgment to
contradict them if they would. He told me many
other good things, which made me bless God that we
have received no greater disasters this year than we
have, though they have been the greatest that ever
was known in England before, put all their losses
of the King's ships by want of skill and seaman
ship together from the beginning. He being gone,
comes Sir G. Carteret, and he and I walked together
awhile, discoursing upon the sad condition of the
times, what needs we have, and how impossible it is
to get money. He told me my Lord Chancellor the
other day did ask him how it came to -pass that his
friend Pepys do so much magnify all things to worst,
as I did on Sunday last, in the bad condition of the
fleete ; and he tells me that he answered him, that I
was but the mouth of the rest, and spoke what they
have dictated to me ; which did„-as he says, presently
and the master of the ship shall weepe, and the mariners shall aske
him why he weepeth, being he hath made so good a voyage, and
he shall say, ' Ah, what a goodlie citie this was ! none in the
world comparable to it ; and now there is scarcely left any house
that can let us have drinke for our money.'" Quoted from the
edition of 164 1, which Prince Rupert might have seen.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 129
take off his displeasure. So that I am well at pre
sent with him, but I must have a care not to be over
busy in the office again, and burn my fingers. He
tells me he wishes he had sold his place at some good
rate to somebody or other at the beginning of the
warr, and that he would do it now, but nobody will
deale with him for it. He tells me the Duke of
Albemarle is very much discontented, and the Duke
of York do not, it seems, please him. Thence, with
Sir G. Carteret, home to dinner, with him, my Lady
and Mr. Ashburnham, the Cofferer. Here they
talk that the Queene hath a great mind to alter her
fashion, and to have the feet seen, which she loves
mightily; and they do believe that it will come into
it in a little time. Here I met with the King's
declaration about his proceedings with the King of
Denmarke, and particularly the business of Bergen ;
but it is so well writ, that, if it be true, the King of
Denmarke is one of the most absolute wickednesse
in the world for a person of his quality. After
dinner home, and there met Mr. Povy by appoint
ment, and there he and I, till late at night, evening
of all accounts between us, which we did to both our
satisfaction ; but that which troubles me most is,
that I am to refund to the ignoble Lord Peterborough
what he had given us six months ago, because we
did not supply him with money ; but it is no great
matter. So home to supper and to bed.
2 1st. (Lord's day.) Up and with my wife to church,
and her new woman Barker with her the first time.
The girle will, I think, do very well. Here a lazy
sermon, and so home to dinner, and took in my
Lady Pen and Peg (Sir William being below with
the fleete), and mighty merry we were, and after
dinner presently I by coach to White Hall, and
there attended the Cabinet, and was called in before
the King and them to give an account of our want
4. K

130 DIARY OF * Oct. 21
of money for Tangier, which troubles me that it
should be my place so often and so soon after one
another to come to speak there of their wants — the
thing of the world they love least to hear, and that
which is no welcome thing to be the solicitor for —
and to see how like an image the King sat and
could not speak one word when I had delivered
myself was very strange ; only my Lord Chancellor
did ask me, whether I thought it was in nature at
this time to help us to anything. So I was referred
to another meeting of the Lords Commissioners for
Tangier and my Lord Treasurer, and so went away,
and by coach home, where I spent the evening in
reading Stillingfleet's defence of the Archbishopp,
the part about Purgatory, a point I have never con
sidered before, what was said for it or against it, and
though I do believe we are in the right, yet I do
not see any great matter in this book. So to supper ;
and my people being gone, most of them, to bed,
my boy and Jane and I did get two of my iron
chests out of the cellar into my closett, and the
money to my great satisfaction to see it there again.
This afternoon walking with Sir H. Cholmly long in
the gallery, he told me, among many other things,
how Harry Killigrew1 is banished the Court lately,
for saying that my Lady Castlemaine was a little
lecherous girle when she was young. This she
complained to the King of, and he sent to the Duke
of York, whose servant he is, to turn him away.
The Duke of York hath done it, but takes it ill of
my Lady that he was not complained to first. She
attended him to excuse it, but ill blood is made by
it. He told me how Mr. Williamson stood in a
1 Son of Tom Killigrew by his first wife, Mrs. Cecilia Crofts.
He was baptized in St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, 16th April, 1637,
and is called "young," to distinguish him from his uncle of the
same name, who was Master of the Savoy.

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 131
little place to have come into the House of Com
mons, and they would not choose him ; they said,
" No courtier." And which is worse, Bab May
went down in great state to Winchelsea with the
Duke of York's letters, not doubting to be chosen ;
and there the people chose a private gentleman in
spite of him, and cried out they would have no
Court pimp to be their burgesse ; which are things
that bode very ill.
22nd. To Westminster Hall, and so home, where
I found Mr. Csesar playing the treble to my boy
upon the Theorbo, the first time I heard him, which
pleases me mightily. After dinner by coach, lighting
at the Temple, and there, being a little too soon, walked
in the Temple Church, looking with pleasure on the
monuments and epitaphs, and then to my Lord
Belassis, where Creed and Povy by appointment
met to discourse of some of their Tangier accounts
between my Lord and Vernatty, who will prove a
very knave. That being done I away to Unthank's,
and there take up my wife, and so home, it being
very foule and darke. Being there come, I to the
.settling of my money matters in my chests, and
evening some accounts to my extraordinary content,
and especially to see all things hit so even and right
and with an apparent profit and advantage since my
last accounting, but how much I cannot particularly
yet come to adjudge. Late to supper and to bed.
23rd. Sir W. Batten told me Sir R. Ford would
accept of one-third of my profit of our private man-
of-war, and bear one-third of the charge, and be
bound in the Admiralty, so I shall be excused being
bound, which I like mightily of, and did draw up a
writing, as well as I could, to that purpose. After
dinner, it being late, I down by water to Shad well,
to see Betty Michell, the first time I was ever in
their new dwelling since the fire, and there found

132 DIARY OF Oct. 24
her in the house all alone. I found her mighty
modest, and indeed she is mighty pretty, that I
love her exceedingly. I paid her 10/. is. that I
received upon a ticket for her husband, which is
a great kindness I have done them, and having
kissed her as much as I would, I away, poor wretch,
and down to Deptford to see Sir J. Minnes ordering
of the pay of some ships there, which he do most
miserably, and so home.
24th. Up, and down to the Old Swan, and there
found little Michell come to his new shop. I hope
he will do good here. I drank and bade him joy,
I for I love him and his wife well, him for his care,
) and her for her person, and so to White Hall, where
we attended the Duke ; and to all our complaints for
want of money, which now we are tired out with
making, the Duke only tells us that he is sorry for
it, and hath spoke to the King of it, and money we
shall have as soon as it can be found ; and though all
the issue of the war lies upon it, yet that is all the
answer we can get, and that is as bad or worse than
nothing. I to the Hall and there walked long,
among others, talking with Mr. Hayes, Prince Ru
pert's Secretary, a very ingenious man, and one, I
think, fit to contract some friendship with. Here I
staid late, walking to and again, nearing how the
Parliament proceeds, which is mighty slowly in the
settling of the money business, and great factions
growing every day among them. I am told also
how Holmes did last Sunday deliver in his articles
to the King and Cabinet against [Sir Jeremy] Smith,
and that Smith hath given in his answer, and lays
his not accompanying the fleete to his pilot, who
would not undertake to carry the ship further ; which
the pilot acknowledges. The thing is not accom
modated, but only taken up, and both sides com
manded to be quiet ; but no peace like to be. The

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 133
Duke of Albemarle is Smith's friend, and hath pub-
liquely swore that he would never go to sea again
unless Holmes's commission were taken from him.
I find by Hayes1 that they did expect great glory in
coming home in so good condition as they did with
the fleete, and therefore I the less wonder that the
Prince was distasted with my discourse the^ other
day about the sad state of the fleete. But it pleases
me to hear that he did expect great thanks, and
lays the fault of the want of it upon the fire, which
deadened everything, and the glory of his services.
Home and called my wife, and, it being moonshine,
took her into the garden, and there layed open our
condition as to our estate, and the danger of having
it [his money] all in the house at once, in case of any
disorder or troubles in the State, and therefore re
solved to remove part of it to Brampton, and part
some whither else, and part in my owne house, which
is very necessary, and will tend to our safety, though
I shall not think it safe out of my owne sight.
25 th. Up betimes and by water to White Hall,
and there with Sir G. Carteret to Sir. W. Coventry,
who is come to his winter lodgings at White Hall,
and there agreed upon a method of paying of tickets ;
and so I back again home and to the office, where
we sate all the morning, but to little purpose but to
receive clamours for money. After dinner I out
with my wife to Mrs. Pierce's, where she has not
been a great while, from some little unkindness2 of
my wife's to her when she was last here, but she
received us with mighty respect and discretion, and
was making herself mighty fine to go to a great ball
to-night at Court, being the Queene's birthday ; so
the ladies for this one day to wear laces, but are to
put them off again to-morrow. Thence I to my
1 Prince Rupert's secretary.
2 See 6th August, 1666. (M. B.)

134 DIARY OF Oct 27
Lord Brouncker's, and with him to Mrs. Williams's,
where we met Knipp. I was glad to see the jade.
Made her sing; and she told us they begin at
both houses to act on Monday next. But I fear
after all this sorrow, their gains will be but little.
Mrs. Williams says, the Duke's house will now
be much the better of the two, because of their
women ; which I am glad to hear. Then I away
to Mrs. Pierce's, and there saw her new closett,
which is mighty rich and fine. Her daughter Betty
grows mighty pretty. Thence with my wife home
and to do business at the office. Then to Sir W.
Batten's, who tells me that the House of Parliament
makes mighty little haste in settling the money, and
that he knows not when it will be done ; but they
fall into faction, and libells have been found in the
House. Among others, one yesterday, wherein they
reckon up divers great sums to be given away by
the King, among others, 10,000/. to Sir W. Coventry,
for weare and teare, the point he stood upon to ad
vance that sum by, for them to give the King ; Sir
G. Carteret 50,000/. for something else, I think
supernumerarys ; and so to Matt. Wren 5,000/. for
passing the Canary Company's patent; and so a
great many other sums to other persons.
26th. Up, and all the morning and most of the
afternoon within doors, beginning to set my accounts
in order from before this fire, I being behindhand
with them ever since; and this day I got most of
my tradesmen to bring in their bills and paid them.
Nothing done in the House yet as to the finishing
of the bill for money, which is a mighty sad thing,
all lying at stake for it.
27th. Up, and there comes to see me my Lord
Belassis, which was a great honour. He tells me
great newes, yet but what I suspected, that Vernatty
is fled, and so hath cheated him and twenty more,

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 135
but most of all, I doubt, Povy. Thence to talk about
publique business ; he tells me how the two Houses
begin to be troublesome ; the Lords to have quarrels
one with another. My Lord Duke of Buckingham
having said to the Lord Chancellor (who is against
the passing of the Bill for prohibiting the bringing
over of Irish cattle), that whoever was against the
Bill, was there led to it by an Irish interest, or an
Irish understanding, which is as much as to say he
is a foole, this bred heat from my Lord Chancellor,
and something he [Buckingham] said did offend my
Lord of Ossory1 (my Lord Duke of Ormond's son),
and they two had hard words, upon which the latter
sends a challenge to the former ; of which the former
complains to the House, and so the business is to be
heard on Monday next.2 Then as to the Commons;
some ugly knives, like poignards, to stab people with,
about two or three hundred of them were brought in
yesterday to the House, found in one of the house's
rubbish that was burned, and said to be the house
of a Catholique. This and several letters out of the
country, saying how high the Catholiques are every
where and bold in the owning their religion, have
made the Commons mad, and they presently voted
1 On the 14th September, 1665, the Earl of Ossory had been
created an English Peer, as Lord Butler of Morepark.
2 The proceedings on the 27th are not clearly stated. Accord
ing to Clarendon, this Bill was urgently pressed forward in the
House of Lords by the Duke of Buckingham. The debate became
most disorderly, especially on the part of its promoters. On the
Duke making the remark above quoted, Lord Ossory, not trust
ing himself with a reply in the House, challenged Buckingham
privately. This the Duke endeavoured to avoid, and was found
in a place not fixed for the meeting. On the following morning,
he informed the House of the affair. Clarendon regards the whole
as a " gross shift " on the part of the Duke. Both parties were
sent to the Tower. The Bill was subsequently passed. See Lord
Arlington's account of the quarrel in Brown's " Miscellanea Aulica,"
p. 423, &c.

136 DIARY OF Oct 28
that the King be desired to put all Catholiques out
of employment, and other high things; while the
business of money hangs in the hedge. So that
upon the whole, God knows we are in a sad con
dition like to be, there being the very beginnings of
the late troubles. He gone, I at the office all the
morning. At noon home to dinner, where Mrs.
Pierce and her boy and Knipp, who sings as well,
and is the best company in the world, dined with
us, and infinite merry. The playhouses begin to
h play next week. Towards evening I took them out
to the New Exchange, and there my wife bought
things, and I did give each of them a pair of Jesimy1
plain gloves, and another of white. Here Knipp
and I walked up and down to see handsome faces,
and did see several. Then carried each of them
home, and with great pleasure and content, home
myself, and thereupon some serious discourse be
tween my wife and I upon the business. I called to
us my brother, and there broke to him our design to
send him into the country with some part of our
money. I pray God give a blessing to our reso
lution, for I do much fear we shall meet with speedy
distractions for want of money.
28th. (Lord's day.) Up, and to church with my
wife. Captain Guy to dine with me, and he and I much
talk together. He cries out of the discipline of the
fleete, and confesses really that the true English
valour we talk of is almost spent and worn out ; few
of the commanders doing what they should do, and
1 Jessemin (Jasminum), the flowers of which are of a delicate
sweet smell, and often used to perfume gloves. Edmund Howes,
Stow's continuator, informs us that sweet or perfumed gloves were
first brought into England by the Earl of Oxford on his return
from Italy, in the 15 th year of Queen Elizabeth, during whose
reign, and long afterwards, they were very fashionable. They are
frequently mentioned by Shakespeare. Autolycus, in the "Winter's
Tale," has among his wares — " Gloves as sweet as damask roses."

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 137
he much fears we shall therefore be beaten the next
year. He assures me we were beaten home the last
June fight, and that the whole fleete was ashamed to
hear of our bonfires. He commends Smith, and
cries out of Holmes for an idle, proud, conceited,
though stout fellow. He tells me we are to owe
the losse of so many ships on the sands, not to any
fault of the pilots, but to the weather ; but in this I
have good authority to fear there was something
more. He says the Dutch do fight in very good
order, and we in none at all. He says that in the
July fight, both the Prince and Holmes had their
belly-fulls, and were fain to go aside ; though, v
if the wind had continued, we had utterly beaten
them. He do confess the whole to be governed by
a company of fools, and fears our ruine. The Re
venge having her forecastle blown up with powder
to the killing of some men in the River, and the
Dyamond's being overset in the careening at Sheer-
nese, are further marks of the method all the King's
work is now done in. The Foresight also and
another came to disasters in the same place this
week in the cleaning ; which is strange.
29th. Up, and to the office to do business, and
thither comes to me Sir Thomas Teddiman, and he
and I walked a good while in the garden together,
discoursing of the disorder and discipline of the
fleete, wherein he told me how bad every thing is ;
but was very wary in speaking any thing to the dis
honour of the Prince or Duke of Albemarle, but do
magnify my Lord Sandwich much before them both,
from ability to serve the King, and do heartily wish
for him here. For he fears that we shall be undone
the next year, but that he will, however, see an end
of it. To Westminster ; and I find the new Lord
Mayor Bolton1 a-swearing at the Exchequer, with
1 Sir William Bolton, Merchant Tailor.

138 DIARY OF Oct. 29
some of the Aldermen and Livery; but Lord! to
see how meanely they now look, who upon this day
used to be all little lords, is a sad sight and worthy
consideration. And every body did reflect with pity
upon the poor City, to which they are now coming
to choose and swear their Lord Mayor, compared
with what it heretofore was. Thence by coach
(having in the Hall bought me a velvet riding cap,
cost me 20.y.) to my tailor's, and there bespoke a
plain vest, and so to my goldsmith to bid him look
out for some gold for me ; and he tells me that
ginnys, which I bought 2,000 of not long ago, and
cost me but \8%d. change, will now cost me 22d.;
and but very few to be had at any price. However,
some more I will have, for they are very convenient,
and of easy disposal. So home to dinner and to
discourse with my brother upon his translation of
my Lord Bacon's Faber Fortunse, which I gave him
to do and he has done it, but meanely; I am not
pleased with it at all, having done it only literally,
but without any life at all. About five o'clock I
took my wife (who is mighty fine, and with a new
fair pair of locks, which vex me, though like a foole
I helped her the other night to buy them), and to
Mrs. Pierce's, and there staying a little I away before
to White Hall, and into the new playhouse there,
the first time I ever was there, and the first play I
have seen since before the great plague. By and by
Mr. Pierce comes, bringing my wife and his, and
Knipp. By and by the King and Queene, Duke
and Duchesse, and all the great ladies of the Court ;
which, indeed, was a fine sight. But the play being
" Love in a Tub," 1 a silly play, and though done by
the Duke's people, yet having neither Betterton nor
his wife,2 and the whole thing done ill, and being ill
1 A comedy, by Sir George Etheridge.
2 See note, February ist, 1663-4.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 139
also, I had no manner of pleasure in the play. Be
sides, the House, though very fine, yet bad for the
voice, for hearing. The sight of the ladies, indeed,
was exceeding noble; and above all, my Lady
Castlemaine. The play done by ten o'clock. I
carried them all home, and then home myself, and
well satisfied with the sight, but not the play, we
with great content to bed.
30th. To the office, where late, very busy, and dis
patching much business. Mr. Hater staying most
of the afternoon abroad, he came to me, poor man, to
make excuse, and it was that he had been looking
out for a little house for his family. His wife being
much frightened in the country with the discourses
of troubles and disorders like to be, and therefore
durst not be from him, and therefore he is forced to
bring her to towne. This is now the general appre
hension of all people ; particulars I do not know, but
my owne fears are also great, and I do think it time
to look out to save something, if a storm should
come. At night home to supper, and singing with
my wife, who has lately begun to learn, and I think
will come to do something, though her eare is not
good nor I, I confess, have patience enough to teach
her, or hear her sing now and then a false note out
of tune, and am to blame that I cannot bear with
that in her which is fit I should do with her as a
learner, and one that I desire much could sing, and
so should encourage her. This I was troubled at,
for I find that I do put her out of heart, and make
her fearfull to sing before me. So after supper to
bed. 31st. Out with Sir W. Batten toward White Hall.
This day is a great day at the House, so little to do
with the Duke of York, but soon parted. Coming
out of the Court I met Coll. Atkins, who tells me
the whole city rings to-day of Sir Jeremy Smith's

140 DIARY OF Oct. 31
killing of Holmes in a duell, at which I was not much
displeased, for I fear every day more and more mis
chief from that man, if he lives ; but the thing is not
true, for in my coach I did by and by meet Sir Jer.
Smith going to Court. So I by coach to my gold
smith there to see what gold I can get, which is but
little, and not under 22d. So away home to dinner,
and after dinner to my closett, where I spent the
whole afternoon till late at evening of all my accounts
publique and private, and to my great satisfaction I
do find that I do bring my accounts to a very near
balance, notwithstanding all the hurries and troubles
I have been to by the late fire, that I have not been
able to even my accounts since July last ; and I bless
God I do find that I am worth more than ever I yet
fwas, which is 6,200/., for which the Holy Name of
God be praised ! and my other accounts of Tangier
in a very plain and clear condition, that I am not
liable to any trouble from them ; but in fear great I
am, and I perceive the whole city is of some distrac
tions and disorders among us, which God of his
goodness prevent! Late to supper with my wife
and brother, and then to bed. And thus ends the
month with an ill aspect, the business of the Navy
standing wholly still. No credit, no goods sold us,
nobody will trust. All we have to do at the office
is to hear complaints for want of money. The Duke
of York himself for now three weeks seems to rest
satisfied that we can do nothing without money, and
that all must stand still till the King gets money,
which the Parliament has been a great while about ;
but are so dissatisfied with the King's management,
and his giving himself up to pleasures, and not mind
ing the calling to account any of his officers, and
they observe so much the expense of the war, and
yet that after we have made it the most we can, it
do not amount to what they have given the King

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 141
for the war, that they are backward of giving any
more. However 1,800,000/. they have voted, but
the way of gathering it has taken up more time than
is fit to be now lost. The seamen grow very rude,
and every thing out of order ; commanders having no
power over their seamen, but the seamen do what
they please. Few stay on board, but all coming
running up hither to towne, and nobody can with
justice blame them, we owing them so much money ;
and their familys must starve if we do not give them
money, or they procure it upon their tickets from
some people that will trust them. A great folly is
observed by all people in the King's giving leave to
so many merchantmen to go abroad this winter, and
some upon voyages where it is impossible they
should be back again by the spring, and the rest will
be doubtfull, but yet we let them go ; what the
reason of State is nobody can tell, but all condemn it.
The Prince and Duke of Albemarle have got no
great credit by this year's service. Our losse both
of reputation and ships having been greater than is
"thought hath ever been suffered in all ages put
together before ; being beat home, and flying home
the first fight, and then losing so many ships then
and since upon the sands, and some falling into
the enemy's hands, and not one taken this yeare,
but the Ruby, French prize, now at the end of
the yeare, by the Frenchmen's mistake in running
upon us. Great folly in both Houses of Parliament,
several persons falling together by the eares,
among others in the House of Lords, the Duke
of Buckingham and my Lord Ossory. Such is our
case that every body fears an invasion the next
yeare; and for my part, I do methinks foresee
great unhappiness coming upon us, and do pro
vide for it by laying by something against a rainy
day, dividing what I have, and laying it in several

142 DIARY OF Nov. i
places, but with all faithfulness to the King in all
respects ; my grief only being that the King do
not look after his business himself, and thereby
will be undone both himself and his nation, it
being not yet, I believe, too late if he would apply
himself to it, to save all, and conquer the Dutch ;
but while he and the Duke of York mind their
pleasure, as they do and nothing else, we must
be beaten. So late with my mind in good condition
of quiet after the settling all my accounts, and to
bed. November ist. Up, and was presented by Burton,
one of our smith's wives, with a very noble cake,
which I presently resolved to have my wife go with
to-day, and some wine, and house-warm my Betty
Michell, which she readily resolved to do. So I to
the office and sat all the morning, where little to do
but answer people about want of money ; so that
there is little service done the King by us, and great
disquiet to ourselves ; I am sure there is to me very
much, for I do not enjoy myself as I would and
should do in my employment if my pains could do
the King better service, and with the peace we used
to do it. From dinner my wife and my brother,
and W. Hewer and Barker away to Betty Michell's,
to Shadwell, and I to my office till almost night and
then, my wife being come back, I took her and set
her at her brothers, who is very sicke, and I to
White Hall, and there all alone a pretty while with
Sir W. Coventry at his chamber. I find him very
melancholy under the same considerations of the
King's service that I am. He confesses with me he
expects all will be undone, and all ruined ; he com
plains and sees perfectly what I with grief do, and
said it first himself to me that all discipline is lost in
the fleete, no order nor no command, and concurs
with me that it is necessary we do again and again

1666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 143
represent all things more and more plainly to the
Duke of York, as a guard to ourselves hereafter
when things shall come to be worse. He says the
House goes on slowly in finding of money, and that
the discontented party do say they have not done
with us, for they will have a further bout with us
as to our accounts, and they are exceedingly well
instructed where to hit us. I left him with a thou
sand sad reflections upon the times, and the state
of the King's matters, and so away, and took up my
wife and home, where a little at the office, and
then to supper, and talk with my wife (with whom
I have much comfort) and my brother, and so to
bed. November 2nd. With Sir W. Batten to Wool
wich, where first we went on board the Ruby, French
prize, the only ship of war we have taken from any
of our enemies this year. It seems a very good
ship, but with galleries quite round the sterne to
walk in as a balcone, which will be taken down.
She had also about forty good brass guns, but will
make little amends to our loss in the Prince.
Thence to the Ropeyarde and the other yards to
do several businesses. I did also buy some apples
and pork ; by the same token the butcher com
mended it for cloath and colour. And for his beef,
says he, " Look how fat it is ; the lean appears
only here and there a speck, like beauty-spots."
Having done at Woolwich, we to Deptford, and
there did also a little more business, and so home, I
reading all the way to make an end of the Bond
man (which the oftener I read the more I like), and
begun "The Duehesse of Malfi,"1 which seems a good
play. After dinner to Westminster. I up into the
House, and among other things walked a good while
1 A tragedy, by John Webster.

144 DIARY OF Nov.4
with the Serjeant Trumpet, who tells me, as I
wished, that the King's Italian here is about setting
three parts for trumpets, and shall teach some to
sound them, and believes they will be admirable
musique. I also walked with Sir Stephen Fox an
houre, and good discourse of publique business with
him, who seems very much satisfied with my dis
course, and desired more of my acquaintance. Then
comes out the King and Duke of York from the
Council, and so I spoke awhile to Sir W. Coventry
about some office business, and so called my wife,
and so home.
3rd. This morning comes Mr. Lovett, and brings
me my print of the Passion, varnished by him, and
the frame black, which indeed is very fine, though
not so fine as I expected ; however, pleases me ex
ceedingly. This, and the sheets of paper he pre
pared for me, come to 3/., which I did give him,
and though it be more than is fit to lay out on plea
sure, yet, it being ingenious, I did not think much
of it. He gone, I to the office, and there again all
the afternoon till late at night.
4th. (Lord's day.) Comes my taylor's man in the
morning, and brings my vest home, and coate to
wear with it, and belt, and silver-hilted sword. So
I rose and dressed myself, and I like myself mightily
in it, and so do my wife. Then, being dressed, to
church ; and after church pulled my Lady Pen and
Mrs. Markham into my house to dinner, and Sir J.
Minnes he got Mrs. Pegg along with him. I had a
good dinner for them, and very merry; and after
dinner to the waterside, and so, it being very cold,
to White Hall, and was mighty fearfull of an ague,
my vest being new and thin, and the coat cut not to
meet before upon my breast. Here I waited in the
gallery till the Council was up, and among others did
speak with Mr. Cooling, my Lord Chamberlain's

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 145
secretary, who tells me my Lord Generall is be
come mighty low in all people's opinion, and that
he hath received several slurs from the King and
Duke of York. The people at Court do see the
difference between his and the Prince's manage
ment, and my Lord Sandwich's. That this busi
ness which he is put upon of crying out against the
Catholiques and turning them out of all employ
ment, will undo him, when he comes to turn the
officers out of the Army, and this is a thing of
his own seeking. That he is grown a drunken sot,
and drinks with nobody but Troutbecke, whom no
body else will keep company with. Of whom he
told me this story: That once the Duke of Albe
marle in his drink taking notice as of a wonder that
Nan Hide should ever come to be Duchesse of York,
" Nay," says Troutbecke, " ne'er wonder at that ; for
if you will give me another bottle of wine, I will tell
you as great, if not greater, a miracle." And what
was that, but that our dirty Besse (meaning his
Duchesse) should come to be Duchesse of Albe
marle ? To Sir G. Carteret's lodgings, where he
shows me a long letter, all in cipher, from my
Lord Sandwich to him. The contents he hath
not yet found out, but he tells me ,that my Lord
is not sent for home, as several people have en
quired after of me. So home, and there began to
read " Potter's Discourse upon 666," x which pleases
me mightily.
5 th. (A holiday.) Lay long, and then up, and to
the office, where vexed to meet with people come
1 "An Interpretation of the Number 666." Oxford, 1642, 4to.
The work was afterwards translated into French, Dutch, and
Latin. It was written by Francis Potter, an English divine, born
in Wiltshire, 1594, who died about 1678,, at Kilmington, in
Somersetshire, of which he was rector. — Wood's Athence. See
1 8th February, 1665-6, ante.
4 L

i46 • DIARY OF Nov. 5
from the fleete at the Nore, where so many ships
are laid up and few going abroad, and yet Sir Thos.
Allen has sent up some Lieutenants with warrants
I to presse men for a few ships to go out this winter,
while every day thousands appear here, to our great
trouble and affright, before our office and the ticket
office, and no Captain able to command one man
abroad. Thence by coach to my Lady Peter
borough,1 who had sent to speak with me. She
makes mighty moan of the badness of the times,
and her family as to money, My Lord's passion-
ateness for want thereof, and his want of coming in
of rents, and no wages from the Duke of York. No
money to be had there for wages nor disbursements,
and therefore prays my assistance about his pension.
I was moved with her story, which she largely and
handsomely told me, and promised I would try what
I could in a few days, and so took leave, being will
ing to keep her Lord fair with me, both for his
respect to my Lord Sandwich and for my owne
sake hereafter, when I come to pass my accounts.
Thence to my Lord Crew's, and there dined, and
mightily made of. Here my Lord and Sir Thomas
Crew, Mr. John, and Dr. Crew,2 and two strangers.
The best family in the world for goodness and
sobriety. Here beyond my expectation I met my
Lord Hinchingbroke, who is come to towne two
days since from Hinchingbroke, and brought his
sister and brother Carteret with him, who are at Sir
G. Carteret's. After dinner I and Sir Thomas
Crew went aside to discourse of public matters,
and do find by him that all the country gentle
men are publickly jealous of the courtiers in the
Parliament, and that they do doubt every thing that
they propose; and that the true reason why the
1 See August ioth, 1663.
2 Nathaniel, afterwards Bishop of Durham and Baron Crewe.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 147
country gentlemen are for a land-tax and against a
general excise, is, because they are fearful that if the
latter be granted they shall never get it down again ;
whereas the land-tax will be but for so much, and
when the war ceases, there will be no ground got by
the Court to keep it up. He says the House would
be very glad to get something against Sir G. Car
teret, and will not let their inquiries die till they
have got something. He do, from what he hath
heard at the Committee for examining the burning
of the City, conclude it as a thing certain that it
was done by plot ; it being proved by many wit
nesses that endeavours were made in several places to
encrease the fire, and that both in City and country it
was bragged by several Papists that upon such a day
or in such a time we should find the hottest weather
that ever was in England, and words of plainer
sense. But my Lord Crew was discoursing at
table how the Judges have determined in the case
whether the landlords or the tenants (who are, in
their leases, all of them generally tied to maintain
and uphold their houses) shall bear the losse of the
fire ; and they say that tenants should against all
casualties of fire beginning either in their owne or
in their neighbour's; but, where it is done by an
enemy, they are not to do it. And this was by an
enemy, there having been one convicted and hanged
upon this very score. This is an excellent salvo for
the tenants, and for which I am glad, because of my
father's house. After dinner and this discourse I
took coach, and at the same time find my Lord
Hinchingbroke and Mr. John Crew and the Doctor
going out to see the ruins of the City ; so I took the
Doctor into my hackney coach (and he is a very fine
sober gentleman), and so through the City. But,
Lord ! what pretty and sober observations he made
of the City and its desolation ; till anon we came to

148 DIARY OF Nov. 6
my house, and there I took them upon Tower Hill
to show them what houses were pulled down there
since the fire ; and then to my hquse, where I treated
them with good wine of several sorts, and they took
it mighty respectfully, and a fine company of gen
tlemen they are ; but above all I was glad to see my
Lord Hinchingbroke drink no wine at all. Here I got
them to appoint Wednesday come se'nnight to dine
here at my house, and so we broke up and all took
coach again, and I carried the Doctor to Chancery
Lane, and thence I to White Hall, where I staid
walking up and down till night, and then got almost
into the play-house, having much mind to go and
see the play at Court this night ; but fearing how I
should get home, because of the bonfires and the
lateness of the night to get a coach, I did not
stay ; but having this evening seen my Lady
Jemimah, who is come to towne, and looks very
well and fat, and heard how Mr. John Pickering is
to be married this week, and to a fortune with
5,000/., and seen a rich necklace of pearle and two
pendants of dyamonds, which Sir G. Carteret hath
presented her with since her coming to towne, I
home by coach, but met not one bonfire through the
whole town in going round by the wall, which is
strange, and speaks the melancholy disposition of the
City at present, while never more was said of, and
feared of, and done against the Papists than just at
this time. Home, and there find my wife and her
people at cards, and I to my chamber, and there
late, and so to supper and to bed.
6th. After dinner, down alone by water to Dept-
i ford, reading " Duchesse of Malfy," the play, which
is pretty good, and there did some business, and so
up again, and all the evening at the office. At night
home, and there find Mr. Batelier, who supped with
us, and good company he is.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 149
7th. Up and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall,
where we attended as usual the Duke of York, and
there was by the folly of Sir W. Batten prevented in
obtaining a bargain for Captain Cocke, which would,
I think, at this time, during our great want of hempe,
have been both profitable to the King and of good
convenience to me ; but I matter it not, it being done
only by the folly, not any design, of Sir W. Batten's.
Thence to Westminster Hall, and, it being fast day,
there was no shops open. Took coach and called
at Faythorne's, to buy some prints for my wife to
draw by this winter, and here did see my Lady Cas-
tlemaine's picture, done by him from Lilly's, in red
chalke and other colours, by which he hath cut it in
copper to be printed. The picture in chalke is the
finest thing I ever saw in my life, I think ; and I did
desire to buy it ; but he says he must keep it awhile
to correct his copper-plate1 by, and when that is
done he will sell it me. Thence home to dinner, and
then to Mrs. Turner's, at her request to speake and
advise about Sir Thomas Harvey's coming to lodge
there, which I think must be submitted to, and better
now than hereafter, when he gets more ground, for
I perceive he intends to stay by it, and begins to
crow mightily upon his late being at the payment of
tickets ; but a coxcombe he is and will never be
better in the business of the Navy. By the Duke of
York his discourse to-day in his chamber, they have
it at Court, as well as we here, that a fatal day is to
be expected shortly, of some great mischief; whether
by the Papists, or what, they are not certain. But
the day is disputed ; some say next Friday, others a
day sooner, others later, and I hope all will prove a
foolery. But it is observable how every body's fears
are busy at this time.
1 See 1st December, 1666.

i5o DIARY OF Nov. 9
8th. Up, and before I went to the office I spoke
with Mr. Martin for his advice about my proceeding
in the business of the private man-of-war, he having
heretofore served in one of them, and now I have it
in my thoughts to send him purser in ours. At noon
home to dinner and then to the office awhile, and so
home for my sword, and there find Mercer come to
see her mistresse. I was glad to see her there, and
my wife mighty kind also, and for my part, much
vexed that the jade is not with us still. I to West
minster Hall, and there met Mr. Grey, who tells me
the House is sitting still (and now it was six o'clock),
and likely to sit till midnight ; and have proceeded
fair to give the King his supply presently ; and
herein have done more to-day than was hoped for.
Sir W. Coventry did this night tell me how the
business is done about Sir J. Minnes ; that he is to
be a Commissioner, and my Lord Brouncker and
Sir W. Pen are to be Controller jointly, which I am
very glad of, and better than if they were either of
them alone ; and do hope truly that the King's busi
ness will be better done thereby, and infinitely better
than now it is. Mr. Grey did assure me this night,
that he was told this day, by one of the greater
Ministers of State in England, and one of the King's
Cabinet, that we had little left to agree on between
the Dutch and us towards a peace, but only the
place of treaty ; which do astonish me to hear, but I
am glad of it, for I fear the consequence of the war.
But he says that the King, having all the money
he is like to have, we shall be sure of a peace in a
little time.
9th. Up and to the office, where did a good deale of
business, and then at noon to the Exchange and to
my little goldsmith's, whose wife1 is very pretty and
1 Mrs. Stokes.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 151
modest, that ever I saw any. Upon the Change,
where I seldom have of late been, I found all people
mightily at a losse what to expect, but confusion and
fears in every man's head and heart. Whether war
or peace, all fear the event will be bad. Home, and
after dinner I to my closett all the afternoon, till the
porter brought my vest back from the tailor's, and
then to dress myself very fine and away by coach to
Mrs. Pierce's, by appointment, where we find good
company : a fair lady, my Lady Prettyman,1 Mrs.
Corbet,2 Knipp ; and for men, Captain Downing,
Mr. Lloyd, Sir W. Coventry's clerk, and one Mr.
Tripp, who dances well. After our first bout of
dancing, Knipp and I to sing, and Mercer and Cap
tain Downing (who loves and understands musique)
would by all means have my song of " Beauty, re
tire:" which Knipp had spread abroad, and he extols
it above any thing he ever heard, and, without flat
tery, I know it is good in its kind. This being done
and going to dance again, and then comes news that
White Hall was on fire ; and presently more par
ticulars, that the Horse-guard was on fire ;3 and so
we run up to the garret, and find it so ; a horrid
great fire ; and by and by we saw and heard part of
1 Margaret, daughter and heir of Sir Matthew Mennes, K.B.,
and wife of Sir John Prettyman, Bart., M.P. for Leicester.
2 There was an actress of this name. She played Cleoly, at
the King's House, in Edward Howard's " Man of Newmarket,"
1678. 3 "Nov. 9th. Between seven and eight at night, there happened
a fire in the Horse Guard House, in the Tilt Yard, over against
Whitehall, which at first arising, it is supposed, from some snuff of
a candle falling amongst the straw, broke out with so sudden a
flame, that at once it seized the north-west part of that building ;
but being so close under His Majesty's own eye, it was, by the
timely help His Majesty and His Royal Highness caused to be
applied, immediately stopped, and by ten o'clock wholly mastered,
with the loss only of that part of the building it had at first
seized." — The London Gazette, No. 103.

152 DIARY OF Nov. 9
it blown up with powder. The ladies begun pre
sently to be afeard : one fell into fits. The whole
town in an alarm. Drums beat and trumpets, and
the Horse-guards every where spread, running up
and down in the street. And I begun to have
mighty apprehensions how things might be, for we
are in expectation, from common fame, this night, or
to-morrow, to have a massacre, by the having so
many fires one after another, as that in the City,
and at same time begun in Westminster, by the
Palace, but put out ; and since in Southwarke, to the
burning down some houses ; and now this do make
all people conclude there is something extraordinary
in it ; but nobody knows what. By and by comes
news that the fire has slackened; so then we were a
little cheered up again, and to supper, and pretty
merry. But, above all, there comes in the dumb
boy that I knew in Oliver's time, who is mightily
acquainted here, and with Downing ; and he made
strange signs of the fire, and how the King was
abroad, and many things they understood, but I could
not, which I wondered at, and discoursing with
Downing about it, " Why," says he, " it is only a
little use, and you will understand him, and make
him understand you with as much ease as may be."
So I prayed him to tell him that I was afeard that
my coach would be gone, and that he should go down
and steal one of the seats out of the coach and keep
it, andthat would make the coachman to stay. He
did this, so that the dumb boy did go down, and,
like a cunning rogue, went into the coach, pretend
ing to sleep ; and, by and by, fell to his work, but
finds the seats nailed to the coach. So he could not
do it ; however, stayed there, and stayed the coach
till the coachman's patience was quite spent, and
beat the dumb boy by force, and so went away. So
the dumb boy came up and told him all the story,

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 153
which they below did see all that passed, and knew
it to be true. After supper, another dance or two,
and then newes that the fire is as great as ever,
which puts us all to our wit's-end ; and I mightily
anxious to go home, but the coach being gone, and
it being about ten at night, and rainy dirty weather,
I knew not what to do ; but to walk out with Mr.
Batelier, myself resolving to go home on foot, and
leave the women there. And so did ; but at the
Savoy got a coach, and came back and took up the
women ; and so, having, by people come from the
fire, understood that the fire was overcome, and all
well, we merrily parted, and home. Stopped by
several guards and constables quite through the
town, round the wall, as we went, all being in arms.
Being come home, we to cards, till two in the morn
ing, and drinking lamb's-wool.1 So to bed.
10th. The Parliament did fall foul of our accounts
again yesterday ; and we must arme to have them
examined, which I am sorry for : it will bring great
trouble to me, and shame upon the office. With
my Lord Brouncker and Sir Thomas Harvy, to
Cocke's house, and there Mrs. Williams and other
company, and an excellent dinner. Mr. Temple's
wife, after dinner, fell to play on the harpsichon, till '¦
she so tired everybody, that I left the house without
taking leave, and no creature left standing by her to
hear her. Read an hour, to make an end of " Potter's
Discourse of 666," which I like all along, but his close
is most excellent ; and, whether it be right or wrong,
is mighty ingenious. This is the fatal day that
every body hath discoursed for a long time to be the
day that the Papists, or I know not who, have de
signed to commit a massacre upon ;2 but, however,
1 Lamb's-wool is a vulgar beverage made of ale, mixed with
sugar, nutmeg, and the pulp of roasted apples.
2 See 13th December, 1666, post.

154 DIARY OF Nov. 12
I trust in God we shall rise to-morrow morning as
well as ever. I hear that my Lady Denham is ex
ceeding sick, even to death, and that she says, and
every body else discourses, that she is poisoned ; and
Creed tells me, that it is said that there hath been a
design to poison the King. What the meaning of
all these sad signs is, the Lord only knows ; but
every day things look worse and worse. God fit us
for the worst !
nth. (Lord's day.) To church, myself and wife,
where the old dunce Meriton, brother to the known
Meriton, of St. Martin's, Westminster, did make a
very good sermon, beyond my expectation. Home
to dinner, and we carried in Pegg Pen, and there
also came to us little Michell and his wife, and dined
very pleasantly. Anon to church, and after church
I to my chamber, and there did finish the putting
time to my song of " It is decreed," and do please
myself at last and think it will be thought a good
song. To my uncle Wight's, where my aunt is grown
so ugly and their entertainment so bad that I am in
pain to be there. Wooly's wife, a silly woman, and
not very handsome, but no spirit in her at all ; and
their discourse mean, and the fear of the troubles of
the times hath made them not to bring their plate to
town, since it was carried out upon the business of
the fire, so that they drink in earth and a wooden
can, which I do not like.
1 2th. Mr. Carcasse brought me near 500 tickets
to sign, which I did, and by discourse find him a
cunning, confident, shrewd man, but one that I do
doubt by his discourse of the ill life he has got with
my Lord Marquess of Dorchester (with whom he
lived), hath had cunning practices in his time, and
would not now spare to use the same to his profit.
By and by comes Creed to me, and he and I walked
in the garden a little, talking of the present ill con-

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 155
dition of things, which is the common subject of all
men's discourse and fears now-a-days, and particu
larly of my Lady Denham, whom everybody says is
poisoned, and she hath said it to the Duke of York ;
but is upon the mending hand, though the town says
she is dead this morning. Going to Sir R. Viner's,
I did get such a splash and spots of dirt upon my
new vest, that I was out of countenance to be seen
in the street. This day I received 450 pieces of gold
more of Mr. Stokes, but cost me 22\d. change; but
I am well contented with it, I having now nearly
2800/. in gold, and will not rest till I get full 3000/.
Home to dinner, though Sir R. Viner would have
staid us to dine with him, he being sheriffe ; but,
poor man, was so out of countenance that he had no
wine ready to drink to us, his butler being out of the
way, though we know him to be a very liberal man.
After dinner I took my wife out, intending to have
gone and have seen my Lady Jemimah, at White
Hall, but so great a stop there was at the New Ex
change, that we could not pass in half an houre, and
therefore 'light and then home. My wife and all the
mayds [being] abed but Jane, whom I put confidence
in — she and I, and my brother, and Tom, and W.
Hewer, did bring all the remainder of my money,
and my plate-chest, out of the cellar, and placed the
money in my study, with the rest, and the plate in
my dressing-room ; but indeed. I am in great pain
to think how to dispose of my money, it being
wholly unsafe to keep it all in coin in one place.
Creed and I did stop, the Duke of York being just
going away from seeing of it, at Paul's, and in the
Convocation House Yard did there see the body of
Robert Braybrooke, Bishop of London, that died
1404. He fell down in his tomb out of the great
church into St. Fayth's this late fire, and is here
seen his skeleton with the flesh on ; but all tough

156 DIARY OF Nov. 14
and dry like a spongy dry leather, or touchwood all
upon his bones. His head turned aside. A great
man in his time, and Lord Chancellor; and [his
skeleton] now exposed to be handled and derided by
some, though admired for its duration by others.
Many flocking to see it.
13th. To Bishopsgate Street, and there bought
some drinking-glasses, a case of knives, and other
things, in expectation of my Lord Hinchingbroke's
coming to dine with me. So home, and do here re
ceive notice from my Lord Hinchingbroke that he is
not well, and so not in condition to come, which I am
not in much trouble for, because of the disorder my
house is in, by the bricklayers coming to mend the
chimney in my dining-room for smoking, which they
were upon almost till midnight, and have now made
it very pretty, and do carry smoke exceeding well.
This evening came all the Houblons to me, to invite
me to sup with them to-morrow night. I did take
them home, and there we sat and talked a good
while, and a glass of wine, and then parted till to
morrow night. So at night, well satisfied in the
alteration of my chimney, I to bed.
14th. To Westminster, where I bought several
things, as a hone, ribbon, gloves, books, and then
took coach and to Knipp's lodging, whom I find not
ready to go home with me ; and there staid reading
of Waller's verses, while she finished dressing, her
husband being by. Her lodging very mean, and the
condition she lives in ; yet makes a show without
doors, God bless us ! I carried him along with us
into the City, and set him down in Bishopsgate Street,
and then home with her. She tells me how Smith,1
of the Duke's house, hath killed a man upon a quarrel
in play ; which makes every body sorry, he being a
1 William Smith, originally a Barrister-at-law of the Society of
Gray's Inn, Ob. 1696.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 157
good actor, and, they say, a good man, however this
happens. The ladies of the Court do much bemoan
him, she says. Here she and we alone at dinner to
some good victuals, that we could not put off, that
was intended for the great dinner of my Lord Hin
chingbroke's, if he had come. After dinner I to
teach her my new recitative of " It is decreed," of
which she learnt a good part, and I do well like it and
believe shall be well pleased when she has it all, and
that it will be found an agreeable thing. Then carried
her home, and my wife and I intended to have seen
my Lady Jemimah at White Hall, but the Exchange
Streete was so full of coaches, every body, as they
say, going thither to make themselves fine against
to-morrow night, we could not do any thing, only my
wife to see her brother, and I to speak one word
with Sir G. Carteret about office business, and talk
of the general complexion of matters, which he looks
upon, as I do, with horrour, and gives us all as an
undone people. That there is no such thing as a
peace in hand, nor possibility of any without our
begging it, they being as high, or higher, in their
terms than ever, and tells me that, just now, my
Lord Hollis had been with him, and wept to think in
what a condition we are fallen. He shewed me my
Lord Sandwich's letter to him, complaining of the
lack of money, which Sir G. Carteret is at a loss how
in the world to get the King to supply him with, and
wishes him, for that reason, here ; for that he fears
he will be brought to disgrace there, for want of sup
plies. He says the House is yet in a bad humour ;
and desiring to know whence it is that the King stirs
not, he says he minds it not, nor will be brought to
it, and that his servants of the House do, instead of
making the Parliament better, rather play the rogue
one with another, and will put all in fire. So that,
upon the whole, we are in a wretched condition, and

158 DIARY OF Nov. r4
I went from him in full apprehensions of it. So to
the Pope's Head, where all the Houblons were, and
Dr. Croone,1 and by and by to an exceeding pretty
supper, excellent discourse of all sorts, and indeed
they are a set of the finest gentlemen that ever I met
withal in my life. Here Dr. Croone told me, that, at
the meeting at Gresham College to-night, which, it
seems, they now have every Wednesday again, there
was a pretty experiment of the blood of one dog let
out, till he died, into the body of another on one side,
while all his own run out on the other side.2 The
first died upon the place, and the other very well, and
likely to do well. This did give occasion to many
pretty wishes, as of the blood of a Quaker to be let
into an Archbishop, and such like ; but, as Dr.
Croone says, may, if it takes, be of mighty use to
man's health, for the amending of bad blood by
borrowing from a better body. After supper, James
Houblon and another brother took me aside and to
talk of some businesses of their owne, where I am to
serve them, and then to talk of publique matters, and
I do find that they and all merchants else do give
over trade and the nation for lost, nothing being
done with care or foresight, no convoys granted, nor
any thing done to satisfaction ; but do think that the
Dutch and French will master us the next yeare, do
what we can : and so do I, unless necessity makes
the King to mind his business, which might yet
save all.

-1 William Croune, of Emanuel College, Cambridge, chosen
Rhetoric Professor at Gresham College, 1659, F.R.S. and M.D.
Ob. 1684, and interred at St. Mildred's in the Poultry.
2 A few years since there was an attempt to revive this experi
ment : see also 21st and 30th November, 1667. All the important
facts relating to the subject may be read in an article on " Trans
fusion," by Dr. Kay, in the "Cyclopedia of Practical Medicine,"
and in the works quoted by him.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 159
15th. To Mrs. Pierce's, where I find her as fine as
possible, and Mr. Pierce going to the ball at night at
Court, it being the Queen's birth-day. I also to the
ball, and with much ado got up to the loft, where
with much trouble I could see very well. Anon the
house grew full, and the candles light, and the King
and Queen and all the ladies sat : and it was, indeed,
a glorious sight to see Mrs. Stewart in black and
white lace, and her head and shoulders dressed with
diamonds, and the like many great ladies more, only
the Queen none ; and the King in his rich vest of
some rich silke and silver trimming, as the Duke of
York and all the dancers were, some of cloth of silver,
and others of other sorts, exceeding rich. Presently
after the King was come in, he took the Queen, and
about fourteen more couple there was, and begun
the Bransles. As many of the men as I can remem
ber presently, were, the King, Duke of York, Prince
Rupert, Duke of Monmouth, Duke of Buckingham,
Lord Douglas, Mr. [George] Hamilton, Colonell
Russell, Mr. Griffith, Lord Ossory, Lord Rochester ;
and of the ladies, the Queen, Duchess of York,
Mrs. Stewart, Duchess of Monmouth, Lady Essex
Howard,1 Mrs. Temple,2 Swedes Embassadress,3 Lady
1 Only daughter of James Howard, third Earl of Suffolk, by his
first wife, Susannah, daughter of Henry Rich, Earl of Holland;
afterwards married, 4th March, 1666-7, at St. Margaret's, West
minster, to Edward Griffin, Lord Griffin of Braybrooke. There is
^ very fine portrait of her at Audley End, by Lely.
2 Anne, daughter and co-heir of Thomas Temple, of Frankton,
in Warwickshire, by Rebecca, daughter of Sir Nicholas Carew, of
Beddington, in Surrey, became the second wife of Sir Charles
Lyttelton, who had been Governor of Jamaica, and lived to be
eighty-seven. His lady survived him four years, dying in 17 18,
and had issue by him eight daughters and five sons. From this
alliance the Lords Lyttelton descend.
3 " The Lord George Flemming, the Lord Peter Julius Coyet,
ambassadors-extraordinary from the crown of Sweden, made their
jmblic entry through the City of London, on the 27th June,

160 DIARY OF Nov. 17
Arlington,1 Lord George Barkeley's daughter,2 and
many others I remember not ; but all most excellently
dressed in rich petticoats and gowns, and dyamonds,
and pearls. After the Bransles, then to a Corant,
and now and then a French dance ; but that so rare
that the Corants grew tiresome, that I wished it done.
Only Mrs. Stewart danced mighty finely, and many
French dances, specially one the King called the
New Dance, which was very pretty ; but upon the
whole matter, the business of the dancing of itself
was not extraordinary pleasing. But the clothes and
sight of the persons were indeed very pleasing, and
worth my coming, being never likely to see more
gallantry while I live, if I should come twenty times.
About twelve at night it broke up. So away home
with my wife, between displeased with the dull
dancing, and satisfied with the clothes and persons.
My Lady Castlemaine, without whom all is nothing,
being there, very rich, though not dancing.
/ 1 6th. This noon I met with Mr. Hooke, and he
tells me the dog which was filled with another dog's
blood, at the College the other day, is very well, and
like to be so as ever, and doubts not its being found
of great use to men ; and so do Dr. Whistler, who
dined with us at the taverne.
1 7th. In the afternoon shut myself up in my cham
ber, and there till twelve at night finishing my great
letter to the Duke of York, which do lay the ill con
dition of the Navy so open to him, that it is impos
sible if the King and he minds any thing of their
business, but it will operate upon them to set all
matters right, and get money to carry on the war,
1666."— Pointer's History, vol. i. p. 213. The lady was the wife
of one of these.
1 See 1 2th July, ante.
2 George Lord Berkeley had six daughters. The one mentioned
here was probably the eldest, Lady Elizabeth.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 161
before it be too late, or else lay out for a peace upon
any termes. It was a great convenience to-night
that what I had writ foule in short hand, I could read
it to W. Hewer, and he take it fair in short hand, so
as I can read it to-morrow to .Sir W. Coventry, and
then come home, and Hewer read it to me while I
take it in long-hand to present, which saves me much
time. 1 8th. (Lord's day.) On foot to White Hall, where
by appointment I met Lord Brouncker at Sir W.
Coventry's chamber, and there I read over my great
letter, and they approved it : so I think it is as good]
a letter in the manner, and believe it is the worst in I
the matter of it, as ever come from any office to a |
prince. To Sir W. Batten. He was in a huffe,
which I made light of, but he signed the letter, though
he would not go, and liked the letter well. Sir W.
Pen, it seems, he would not stay for it : so, making
slight of Sir W. Pen's putting so much weight upon
his hand, I to White Hall, and there met Lord
Brouncker, and he signed it, and so I delivered it to
Mr. Chiffinch, and he to Sir W. Coventry, in the
cabinet, the King and councill being sitting, where I
leave it to its fortune, and I by water home again to
even my Journall ; and then comes Captain Cocke
to me, and he and I a great deal of melancholy dis
course of the times, giving all over for gone, though
now the Parliament will soon finish the Bill for
money. But we fear, if we had it, as matters are
now managed, we shall never make the best of it,
but consume it all to no purpose or a bad one.
19th. To Barkeshire-house,1 where my Lord
Chancellor hath been ever since the fire. To the
1 Belonging to the Earl of Berkshire ; afterwards purchased by
Charles II., and presented to the Duchess of Cleveland, whose
name is preserved in " Cleveland . Row." It was then of great
extent, and stood on or near the site of Bridgewater House.
4. M

162 DIARY OF Nov. 20
Bull-head tavern, where I have not been since Mr.
Chetwind and the time of our club, and here had six
bottles of claret filled, and I sent them to Mrs.
Martin, whom I had promised some of my owne, and,
having none of my owne, sent her this. Took coach
to White Hall, and there visited my Lady Jemimah,
at Sir G. Carteret's lodgings. Here was Sir Thomas
Crew, who told me how hot words grew again to-day
in the House of Lords between my Lord Ossory and
Ashly, the former saying that something said by the
other was said like one of Oliver's Council. Ashly
said he must give him reparation, or he would take
it his owne way. The House therefore did bring
my Lord Ossory to confess his fault, and ask pardon
for it, as he did also to my Lord Buckingham, for
saying that something was not truth that my Lord
Buckingham had said. This will render my Lord
Ossory very little in a little time.
20th. Called up by Mr. Shepley, who is going into
the country to-day to Hinchingbroke, and sent my
service to my Lady, and in general for newes : that
the world do think very well of my Lord, and do
wish he were here again, but that the publique
matters of the State as to the war are in the worst
condition that is possible. Then to church, it being
thanksgiving-day for the cessation of the plague ;
but, Lord ! how the towne do say that it is hastened
before the plague is quite over, there dying some
' people still, but only to get ground for plays to be
publickly acted, which the Bishops would not suffer
1 till the plague was over ; and one would thinke so,
by the suddenness of the notice given of the day,
which was last Sunday, and the little ceremony.
The sermon being dull of Mr. Minnes, and people
with great indifferency come to hear him. After
church home, where I met Mr. Gregory, who I did
then agree with to come to teach my wife to play on

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 163
the Viall, and he being an able and sober man, I am
mightily glad of it. After dinner by coach to Barke-
shire-house, and there did get a very great meeting ;
the Duke of York being there, and much business
done, though not in proportion to the greatness of
the business, and my Lord Chancellor sleeping and
snoring the greater part of the time. Among other
things I declared the state of our credit as to tallys
to raise money by, and there was an order for pay
ment of 5,000/ to Mr. Gauden, out of which I hope
to get something against Christmas. Here we sat
late, and I did hear that there are some troubles like
to be in Scotland, there being a discontented party
already risen, that have seized on the Governor of
Dumfreeze and imprisoned him, but the story is yet
very uncertain, and therefore I set no great weight
on it. So home and with great pleasure to spend
the evening upon my Lyra Viall, and then to supper
and to bed with mighty peace of mind and a
hearty desire that I had but what I have quietly
in the country, but, I fear, I do at this day see the
best that either I or the rest of our nation will ever
see. 2 1 st. I to wait on Sir Philip Howard, whom I find
dressing himself in his night-gown and turban like a
Turke, but one of the finest persons that ever I saw
in my life. He had several gentlemen of his owne
waiting on him, and one playing finely on the gittar :
he discourses as well as ever I heard man, in few
words and handsome. He expressed all kindness
to Baity, when I told him how sick he is : he says
that, before he comes to be mustered again, he must
bring a certificate of his swearing the oaths of Alle
giance and Supremacy, and having taken the Sacra
ment according to the rites of the Church of England.
This, I perceive, is imposed on all.
22nd. My Lord Brouncker did show me Hollar's

1 64 DIARY OF Nov. 22
new print of the City,1 with a pretty representation
of that part which is burnt, very fine indeed ; and
tells me that he was yesterday sworn the King's ser
vant, and that the King hath commanded him to go
on with his great map of the City,2 which he was
upon before the City was burned, like Gombout of
Paris,3 which I am glad of. At noon home to dinner,
where my wife and I fell out, I being displeased with
her cutting away a lace handkercher sewed about
the neck to her breasts almost, out of a belief, but
without reason, that it is the fashion. Here we did
give one another the lie too much, but were presently
friends, and then I to my office, where very late and
did much business, and then home, and there find
Mr. Batelier, and did sup and play at cards awhile.
But he tells me the newes how the King of France
hath, in defiance to the King of England, caused all
his footmen to be put into vests,4 and that the noble-
1 " A Map or Ground Plott of the Citty of London, with the
Suburbes thereof, so far as the Lord Mayor's jurisdiction doth
extend; by which is exactly demonstrated the present condition
since the last sad accident by fire ; the blanke space signifying the
burnt part, and where the houses be, those places yet standing.—
W. Hollar, f. 1666. Cum Privilegio Regis."
2 Hollar engraved, in 1675, "A new Map of the Citties of
London, Westminster, and the Borough of Southwarke, with their
Suburbs ; shewing the streets, lanes, alleys, courts, &c, with other
remarks, as they are now truely and carefully delineated ; and the
prospect of London, as it was flourishing before the destruction
by fire." Sold by Robert Green and Robert Morden. A large
sheet. In the Pepysian Library is a very long prospect of London
and Westminster, taken at several stations to the southward
thereof, by William Morgan. — Gough's British Topography, vol. i.
PP- 753-5-
3 Gombout's Plan of Paris, on a very large scale, was engraved
in 1642. It is of great rarity. A copy, which was in the pos
session of the Baron Walckenaer, was purchased for a royal
personage, at his sale at Paris, in April, 1853, Lot 3028, for more
than 1,000 francs.
4 It is possible that some tradition of this proceeding of Louis
XIV. may have given to Steele the hint for his story of the rival

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 165
men of France will do the like ; which, if true, is the
greatest indignity ever done by one Prince to another,
and would incite a stone to be revenged ; and I hope
our King will, if it be sp, as he tells me it is •} being
told by one that came over from Paris with my Lady
Fanshaw, who is come over with the dead body of
her husband,2 and that saw it before he came away.
This makes me mighty merry, it being an ingenious
kind of affront ; but yet it makes me angry, to see that
the King of England is become so little as to have
the affront offered him. Batelier did bring us some
oysters to-night, and some bottles of new French wine
of this year, mighty good, but I drank but little.
23rd. Attended the Duke of York, where, among
other things, we had a complaint of Sir William
Jennings's3 against his lieutenant, Le Neve, one that
had been long the Duke's page, and for whom the
Duke of York hath great kindness. It was a drunken
quarrel, where one was as blameable as the other.
It was referred to further examination, but the Duke
of York declared, that as he would not favour dis
obedience, so neither drunkenness. I spoke with
Sir G. Downing about our prisoners in Holland, and
their being released ; which he is concerned in, and
most of them are. Then, discoursing of matters of
the House of Parliament, he tells me that it is not
the fault of the House, but the King's own party,
ladies, Brunetta and Phillis, in the " Spectator," No; 80 ; a subject
which has been well treated by Stothard : as also in a clever
picture by Mr. A. Solomon, exhibited at the Royal Academy in
the year 1853.
1 Perhaps this influenced Charles II. in abandoning his new
costume, which, at all events, was shortly discontinued, notwith
standing his having betted that it should never be changed.
2 Sir Richard Fanshaw.
3 He was a distinguished sea-officer, and brother of Sir Robert
Jennings, of Ripon. He attended James II. after his abdication,
and served as a Captain in the French Navy.

1 66 DIARY OF Nov. 25
that have hindered the passing of the Bill for money,
by their popping in of new projects for raising it :
which is a strange thing ; and mighty confident he is,
that what money is raised, will be raised and put into-
the same form that the last was, to come into the
Exchequer; and, for aught I see, I must confess I
think it is the best way.
24th. With Sir J. Minnes by coach to Stepney to
the Trinity House, where it is kept again now since
the burning of their other house in London. And
here a great many met at Sir Thomas Allen's feast,
of his being made an Elder Brother ; but he is sick,
and so could not be there. Here was much good
company, and very merry; but the discourse of
Scotland, it seems, is confirmed, and that they are
4000 of them in armes, and do declare for King and
Covenant, which is very ill news. I pray God deliver
us from the ill consequences we may justly fear from
it. Sir Philip Warwick, I find, is full of trouble in
his mind to see how things go, and what our wants
are ; and so I have no delight to trouble him with
discourse, though I honour the man with all my
heart, and I think him to be a very able, right-honest
man. To read the late printed discourse of witches
by a member of Gresham College •} the discourse
being well writ, in good stile, but methinks not very
convincing. 25th. (Lord's day.) To White Hall, and there to
the chapel, where in my usual place I heard one of
the King's chaplains, one Mr. Floyd, preach. He
was out two or three times in his prayer, and as
many in his sermon, but yet he made a most excellent
good sermon, of our duty to imitate the lives and
practice of Christ and the saints departed, and did it
very handsomely and excellent stile ; but was a little
1 "A Blow at Modern Sadducism, with an account of the
Demon of Tedworth," 4to. London, 1666.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 167
overlarge in magnifying the graces of the nobility
and prelates, that we have seen in our memorys in
the world, whom God hath taken from us. At the
end of the sermon an excellent anthem ; but it was
a pleasant thing, an idle companion in our pew, a
prating, bold counsellor that hath been heretofore at
the Navy Office, and noted for a great eater and
drinker, not for quantity, but of the best, his name
Tom Bales, said, " I know a fitter anthem for this
sermon," speaking only of our duty of following the
saints, and I know not what. " Cooke should have
sung, 'Come, follow, follow me.'"1 To Sir G.
Carteret's to dinner ; where much company. Among
others, Mr. Carteret and my Lady Jemimah, and
Mr. [John] Ashburnham, the great man, who is a
pleasant man, and that hath seen much of the world,
and more of the Court. Into the Court, and attended
there till the Council met, and then was called in, and
I read my letter. My Lord Treasurer declared that
the King had nothing to give till the Parliament did
give him some money. So the King did of himself
bid me to declare to all that would take our tallys for
payment, that he should, soon as the Parliament's
money do come in, take back their tallys, and give
them money : which I- giving him occasion to repeat
to me, it coming from him against the gri, I perceive,
of my Lord Treasurer, I was content therewith, and
went out, and glad I have got so much. All the
talke of Scotland, where the highest report, I perceive,
runs but upon three or four hundred in armes ; but
they believe that it will grow more, and do seem to
apprehend it much, as if the King of France had a
hand in it. My Lord Lauderdale do make nothing
of it, it seems, and people do censure him for it, he
1 This is the first line of " The Fairy Queen," which, with the
air, is printed in the "Musical Miscellany," London, 1729, vol ii.
p. 22.

1 68 DIARY OF Nov. 25
from the beginning saying that there was nothing in
it, whereas it do appear to be a pure rebellion ; but
no persons of quality being in it, all do hope that it
cannot amount to much. Here I saw Mrs. Stewart
this afternoon, methought the beautifullest creature
that ever I saw in my life, more than ever I thought
her, so often as I have seen her ; and I begin to think
do exceed my Lady Castlemaine, at least now. This
being St. Catherine's day, the Queen was at masse
by seven o'clock this morning ; and Mr. Ashburnham
do say that he never saw any one have so much
zeale in his life as she hath : and, the question being
asked by my Lady Carteret, much beyond the bigotry
that ever the old Queen-mother had. I spoke with
Mr. May,1 who tells me that the design of building
the City do go on apace,2 and by his description it
will be mighty handsome, and to the satisfaction of
the people ; but I pray God it come not out too late.
Mr. Ashburnham to-day at dinner told how the rich
fortune Mrs. Mallett reports of her servants :8 that
my Lord Herbert4 would have her ; my Lord Hin
chingbroke was indifferent to have her ;5 my Lord
John Butler6 might not have her ; my Lord of
1 Hugh May.
2 The first brick laid after the fire was in Fleet Street, at the
house of a plumber, to cast his lead in, only one room. — Rugge's
Diurnal. 3 i. e. lovers.
4 William Lord Herbert succeeded his father as sixth Earl of
Pembroke, 1669. Ob. unmarried, 1674.
5 They had quarrelled. (See 26th August, ante.) She, perhaps,
was piqued at Lord Hinchingbroke's refusal "to compass the
thing without consent of friends " (see 25th February, ante), whence
her expression, " indifferent " to have her. It is worthy of remark
that their children intermarried ; Lord Hinchingbroke's son mar
ried Lady Rochester's daughter.
6 Seventh son of the Duke of Ormond, created in 1676 Baron
of Aghrim, Viscount of Clonmore, and Earl of Gowran. Ob.
1667, s. p. : see 4th February, /w£

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 169
Rochester would have forced her;1 and Sir

Popham,2 who nevertheless is likely to have her,
would do anything to have her.3
26th. Into the House of Parliament, where, at a
great Committee, I did hear, as long as I would, the
great case against my Lord Mordaunt,4 for some
1 Of the lady thus sought after, whom Pepys calls " a beauty "
as well as a fortune, and who shortly afterwards, about the 4th
February, 1667, became the wife of the Earl of Rochester, then not
twenty years old, no authentic portrait is known to exist. When
Mr. Miller, of Albemarle Street, in 18 11, proposed to publish an
edition of the "Meinoires de Grammont," he sent an artist to
Windsor to copy there the portraits which he could find of those
who figure jn that work. In the list given to him for this purpose
was the name of Lady Rochester. Not finding amongst the
"Beauties," or elsewhere, any genuine portrait of her, but seeing
that by Hamilton she is absurdly styled " une triste heVitiere," the
artist made a drawing from some unknown portrait at Windsor, of
a lady of a sorrowful countenance, and palmed it off upon the
bookseller. In the edition of " Grammont " it is not actually
called Lady Rochester, but "La Triste He'iitiere." A similar
falsification had been practised in Edwards's edition of 1793, but a
different portrait had been copied. It is needless, almost, to
remark how ill applied is Hamilton's epithet.
2 Probably Sir Francis Popham, K.B.
3 The expression in the original, being indelicate, is softened.
4 John Mordaunt, younger son to the first, and brother to the
second Earl of Peterborough, having incurred considerable per
sonal risk in endeavouring to promote the King's Restoration,
was, in 1659, created Baron Mordaunt of Reigate, and Viscount
Mordaunt of Avalon. He was brought to trial and acquitted but
by one voice just before Cromwell's death. (" Quarterly Review,"
vol. xix. p. 31.) He was soon afterwards made K.B., Lord-
Lieutenant of Surrey, and Constable of Windsor Castle ; which
offices he held till his death, in 1675. In January, 1666-7; Lord
Mordaunt was impeached by the House of Commons, for forcibly
ejecting William Tayleur and his family from the apartments
which they occupied in Windsor Castle, where Tayleur held some
appointment, and imprisoning him, for having presumed to offer
himself as a candidate for the borough of Windsor. Lord M. was
also accused of improper conduct towards Tayleur's daughter.
He, however, denied all these charges in his place in the House
of Lords, and put in an answer to the articles of impeachment,
for hearing which a day was absolutely fixed ; but the Parliament

170 DIARY OF Nov. 27
arbitrary proceedings of his against one Taylor,
whom he imprisoned, and did all the violence to
imaginable, only to get him to give way to his
abusing his daughter. Here was Mr. Sawyer,1 my
old chamber-fellow, a counsel against my Lord ; and
I was glad to see him in so good play. Here I met,
before the committee sat, with my cozen ^ Roger
Pepys, the first time I have spoke with him this
parliament. He hath promised to come, and bring
Madam Turner with him, who is come to towne to
see the City, but hath lost all her goods of all kinds
in Salisbury Court, Sir William Turner having not
endeavoured, in her absence, to save one penny, to
dine with me on Friday next. Roger bids me to
help him to some good rich widow ; for he is resolved
to go, and retire wholly, into the country ; for, he
says, he is confident we shall be all ruined very
speedily, by what he sees in the State. No newes
from the North at all to-day ; and the newes-book
makes the business nothing, but that they are all
dispersed. I pray God it may prove so.
27th. At Sir G. Carteret's find my Lord Hin
chingbroke, who promises to dine with me to-morrow,
and bring Mr. Carteret along with him. Then away
to my Lord Crew, and had some good discourse with
being shortly afterwards prorogued, the inquiry seems to have
been entirely abandoned, notwithstanding the vehemence with
which the House of Commons had taken the matter up. Perhaps
the King interfered in Lord Mordaunt's behalf; because Andrew
Marvel, in his " Instructions to a Painter," after saying,
" Now Mordaunt may within his castle tower
Imprison parents and the child deflower,"
observes, " Each does the other blame, and all distrust,
But Mordaunt, new obliged, would sure be just."
1 Afterwards Sir Robert Sawyer, Attorney-General from 1681 to
1687. Ob. 1692. He had been admitted a Pensioner at Mag
dalene College, Cambridge, June, 1648.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 171
him, he doubting that all will break in pieces in the
kingdom ; and that the taxes now coming out, which
will tax the same man in three or four several capa
cities, as for lands, office, profession, and money at
interest, will be the hardest that ever came out ; and
do think that we owe it, and the lateness of its being
given, wholly to the unpreparedness of the King's
own party, to make their demand and choice ; for
they have obstructed the giving it by land-tax, which
had been done long since. Having ended my visit,
I spoke to Sir Thomas Crew, to invite him and his
brother John to dinner, to-morrow ; and so home
wards, calling at the cook's, who is to dress it, to
bespeak him, and then home, and there set things in
order for a very fine dinner, and then to the office,
where late very busy and to good purpose as to
dispatch of business and then home. To bed, my
people sitting up to get things in order against to
morrow. This evening was brought to me what
Griffin had, as he says, taken this evening off of the
table in the office, a letter sealed and directed to the
Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy.
It is a serious and just libel against our disorder in
paying of our money, making ten times more people
wait than we have money for, and complaining by
name of Sir W. Batten for paying away great sums
to particular people, which is true. I was sorry to
see this way of reproach taken against us, but more
sorry that there is true ground for it.
28th. To White Hall; where, though it blows
hard and rains hard, yet the Duke of York is gone
a-hunting. We therefore lost our labour, and so to
get things ready against dinner at home : and at noon
comes my Lord Hinchingbroke, Sir Thomas Crew,
Mr. John Crew, Mr. Carteret, and Brisband. I had
six noble dishes for them, dressed by a man-cook,
and commended, as indeed they deserved, for ex-

172 DIARY OF Nov. 29
ceeding well done. We eat with great pleasure, and
I enjoyed myself in it with reflections upon the
pleasures which I at best can expect, yet not to
exceed this ; eating in silver plates, and all things
mighty rich and handsome about me. Till dark at
dinner, and then broke up with great pleasure,
especially to myself; and they away, only Mr.
Carteret and I to Gresham College, where they
meet now weekly again, and here they had good
discourse how this late experiment of the dog, which
is in perfect good health, may be improved for good
uses to men. Here was Mr. Henry Howard,1 that
will hereafter be Duke of Norfolk, who is admitted
this day into the Society, and being a very proud
man, and one that values himself upon his family,
writes his name, as he do every where, Henry
Howard of Norfolke. Thence home and there
comes my Lady Pen Pegg and Mrs. Turner and
played at cards and supped with us, and were mighty
merry, and so spent the evening and then broke up,
and I to bed, my mind mightily pleased with the
day's entertainment.
29th. I late at the office, and all the newes I hear
I put into a letter this night to my Lord Brouncker
at Chatham, thus : —
" I doubt not of your lordship's hearing of Sir
Thomas Clifford's succeeding Sir H. Pollard2 in the
Comptrollership of the King's house; but perhaps
our ill, but confirmed, tidings from the Barbadoes
may not have reached you yet, it coming but yes
terday ; viz., that about eleven ships, whereof two of
the King's, the Hope and Coventry, going thence
with men to attack St. Christopher's, were seized by
a violent hurricane, and all sunk — two only of thirteen
1 See note in " Life," vol. i.
2 Sir Hugh Pollard, Bart., M.P. for Devonshire. Ob. Nov. 27,
1666.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 173
escaping, and those with loss of masts, &c. My Lord
Willoughby1 himself is involved in the disaster, and
I think two ships thrown upon an island of the
French, and so all the men, to 500, become their
prisoners. 'Tis said, too, that eighteen Dutch men-
of-war are passed the Channell, in order to meet
with our Smyrna ships ; and some, I hear, do fright
us with the King of Sweden's seizing our mast-ships
at Gottenburgh. But we have too much ill newes
true, to afflict ourselves with what is uncertain. That
which I hear from Scotland is, the Duke of York's
saying, yesterday, that he is confident the Lieutenant-
Generall there hath driven them into a pound, some
where towards the mountains."
To show how mad we are at home, here, and unfit
for any troubles : my Lord St. John did, a day or two
since, openly pull a gentleman in Westminster Hall
by the nose, one Sir Andrew Henly2, while the
Judges were upon their benches, and the other gentle
man did give him a rap over the pate with his cane,
of which fray the Judges, they say, will make a
great matter : men are only sorry the gentleman did
proceed to return a blow ; for, otherwise, my Lord
would have been soundly fined for the affront, and
may be yet for his affront to the Judges.
30th. To White Hall ; and pretty to see, it being
St. Andrew's day, how some few did wear St.
Andrew's crosse ; but most did make a mockery at it,
and the House of Parliament, contrary to practice,
did sit also : people having no mind to observe the
Scotch saints' days till they hear better newes from
Scotland. Thence home, and just overtook my cozen
Roger Pepys, Mrs. Turner, Dike, and Joyce Norton,
1 Francis Willoughby, fourth Lord Willoughby of Parham,
drowned at Barbadoes in 1666.
2 Of Hartshill, Hants ; and of Henley, Somersetshire. He was
created a Baronet in June, 1660, and died about 1675.

174 DIARY OF Deer
coming by invitation to dine with me. These ladies
I have not seen since before the plague. Mrs. Turner
is come to towne to look after her things in her
house, but all is lost. She is quite weary of the
country, but cannot get her husband to let her live
here any more, which troubles her mightily. She was
mighty angry with me, that in all this time I never
wrote to her, which I do think and take to myself as
a fault, and which I have promised to mend. Here
I had a noble and costly dinner for them, dressed by
a man-cooke, as that the other days was, and pretty
merry we were, as I could be with this company and
so great a change.
December ist. Walking to the Old Swan, I did
see a cellar in Tower Streete in a very fresh fire, the
late great winds having blown it up.1 It seemed to
be only of log-wood, that hath kept the fire all this
while in it. Going further, I met my late Lord Mayor
Bludworth, under whom the City was burned. But,
Lord ! the silly talk that this silly fellow had, only
how ready he would be to part with all his estate in
these difficult times to advocate the King's service,
and complaining that now, as every body did lately
in the fire, every body endeavours to save himself,
and let the whole perish : but a very weak man he
seems to be. By coach home, in the evening, calling
at Faythorne's, buying three of my Lady Castle-
maine's heads, printed this day,2 which indeed is, as
to the head, I think, a very fine picture, and like her.
I did this afternoon get Mrs. Michell to let me only
have a sight of a pamphlet lately printed, but sup-
% _ 1 The fire continued burning in some cellars of the ruins of the
city for four months, though it rained in the month of October
ten days without ceasing. — Rugge's Diurnal.
2 See 7 th Nov., ante. A fine impression of this now very rare
print was purchased for the Duke of Buckingham, at Bindley's
sale, in 1819, for 79/.; and resold at the Stowe sale, in 1849,
for 33/.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 175
pressed and much called after, called " The Catho-
lique's Apology -,"1 lamenting the severity of the
Parliament against them, and comparing it with the
lenity of other princes to Protestants ; giving old
and late instances of their loyalty to their princes,
whatever is objected against them ; and excusing
their disquiets in Queen Elizabeth's time, for that it
was impossible for them to think her a lawfull
Queen, if Queen Mary, who had been owned as
such, were so ; one being the daughter of the true,
and the other of a false wife : and that of the Gun
powder Treason, by saying that it was only the prac
tice of some of us, if not the King, to trepan some
of their religion into it, it never being defended by
the generality of their Church, nor indeed known by
them ; and ends with a large Catalogue, in red
letters, of the Catholiques which have lost their lives
in the quarrel of the late King and this. The thing
is very well writ indeed.
2nd. (Lord's day.) My wife and I to Mr. Martin's,
where find the company almost all come to the chris
tening of Mrs. Martin's child, a girl. A great deal
of good plain company. After sitting long, till the
church was done, the Parson comes, and then we
to christen the child. I was Godfather, and Mrs.
Holder, her husband, a good man, I know well, and
a pretty lady, that waits, it seems, on my Lady Bath,2
-at White Hall, her name, Mrs. Noble, were God-
1 "An Apology in behalf of the Papists," by Roger Palmer,
first Earl of Castlemaine. The piece has not his name, but it
was answered by Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph, in 1667 ; and Lord
Castlemaine and Robert Pugh, a secular priest, his assistant,
published a reply to the Bishop, in 1668. Both the Earl's
pamphlets were seized by order of the House of Commons. —
Walpole's Noble Authors.
2 Lady Bath was Rachel, daughter of Francis, Earl of West
moreland, widow of Henry Bourchier, Earl of Bath. She after
wards married Lionel Cranfield, third Earl of Middlesex.

176 DIARY OF Dec. 3
mothers. After the christening comes in the wine
and the sweetmeats, and then to prate and tattle, and
then very good company they were, and I among
them. Here was old Mrs. Michell and Howlett,
and several of the married women of the Hall, whom
I knew mayds. Here was also Mrs. Burroughs and
Mrs. Bales, the young widow, whom I led home,
and having staid till the moon was up, I took my
pretty gossip1 to White Hall with us, and I saw her
in her lodging, and then my owne company again
took coach, and no sooner in the coach but something
broke, that we were fain there to stay till a smith
could be fetched, which was above an hour, and then
it costing me 6s. to mend. Away round by the wall
and Cow Lane, for fear it should break again, and in
pain about the coach all the way. I went to Sir W.
Batten's, and there I hear more ill newes still : that
all our New England fleete, which went out lately,
are put back a third time by foul weather, and dis
persed, some to one port and some to another ; and
their convoys also to Plymouth ; and whether any of
them be lost or not, we do not know. This, added
to all the rest, do lay us flat in our hopes and
courages, every body prophesying destruction to the
nation. 3rd. Up, and, among a great number of people
that came to speak with me, one was my Lord Peter
borough's gentleman, who comes to me to dun me to
get some money advanced for my Lord ; and I de
manding what newes, he tells me that at Court they
begin to fear the business of Scotland more and
more, and that the Duke of York intends to go to
the North to raise an arrriy, and that the King would
have some of the nobility and others to go and assist ;
but they were so served the last year, among others
1 Mrs Noble.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 177
his Lord, in raising forces at their own charge, for
fear of the French invading us, that they will not be
got out now, without money advanced to them by
the King, and this is likely to be the King's case for
certain, if ever he comes to have need of any army.
By water to Westminster, and there to the Ex
chequer, and put my tallys in a way of doing for the
last quarter. At noon home, and there find Kate
Joyce, who dined with me. Her husband and she
are weary of their new life of being an Innkeeper, and
will leave it, and would fain get some office ; but I
know none the foole is fit for, but would be glad to
help them, if I could, though they have enough to
live on, God be thanked! though their loss has
been to the value of 3,000/. W. Joyce now has all
the trade, she says, the trade being come to that end
of the towne. To bed, being weary of the following
of my pleasure and sorry for my omitting, though
with a true salvo to my vowes, the stating my last
accounts in time, as I should, but resolve to settle,
and clear all my business before me this month, that
I may begin afresh the next yeare, and enjoy some
little pleasure freely at Christmas. So to bed, and
with more cheerfulness than I have been a good while,
to hear that for certain the Scotch rebels are all
routed ; they having been so bold as to come within
three miles of Edinburgh, and there given two or
three repulses to the King's forces, but at last were
mastered. Three or four hundred killed or taken,
among which their leader, Wallis, and seven minis
ters, they having all taken the Covenant a few days
before, and sworn to live and die in it, as they did ;
and so all is likely to be there quiet again. There is
also the very good newes come of four New-England
ships come home safe to Falmouth with masts for
the King ; which is a blessing mighty unexpected,
and without which, if for nothing else, we must have
4 N

178 DIARY OF Dec. 7
failed the next year. But God be praised for thus
much good fortune, and send us the continuance of
his favour in other things !
5th. By water to White Hall, where we did much
business before the Duke of York. At noon home,
and Goodgroome dined with us, who teaches my wife
to sing. I did give him my song, " Beauty retire,"
which he has often desired of me, and without flattery
I think is a very good song. To the office, and
there late, very busy doing much business, and then
home to supper and talk, and then scold with my
wife for not reckoning well the times that her musique
master has been with her, but setting down more
than I am sure, and did convince her, they had been,
and in an ill humour of anger with her to bed.
6th. Up, but very good friends with her before I
rose, and so to the office, where we sat all the fore
noon, and then home to dinner, where Harman dined
with us, and great sport to hear him tell how Will
Joyce grows rich by the custom of the City coming
to his end of the towne, and how he rants over his
brother and sister for their keeping an Inne, and goes
thither and tears like a prince, calling him hosteller
and his sister hostess. Then after dinner, my wife and
I brother, in another habit,1 go out to see a play ; but I
j am not to take notice that I know of my brother's
going. This day, in the Gazette, is the whole story
of defeating of the Scotch rebells, and of the creation
of the Duke of Cambridge, Knight of the Garter.2
7th. Up and by water to the Exchequer, where I
got my tallys finished for the last quarter for
Tangier, and having paid all my fees I to the Swan, ,
1 i. e., without his canonicals.
2 James, Earl and Duke of Cambridge, second son of the Duke
of York, and one of the five boys who all died infants. At the
time when he was created K.G., he was only three years and five
months old. He died seven months afterwards.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 179
whither I sent for some oysters, and thither comes
Mr. Falconbridge and Spicer and many more clerks,
and there we eat and drank, and a great deal of their
sorry discourse, and so parted, and I by coach home,
meeting Baity in the streete about Charing Crosse,
which I was glad to see and spoke to him about his
mustering business, I being now to give an account
how the several muster-masters have behaved them- ^
selves, and so home to dinner, where finding the
cloth laid and much crumpled but clean, I grew angry
and flung the trenchers about the room, and in a
mighty heat I was : so a clean cloth was laid, and my
poor wife very patient, and so to dinner, and in comes
Mrs. Barbara Sheldon, now Mrs. Wood, and dined
with us, she mighty fine, and lives, I perceive, mighty
happily, which I am glad of for her sake, but hate her
husband for a block-head in his choice. So away after
dinner leaving my wife and her, and by water to the
Strand, and so to the King's playhouse, where two
acts were almost done when I came in ; and there I
sat with my cloak about my face, and saw the re
mainder of " The Mayd's Tragedy ;" a good play,
and well acted, especially by the younger Marshall,
who is become a pretty good actor, and is the first
play I have seen in either of the houses, since be
fore the great plague, they having acted now about '
fourteen days publickly. But I was in mighty
pain, lest I should be seen by any body to be at a
play. 8th. The great Proviso passed the House of Par
liament yesterday ; which makes the King and Court
mad, the King having given order to my Lord-
Chamberlain to send to the playhouses and brothels,
to bid all the Parliament-men that were there to go
to the Parliament presently. This is true, it seems ;
but it was carried against the Court by thirty or forty
voices. It is a Proviso to the Poll Bill, that there

180 DIARY OF Dec. 8
shall be a Committee of nine persons that shall have
the inspection upon oath, and power of giving others,
of all the accounts of the money given and spent for
this war. This hath a most sad face, and will breed
very ill blood. He tells me, brought in by Sir
Robert Howard,1 who is one of the King's servants,
at least hath a great office, and hath got, they say,
20,000/. since the King came in. Mr. Pierce did also
tell me as a great truth, as being told it by Mr.
Cowly,2 who was by, and heard it, that Tom Killi
grew should publiquely tell the King that his matters
were coming into a very ill state ; but that yet there
was a way to help all. Says he, " There is a good,
honest, able man, that I . could name, that if your
Majesty would employ, and command to see all
things well executed, all things would soon be
mended ; and this is one Charles Stuart, who now
spends his time in employing his lips and lusts about
the Court, and hath no other employment ; but if you
would give him this employment, he were the fittest
man in the world to perform it." This, he says, is
most true ; but the King do not profit by any of this,
but lays all aside, and remembers nothing, but to his
pleasures again ; which is a sorrowful consideration.
To the King's playhouse, which troubles me since and
hath cost me a forfeit of \os., which I have paid, and
there did see a good part of " The English Mon
sieur,"3 which is a mighty pretty play, very witty and
pleasant. And the women do very well ; but, above
1 A younger son of Thomas Howard, first Earl of Berkshire,
educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge; knighted at the
Restoration, and chosen M.P. for Stockbridge, and afterwards for
Castle Rising. He was Auditor of the Exchequer, and a creature
of Charles II., who employed him in cajoling the Parliament for
money. He published some poems, plays, and political tracts.
Ob. 1698.
2 Abraham Cowley, the poet.
3 A comedy, by the Hon. James Howard, printed in 4to., 1674.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 181
all, little Nelly,1 that I am mightily pleased with the
play, and much with the House, more than ever I
expected, the women doing better than ever I ex
pected, and very fine women. Here I was in pain to
be seen, and hid myself ; but, as God would have it,
Sir John Chichly come, and sat just by me. I hear
that this Proviso in Parliament is mightily ill taken
by all the Court party as a mortal blow, and that,
that strikes deep into the King's prerogative, which
troubles me mightily. In much fear of ill news of
our colliers. A fleete of two hundred sail, and four
teen Dutch men-of-war between them and us : and
they coming home with small convoy ; and the City
in great want, coals being at 3/. ^s. per chaldron, as I
am told. I saw smoke in the ruines this very day.
9th. (Lord's day.) Up, not to church, but to my
chamber, and there begun to enter into this book my
journall for September, which in the fire-time I could
not enter here, but in loose papers. At noon dined,
and then to my chamber all the afternoon and night,
looking over and tearing and burning all the un
necessary letters, which I have had upon my file for
four or five years backward, which I intend to do
quite through all my papers, that I may have nothing
by me but what is worth keeping, and fit to be seen,
if I should miscarry.
10th. Captain Cocke, with whom I walked in the
garden, tells me how angry the Court is at the late
Proviso brought in by the House. How still my
Lord Chancellor is, not daring to do or say any thing
to displease the Parliament ; that the Parliament is in
a very ill humour, and grows every day more and
more so ; and that the unskilfulness of the Court, and
their difference among one another, is the occasion of
all not agreeing in what they would have, and so
1 She played Lady Wealthy.

182 DIARY OF Dec u
they give leisure and occasion to the other part to run
away with what the Court would not have.
nth. After dinner my wife and I to St. Clement's
Church, to Mrs. Turner's lodgings, hard by, to take
our leaves of her. She is returning to the North to
her children, whereby, I perceive, her husband hath
clearly got the mastery of her, and she is likely to
spend her days there.1 Here were several people
come to see and take leave of her, she going to
morrow : among others, my Lady Mordant,2 which
was Betty Turner, a most homely widow, but young,
and pretty rich, and good natured. Thence, having
promised to write every month to her, we home, and
I to my office, while my wife to get things together
for supper. Anon come our guests, old Mr. Batelier,
and his son and daughter, Mercer, which was all our
company. We had a good venison pasty and other
good cheer, and as merry as in so good, innocent,
and understanding company I could be. He is much
troubled that wines, laden by him in France before
1 John Turner, here alluded to, was the eldest son and heir of
Sir William Turner, Lord Mayor of London in 1669, better known
as the munificent founder of Kirkleatham Hospital, in Yorkshire,
and whose monument is still to be seen in Kirkleatham Church,
and in the Hospital a likeness of him in wax-work, with the
identical wig and band that he wore. In the east window of the
Hospital Chapel also is a stained glass portrait of him in his
mayoralty robes, and one of his eldest son. John Turner was
brought up to the bar, and became a serjeant-at-law, and purchased
an estate in the district of Cleveland. Besides his daughter
Theophila, mentioned so often, he had issue two sons, Charles
and William, from the eldest of whom descended the late Sir
Charles Turner, of Kirkleatham, the second baronet of the family,
and the last heir male of his race. He died in 1 8 1 o. See an account
of the family in " The Genealogist and Topographer," part vi.
2 Sir George Mordaunt, of Massingham, Norfolk, the fourth
baronet of his family, espoused Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir
of Nicholas Johnson, of London, niece to Sir W. Turner, above-
mentioned, who is the person here alluded to by Pepys. She
remarried Francis Godolphin, of Colston, Wilts. — Wotton's
Baronetage.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 183
the late proclamation was out cannot now be brought
into England, which is much to his and other mer
chants' loss. We sat long at supper and then to talk,
and so late parted and so to bed. This day the Poll
Bill was to be passed, and great endeavours used to
take away the Proviso.
1 2th. Sir H. Cholmly did with grief tell me how
the Parliament hath been told plainly that the King
hath been heard to say, that he would dissolve them
rather than pass this Bill with the Proviso ; but tells
me, that the Proviso is removed, and now carried
that it shall be done by a Bill by itself. He tells me
how the King hath lately paid above 30,000/., to
clear debts of my Lady Castlemaine's ; and that she
and her husband are parted for ever, upon good
terms, never to trouble one another more. He says
that he hears 400,000/. hath gone into the Privy-
purse since this war ; and that it is that hath con
sumed so much of our money, and makes the King
and Court so mad to be brought to discover it. The
very good newes is just come of our four ships
from Smyrna, come safe without convoy even into
the Downes, without seeing any enemy ; which is the
best, and indeed only considerable good newes to
our Exchange, since the burning of the City ; and it
is strange to see how it do cheer up men's hearts.
Here I saw shops now come to be in this Exchange,
and met little Batelier, who sits here but at 3/. per
annum, whereas he sat at the other at 100/., which
he says he believes will prove of as good account to
him now as the other did at that rent. From the
'Change to Captain Cocke's, and there, by agreement,
dined, and there was Charles Porter, Temple, Fenn,
Debasty, whose bad English and pleasant discourses
was exceeding good entertainment, Matt. Wren,
Major Cooper, and myself, mighty merry and pretty
discourse. They talk for certain, that now the King

1 84 DIARY OF Dec. 13
do follow Mrs. Stewart wholly, and my Lady Castle
maine not above once a week; that the Duke of
York do not haunt my Lady Denham so much ; that
she troubles him with matters of State,_ being of my
Lord Bristoll's faction, and that he avoids ; that she
is ill still. Newes this day from Brampton, of Mr.
Ensum, my sister's sweetheart, being dead : a clowne.
13th. To the 'Change and there met Captain
Cocke, and had a second time his direction to be
speak 100/. of plate, which I did at Sir R. Viner's,
being twelve plates more, and something else I have
to choose. W. Hewer dined with me, and showed
me a Gazette,1 in April last, which I wonder should
never be remembered by any body, which tells how
1 The "Gazette" of April 23-26, 1666, which contains the
following remarkable passage : — " At the Sessions in the Old
Bailey, John Rathbone, an old army colonel, William Saunders,
Henry Tucker, Thomas Flint, Thomas Evans, John Myles, Will.
Westcot, and John Cole, officers or soldiers in the late Rebellion,
were indicted for conspiring the death of his Majesty and the
overthrow of the Government. Having laid their plot and con
trivance for the surprisal of the Tower, the killing his Grace the
Lord General, Sir John Robinson, Lieutenant of the Tower, and
Sir Richard Brown ; and then to have declared for an equal division
of lands, &c. The better to effect this hellish design, the City was to
have been fired, and the portcullis let down to keep out all as
sistance; and the Horse Guards to have been surprised in the
inns where they were quartered, several ostlers having been gained
for that purpose. The Tower was accordingly viewed, and its
surprise ordered by boats over the moat, and from thence to scale
the wall. One Alexander, not yet taken, had likewise distributed
money to these conspirators ; and, for the carrying on the design
more effectually, they were told of a Council of the great ones
that sat frequently in London, from whom issued all orders ;
which Council received their directions from another in Holland,
who sat with the States; and that the third of September was
pitched on for the attempt, as being found by Lilly's Almanack,
and a scheme erected for that purpose, to be a lucky day, a planet
then ruling which prognosticated the downfall of Monarchy. The
evidence against these persons was very full and clear, and they
were accordingly found guilty of High Treason." See 10th Nov.,
1666, ante.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 185
several persons were then tried for their lives, and
were found guilty of a design of killing the King and
destroying the Government ; and as a means to it,
to burn the City ; and that the day intended for the
plot was the 3rd of last September. And the fire
did indeed break out on the 2nd of September, which
is very strange, methinks, and I shall remember it.
Sir W. Warren and Mr. Moore both tell me that my
Lord Sandwich is called home, and that he do grow
more and more in esteem everywhere, and is better
spoken of, which I am mighty glad of, though I knew
well enough his deserving the same before, and did
foresee that it will come to it. For these three or
four days I perceive my overworking my eyes by
candlelight do hurt them as it did the last winter,
that by day I am well and do get them right, but
then after candlelight they begin to be sore and run,
so that I intend to get some green spectacles.
14th. By coach to White Hall, seeing many smokes
of the fire by the way yet, and took up into the coach
with me a country gentleman, who asked me room
to go with me, it being dirty — one come out of the
North to see his son, after the burning of his house :
a merchant here. Endeavoured to wait on the Duke
of York, but he would not stay from the Parliament.
Met my good friend Mr. Evelyn, and walked with
him a good while, lamenting our condition for want
of good council, and the King's minding of his busi
ness and servants. The house sat till three o'clock,
and then up : and I home with Sir Stephen Fox to
his house to dinner, and the Cofferer1 with us. There
1 William Ashburnham, younger brother of John Ashburnham,
and first-cousin of the Duke of Buckingham. He was an officer
of distinction in the King's Army during the Civil War ; and,
after the Restoration, made Cofferer of the Household to Charles
II. Ob. s.p. 167 1.- He married the "young, beautiful, and rich
widow" of James Ley, Earl of Marlborough, Lord High Trea
surer of England, to whom she was third wife. She was daughter

1 86 DIARY OF Dec. 15
I find Sir S. Fox's lady, a fine woman, and seven the
prettiest children of their's that ever I knew almost.
A very genteel dinner, and in great state and fashion,
and excellent discourse ; and nothing like an old ex
perienced man and a courtier, and such is the Cofferer
Ashburnham. The House have been mighty hot to
day against the Paper Bill, showing all manner of
averseness to give the King money ; which these
courtiers do take mighty notice of, and look upon
the others as bad rebells as ever the last were. But
the courtiers did carry it against those men upon a
division of the House, a great many, that it should
be committed ; and so it was : which they reckon
good news. Home, where I find Foundes his pre
sent, of a fair pair of candlesticks, and half a dozen
of plates come, which cost him full 50/., and is a
very pretty present ; and here I met with, sealed up>
from Sir H. Cholmly, the lampoon, or the Mocke-
Advice to a Paynter, abusing the Duke of York and
my Lord Sandwich, Pen, and every body, and the
King himself, and all the matters of the navy and
war. I am sorry for my Lord Sandwich's having so
great a part in it.
15th. To the office, where my Lord Brouncker,
newly come to town, from his being at Chatham and
Harwich to spy enormities : and at noon I met with
him and his lady, Williams, to Captain Cocke's,
where a good dinner, and very merry. Good news
to-day upon the Exchange, that our Hamburgh fleete
is got in ; and good hopes that we may soon have
the like of our Gottenburgh, and then we shall be
well for this winter. And by and by comes in Matt.
of John, Lord Butler, of Bramfield, by Elizabeth Villiers, sister of
the first Duke of Buckingham, and therefore nearly related to
William Ashburnham. A splendid monument to William Ash
burnham, and to the Countess of Marlborough, with whom
he lived happily for nearly forty-five years, is in Ashburnham
Church.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 187
Wren1 from the Parliament-house ; and tells us that
he and all his party of the House, which is the Court
party, are fools, and have been made so this day by
the wise men of the other side ; for, after the Court
party had carried it yesterday so powerfully for the
Paper- Bill,2 yet now it is laid aside wholly, and to
be supplied by a land-tax ; which it is true will do
well, and will be the sooner finished, which was the
great argument for the doing of it. But then it shows
them fools, that they would not permit this to have
been done six weeks ago, which they might have
had. And next, they have parted with the Paper
Bill, which, when once begun, might have proved a
very good flower in the Crowne, as any there. So
they are truly outwitted by the other side.
1 6th. (Lord's day.) To White Hall, and there
walked up and down to the Queen's side, and there
saw my dear Lady Castlemaine, who continues admi
rable, methinks, and I do not hear but that the King
is the same to her still as ever. Anon to chapel, by
the King's closet, and heard a very good anthem.
Then with Lord Brouncker to Sir W. Coventry's
chamber ; and there we sat with him and talked.
He is weary of anything to do, he says, in the Navy.
He tells us this Committee of Accounts will enquire
sharply into our office. To Sir P. Neale's chamber ;
Sir Edward Walker being there, and telling us how
he hath lost many fine rolls of antiquity in heraldry
by the late fire, but hath saved the most of his
papers. Here was also Dr. Wallis,3 the famous
scholar and mathematician ; but he promises little.
Lord Brouncker tells me, that he do not believe
1 See March 7, 1666, ante.
2 It was called " A Bill for raising part of the supply for his
Majesty by an imposition on Sealed Paper and Parchment."
3 John Wallis, S. T. P., F. R. S., Savilian Professor of Geometry.
Ob. 1703, aged eighty-seven.

188 DIARY OF Dec. 17
the Duke of York will go to sea again, though there
are many about the King that would be glad of any
occasion to take him out of the world, he standing in
their ways ; and seemed to mean the Duke of Mon
mouth, who spends his time the most viciously and
idle of any man, nor will be fit for any thing ; yet he
speaks as if it were not impossible but the King
would own him for his son, and that there was a
marriage between his mother and him ; and that
nothing can help us but the King's making a peace
soon as he hath this money ; and thereby putting
himself out of debt, and so becoming a good hus
band, and then he will neither need this nor any
other Parliament, till he can have one to his mind :
for no Parliament can, as he says, be kept long good,
but that they will spoil one another, and that there
fore it hath been the practice of kings to tell Par
liaments what he hath for them to do, and give them
so long time to do it in, and no longer.
1 7th. Comes Mr. Caesar,1 and then Goodgroome,2
and, what with one and the other, nothing but musique
with me this morning, to my content ; and the more,
to see that God Almighty hath put me into condition
to bear the charge of all this. So out to the 'Change,
and did a little business, and then home, where they
two musicians and Mr. Cooke come to see me, and
Mercer to go along with my wife this afternoon to a
play. My wife well home in the evening from the
play; which I was glad of, it being cold and dark,
and she having her necklace of pearl on, and none but
Mercer with her. Spent the evening in fitting my
1 Mr. Caesar seems to have been a composer. Some of his
songs are in different collections of the time, under the name of
William Csesar, alias Smegergill.
2 John Goodgroome, a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, and a
composer of songs, printed in the "Treasury of Music."—
Hawkins's Hist, of Music. There are also some of his songs in
one of Playford's " Collections."

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 189
books, to have the number set upon each, in order to
my having an alphabet of my whole, which will be
of great ease to me.
1 8th. I hear the ill news that poor Batters, that
had been born and bred a seaman, and brought up
his ship from sea but yesterday, was, going down
from me to his ship, drowned in the Thames, which
is a sad fortune, and do make me afraid, and will do,
more than ever I was.
19th. Talked of the King's family with Mr. Hing-
ston, the organist. He says many of the musique
are ready to starve, they being five years behind
hand for their wages ; nay, Evens, the famous man
upon the Harp, having not his equal in the world,
did the other day die for mere want, and was fain to
be buried at the almes of the parish, and carried to
his grave in the dark at night without one linke, but
that Mr. Hingston met it by chance, and did give
1 2d. to buy two or three links. Thence I up to the
Lords' House to enquire for my Lord Bellassis ; and
there hear how at a conference this morning between
the two Houses about the business of the Canary
Company, my Lord Buckingham leaning rudely over
my Lord Marquis Dorchester,1 my Lord Dorchester
removed his elbow. Duke of Buckingham asked
him if he was uneasy ; Dorchester replied, yes, and
that he durst not do this were he any where else :
Buckingham replied, yes he would, and that he was
a better man than himself ; Dorchester said that he
lyed. With this Buckingham struck off his hat, and
took him by his periwigg, and pulled it aside, and
held him. My Lord Chamberlain and others inter
posed, and, upon coming into the House, the Lords
did order them both to the Tower, whither they are
1 Henry Pierrepoint, second Earl of Kingston, created Marquis
of Dorchester, 1645. Ob. 1680. See an account of this quarrel
in Lord Clarendon's " Life," vol. iii. p. 153, edit. 1827.

190

DIARY OF Dec. 19

to go this afternoon. I down into the Hall,. and
there the Lieutenant of the Tower1 took me with
him, and would have me to the Tower to dinner;
where I dined at the head of his table, next his lady,2
who is comely and seeming sober and stately, but
very proud and very cunning, or I am mistaken, and
wanton, too. This day's work will bring the Lieu
tenant of the Tower 350/. Thence home, and upon
Tower Hill saw about 3 or 400 seamen get together ;
and one, standing upon a pile of bricks, made his
sign, with his handkercher, upon his stick, and called
all the rest to him, and several shouts they gave.
This made me afraid; so I got home as fast as I
could. But by and by Sir W. Batten and Sir R.
Ford do tell me, that the seamen have been at some
prisons, to release some seamen, and the Duke of
Albemarle is in armes, and all the Guards at the
other end of the town ; and the Duke of Albemarle
is gone with some forces to Wapping, to quell the
seamen ; which is a thing of infinite disgrace to
us. I sat long talking with them ; and among
other things, Sir R. Ford make me understand
how the House of Commons is a beast not to be
understood, it being impossible to know beforehand
the success almost of any small plain thing, there
being so many to think and speak to any busi
ness, and they of so uncertain minds and interests
and passions. He did tell me, and so did Sir W.
Batten, how Sir Allen Brodericke3 and Sir Allen
1 Sir John Robinson.
2 Anne, daughter of Sir George Whitmore.
3 Sir Alan Broderick died on the 28th November, 1680, and was
interred at Wandsworth, on the 3rd December, when his funeral
sermon was preached by Nathaniel Resbury, D.D., incumbent
of the parish. The following extracts from the discourse, which,
though printed, is very scarce, may throw some light on the knight's
character, and, from their quaintness, are interesting. " In the first
place, therefore, I might be very well allow'd to begin with that

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 191
Apsly1 did come drunk the other day into the
House, and did both speak for half an hour to
gether, and could not be either laughed, or pulled,
or bid to sit down and hold their peace, to the great
contempt of the King's servants and cause ; which
I am grieved at with all my heart. We were full in
discourse of the state of our times, and the horrid
shame brought on the King's service by the just
clamours of the poor seamen, and that we must be
undone in a little time. Home full of trouble on
these considerations, and, among other things, I to
my chamber, and there to ticket a good part of my
books, in order to the numbering of them for my
easy finding them to read as I have occasion. So to
supper and to bed, with my heart full of trouble.
usual head of pariegyrick, where the subject could well bear it,
viz., the quality of his birth and extract, and so give you his
lineage in a long series of worthy and honourable ancestry, who
from time immemorial had liv'd in the Registry of Honour in the
Northern parts, till his own father, by the occasion of a noble
trust, viz., the Lieutenancy of the Tower of London, came to add
warmth to our Southern clime, and bless'd this place not only with
his own and his religious Lady's presence and vertues (whose
names and memories are still fragrant in those odours of goodness
wherein they have been so plentifully scented in life), but with a
numerous and valuable progeny, amongst whom was this wonder
both of greatness and goodness .... I will readily acknowledge
(and why, indeed, should I scruple to own what himself with such
repeated contrition and brokenness of spirit would to all sober
ears so freely and heartily condemn himself for ?) that a long
scene of his life had been acted off in the sports and follies of sin.
If I may use his own words, it was a pagan and abandoned way
he had sometime pursu'd, scepticism itself not excepted 
He had for many years practis'd in the politicks of this nation,
and having so nearly attacht himself to one of the greatest Minis
ters of State [Lord Chancellor Clarendon] that this kingdom ever
knew (whose mistaken wisdom and integrity perhaps hath been
since better understood by the want of him), made himself no small
figure in the administration." The Lords Middleton are descended
from Sir St. John Broderick, a younger brother of Sir Alan.
1 See 4th July, 1663.

192 DIARY OF Dec. 23
20th. Home to dinner, where was Baity come,
who is well again. Here dined with me also Mrs.
Batters, poor woman ! now left a sad widow by the
drowning of her husband the other day. I pity
her, and will do her what kindness I can ; yet I
observe something of ill-nature in myself more
than should be, that I am colder towards her in
my charity than I should be to one so painfull as
he and she hath been and full of kindness to their
power to my wife and I. After dinner out with
Baity, setting him down at the Maypole,1 in the
Strand. 2 1 st. I spent all the afternoon in putting some
things, pictures especially, in order, and pasting my
Lady Castlemaine's print on a frame, which I have
made handsome, and is a fine piece. So to the office
in the evening to marshall my papers of accounts
presented to the Parliament, against any future occa
sion to recur to them, which I did do to my great
content. So home and did some Tangier work, and
to bed.
22nd. News from Hogg that our shipp hath
brought in a Lubecker to Portsmouth, likely to prove
prize, of deals, which joys us. After writing letters
by the post, I with all my clerks to the ticket-office,
there to be informed in the method and disorder of
the office, which I find infinite great, of infinite con
cernment to be mended, and did spend till 12 at
night to my great satisfaction, it being a point of our
office I was wholly unacquainted with. So with
great content home and to bed.
23rd. (Lord's day.) To church, where a vain fel-
1 The Maypole stood somewhat to the east of the ancient Cross,.
opposite to Chester Inn, close to the site of the church of St.
Mary-le-Strand. In 17 17 it was begged by Sir Isaac Newton,
and removed to Wanstead, where it was used in raising the largest
telescope then known. See 1st June, 1663, note.

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 193
low with a periwigg preached, Chaplain, as by his
prayer appeared, to the Earl of Carlisle.1
24th. It being frost and dry, as far as Paul's,
and so back again through the City by Guildhall,
observing the ruins thereabouts, till I did truly lose
myself. I this evening did buy me a pair of green
spectacles, to see whether they will help my eyes or
no. So to the 'Change, and went to the Upper
'Change, which is almost as good as the old one ;
only shops are but on one side. No newes yet of our
Gottenburgh fleete ; which makes us have some fears,
it being of mighty concernment to have our supply
of masts safe. I met with Mr. Cade to-night, my
stationer ; and he tells me that he hears for certain
that the Queen- Mother is about and hath near finished
a peace with France, which, as a Presbyterian, he do
not like, but seems to fear it will be a means to in
troduce Popery.
25th. (Christmas day.) Lay pretty long in bed,
and then rose, leaving my wife desirous to sleep,
having sat up till four this morning seeing her mayds
make mince-pies. I to church, where our parson
Mills made a good sermon. Then home, and dined
well on some good ribbs of beef roasted and mince
pies ; only my -wife, brother, and Barker, and plenty
of good wine of my owne, and my heart full of true
joy ; and thanks to God Almighty for the goodness
of my condition at this day. After dinner, I begun
to teach my wife and Barker my song, " It is
decreed," which pleases me mightily as now I
have Mr. Hinxton's base. Walked alone on foot'
to the Temple, thinking to have seen a play all
alone ; but there, missing of any bills, concluded
there was none, and so back home; and there
with my brother reducing the names of all my
1 Charles Howard, created Earl of Carlisle, 1661, employed
on several Embassies, and Governor of Jamaica. Ob. 1684.
4 O

194 DIARY OF Dec. 27
books to an alphabet, and then to supper and to
bed. 26th. To White Hall, to Sir W. Coventry's cham
ber, and thence with him up to the Duke of York,
where among other things at our meeting I did offer
my assistance to Sir J. Minnes to do the business of
his office, relating to the Pursers' accounts, which
was well accepted by the Duke of York, and I think
I have and shall do myself good in it, if it be taken,
for it will confirm me in the Victualling Office, which
I do now very little for. Thence home, carrying a
barrel of oysters with me. Anon comes Mr. John
Andrews and his wife to dine with me and young
Batelier and his wife. Here was also Mercer and
Creed, who tells me of a most bitter lampoone now
out against the Court and the management of State
from head to foot, mighty witty and mighty severe.
After dinner I put the women into a coach and they
to the Duke's house, to a play. It was indifferently
done, Gosnell not singing, but a new wench, that
- sings naughtily. Thence home, and there Mr.
Andrews to the vyall, who plays most excellently
on it. Thence to dance, here being Pembleton
come, by my wife's direction, and a fiddler; and
we got, also, the elder Batelier to-night, and Nan
Wright, and mighty merry we were, and danced;
and so till twelve at night, and to supper, and
then to cross purposes, mighty merry, and then to
bed. 27th. Up ; and called up by the King's trumpets,
which cost me 10s. So to the office. At noon, by
invitation, my wife, who had not been there these
10 months, I think, and I, to meet all our families
at Sir W. Batten's at dinner, where neither a great
dinner for so much company nor anything good or
handsome. In the middle of dinner I rose, and by
coach to the King's playhouse, and there saw " The

.666 SAMUEL PEPYS. 195
Scornful Lady " well acted ; Doll Common1 doing
Abigail most excellently, and Knipp the widow very
well, and will be an excellent actor, I think. In
other parts the play not so well done as need be, by
the old actors. This day a house or two was blown
up with powder in the Minorys, and several people
spoiled, and many dug out from under the rubbish.
28th. I to my Lord Crew's, where I find and hear
the newes how my Lord's brother, Mr. Nathaniel
Crew, hath an estate of 6 or 700/ per annum, left
him by the death of an old acquaintance of his, but
not akin to him at all. And this man is dead with
out will, but had, about ten years since, made over
his estate to this Mr. Crew, to him and his heirs for
ever, and given Mr. Crew the keeping of the deeds
in his own hand all this time ; by which, if he would,
he might have taken present possession of the estate,
for he knew what they were. This is as great an
act of confident friendship as this latter age, I believe,
can show. From hence to the Duke's house, and there
saw " Macbeth " most excellently acted, and a most
excellent play for variety. I had sent for my wife to
meet me there, who did come, and after the play was
done, I out so soon to meet her at the other door that I
left my cloake in the play house, and while I returned
to get it, she was gone out and missed me. I not
sorry for it much did go to White Hall, and got my
Lord Bellassis to get me into the playhouse; and there,
after all staying above an hour for the players, the
King and all waiting, which was absurd, saw " Henry
the Fifth" well done by the Duke's people, and in
most excellent habits, all new vests, being put on
but this night. But I sat so high and far off, that I
missed most of the words, and sat with a wind
coming into my back and neck, which did much
1 Mrs. Corey. See 15th Jan., 1668-9.

1 96 DIARY OF Dec 31
trouble me. The play continued till twelve at night ;
and then up, and a most horrid cold night it was, and
frosty, and moonshine.
29th. Called up with newes from Sir W. Batten
that Hogg hath brought in two prizes more : and so
I thither, and hear the particulars, which are good ;
one of them, if prize, being worth 4000/. : for which
God be thanked ! Then to the office, and have the
newes brought us of Captain Robinson's coming
with his fleete from Gottenburgh : dispersed, though,
by foul weather. But he hath light of five Dutch
men-of-war, and taken three, whereof one is sunk ;
which is very good newes to close up the year with,
and most of our merchant-men already heard of to
be safely come home, though after long lookings-
for, and now to several ports, as they could make
them. 30th. (Lord's day.) To church. Here was a col-'
lection for the sexton ; but it came into my head why
we should be more bold in making the collection
while the psalm is singing, than in the sermon or
prayer. 31st. Rising this day with a full design to mind
nothing else but to make up my accounts for the
year past, I did take money, and walked forth to
several places in the towne as far as the New Ex
change, to pay all my debts, and so going back I met
Doll Lane, with another young woman of the Hall,
and took them to the Half Moon Taverne and there
drank some burnt wine with them, and so away home
to dinner, and then to my accounts, wherein, at last,
I find them clear and right ; but, to my great discon
tent, do find that my gettings this year have been
573/. less than my last : it being this year in all but
2,986/. ; whereas, the last, I got 3,560/. And then
again my spendings this year have exceeded my
spendings the last by 644/. : my whole spendings

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 197
last year being but 509/. ; whereas this year, it
appears, I have spent 1,154/., which is a sum not fit
to be said that ever I should spend in one year,
before I am master of a better estate than I am.
Yet, blessed be God ! and I pray God make me
thankful for it, I do find myself worth in money, all
good, above 6,200/. ; which is above 1,800/. more
than I was the last year. This, I trust in God, will
make me thankfull for what I have, and carefull
to make up by care next year what by my negligence
and prodigality I have lost and spent this year.
Thus ends this year of publick wonder and mischief to
this nation, and, therefore, generally wished by all
people to have an end. Myself and family well,
having four mayds and one clerk, Tom, in my house,
and my brother, now with me, to spend time in order
to his preferment. Our healths all well, publick
matters in a most sad condition ; seamen discouraged
for want of pay, and are become not to be governed :
nor, as matters are now, can any fleete go out next
year. Our enemies, French and Dutch, great, and
grow more by our poverty. The Parliament back
ward in raising, because jealous of the spending of
the money ; the City less and less likely to be built
again, every body settling elsewhere, and nobody
encouraged to trade. A sad, vicious, negligent
Court, and all sober men there fearful of the ruin of
the whole kingdom this next year ; from which, good
God deliver us ! One thing I reckon remarkable in
my owne condition is, that I am come to abound in !
good plate, so as at all entertainments to be served
wholly with silver plates, having two dozen and a half.
1666-7.
January 1st. Lay long, being a bitter, cold, frosty
day, the frost being now grown old, and the Thames
covered with ice.

198 DIARY OF Jan. 2
2nd. My wife up, and with Mrs. Pen to walk in
the fields to frost-bite themselves. I found the
Court full of great apprehensions of the French, who
have certainly shipped landsmen, great numbers, at
Brest; and most of our people here guess his design for
Ireland. We have orders to send all the ships we
can possible to the Downes. God have mercy on
us ! for we can send forth no ships without men, nor
will men go without money, every day bringing us
news of new mutinies among the seamen ; so that
our condition is like to be very miserable. Thence
to Westminster Hall, and there met all the Houblons,
who did laugh at this discourse of the French, and
say they are verily of opinion it is nothing but to
send to their plantation in the West Indys, and that
we at Court do blow up a design of invading us, only
to make the Parliament make more haste in the
money matters, and perhaps it may be so, but I do
not believe we have any such plot in our heads.
After them, I, with several people, among others
Mr. George Montagu, who tells me of the King dis
pleasing the House of Commons by evading their
Bill for examining Accounts, and putting it into a
Commission, though therein he hath left out Coventry
• and  \ and named all the rest the' Parliament
named, and all country Lords, not one Courtier : this
do not please them. He finds the enmity almost
over for my Lord Sandwich. Up to the Painted
Chamber, and there heard a conference between the
House of Lords and Commons about the Wine
Patent; which I was exceeding glad to be at, be
cause of my hearing exceeding good discourses, but
especially from the Commons ; among others, Mr.
Swinfen,2 and a young man, one Sir Thomas Meres :3
and do outdo the Lords infinitely. Alone to the
1 A blank in the MS. 2 See ioth November, 1662.
3 M.P. for Lincoln, made a Commissioner of the Admiralty, 1679^

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 199
King's House, and there saw "The Custom of the
Country," 1 the second time of its being acted,
wherein Knipp does the Widow well ; but, of all
the plays that ever I did see, the worst — having
neither plot, language, nor anything in the earth
that is acceptable ; only Knipp sings a little song
admirably. 3rd. By invitation to dinner to Sir W. Pen's,
where my Lord Brouncker, Sir W. Batten, and his
lady, myself, and wife, Sir J. Minnes, and Mr. Turner.
Indifferent merry, to which I contributed the most,
but a mean dinner, and in a mean manner. In the
evening a little to the office, and then to them, where
I found them at cards, and late home to bed, not
much pleased with the manner of our entertainment,
though to myself more civil than to any. This day,
I hear, hath been a conference between the two
Houses about the Bill for examining Accounts,
wherein the House of Lords their proceedings in
petitioning the King for doing it by Commission are,
in great heat, voted by the Commons, after the con
ference, unparliamentary.
4th. To the office awhile, and about noon home
and saw all things in good order. Anon comes our
company to dinner ; my Lord Brouncker, Sir W.
Pen, his lady, and Pegg, and her servant, Mr. Low-
ther,2 my Lady Batten, Mr. Turner and his wife.
Here I had good room for ten, and no more would
my table have held well, had Sir J. Minnes, who
had fallen lame, and his sister, and niece, and Sir W.
Batten come, which was a great content to me to be
without them. I did make them all gaze to see them
selves served so nobly in plate, and a neat dinner,
1 A play by Beaumont and Fletcher, founded on an old feudal
custom, to which there is no need to allude more particularly.
See Evelyn's character of it, and of its grossness.
2 See nth January, 1666.

200 DIARY OF Jan. 6
indeed, though but of seven dishes. My Lady
Batten home, her ague-fit coming on her at table.
At night to sup, and then to cards ; and, last of all,
to have a flaggon of ale and apples, drunk out of a
wood cup,1 as a Christmas draught, which made all
merry ; and they full of admiration at my plate, par
ticularly my flaggons, which, indeed, are noble, and
so late home, all with great mirth and satisfaction to
them, as I thought, and to myself to see all I have
and do so much outdo for neatness and plenty any
thing done by any of them. They gone, I to bed,
much pleased, and do observe Mr. Lowther to be a
pretty gentleman, too good for Peg. Sir W. Pen
was much troubled to hear the song I sung, " The
New Droll "2 — it touching him home.
5th. At the office all the morning, thinking at
noon to have been taken home, and my wife, accord
ing to appointment yesterday, by my Lord Brouncker,
to dinner and then to a play, but he had forgot it, at
which I was glad, being glad of avoyding the occa
sion of inviting him again, and being forced to invite
his doxy, Mrs. Williams. So home, and took a
small snap of victuals, and away, with my wife, to the
Duke's house, and there saw " Mustapha," a most
excellent play for words and design as ever I did
see. I had seen it before but forgot it, so it was
wholly new to me, which is the pleasure of my not
committing these things to my memory.
6th. (Lord's day.) To church, where a dull doctor,
a stranger, made a dull sermon. Young Michell
1 A mazer cup, generally of wood, of a quadrangular form, with
a handle on each of the sides. See a curious note on mazers,
used as large drinking cups or goblets, in Sir Walter Scott's
"Poetical Works," p. 488, edit. 1848.
2 There is a song called " The New Droll," in a scarce volume,
entitled "The Loyal Garland," printed for T. Passinger, at the
Three Bibles, on London Bridge, 1686: see "Fugitive Tracts,"
published by the Percy Society, in 1849.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 201
and I, it being an excellent frosty day, did walk
out. He showed me the baker's house in Pud
ding Lane, where the late great fire begun ; and
thence all along Thames Street, where I did view
several places, and so up by London Wall, by Black-
friars, to Ludgate ; and thence to Bridewell, which
I find to have been heretofore an extraordinary good
house, and a fine coming to it, before the house by
the bridge was built ; and so to look about St. Bride's
church and my father's house, and so walked home.
7th. Lord Brouncker tells me that my Lady Den
ham is at last dead. Some suspect her poisoned, but
it will be best known when her body is opened to
day, she dying yesterday morning. The Duke of York
is troubled for her; but hath declared he will never
have another public mistress again ; which I shall
be glad of, andwould'the King would do the like. He
tells me how the Parliament is grown so jealous of
the King's being unfayre to them in the business of
the Bill for examining Accounts, Irish Bill, and the
business of the Papists, that they will not pass the
business for money till they see themselves secure
that those Bills will pass ; which they do observe
the Court to keep off till all the Bills come together,
that the King may accept what he pleases, and what
he pleases to reject. He tells me how Mr. Henry
Howard, of Norfolke, hath given1 our Royal Society
all his grandfather's library :2 which noble gift they
1 At Evelyn's suggestion.
2 Thomas, Earl of Arundel. Mr. Howard gave the Society all
the printed books : but the MSS. he divided between the Society
and the College of Arms. Of the latter portion a catalogue has
been privately printed by Sir Charles George Young, the present
Garter King of Arms. In the year 1831, an arrangement was
made between the Trustees of the British Museum and the Royal
Society, the consent of the late Duke of Norfolk having been
obtained, by which the Society's portion of the MSS. was trans
ferred to the Museum, where they are now preserved for public

202 DIARY OF Jan. 9
value at iooo/. ; and gives them accommodation to
meet in at his house, Arundell House, they being
now disturbed at Gresham College. To the Duke's
house, and saw " Macbeth," which, though I saw it
lately, yet appears a most excellent play in all re
spects, but especially in divertisement, though it be a
deep tragedy; which is a strange perfection in a
tragedy, it being most proper here, and suitable. So
home, it being the last play now I am to see till a
fortnight hence, I being from the last night entered
into my vowes for the year coming on. Here I met
with the good newes of Hogg's bringing in two prizes
more to Plymouth, which if they prove but any part
of them, I hope, at least, we shall be no losers by
them. So home from the office, to write over fair
my vowes for this year, and then to supper, and to
bed. In great peace of mind having now done it, and
brought myself into order again and a resolution of
keeping it, and having entered my journall to this
night. 8th. My uncle Thomas with me to receive his
quarterage. He tells me his son Thomas is set up
in Smithfield, where he hath a shop — I suppose, a
booth. Saw the catalogue of my books, which my
brother hath wrote out, now perfectly alphabeticall.
9th. In a hackney-coach to White Hall, the way
being most horribly bad upon the breaking up of
the frost, so as not to be passed almost. I do hear,
by my Lord Brouncker, that for certain Sir W.
Coventry hath resigned his place of Commissioner ;
which I believe he hath done upon good grounds of
security to himself, from all the blame which must
attend our office this next year ; but I fear the King
use, and known as the Arundel MSS. A very full catalogue of
them has been published by the Trustees. This arrangement
enabled the Royal Society to add materially to the scientific part
of their library.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 203
will suffer by it. Thence to Westminster Hall, and
there to the conference of the Houses about the word
" Nuisance," x which the Commons would have, and
the Lords will not, in the Irish Bill. The Commons
do it professedly to prevent the King's dispensing
with it ; which Sir Robert Howard and others did
expressly repeat often: viz., "that no King ever
could do any thing which was hurtful to his people."
Now the Lords did argue, that it was an ill pre
cedent, and that which will ever hereafter be used
as a way of preventing the King's dispensation with
acts; and therefore rather advise to pass the Bill
without that word, and let it go, accompanied with a
petition, to the King, that he will not dispense with
it ; this being a more civil way to the King. They
answered well, that this do imply that the King
should pass their Bill, and yet with design to dis
pense with it ; which is to suppose the King guilty
of abusing them. And more, they produce pre
cedents for it ; namely, that against new buildings
and about leather, wherein the word " Nuisance " is
used to the purpose : and further, that they do not
rob the King of any right he ever had, for he never
had a power to do hurt to his people, nor would
exercise it ; and therefore there is no danger, in the
passing this Bill, of imposing on his prerogative;
and concluded, that they think they ought to do this,
so as the people may really have the benefit of it
when it is passed, for never any people could expect
so reasonably to be indulged something from a King,
they having already given him so much money, and
are likely to give more. Thus they broke up, both
1 In the " Bill against importing Cattle from Ireland and other
parts beyond the Seas," the Lords proposed to insert " Detriment
and Mischief" instead of "Nuisance." The Lords finally con
sented that the latter word should stand in the Bill. — Commons'
Journals.

204 DIARY OF Jan. 14
adhering to their opinions ; but the Commons seemed
much more full of judgment and reason than the
Lords. Then the Commons made their Report to
the Lords of their vote, that their Lordships' pro
ceedings ' in the Bill for examining Accounts were
unparliamentary ; they having, while a Bill was sent
up to them from the Commons about the business,
petitioned his Majesty that he would do the same
thing by his Commission. They did give their
reasons: viz., that it had no precedent ; that the
King ought not to be informed of anything passing
in the Houses till it comes to a Bill ; that it will
wholly break off all correspondence between the two
Houses, and in the issue wholly infringe the very use
and being of Parliaments. Thence to Faythorne,
and bought a head or two ; one of them my Lord
of Ormond's, the best I ever saw. To Arundell
House, where first the Royal Society meet, by the
favour of Mr. Harry Howard, who was there. And
here was a great meeting of worthy noble persons ;
but my Lord Brouncker, who pretended to make a
congratulatory speech upon their coming thither, and
great thanks to Mr. Howard, did do it in the worst
manner in the world.
nth. Sir W. Warren told me, how my Lord
Brouncker should take notice of the two flaggons1
he saw at my- house at dinner, at my late feast, and
merrily, yet I know enviously, said, I could not
come honestly by them. This I am glad to hear,
though vexed to see his ignoble soul, but I shall
. beware of him, and yet it is fit he should see I am
J no mean fellow, but can live in the world, and have
something. 14th. Busy till night, pleasing myself mightily to
see what a deal of business goes off a man's hands
1 Presented by Mr. Gauden: see 28th July, 1664.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 205
when he stays by it. Sir W. Batten tells me, the
Lords do agree at last with the Commons about the
word " Nuisance" in the Irish Bill, and do desire a
good correspondence between the two Houses : and
that the King do intend to prorogue them the last
of this month.
15th. This afternoon, Knipp acts Mrs. Weaver's
great part in " The Indian Emperour," 1 and is
coming on to be a great actor. But I am so fell to
my business, that I, though against my inclination,
will not go.
1 6th. Sir W. Coventry came to me aside in the
Duke's chamber, to tell that he had not answered
part of a late letter of mine, because littera scripta
manet. About his leaving the office, he tells me, it
is because he finds that his business at Court will
not permit him to attend it ; and then he confesses
that he seldom of late could come from it with satis
faction, and therefore would not take the King's
money for nothing. I professed my sorrow for it,
and prayed the continuance of his favour ; which he
promised. I do believe he hath done like a very
wise man in reference to himself; but I doubt it will
prove ill for the King, and for the office. Prince
Rupert, I hear, is very ill ; yesterday given over,
but better to-day. This day, before the Duke of
York, the business of the Muster- Masters was re
ported, and Baity found the best of the whole
number, so as the Duke enquired who he was, and
whether he was a stranger by his two names, both
strange, and offered that he and one more, who has
done next best, should have not only their owne, but
part of the others' salary, but that I having said he
was my brother-in-law, he did stop, but they two are
ordered their pay, which I am glad of, and some of
1 " The Indian Emperor," by J. Dryden, intended as a sequel
to " The Indian Queen."

206 DIARY OF Jan. 16
the rest will lose their pay, and others be laid by the
heels. I am glad of this being ended so well. I
did also, this morning, move in a business wherein
Mr. Hater has concerned me, about getting a ship,
laden with salt from France, permitted to unload,
coming in after the King's declaration was out,
which I have hopes by some dexterity to get done.
Then with the Duke of York to the King, to receive
his commands for stopping the sale this day of some
prize-goods at the Prize-Office, fit for the Navy ; and
received the King's commands, and carried them to
the Lords' House, to my Lord Ashly, who was angry
much thereat, and I am sorry it fell to me to carry
the order. So, against his will, he signed a note I
writ to the Commissioners of Prizes, which I carried
and delivered to Kingdone, at their new office in
Aldersgate Streete. Sir Stephen Fox, among other
things, told me his whole mystery in the business of
the interest he pays as Treasurer for the Army.
They give him \2d. per pound quite through the
Army, with condition to be paid weekly, This he
undertakes upon his own private credit, and to be
paid by the King at the end of every four months.
If the King pay him not at the end of the four
months, then, for all the time he stays longer, my
Lord Treasurer, by agreement, allows him eight per
cent, per annum for the forbearance. So that, in
fine, he hath about twelve per cent, from the King
and the Army, for fifteen or sixteen months' interest;
out of which he gains soundly, his expense being
about 1 30,000/. per annum ; and hath no trouble in
it, compared, as I told him, to the trouble I must
have to bring in an account of interest. I was, how
ever, glad of being thus enlightened, and so away to
the other council door, and then got in and hear a
piece of a cause, heard before the King, about a
ship deserted by her fellows, who were bound

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 207
mutually to defend each other, in their way to
Virginy, and taken by the enemy, but it was but
meanly pleaded. After supper, my wife told me
how she had moved to W. Hewer the business of
my sister for a wife to him, which he received with
mighty acknowledgements, as she says, above any
thing ; but says he hath no intention to alter his
condition : so that I am in some measure sorry she
ever moved it ; but I hope he will think it only came
from her. Talk there is of a letter to come from
Holland, desiring a place of treaty ; but I do doubt
it. This day I observe still, in many places, the
smoking remains of the late fire : the ways mighty
bad and dirty. This night Sir R. Ford told me how
this day, at Christ Church Hospital, they have given
a living over 200/. per annum to Mr. Sanchy, my
old acquaintance, which I wonder at, he commend
ing him mightily ; but am glad of it. He tells me,
too, how the famous Stillingfleete1 was a Blue-coat
boy. 1 8th. This morning came Captain Cocke to me,
and tells me that the King comes to the House this
day to pass the Poll Bill and the Irish Bill ; and
that, though the Faction is very froward in the
House, yet all will end well there. But he says that
one had got a Bill ready to present in the House
against Sir W. Coventry, for selling of places, and
says he is certain of it, and how he was withheld
from doing it. He says, that the Vice-chamberlaine
is now one of the greatest men in England again,
and was he that did prevail with the King to let the
Irish Bill go with the word " Nuisance." He told
me, that Sir G. Carteret's declaration of giving
double to any man that will prove that any of his
jpeople have demanded or taken any thing for for-
1 See 1 6th April, 1665.

208 DIARY OF Jan. 18
warding the payment of the wages of any man, of
which he sent us a copy yesterday, which we approved
of, is set up, among other places, upon the House of
Lords' door. I do not know how wisely this is done.
This morning, also, there come to the office a letter
from the Duke of York, commanding our payment
of no wages to any of the muster-masters of the
fleete the last year, but only two, my brother Baity,
taking notice that he had taken pains therein, and
one Ward, who, though he had not taken so much
as the other, yet had done more than the rest. At
night I, by appointment, home, where W. Batelier
and his sister Mary, and the two Mercers, to play at
cards and sup, and did cut our great cake lately
given us by Russell : a very good one. Here very
merry late. Sir W. Pen told me this night how
the King did make them a very sharp speech in
the House of Lords to-day, saying that he did ex
pect to have had more Bills ; that he purposes to
prorogue them on Monday come se'nnight ; that
whereas they have unjustly conceived some jealousys
of his making a peace, he declares he knows of no
such thing or treaty : and so left them. But with
so little effect, that as soon as he came into the
House, Sir W. Coventry moved, that now the King
hath declared his intention of proroguing them, it
would be loss of time to go on with the thing they
were upon, when they were called to the King, which
was the calling over the defaults of Members ap
pearing in the House ; for that, before any person
could now come or be brought to town, the House
would be up. Yet the Faction did desire to delay
time, and contend so as to come to a division of the
House ; where, however, it was carried, by a few
voices, that the debate should be laid by. But this
shows that they are not pleased, or that they have
not any awe over them from the King's displeasure.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 209
19th. Sir W. Batten tells me to my wonder that at
his coming to my Lord Ashly, yesterday morning,
to tell him what prize-goods he would have saved
for the Navy, and not sold, according to the King's
order on the 1 7th, he fell quite out with him in high
terms ; and he says, too, that they did go on with
the sale yesterday, even of the very hempe, and
other things, at which I am astonished,, and will
never wonder at the ruine of the King's affairs, if
this be suffered.
20th. (Lord's day.) I was sorry to hear of the
heat the House was in yesterday about the ill ma
nagement of the Navy ; though I think they were
well answered, both by Sir G. Carteret and Sir W.
Coventry, as he informs me of the substance of their
speeches. I to church, and there, beyond expecta
tion, find our seat, and all the church crammed, by
twice as many people, as used to be : and to my
great joy find Mr. Frampton1 in the pulpit ; and I
think the best sermon, for goodness and oratory,
without affectation or study, that ever I heard in my
life. The truth is, he preaches the most like an apostle
that ever I heard man ; and it was much the best
time that I ever spent in my life at church. His
text, Ecclesiastes xi., verse 8th — " But if a man live
many years, and rejoice in them all, yet let him re
member the days of darkness, for they shall be
many. All that cometh is vanity." To White Hall,
and there walked in the Parke, and a little to my
Lord Chancellor's, where the King and Cabinet met,
and there met Mr. Brisband, with whom good dis
course, and there he did lend me " The Third Advice
to a Paynter," a bitter satyre upon the service of the
Duke of Albemarle the last year.2 I took it home

1 See ante, ioth October, 1666.
2 Sir John Denham's name is put to these poems, but they were
4 P

2IO DIARY OF Jan. 21
with me, and will copy it, having the former, being
also mightily pleased with it.
2 1 st. To the Swede's Resident's1 in the Piazza, to
discourse with him about two of our prizes, wherein
he put in his concernment as for his countrymen.
We had no satisfaction, nor did give him any, but I
find him a cunning fellow. He lives in one of the
great houses there, but ill-furnished ; and came to us
out of bed in his furred mittens and furred cap.
Thence to Exeter House to the Doctors Commons,
and there with our Proctors to Dr. Walker, who did
hear our matters, and after a dull seeming hearing of
them read, did discourse most understandingly of
them, as well as ever I heard man, telling us all our
grounds of pretence to the prize would do no good,
which troubled us, but I was mightily taken to hear his
manner of discourse. Thence up to the Lords' House,
and there came mighty seasonably to hear the Soli
citor about my Lord Buckingham's pretence to the
title of Lord Rosse.2 Mr. Atturny Montagu is also
a good man, and so is old Sir P. Ball ;3 but the Soli-
supposed to have been written by Andrew Marvel. The printer,
being discovered, was sentenced to the pillory.
1 Sir James Barkman Leyenburg, many years the Swedish
Resident in this country. He is the person mentioned in the note
to Nov. 26, 1660, as having in 167 1. married the widow of Sir W.
Batten. 2 The ancient barony of De Ros, created by writ in 1264, was
carried, with Belvoir Castle and other great possessions, into the
family of Manners, by the marriage of Eleanor, sister and heir of
Edmund Lord de Ros (who died in 1508), to Sir Robert Manners.
Katharine, only daughter and heir of Francis, sixth Earl of Rut
land, married, first, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, and,
secondly, Randal Macdonnal, Marquis of Antrim. On her death,
the barony of De Ros was claimed by her son, the second Duke
of Buckingham. He died without issue in 1687, and the barony
remained in abeyance until the year 1806, when it was determined
by the Crown in favour of Lady Henry Fitzgerald, the mother of
the late and the present Lords de Ros.
3 Sir Peter Ball, the Queen's Attorney-General.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 211
citor1 and Scroggs2 after him are excellent men. At
home find Lovett, to whom I did give my Lady
Castlemayne's head to do. He is talking of going
into Spayne to get money by his art, but I doubt he
will do no good, he being a man of an unsettled
head. Thence by water to Deptford, and there did
some little business and walked home, and there
came into my company three drunken seamen, but
one especially, who told me such stories, calling me
Captain, as made me mighty merry, and they would
leap and skip, and kiss what mayds they met all the
way. I did at first give them money to drink, lest
they should know who I was, and so become trouble
some to me. Parted at Redriffe and there home and
to the office, where did much business, and then to
Sir W. Batten's, where Sir W. Pen, Sir R. Ford, and
I to hear a proposition Sir R. Ford was to acquaint
us with from the Swedes Embassador, in manner of
saying, that for money he might be got to our side
and relinquish the trouble he might give us. Sir W.
Pen did make a long simple declaration of his reso
lution to give nothing to deceive any poor man of
what was his right by law, but ended by doing what
ever any body else would, and we did commission
Sir R. Ford to give promise of not beyond 350/. to
him and his Secretary, in case they did not oppose
us in the Phoenix (the net profits of which, as Sir R.
Ford cast up before us, the Admiral's tenths, and
ship's thirds, and other charges all cleared, will
amount to 3000/.) and that we did gain her. Sir R.
Ford did pray for a curse upon his family, if he was
privy to anything more than he told us (which I be
lieve he is a knave in), yet we all concluded him the
most fit man for it and very honest, and so left it
1 Sir Edward Turner.
2 Sir William Scroggs, King's Serjeant, 1669 ; afterwards Chief-
Justice of the King's Bench.

212

DIARY OF Jan. 22

wholly to him to manage, as he pleased. So home,
where W. Hewer's mother was, and supped with us.
His mother a well favoured old little woman and a
good woman, I believe. This night, at supper, comes
from Sir W. Coventry the Order of Councill1 for my
Lord Brouncker to do all the Comptroller's part re
lating to the Treasurer's accounts, and Sir W. Pen,
all relating to the Victualler's, and Sir J. Minnes to
do the rest. This, I hope, will do much better for
the King, and, I think, will give neither of them
ground to over-top me, as I feared they would;
which pleases me mightily. This evening, Mr. Wren
and Captain Cocke called upon me at the office, and
there told me how the House was in better temper
to-day, and hath passed the Bill for the remainder
of the money, but not to be passed finally till they
have done some other things which they will have
passed with it; wherein they are very open, what
their meaning is, which was but doubted before,
for they do in all respects doubt the King's pleasing
them. 22nd. Up, and there came to me Darnell the
fiddler, one of the Duke's house, and brought me a
set of lessons, all three parts, I heard them play to
the Duke of York this Christmas at his lodgings, and
bid him get me them. I did give him a crowne for
them, and did enquire after the musique of the " Siege
of Rhodes," which, he tells me, he can get me, which
I am mighty glad of. So to the office, where among
other things I read the Councill's order about my
Lord Brouncker and Sir W. Pen to be assistants to
the Comptroller, which quietly went down with Sir
J. Minnes, poor man, he seeming a little as if he
would be thought to have desired it, but yet appa
rently to his discontent ; and, I fear, as the order
1 Dated 1 6th January, 1666-7, and printed in " Memoirs relating
to the Conduct of the Navy,""8vo. 1729, p. 59.

1666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 213
runs, it will hardly do much good. At noon to
dinner, and there comes a letter from Mrs. Pierce,
telling me she will come and dine with us on Thurs
day next, with some of the players, Knipp, &c,
which I was glad of, but my wife vexed, which vexed
me ; but I seemed merry, but know not how to order
the matter, whether they shall come or no.
23rd. To St. James's, to see the organ Mrs. Tur
ner told me of the other night, of my late Lord
Aubigney's ; and I took my Lord Brouncker with
me, he being acquainted with my present Lord
Almoner, Mr. Howard,1 brother to the Duke of
Norfolke; so he and I did see the organ, but I do
not like it, it being but a bauble, with a virginal
joining to it : so I shall not meddle with it. The
Almoner seems a good-natured gentleman : here I
observed the deske which he hath, [made] to re
move, and is fastened to one of the armes of his
chayre. I do also observe the counterfeit windows
there was, in the form of doors with looking-glasses
instead of windows, which makes the room seem
both bigger and lighter, I think ; and I have some
thoughts to have the like in one of my rooms. He
discoursed much of the goodness of the musique in
Rome, but could not tell me how long musique had
been in any perfection in that church, which I would
be glad to know. He speaks much of the great
buildings that this Pope,2 whom, in mirth to us, he
calls Antichrist, hath done in his time. Away, and
my Lord and I walking into the Park, I did observe
the new buildings : and my Lord, seeing I had a
desire to see them, they being the place for the
1 Philip Howard, Lord Almoner to Queen Catherine, and third
son of Henry Howard, Earl of Arundel, who died in 1652. He
was made a Cardinal by Clement X. in 1675, and died at Rome
in 1694. He was generally styled the Cardinal of Norfolk.
2 Alexander VII., by name Fabio Chigi.

214 DIARY OF Jan. 23
priests and fryers, he took me back to my Lord
Almoner ; and he took us quite through the whole
house and chapel, and the new monastery, showing
me most excellent pieces in wax-worke : a crucifix
given by a Pope to Mary Queen of Scotts, where a
piece of the Cross is ; l two bits set in the manner of
a cross in the foot of the crucifix : several fine pictures,
but especially very good prints of holy pictures. I
saw the dortoire 2 and the cells of the priests, and we
went into one ; a very pretty little room, very clean,
hung with pictures, set with books. The Priest was
1 Pieces of " the Cross " were formerly held in such veneration,
and were so common, that it has been often said enough existed
to build a ship. Most readers will remember the distinction which
Sir W. Scott represents Louis XI. (with great appreciation of that
monarch's character), as drawing between an oath taken on a false
piece and one taken on a piece of the true cross. Sir Thomas
More, a very devout believer in relics, says ("Works," p. 119),
that " Luther wished, in a sermon of his, that he had in his hand
all the pieces of the Holy Cross ; and said that if he so had, he
would throw them there as never sun should shine on them : — and
for what worshipful reason would the wretch do such villany to
the cross of Christ ? Because, as he saith, that there is so much
gold now bestowed about the garnishing of the pieces of the Crosse
that there is none left for poore folke. Is not this a high reason ?
As though all the gold that is now bestowed about the pieces of
the Holy Cross would not have failed to have been given to poor
men, if they had not been bestowed about the garnishing of the
Cross ! and as though there were nothing lost, but what is bestowed
about Christ's Cross ! " Wolsey, says Cavendish, on his fall, gave
to Norris, who brought him a ring of gold as a token of good will
from Henry, " a little chaine of gold, made like a bottle chain,
with a cross of gold, wherein was a piece of the Holy Cross, which
he continually wore about his neck, next his body ; and said, fur
thermore, ' Master Norris, I assure you, when I was in prosperity,
although it seem but small in value, yet I would not gladly have
departed with the same for a thousand pounds.'" — Life, ed. 1852,
p. 167. Evelyn mentions, "Diary," 17th November, 1664, that
he saw in one of the chapels in St. Peter's a crucifix with a piece
of the true cross in it. Amongst the jewels of Mary Queen of
Scots was a cross of gold, which had been pledged to Hume of
Blackadder for 1000/. — Chalmers's Life, vol. i. p. 31.
2 Dormitory.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 215
in his cell, with his hair clothes to his skin, bare
legged, with a sandall only on, and his little bed
without sheets, and no feather bed; but yet, I thought, /
soft enough. His cord about his middle ; but in so ,
good company, living with ease, I thought it a very
good life. A pretty library they have. And I was
in the refectoire, where every man his napkin, knife, .
cup of earth, and basin of the same ; and a place for
one to sit and read while the rest are at meals. And
into the kitchen I went, where a good neck of mutton
at the fire, and other victuals boiling. I do not think
they fared very hard. Their windows all looking
into a fine garden and the Park ; and mighty pretty
rooms all. I wished myself one of the Capuchins.
So away with the Almoner in his coach, talking
merrily about the difference in our religions, to
White Hall, and there we left him. To take up my
wife and Mercer, and to Temple Bar to the Ordinary,
and had a dish of meat for them, they having not
dined, and thence to the King's house, and there saw
" The Humerous Lieutenant :" a silly play I think ;
only the Spirit in it that grows very tall, and then
sinks again to nothing, having two heads breeding
upon one, and then Knipp's singing, did please us.
Here, in a box above, we spied Mrs. Pierce ; and,
going out, they called us, and so we staid for them ;
and Knipp took us all in, and brought to us Nelly,1 a
most pretty woman, who acted the great part of
Ccelia to-day very fine, and did it pretty well : I
kissed her, and so did my wife ; and a mighty pretty
soul she is. We also saw Mrs. Hall,2 which is my
little Roman-nose black girl, that is mighty pretty :
she is usually called Betty. Knipp made us stay in
a box and see the dancing preparatory to to-morrow
1 Nell Gwynn.
2 Betty Hall. She was Sir Philip Howard's mistress. Compare
30th March, 1667, and 19th December, 1668.

216 DIARY OF Jan. 24
for " The Goblins," a play of Suckling's,1 not acted
these twenty-five years ; which was pretty ; and so
away thence, pleased with this sight also, and specially
kissing of Nell. In our way home, we find the Guards
of horse in the street, and hear the occasion to be
news that the seamen are in a mutiny ; which put me
into a great fright ; and, when I come home, I hear
of no disturbance there of the seamen, but that one
of them, being arrested to-day, others do go and
rescue him.
24th. At the office, we were frighted with news of
fire at Sir W. Batten's by a chimney taking fire, and
it put me into much fear and trouble, but with a
great many hands and pains it was soon stopped. I
home, where most of my company come of this end
of the town — Mercer and her sister, Mr. Batelier and
Pembleton, my Lady Pen, and Pegg, and Mr. Low-
ther, but did not stay long, and I believe it was by
Sir W. Pen's order ; for they had a great mind to
have staid, and also Captain Rolt. And, anon, at
about seven or eight o'clock, comes Mr. Harris, of
the Duke's playhouse, and brings Mrs. Pierce with
him, and also one dressed like a country-mayde with
a straw hat on ; and, at first, I could not tell who it
was, though I expected Knipp : but it was she
coming off the stage just as she acted this day in
"The Goblins ;" a merry jade. Now my house is
full, and four fiddlers that play well. Harris I first
took to my closet ; and I find him a very curious
and understanding person in all pictures and other
things, and a man of fine conversation; and so is
Rolt. So away with all my company down to the
office, and there fell to dancing, and continued at it
an hour or two, there coming Mrs. Anne Jones, a
merchant's daughter hard by, who dances well, and
all in mighty good humour, and danced with great
1 Sir John Suckling, the poet.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 217
pleasure ; and then sung and then danced, and then
sung many things of three voices — both Harris and
Rolt singing their parts excellently. Among other
things, Harris sung his Irish song — the strangest in
itself, and the prettiest sung by him, that ever I
heard. Then to supper in the office, a cold, good
supper, and wondrous merry. Here was Mrs. Turner,
also, and Mrs. Markham : after supper to dancing
again and singing, and so continued till almost three
in the morning, and then, with extraordinary pleasure,
broke up — only towards morning, Knipp fell a little
ill, and so my wife home with her to put her to bed,
and we continued dancing and singing ; and, among
other things, our Mercer unexpectedly did happen to
sing an Italian song I know not, of which they two
sung the other two parts too, that did almost ravish
me, and made me in love with her jnore than ever
with her singing. As late as it was, yet Rolt and
Harris would go home to-night, and walked it, though
I had a bed for them ; and it proved dark, and a
misly night, and very windy. The company being
all gone to their homes, I up with Mrs. Pierce to
Knipp, who was in bed ; and we waked her, and
sung a song, and then left my wife to see Mrs. Pierce
in bed to her, in our best chamber, and so to bed
myself, my mind mightily satisfied with all this even
ing's work, and thinking it to be one of the merriest
enjoyments I must look for in the world, and did
content myself therefore with the thoughts of it, and
so to bed ; only the musique did not please me, they
not being contented with less than 30J.
25th. This afternoon I saw the Poll Bill, now
printed ; wherein I do fear I shall be very deeply
concerned, being to be taxed for all my offices, and
then for my money that I have, and my title, as well
as my head. It is a very great tax ; but yet I do
think it is so perplexed, it will hardly ever be col-

218 DIARY OF Jan. 27
lected duly. The late invention of Sir G. Downing's
is continued of bringing all the money into the Ex
chequer ; and Sir G. Carteret's three pence is turned
for all the money of this act into but a penny per
pound, which I am sorry for. This day the House
hath passed the Bill for the Assessment, which I am
glad of ; and also our little Bill, for giving any of us
in the office the power of justice of peace, is done as
I would have it.
27th. (Lord's day.) To Sir Philip Warwick, by
appointment, to meet Lord Bellassis, and up to his
chamber, but find him unwilling to discourse of busk
ness on Sundays : so did not enlarge. Went down
and sat in a low room, reading " Erasmus de scriben-
dis epistolis," a very good book, especially one letter
of advice to a courtier most true and good, which
made me once resolve to tear out the two leaves that
it was writ in, but I forbore it. Roger Pepys and I
to walk in the Pell Mell. I find by him that the
House of Parliament continues full of ill humours ;
and do say how, in their late Poll Bill, which cost so
much time, the yeomanry, and indeed two-thirds of
the nation, are left out to be taxed, that there is not
effectual provision enough made for collection of the
money : and then, that after a man his goods are
distrained and sold, and the overplus returned, I am
to have ten days to make my complaints of being
over-rated if there be cause, when my goods are
sold, and that is too late. These things they are
resolved to look into again, and mend them before
they rise, which they expect at furthest on Thursday
next. Here we met with Mr. May,1 and he and we
to talk of several things, of building, and such like
matters. Walked to White Hall, and there I showed
my cozen Roger the Duchess of York sitting in state,
while her own mother stands by her ; and my Lady
1 Hugh May.

i666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 219
Castlemaine, whom he approves to be very hand
some, and wonders that she cannot be as good within
as she is fair without. Her little black boy came by
him ; and, a dog being in his way, the little boy
swore at the dog : " Now," says he, blessing himself,
" would I whip this child till the blood come, if it
were my child!" and I believe he would. But he
do by no means like the liberty of the Court, and did
come with expectation of finding them playing at
cards to-night, though Sunday ; for such stories he is
told, but how true I know not.1 My wife tells me
Mr. Frampton2 is gone to sea, and so she lost her
labour to-day in thinking to hear him preach.
28th. To Westminster, where I spent the morning
at the Lords' House door, to hear the conference
between the two Houses about my Lord Mordaunt,
of which there was great expectation, many hundreds
of people coming to hear it. But, when they came,
the Lords did insist upon my Lord Mordaunt's having
leave to sit upon a stool uncovered within their barr,
and that he should have counsel, which the Commons
would not suffer, but desired leave to report their
Lordships' resolution to the House of Commons ;
and so parted for this day, which troubled me, I
having by this means lost the whole day. Here I
hear from Mr. Hayes that Prince Rupert is very bad
1 There is little reason to doubt that it was such as Evelyn
describes it at a later time. " I can never forget the inexpressible
luxury and prophaneness, gaming, and all dissoluteness, and, as it
were, total forgetfulness of God (it being Sunday evening) which
this day se'nnight I was witness of; the King sitting and toying
withhis concubines, Portsmouth, Cleveland [Castlemaine], Mazarin,
&c. A French boy singing love songs in that glorious gallery,
whilst about twenty of the great courtiers and other dissolute per
sons were at basset round a large table, a bank of at least 2000/.
in gold before them ; upon which two gentlemen who were with
me made reflexions with astonishment. Six days after was all in
the dust." — Diary, February, 1685.
2 See note, January 20, 1667, ante.

220 DIARY OF Jan. 29
still, and so bad, that he do now yield to be tre
panned. Much work I find there is to do in the two
Houses in a little time, and much difference there is
between them in many things to be reconciled ; as
in the Bill for examining our accounts ; Lord Mor
daunt's ; Bill for building the City, and several others.
Home by coach, calling at Broad Street and taking
the goldsmith home with me, and I paid him 1 5/. 1 55-.
for my silver standish. He tells me gold holds up
its price still, and did desire me to let him have what
old 20s. pieces I have, and he would give me 3s. 2d.
change for each. Comes Mr. Gauden at my desire
to me, and to-morrow I shall pay him some money,
and shall see what present he will make me, the
hopes of which do make me part with my money
out of my chest, which I should not otherwise do.
After supper and reading a little, and my wife's
cutting off my hair short, which is grown too long
upon my crown of my head, I to bed.
29th. To the office, where Sir W. Pen and I look
much askewe one upon another, though afterward
business made us speak friendly enough, but yet we
hate one another. Sir W. Batten came to me, and
tells me that there is newes upon the Exchange to
day, that my Lord Sandwich's coach and the French
Embassador's at Madrid, meeting and contending
for the way, they shot my Lord's postilion and
another man dead ;J and that we have killed 25 of
theirs, and that my Lord is well. How true this is
I cannot tell. Comes Mrs. Turner to me, to make
her complaint of her sad usage from my Lord
Brouncker, that he thinks much she hath not already
got another house, though he himself hath employed
her night and day ever since his first naming of the
matter, to make part of her house ready for him, as
1 Intended as retaliation, perhaps, for the humiliation experienced
by D'Estrades in London. See 4th October, 1661, ante.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 221
he ordered, and promised she should stay till she had
fitted herself; by which I perceive he is a rotten-
hearted, false man, and, therefore, I must beware of
him accordingly. I did pity the woman, and gave
her the best council I could ; and so, falling to other
discourse, I made her laugh and merry, as sad as
she came to me ; so that I perceive no passion in a
woman can be lasting long;1 and so parted and I
home, and there teaching my girle Barker part of my
song " It is decreed," which she will sing prettily,
and so after supper to bed.
30th. Fast-day for the King's death. I all the
morning at my chamber making up my month's
accounts, which I did before dinner to my thorough
content, and find myself but a small gainer this
month, having no manner of profits, but just my
salary, but, blessed be God ! that I am able to save
out of that, living as I do. In the evening my wife
and I and Mercer and Barker to little Michells,
walked, with some neats' tongues and cake and wine,
and there sat with the little couple with great pleasure
and talked and eat and drank, and so walked home,
about eight at night, it being a little moonshine and
fair weather, into the garden, and, with Mercer, sang]
till my wife put me in mind of its being a fast-day; and
so I was sorry for it, and stopped, and home to cards.2
31st. Mr. Osborne comes from Mr. Gauden, and
takes money and notes for 4000/., and leaves me
acknowledgment for 4800/. and odd ; implying as if
D. Gauden would give the 800/. between Povy and
myself, but how he will divide it I know not. The
Parliament is not yet up, being finishing some bills.
1 Pepys might be thinking of Francis I.'s
" Souvent femme varie,
Bieh fol est qui s'y fie."
2 The distinctions without a difference which Pepys draws, are
often very ludicrous.

222 DIARY OF Feb. 3
Thus the month ends : myself in very good health
and content of mind in my family. All our heads
full in the office at this dividing of the Comptroller's
duty. Parliament, upon breaking up, having given
the King money with much ado, and great heats,
and neither side pleased, neither King nor them.
The imperfection of the Poll Bill, which must be
mended before they rise, there being several horrible
oversights to the prejudice of the King, is a certain
sign of the care anybody hath of the King's business.
Nobody knows who commands the fleete next year,
or, indeed, whether we shall have a fleete or no.
Great preparations in Holland and France, and the
French have lately taken Antigo (Antigua) from us,
which vexes us.1
February ist. Much surprised to hear this day at
Deptford that Mrs. Batters is going already to be
married to him, that is now the Captain of her
husband's ship. She seemed the most passionate
mourner in the world.
2nd. This night comes home my new silver snuffe-
dish, which I do give myself for my closet. I am
very well pleased this night with reading a poem I
brought home with me last night from Westminster
Hall, of Dryden's2 upon the present war ; a very good
poem. 3rd. (Lord's day). To White Hall, and there to
Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and there staid till he
was ready, talking, and among other things of the
Prince's being trepanned, which was in doing just as
we passed through the Stone Gallery, we asking at
the door of his lodgings, and were told so. We are
full of wishes for the good success ; though I dare
say but few do really concern ourselves for him
1 It is now not only English, but also the seat of a colonial
bishopric. 2 Annus Mirabilis.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 223
in our hearts. With others into the House, and
there hear that the work is done to the Prince ' in a
few minutes without any pain at all to him, he not
knowing when it was done. It was performed by
Moulins. Having cut the outward table, as they call
it, they find the inner all corrupted, so as it came out
without any force ; and their fear is, that the whole
inside of his head is corrupted2 like that, which do
yet make them afraid of him ; but no ill accident
appeared in the doing of the thing, but all with all
imaginable success, as Sir Alexander Frazier did tell
me himself, I asking him, who is very kind to me.
To Sir G. Carteret's to dinner ; and before dinner he
tells me that he believes the Duke of York will go to
sea with the fleete, which I am sorry for in respect
to his person, but yet there is no person in condition
to command the fleete, now the Captains are grown
so great, but him. By and by to dinner, where very
good company. Among other discourse, we talked
much of Nostradamus3 his prophecy of these times,
1 Rupert. 2 See 15th Jan. 1665.
3 Michael Nostradamus, a physician and astrologer, born in the
diocese of Avignon, 1503. Amongst other predictions, one was
interpreted as foreshowing the singular death of Hen. II. of France,
by which his reputation was increased. In the 49th quatrain of
his 9th century, the lines
" Gand et Bruxelles marcheront contre Anvers,
Senat de Londres mettront a mort leur roi,"
may well be applied to the death of Charles I. Some coincidences
in modern times are also curious. He speaks of the "renovation
de siecle," in 1792, in which year, in fact, the French revolu
tionary kalendar took its rise. The landing of Bonaparte from
Elba, at Frejus, was supposed to be predicted in cent. x. quatrain
xxiii. — " Au peuple ingrat faites les remonstrances,
Par lors l'armee se saisera d'Antibe,
Dans l'arc Monech feront les doleances,
Et a Frejus Pun l'autre prendra ribe."
Jodelle's clever distich on Nostradamus is worthy of a place, —

224 DIARY OF Feb. 3
and the burning of the City of London,1 some of
whose verses are put into Booker's2 Almanack this
year ; and Sir G. Carteret did tell a story, how at
his death he did make the town swear that he should
never be dug up, or his tomb opened, after he' was
buried ; but they did after sixty years do it, and
upon his breast they found a plate of brasse, saying
what a wicked and unfaithful people the people of
that place were, who after so many vows should
disturb and open him such a day and year and hour ;
which, if true, is very strange. Then we fell to
talking of the burning of the City ; and my Lady
Carteret herself did tell us how abundance of pieces
of burnt papers were cast by the wind as far as
Cranborne ;3 and among others she took up one, or
had one brought her to see, which was a little bit
of paper that had been printed, whereon there re
mained no more nor less than these words : " Time
" Nostra damus, cum falsa damus, nam fallere nostrum est,
Et cum falsa damus, nil nisi nostra damus."
As well as the reply by Nostradamus's followers, —
"Nostra damus,- cum verba damus, qua? Nostradamus dat,
Nam qua?cumque dedit, nil nisi vera dedit."
He succeeded too in rendering assistance to the inhabitants of Aix,
during the plague, by a powder of his own invention. He died at
Salon, July, 1566.
1 Roger L'Estrange, whose office it was to license the Almanacks,
told Sir Edward Walker, " that most of them did foretel the fire of
London last year, but hee caused itt to bee put out." — Ward's
Diary, p. 94.
2 John Booker, an eminent astrologer and writing-master at
Hadley. The words quoted by him from Nostradamus are (cent.
ii. quatrain li.) —
" Le sang du juste a Londres fera faute,
Bruslez parfoudre de vingt trois les six,
La dame antique cherra de place haute,
De mesme secte plusieurs seront occis."
3 In Windsor Forest.

,666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 225
is, it is done."1 Away home, and received some
letters from Sir W. Coventry, touching the want of
victuals to Kempthorne's2 fleete going to the
Streights and now in the Downes : which did
trouble me, he saying that this disappointment might
prove fatal ; and the more, because Sir W. Coventry
do intend to come to the office upon business to
morrow morning, and I shall not know what answer
to give him. This did mightily trouble my mind ;
however, I fell to read a little in Hakewill's Apology,3
and did satisfy myself mighty fair in the truth of the
saying that the world do not grow old at all, but is in
as good condition in all respects as ever it was as to
nature. 4th. To the office, where Mr. Gauden comes, and
he and I discourse the business well, and I think
I shall get off well enough ; but I do by Sir W.
Coventry's silence conclude that he is not satisfied
in my management of my place and the charge it
puts the King to, which I confess I am not in
present condition through my late laziness to give
any good answer to. But here do D. Gauden give
me a good cordiall this morning, by telling me that
he do give me five of the eight hundred pounds on
his account remaining in my hands to myself, for the
service I do him in my victualling business, and
100/. for my particular share of the profits of my
Tangier employment as Treasurer. This do begin
1 Sir C. Wren, it is well known, took up a stone from the ruins
of St. Paul's having the word " Resurgam " inscribed, which he
adopted. 2 John Kempthorne, a distinguished naval officer, afterwards
knighted, and made Commissioner at Portsmouth, which place he
represented in Parliament. Ob. 1679. See some curious letters
about his election, in the " Correspondence."
3 " An Apology or Declaration of the Power and Providence of
God in the Government of the World." By George Hakewill, a
learned divine. Oxford, 1627. The work was frequently reprinted.
4- Q

226 DIARY OF Feb. 4
to make my heart glad, and I did dissemble it the
better, for when Sir W. Coventry did come, and the
rest met, I did appear unconcerned, and did give him
answer pretty satisfactory what he asked me ; so that
I did get off this meeting without any ground lost,
but rather a great deal gained by interposing that
which did belong to my duty to do, and neither Sir
W. Coventry nor Sir W. Pen did oppose anything
thereunto, which did make my heart very glad. Sir
W. Coventry being gone, we at noon to dinner to
Sir W. Pen, he inviting me and my wife, and there a
pretty good dinner. So here I was . mighty merry
and all our differences seemingly blown over, though
he knows, if he be not a fool, that I love him not,
and I do the like that he hates me. Soon as dined,
my wife and I out to the Duke's playhouse, and there
saw " Heraclius,"1 an excellent play, to my extraor
dinary content ; and the more from the house being
very full, and great company ; among others, Mrs.
Stewart, very fine, with her locks done up with
puffes, as my wife calls them : and several other
great ladies had their hair so, though I do not like it ;
but my wife do mightily — but it is only because she
sees it is the fashion. Here I saw my Lord Roches
ter and his lady, Mrs. Mallet, who hath after all this
ado married him ; and, as I hear some say in the pit,
it is a great act of charity, for he hath no estate. But
it was pleasant to see how every body rose up when
my Lord John Butler, the Duke of Ormond's son,2
came into the pit towards the end of the play, who
was a servant to Mrs. Mallet,3 and now smiled upon
1 See note to 8th March, 1664.
2 Lord John Butler was born in 1643, and in January, 1676,
married Anne, only daughter of Arthur Chichester, Earl of Donegal.
In April, 1676, he was created Earl of Gowran. Ob. s. p., 1677 :
see 25th November, ante.
3 See 25th November, ante.

THE EARL, OF ROCHESTER.

1666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 227
her, and she on him. I had sitting next to me a
woman, the likest my Lady Castlemaine that ever I
saw anybody like another ; but she is acquainted
with every fine fellow, and called them by their name,
Jacke, and Tom, and before the end of the play
frisked to another place. Home, and to my chamber,
and there finished my Catalogue of my books with
my own hand.
5th. Heard this morning that the Prince is much
better, and hath good rest. All the talk is that my
Lord Sandwich hath perfected the peace with Spayne,
which is very good, if true. Sir H. Cholmly was
with me this morning, and told me of my Lord
Bellassis's base dealings with him by getting him to
give him great gratuities to near 2,000/. for his
friendship in the business of the Mole, and hath been
lately underhand endeavouring to bring another man
into his place as Governor, so as to receive his
money of Sir H. Cholmly for nothing. After dinner
abroad with my wife and little Betty Michell, and
took them against my vowes, but I will make good
my forfeit, to the King's house, to see " The
Chances."1 A good play I find it, and the actors
most good in it ; and pretty to hear Knipp sing in
the play very properly, " All night I weepe ;"2 and
sung it admirably. The whole play pleases me well :
and most of all, the sight of many fine ladies — among
others, my Lady Castlemaine and Mrs. Middleton :
the latter of the two hath also a very excellent face
and body, I think. Thence by coach to the New
Exchange, and there laid out money, and I did give
Betty Michell two pair of gloves and a dressing-box;
and so home in the dark, over the ruins, with a link,
1 A comedy, by Beaumont and Fletcher, of which an alteration
was afterwards, in 1682, brought out by the Duke of Buckingham.
2 This song is not in Beaumont and Fletcher, as printed, nor in
the alteration of the play by the Duke.

228 DIARY OF Feb. 6
to the office. This morning there came to me Mr.
Young and Whistler, flagg-makers, and with mighty
earnestness did present me with, and press me to
take a box, wherein I could not guess there was less
than ioo/. in gold : but I do wholly refuse, and did
not at last take it. The truth is, not thinking them
safe men to receive such a gratuity from, nor knowing
any considerable courtesy that ever I did do them,
but desirous to keep myself free from their reports,
and to have it in my power to say I had refused their
offer. 6th. To Westminster Hall, and walked up and
down, and hear that the Prince do still rest well by
day and night, and out of pain ; so as great hopes are
conceived of him : though I did meet Dr. Clerke and
Mr. Pierce, and they do say they believe he will not
recover it, they supposing that his whole head
within is eaten by this corruption, which appeared in
this piece of the inner table. To White Hall, to
attend the Council ; but they sat not to-day. So to
Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and find him within, and
with a letter from the Downes in his hands, telling
the loss of the St. Patricke coming from Harwich in
her way to Portsmouth ; and would needs chase two
ships, she having the Malago fire-ship in company,
which from English colours put up Dutch, and he
would clap on board the Vice-Admirall ; and after
long dispute the Admirall comes on the other side of
him, and both together took him. Our fire-ship
(Seely)1 not coming in to fire all three, but came away,
leaving her in their possession, and carried away by
them : a ship2 built at Bristoll the last year, of fifty ..'¦„
guns and upwards, and a most excellent good ship.
1 " Captain Seely, captain of the fireship that deserted the Patrick, .
was this day (March 7th) shot to death on board his own vessel."
— Pointer, vol. i. p. 216.
2 The Patrick.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS.

229

7th. Before dinner, talking with my brother upon
matters relating to his journey to Brampton to
morrow, and giving him good counsel about spending
the time when he shall stay in the country with my
father, I looking another way heard him fall down,
and turned my head, and he was fallen down all along
upon the ground dead, which did put me into a great
fright ; and, to see my brotherly love ! I did presently
lift him up from the ground, he being as pale as
death ; and, being upon his legs, he did presently
come to himself, and said he had something come
into his stomach very hot. He knew not what it
was, nor ever had such a fit before. I never Was so
frighted but once, when my wife was ill at Ware upon
the road, and I did continue trembling a good while
and ready to weepe, he continuing mighty pale all
dinner and melancholy, that I was loth to let him
take his .journey to-morrow ; but he began to be
pretty well, and after dinner my wife and Barker fell
to singing, which pleased me pretty well, my wife
taking mighty pains and proud that she shall come
to trill, and indeed I think she will. So to the office,
late doing business, and then home, and find my
brother pretty well. I did this night give him 20s.
for books, and as much for his pocket, and i$s. to
carry him down. Poor fellow ! he is so melancholy,
and withal, my wife says, harmless, that I begin toi
love him, and would be loth he should not do well.
8th. This morning my brother John came up to
my bedside, and took his leave of us. I begin to
fancy him from yesterday's incident, it troubling me
to think I should be left without a brother or 'son,
which is the first time that ever I had thoughts of
the kind in my life. He gone, I up, and to the
' office. Sir W. Batten came this morning from the
House, where the King hath prorogued this Parlia
ment to October next. I am glad they are up. The

230 DIARY OF Feb. 10
Bill for Accounts was not offered, the party being
willing to let it fall ; but the King did tell them he
expected it. They are parted with great heart
burnings, one party against the other. Pray God
bring them hereafter together in better temper ! It
is said that the King do intend himself in this in
terval to take away Lord Mordaunt's government,1
so as to do something to appease the House against
they come together, and let them see he will do
that of his own accord which is fit, without their
forcing him ; and that he will have his Commission
for Accounts go on : which will be good things.
At dinner we talked much of Cromwell ; all saying
he was a brave fellow, and did owe his crowne he
got to himself as much as any man that ever got
one. 9th. To the office, where busy, very busy late, and
| then home and read a piece of a play, " Every Man
in his Humour,"2 wherein is the greatest propriety
of speech that ever I read in my life : and so to bed.
This noon came my wife's watchmaker, and received
1 2/. of me for her watch ; but Captain Rolt coming
to speak with me about a little business, he did judge
of the work to be very good, and so I am well
contented. 10th. (Lord's day.) With my wife to church,
where Mr. Mills made an unnecessary sermon upon
Original Sin, neither understood by himself nor the
people. Home, where came Mr. Carter,3 my old
acquaintance of Magdalene College, who hath not
been here of many years. He hath spent his time
in the North with the Bishop of Carlisle4 much. He
is grown a very comely person, and of good dis
course, and one that I like very much. We had
much talk of all our old acquaintance of the College,
1 Windsor Castle. 2 Ben Jonson's well-known play.
3 Thomas Carter, S.T.P., 1669. 4 Dr. Rainbow.

1666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 231
concerning their various fortunes ; wherein, to my
joy, I met not with any that have sped better than
myself. Mrs. Turner do tell me very odde stories
how Mrs. Williams1 do receive the applications of
people, and hath presents, and she is the hand that
receives all, while my Lord Brouncker do the
business. 1 ith. With Creed to Westminster Hall, and there
up and down, and heard that Prince Rupert is still
better and better ; and that he did tell Dr. Troutbecke
expressly that my Lord Sandwich is ordered home.
I hear, too, that Prince Rupert hath begged the
having of all the stolen prize-goods which he can
find, and that he is looking out anew after them,
which at first troubled me ; but I do see it cannot*
come to anything, but is done by Hayes, or some of
his little people about him. Here, among other
newes, I bought the King's speech at proroguing
the House the other day, wherein are some words
which cannot but import some prospect of a peace,
which God send us ! After dinner by coach to Lord
Bellassis', and with him to Povy's house. Having
done what we had to do there, my Lord set me
down at the New Exchange, where I staid till Betty
Michell came, which she did about five o'clock, and
was surprised not to trouver my muger (wife) there ;
but I did make an excuse good enough, and so I
took elle down, and over the water to the cabinet
maker's and there bought a dressing-box for her for
205-., but would require an hour's time to make fit.
So elle to enter a la casa de uno de sus hermanos (to
the house of one of her brothers) and I past my time
walking up and down, and among other places, to
one Drumbleby, a maker of flageolets, the best in
J Granger describes an engraved portrait by Cooper, after Lely,
of the Lady (Mrs.) Williams, which, probably, represents the per
son so often mentioned in the " Diary."

232 DIARY OF Feb. ii
towne, and so I back to the cabinet-maker's and
there staid ; and by and by Betty comes, and here we
staid in the shop and above seeing the workmen
work, which was pretty, till it was late quite dark,
and the mistresse of the shop took us into the
kitchen and there talked and used us very prettily ;
there very merry, till my thing was done, and then
took coach and home. But now comes my trouble,
I did begin to fear that su marido might go to my
house to enquire pour elle, and there, trouvant my
muger at home, would not only think himself, but
give my femme occasion to think strange things.
This did trouble me mightily, so though elle would
not seem to have me trouble myself about it, yet
did agree to the stopping the coach at the streete's
end, and aller con elle home, and there presently hear
by him that he had newly sent su mayde to my house
to see for her mistresse. This do much perplex me,
and I did go presently home (Betty whispering me
behind the tergo de her mari, that if I would say that
we did come home by water, elle could make up la
cose well satis), and there in a sweat did walk in the
entry before my door, thinking what I should say
d vay femme, and as God would have it, while I was
in this case (the worst in reference a ray femme that
ever I was in in my life), a little woman comes
stumbling to the entry steps in the dark ; whom
asking who she was, she enquired for my house. So
knowing her voice, and telling her su donna is come
home she went away. But, Lord ! in what a trouble
was I, when she was gone, to recollect whether this
was not the second time of her coming, but at last
concluding that she had not been here before, I did
bless myself in my good fortune in getting home
before her, and do verily believe she had loitered
some time by the way, which was my great good
fortune, and so I in a-doors and there found all well.

1666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS.

233

So my heart full of joy, I to the office awhile, and
after supper to bed.
1 2th. With my Lord Brouncker by coach to his
house, there to hear some Italian musique : and here
we met Tom Killigrew, Sir Robert Murray, and the
Italian Signor Baptista,1 who hath composed a play
in Italian for the Opera, which T. Killigrew do in
tend to have up ; and here he did sing one of the acts.
He himself is the poet as well as the musician ; which
is very much, and did sing the whole from the words
without any musique prickt, and played all along
upon a harpsicon most admirably, and the composition
most excellent. The words I did not understand,
and so know not how they are fitted, but believe very
well, and all in the recitativo very fine. But I perceive
there is a proper accent in every country's discourse,
and that do reach in their setting of notes to words,
which, therefore, cannot be natural to any body else
but them ; so that I am not so much smitten with it
as, it may be, I should be, if I were acquainted with
their accent. But the whole composition is certainly
most excellent ; and the poetry, T. Killigrew and
Sir R. Murray, who understood the words, did say
was excellent. I confess I was mightily pleased with
the musique. He pretends not to voice, though it be
good, but not excellent. This done, T. Killigrew and
I to talk : and he tells me how the audience at his
house is not above half so much as it used to be
before the late fire. That Knipp is like to make the
best actor that ever came upon the stage, she under
standing so well : that they are going to give her 30/.
a-year more. That the stage is now by his pains a
thousand times better and more glorious than ever
heretofore. Now, wax-candles, and many of them ;
1 Giovanni Baptista Draghi, an Italian musician in the service of
Queen Catherine, and a composer of merit. — Hawkins's History
of Music.

234 DIARY OF Feb. 12
then, not above 3 lbs. of tallow : now, all things civil,
no rudeness anywhere ; then, as in a bear garden :
then, two or three fiddlers ; now, nine or ten of the
best : then, nothing but rushes upon the ground, and
every thing else mean ; now, all otherwise : then, the
Queen seldom and the King never would come ; now,
not the King only for state, but all civil people do think
they may come as well as any. He tells me that he
hath gone several times, eight or ten times, he tells me,
hence to Rome to hear good musique ; so much he
loves it, though he never did sing or play a note.
That he hath endeavoured in the late King's time,
and in this, to introduce good musique, but he never
could do it, there never having been any musique
here better than ballads. Nay, says, " Hermitt poore"
and " Chivy Chese 'n was all the musique we had ;
and yet no ordinary fiddlers get so much money as
our's do here, which speaks our rudenesse still. That
he hath gathered our Italians from several Courts in
Christendome, to come to make a concert for the
King, which he do give 200/. a-year a-piece to : but
badly paid, and do come in the room of keeping four
ridiculous gundilows,2 he having got the King to put
them away, and lay out money this way ; and indeed
I do commend him for it, for I think it is a very
noble undertaking. He do intend to have some
times of the year these operas to be performed at
the two present theatres, since he is defeated in what
he intended in Moorefields on purpose for it ; and he
tells me plainly that the City audience was as good
as the Court, but now they are most gone. Baptista
tells me that Giacomo Charissimi is still alive at
Rome, who was master to Vinnecotio, who is one of
the Italians that the King hath here, and the chief
1 Chevy Chase.
2 The gondolas mentioned before, as sent by the Doge of Venice.
See 1 ith September, 1661, ante.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 235
composer of them. My great wonder is, how this man
do to keep in memory so perfectly the musique of
the whole act, both for the voice and the instrument
too. I confess I do admire it : but in recitativo the
sense much helps him, for there is but one proper
way of discoursing and giving the accents. Having
done our discourse, we all took coaches, my Lord's
and T. Killigrew's, and to Mrs. Knipp's chamber,
where this Italian is to teach her to sing her part.
And so we all thither, and there she did sing an
Italian song or two very fine, while he played the bass
upon a harpsicon there ; and exceedingly taken I am
with her singing, and believe that she will do miracles
at that and acting. Her little girl is mighty pretty
and witty. I mightily pleased with this evening's
work, we all parted, and I took coach and home,
where late at my office, and then to enter my last
three days' Journall ; and so to supper and to bed,
troubled at nothing, but that these pleasures do
hinder me in my business, and the more by reason
of our being to dine abroad to-morrow, and then
Saturday next is appointed to meet again at my
Lord Brouncker's lodgings, and there to have the
whole quire of Italians ; but then I do consider that
this is all the pleasure I live for in the world, and
the greatest I can ever expect in the best of my life,
and one thing more, that by hearing this man to
night, and I think Captain Cooke to-morrow, and the
quire of Italians on Saturday, I shall be truly able
to distinguish which of them pleases me truly best,
which I do much desire to know and have good
reason and fresh occasion of judging.
13th. To the Duke of York, and there did our
usual business ; but troubled to see that, at this time,
after our declaring a debt to the Parliament of
900,000/., and nothing paid since, but the debt in
creased,, and now the fleete to set out ; to hear that

236 DIARY OF Feb. 13
the King hath ordered but 35,000/. for the setting
out of the fleete, out of the Poll Bill, to buy all pro
visions, when five times as much had been little
enough to have done any thing to purpose. They
have, indeed, ordered more for paying off of seamen
and the Yards for some time, but not enough for that
neither. Another thing is, the acquainting the Duke
of York with the case of Mr. Lanyon, our agent at
Plymouth, who has trusted us to 8,000/. out of
purse ; we are not in condition, after so many pro
mises, to obtain him a farthing, nor though a message
was carried by Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry
to the Commissioners for Prizes, that he might have
3,000/. out of 20,000/ worth of prizes to be shortly
sold there, that he might buy at the candle and pay
for the goods out of bills, and all would not do any
thing, but the money must go another way, while the
King's service is undone, and those that trust him
perish. These things grieve me to the heart. The
Prince, I hear, is every day better and better. To
Dr. Clerke's, by invitation. Here was his wife,
painted, and her sister Worshipp, a widow now
and mighty pretty in her mourning. Here was
also Mr. Pierce and Mr. Floyd, Secretary to the
Lords Commissioners of Prizes, and Captain Cooke,
to dinner, an ill and little mean one, with foul cloth
and dishes, and everything poor. Discoursed most
about plays and the Opera, where, among other
vanities, Captain Cooke had the arrogance to say
that he was fain to direct Sir W. Davenant in the
breaking of his verses into such and such lengths,
according as would be fit for musick, and how he
used to swear at Davenant, and command him that
way, when W. Davenant would be angry, and find
fault with this or that note — a vain coxcomb he is,
though he sings and composes so well. Dr. Clerke
did say that Sir W. Davenant is no good judge of a

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 237
dramatick poem, finding fault with his choice of
Henry the 5th, and others, for the stage, when I do
think, and he confesses, " The Siege of Rhodes " as
good as ever was writ. Cooke gone, Dr. Clerke fell
to reading a new play, newly writ, of a friend's of
his ; but, by his discourse and confession afterwards,
it was his own. Some things, but very few, mode
rately good ; but infinitely far from the conceit, wit,
design, and language, from very many plays that I
know ; so that, but for compliment, I was quite tired
with hearing it. There was a very great disorder
this day at the Ticket Office, to the beating and
bruising of the face of Carcasse very much. A foul
evening this was to-night, and I mightily troubled to
get a coach home ; and, which is now my common
practice, going over the ruins in the night, I rid
with my sword drawn in the coach.
14th. To the office, where Carcasse comes with
his plaistered face, and called himself Sir W. Batten's
martyr, which made W. Batten mad almost, and
mighty quarrelling there was. We spent the morn
ing almost wholly upon considering some way of
keeping the peace at the Ticket Office ; but it is
plain that the case of the office is nobody's work, and
that is it that makes it stand in the ill condition it
do. After dinner by coach to my Lord Chancellor's,
and there a meeting : the Duke of York, Duke of
Albemarle, and several other Lords of the Commis
sion of Tangier. And there I did present a state of
my accounts, and managed them well ; and my Lord
Chancellor did say, though he was, in other things,
in an ill humour, that no man in England was of
more method, nor made himself better understood
than myself. But going, after the business of money
was over, to other businesses, of settling the garrison,
he did fling out, and so did the Duke of York, two
or three severe words touching my Lord Bellassis :

238 DIARY OF Feb. i4
that he would have no Governor come away from
thence in less than three years ; no, though his lady
were with child. " And," says the Duke of York,
"there should be no Governor continue so, longer
than three years." "And," says Lord Arlington,
" when our rules are once set, and upon good judg
ment declared, no Governor should offer to alter
them." " We must correct the many things that are
amiss there; for," says the Lord Chancellor, "you
must think we do hear of more things amiss than
we are willing to speak before our friends' faces."
My Lord Bellassis wouhl not take notice of their
reflecting on him, and did wisely. H. Cholmly and
I to the Temple, and there walked in the dark in the
walks talking of newes ; and he surprises me with
the certain newes that the King did last night in
Council declare his being in treaty with the Dutch :
that they had sent him a very civil letter, declaring
that, if nobody but themselves were concerned, they
would not dispute the place of treaty, but leave it to
his choice ; but that, being obliged to satisfy therein
a Prince of equal quality, with himself, they must
except any place in England or Spayne. And so
the King hath chosen the Hague, and thither hath
chose my Lord Hollis and Harry Coventry1 to go
Embassadors to treat ; which is so mean a thing, as
all the world will believe, that we do go to beg a
peace of them, whatever we pretend. And it seems
all our Court are mightily for a peace, taking this to
be the time to make one, while the King hath money,
1 Henry, third son of Thomas, first Lord Coventry ; after the
Restoration made a Groom of the Bedchamber, and elected M.P.
for Droitwich. In 1 664 he was sent Envoy Extraordinary to Sweden,
where he remained two years, and was again employed on an
embassy to the same Court in 167 1. He also succeeded in nego
tiating the, peace at Breda here alluded to, and in 1672 became
Secretary of State, which office he resigned in 1679, on account
of ill health. He died unmarried, December 7, 1686.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS.

239

that he may save something of what the Parliament
hath given him to put him out of debt, so as he may
need the help of no more Parliaments, as to the point
of money : but our debt is so great, and expence
daily so encreased, that I believe little of the money
will be saved between this and the making of the
peace up. But that which troubles me most is, that
we have chosen a son of Secretary Morris,1 a boy
never used to any business, to go Secretary to the
Embassy, which shows how little we are sensible of
the weight of the business upon us. God therefore
give a good end to it, for I doubt it, and yet do much
more doubt the issue of our continuing the war, for
we are in no wise fit for it, and yet it troubles me to
think what Sir H. Cholmly says, that he believes
they will not give us any reparation for what we have
suffered by the war, nor put us into any better con
dition than what we were in before the war, for that
will be shamefull for us. Thence parted with him
and home through the dark over the ruins by coach,
with my sword drawn, to my office, where dispatched
some business ; and so home to supper and to bed.
This morning came up to my wife's bedside, I being
up dressing myself, little Will Mercer to be her
Valentine ; and brought her name writ upon blue
paper in gold letters, done by himself, very pretty ;
and we were both well pleased with it. But I am
also this year my wife's Valentine, and it will cost me
5/. ; but that I must have laid out if we had not been
Valentines. 1 5th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes
by coach to White Hall, where we attended upon
the Duke of York to complain of the disorders the
other day among the seamen at the Pay at the
Ticket Office, and that it arises from lack of money,
1 Sir William Morris. He had several sons.

240 DIARY OF Feb. 16
and that we desire, unless better provided for with
money, to have nothing more to do with the payment
of tickets, it being not our duty ; and the Duke of
York and Sir W. Coventry did agree to it, so that I
hope we shall be rid of the trouble. This done, I
moved for allowance for a house for Mr. Turner, and
got it granted. That done, home and to dinner, where
I hear Pegg Pen is married 1 this day privately ; no
friends, but two or three relations of his and hers.
Borrowed many things of my kitchen for dressing
their dinner. This wedding, being private, is im
puted to its being just before Lent, and so in vain to
make new clothes till Easter, that they might see the
fashions as they are like to be this summer ; which
is reason good enough. Mrs. Turner tells me she
hears Sir W. Pen gives 4,500/. or 4,000/ with her.
1 6th. To my Lord Brouncker's, and there was Sir
Robert Murray, a most excellent man of reason and
learning, and understands the doctrine of musique,
and everything else I could discourse of, very finely.
Here came Mr. Hooke, Sir George Ent, Dr. Wren,
and many others ; and by and by the musique, that
is to say, Signor Vincentio,2 who is the master-com
poser, and six more, whereof two eunuches, so tall,
that Sir T. Harvey said well that he believes they
do grow large as our oxen do, and one woman very
well dressed and handsome enough, but would not be
kissed, as Mr. Killigrew, who brought the company in,.
did acquaint us. They sent two harpsicons before ;
and by and by, after tuning they began ; and, I con
fess, very good musique they made ; that is, the
composition exceeding good, but yet not at all more
pleasing to me than what I have heard in English by
Mrs. Knipp, Captain Cooke, and others. Nor do I
dote on the eunuches ; they sing, indeed, pretty high,.
1 To Anthony Lowther.
2 Perhaps the person called Vinnecotio, Feb. 12, 1666-7, ante-

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 241
and have a mellow kind of sound, but yet I have
been as well satisfied with several women's voices and
men also, as Crispe of the Wardrobe. The women
sung well, but that which distinguishes all is this,
that in singing, the words are to be considered, and
how they are fitted with notes, and then the common
accent of the country is to be known and understood
by the hearer, or he will never be a good judge of
the vocal musique of another country. So that I was
not taken with this at all, neither understanding the
first, nor by practice reconciled to the latter, so that
their motions, and risings and fallings, though it may
be pleasing to an Italian, or one that understands the
tongue, yet to me it did not, but do from my heart
believe that I could set words in English, and make
musique of them more agreeable to any Englishman's
eare (the most judicious) than any Italian musique
set for the voice, and performed before the same man,
unless he be acquainted with the Italian accent of
speech. The composition as to the musique part was
exceeding good, and their justness in keeping time
by practice much before any that we have, unless
it be a good band of practised fiddlers. To Mrs.
Pierce's, and there I find Mrs. Pierce's little girl is
my Valentine, she having drawn me ; which I was
not sorry for, it easing me of something more than I
must have given to others. But here I do first ob
serve the fashion of drawing of mottos as well as
names ; so that Pierce, who drew my wife, did draw
also a motto, and this girl drew another for me.
What mine was I have forgot ; but my wife's was,
" Most virtuous and most fair ;" which, as it may be
used, or an anagram made upon each name, might be
very pretty. One wonder I observed to-day, that
there was no musique in the morning to call up our
new-married people, which is very mean, methinks.
17th. (Lord's day.) To the Duke's, where we all

242 DIARY OF Feb. 17
met and had a hot encounter before the Duke of York
about the business of our payments at the Ticket
Office. I did plainly declare that, without money, no
fleete could be expected, and desired the Duke to
take notice of it, and notice was taken of it, but I
doubt will do no good. Sir W. Coventry plainly said
that he did believe it would be a better work for the
King than going to church this morning to send for
the Atturney Generall to meet at the Lord Trea
surer's this afternoon and to bring the thing to an
issue, saying that he himself, were he going to the
Sacrament, would not think he should offend God to
leave it and go to the ending this work, so much it
is of moment to the King and Kingdom. Hereupon
the Duke of York said he would presently speak and
cause it to be done this afternoon. Having done
here we broke up, and after dinner to my Lord
Chancellor's, where I met with, and had much pretty
discourse with, one of the Progers's that knew me ;
and it was pretty to hear him tell me, of his own
accord, as a matter of no shame; that in Spayne he
had a pretty woman, his mistress, whom, when money
grew scarce with him, he was forced to leave, and
afterwards heard how she and her husband lived
well, she being kept by an old fryer ; but this, says
he, is better than as our ministers do, who have
wives that lay up their estates, and do no good nor
relieve any poor — no, not our greatest prelates.
Staid till the Council was up, and attended the King
and Duke of York round the Park, and was asked
several questions by both; but I was in pain, lest
they should ask me what I could not answer ; as the
Duke of York did the value of the hull of the St.
Patrick lately lost, which I told him I could not pre
sently answer ; though I might have easily furnished
myself to answer all those questions. They stood a
good while to see the ganders and geese in the water.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 243
At home, by appointment, comes Captain Cocke to
me, to talk of State matters, and about the peace;
who told me that the whole business is managed be
tween Kevet, Burgomaster of Amsterdam, and my
Lord Arlington, who hath, through his wife1 there,
some interest. We have proposed the Hague, but
know not yet whether the Dutch will like it ; or, if
they do, whether the French will. We think we
shall have the help of the information of their affairs
and state, and the helps of the Prince of Orange his
faction ; but above all, that De Witt, who hath all
this while said he cannot get peace, his mouth will
now be stopped, so that he will be forced to offer fit
terms for fear of the people ; and, lastly, if France or
Spayne do not please us, we are in a way presently
to clap up a peace with the Dutch, and secure them.
But we are also in treaty with France, as he says :
but it must be to the excluding our alliance with the
King of Spayne or House of Austria : which we do
not know presently what will be determined in. He
tells me the Vice Chamberlaine is so great with the
King, that, let the Duke of York, and Sir W. Coven
try, and this office, do or say what they will, while
the King lives, Sir G. Carteret will do what he will ;
and advises me to be often with him, and eat and
drink with him; and tells me that he doubts he is
jealous of me, and was mighty mad to-day at our
discourse to him before the Duke of York. But I
did give him my reasons that the office is concerned
to declare that, without money, the King's work can
not go on. He assures me that Henry Brouncker
is one of the shrewdest fellows for parts in England,
and a dangerous man ; that, while we want money
so much in the Navy, the Officers of the Ordnance
have at this day 300,000/ good in tallys, which they
1 See ante, Nov. 15, 1666.

244 DIARY OF Feb. 18
can command money upon, got by over-estimating
their charge in getting it reckoned as a fifth part of
the expense of the Navy ; that Harry Coventry, who
is to go upon this treaty with Lord Hollis, who he
confesses to be a very wise man, into Holland, is a
mighty quick, ready man, but not so weighty as he
should be, he knowing him so well in his drink as he
do : that, unless the King do something against my
Lord Mordaunt and the Patent for the Canary Com
pany, before the Parliament next meets, he do believe
there will be a civil war before there will be any
more money given, unless it may be at their perfect
disposal ; and that all things are now ordered to the
provoking of the Parliament against they come next,
and the spending the King's money, so as to put him
into a necessity of having it at the time it is prorogued
for, or sooner. This evening, going to the Queen's
side1 to see the ladies, I did find the Queene, the
Duchesse of York, and another or two, at cards, with
the room full of great ladies and men ; which I was
amazed at to see on a Sunday, having not believed
it ; but, contrarily, flatly denied the same a little
while since to my cozen Roger Pepys.2 Going by
water, read the answer to " The Apology for Papists,"3
which did like me mightily, it being a thing as well
writ as I think most things that ever I read in my
life, and glad I am that I read it.
1 8th. To the King's house, to "The Mayd's
Tragedy ;" but vexed all the while with two talking
ladies and Sir Charles Sedley ; yet pleased to hear
their discourse, he being a stranger. And one of the
ladies would, and did sit with her mask on, all the
play, and, being exceeding witty as ever I heard
woman, did talk most pleasantly with him ; but was,
I believe, a virtuous woman, and of quality. He
1 Her Majesty's apartments, at Whitehall Palace.
2 See 27th Jan., ante. 3 See Dec. 1, 1666, ante.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS.

245

would fain know who she was, but she would not
tell; yet did give him many pleasant hints of her
knowledge of him, by that means setting his brains
at work to find out who she was, and did give him
leave to use all means to find out who she was, but
pulling off" her mask. He was mighty witty, and she
also making sport with him very inoffensively, that a
more pleasant rencontre I never heard. But by that
means lost the pleasure of the play wholly, to which
now and then Sir Charles Sedley's exceptions against
both words and pronouncing were very pretty.
19th. To the office, where all the morning doing
little business, our want of money being so infinite
great. At noon home, and there find old Mr.
Michell and Howlett come to desire mine and my
wife's company to dinner to their son's, and so away
by coach with them, it being Betty's wedding-day a
year, as also Shrove Tuesday. Here I made myself
mighty merry, and a mighty pretty dinner we had in
this litde house, to my exceeding great content, and
my wife's, and my heart pleased to see Betty. After
dinner I fell to read the Acts about the building of
the City again ; and indeed the laws seem to be very
good, and I pray God I may live to see it built in
that manner ! This morning I hear that our discourse
of peace is all in the dirt ; for the Dutch will not like
of the peace, or at least the French will not agree to
it ; so that I do wonder what we shall do, for carry
on the war we cannot.
20th. To White Hall, by the way observing Sir
W. Pen's carrying a favour to Sir W. Coventry, for
his daughter's wedding, and saying that there was
others for us, when we will fetch them, which vexed
me, and I am resolved not to wear it when he gives
me one. His wedding hath been so poorly kept,
that I am ashamed of it ; for a fellow that makes
such a flutter as he do. When we came to the Duke

246 DIARY OF Feb. 20
of York here, I heard discourse how Harris of his
play-house is sick, and everybody commends him,
and, above all things, for acting the Cardinall. They
talked how the King's viallin, Bannister,1 is mad
that the King hath a Frenchman2 come to be chief
of some part of the King's musique, at which the
Duke of York made great mirth. Then withdrew
to his closett, where all our business, lack of money
and prospect of the effects of it, such as made Sir
W. Coventry say publickly before us all, that he do
heartily wish that his Royal Highness had nothing
to do in the Navy, whatever become of him ; and
much dishonour, he says, is likely to fall under the
management of it. The Duke of York was angry,
as much as he could be, or ever I saw him, with Sir
G. Carteret, for not paying the masters of some ships
on Monday last, according to his promise. Thence
to the Exchequer, and there find the people in
readiness to dispatch my tallys to-day, though Ash
Wednesday. So I back by coach to London to Sir
Robert Viner's and there got 100/. and came away
with it and pay my fees round and so away with the
'Chequer men, to the Leg, in King Street, and there
had wine for them ; and there was one in company
with them, that was the man that got the vessel to
carry over the King from Bredhemson,3 who hath a
pension of 200/. per annum,4 but ill paid, and the man
1 John Banister, who had been bred up, under his father, one
of the Waits in St. Giles's-in-the-Fields, was sent by Charles II. to
France, for improvement ; but soon after his return, he was dis
missed the King's service, for saying that the English violins were
better than the French. He afterwards kept a music school in
Whitefriars, and died in 1679.— Hawkins's Hist, of Music.
2 Louis Grabu: see 1st October, 1667, and North's "Memoirs
of Musick," by Rimbault, p. no.
3 Brighthelmstone.
4 Nicholas Tettersell, the master of a coal-brig, on board of
which Charles II. embarked, and was safely landed at Fecamp, in

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 247
is looking after getting of a prize-ship to live by ; but
the trouble is, that this poor man, who hath received
no part of his money these four years, and is ready
to starve almost, must yet pay to the Poll Bill for
this pension. He told me several particulars of the
King's coming thither, which was mighty pleasant,
and shows how mean a thing a king is, how subject
to fall, and how like other men he is in his afflictions.
I with Lord Bellassis to the Lord Chancellor's. Lord
Bellassis tells me how the King of France hath
caused the stop to be made to our proposition of
treating in the Hague ; that he being greater than
they, we may better come and treat at Paris : so
that God knows what will become of the peace ! He
tells me, too, as a grand secret, that he do believe the
peace offensive and defensive between Spayne and us
is quite finished, but must not be known, to prevent
the King of France's present falling upon Flanders.
He do believe the Duke of York will be made
General of the Spanish armies there, and Governor
of Flanders, if the French should come against it,
and we assist the Spaniard : that we have done the
Spaniard abundance of mischief in the West Indys,
by our privateers at Jamaica, which they lament
mightily, and I am sorry for it to have it done at this
time. By and by, come to my Lord Chancellor,
who heard mighty quietly my complaints for lack of
money, and spoke mighty kind to me, but little hopes
of help therein, only his good word. He do confess
our straits here and every where else arise from our
outspending our revenue. I mean that the King do
do so. Thence away, took up my wife, who tells me
Normandy. The Captain, after the Restoration, brought the vessel
up the Thames, and moored her opposite Whitehall, and procured
an annuity of ioo/. by this expedient. He lies buried in the
churchyard of St. Nicholas, Brighton, where an inscription to his
memory may still be seen.

248 DIARY OF Feb. 22
her brother has laid out much money upon himself
and wife for clothes, which I am sorry to hear, it
requiring great expense.
2 1st To the Office, where sat all the morning, and
there a most furious conflict between Sir W. Pen and
I, in few words, and on a sudden occasion, of no
great moment, but very bitter and smart on one
another, and so broke off, and to our business, my
heart as full of spite as it could hold, for which God
forgive me and him ! At the end come witnesses on
behalf of Mr. Carcasse ; but, instead of clearing him,
I find they were brought to recriminate Sir W.
Batten, and did it by oath very highly, that made the
old man mad, and, I confess, me ashamed, so that I
caused all but ourselves to withdraw, being sorry to
have such things declared in the open office, before
100 people. But it was done home, and I believe
true, though W. Batten denies all, but is cruel mad,
and swore one of them, he or Carcasse, should not
continue in the Office, which is said like a fool. I
home, my head and mind vexed about the conflict
between Sir W. Pen and I, though I have got, not
lost any ground by it. Then to the office, where did
much business and walked an hour or two with Lord
Brouncker, who is mightily concerned in this business
for Carcasse and against Sir W. Batten, and I do
hope it will come to a good height, for I think it will
be good for the King as well as for me, that they two
do not agree, though I do, for ought I see yet, think
that my Lord is for the most part in the right.
22nd. All of us, that is to say, Lord Brouncker, J.
Minnes, W. Batten, T. Harvy, and myself, to Sir
W. Pen's house, where some other company. It is
instead of a wedding dinner for his daughter, whom
I saw in palterly clothes, nothing new but a bracelet
that her servant1 had given her, and ugly she is,, as
1 Anthony Lowther, before the marriage. , ¦ 1 - ,

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 249
heart can wish. A sorry dinner, not anything hand
some or clean, but some silver plates they borrowed
of me. My wife was here too. So a great deal of
talk, and I seemingly merry, but took no pleasure at
all. We had favours given us all, and we put them
in our hats, I against my will, but that my Lord and
the rest did. I being displeased that he did carry
Sir W. Coventry's himself several days ago, and the
people up and down the town long since, and we
must have them but to-day. I away to my office, to
draw up a letter of the state of the Office and Navy
for the Duke of York against Sunday next, and at it
late and then home to supper and to bed, talking
with my wife of the poorness and meanness of all
that Sir W. Pen and the people about us do, com
pared with what we do.
23rd. This day I am, by the blessing of God, 34
years old, in very good health and mind's content,
and in condition of estate much beyond whatever my
friends could expect of a child of their's, this day 34
years. The Lord's name be praised ! and may I be
thankful for it.
24th. (Lord's day.) My Lady Pen did, going out
of church, ask me whether we did not make a great
show at Court to-day, with all our favours in our
hats. To White Hall, and there meeting my Lord
Arlington, he, by I know not what kindness, offered
to carry me along with him to my Lord Treasurer's,
whither, I told him, I was going. I believe he had
a mind to discourse of some Navy businesses, but Sir
Thomas Clifford coming into the coach to us, we
were prevented ; which I was sorry for, for I had
a mind to begin an acquaintance with him. He
speaks well, and hath pretty slight superficial parts,
I believe. He, in our going, talked much of the
plain habit of the Spaniards; how the King and
Lords themselves wear but a cloak of Colchester

250 DIARY OF Feb. 24
bayze,1 and the ladies mantles, in cold weather, of
white flannell : and that the endeavours frequently of
setting up the manufacture of making these stuffs
there have only been prevented by the Inquisition :
the English and Dutchmen that have been sent for to
work being taken with a Psalm-book or Testament,
and so clapped up, and the house pulled down by the
Inquisitors ; and the greatest Lord in Spayne dare
not say a word against it, if the word Inquisition be
but mentioned. Captain Cocke did tell me what I must
not forget : that the answer of the Dutch, refusing the
Hague for a place of treaty, and proposing Boysse,2
Bredah, Bergen-op-Zoome, or Mastricht, was seem
ingly stopped by the Swede's Embassador (though he
did show it to the King, but the King would take no
notice of it, nor does not) from being delivered to
the King ; and he hath wrote to desire them to con
sider better of it : so that, though we know . their
refusal of the place, yet they know not that we know
it, nor is the King obliged to show his sense of the
affront. That the Dutch are in very great straits, so
as to be said to be not able to set out their fleete this
year. By and by comes Sir Robert Viner and my
Lord Mayor to ask the King's directions about
measuring out the streets according to the new Act3
for building of the City, wherein the King is to be
pleased.4 But he says that the way proposed in
1 " Bays, and says, and serges, and several sorts of stuffs, which I
neither can nor do desire to name, are made in and about Col
chester." — Fuller's Worthies.
2 Bois-le-Duc.
3 Entitled An Act for Rebuilding the City of London, 19th Car.
II. cap. 3.
4 See Sir Christopher Wren's Proposals for rebuilding the City
of London after the great fire, with an engraved Plan of the prin
cipal Streets and Public Buildings, in Elme's "Memoirs of Sir
Christopher Wren," Appendix, p. 61. The originals are in All
Souls' College Library, Oxford.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 251
Parliament, by Colonel Birch, would have been the
best, to have chosen some persons in trust, and sold
the whole ground, and let it be sold again by them,
with preference to the old owner, which would have
certainly caused the City to be built where these
Trustees pleased ; whereas now, great differences
will be, and the streets built by fits, and not entire
till all differences be decided. This, as he tells it,
I think would have been the best way. I enquired
about the Frenchman that was said to fire the City,
and was hanged for it, by his own confession, that he
was hired for it by a Frenchman of Roane, and that
he did with a stick reach in a fire-ball in at a window
of the house : whereas the master of the house, who
is the King's baker, and his son, and daughter, do all
swear there was no such window, and that the fire
did not begin thereabouts. Yet the fellow, who,
though a mopish besotted fellow, did not speak like
a madman, did swear that he did fire it : and did not
this like a madman ; for, being tried on purpose, and
landed with his keeper at the Town Wharf, he could
carry the keeper to the very house. Asking Sir R.
Viner what he thought was the cause of the fire, he
tells me, that the baker, son, and his daughter, did all
swear again and again, that their oven was drawn by
ten o'clock at night : that, having occasion to light a
candle about twelve, there was not so much fire in
the bakehouse as to light a match for a candle, so
that they were fain to go into another place to light
it : . that about two in the morning they felt them
selves almost choked with smoke, and rising, did find
the fire coming upstairs ; so they rose to save them
selves ; but that, at that time, the bavins1 were not on
fire in the yard. So that they are, as they swear, in
absolute ignorance how this fire should come ; which
1 Faggots.

252 DIARY OF Feb. 27
is a strange thing, that so horrid an effect should
have so mean and uncertain a beginning. By and by
called into the King and Cabinet, and there had a
few insipid words about money for Tangier, but to
no purpose. Going through bridge by water, my
waterman told me how the mistress of the Beare
tavern, at the bridge-foot, did lately fling herself into
the Thames, and drowned herself; which did trouble
me the more, when they tell me it was she that
did live at the White Horse tavern in Lumbard
Streete, which was a most beautiful woman, as most I
have seen. It seems she hath had long melancholy
upon her, and hath endeavoured to make away with
herself often.
25th. Lay long in bed, talking with pleasure with
my poor wife, how she used to make coal fires, and
wash my foul clothes with her own hand for me,
poor wretch ! in our little room at my Lord Sand
wich's ; for which I ought for ever to love and
admire her, and do ; and persuade myself she would
do the same thing again, if God should reduce us to
it. At my goldsmith's did observe the King's new
medall, where, in little, there is Mrs. Stewart's face
as well done as ever I saw anything in my whole
life, I think : and a pretty thing it is, that he should
choose her face to represent Britannia by.
27th. Up by candle-light, about six o'clock, and
by water down to Woolwich, I being at leisure this
day, the King and Duke of York being gone down
to Sheerenesse to lay out the design for a fortifica
tion there to the river Medway ; x and so we do
not attend the Duke of York as we should otherwise
have done. To the Dock Yard, and went into Mr.
Pett's ; and there, beyond expectation, he did present
1 The first fortification at Sheerness was erected by Sir Bernard
de Gomme. The original draft is in the British Museum : see
post, March 24, 1667, note.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 253
me with a Japan cane, with a silver head, and his
wife sent me by him a ring, with a Woolwich stone,1
now much in request ; which I accepted, the values
not being great : and then, at my asking, did give
me an old draught of an ancient-built ship, given
him by his father, of the Beare, in Queen Elizabeth's
time. This did much please me, it being a thing I
much desired to have, to show the difference in the
build of ships now and heretofore. Being much
taken with this kindness, I away, and so home, there
find Mr. Hunt, newly come out of the country, who
tells me the country 2 is much impoverished by the
greatness of taxes : the farmers do break every day
almost, and 1,000/. a-year become not worth 500/.
He told me some ridiculous pieces of thrift of Sir G.
Downing's, who is his countryman, in inviting some
poor people, at Christmas last, to charm the country
people's mouths ; but did give them nothing but beef,
porridge, pudding, and pork, and nothing said all
dinner, but only his mother 3 would say, " It's good
broth, son." He would answer, "Yes, it is good
broth." Then, says his lady, " Confirm all, and say,
Yes, very good broth." By and by she would begin
1 Woolwich stones, still collected in that locality, are simply
water-worn pebbles of flint, which, when broken with a hammer,
exhibit on the smooth surface some resemblance to the human
face ; and their possessors are thus enabled to trace likenesses of
friends, or eminent public characters. Mr. Tennant, the geologist,
of the Strand, has a collection of such stones. In the British
Museum is a nodule of globular or Egyptian jasper, which, in its
fracture, bears a striking resemblance to the well-known portrait of
Chaucer. It is engraved in Rymsdyk's " Museum Britannicum,"
tab. xxviii. A flint, showing Mr. Pitt's face, used once to be ex
hibited at the meetings of the Pitt Club.
2 Cambridgeshire.
3 Sir George Downing's mother was Margaret, daughter and co
heir of Robert Brett, D.D. His wife, Lady Downing, was Francis,
fourth daughter of William Howard, of Naworth, and sister of
Charles Howard, the first Earl of Carlisle of that family.

254 DIARY OF Feb. 27
and say, " Good pork : " " Yes," says the mother,
"good pork." Then he cries, "Yes, very good
pork." And so they said of all things ; to which
nobody made any answer, they going there not out
of love or esteem of them, but to eat his victuals,
knowing him to be a niggardly fellow ; and with
this he is jeered now all over the country. Comes
Captain Story, of Cambridge; to me, about a bill for
prest money ; l but, Lord ! to see the natures of
men ; how this man, hearing of my name, did ask me
of my country, and told me of my cozen Roger, that
he was not so wise a man as his father ; for that he
do not agree in Parliament with his fellow burgesses
and knights of the shire, whereas I know very well
the reason ; for he is not so high a flyer as Mr.
Chichley and others, but loves the King better than
any of them, and to better purpose. But yet, he
says that he is a very honest gentleman, and thence
runs into a hundred stories of his own services to the
King, and how he at this day brings in the taxes
before anybody here thinks they are collected : dis
course very absurd to entertain a stranger with.
Met Mr. Cooling, who tells me of my Lord Duke of
Buckingham's being sent for last night, by a Serjeant
at Armes,2 to the Tower, for treasonable practices,
and that the King is infinitely angry with him, and
declared him no longer one of his Council. I know
not the reason of it, or occasion. Took up my wife
to the Exchange, and there bought things for Mr.
Pierce's little daughter, my Valentine, and so to her
house, where we find Knipp, who also challenged me
for her Valentine. She looks well, sang well, and
very merry we were for half an hour. Tells me
Harris is well again, having been very ill. To Sir
W. Pen's, and sat with my Lady, and the young
1 Earnest money, given to a soldier who is enlisted. — Bailey.
2 Bearcroft ; see 3rd March, post.

.666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 255
couple 1 (Sir William out of town) talking merrily ;
but they make a very sorry couple, methinks, though
rich. 28th. Up, and there comes to me Drumbleby with
a flageolet, made to suit with my former and brings
me one Greeting, a master, to teach my wife. I
agree by the whole he is to teach her to take out any
lesson of herself for 4/ Mr. Holliard dined with us,
and pleasant company he is. I love his company,
and he secures me against ever having the stone
again. He gives it me, as his opinion, that the City
will never be built again together, as is expected,
while any restraint is laid upon them. He hath been
a great loser, and would be a builder again, but, he
says, he knows not what restricting there will be, so
as it is unsafe for him to begin. He gone, I to my
accounts, wherein, beyond expectation, I succeeded
so well as to settle them very clear and plain, and,
blessed be God, upon the evening my accounts, I do
appear 6,800/. creditor. I did within these six days
see smoke still remaining of the late fire in the City ;
and it is strange to think how, to this very day, I
cannot sleep at night without great terrors of fire.
Thus this month is ended with great content of mind
to me, thriving in my estate, and the affairs in my
offices going pretty well as to myself. This after
noon Mr. Gauden2 tells me more than I knew before
— that he hath orders to get all the victuals he can
to Plymouth, and the Western ports, and other out-
ports, and some to Scotland, so that we do intend to
keep but a flying fleete this year ; which, it may be,
may preserve us a year longer,' but the end of it
must be ruin. Sir J. Minnes this night tells me,
that he hears for certain, that ballads are made of us
in Holland for begging of a peace ; which I expected,
1 Anthony Lowther and his wife Margaret Penh.
2 The victualler.

256 DIARY OF March i
but am vexed at. So ends this month, with nothing
of weight upon my mind, but for my father and
mother, who are both very ill, and have been so for
some weeks : whom God help ! but I do fear my
poor father will hardly be ever thoroughly well
again. March ist. Sent for to Sir G. Carteret to discourse
of the business of the Navy, and our wants, and the
best way of bestowing the little money we have,
which is about 30,000/., but, God knows, we have
need of ten times as much, which do make my life
unfortunate, I confess, on the King's behalf, though
it is well enough as to my own particular, but the
King's service is undone by it. In Mark Lane I do
observe, it being St. David's day, the picture of a
man dressed like a Welchman, hanging by the neck
upon one of the poles that stand out at the top of one
of the merchants' houses, in full proportion, and very
handsomely done ; which is one of the oddest sights
I have seen a good while.1 Being returned home, I
find Greeting, the flageolot-master, come, and teach
ing my wife ; and I do think my wife will take
pleasure in it, and it will be easy for her, and plea
sant. So to the office, and then before dinner
making my wife to sing. Poor wretch ! her ear is so
bad that it made me angry, till the poor wretch cried
to see me so vexed at her, that I think I shall not
discourage her so much again, but will endeavour to
make her understand sounds, and do her good that
way ; for she hath a great mind to learn, only to
please me ; and, therefore, I am mighty unjust to
her in discouraging her so much, but we were good
friends. But I cannot but remember that just before
dinner one of my people came up to me, and told me
1 From "Poor Robin's Almanack" for 1757, it appears that, in
former times in England, a Welshman was burnt in effigy on this
anniversary. See Dyer's "British Popular Customs." (M. B.)

1666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 257
that a man come from Huntingdon would speak with
me, how my heart came into my mouth doubting
that my father, who has been long sicke, was dead.
It put me into a trembling, but, blessed be God ! it
was no such thing, but a countryman come about
ordinary business to me, to receive 50/. paid to my
father for the Perkins's for their legacy. So though
I get nothing at present, at least by the estate, I am
fain to pay the money rather than rob my father. I
hear to-day that Tom Woodall, the known chyrur-
geon, is killed at Somerset House by a Frenchman
in a drunken quarrel.
2nd. Sir W. Pen this day did bring an order from
the Duke of York for our receiving from him a small
vessel for a fireship, and taking away a better of the
King's for it, it being expressed for his great service
to the King. This I am glad of, not for his sake,
but that it will give me a better ground, I believe, to
ask something for myself of this kind, which I was
fearful to begin. This do make Sir W. Pen the
most kind to me that can be. I suppose it is, lest it
should find any opposition from me, but will not
oppose, but promote it. After dinner, with my wife,
to the King's house to see " The Maiden Queene," a
new play of Dryden's, mightily commended for the 1
regularity of it, and the strain and wit ; and, the
truth is, there is a comical part done by Nell, which
is Florimell, that I never can hope ever to see the
like done again, by man or woman. The King and
Duke of York were at the play. But so great per
formance of a comical part was never, I believe, in
the world before as Nell do this, both as a mad
girle, then most and best of all when she comes in
like a young gallant ; and hath the motions and
carriage of a spark the most that ever I saw any man
have. It makes me, I confess, admire her.
3rd. (Lord's day.) To White Hall, where, walking

258 DIARY OF March 3
in the galleries, I met Mr. Pierce, who tells me the
story of Tom Woodall, the surgeon, killed in a
drunken quarrel, and how the Duke of York hath a
mind to get him [Pierce] one of his places in St.
Thomas's Hospital! It is believed that the Dutch
will yield to have the treaty at London or Dover,
neither of which will get our King any credit, we
having already consented to have it at the Hague ;
which, it seems, De Witt opposed, as a thing wherein
the King of England must needs have some pro
found design, which in my conscience he hath not.
They do also tell me that newes is this day come to
the King, that the King of France is come with his
army to the frontiers of Flanders, demanding leave
to pass through their country towards Poland, but is
denied, and thereupon that he is gone into the country.
How true this is I dare not believe till I hear more,
I walked into the Parke, it being a fine but very cold
day ; and there took two or three turns the length of
the Pell Mell : and there I met Serjeant Bearcroft,
who was sent for the Duke of Buckingham, to have
brought him prisoner to the Tower. He came to
towne this day, and brings word that, being over
taken and outrid by the Duchesse of Buckingham
within a few miles of Westhorp,1 he believes she got
thither about a quarter of an hour before him, and so
had time to consider ; so that, when he came, the
doors were kept shut against him. The next day,
coming with officers' of the neighbour market-town
to force open the doors, they were open for him, but
the Duke gone; so he took horse "presently, and
heard upon the road that the Duke of Buckingham
was gone before him for London : so that he believes
1 Westhorpe, in Suffolk, originally the magnificent residence of
Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk: it was probably afterwards
granted by the Crown to the Duke of Buckingham. The house
has long since been demolished.

*666-67 SAMUEL PEPYS. 259
he is this day also come to towne before him ; but
no newes is yet heard of him. This is all he brings.
Thence to my Lord Chancellor's, and there, meeting
Sir H . Cholmly, he and I walked in my Lord's garden,
and talked ; and, among other things, of the treaty : and
he says there will certainly be a peace, but I cannot
believe it. He tells me that the Duke of Bucking
ham his crimes, as far as he knows, are his being of
a caball with some discontented persons of the late
House of Commons, and opposing the desires of the
King in all his matters in that House ; and endea
vouring to become popular, and advising how the
•Commons' House should proceed, and how he would
•order the House of Lords. And that he hath been
endeavouring to have the King's nativity calculated ;
which was done, and the fellow now in the Tower about
it ; which itself hath heretofore, as he says, been held
treason, and people died for it ; but by the Statute of
Treason, in Queen Mary's times and since, it hath
been left out. He tells me that this silly Lord hath
provoked, by his ill-carriage, the Duke of York, my
Lord Chancellor, and all the great persons ; and
therefore, most likely, will die. He tells me, too,
many practices of treachery against this King ; as
betraying him in Scotland, and giving Oliver an
account of the King's private councils ; which the
King knows very well, and hath yet pardoned him.
I home, and there to read very good things in Fuller's
" Church History and Worthies," and so to supper, and
after supper had much good discourse with W. Hewer
about the ticket office and the knaveries and extortions
every day used there, and particularly of the business
of Mr. Carcasse, whom I fear I shall find a very rogue.
4th. Up and with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten,
by barge to Deptford to look after business there and
so to Woolwich, where our business was chiefly to
look upon the ballast wharfe there, which is offered

260 DIARY OF March 6
us for the King's use to hire, but we do not think it
worth the laying out much money upon, unless we
could buy the fee-simple of it, which cannot be sold
us, so we wholly flung it off. So home and upon
Tower Hill meeting with my old acquaintance Mr.
Chaplin, the cheesemonger, he tells me for certain
the King of France is denied passage with his army
through Flanders, and that he hears that the Dutch
do stand upon high terms with us, and will have a
promise of not being obliged to strike the flag to us
before they will treat with us, and other high things,
which I am ashamed of and do hope will never be
yielded to. That they do make all imaginable pre
parations, but that he believes they will be in mighty
want of men.
5th. To the office and there all the afternoon late
doing much business and then to see Sir W. Batten. I
by discourse do perceive he and his Lady are to their
hearts out with my Lord Brounckerand Mrs. Williams,
to which I added something, but, I think, did not
venture too far with them. But, Lord ! to see to
what a poor content any acquaintance among these
people, or the people of the world, as they now-a-
days go, is worth ; for my part I and my wife will
keep to one another and let the world go hang, for
there is nothing but falseness in it. So home to
supper and hear my wife and girle sing a little and
then to bed with much content of mind.
6th. To White Hall ; and here the Duke of York
did acquaint us, and the King did the like also, after
wards coming in, with his resolution of altering the
manner of the war this year : that is, we shall keep
what fleete we have abroad in several squadrons : so
that now all is come out ; but we are to keep it as
close as we can, without hindering the work that is
to be done in preparation to this. Great preparations
there are to fortify Sheernesse and the yard at Ports-

1667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 261
mouth, and forces are drawing down to both those
places, and elsewhere by the seaside; so that we
have some fear of an invasion ; and the Duke of
York himself did declare his expectation of the
enemy's blocking us up here in the River, and there
fore directed that we should send away all the ships
that we have to fit out hence. Sir W. Pen told me,
going with me this morning to White Hall, that for
certain the Duke of Buckingham is brought into the
Tower, and that he hath had an hour's private con
ference with the King before he was sent thither.
Every body complains of the dearness of coals, being
at 4/. per chaldron, the weather, too, being become
most bitter cold, the King saying to-day that it was
the coldest day he ever knew in England. Thence
by coach to my Lord Crew's, where very welcome.
Here I find they are in doubt where the Duke of
Buckingham is ; which makes me mightily reflect on
the uncertainty of all history, when, in a business of
this moment, and of this day's growth, we cannot tell
the truth. Here dined my old acquaintance, Mr.
Borfett, that was my Lord Sandwich's chaplain, and
my Lady Wright and Dr. Boreman, who is preacher
at St. Gyles's in the Fields, who, after dinner, did
give my Lord an account of two papist women lately
converted, whereof one wrote her recantation, which
he showed under her own hand mighty well drawn,
so as my Lord desired a copy of it, after he had
satisfied himself from the Dr., that to his knowledge
she was not a woman under any necessity. To Dept
ford, and then by water home, wondrous cold, and
reading a ridiculous ballad made in praise of the
Duke of Albemarle, to the tune of St. George, the
tune being printed, too ; and I observe that people
have great encouragement to make ballads of him of
this kind. There are so many, that hereafter he will
sound like Guy of Warwicke. To Sir H. Cholmly's,

262 DIARY OF March?
a pretty house, and a fine, worthy, well-disposed gen
tleman he is. He tells me, among other things, that
he hears of little hopes of a peace, their demands
being so high as we shall never grant, and could tell
me that we shall keep no fleete abroad this year, but
only squadrons. And, among other things, that my
Lord Bellassis, he believes, will lose his command of
Tangier by his corrupt covetous ways of endeavour
ing to sell his command, which I am glad of, for he
is a man of no worth in the world but compliment.
So to the 'Change, and there bought 3 2s. worth of
things for Mrs. Knipp, my Valentine, which is pretty
to see how my wife is come to convention with me,.
that, whatever I do give to anybody else, I shall give
her as much.
7th. Hearing that Knipp is at my house, I home,
and it is about a ticket for a friend of her's. I do
love the humour of the jade very well. To Devon
shire House,1 to a burial of a kinsman of Sir R.
Viner's ; and there I received a ring. To the Duke's
playhouse, and saw " The English Princesse, or
Richard the Third;"2 a most sad, melancholy play,
and pretty good ; but nothing eminent in it, as some
tragedys are; only little Miss Davis3 did dance a jig
1 Devonshire House was in Bishopsgate Street, where Devon
shire Square now stands.
2 A tragedy, by J. Caryl.
3 Mary Davis, some time a comedian in the Duke of York's
troop, and one of those actresses who boarded with Sir W. Davenant,
was, according to Pepys, a natural daughter of Thomas Howard,
first Earl of Berkshire. She captivated the King by the charming
manner in which she sang a ballad beginning, " My lodging it is
on the cold ground," when acting Celania, a shepherdess mad for
love in the play of " The Rivals." Charles took her off the stage,
and she had by him a daughter named Mary Tudor, married to
Francis, second Earl of Derwentwater ; and their son James, the
third Earl, was attainted and beheaded for high treason. Miss
Davis was also a fine dancer : see Hawkins's " History of Music,"
vol. iv. p. 525, where the ballad alluded to will be found; which,

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 263
after the end of the play, and there telling the next
day's play ; so that it came in by force only to please
the company to see her dance in boys' clothes ; and,
the truth is, there is no comparison between Nell's
dancing the other day1 at the King's house in boy's
clothes and this, this being infinitely beyond the
other. This day, Commissioner Taylor came to me
for advice, and would force me to take ten pieces in
gold of him, which I had no mind to, he being be
come one of our number at the Board. This day
was reckoned by all people the coldest day that ever
was remembered in England ; and, God knows ! coals
at a very great price.2
8th. To Westminster Hall, where I saw Mr. Mar
tin, the purser, come through with a picture in his
hand, which he had bought, and observed how all
the people of the Hall did fleer and laugh upon him,
crying, "There is plenty grown upon a sudden;"
and, the truth is, I was a little troubled that my
favour should fall on so vain a fellow as he, and the
more because, methought, the people do gaze upon
me as the man that had raised him, and as if they
guessed whence my kindness to him springs. To
White Hall, where I find all met at the Duke of
York's chamber ; and, by and by, the Duke of York
as Downes quaintly observes, " raised the fair songstress from her
bed on the cold ground to the bed royal." According to another
account, she was the daughter of a blacksmith at Charlton, in
Wiltshire, where a family of the name of Davis had exercised that
calling for many generations, and has but lately become extinct.
There is a beautiful whole-length portrait of Mary Davis, by Kneller,
at Audley End, in which she is represented as a tall, handsome
woman ; and her general appearance ill accords with the descrip
tion given of her by our Journalist.
1 As Florimel, in " The Maiden Queen."
2 4/. the chaldron. On Nov. .26th, post, he speaks of them as
being 5/. \os. In 1812, "Napoleon's winter," 61. 6s. were paid in
the suburbs of London ; an extraordinary price ; but, the difference
of money considered, cheap, when compared with 1667.

264 DIARY OF March 9
comes, and Carcasse is called in, and I read the
depositions and his answers, and he added with great
confidence and good words, even almost to persua
sion, what to say ; and my Lord Brouncker, like a
very silly solicitor, argued against me, and all for
him ; and, being asked first by the Duke of York his
opinion, did give it for his being excused. I next
did answer the contrary very plainly, and had, in this
dispute, which vexed and will never be forgot by my
Lord, many occasions of speaking severely, and did,
against his bad practices. Commissioner Pett, like
a fawning rogue, sided with my Lord, but to no
purpose ; and Sir W. Pen, like a cunning rogue, spoke
mighty indifferently, and said nothing in all the fray,
like a knave as he is. But Sir W. Batten spoke out,
and did come off himself by the Duke's kindness
very well ; and then Sir G. Carteret, and Sir W.
Coventry, and the Duke of York himself, flatly as I
said ; and so he 1 was declared unfit to continue in,
and therefore to be presently discharged the office ;
which, among other good' effects, I hope, will make
my Lord Brouncker not alloquer so high. Sir H.
Cholmly and I to the Temple, and there parted, he
telling me of my Lord Bellassis's want of generosity,
and that he [Bellassis] will certainly be turned out
of his government, and he [Cholmley] thinks himself
stands fair for it. So home, and there found, as I
expected, Mrs. Pierce and Mr. Batelier, but no Mrs.
Knipp come, which vexed me. So with one fiddler
we danced away the evening, but I was not well
contented with the littleness of the room, and my
wife's want of preparing things ready, as they should
be, for supper.
9th. To the office, where a meeting extraordinary
about settling the number and wages of my Lord
1 Carcasse's dismissal from office is clearly alluded to in his
verses. See ante, Sept. 2, 1666, note.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 265
Brouncker's clerks for his new work upon the Trea
surer's accounts. He is most dissatisfied with me,
and I am not sorry for it, having all the world but
him on my side therein. He did speak many severe
words to me, and I returned as many to him, so that
I do think there cannot for a great while be any right
peace between us ; but however, I must look about
me and mind my business, for I perceive by his
threats and enquiries he will endeavour to find out
something against me or mine. Captain Cocke, who
was here to-night, did tell us that he is certain that
yesterday a proclamation was voted at the Council,
touching the proclaiming of my Lord Duke of Buck
ingham a tray tor, and that it will be out on Monday.
10th. (Lord's day.) Yesterday the King did pub-
liquely talk of the King of France's dealing with all
the Princes of Christendome. As to the States of
Holland, he [the King of France] hath advised them,
on good grounds, to refuse to treat with us at the
Hague, because of having opportunity of spies, by
reason of our interest in the House of Orange ; and
then, it being a town in one particular province, it
would not be fit to have it, but in a town wherein
the provinces have equal interest, as at Mastricht,
and other places named. That he advises them to
offer no terms, nor accept of any, without his privity
and consent, according to agreement ; and tells them,
if not so, he hath in his power to be even with them,
the King of England being come to offer any terms
he pleases : and that my Lord St. Albans is now at
Paris, Plenipotentiary, to make what peace he pleases ;
and so he can make it, and exclude them, the Dutch,
if he sees fit. A copy of this letter of the King of
France's the Spanish Ambassador here gets, and
comes and tells all to our King; which our King
denies, and says the King of France only uses his
power of saying anything. At the same time, the King

266 DIARY OF March 10
of France writes to the Emperor, that he is resolved
to do all things to express affection to the Emperor,
having it now in his power to make what peace he
pleases between the King of England and him, and
the states of the United Provinces ; and, therefore,
that he would not have him concern himself in a
friendship with us ; and assures him that, on that
regard, he will not offer anything to his disturbance,
in his interest in Flanders, or elsewhere. He writes,
at the same time, to Spayne, to tell him that he
wonders to hear of a league almost ended between
the Crown of Spayne and England, by my Lord
Sandwich, and all without his privity, while he was
making a peace upon what terms he pleased with
England : that he is a great lover of the Crown of
Spayne, and would take the King and his affairs,
during his minority, into his protection, nor would
offer to set his foot in Flanders, or any where else, to
disturb him ; and, therefore, would not have him to
trouble himself to make peace with any body ; only
he hath a desire to offer an exchange, which he thinks
may be of moment to both sides : that is, that he
[France] will enstate the King of Spayne in the king
dom of Portugall, and he and the Dutch will put him
into possession of Lisbon ; and, that being done, he
[France] may have Flanders : and this, they say, do
mightily take in Spayne, which is sensible of the
fruitless expence Flanders, so far off, gives them;
and how much better it would be for them to be
master of Portugall ; and the King of France offers,
for security herein, that the King of England shall
be bond for him, and that he will counter-secure the
King of England with Amsterdam ; and, it seems,
hath assured our King, that if he will make a league
with him, he will make a peace exclusive to the
Hollander. These things are almost romantique, but
yet true, as Sir H. Cholmly tells me the King him-

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 267
self did relate it all yesterday ; and it seems as if the
King of France did think other princes fit for nothing
but to make sport for him : but simple princes they
are, that are forced to suffer this from him.
nth. The proclamation is this day come out
against the Duke of Buckingham, commanding him
to come in to one of the Secretaries, or to the Lieu
tenant of the Tower. A silly, vain man to bring
himself to this : and there be many hard circum
stances in the proclamation of the causes of this
proceeding of the King's, which speak great dis
pleasure of the King's, and crimes of his.
1 2th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning.
At noon home, and there find Mr. Goodgroome,
whose teaching of my wife only by singing over and
over again to her, and letting her sing with him, not
by herself, to correct her faults, I do not like at all,
but was angry at it ; but have this content, that I do
think she will come to sing pretty well, and to trill in
time, which pleases me well. This day a poor sea
man, almost starved for want of food, lay in our yard
a-dying. I sent him half-a-crown, and we ordered
his ticket to be paid.
13th. Having done our usual business with the
Duke of York, I away ; and meeting Mr. D. Gauden
in the presence-chamber, he and I to talk ; and among
other things he tells me, and I do find every where
else, also, that our masters do begin not to like of their
councils in fitting out no fleete, but only squadrons,
and are finding out excuses for it ; and, among others,
he tells me a Privy-Councillor did tell him that it
was said in Council that a fleete could not be sent
out this year, for want of victuals, which gives him
and me great alarme, but me especially : for had it
been so, I ought to have represented it ; and there
fore it put me in policy presently to prepare myself
to answer this objection, if ever it should come about,

268 DIARY OF March 14
by drawing up a state of the Victualler's stores, which
I will presently do. So to Sir G. Carteret's, where
I dined, with the ladies, and very well used I am
among them, so that I am heartily ashamed that my
wife has not been there to see them ; but she shall
very shortly. Late at my office preparing a speech
against to-morrow morning, before the King, at
my Lord Treasurer's. The Duke of Buckingham
is concluded gone over sea, and, it is thought, to
France. 14th. To my Lord Treasurer's. Here we fell into
discourse with Sir Stephen Fox, and, among other
things, of the Spanish manner of walking, when three
together, and showed me how, which was pretty, to
prevent differences. By and by comes the King and
Duke of York, and presently the officers of the
Ordnance were called ; my Lord Berkeley, Sir John
Duncomb, and Mr. Chichly ; then we, my Lord
Brouncker, W. Batten, W. Pen, and myself; where
we find only the King and Duke of York, and my
Lord Treasurer, and Sir G. Carteret ; when I only
did speak, laying down the state of our wants, which
the King and Duke of York seemed very well pleased
with, and we did get what we asked, 500,000/., as
signed upon the eleven months' tax : but that is not
so much ready money, or what will raise 40,000/. per
week, which we desired, and the business will want.
Yet are we fain to come away answered, when, God
knows, it will undo the King's business to have
matters of this moment put off in this manner. The
King did prevent my offering any thing by and by
as Treasurer for Tangier, telling me that he had
ordered us 30,000/. on the same tax ; but that is not
what we would have to bring our payments to come
within a year. So we gone out, in went others ; viz.,
one after another, Sir Stephen Fox for the army,
Captain Cocke for sick and wounded, Mr. Ashburn-

i667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 269
ham1 for the household. Thence Sir W. Batten, Sir
W. Pen, and I, back again ; I mightily pleased with
what I had said and done, and the success thereof.
But, it being a fine clear day, I did, en gayeti de cceur,
propose going to Bow for ayre sake, and dine there,
which they embraced, and so Sir W. Batten and I
straight to Bow, to the Queen's Head, and there
bespoke our dinner, carrying meat with us from
London ; and anon comes Sir W. Pen with my wife
and Lady Batten, and then Mr. Lowther with his
mother and wife. While Sir W. Batten and I were
alone, we had much friendly discourse, though I will
never trust him far ; but we do propose getting " The
Flying Greyhound " our privateer, to us and Sir W.
Pen at the end of the year when we call her home,
by begging her of the King, and I do not think we
shall be denied her. They being come, we to oysters
and so to talk, very pleasant I was all day, and anon
to dinner, and I made very good company. Here
till the evening, so as it was dark almost before we
got home. Troubled a little at my fear that my
Lord Brouncker should tell Sir W. Coventry of our
neglecting the office this afternoon to look after our
pleasures, but nothing will fall upon me alone about
this. 15th. Letters this day come to Court do tell us
that we are not likely to agree, the Dutch demand
ing high terms, and the King of France the like, in a
most braving manner. The merchants do give them
selves for lost, no man knowing what to do, whether
to sell or buy, not knowing whether peace or war to
expect, and I am told that could that be now known
a man might get 20,000/. in a week's time by buy
ing up of goods in case there should be war. So
away and met Dr. Fuller, Bishop of Limericke, and
1 Wm. Ashburnham, the Cofferer.

270

DIARY OF March 17

walked an hour with him in the Court talking of
newes only, and he do think that matters will be bad
with us. This morning I was called up by Sir John
Winter, poor man ! come in his sedan from the other
end of the town, about helping the King in the
business of bringing down his timber to the sea-side,
in the Forest of Deane.
1 6th. The weather is now grown warm again, after
much cold ; and it is observable that within these
eight days I did see smoke remaining, coming out of
some cellars, from the late great fire, now above six
months since.
1 7th. (Lord's day.) To White Hall Chapel. There
I put my wife in the pew below, but it was pretty to see,
myself being but in a plain band, and every way else
ordinary, how the verger took me for her man, and I
was fain to tell him she was a kinswoman of my
Lord Sandwich's, he saying that none under knights-
baronets' ladies are to go into that pew. I to the
Duke of York's lodging, where in his dressing-
chamber he talking of his journey to-morrow or next
day to Harwich, to prepare some fortifications there ;
so that we are wholly upon the defensive part this
year. I to walk in the Parke, where to the Queen's
Chapel, and there heard a fryer preach with his cord
about his middle, in Portuguese, something I could
understand, showing that God did respect the meek
and humble, as well as the high and the rich. He
was full of action, but very decent and good, I
thought, and his manner of delivery very good.
Then I went back to White Hall, and there up to the
closet, and spoke with several people till sermon
was ended, which was, preached by the Bishop of
Hereford,1 an old good man, that they say made an
1 Bishop Herbert Croft, who was previously Dean of Hereford
(1644), was not a Romanist by birth, but entangled by the Jesuits
while on his travels, and converted to Popery. It would appear, from

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 271
excellent sermon. He was by birth a Catholique, and
a great gallant, having 1 500/ per annum, patrimony,
and is a Knight Baronet ; was turned from his per
suasion by the late Archbishop Laud. He and the
Bishop of Exeter, Dr. Ward, are the two Bishops
that the King do say he cannot have bad sermons
from. Here I met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells
me, that undoubtedly my Lord Bellassis do go no
more to Tangier, and that he do believe he do stand
in a likely way to go Governor ; though he says, and
showed me, a young silly Lord, one Lord Allington,1
who hath offered a great sum of money to go, and
will put hard for it, he having a fine lady,2 and a
great man would be glad to have him out of the way.
After Chapel with my wife to Sir G. Carterets, where
we dined and mightily made of and most extraor
dinary people they are to continue friendship with for
goodness, virtue and nobleness and interest. After
dinner he and I alone awhile and did joy ourselves
in my Lord Sandwich's being out of the way all this
time. He concurs that we are in a way of ruin by
thus being forced to keep only small squadrons out,
but do tell me that it was not choice, but only force
Godwin (De Prozsulibus), that his return to the Protestant faith is not
attributable to Laud, but to the efforts of another prelate. " In
patriam vero redux et in Thomas Mortoni Episcopi Dunelmensis
familiaritatem adductus melioribus consiliis adhibitis ad se quoque
rediit et Ecclesiam Anglicanam." Croft, says Burnet, was a
devout man, but of no discretion in his conduct. He was born
1603, and survived his elevation to the See of Hereford, in 1661,
thirty years. The Bishop's father, Sir Herbert, was a knight, and
his son, of the same name, a baronet. See Sir Walter Scott's
preface to " The Naked Truth," in Somer's " Tracts," vol. vii.
p. 268.
1 Williani Alington, second Baron Alington, of Killard, Ireland,
created an English Baron, 1682, by the title of Baron Alington,
of Wymondley, Hertfordshire, which title became extinct in
1692. 2 His second wife, Juliana, daughter of Baptist Noel, Viscount
Campden. She died the September following.

272 DIARY OF March 18
that we could not keep out the whole fleete. He tells
me that the King is very kind to my Lord Sandwich,
and did himself observe to him (Sir G. Carteret), how
those very people, meaning the Prince and Duke of
Albemarle, are punished in the same kind as they did
seek to abuse my Lord Sandwich. Took coach and
home where I found Mercer, who I was glad to see,
but durst not show so, my wife being displeased with
her, and indeed I fear she is grown a very gossip.
1 8th. Comes my old good friend, Mr. Richard
Cumberland,1 to see me, being newly come to town,
whom I have not seen almost, if not quite, these seven
years. In his plain country-parson's dress. I could
not spend much time with him, but prayed him to
come with his brother, who was with him, to dine with
me to-day ; which he did do : and I had a great deal
of his good company ; and a most excellent person he
is as any I know, and one that I am sorry should be
lost and buried in a little country town, and would
be glad to remove him thence ; and the truth is, if
he would accept of my sister's fortune, I should give
ioo/. more with him than to a man able to settle her
four times as much as, I fear, he is able to do ; and I
will think of it, and a way how to move it, he having
in discourse said he was not against marrying, nor
yet engaged. Comes Captain Jenifer to me, a great
servant of my Lord Sandwich's, who tells me that
he do hear for certain, though I do not yet believe
it, that Sir W. Coventry is to be Secretary of State,
and my Lord Arlington Lord Treasurer. I only
wish that the latter were as fit for the latter office
as the former is for the former, and more fit than
my Lord Arlington. Anon Sir W. Pen came and
talked with me in the garden, and tells me that
1 Richard Cumberland, educated at St. Paul's School, and Mag
dalene College, Cambridge; made Bishop of Peterborough, 1691.
Ob. 1 7 18, aged 86.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 273
for certain the Duke of Richmond is to marry Mrs.
Stewart, he having this day brought in an account
of his estate and debts to the King on that account.
My father's letter this day do tell me of his own
continued illness, and that my mother grows so
much worse, that he fears she cannot long continue,
which troubles me very much. This day, Mr. Caesar
told me a pretty experiment of his, of angling with a
minnikin, a gut-string varnished over, which keeps
it from swelling, and is beyond any hair for strength
and smallness. The secret I like mightily.
19th. It comes in my mind this night to set down
how a house was the other day in Bishopsgate Street
blowed up with powder ; a house that was unte
nanted ; but, thanks be to God, it did no more hurt ;
and all do conclude it a plot. This afternoon I am
told again that the town do talk of my Lord Arling
ton's being to be Lord Treasurer, and Sir W.
Coventry to be Secretary of State ; and that for cer
tain the match is concluded between the Duke of
Richmond and Mrs. Stewart, which I am well enough
pleased with ; and it is pretty to consider how his
quality will allay people's talk ; whereas, had a
meaner person married her, he would for certain have
been reckoned a cuckold at first dash.
20th. To our church to the vestry, to be assessed
by the late Poll Bill, where I am rated as an Esquire,1
and for my office, all will come to about 50/. But not
more than I expected, nor so much by a great deal
as I ought to be, for all my offices. So shall be glad
to escape so. Thence by water again to White Hall
and there do hear that newes is come now that the
enemy do incline again to a peace, but could hear no
particulars, so do not believe it. I had a great mind
to have spoke with the King about a business proper
1 See March 25, 1660.
4- T

274 DIARY OF March 21
enough for me, about the French prize man-of-war,
how he would have her altered, only out of a desire
to show myself mindful of business, but my linen
was so dirty and my clothes mean, that I neither
thought it fit to do that, nor go to other persons at
the Court, with whom I had business, which did vex
me, and I must remedy it. Here I hear that the
Duke of Richmond and Mrs. Stewart were be
trothed last night. So to Sir W. Batten's to dinner,
and had a good dinner of ling and herring pie,
very good meat, best of the kind that ever I had.
To the Temple, and there did buy a little book or
two, and it is strange how " Rycaut's1 Discourse of
Turky," which before the fire I was asked but 8s.
for, there being all but twenty-two or thereabouts
burned, I did now offer 20s., and he demands 50$-.,
and I think I shall give it him, though it be only as
a monument of the fire. So to the New Exchange,
and took up my wife, and to Polichinello's at Charing
Crosse, which is prettier and prettier, and so full
of variety that it is extraordinary good entertain
ment. So home to the office a little, where I met
with a sad letter from my brother, who tells me my
mother is declared by the doctors to be past recovery,
and that my father is also very ill : so that I fear we
shall see a sudden change there. God fit them and
us for it ! So to Sir W. Pen's, where my wife was,
and supped with a little, but yet little mirth, and a
bad, nasty supper, which makes me not love the
family, they do all things so meanly, to make a little
bad show upon their backs.
2 1 st. At noon home to dinner, and had some
melancholy discourse with my wife about my mother's
being so ill and my father, and after dinner to cheer
myself I alone out and to the Duke of York's play-
1 Sir Paul Rycaut.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 275
house, where unexpectedly I came to see only the
young men and women of the house act ; they
having liberty to act for their own profit on Wednes
days and Fridays this Lent : and the play they did
yesterday, being Wednesday, was so well-taken, that
they thought fit to venture it publickly to-day ; a 1
play of my Lord Falkland's1 called " The Wedding
Night," a kind of a tragedy, and some things very
good in it, but the whole together, I thought, not so.
I confess I was well enough pleased with my seeing
it : and the people did do better, without the great
actors, than I did expect, but yet far short of what
they do when they are there. Thence to rights
home, and there to the office to my business hard,
being sorry to have made this scape without my wife,
but I have a good salve to my oath in doing it.
Our trial for a good prize came on to-day, " The
Phcenix,2 worth two or 3,000/.," when by and by Sir
W. Batten told me we had got the day, which was
mighty welcome news to me and us all. But it 1
is pretty to see what money will do. Yesterday,
Walker3 was mighty cold on our behalf, till Sir W.
Batten promised him, if we sped in this business of
the goods, a coach ; and if at the next trial we sped
for the ship, we would give him a pair of horses.
And he hath strove for us to-day like a prince,
though the Swedes' Agent was there with all the
vehemence he could to save the goods, but yet we
carried it against him.
22nd. My wife having dressed herself in a silly
dress of a blue petticoat uppermost, and a white
1 Henry Carey, third Viscount Falkland, M.P. for Arundel,
1661. Ob. 1664.
2 In 1689 the House of Commons appointed a Committee to
investigate the conduct of Pepys and Sir Josiah Child in the busi
ness of the Phcenix. The proceedings are to be found in Raw
linson, A 170.
3 Sir W. Walker.

276 DIARY OF March 23
satin waistcoat and white hood, though I think she
did it because her gown is gone to the tailor's, did,
itogether with my being hungry, which always makes
/ me peevish, make me angry, but after dinner friends
again, and then by water down to Greenwich and
thence walked to Woolwich, all the way reading
Playford's " Introduction to Musique," wherein are
some things very pretty. At Woolwich I did much
business, taking account of the ships there, thence
to Blackwall and then to Deptford and did the like
and so home. I met on Tower Hill with Captain
Cocke and spent half an hour walking with him,
talking of the sorrowful condition we are in, that we
must be ruined if the Parliament do not come and
chastize us, that we are resolved to make a peace
whatever it cost, that the King is disobliging the
Parliament in this interval all that may be, yet his
money is gone and he must have more, and they
likely not to give it, without a great deal of do.
God knows what the issue of it will be. But the
considering that the Duke of York, instead of being
at sea as Admirall, is now going from port to port,
as he is this day at Harwich, and was the other day
with the King at Sheernesse, and hath ordered at
Portsmouth how fortifications shall be made to
oppose the enemy, in case of invasion, is to us a
sad consideration, and shameful to the nation, es
pecially for so many proud vaunts as we have made
against the Dutch, and all from the folly of the
Duke of Albemarle, who made nothing of beating
them, and Sir John Lawson he always declared that
we never did fail to beat them with lesser numbers
than theirs, which did so prevail with the King as
to throw us into this war.
23rd. At the office, where Sir W. Pen came, being
returned from Chatham, from considering the means
of fortifying the river Medway, by a chain at the

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 277
stakes, and ships laid there with guns to keep the
enemy from coming up to burn our ships ; all our
care now being to fortify ourselves against their
invading us. Vexed with our mayde Luce, our cook-
mayde, who is a good drudging servant in everything
else, and pleases us, but that she will be drunk, and
hath been so last night and all this day, that she
could not make clean the house. My fear is only
fire. 24th. (Lord's day.) With Sir G. Carteret and Sir
J. Minnes : and they did talk of my Lord Brouncker,1
whose father, it seems, did give Mr. Ashburnham
and the present Lord Bristoll 1,200/. to be made an
Irish lord, and swore the same day that he had not
1 2d. left to pay for his dinner : they made great
mirth at this, my Lord Brouncker having lately given
1 Sir William Brouncker had been Commissary-General of the
Musters in the Scotch expedition in 1639, Vice-Chamberlain to
Prince Charles, and one of the Gentlemen of his Privy Chamber
to Charles I. He was the son of Sir Henry Brouncker, President
of Munster, by Anne, sister to Henry Lord Morley, and was
created Viscount Brouncker, of Castle Lyons, in Ireland, and
Baron Brouncker, of Newcastle, co. Dublin, 12th Sept. 1645. He
died in November following, and was buried in the Cathedral of
Christ Church, Oxford, leaving issue by his wife Winifred, daughter
of Sir William Leigh, of Newenham, Warwickshire, two sons,
William, before-mentioned, and Henry, third and last Viscount
Brouncker, who died in 1688, and was buried in Richmond Church,
leaving no issue by his wife Rebecca, widow of the Hon. Thomas
Jermyn, mother, by her first husband, of the Lords Jermyn and
Dover. Henry Brouncker, who had been Groom of the Bed
chamber to the Duke of York, had succeeded to the office of
Cofferer on the death of William Ashburnham, in 167 1. The
Lords Brouncker were descended from Henry Brouncker, who, in
1544, bought lands at Melksham and Erlestoke, in Wilts; and his
arms, and those of his two wives, are described by Aubrey as being
on the window of a house at Erlestoke. Ex. Lnform. Miss
Henrietta Brouncker, whose eldest brother, Richard Brouncker,
considers himself as the representative of the family. He has two
young sons ; and his estate is at Boveridge, Dorset, on the borders
of Wilts. See 13th Aug. 1662.

278 DIARY OF March 24
great matter of offence both to them and us all, that
we are at present mightily displeased with him. By
and by to the Duke of York, where we all met, and
there was the King also ; and all our discourse was
about fortifying of the Medway and Harwich, which
is to be entrenched quite round, and Portsmouth :
and here they advised with Sir Godfry Lloyd1 and
Sir Bernard de Gum,2 the two great engineers, and had
the plates drawn before them ; and indeed all their
care they now take is to fortify themselves, and are
not ashamed of it ; for when by and by my Lord
Arlington came in with letters, and seeing the King
and Duke of York give us and the officers of the
Ordnance directions in this matter, he did move that
we might do it as privately as we could, that it might
not come into the Dutch Gazette presently, as the
King's and Duke of York's going down the other
day to Sheerenesse was, the week after, in the
Harlem Gazette. The King and Duke of York both
laughed at it, and made no matter, but said, " Let us
be safe, and let them talk, for there is nothing will
trouble them more, nor will prevent their coming
more, than to hear that we are fortifying ourselves."
And the Duke of York said further, "What said
Marshal Turenne, when some in vanity said that the
enemies were afraid, for they entrenched themselves ?
' Well,' says he, ' I would they were not afraid, for
1 Sir Godfrey Lloyd had been a Captain in Holland, and was
knighted by Charles at Brussels, in 1657.
2 Sir Bernard de Gomme was born at Lille, in 1620. When
young, he served in the campaigns of Henry Frederic, Prince of
Orange, and afterwards entered the service of Charles I., by whom
he was knighted. Under Charles II. and James II., he filled the
offices of Chief Engineer, Quarter-Master-Genera], and Surveyor
of the Ordnance. He died November 23, 1685, and is buried in
the Tower of London. He first fortified Sheerness, Liverpool,
&c, and he strengthened Portsmouth. His plans of these places
and others, and of some of Charles I.'s battles, are in the British
Museum, where also is preserved a miniature portrait of him in oil.

i667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 279
then they would not entrench themselves, and so we
could deal with them the better.'" Away thence,
and met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that he
do believe the government of Tangier is bought by
my Lord AUington for a sum of money to my Lord
Arlington, and something to Lord Bellassis. Mightily
troubled the most of the night with fears. of fire, which
I cannot get out of my head to this day since the last
great fire. I did this night give the waterman who
uses to carry me 10s. at his request, for the painting
of his new boat, on which shall be my arms.
25th. Went over Mr. Povy's house, which lies in
the same good condition as ever, which is most extra
ordinary fine, and he was now at work with a cabinet
maker, making of a new inlaid table. Called at
Mr. Lilly's, who was working ; and indeed his pictures
are without doubt much beyond Mr. Hales's, I think
I may say I am convinced : but a mighty proud man
he is, and full of state. To the King's playhouse ;
and by and by comes Mr. Lowther and his wife and
mine, and into a box, forsooth, neither of them being
dressed, which I was almost ashamed of. Sir W.
Pen and I in the pit, and here saw " The Mayden
Queene " again ; which indeed the more I see the
more I like, and is an excellent play, and so done by
Nell, her merry part, as cannot be better done in
nature. 26th. I have cause to be joyful this day, for my
being cut of the stone this day nine years, and through
God's blessing am at this day and have been in as
good condition of health as ever I was in my life or
any man in England is. God make me thankful for
it ! But the condition I am in, in reference to my
mother, makes it unfit for me to keep my usual feast.
To Exeter House, where the Judge was sitting, and
there heard our cause pleaded ; Sir  Turner,1 Sir
1 Sir Edward Turner. Solicitor-General.

280 DIARY OF March 27
W. Walker, and Sir Ellis Layton being our counsel
against only Sir Robert Wiseman1 on the other. The
second of our three counsel was the best, and indeed
did speak admirably, and is a very shrewd man.
Nevertheless, as good as he did make our case, and
the rest, yet when Wiseman came to argue, nay, and
though he did begin so sillily that we laughed in
scorn in our sleeves at him, he did so state the case,
that the Judge2 did not think fit to decide the cause
to-night, but took to to-morrow, and did stagger us
in our hopes, so as to make us despair of the success.
I am mightily pleased with the Judge, who seems a
very rational, learned, and uncorrupt man, though our
success doth shake me.
27th. Sir W. Pen and I towards the Exchequer
and in our way met Sir G. Downing, and he would
go with us back to the Exchequer and showed us in
his office his chests full and ground and shelves full
of money, and says that there is 50,000/. at this day
in his office of people's money, who may demand it
this day and might have had it away several weeks
ago upon the late Act, but do rather choose to have
it continue there than to put it into the Banker's
hands, and I must confess it is more than I should
have believed had I not seen it, and more than I
could have expected would have arisen for this new
Act in so short a time. But it comes into my head
here to observe what I have heard from Sir John
Bankes, though I cannot fully conceive the reason of
it, that it will be impossible to make the Exchequer
ever a true bank to all intents, unless the Exchequer
1 D.C.L., King's Advocate, 1669.
2 Sir Leoline Jenkins, Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, and
afterwards made Judge of the Admiralty and the Prerogative
Court. He was subsequently employed on several embassies, and
succeeded Henry Coventry as Secretary of State. Ob. 1685, aged
62. His State Papers have been published.

i667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 281
stood nearer the Exchange, where merchants might
with ease, while they are going about their business,
at all hours, and without trouble or loss of time, have
their satisfaction, which they cannot have now without
much trouble, and loss of half a day, and no certainty
of having the offices open. To Westminster Hall
and there met Baity, and did break the business of
my getting him the place of going again as Muster-
Master under Harman to the West Indys, which
indeed I do owe to Sir W. Pen. He is mighty glad
of it, but I do find, poor man, that he is troubled how
to dispose of his wife, and apparently it is out of fear
of her and his honour, and I believe he has received
some cause of this his jealousy and care, and I do
pity him in it, and will endeavour to find out some
way to do it for him. To the Castle Taverne, by
Exeter House; and there Sir Ellis Layton, whom I
find a wonderful witty, ready man for sudden answers
and little tales, and sayings very extraordinary witty.
He did give me a full account, upon my demand, of
this Judge of the Admiralty, Judge Jenkins ; who,
he says, is a man never practised in this Court, but
taken merely for his merit and ability's sake from
Trinity Hall, where he had always lived ; only by
accident the business of the want of a Judge being
proposed to the present Archbishop of Canterbury,
he did think of this man and sent for him up : and
here he is, against the gri and content of the old
Doctors, made Judge, but is a very excellent man
both for judgment and temper, yet majesty enough,
and by all men's report, not to be corrupted. After
dinner to the Court, where Sir Ellis Layton did make
a very silly motion in our behalf, but did neither hurt
nor good. After him Walker and Wiseman ; and
then the Judge did pronounce his sentence ; for some
— a part of the goods and ship, and the freight of the
whole, to be free, and returned and paid by us ; and

282 DIARY OF March 28
the remaining, which was the greater part, to be ours.
The loss of so much troubles us, but we have got a
pretty good part, thanks be to God ! Received from
my brother the newes of my mother's dying on
Monday, about five or six o'clock in the afternoon,
and that the last time she spoke of her children was
on Friday last, and her last words were, " God bless
my poor Sam ! " The reading hereof did set me
a- weeping heartily, and so weeping to myself awhile,
and my wife also to herself, I then spoke to my wife
respecting myself, and Indeed, having some thoughts
how much better both for her and us it is than it
might have been had she outlived my father and
me or my happy present condition in the world, she
being helpless, I was the sooner at ease in my mind,
and then found it necessary to go abroad with my
wife to look after the providing mourning to send
into the country, — some to-morrow, and more against
Sunday, for my family, being resolved to put myself
and wife, and Barker and Jane, W. Hewer and Tom,
in mourning, and my two under-mayds, to give them
hoods and scarfs and gloves. So to my tailor's, and
up and down, and then home, and to bed, my heart
sad, though my judgment at ease.
28th. I down by water to our prize, part of whose
goods were condemned yesterday — " The Linde-
boome " — and there we did drink some of her wine,
very good. But it did grate my heart to see the
poor master come on board, and look about into
every corner, and find fault that she was not so clean
as she used to be, though methought she was very
clean ; and to see his new masters come in, that had
nothing to do with her, did trouble me to see him.
Thence to Blackwall and there to Mr. Johnson's, to
see how some works upon some of our repaired ships
go on, and at his house eat and drank and mighty
extraordinary merry, too merry for me whose mother

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 283
died so lately, but they know it not, so cannot re
proach me therein, though I reproach myself.
29th. To the office till noon ; home and there
find Baity and his wife got thither both by my wife
for me to give them good advice, for her to be with
his father and mother all this time of absence, for
saving of money, and did plainly and like a friend
tell them my mind of the necessity of saving money,
and that if I did not find they did endeavour it, I
should not think fit to trouble myself for them, but I
see she is utterly against being with his father and
mother, and so he do propose that it will be cheaper
for him to put her to board at a place he is offered at
Lee, and I having given him so much good advice
do leave them to stand and fall as they please,
having discharged myself as a friend. I do observe
the great streets in the city are marked out with piles
drove into the ground ; and if ever it be built in that
form with so fair streets, it will be a noble sight. To
a periwigg-maker's, and there bought two periwiggs,
mighty fine ; indeed, too fine, I thought, for me ; but
he persuaded me, and I did buy them for 4/. \os.
the two. To the Bull- Head Taverne, whither was
brought my French gun ; and one Truelocke, the
famous gunsmith, that is a mighty ingenious man,
did take my gun in pieces, and made me understand
the secrets thereof : and upon the whole I do find it
a very good piece of work, and truly wrought ; but
for certain not a thing to be used much with safety :
and he do find that this very gun was never yet shot
off. Baity tells me strange stories of his mother.
Among others, how she, in his absence in Holland,
did pawne all the things that he had got in his ser
vice under Oliver, and run of her own accord, with
out her husband's leave, into Flanders, and that his
purse, and 4s. a week which his father receives of
the French church, is all the subsistence his father

284 DIARY OF March 31
and mother have, and that about 20/. a year main
tains them j1 which, if it please God, I will find one
way or other to provide for them, to remove that
scandal away.
30th. At noon home to dinner, thence with my
wife's knowledge and leave to see the silly play
of my Lady Newcastle's,2 called " The Humourous
Lovers ;" the most silly thing that ever came upon a
stage. I was sick to see it, but yet would not but
have seen it, that I might the better understand her.
Here I spied Knipp and Betty,3 of the King's house,
and sent Knipp oranges, but, having little money
about me, did not offer to carry them abroad, which
otherwise I had, I fear, been tempted to. So to my
office, where, among other things, a most extraor
dinary letter to the Duke of York touching the want
of money and the sad state of the King's service
thereby. 3 1st. (Lord's day.) To church ; and with my mourn
ing, very handsome, and new periwigg, make a great
show. Walked to my Lord Treasurer's, where the
King, Duke of York, and the Caball, and much com
pany without ; and a fine day. Anon come out from the
Caball my Lord Hollis and Mr. H. Coventry,4 who,
it is conceived, have received their instructions from
the King this day ; they being to begin their journey
towards their treaty at Bredah speedily, their passes
being come. Here I saw the Lady Northumberland6
1 This seems to prove that Mrs. Pepys's mother had married
again. 2 Margaret, daughter of Thomas Lucas, of Colchester, and
sister to John Lord Lucas, married William Cavendish, Marquis of
Newcastle, created a Duke, 1664.
3 Betty Hall. See 23rd January, 1666-7.
4 See 14th February, 1666-7, anie.
5 Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Theophilus Howard,
second Earl of Suffolk, wife of Algernon, tenth Earl of Northum
berland.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 285
and her daughter-in-law, my Lord Treasurer's
daughter, my Lady Piercy,1 a beautiful lady indeed.
The month shuts up only with great desires of peace
in all of us, and a belief that we shall have a peace,
in most people, if it can be had on any terms, for
there is a necessity of it ; for we cannot go on with
the war, and our masters are afraid to come to depend
upon the good will of the Parliament any more, as I
do hear.
April 1st. To White Hall, and there had the good
fortune to walk with SirW. Coventry into the garden,
and there read our melancholy letter to the Duke of
York, which he likes. And so to talk : and he flatly
owns that we must have a peace, for we cannot set
out a fleete f and, to use his own words, he fears that
we shall soon have enough of fighting in this new
way, which we have thought on for this year. He
bemoans the want of money, and discovers himself
jealous that Sir G. Carteret do not look after, or
concern himself for getting, money ; and did further
say, that he [Carteret] and my Lord Chancellor do
at this very day labour all they can to villify this new
way of raising money, and making it payable, as it
now is, into the Exchequer ; and that in pursuance
hereof, my Lord Chancellor hath prevailed with the
King, in the close of his speech to the House, to
say, that he did hope to see them come to give money
as it used to be given, without so many provisos,
meaning this new method of the Act. While we
1 Lady Elizabeth Wriothesley, daughter and co-heir to the last
Earl of Southampton, married to Joscelin Lord Percy.
2 Evelyn ("Diary," July 29, 1667) says that it was owing to Sir
William Coventry that no fleet was fitted out in 1667. His un
popularity after the burning of the fleet at Chatham by the Dutch
was great. " Those who advised His Majesty to prepare no fleet
this spring, deserved — I know what — but ! " — Evelyn's Diary,
28th June, 1667.

286 DIARY OF April i
were talking, there came Sir Thomas Allen1 with
two ladies, one of which was Mrs. Rebecca Allen,
that I knew heretofore, the clerk of the rope-yard's
daughter at Chatham, poor heart! come to desire
favour for her husband, who is clapt up, being a
Lieutenant [Jewkes] for sending a challenge to his
Captain, in the most saucy, base language that could
be writ. I perceive Sir W. Coventry is wholly re
solved to bring him to punishment ; for, " bear with
this," says he, " and no discipline shall ever be ex
pected." She in this sad condition took no notice of
me, nor I of her. So away we to the Duke of York,
and there in his closett Sir W. Coventry and I de
livered the letter, which the Duke of York made
not much of, I thought, as to laying it to heart, as
the matter deserved, but did prbmise to look after
the getting of money for us. To Sir George
Carteret's and dined there, and many good stories
at dinner, among others about discoveries of murder,
and Sir J. Minnes did tell of the discovery of his
own great-grandfather's murder, fifteen years after -
he was murdered. Mrs. Turner came to my office,
and did walk an hour with me in the garden, telling
me stories how Sir Edward Spragge hath lately made
love to our neighbour, a widow, Mrs. Hollworthy,
who is a woman of estate, and wit and spirit, and
do contemn him the most, and sent him away
with the greatest scorn in the world ; also odd
stories how the parish talks of Sir W. Pen's family,
how poorly they clothe their daughter so soon after
marriage, and do say that Mr. Lowther was mar
ried once before, and some such thing there hath
been, whatever the bottom of it is. But to think
of the clatter they make with his coach, and his
owne fine cloathes, and yet how meanly they live
1 Elsewhere called Captain Allen.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 287
within doors, and nastily, and borrowing everything
of neighbours.
2nd. Mr. Deane hath promised me a very fine
draught of the Rupert, which I will make one of the
beautifullest things that ever was seen of the kind,
she being a ship that will deserve it. Then to the
office and in the evening weary home and there to
sing, but vexed with the unreadiness of the girle's
voice to learn the latter part of my. song, though I
confess it is very hard, half notes.
3rd. To the Duke of York, where I read two most
dismal letters of the straits we are in (from Collonell
Middleton and Commissioner Taylor) that ever were
wrote in the world, so as the Duke of York would
have them to show the King, and to every demand
of money, whereof we proposed many and very
pressing ones, Sir G. Carteret did say that he had
no funds to raise money on ; and being asked by
Sir W. Coventry whether the eleven months' tax was
not a fund, he answered, " No, that the bankers would
not lend money upon it." Then Sir W. Coventry
burst out and said he did supplicate his Royal
Highness, and would do the same to the King, that
he would remember who they were that did persuade
the King from parting with the Chimney-money to
the Parliament, and taking that in lieu which they
would certainly have given, and which would have
raised infallibly ready money ; meaning the bankers
and the farmers of the Chimney-money, whereof Sir
G. Carteret, I think, is one; saying plainly, that
whoever did advise the King to that, did, as much
as in them lay, cut the King's throat, and did wholly
betray him ; to which the Duke of York did assent ;
and remembered that the King did say again and
again at the time, that he was assured, and did fully
believe, the money would be raised presently upon a
land-tax. This put us all into a stound ; and Sir W.

288 DIARY OF April 3
Coventry went on to declare, that he was glad he was
come to have so lately1 concern in the Navy as he
hath, for he cannot now give any good account of
the Navy business ; and that all his work now was to
be able to provide such orders as would justify his
Royal Highness in the business, when it shall be
called to account ; and that he do do, not concerning
himself whether they are or can be performed, or
no ; and that when it comes to be examined, and
falls on my Lord Treasurer, he cannot help it,
whatever the issue of it shall be. Hereupon Sir W.
Batten did pray him to keep also by him all our
letters that come from the office that may justify us,
which he says he do do, and, God knows, it is an ill
sign when we are once to come to study how to
excuse ourselves. It is a sad consideration, and
therewith we broke up, all in a sad posture, the most
that ever I saw in my life. One thing more Sir W.
Coventry did say to the Duke of York, when I moved
again, that of about 9,000/. debt to Lanyon,2 at
Plymouth, he might pay 3,700/. worth of prize-goods,
that he bought lately at the candle, out of this debt
due to him from the King; and the Duke of York,
and Sir G. Carteret, and Lord Barkeley, saying, all of
them, that my Lord Ashly would not be got to yield
to it, who is Treasurer of the Prizes, Sir W. Coventry
did plainly desire that it might be declared whether
the proceeds of the prizes were to go to the helping
on of the war, or no ; and, if it were, how then could
this be denied ? which put them all into another
stound ; and it is true, God forgive us ! Thence to
the chappell, and there, by chance, hear that Dr. Crew3
is to preach ; and so into the organ-loft, where I met
1 Little ? 2 One of the contractors for victualling Tangier.
3 Nathanael Crewe, afterwards Bishop of Durham, and last Lord
Crewe. He was the founder of the noble Bamborough charities.
Ob. 1721.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 289
Mr. Carteret, and my Lady Jemimah, and Sir Thomas
Crew's two daughters, and Dr. Childe playing ; and
Dr. Crew did make a very pretty, neat, sober, honest
sermon ; and delivered it very readily, decently, and
gravely, beyond his years : so as I was exceedingly
taken with it, and I believe the whole chappell, he
being but young ; but his manner of his delivery I
do like exceedingly. His text was, " But seeke ye
first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and
all these things shall be added unto you." The
Dutch letters are come, and say that the Dutch have
ordered a passe to be sent for our Commissioners,
and that it is now upon the way, coming with a
trumpeter blinded, as is usual. But I perceive every
body begins to doubt the success of the treaty, all
their hopes being only that if it can be had on any
terms, the Chancellor will have it ; for he dare not
come before a Parliament, nor a great many more of
the courtiers, and the King himself do declare he do
not desire it, nor intend it but on a strait ; which
God defend him from ! Here I hear how the King
is not so well pleased of this marriage between the
Duke of Richmond and Mrs. Stewart, as is talked ;
and that he [the Duke] by a wile did fetch her to the
Beare, at the Bridge-foot, where a coach was ready,
and they are stole away into Kent,1 without the
King's leave ; and that the King hath said he will
never see her more ; but people do think that it is
only a trick. This day I saw Prince Rupert abroad
in the Vane-room, pretty well as he used to be, and
looks as well, only something appears to be under
his periwigg on the crown of his head. So home
vexed at two or three things, viz. : that my wife's
watch proves so bad as it do, the ill state of the office
and Kingdom's business, and at the charge which
my mother's death for mourning will put me to.
1 To Cobham Hall, near Gravesend, see 26th April, post.
4 U

290 DIARY OF April 4
4th. To the Duke of Albemarle to give him an
account of the escaping of some soldiers for the
manning of the few ships now ordering out with
Harman to the West Indies, which is a sad con
sideration that at the very beginning of the year and
few ships abroad we should be in such want of men
that they do hide themselves, and swear they will not
go to be killed and have no pay. I find the Duke of
Albemarle at dinner with sorry company, some of
his officers of the Army ; dirty dishes, and a nasty
wife at table, and bad meat, of which I made but an
ill dinner. Pretty to hear how she talked against
Captain Du Tell,1 the Frenchman, that the Prince
and her husband put out the last year ; and how,
says she, the Duke of York hath made him, for his
good services, his Cupbearer ; yet he fired more shot
into the Prince's ship, and others of the King's ships,
than of the enemy. And the Duke of Albemarle
did confirm it, and that somebody in the fight did
cry out that a little Dutchman, by his ship, did
plague him more than any other ; upon which they
were going to order him to be sunk, when they looked
and found it was Du Tell, who, as the Duke of
Albemarle says, had killed several men in several of
our ships. He said, but for his interest, which he
knew he had at Court, he had hanged him at the
yard's-arm, without staying for a Court-martiall. One
Colonel Howard,2 at the table, magnified the Duke
of Albemarle's fight in June last, as being a greater
action than ever was done by Csesar. The Duke of
Albemarle did say it had been no great action, had
all his number fought, as they should have done, to
have beat the Dutch ; but of his 55- ships, not above
25 fought. He did give an account that it was a
fight he was forced to : the Dutch being come in his
1 See note, July 27, 1666, ante.
2 Son of the Earl of Berkshire.

SIR EDWARD SPRAGG.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 291
way, and he being ordered to the buoy of the Nore,
he could not pass by them without fighting, nor avoid
them without great disadvantage and dishonour; and
this Sir G. Carteret, I afterwards giving him an
account of what he said, says is true, that he was
ordered up to the Nore. But I remember he said,
had all his captains fought, he would no more have
doubted to have beat the Dutch, with all their number,
than to eat the apple that lay on his trencher. My
Lady Duchess, among other things, discoursed of the
wisdom of dividing the fleete j1 which the General
said nothing to, though he knows well that it came
from themselves in the fleete, and was brought up
hither by Sir Edward Spragge. Colonel Howard,
asking how the Prince did, the Duke of Albemarle
answering, " Pretty well ; " the other replied, " But
not so well as to go to sea again." — " How ! " says
the Duchess, "what should he go for, if he were
well, for there are no ships for him to command ?
And so you have brought your hogs to a fair market,"
said she. It was pretty to hear the Duke of Albe
marle himself to wish that- they would come on our
ground, meaning the French, for that he would pay
them, so as to make them glad to go back to France
again ; which was like a general, but not like an
admiral. One at the table told an odd passage in
this late plague : that at Petersfield, I think, he said,
one side of the street had every house almost infected
through the town, and the other, not one shut up.
I brought Baity to the Duke of Albemarle to kiss
his hands and thank him for his kindness the last
year to him, and then Baity and I to the Park, and,
out of pity to his father, told him what I had in my
thoughts to do for him about the money — that is, to
make him Deputy Treasurer to the fleete, which I
1 See Nov. 1, 1667, post.

292 DIARY OF April 4
have done by getting Sir G. Carteret's consent, and
an order from the Duke of York for 1,500/. to be
paid to him. He promises the whole profit to be
paid to my wife, to be disposed of as she sees fit, for
her father and mother's relief. So I back to Sir
G. Carteret's and talked, and find that he do give
every thing over for lost, and let Sir W. Coventry
name the man that persuaded the King to take the
Land Tax on promise of raising present money upon
it. He will, he says, be able to clear himself enough
of it. I made him merry, with telling him how many
land-admirals we are to have this year: Allen at
Plymouth, Holmes at Portsmouth, Spragge for Med-
way, Teddiman at Dover, Smith to the Northward,
and Harman to the Southward. My Lady Carteret
was on the bed to-day, having been let blood, and
tells me of my Lady Jemimah's being big-bellied.
With Sir Stephen Fox, talking of the sad condition
of the King's purse, and affairs thereby; and how
sad the King's life must be, to pass by his officers
every hour, that are four years behindhand unpaid.
My Lord Barkeley [of Stratton], I met with there,
and fell into talk with him on the same thing, wishing
to God that it might be remedied, to which he an
swered, with an oath, that it was as easy to remedy
it as anything in the world ; saying, that there is
himself and three more would venture their carcasses
upon it to pay all the King's debts in three years,
had they the managing his revenue, and putting
300,000/. in his purse, as a stock. But, Lord ! what
a thing is this to me, that do know how likely a man
my Lord Barkeley of all the world is, to do such a
thing as this. Sir W. Coventry tells me plainly, that
to all future complaints .of lack of money, he will
answer but with the shrug of the shoulder ; which
methought did come to my heart, to see him to begin
to abandon the King's affairs, and let them sink or

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 293
swim, so he do his owne part, which I confess I
believe he do beyond any officer the King has, but
unless he do endeavour to make others do theirs,
nothing will be done. My wife had been to-day at
White; Hall to the Maundy,1 it being Maundy
Thursday ; but the King did not wash the poor
people's feet himself, but the Bishop of London did
it for him. To Hackney, where good neat's tongue,
and things to eat and drink, and very merry, the
weather being mighty pleasant ; and here I was told
that at their church they have a fair pair of organs,
which play while the people sing, which I am mighty
glad of, wishing the like at our church at London,
and would give 50/. towards it.
5th. In the street met with Mr. Sanchy^ my old
acquaintance at Cambridge, reckoned a great minis
ter here in the City, and by Sir Richard Ford par
ticularly, which I wonder at ; for methinks, in his
talk, he is but a mean man. To the Old Exchange,
and there to Sir Robert Viner's, and made up my
account there, to my great content; but I find they
do not keep them so regularly as to enable them to
do it easily, and truly, and readily, nor would it have
been easily stated by any body on my behalf but
myself, several things being to be referred to memory,
which nobody else could have done, and therefore it
1 Alms are still annually distributed to a certain number of poor
persons in the royal chapel at Whitehall, in the name of the Sove
reign, on Maundy Thursday, the day preceding Good Friday.
The word is derived from the baskets, or maunds, in which the
gift is contained. Formerly, the Kings and Queens of England,
besides bestowing their maunds on as many poor men and women
as they were years old, washed their feet. James II. was probably
the last of ourmonarchs who performed this ceremony. Of the cere
monial of the Maundy as practised in George Ill's time, some
engravings were published in 1773, after drawings by S. H.
Grimm. It is the custom to give the royal alms in small silver
coinage, struck especially for the occasion, and called Maundy
money.

294 DIARY OF Aprils
is fully necessary for me to even accounts with these
people as often as I can. So to Sir W. Batten's,
where Mr. Young was talking about the building of
the City again : and he told me that those few
churches that are to be new built are plainly not
chosen with regard to the convenience of the City ;
they stand a great many in a cluster about Cornhill ;
but that all of them are either in the gift of the Lord
Archbishop, or Bishop of London, or Lord Chancellor,
or gift of the City. Thus all things, even to the
building of churches, are done in this world ! And
then he says, which I wonder at, that he should not
in all this time see, that Moorefields have houses two
stories high in them, and paved streets, the City
having let leases for. seven years, which he do con
clude will be very much to the hindering the building
of the City ; but it was considered that the streets
cannot be passable in London till the whole street be
built; and several that had got ground of the City
for charity, to build sheds on, had got the trick pre
sently to sell that for 60/., which did not cost them
20/. to put up ; and so the City, being very poor in
stock, thought it as good to do it themselves, and
therefore let leases for seven years of the ground in
Moorefields ; and a good deal of this money, thus
advanced, hath been employed for the enabling them
to find some money for Commissioner Taylor, and
Sir W. Batten, towards the charge of " The Loyall
London,"1 or else, it is feared, it had never been paid.
This morning come to me the Collectors for my Poll-
money ; for which I paid for my title as Esquire and
place of Clerk of Acts, and my head and wife's, and
servants' and their wages, 40/. 1 ys. ; and though this
[be a great deal, yet it is a shame I should pay no
more : that is, that I should not be assessed for my
1 The ship given by the City to the King. See 10th June,
1666, ante.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 295
pay, as in the victualling business and Tangier ; and
for my money, which, of my own accord, I had de
termined to charge myself with 1,000/. money, till
coming to the Vestry, and seeing nobody of our
ablest merchants, as Sir Andrew Rickard, to do it,
I thought it not decent for me to do it, and would
it be thought wisdom to do it unnecessarily, but
vain glory.
6th. To the Tower wharfe, to attend the shipping
of soldiers, to go down to man some ships going out,
and pretty to see how merrily some, and most go,
and how sad others — the leave they take of their
friends, and. the terms that some wives, and other
wenches asked to part with them : a pretty mixture.
Away to the Exchange, and mercers and drapers, up
and down, to pay all my scores occasioned by this
mourning for my mother ; and emptied a 50/. bag, \
and it was a joy to me to see that I am able to part
with such a sum, without much inconvenience : at
least, without any trouble of mind.
7th. (Easter day.) With my wife to church, where
Mr. Mills, a lazy sermon. After dinner to walk in
the Parke, and heard the Italian musique at the
Queen's chapel, whose composition is fine, but yet
the voices of eunuchs I do not like as our women,
nor am more pleased with it at all than with English
voices, but that they do jump most excellently with
themselves and their instrument, which is wonderful
pleasant ; but I am convinced more and more, that,
as every nation has a particular accent and tone in
discourse, so as the tone of one not to agree with or
please the other, no more can the fashion of singing
to words, for that the better the words are set, the
more they take in of the ordinary tone of the country
whose language the song speaks, so that a song well
composed by an Englishman must be better to an
Englishman than it can be to a stranger, or than if

296 DIARY OF Aprils
set by a stranger in foreign words. Thence to
White Hall, and there saw the King come out of
chapel after prayers in the afternoon, which he is
never at but after having received the Sacrament :
and the Court, I perceive, is quite out of mourning ;
and some very fine ; among others, my Lord Gerard,
in a very rich vest and coat. Here I met with my
Lord Bellassis : and it is pretty to see what a
formal story he tells me of his leaving his place
upon the death of my Lord Cleveland,1 by which
he is become Captain of the Pensioners ; and that
the King did leave it to him to keep the other
or take this ; whereas, I know the contrary, that
they had a mind to have him away from Tangier.
He tells me he is commanded by the King to go
down to the north to satisfy the Deputy Lieutenants
of Yorkshire, who have desired to lay down their
commissions upon pretence of having no profit by
their places but charge, but indeed it is upon the
• Duke of Buckingham being under a cloud, of whom
there is yet nothing heard, so that the King is ap
prehensive of their discontent, and sends him to
pacify them, and I think he is as good a dissembler
as any man else, and a fine person he is, and proper
to lead the Pensioners, but a man of no honour nor
faith I doubt. Into Moor Fields, and did find
houses built two stories high, and like to stand ; and
it must become a place of great trade, till the City
be built ; and the street is already paved as London
streets used to be.
8th. Away to the Temple, to my new bookseller's :
1 Thomas Wentworth, fourth Lord Wentworth of Nettlested,
advanced, in 1625-6, to the Earldom of Cleveland, and in 1662
made Captain of the band of Pensioners. He died in 1667,
s. p. m., when the Barony devolved upon his daughter, Henrietta,
Baroness Wentworth, afterwards mistress of the Duke of Mon
mouth.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 297
and there I did agree for Rycaut's late History of
the Turkish Policy,1 which cost me 55^-. ; whereas it
was sold plain before the late fire for 8s., and bound
and coloured as this is for 20.y. ; for I have bought
it finely bound and truly coloured, all the figures, of
which there was but six books done so, whereof the
King and Duke of York, and Duke of Monmouth,
and Lord Arlington, had four. The fifth was sold,
and I have bought the sixth. Home, and there find
all things in readiness for a good dinner. By and
by come my guests, Dr. Clerke and his wife, and
Mrs. Worshipp,2 and her daughter ; and then Mr.
Pierce and his wife, and boyt and Betty ; and then I
sent for Mercer ; so that we had, with my wife and
I, twelve at table, and very good and pleasant com
pany, and a most neat and excellent, but dear dinner ;
but, Lord ! to see with what envy they looked upon
all my fine plate was pleasant ; for I made the best
show I could, to let them understand me and my
condition, to take down the pride of Mrs. Clerke,
who thinks herself very great. We sat long ; and,
after dinner, went out by coaches, thinking to have
seen a play, but come too late to both houses, and
then they had thoughts of going abroad somewhere ;
but I thought all the charge ought to be mine, and
therefore endeavoured to part the company ; and so
ordered it to set them all down at Mrs. Pierce's ; and
there my wife and I and Mercer left them in good
humour, and we three to the King's house, and saw
the latter end of the " Surprisall,"3 wherein was no
great matter. Thence away to Polichinello,4 and
there had three times more sport than at the play,
1 This book is in the Pepysian Library. It was soon after
wards reprinted.
2 The sister of Mrs. Clerke.
3 A comedy, by Sir Robert Howard.
4 In Moorfields : see 22nd Aug., 1666, ante.

298 DIARY OF April 9
and so home, and to bed mightily pleased with this
day's pleasure.
9th. Towards noon, I to the Exchange, and there
do hear mighty cries for peace, and that otherwise
we shall be undone ; and yet I do suspect the bad
ness of the peace we shall make. Several do com
plain of abundance of land flung up by tenants out
of their hands for want of ability to pay their rents ;
and by name, that the Duke of Buckingham hath
6,000/. so flung up. And my father writes, that
Jasper Trice,1 upon this pretence of his tenants' deal
ing with him, is broke up housekeeping, and gone to
board with his brother, Naylor, at Offord ; which is
very sad. To the King's house, and there saw "The
| Tameing of a Shrew," which hath some very good
pieces in it, but generally is but a mean play ; and
the best part, "Sawny,"2 done by Lacy; and hath
not half its life, by reason of the words, I suppose,
not being understood, at least by me. Sir W. Batten
tells me how he hath found his lady's jewels again,
which have been so long lost, and a servant im
prisoned and arraigned, and they were in her closet
under a china cup; but Mrs. Turner and I, and others,
do believe that they were only disposed of by my
1 Jasper Trice, gent, died 27th October, 1675. — Monumental
Inscription in Brampton Church, Hunts.
2 In 1698 was printed a drama called " Sawney the Scot, or the
Taming of a Shrew," which was a clumsy alteration of Shakespeare's
play, the work of Lacy, for the purpose of affording him an oppor
tunity of distinguishing himself as an actor. This is the piece
which Pepys saw ; as, in the old anonymous copy of "The Taming
of a Shrew," which was the foundation of Shakespeare's drama,
Sawney had been called Sander; and no doubt the notion of re
presenting Grumio as a Scotchman arose out of the circumstance
of his having been called Sander before Shakespeare availed him
self of the story. The old " Taming of a Shrew " was reprinted in
1844, from the unique copy of 1594, in the library of the Duke of
Devonshire, for the Shakespeare Society, and edited by the late
respected Thomas Amyot, Esq., F.A.S.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 299
Lady, in case she had died, to some friends of hers,
and now laid there again.
10th. Up and to my office a little, and there, in
the garden, find Sir W. Pen ; and he and I to Sir
W. Batten, where he tells us of new disorders of
Hogg and his men in taking of 30 tuns of wine out
of a prize of ours, which makes us mad ; and that,
added to the unwillingness of the men to go any
longer abroad without money, do lead us to conclude
not to keep her abroad any longer, of which I am
glad. So away to White Hall to Sir W. Coventry's,
with whom I staid a great while ; and he do declare
himself troubled that he has anything left him to do
in the Navy, and would be glad to part with his
whole profits and concernments in it, his pains and
care being wholly ineffectual during this lack of
money ; the expense growing infinite, the service
not to be done, and discipline and order not to be
kept, only from want of money. I begun to discourse
with him the business of Tangier, which by the re
moval of my Lord Bellassis, is now to have a new
Governor ; and did move him, that at this season all
the business of reforming the garrison might be con
sidered, while nobody was to be offended ; and I told
him it is plain that we do overspend our revenue :
that the place is of no more profit to the King than
it was the first day, nor in itself of better credit ; no
more people of condition willing to live there, nor
any thing like a place likely to turn his Majesty to
account : that it hath been hitherto, and, for aught I
see, likely only to be used as a job to do a kindness
to some Lord, or he that can get to be Governor.
Sir W. Coventry agreed with me, so as to say, that
unless the King hath the wealth of the Mogul, he
would be a beggar to have his businesses ordered in
the manner they now are : that his garrisons must
be made places only of convenience to particular

300 DIARY OF April 10
persons : that he hath moved the Duke of York in
it ; and that it was resolved to send no Governor
thither till there had been Commissioners sent to
put the garrison in order, so as that he that goes
may go with limitations and rules to follow, and not
to do as he please, as the rest have hitherto done.
That he is not afraid to speak his mind, though to
the displeasure of any man ; and that I know well
enough ; but that, when it is come, as it is now, that
to speak the truth in behalf of the King plainly do
no good, but all things bore down by other measures
than by what is best for the King, he hath no temp
tation to be perpetually fighting of battles, it being
more easy to him on those terms to suffer things to
go on without giving any man offence, than to have
the same thing done, and he contract the displeasure
of all the world, as he must do, that will be for the
King. To the King's little chapel ; and afterwards
/ to see the King heal the King's Evil, wherein no
pleasure, I having seen it before j1 and then to see
him and the Queene and Duke of York and his wife,
at dinner in the Queene's lodgings ; and so with Sir
G. Carteret to his lodgings to dinner ; where very
good company; and after dinner he and I to talk
alone how things are managed, and to what ruin
we must come if we have not a peace. He did
. tell me one occasion, how Sir Thomas Allen, whom
I took for a man of known courage and service on
the King's side, was tried for his life in Prince Ru
pert's fleete, in the late times, for cowardice, and con
demned to be hanged, and fled to Jersey ; where Sir
G. Carteret received him, not knowing the reason of
his coming thither : and that thereupon Prince Ru
pert wrote to the Queen-Mother his dislike of Sir G.
Carteret's receiving a person that stood condemned ;
1 See 23rd June, 1660.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 301
and so Sir G. Carteret was forced to bid him betake
himself to some other place. This was strange to
me. Our Commissioners are preparing to go to
Bredah to the treaty, and do design to be going the
next week. Down by water to Deptford Dockyard,
and there did a little business, all the way reading a
little piece I lately bought, called " The Virtuoso, or
the Stoicke," proposing many things paradoxical to
our common opinions, wherein in some things he
speaks well, but generally is but a sorry man.
Blessed be God ! I hear that my father is better and
better, and will, I hope, live to enjoy some cheerful
days ; but it is strange what he writes me, that Mr.
Weaver, of Huntingdon, who was a lusty, likely, and
but a youngish man, should be dead.
nth. I to the 'Change, and there hear by Mr.
Houblon of the loss of a little East Indiaman, valued
at about 20,000/., coming home alone, and safe to
within ten leagues of Scilly, and there snapt by a
French Caper.1 Our merchants do much pray for
peace ; and he tells me that letters are come that
the Dutch have stopped the fitting-out of their great
ships, and the coming out of a fleete of theirs of 50 sayle,
that was ready to come out ; but I doubt the truth of
it yet. Thence to Sir G. Carteret, where my Lady
was, and dined with him, and very merry and good
people they are, when pleased, as any I know. With
Baity to Sir G. Carteret's office, and there with Mr.
Fenn despatched the business of Baity 's 1,500/. he
received for the contingencies of the fleete, whereof
he received about 253/. in pieces of eight at a gold
smith's there hard by, which did puzzle me and him
to tell ; for I could not tell the difference by sight,
only by bigness, and that is not always discernible,
between a whole and half-piece and quarter-piece.
1 A Dutch word signifying a pirate, a capiendo. — Skinner's
Etymol. Diet.

302 DIARY OF April 12
To White Hall, thinking there to have seen the
Duchess of Newcastle's coming this night to Court,
to make a visit to the Queene, the King having been
with her yesterday, to make her a visit since her
coming to town. The whole story of this lady is a
romance, and all she does is romantic. Her footmen
in velvet coats, and herself in antique dress, as they
say ; and was the other day at her own play, " The
Humourous Lovers ;" the most ridiculous thing that
ever was wrote, but yet she and her Lord mightily
pleased with it ; and she, at the end, made her re
spects to the players from her box, and did give
them thanks. There is as much expectation of her
coming to Court, that so people may come to see
her, as if it were the Queen of Sheba .-1 but I lost
my labour, for she did not come this night. There
have been two fires in the City within this week.,
1 2 th. Coming home, saw my door and hatch open,
left so by Luce, our cookmayde, which so vexed
j me, that I did give her a kick in our entry, and
\ offered a blow at her, and was seen doing so by Sir.
W- Pen's footboy, which did vex me to the heart,
because I know he will be telling their family of it ;
though I did put on presently a very pleasant face
to the boy, and spoke kindly to him, as one without
passion, so as it may be he might not think I was
angry, but I was troubled at it. So away by water
to White Hall, and there did our usual business be
fore the Duke of York ; but it fell out that, discours
ing of matters of money, it rose to a mighty heat,
very high words arising between Sir G. Carteret and
Sir W. Coventry, the former in his passion saying
that the other should have helped things if they were
so bad ; and the other answered, so he would, and
things should have been better had he been Trea-
1 The word is Sweden in the manuscript.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 303
surer of the Navy. I was mightily troubled at this
heat, and it will breed ill blood between them I fear ;
but things are in that bad condition that I do daily
expect we shall all fly in one another's faces, when
we shall be reduced, every one, to answer for himself.
We broke up ; and I soon after to Sir G. Carteret's
chamber, where I find the poor man telling his lady
privately, and she weeping. I went into them, and
did seem, as indeed I was, troubled for this ; and
did give the best advice I could, which, I think, did
please them : and they do apprehend me their friend,
as indeed I am, for I do take the Vice-chamberlain
for a most honest man. He did assure me that he
was not, all expences and things paid, clear in estate
15,000/ better than he was when the King came in ;
and that the King and Lord Chancellor did know
that he was worth, with the debt the King owed
him, 50,000/., I think, he said, when the King came
into England. I did pacify all I could, and then
away by water home, there to write letters and things
for the dispatch of Baity away this day to sea ; and
after dinner he did go, I having given him much
good counsell ; and I have great hopes that he will
make good use of it, and be a good man, for I find
him willing to take pains and very sober. All the
afternoon getting off of hand my papers, which, by
the late holidays and my laziness, were grown too
many upon my hands, to my great trouble, and
therefore at it as long as my eyes would give me
leave, and then singing in the garden with great
pleasure. 13 th. Wrote to my father, who, I am glad to hear,
is at some ease again, and I long to have him in
town, that I may see what can be done for him
here ; for I would fain do all I can, that I may have
him live, and take pleasure in my doing well in the
world.

304 DIARY OF April 1 6
14th. (Lord's day.) With my wife to church, and
after dinner took out my wife, and the two Mercers,
and two of our mayds, Barker and Jane, and over
the water to the Jamaica House,1 where I never was
before, and there the girls did run for wagers over
the bowling-green ; and there, with much pleasure,
spent little, and so home.
15th. Called up by Sir H. Cholmly, who tells
me that my Lord Middleton is for certain chosen
Governor of Tangier ; a man of moderate under
standing, not covetous, but a soldier of fortune, and
poor. To the King's house by chance, where a new
play : so full as I never saw it ; I forced to stand all
the while close to the very door till I took cold, and
many people went away for want of room. The
King, and Queene, and Duke of York and Duchesse
there, and all the Court, and Sir W. Coventry. The
play called " The Change of Crownes;"2 a play of
Ned Howard's,3 the best that ever I saw at that
house, being a great play and serious ; only Lacy
did act the country-gentleman come up to Court,
who do abuse the Court with all the imaginable wit
and plainness about selling of places, and doing
every thing for money. The play took very much.
Thence I to my new bookseller's, and there bought
" Hooker's Polity,"4 the new edition, and " Dugdale's
History of the Inns of Court," of which there was
but a few saved out of the fire, and Playford's new
Catch-book, that hath a great many new fooleries
in it.
1 6th. Home to dinner, and in haste to carry my
1 The site of the house here alluded to was probably in Jamaica
Street, Rotherhithe.
2 This play was never printed, nor is it known to exist.
3 A younger son of the first Earl of Berkshire, brother to Sir
Robert Howard, and brother-in-law to Dryden.
4 The edition of 1666, containing eight books instead ai five,
with a Life by Izaak Walton.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 305
wife to see the new play I saw yesterday, she not
knowing it. But there, contrary to expectation, find
" The Silent Woman." However, in ; and there
Knipp came into the pit. I took her by me, and
here we met with Mrs. Horsley, the pretty woman
— an acquaintance of Mercer's, whose house is burnt.
Knipp tells me the King was so angry at the liberty
taken by Lacy's part1 to abuse him to his face, that
he commanded they should act no more, till Moone2
went and got leave for them to act again, but not
this play. The King mighty angry ; and it was
bitter indeed, but very true and witty. I never was
more taken with a play than I am with this " Silent
Woman," as old as it is, and as often as I have seen
it. There is more wit in it than goes to ten new
plays. Thence took them all to the Cake-house, in
Southampton Market-place,3 where . Pierce told us
the story how, in good earnest, the King is offended
with the Duke of Richmond's marrying, and Mrs.
Stewart sending the King his jewels again. As he
tells it, it is the noblest romance and example of a
brave lady that ever I read in my life. Pretty to
hear them talk of yesterday's play, and I durst not
own to my wife that I had seen it.
1 7th. With the two Sir Williams by coach to the
Duke of York. In our way, in Tower Street, we

1 In " The Change of Crownes."
2 " Michael Mohun, the actor, mentioned Nov. 20, 1660. He
is described as Major, in the Dram. Pers. of Dryden's " Assig
nation " as late as 1673.
3 Afterwards called Bloomsbury Market. The following adver
tisement was inserted in " The Intelligencer" of 23rd May, 1664 :
— " These are to give notice to all persons, that the King's most
excellent Majesty hath granted to the . Right Hon. the Earl of
Southampton, one market to be held by the said Earl, his heirs,
and assignes for ever, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, in
every week, at Bloomsbury, in the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields,
in the county of Middlesex."
4 X

306 DIARY OF April 20
saw Desbrough1 walking on foot: who is now no
more a prisoner, and looks well, and just as he used
to do heretofore. Then took my wife up and to the
King's playhouse, and saw a piece of " Rolla," a
play I like not much, but much good acting in it :
the house very empty.
1 8th. With my wife to the Duke of York's house,
and there saw " The Wits," a play I formerly loved,
and is now corrected and enlarged : but, though I
like the acting, yet I like not much in the play now.
The Duke of York and W. Coventry gone to Ports
mouth, makes me thus to go to plays.
19th. To the play-house, where we saw "Mac
beth," which, though I have seen it often, yet is it
one of the best plays for a stage, and variety of
dancing and musique, that ever I saw. My wife tells
me that she finds by W. Hewer that my people do
observe my minding my pleasures more than usual,
which I confess, and am ashamed of, and so from
this day take upon me to leave it till Whit-Sunday.
While we were sitting in the garden comes Mrs.
Turner to advise about her son, the Captain, when
I did give her the best advice I could, to look out
for some land employment for him, a peace being at
hand, when few ships will be employed and very
many, and these old Captains, to be provided for.
Then to other talk and about Sir W. Pen's being to
buy Wansted House of Sir Robert Brookes ; and I
dare be hanged if ever he could mean to buy that
great house, that knows not how to furnish one that
is not the tenth part so big.
20th. At noon dined, and with my wife to the
King's house, but there found the bill torn down and
no play acted, and so being in the humour to see
1 Major-General John Desborough, Cromwell's brother-in-law,
and one of his Council of State, who had been promoted to the
Chancellorship of Ireland by his nephew Richard.

*667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 307
one, went to the Duke of York's house, and there
saw " The Witts " again, which likes me better than
it did the other day, having much wit in it. Here
met Mr. Rolt, who tells me the reason of no play
to-day at the King's house. That Lacy had been
committed to the porter's lodge for his acting his
part in the late new play, and being thence released
to come to the King's house, he there met with Ned
Howard, the poet of the play, who congratulated his
release ; upon which Lacy cursed him as that it was
the fault of his nonsensical play that was the cause
of his ill usage. Mr. Howard did give him some
reply ; to which Lacy answered him, that he was
more a fool than a poet ; upon which Howard did
.give him a blow on the face with his glove ; upon
which Lacy, having a cane in his hand, did give him
a blow over the pate. Here Rolt and others that
discoursed of it in the pit did wonder that Howard
did not run him through, he being too mean a fellow
to fight with. But Howard did not do any thing but
complain to the King of it ; so the whole house is
silenced, and the gentry seem to rejoice much at it,
the house being become too insolent. Home, having
brought with me from Fenchurch Street a hundred
of sparrowgrass,1 cost i8d. We had them and a little
bit of salmon, which my wife had a mind to, cost 3^.
So to supper and to bed.-
2 1 st. (Lord's day.) I have a mind to buy enough
ground to build a coach-house and stable ; for I have
had it much in my thoughts lately that it is not too
much for me now, in degree or cost, to keep a coach,
but contrarily, that I am almost ashamed to be seen
in a hackney, and therefore if I can have the con
venience, I will secure the ground at least till peace
comes, that I do receive encouragement to keep a
1 Still cockney for asparagus.

308 DIARY OF April 22
coach, or else that I may part with the ground again.
The place I like very well, being close to my owne
house, and so resolve to go about it, and so with my
wife to church, and after dinner Mercer and I sung
" Suo Moro," which is one of the best pieces of
musique to my thinking that ever I did hear in my
life. Then took coach and to Hackney church,
where very full, and found much difficulty to get
pews, I offering the sexton money, and he could not
help me. So my wife and Mercer ventured into a
pew, and I into another. A knight and his lady
very civil to me when they came, being Sir G. Viner1
and his lady — rich in Jewells, but most in beauty —
almost the finest woman that ever I saw. That
which we went chiefly to see was the young ladies
of the schools, whereof there is great store, very
pretty ; and also the organ, which is handsome, and
tunes the psalm, and plays' with the people ; which is
mighty pretty, and makes me mighty earnest to have
a pair at our church, I having almost a mind to give
them a pair, if they would settle a maintenance on
them for it.
22nd. To the Lord Chancellor's house, the first
time I have been therein ; and it is very noble, and
brave pictures of the ancient and present nobility.
The King was vexed the other day for having no
paper laid for him at the Council-table, as was usual ;
and Sir Richard Browne2 did tell his Majesty he
would call the person3 whose work it was to provide
it : who being come, did tell his Majesty that he was
but a poor man, and was out 400/ or 500/. for it,
which was as much as he is worth ; and that he
1 Sir George Viner, in 1665, succeeded his father, Sir Thomas,
who had been Lord Mayor in 1653, and created a Baronet in
1660. Sir George died in 1673. His wife was Abigail, daughter
of Sir John Lawrence, Lord Mayor in 1665.
2 Clerk of the Council. 3 Wooly.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 309
cannot provide it any longer without money, having
not received a penny since the King's coming in.
So the King spoke to my Lord Chamberlain ; and
many such mementos the King do now-a-days meet
withall, enough to make an ingenuous man mad. :
23rd. (St. George's-day.) The feast being kept at
White Hall, out of design, as it is thought, to make
the best countenance we can to the Swede's Embas
sadors,1 before their leaving us to go to the treaty
abroad, to show some jollity.
24th. To St. James's, and there the Duke of York
was preparing to go to some farther ceremonies
about the Garter, that he could give us no audience.
To Sir John Duncomb's2 lodging in the Pell Mell, in
order to the money spoken of in the morning ; and
there awhile sat and discoursed : and I find that he
is a very proper man for business, being very reso
lute and proud, and industrious. He told me what
reformation they had made in the office of the Ord
nance, taking away Legg's3 fees : and have got an
order that no Treasurer after him shall ever sit at
the Board ; and it is a good one : that no master of
the Ordnance here shall ever sell a place. He tells me
they have not paid any increase of price for any
thing during this war, but in most have paid less ;
and at this day have greater stores than they know
where to lay, if there should be peace, and than ever
was any time this war. Then to talk of newes :
that he thinks the want of money hath undone the
King, for the Parliament will never give the King
more money without calling all people to account,
nor, as he believes, will ever make war again, but
1 See 15th Nov. 1666.
2 Sir John Duncomb, burgess for Bury St. Edmunds, a Privy
Councillor, and made a Commissioner of the Treasury in 1667. At
this time he was in the Ordnance.
3 Colonel William Legge, father of the first Lord Dartmouth.

310 DIARY OF April 26
they will manage it themselves : unless, which I pro
posed, he would visibly become a severer inspector
into his own business and accounts, and that would
gain upon the Parliament yet : which he confesses
and confirms as the only lift to set him upon his
legs, but says that it is not in his nature ever to do.
He thinks that much of our misfortune hath been
for want of an active Lord Treasurer, and that such
a man as Sir W. Coventry would do the business
thoroughly. 26th. To White Hall, and there saw the Duke of
Albemarle, who is not well, and do grow crazy.
While I was waiting in the matted Gallery, a young
man was working in Indian inke the great picture of
the King and Queen1 sitting, by Van Dyke ; and did
it very finely. Met with Ned Pickering, who tells
me the ill newes of his nephew Gilbert, who is
turned a very rogue. Then I took a turn with Mr.
Evelyn, with whom I walked two hours, till almost
one of the clock : talking of the badness of the
Government, where nothing but wickedness, and
wicked men and women command the King : that it
is not in his nature to gainsay any thing that relates
to his pleasures ; that much of it arises from the sickli
ness of our Ministers of State, who cannot be about
him as the idle companions are, and therefore he
gives way to the young rogues ; and then, from the
negligence of the Clergy, that a Bishop shall never
be seen about him, as the King of France hath
always : that the King would fain have some of the
same gang to be Lord Treasurer, which would be
yet worse, for now some delays are put to the getting
gifts of the King, as Lady Byron,2 who had been, as
1 Charles I. and Henrietta Maria.
2 Eleanor, daughter of Robert Needham, Viscount Kilmurrey,
and widow of Peter Warburton, became in 1644 the second wife
of John Byron, first Lord Byron. Ob. 1663.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 311
he called it, the King's seventeenth mistress abroad,
did not leave him till she had got him to give her an
order for 4,000/. worth of plate to be made for her ;
but by delays, thanks be to God ! she died before
she had it. He tells me mighty stories of the King
of France, how great a prince he is.1 He hath made
a code to shorten the law ; he hath put out all the
ancient commanders of castles that were become
hereditary ; he hath made all the fryers subject to the
bishops, which before were only subject to Rome,
and so were hardly the King's subjects, and that
none shall become religieux but at such an age, which
he thinks will in a few years ruin the Pope, and
bring France into a patriarchate. He confirmed to
me the business of the want of paper at the Council-
table the other day, which I have observed ; Wooly
being to have found it, and did, being called, tell the
King to his face the reason of it ; and Mr. Evelyn
tells me of several of the menial servants of the Court
lacking bread, that have not received a farthing
wages since the King's coming in. He tells me the
King of France hath his mistresses, but laughs at
the foolery of our King, that makes his bastards
princes,2 and loses his revenue upon them, and makes
his mistresses his masters : and the King of France
did never grant Lavalliere 3 any thing to bestow on
1 All these' assertions respecting the King of France must be
received cautiously. Pepys was very ignorant of foreign matters,
and very credulous.
2 Louis made his own bastards dukes and princes, and legiti
matized them as much as he could, connecting them also by mar
riage with the real blood-royal.
3 Louise Francoise de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere had
four children by Louis XIV., of whom only two survived — Marie
Anne Bourbon, called Mademoiselle de Blois, born in 1666, after
wards married to the Prince de Conti, and the Comte de Verman-
dois, born in 1667. In that year (the very year in which Evelyn
was giving this account to Pepys), the Duchy of Vaujour and two

312 DIARY OF April 26
others, and gives a little subsistence, but no more, to
his bastards. He told me the whole story of Mrs.
Stewart's going away from Court, he knowing her
well ; and believes her, up to her leaving the Court,
to be as virtuous as any woman in the world : and
told me, from a Lord that she told it to but yester
day, with her own mouth, and a sober man, that
when the Duke of Richmond did make love to her,
she did ask the King, and he did the like also ; and
that the King did not deny it, and [she] told this
Lord that she was come to that pass as to have
resolved to have married any gentleman of 1,500/.
a-year that would have had her in honour ; for it was
come to that pass, that she could not longer continue
at Court without prostituting herself to the King,"
whom she had so long kept off, though he had
liberty more than any other hadi or he ought to have,
as to dalliance.2 She told this Lord that she had re
flected upon the occasion she had given the world to
think her a bad woman, and that she had no way but
to marry and leave the Court, rather in this way of
discontent than otherwise, that the world might see
that she sought not any thing but her honour ; and
that she will never come to live at Court more than
when she comes to town to kiss the Queene her
Mistress's hand : and hopes, though she hath little
reason to hope, she can please her Lord so as to re-
Baronies were created in favour of La yalliere and her daughter,
who, in the deed of creation, was 'legitimatized, and styled
Princess. 1 Even at a much later time, Mrs. Godolphin well resolved " not
to talk foolishly to men, more especially the King," — "be sure
never to talk to the King." — Life by Evelyn. These expressions
speak volumes as to Charles's character.
2 Evelyn evidently believed the Duchess of Richmond to be
innocent ; and his testimony, coupled with her own declaration,
ought to weigh down all the scandal which Pepys reports from
other sources.

OF. RICHMOND.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 313
claim him, that they may yet live comfortably in the
country on his estate. She told this Lord that all
the Jewells she ever had given her at Court, or any
other presents, more than the King's allowance of
700/. per annum out of the Privy-purse for her
clothes, were, at her first coming the King did give
her a necklace of pearl of about i,\ool} and after
wards, about seven months since, when the King
had hopes to have obtained some courtesy of her,
the King did give her some Jewells, I have forgot
what, and I think a pair of pendants. The Duke of
York, being once her Valentine, did give her a jewell
of about 800/. ; and my Lord Mandeville, her
Valentine this year, a ring of about 300/. ; and the
King of France would have had her mother,2 who,
he says, is one of the most cunning women in the
world, to have let her stay in France, saying that he
loved her not as a mistress, but as one that he could
marry as well as any lady in France ; and that, if she
might stay, for the honour of his Court he would
take care she should not repent. But her mother,
by command of the Queen-mother, thought rather
to bring her into England ; and the King of France
did give her a jewell : so that Mr. Evelyn believes
she may be worth in Jewells about 6,000/., and that
that is all she hath in the world : and a worthy woman ;
and in this hath done as great an act of honour as
ever was done by woman. That now the Countess
Castlemaine do carry all before her : and among
other arguments to prove Mrs. Stewart to have been
honest to the last, he says that the King's keeping in
1 Which she returned to the King.
2 This lady's name nowhere appears. She was the wife of the
Hon. Walter Stuart, M.D., third son of Walter, first Lord Blan-
tyre. The Duchess of Richmond, Frances Teresa, was her elder
daughter. The younger, Sophia, married the Hon. Henry Bulke-
ley, master of the household to Charles II. and James II.

314 DIARY OF April 26
still with my Lady Castlemaine do show it ; for he
never was known to keep two mistresses in his life,
and would never have kept to her had he prevailed
any thing with Mrs. Stewart. She is gone yesterday
with her Lord to Cobham.1 He did tell me of the
ridiculous humour of our King and Knights of the
Garter the other day, who, whereas heretofore their
robes were only to be worn during their ceremonies
and service, these, as proud of their coats, did wear
them all day till night, and then rode into the Parke
with them on. Nay, and he tells me he did see
my Lord Oxford and the Duke of Monmouth in a
hackney-coach with two footmen in the Parke, with
their robes on ; which is a most scandalous thing, so
as all gravity may be said tqbe lost among us. By
and by we discoursed of Sir Thomas Clifford,2 whom
I took for a very rich and learned man, and of the
great family of that name. He tells me he is only a
man of about seven-score pounds a-year, of little
learning more than the law of a justice of peace,
which he knows well : a parson's son, got to be
burgess in a little borough in the West, and here fell
1 Cobham Hall, in Kent, after the attainder of Henry Brooke,
Lord Cobham, was granted by James I. to Ludovic Stuart, Duke
of Lennox, and his brother George, Lord Aubigney, from whom it
descended to Charles Stuart, Duke of Richmond and Lennox, in
1660. This Duke dying, s. p., in 1672, when ambassador to
Denmark, the estates, together with the English barony of Clifton,
passed, through his sister, Lady Catherine O'Brien, to the ancestor
of the Earl of Darnley, the present possessor. Lady Catherine
O'Brien married Sir Joseph Williamson, who repurchased the
Cobham estates, when sold, and preserved them to the family.
2 Sir Thomas Clifford was the eldest son of Hugh Clifford, of
TJgbrook, in Devonshire, who had been entrusted with the com
mand of a regiment of foot for the King, in the beginning of the
Rebellion. Sir Thomas attended the Duke of York in the great
sea-fight with the Dutch, 3rd June, 1665. On the 20th April,
1672, he was created Baron Clifford, of Chudleigh, co. Devon;
and on 28th November following, appointed Lord High Treasurer.
Ob. 1673. — Lodge's Portraits.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 315
into the acquaintance of my Lord Arlington, whose
creature he is, and never from him ; a man of virtue,
and comely, and good parts enough ; and hath come
into his place with a great grace, though with a great
skip over the heads of a great many, as Chichly and
Denham, and some Lords that did expect it. By
the way, he tells me, that of all the great men of
England there is none that endeavours more to raise
those that he takes into favour than my Lord
Arlington ; and that, on that score/he is much more
to be made one's patron than my Lord Chancellor,
who never did, nor never will do, any thing, but for
money.1 After having this long discourse we parted,
and I home, and after dinner to White Hall, there to
attend the Duke of York before council, and here he
did tell us how the King of France is intent upon his
design against Flanders, and has drawn up a remon
strance of the cause of the war, and appointed the
20th of the next month for his rendezvous, and him
self to prepare for the campaign the 30th, so that
this, we are in hopes, will keep him in employment.
Turenne is to be general. Certain newes of the
Dutch being abroad on our coast with twenty-four
great ships. Met my Lady Newcastle going with
her coaches and footmen all in velvet : herself, whom
I never saw before, as I have heard her often
described, for all the town-talk is now-a-days of her
extravagancies, with her velvet-cap, her hair about
her ears ; many black patches, because of pimples
about her mouth ; naked-necked, without any thing
about it, and a black just-au-corps. She seemed to
me a very comely woman : but I hope to see more
of her on May-day.
27th. This afternoon I got in some coals at 23^.
per chaldron, a good hearing, I thank God — having
1 See 9th Sept. 1665, ante.

316 DIARY OF April 28
not been put to buy a coal all this dear time, that
during this war poor people have been forced to give
455. and 50.J., and 3/ My wife and people busy
these late days, and will be for some time, making
of shirts and smocks. With Mr. Moore, discoursing
of my Lord Sandwich's family, which he tells me is
in very bad condition, for want of money and manage
ment, my Lord's charging them with bills, and no
body, nor any thing provided to answer them.
28th. (Lord's day.) After dinner, by water — the
day being mighty pleasant, and the tide serving finely,
reading in Boyle's book of colours, as high as Barne
Elmes, and there took one turn alone, and then back
to Putney Church, where I saw the girls of the schools,
few of which pretty ; and there I came into a pew,
and met with little James Pierce, which I was much
pleased at, the little rogue being very glad to see me :
his master, Reader to the Church. Here was a good
sermon and much company, but I sleepy, and a little
out of order, at my hat falling down through a hole
beneath the pulpit, which, however, after sermon, by
a stick, and the helpe of the clerke, I got up again.
And so by water, the tide being with me again, down
to Deptfordy and there I walked down the Yard,
Shish1 and Cox with me, and discoursed about clean
ing of the wet docke, and heard, which I had before,
how, when the docke was made, a ship of nearly 500
tons was there found ; a ship supposed of Queene
Elizabeth's time, and well wrought, with a great
deal of stone-shot in her, of eighteen inches diameter,
1 On 13th June, 1680, Evelyn attended the funeral of old Mr.
Jonas Shish, master shipwright of the King's yard at Deptford,
whom he describes as a remarkable man, and his death a public
loss (although altogether illiterate), and for breeding up so many
of his children to be able artists. He was born in 1605. Evelyn
adds, " I held up the pall with three knights, who did him that
honour, and he was worthy of it." See "Diary," vol. ii. p. 142,
edit. 1850.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 317
which was shot then in use : and afterwards meeting
with Captain Perriman and Mr. Castle at Half-way
Tree, they tell me of stone-shot of thirty-six inches
diameter, which they shot out of mortar-pieces.1
29th. I hear that the Duke of Cambridge, the
Duke of York's son, is very sick ; and my Lord
Treasurer very bad of the stone, and hath been so
some days. Sir G. Carteret tells me my Lord
Arlington hath done like a gentleman by him in all
things. He says, if my Lord [Sandwich] were here,
he were the fittest man to be Lord Treasurer of any
man in England ; and he thinks it might be com
passed ; for he confesses that the King's matters do
suffer through the inability of this man, who is likely
to die, and he will propound him to the King. It
will remove him from his place at sea, and the King
will have a good place to bestow. He says to me,
that he could wish, when my Lord comes, that he
would think fit to forbear playing, as a thing below
him, and which will lessen him, as it do my Lord St.
Albans, in the King's esteem : and as a great secret
tells me that he hath made a match for my Lord
Hinchingbroke to a daughter2 of my Lord Bur
lington's, where there is a great alliance, 10,000/.
portion ; a civil family, and relation to my Lord
Chancellor, whose son hath married one of the daugh
ters ;3 and that my Lord Chancellor do take it with
very great kindness, so that he do hold himself
obliged by it. My Lord Sandwich hath referred it
to my Lord Crew, Sir G. Carteret, and Mr. Montagu,
to end it. My Lord Hinchingbroke and the lady
1 At the passage of the Dardanelles, in 1807, a stone shot, fired
by the Turks from the Castle of Sestos, entered the Lion, of sixty-
four guns, and killed and wounded a great many men. It weighed
770 pounds.
2 Lady Anne Boyle.
3 Lawrence Hyde, afterwards Earl of Rochester, married Lady
Henrietta Boyle.

318 DIARY OF May i
know nothing yet of it. It will, I think, be very
happy. Home, where I settled to my chamber about
my accounts till twelve at night, when news is
brought me that there is a great fire in Southwarke :
so we up to the leads, and then I and the boy down
to the end of our lane, and there saw it, it seeming
pretty great, but nothing to the fire of London, that
it made me think little of it. We could at that dis
tance see an engine play — that is, the water go out, it
being moonlight. By and by, it begun to slacken,
and then I home and to bed.
30th. Sir John Winter to discourse with me about
the forest of Deane, and then about my Lord
Treasurer, and asking me whether, as he had heard,
I had not been cut for the stone, I took him to my
closet, and there showed it to him, of which he took
the dimensions, and I believe will show my Lord
Treasurer it. I met with Mr. Pierce, and he tells
me the Duke of Cambridge is very ill and full of
spots about his body, that Dr. Frazier knows not
what to think of it. So home and to my chamber,
to my accounts and finished them to my heart's wish
and admiration, they being grown very intricate,
being let alone for two months, but to my sorrow the
Poll money I paid this month and mourning have
made me 80/. a worse man than at my last balance,
so that I am worth now but 6,700/., which is yet an
infinite mercy to me, for which God make me thank
ful. May 1st. To Westminster ; in the way meeting
many milk-maids with their garlands upon their pails,
dancing with a fiddler before them ; and saw pretty
Nelly1 standing at her lodgings' door in Drury-lane
in her smock sleeves and bodice, looking upon one :
she seemed a mighty pretty creature. My Lord
1 Nell Gwyn.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 319
Crew 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 the Parliament, and therefore desired the
King's direction in it, which was sent for by my Lord
Bridgewater,1 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 know
ing 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, if ever, been
granted in England ; and he believes it will never,
besides, give any satisfaction to the People or Parlia
ment, 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 Sand-
1 John Egerton, second Earl of Bridgewater, Lord-Lieutenant
of the counties of Bucks and Hertford. Ob. 1686.

320 DIARY OF May i
wich, 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 not, 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 [Crewe] 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 any thing 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 Parlia
ment do find that the King should have 900,000/.
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 900,000/. ; 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, and saw
" Love in a Maze :" 1 but a sorry play : only Lacy's
1 The second title of Shirley's play of " The Changes."

i667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 321
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  1
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. 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 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 sister2 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 neat
ness and richness in gold, and every thing that is
noble. My Lady Castlemaine, the King, my Lord
St. Albans, Mr. Jermyn, have not so neat a coach,
that ever I saw. And, Lord ! to have them have
this, and nothing else that is correspondent, is to me
1 Probably Craven.
2 Margaret Lowther, afterwards the wife of Sir John Holmes.
4- Y

322 DIARY OF May 3
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 New
castle; and to St. James's. 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. Sir W. Pen did give me an account this after
noon 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 1,500/
by the old house, and I know not what fooleries.
But I will never believe he ever intended to buy it,
for my part -,1 though he troubled Mr. Gauden to go
and look upon it, and advise him in it.
2nd. To my Lord Treasurer's, who continues so
ill as not to be troubled with business.
3rd. 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-pro
portioned rooms that ever, I think, I saw. Among
other things, we had a proposition of Mr. Pierce's,
for being continued in pay, or something done for
him, in reward of his pains as Chyrurgeon-Generall ;
forasmuch as Troutbecke,2 that was never a doctor
before, hath got 200/ a year settled on him for
nothing but that one voyage with the Duke of Albe-
1 Pepys's conjecture proved right. The house was not sold till
Sir R. Brookes's death, when his heirs alienated it to Sir Josiah
Child. 2 See Nov. 4, 1666, ante.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 323
marie. The Duke and the whole company did show
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. To
Westminster by coach ; the Cofferer1 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,2 and particularly the devilish
covetousness of Dr. Busby.3 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. Took a turn with
my old acquaintance Mr. Pechell, whose red nose
makes me ashamed to be seen with him, though I
otherwise a good-natured man. So away, I not find
ing 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 1,900/. 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.
1 William Ashburnham.
2 The lease here mentioned was of one of the prebendal mansions
in the Cloisters, known as Ashburnham House. The Cottonian
Library was deposited in it at a later period; and, in 1731, the
disastrous fire occurred there which consumed so many treasures,
and injured others. It was the residence of the Rev. H. H.
Milman, one of the Canons of Westminster, until his elevation to
the Deanery of St. Paul's in, 1849. A view of the fine staircase,
still existing in old Ashburnham House, is given in Britton and
Brayley's " Public Buildings."
3 Richard Busby, D.D., Master of Westminster School, and, in
1660, made a Prebendary of Westminster. He proved, at all
events, a liberal benefactor to Christ Church, Oxford, and Lich
field. Cathedral. Ob. 1695, aged 89.

324 DIARY OF Mays
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 has 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 came upon our
coasts upon design to have intercepted our colliers,
but by good luck failed, is gone to the Frith, 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. To the office, where 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 indecent. So I writ in the mar
gin of the letter, " Returned as untrue," and, by con
sent of the Board, did give it him again.
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,1 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
1 Now only (June, 1853) being carried into execution.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 325
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 Septem
ber 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 J
as my Lord Carnarvon1 says of wood, that it is an I
excrescence of the earth provided by God for the I
payment of debts." So home to church, most of
the best of our parish gone into the country, or at
least not at church, 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, 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,
and mighty merry in this innocent company, 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 as high as Barne Elms, it being a
fine evening, and back again, and then home to sup
per and to bed with much pleasure. This day Sir
1 Charles Dormer, second Earl of Carnarvon. Ob., s. p., 1709.
His father was killed at the battle of Newbury, fighting under the
royal banner.

326 DIARY OF May 7
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 the kitchen to talk and prate
with them, which I will not endure. Then to the
Exchequer to consult about some way of getting our
poor Creditors of the Navy, who served in their
goods before the last Session of Parliament, paid out
of the 1 1 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
with Captain Cocke, in our way talking of my Lord
Brouncker 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 has said that he would
wound me with the person where my greatest in
terest 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
came, 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 Hinching
broke ; and, at his coming to town again, had 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 had
it not discovered. He is so devilish a subtle false
rogue, that I am really weary and afeard of his com
pany, and therefore after dinner to my office, where
busy late, then home to supper and sing with my
wife, who do begin to give me real pleasure with her
singing. 7th. To St. James's ; but there find Sir W. Co-

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 327
ventry gone out betimes this morning, on horse
back, with the King and Duke of York, to Putney-
heath, to run some horses. To dinner, where W.
Hewer dined with us and he and I to discourse of
Carcasse's business, wherein I apparently now do
manage it wholly against my Lord Brouncker, Sir
W. Pen, like a false rogue, shrinking out of the collar,
Sir J. Minnes, a fool, being easily led either way, and
Sir W. Batten, a malicious fellow that is not able to
defend anything, so that the whole odium must fall
on me. 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.
8th. 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.
So I home, where I find my wife's flageolette master,
and I am so pleased with her proceeding, though she
has 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 Lovell with my
little print of my dear Lady Castlemaine varnished,
and the frame prettily done like gold, which pleases
me well.
9th. Sir W. Coventry 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,

328 DIARY OF May9
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 morn
ing 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 short-hand, if it may be. To my Lord
Chancellor at Clarendon House,1 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 has been
done about the place, which is none at all. I did
again tell the badness of their credit by the time their
tallys 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
1 It stood on the north side of Piccadilly, between Berkeley
Street and Bond Street, and fronting St. James's Palace. " One
unpopular act of his [Clarendon] is not to be forgot, because it
had a great influence in a short time, and this was the building a
very stately large house by the Park, called Clarendon House,
which, in a little time, obtained the name of Dunkirk House, as
though it had been built by the money taken for the sale of that
place. This house was built in the Chancellor's absence in the
plague year, principally at the charge of the Vintners' Company,
who, designing to monopolize his favour, made it abundantly
more large and magnificent than ever he intended or desired.
And I have been assured by an unquestionable hand, that when
he came to see the case of that house, he rather submitted than
consented, and, with a sigh, said, ' This house will one day be my
ruin.' "— Echapd, vol. iii. p. 192. See 20th Feb. 1664-5, and 31st
Jan. 1665-6.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 329
the Governor shall not be paymaster, which will
trouble me either to the providing one there to do it
(which I will never undertake), or leave the employ
ment, which I had rather do. Mightily pleased with
the noblenesse of this house, and the brave furniture
and pictures, which indeed is very noble. With Sir
G. Carteret in his coach into Hide Park, 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 any
thing else, will do our business, unless the King him
self will mind his business, and how his servants do
execute their parts : 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. My
Lady Jemimah looks to lie down about two months
hence. In our street, at the Three Tuns' Tavern, I
find a great hubbub ; and what was it but two
brothers had 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,1 himself being drunk, and so
is sent to Newgate.
10th. At noon to Kent's, at the Three Tuns'
Tavern : 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 1 8d. 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,
1 It was Basil who was killed. He was the fourth son of
George Fielding, Earl of Desmond, who died v. p., and whose
eldest son, on the death of his grandfather, succeeded to the
Earldom of Denbigh.

330 DIARY OF May n
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. Drove hard towards Clerkenwell,1
thinking to have overtaken my Lady Newcastle,
whom I saw before us in her coach, with ioo 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.
nth. 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 greater charge to me now in hacknies, and I
am a little dishonoured by going in them. 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.
iSo away with my wife, whose being dressed this day
an fair hair did make me so mad, that I spoke not one
Iword to her in our going, though I was ready to
burst with anger. So to White Hall to the Com
mittee 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 slum
ber, when the fear of being seen by Sir W. Coventry
did trouble me much afterwards, but I hope he did not.
After that, Creed and I into the Park, and walked, a
1 Where part of old Newcastle House still exists.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 331
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, swearing several j
times, which I pray God forgive me for, and bending
my fist, that I would not endure it. She, poor wretch, I
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. 1 2th. (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 Pem-
bleton — -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. My wife and I bethought ourselves 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, and then
a piece of bceuf-a-la-mode, all exceeding well sea
soned, and to our great liking ; at least it would have

i32

DIARY OF May 13

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. 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. 13th. My wife rising to send away Barker, ac
cording to our resolution last night, and she did do
it with more clothes than have cost us 10/., and 20s.
in her purse, which I did for the respect I bear Mr.
Falconbridge, otherwise she had not deserved half
of it. This morning came 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.1 Sir Philip Warwick do
1 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 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 ? "

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 333
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.
14th. To my Lord Chancellor's, where I met Mr.
Povy, expecting the coming of the rest of the Com
missioners 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,1 whose title I know not, of the convul
sion 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 came 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 grand
father. I find every body mightily concerned for
these children, as a matter wherein the State is much
concerned that they should live.
15th. This morning my wife had some things
brought home by a new woman of the New Ex
change, one Mrs. Smith, whom 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. To the Duke of York's chamber,
who, when ready, we to our usual business, and I
1 Charles Stuart, Duke of Kendal, born 1666.

334

DIARY OF May 15

presented our report about Carcasse, and did after
wards read it with that success that the Duke of
York was for punishing him, not only with turning
him out of the office, but what other punishment he
could, which nobody did forward, and so he escaped,
only he 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 dis
mission. 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 has 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. 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 Com
mission. 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 has been forced to sell some coals in
the late dear time, only to enable her to pay money
that she has borrowed of Griffin to defray her family

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 335
expense, which is a strange story for a rogue that
spends so much money on clothes and other occa
sions himself as he do.
1 6th. This being Holy Thursday, 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 re
ceived 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 (<^s. a piece) as
well as any of us. So we sat down, and to dinner.
Among other things Sir John Fredericke1 and Sir
R. Ford did talk of Paul's School, which, they tell
me, must be taken away ; 2 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 com
pany3 is concerned in the doing of it, and that it is a
thing that they are obliged to do. To my Lord
Treasurer's, where I find the porter crying, and sus
pected 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 consider
ing I was not likely to trouble him any more, nor
have occasion to give any more, I did give him 3s. ;
but it may be, poor man, he hath lost a consider-
1 Lord Mayor of London, 1662, and President of Christ's Hos
pital. His eldest son, John, was created a Baronet, 1723.
2 St. Paul's School still occupies the same site as in Pepys's
time. 3 The Mercers' Company, under whose superintendence St.
Paul's School was placed by Dean Colet, the Founder.

336 DIARY OF May 16
able hope by the death of his Lord, whose house will
be no more frequented. 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 diffi
culties that he hath lain under, and his instrument
Sir Philip Warwick, I might be brought to another
mind. It is remarkable that this afternoon Mr.
Moore came to me, and there, among other things,
did tell me how Mr. Moyer,1 the merchant, having
procured an order from the King and Duke of York
and Council, with the consent of my Lord Chan
cellor, 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 could not give, nor
could own any kindness done by his Grace's interest ;
1 Lawrence Moyer, of Low Leyton, in Essex, whose son, of the
same name, was afterwards Sir Samuel Moyer, Bart, and High
Sheriff of Essex, in 1698. He had also been one of the Council
of State. His widow, Rebecca, daughter of Alderman Sir William
Joliffe, founded the well-known Lady Meyer's Lectures.

i667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 337
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.
1 7th. To the office, where all the morning upon
some accounts of Mr. Gauden's, and at noon to the
3 Tuns to- dinner, where very merry and my Lord
Brouncker in appearance as good friends as ever,
though I know he has a hatred to me in heart.
After dinner to my house, and there comes 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 begin, and I
think it will be a few shillings well spent. Then to
Sir R. Viners with 600 pieces of gold to turn into
silver, for the enabling me to answer Sir G. Car
teret's 3,000/. ; 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 Northampton
shire,1 of Sir Samuel Luke,2 in a good place ; a good
1 An error for Bedfordshire. The place was Hawnes, which
belonged to the Lukes of Cople, who,' about 1654, had sold it to
Sir Humphrey Winch, from whom, and not directly from Sir
Samuel Luke, Sir George Carteret purchased it in 1667. The son
by this marriage was created Lord Carteret, of Hawnes, in 1681.
2 Sir Samuel Luke, of Cople, in Bedfordshire, which county he
represented in the Long Parliament. He was knighted in 1624,
and has been generally considered as the original Hudibras of
Butler.

338 DIARY OF May 20
house, and near all her friends ; which is a very
happy thing.
1 8th. After dinner to the office, 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 owne 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.
19th. (Lord's day.) 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. 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. Mr. Howe to see us ; and,
among other things, 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.
20th. Among other news, I hear that the Com
missioners 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.. It
being a broken day, 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

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 339
the houses were pulled dowa about that side of the
Tower, since the fire. I find it everywhere doubted
whether we shall have a peace or no, and the captain
of one of our ships that went with the Embassadors
do say, that the seamen of Holland in 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.
2 1st. To Lincolne's Inne Fields, and there viewed
several coach-houses. Thence 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 Castle-
maine'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. Mrs. Turner
and I sat up, talking alone of our neighbours. As
to my Lord Brouncker, 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 my Lord hath put the King to
infinite charge since his coming thither, and hath had
of Foly, the ironmonger, 50/. worth in locks and keys
for his house, having some of 4/ and 5/. a lock, such
as is in ladies' closets ; that he do not keep Mrs.
Williams now for love, but need, he having another
mistress that he keeps in Covent Garden. Then we
fell to talk of Sir W. Pen, and his family and rise.
She [Mrs. Turner] says that he was a pityfull [fel
low] 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 them
selves 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,

340

DIARY OF May 21

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,1 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 be
fore 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 Round
head, 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 princi
pal officer's place ; that her husband was at 5/. charge
to get these presently writ ; that Sir W. Pen did give
them Sir W. Coventry as from himself, which did
1 Lady Vane was Frances, daughter of Sir Christopher Wray,
Bart, of Ashby, Lincolnshire.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 341
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 Albe
marle, in the case of Mr. Falconer, whom W. Pen
made to give W. Coventry 200/. for his place of
Clerk of the Rope Yard of Woolwich, and to settle
80/ a year upon his daughter Pegg, after the death of
his wife, and a gold watch presently to his wife. 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 show : 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 applications to me,
but they should know that his father should be chief
of the office, and that she hath observed that Sir W.
Pen never had a kindness to her son, since Sir 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 last war a most devilish plunderer, and that got
him his estate, which he hath in Ireland, and nothing
else. That her husband's not being forward to make

342 DIARY OF May 22
him a bill for Rear Admiral'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 conti
nually 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 con
firm 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 Com
mission for the Treasury is disposed of: viz., to
Duke of Albemarle, Lord Ashly, Sir W. Coventry,
Sir John Duncomb,1 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
1 Burnet says of Sir John Duncomb, that " he was a judicious
man, but very haughty, and apt to raise enemies. He was an able
Parliament-man, but could not go into all the designs of the Court;
for he had a sense of religion, and a zeal for the liberty of his
country." ("Own Time," vol. i. p. 437, ed. 1833.) Duncomb's re
moval from the Ordnance to the Treasury is not overlooked by
Marvel ("Works," vol. iii. p. 391) : —
" Southampton dead, much of the treasure's care
And place in council fell to DuncomVs share.
All men admired, he to that pitch could fly,
Powder ne'er blew man up so soon, so high ;
But, sure his late good husbandry in petre [saltpetre],
Showed him to manage the Exchequer meeter ;
And who the forts would not vouchsafe a corn,
To lavish the King's money more would scorn,
Who hath no chimneys to give all is best ;
And ablest speaker who of law hath least,
Who less estate for Treasurer most fit,
And for a Chancellor he that has least wit.
But the true cause was, that in's brother May,
Th' exchequer might the privy-purse obey."

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 343
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 Trea
surer, 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 came 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 bethink
ing of any thing fit for him to be acquainted with for
the lessening of charge and bettering of our credit,
and what our expence hath 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 encou
rage 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 pub
lick 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

344 DIARY OF May 22
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 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 under
standing what was said. Here was good pleading of
Sir Walter Walker's and worth hearing, but little
done in our business. So to the Change, 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 has 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. I am mighty glad to see him come

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

345

well to town. To the King's house, where I did give
1 8d., and saw the two last acts of" The Goblins," l a
play I could not make any thing of by these two acts,
but here Knipp spied me out of the tiring-room, and
came 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 coun
try-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. To Sir
W. Batten's, and there got some more part of my
dividend of the prize-money. So home and to supper
and my wife to her flageolet, wherein she did take
out a tune so prettily of herself, that I was infinitely
pleased beyond whatever I expected from her. This
day coming from Westminster with W. Batten, we
saw at White Hall stairs a fisher-boat, with a stur
geon 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.2
23rd. 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.
Sir John Duncomb is sworn yesterday a Privy-coun
cillor. 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.
1 A comedy, by Sir John Suckling.
2 During a very high flood in the meadows between Huntingdon
and Godmanchester, something was seen floating, which the God-
manchester 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 " Hunt
ingdon Sturgeons," terms not altogether forgotten at this day.
Pepys's colt must be taken to be the colt of an ass.

346 DIARY OF May 25
24th. My wife not well, but yet engaged by invita
tion to go with Sir W. Pen. \ got her to go with
him by coach to Islington to the old house, where
his lady and Madam Lowther,1 with her exceeding
fine coach and mean horses, and her mother-in-law
did meet us, and two of Mr. Lowther's brothers,2 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. 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, we broke up, and my wife
and I and Sir W. Pen to the King's playhouse, and
there saw "The Mayden Queene,"3 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.
25th. At noon came Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and
dined with me. About 4 o'clock comes Mrs. Pierce
1 Mary, widow of Morgan Davis, Esq., the third wife of Alder
man Robert Lowther, was the lady here referred to.
2 According to Collins, Anthony Lowther had but one brother,
John, a merchant at Dantzic, and one of the Commissioners of Re
venue in Ireland. See Collins, vol. v. p. 702. Anthony Lowther,
who married Margaret Penn, was the son of Elizabeth, daughter
of William Holcroft, Esq., second wife of Robert Lowther, of
Marske, co. York, and Alderman of London, who died 1655.
3 " Secret Love, or the Maiden Queen," a tragi-comedy, by J.
Dryden.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 347
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.
26th. (Lord's day.) My wife and I to church,
where several strangers of good condition came to
our pew. After dinner I by water alone to West
minster to the parish church,1 and there did enter
tain 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. I away to my boat, and,
up with it as far as Barne Elmes, reading of Mr.
Evelyn's late new book against Solitude,2 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 home, where I find
my poor father newly come out of an unexpected
fit of his pain. But 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 of his condition, but do hope that a way
will be found to relieve him. By and by to supper,
all our discourse about Brampton, and my intentions
1 St. Margaret's.
2 " 15th February, 1666-7. My little book in answer to Sir
George Mackenzie was now published, entitled ' Public Employ
ment and an Active Life, with its Appendages, preferred to Soli
tude.' " — Evelyn's Diary.

348 DIARY OF May 27
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, 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 in
convenience 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.
27th. There came Richardson, the bookbinder,
with one of Ogilby's1 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. The new
Commissioners of the Treasury 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 active and a man of business, and values him
self upon having of things do well under his hand ;
so that I am mightily pleased in their choice. Abroad,
and stopped at the Bear-garden stairs,2 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,
1 See 19th February, 1665-6.
2 At Bankside.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

349

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. The
Duke of Cambridge very ill still.
28th. Up, and by coach to St. James's, where I
find Sir W. Coventry 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 per
ceive, by the way he goes about it, that they will do
admirable things. He tells me that they have chosen
Sir G. Downing their Secretary, who will be as fit a
man as any in the world : and he 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 Secre
tary, 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. 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-dew1 to-morrow morn
ing, which Mrs. Turner hath taught her is the only
thing in the world to wash her face with ; and I am
contented with it. I by water to Fox-hall, and there
walked in Spring Garden. A great deal of com-
1 If we are to credit the following paragraph, extracted from the
" Morning Post" of 2nd May, 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.

350 DIARY OF May 29
pany, and the weather and garden pleasant : and 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 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. Our parson Mills having the offer of another
benefice1 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 that 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
1 The rectory of Wanstead, in Essex, to which he was presented.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 351
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. 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 Knipp and Harris and )
other good people. I at my accounts. 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 in
tended 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.
30th. 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, in-

352 DIARY OF May3i
deed very much company, in expectation of the
Duchess of Newcastle,1 who had desired to be in
vited 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 Duchess with her women
attending her ; among others, the Ferabosco,2 of
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 Duchess hath been a good, comely woman ; but
her dress so antick, and her deportment so ordi
nary, 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.3 31st. At the Treasury chamber. Here I saw
1 Evelyn also gives an account of this visit.
2 Was she of the family of Alfonso Ferrabosco, who, in 1609,
published a book of " Ayres," containing a sonnet addressed to
the author by Ben Jonson ?
3 Francis Seymour, fifth Duke of Somerset, murdered in Italy,
1678.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 353
Duncomb look as big, and take as much state on him,
as if he had been born a lord. 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 these new Treasurers ; 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- Parliament-man, 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. In the evening home, and there, to my un
expected 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 6,900/., for which
the Lord of Heaven be praised !
June 1 st. Up ; and there comes to me Mr. Com
mander, whom I employ about hiring of some ground
behind the office, for the building of me a stable and
coach-house : for I do find it necessary for me, both
4 A A

354 DIARY OF June 2
in respect of honour and the profit of it also, my
expense in hackney-coaches being now so great, to
keep a coach, and therefore will do it. Having
given him some instructions about it, I to the office ;
where we have news that our peace with Spain, as to
trade, is wholly concluded, and we are to furnish him
with some men for Flanders against the French.
How that will agree with the French, I know not ;
but they say that he also hath liberty to get what men
he pleases out of England. But for the Spaniard, I
hear that my Lord Castlehaven is raising a regiment
of 4,000 men which he is to command there ; and
several young gentlemen are going over in commands
with him : and they say the Duke of Monmouth is
going over only as a traveller, not to engage on
either side, but only to see the campagne, which will
be becoming him much more than to live wenching
and roguing, as he how do. After dinner to the
office, where I fell to business and did very much
with infinite joy to myself as it always is to me when
I have dispatched much business, and therefore it
troubles me to see how hard it is for me to settle to
it sometimes when my mind is upon pleasure.
2nd. (Lord's day.) To my chamber, and fell roundly
to business, and did to my satisfaction by dinner go far
in the drawing up a state of my accounts of Tangier for
the new Lords Commissioners. To my business again
all the afternoon close, and wrote it fair with a letter to
the Lords to accompany my accounts, which I think
will be so much satisfaction and so soon done (their
order for my doing it being dated but May 30) as
they will not find from any hand else. Being weary
and almost blind with writing and reading so much
to-day, I took boat, and up the river all alone as high
as Putney almost, and then back again, all the way
reading, and finishing Mr. Boyle's book of Colours,1
1 "Experiments on Colours," published in 1663.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 355
which is so chymical, that I can understand but little
of it, but enough to see that he is a most excellent
man. 3rd. With Sir W. Coventry a great while talking
about several businesses, but it is strange to see that
being conscious of our doing little at this day, nor for
some time past in our office for want of money, I do
hang my head to him, and cannot be so free with him
as I used to be, though of all men, I think, I have
the least cause to be so, having taken so much more
pains, while I could do anything, than the rest of my
fellows. Met Mr. Mills, our parson, whom I went
back with to bring him to Sir W. Coventry, to
give him the form of a qualification for the Duke of
York to sign to, to enable him to have two livings :
which was a service I did, but much against my will,
for a lazy, fat priest. Sir William Doyly did lay a
wager with me, the Treasurership would be in one
hand, notwithstanding this present Commission,
before Christmas : on which we did lay a poll of ling,
a brace of carps, and a pottle of wine ; and Sir W.
Pen and Mr. Scowen to be at the eating of them.
Thence down by water to Deptford, it being Trinity
Monday, when the Master is chosen, and there,
finding them all at church, and thinking they dined,
as usual, at Stepny, I turned back, having a good
book in my hand, the Life of Cardinal Wolsey,
wrote by his own servant,1 and to Ratcliffe ; and so
walked to Stepny, and spent my time in the church
yard, looking over the grave-stones, expecting when
the company would come by. Finding no company
stirring, I sent to the house to see ; and, it seems,
they dine not there, but at Deptford : so I back again
1 George Cavendish, gentleman-usher to the Cardinal. It was
first published in 1641, and then with a view to do harm to Arch
bishop Laud. The best edition is that published in 1852, with
notes by John Holmes, Esquire, of the British Museum.

356 DIARY OF June 3
to Deptford, and there find them just sat down.
And so I down with them ; and we had a good
dinner of plain meat, and good company at our
table : among others, my good Mr. Evelyn, with
whom, after dinner, I stepped aside, and talked upon
the present posture of our affairs ; which is, that the
Dutch are known to be abroad with eighty sail of
ships of war, and twenty fire-ships ; and the French
come into the Channell with twenty sail of men-of-
war, and five fire-ships, while we have not a ship at
sea to do them any hurt with ; but are calling in all
we can, while our Embassadors are treating at
Bredah ; and the Dutch look upon them as come to
beg peace, and use them accordingly ; and all this
through the negligence of our Prince, who hath
power, if he would, to master all these with the
money and men that he hath had the command of,
and may now have, if he would mind his business.
But, for aught we see, the Kingdom is likely to be
lost, as well as the reputation of it is, for ever ; not
withstanding so much reputation got and preserved
by a rebell that went before him. In the Treasury-
chamber an hour or two, where we saw the Country
Receivers and Accountants come to attend ; and one
of them, a brisk young fellow, with his hat cocked
like a fool behind, as the present fashion among the
blades is,2 committed to the Serjeant. By and by, I,
upon desire, was called in, and delivered in my Report
of* my Accounts. Present, Lord Ashly, Clifford, and
Duncomb, who, being busy, did not read it ; but com
mitted it to Sir George Downing, and so I was dis-
1 It was called the Monmouth cock, which, according to " The
Spectator," No. 129, was still worn in the west of England by
country squires in 1711: — "During our progress through the
most western parts of the kingdom, we fancied ourselves in King
Charles the Second's reign, the people having made little varia
tions in their dress since that time. The smartest of the country
squires appear still in the Monmouth cock."

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 357
missed ; but, Lord ! to see how Duncomb do take
upon him is an eyesore, though I think he deserves
great honour, but only the suddenness of his rise,
and his pride. But I do like the way of these lords,
that they admit nobody to use many words, nor do
they spend many words themselves, but in great
state do hear what they see necessary, and say little
themselves, but bid withdraw. Thence Creed and I
by water up to Fox Hall, and over against it stopped,
thinking to see some Cock-fighting ; but it was just
being done, and, therefore, back again to Spring
Garden, and then to walk up and down the garden,
reflecting upon the bad management of things now,
compared with what it was in the late rebellious
times, when men, some for fear, and some for religion,
minded their business, which none now do, by being
void of both.
4th. Mr. Commander tells me, after all, that I
cannot have a lease of the ground for my coach
house and stable, till a suit in law be ended. I am a
little sorry that I cannot presently have it, because I'
am pretty full in my mind of keeping a coach ; but
yet, when I think of it again, the Dutch and French
both at sea, and we poor, and still out of order, I
know not yet what turns there may be, and besides,
I am in danger of parting with one of my places,
which relates to the Victualling, that brings me by
accident in 800/. a year, that is, 300/. from the King
and 500/ from D. Gauden. Home in the evening,
and there to sing and pipe with my wife, and that
being done, she fell all of a sudden to discourse
about her clothes and my humours in not suffering
her to wear them as she pleases, and grew to high
words between us, but I fell to read a book (Boyle's
Hydrostatics) aloud in my chamber and let her talk,
till she was tired and vexed that I would not hear
her, and so became friends.

358 DIARY OF June 6
5th. To the Commissioners of the Treasury, and,
after long waiting, I find them all sat ; and, among
the rest, Duncomb lolling, with his heels upon
another chair, by that, that he sat upon, and had an
answer good enough, and then to St. James's, where
we all met at Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and dined
and talked of our business, he being a most excellent
man, and indeed, with all his business, has more of
his employed upon the good of the service of the
Navy, than all of us, that makes me ashamed of it.
Here a very good and neat dinner, after the French
manner. Captain Perriman brings us word how the
Happy Returne's crew below in the Hope, ordered
to carry the Portugal Embassador to Holland, and
the Embassador, I think, on board, refuse to go till
paid ; and by their example two or three more ships
are in a mutiny : which is a sad consideration, while
so many of the enemy's ships are at this day triumph
ing in the sea. Sir G. Carteret showed me a gen
tleman coming by in his coach, who hath been sent
for up out of Lincolneshire, I think he says he is a
justice of peace there, that the Council have laid by
the heels here, and here lies in a messenger's hands,
for saying that a man and his wife are but one per
son, and so ought to pay but \2d. for both to the
Poll Bill ; by which others were led to do the like :
and so here he lies prisoner.
6th. To the office where (which he hath not done
a great while) Sir G. Carteret came to advise with us
for the disposing of io,ooo/., which is the first sum
the new Lords Treasurers have provided ; but, un
less we have more, this will not enable us to cut off
any of the growing charge which they seem to give
it us for, and expected we should discharge several
ships quite off with it. So home and with my father
and wife to Sir W. Pen's to dinner, which they in
vited us to out of their respect to my father, as a

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 359
stranger ; though I know them as false as the devil
himself, and that it is only that they think it fit to
oblige me ; wherein I am a happy man, that all my
fellow-officers are desirous of my friendship. Here
as merry as in so false a place, and where I must
dissemble my hatred, I could be, and after dinner my
father and wife to a play, and I to my office, and
there busy till late at night. In the afternoon comes
Mr. Pierce, who tells me that the Duke of Cam
bridge is yet living, but every minute expected to
die. 7th. With Mr. Townsend, whom I sent for to
come to me to discourse about my Lord Sandwich's
business ; for whom I am in some pain, lest the
Accounts of the Wardrobe may not be in so good order
as may please the new Lords Treasurers, who are
quick-sighted, and under obligations of recommend
ing themselves to the King and the world, by their
finding and mending of faults, and are, most of them,
not the best friends to my Lord. This day I read ,a
discourse newly come forth of the King of France,
his pretence to Flanders, which is a very fine dis
course, and the truth is, has so much of the Civil
Law in it, that I am not a fit judge of it, but, as it
appears to me, he has a good pretence to it by right
of his Queene.
8th. Up, and to the office, where all the news
this morning is, that the Dutch are come with a fleete
of eighty sail to Harwich, and that guns were heard
plain by Sir W. Rider's people at Bednall-greene, all
yesterday even. Home, where our dinner a ham of
French bacon, boiled with pigeons, an excellent dish.
The news is confirmed that the Dutch are off Har
wich, but had done nothing last night. The King
hath sent down my Lord of Oxford to raise the
countries there ; and all the Western barges are
taken up to make a bridge over the River, about the

360 DIARY OF June 10
Hope, for horse to cross the River, if -there be
occasion. 9th. (Lord's day.) I hear that the Duke of Cam
bridge, who was given over long since by the Doc
tors, is now likely to recover ; for which God be
praised ! To Sir W. Coventry, and there talked with
him a great while ; and mighty glad I was of my
good fortune to visit him, for it keeps in my acquain
tance with him, and the world sees it, and reckons my
interest accordingly. In comes my Lord Barkeley,
who is going down to Harwich also to look after the
militia there : and there is also the Duke of Mon
mouth, and with him a great many young Hectors,
the Lord Chesterfield, my Lord Mandeville, and
others : but to little purpose, I fear, but to debauch
the country women thereabouts. My Lord Barke
ley wanting some maps, and Sir W. Coventry recom
mending the six maps of England that are bound up
for the pocket, I did offer to present my Lord with
them, which he accepted : and so I will send them
him. Took boat, and up, all alone, as high as
Barne Elmes, and there took a turn ; and then to
my boat again, and home, reading and making an
end of the book I lately bought — a merry satyr,
called " The Visions," translated from the Spanish1
by L'Estrange, wherein there are many very pretty
things; but the translation is, as to the rendering
it into English expression, the best that ever I
saw, it being impossible almost to conceive that it
should be a translation. I find an order come for
the getting some fire-ships presently to annoy the
Dutch, who are in the King's Channel, and expected
up higher.
10th. Up ; and news brought us that the Dutch
are come up as high as the Nore ; and more press-
1 Of Francisco de Quevedo.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 361
ing orders for fire-ships. W. Batten, W. Pen, and I
to St. James's ; where the Duke of York gone this
morning betimes, to send away some men down to
Chatham. So we three to White Hall, and met Sir
W. Coventry, who presses all that is possible for
fire-ships. So we three to the office presently ; and
thither comes Sir Fretcheville Hollis,1 who is to com
mand them all in some exploits he is to do with them
on the enemy in the River. So we all down to
Deptford, and pitched upon ships and set men at
work : but, Lord ! to see how backwardly things
move at this pinch, notwithstanding that, by the
enemy's being now come up as high as almost the
Hope, Sir J. Minnes, who was gone down to pay
some ships there, hath sent up the money ; and so we
are possessed of money to do what we will with.
Yet partly ourselves, being used to be idle and in
despair, and partly people that have been used to be
deceived by us as to money, won't believe us ; and
we know not, though we have it, how almost to pro
mise it ; and our wants such, and men out of the way,
that it is an admirable thing to consider how much
the King suffers, and how necessary it is in a State
to keep the King's service always in a good posture
and credit. Down to Greenwich, where I find the
1 Grandson of Fretcheville Hollis, nf Grimsby. His father, Ger-
vase Hollis, the antiquary, most of whose collections came into
the British Museum, was an officer in the King's service. Sir
Fretcheville Hollis, embracing the naval profession, lost an arm
in the sea-fight of 1665, and afterwards served as Rear-Admiral
under Sir Robert Holmes, when they attacked the Smyrna fleet.
He fell in the battle of Southwold Bay, 1672, on board the " Cam
bridge." Although Pepys speaks slightly of him, he was a man of
high spirit and enterprise, and is thus eulogized by Dryden in his
" Annus Mirabilis :" —
" Young Hollis on a Muse by Mars begot,
Born, Ca?sar-like, to write and act great deeds,
Impatient to revenge his fatal shot,
His right hand doubly to his left succeeds."

362 DIARY OF June 10
stairs full of people, there being a great riding1 there
to-day for a man, the constable of the town, whose
wife beat him. Here I was with much ado fain to
press two watermen to make me a galley, and so to
Woolwich to give order for the dispatch of a ship I
have taken under my care to see dispatched, and
down to Gravesend, where I find the Duke of Albe
marle just come, with a great many idle lords and
gentlemen, with their pistols and fooleries ; and the
bulwark2 not able to have stood half an hour had
they come up ; but the Dutch are fallen down from
the Hope and Shell-haven as low as Sheernesse, and
we do plainly at this time hear the guns play. Yet
I do >not find the Duke of Albemarle intends to go
thither, but stays here to-night, and hath, though the
Dutch are gone, ordered our frigates to be brought
1 It was an ancient custom in Berkshire, when a man had
beaten his wife, for the neighbours to parade in front of his
house, for the purpose of serenading him with kettles, and horns
and hand-bells, and every species of " rough music," by which
name the ceremony was designated. Perhaps the riding men
tioned by Fepys was a punishment somewhat similar. Malcolm
(" Manners of London ") quotes from the " Protestant Mercury,"
that a porter's lady, who resided near Strand Lane, beat her hus
band with so much violence and perseverance, that the poor man
was compelled to leap out of the window to escape her fury. Ex
asperated at this virago, the neighbours made a "riding," i.e., a
pedestrian procession, headed by a drum, and accompanied by a
chemise, displayed for a banner. The manual musician sounded
the tune of "You round-headed cuckolds, come dig, come dig!"
and nearly seventy coalheavers, carmen, and porters, adorned
with large horns fastened to their heads, followed. The public
seemed highly pleased with the nature of the punishment, and
gave liberally to the vindicators of injured manhood. — Page 211,
4to. ed. 181 1.
2 That is, the block-house. There were formerly considerable
fortifications at Gravesend: and about the year 1778 they were
greatly extended, under the superintendence of Sir Thomas Hyde
Page ; a few years since, however, a great portion was dismantled,
the ground was sold, and the "Terrace Pier," and other works
ejusdem generis erected.

Fold out

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 363
to a line between thetwo blockhouses ; which I took
then to be a ridiculous thing. I find the townsmen
had removed most of their goods out of the town, for
fear of the Dutch coming up to them ; and from Sir
John Griffen,1 that last night there was not twelve
men to be got in the town to defend it : which the
master of the house tells me is not true, but that the
men of the town did intend to stay, though they did
indeed, and so had he, at the Ship, removed their
goods. Thence went off to an Ostend man-of-war,
just now come up, who met the Dutch fleete, who
took three ships that he came convoying hither from
him : says they are as low as the Nore, or there
abouts. 1 ith. Uo and more letters still from Sir W.
Coventry about more fire-ships and so Sir W. Batten
and I to the office where Brouncker came to us, who
is just now going to Chatham upon a desire of Com
missioner Pett's, who is very fearful of the Dutch,
and desires help for God and the King and king
dom's sake. So Brouncker goes down, and Sir J .
Minnes also, from Gravesend. This morning Pett
writes us word that Sheernesse is lost last night,
after two or three hours' dispute. The enemy hath
possessed himself of that place ; which is very sad,
and puts us into great fears of Chatham. After
dinner, by W. Hewer's lucky advice, went to Mr.
Fenn, and did get him to pay me above 400/. of my
wages, and W. Hewer received it for me, and brought
it home this night. Home, and there to our busi
ness, hiring some fire-ships, and receiving every
hour almost letters from Sir W. Coventry, calling
for more fire-ships ; and an order from Council to
enable us to take any man's ships ; and Sir W.
Coventry, in his letter to us, says he do not doubt
1 An error for Sir John Griffith, captain of the fort at Gravesend,
who was knighted at Whitehall, 2nd January, 1665.

364 DIARY OF June 12
but at this time, under an invasion, as he owns it to
be, the King may, by law, take any man's goods.
At this business late, and then home ; where a great
deal of serious talk with my wife about the sad state
we are in, and especially from the beating up of
drums this night for the trainbands upon pain of
death to appear in arms to-morrow morning with
bullet and powder, and money to supply themselves
with victuals for a fortnight : which, considering the
soldiers drawn out to Chatham and elsewhere, looks
as if they had a design to ruin the City and give it
up to be undone ; which, I hear, makes the sober
citizens to think very sadly of things.
1 2th. Up very betimes to our business at the
office, there hiring of more fire-ships ; and at it close
all the morning. At noon home, and Sir W. Pen
dined with us. By and by, after dinner, my wife out
by coach to see her mother ; and I in another, being
afraid, at this busy time, to be seen with a woman
in a coach, as if I were idle, towards The. Turner's ;
but met Sir W. Coventry's boy ; and there in his
letter find that the Dutch had made no motion since
their taking Sheernesse ; and the Duke of Albe
marle writes that all is safe as to the great ships
against any assault, the boom and chaine being so
fortified ; which put my heart into great joy. When
I come to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, I find him
abroad ; but his clerk, Powell, do tell me that ill
newes is come to Court of the Dutch breaking the
Chaine at Chatham •} which struck me to the heart.
1 The account of this national disgrace is very characteristic,, in
" Poems on State Affairs," vol. i. p. 48, in the "Advice to a Painter,"
ascribed to Sir John Denham : —
Painter ! let thine art describe a story,

Shaming our warlike island's ancient glory:
A scene which never on our seas appeared
Since our first ships were on the ocean steered ;

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 365
And to White Hall to hear the truth of it ; and there,
going up the Park-stairs, I did hear some lacquies
speaking of sad newes come to Court, saying, there
Make the Dutch fleet, while we supinely sleep,
Without opposers, masters of the deep :
Make them securely the Thames-mouth invade,
At once depriving us of that and trade ;
Draw thunder from their floating castles, sent
Against our forts, weak as our government :
Draw Woolwich, Deptford, London, and the Tower,
Meanly abandoned to a foreign power.
Yet turn their first attempt another way,
And let their cannons upon Sheerness play ;
Which soon destroyed, their lofty vessells ride,
Big with the hope of the approaching tide:
Make them more help from our remissness find,
Than from the tide, or from the eastern wind,
Their canvass swelling with a prosperous gale,
Swift as our fears make them to Chatham sail :
Through our weak chain their fireships break their way,
And our great ships (unmanned) become their prey.
Then draw the fruit of our ill-managed coast,
At once our honour and our safety lost :
Bury those bulwarks of our isle in smoke,
While their thick flames the neighbouring country choak ;
The Charles escapes the raging element,
To be with triumph into Holland sent ;
Where the glad people to the shore resort,
They see their terror now become their sport.
But, Painter ! fill not up thy piece before
Thou paint'st confusion on our troubled shore :
Instruct then thy bold pencil to relate
The saddest marks of an ill-governed state.
Draw th' injured seamen deaf to all command,
While some with horror and amazement stand :
Others will know no enemy but they
Who have unjustly robbed them of their pay ;
Boldly refusing to oppose a fire,
To kindle which our errors did conspire :
Some (though but few) persuaded to obey,
Useless, for want of ammunition, stay :
The forts designed to guard our ships of war,
Void both of powder and of bullets are :
And what past reigns in peace did ne'er omit
The present (whilst invaded) doth forget."

366 DIARY OF June 12
is hardly anybody in the Court but do look as if he
cried. I would not go into the house for fear of
being seen, but slunk out and got into a coach. I
met Roger Pepys, newly come out of the country.
He and I talked aside a little, he offering a match
for Pall, one Barnes, of whom we shall talk more the
next time. His father married a Pepys ; in discourse,
he told me that his grandfather, my great grandfather,
had 800/. per annum, in Queen Elizabeth's time, in
the very town of Cottenham ; and that we did cer
tainly come out of Scotland with the Abbot of
Crowland.1 Home, where all our hearts do now
ake ; for the newes is true, that the Dutch have
broke the chaine and burned our ships, and par
ticularly " The Royal Charles :"2 other particulars I
know not, but most sad to be sure. And, the truth
is, I do fear so much that the whole kingdom is
undone, that I do this night resolve to study with
my father and wife what to do with the little that I
have in money by me, for I give up all the rest that
I have in the King's hands, for Tangier, for lost.
So God help us ! and God knows what disorders we
may fall into, and whether any violence on this office,
or perhaps some severity on our persons, as being
reckoned by the silly people, or perhaps may, by
policy of State, be thought fit to be condemned by
the King and Duke of York, and so put to trouble ;
though, God knows ! I have, in my own person, done
my full duty, I am sure. Home, and to bed with a
heavy heart. The manner of my advising this night
1 The reading in the MS. is Crowland, and not Croyland. Wil
liam Pepys was born at Dunbar, in Scotland, brought up by the
Abbot of Crowland, in Huntingdonshire, placed by him at Cot
tenham, and made " bayliffe of all his lands in Cambridgeshire."
He died in 15 19, leaving issue three sons and three daughters.
(M. B.)
2 Vandervelde's drawings of the conflagration of the English
fleet, made by him on the spot, are in the British Museum.

«667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 367
with my father was, I took him and my wife up to
her chamber, and shut the door; and there told
them the sad state of the times how we are like to
be all undone ; that I do fear some violence will be
offered to this office, where all I have in the world
is ; and resolved upon sending it away — sometimes
into the country — sometimes my father to lie in town,
and have the gold with him at Sarah Giles's.
13th. No sooner up but hear the sad newes con
firmed of the Royall Charles being taken by them,
and now in fitting by them — which Pett should have
carried up higher by our several orders, and deserves,
therefore, to be hanged for not doing it — and burning
several others ; and that another fleete is come up
into the Hope. Upon which newes the King and
Duke of York have been below1 since four o'clock in
the morning, to command the sinking of ships at
Barking- Creeke, and other places, to stop their
coming up higher : which put me into such a fear,
that I presently resolved of my father's and wife's
going into the country ; and, at two hours' warning,
they did go by the coach this day, with about 1,300/.
in gold in their night-bag. Pray God give them
good passage, and good care to hide it when they
come home ! but my heart is full of fear. They
gone, I continued in fright and fear what to do with
the rest. W. Hewer hath been at the banker's, and
hath got 500/. out of Backewell's hands of his own
money ; but they are so called upon that they will
be all broke, hundreds coming to them for money :
and their answer is, " It is payable at twenty days —
when the days are out, we will pay you ;" and those
that are not so, they make tell over their money, and
make their bags false, on purpose to give cause to
retell it, and so spend time. I cannot have my 200
pieces of gold again for silver, all being bought up
1 Below London Bridge.

368 DIARY OF June 13
last night that were to be had, and sold for 24 and
25.9. a-piece.1 So I must keep the silver by me,
which sometimes I think to fling into the house of
office, and then again know not how I shall come by
it, if we be made to leave the office. Every minute
some one or other calls for this or that order ; and
so I forced to be at the office, most of the day, about
the fire-ships which are to be suddenly fitted out :
and it's a most strange thing that we hear nothing
from any of my brethren at Chatham : so that we
are wholly in the dark, various being the reports of
what is done there ; insomuch that I sent Mr. Clap-
ham express thither to see how matters go. I did,
about noon, resolve to send Mr. Gibson away after
my wife with another 1,000 pieces, under colour of
an express to Sir Jeremy Smith ; who is, as I hear,
with some ships at Newcastle ; which I did really
send to him, and may, possibly, prove of good use
to the King ; for it is possible, in the hurry of busi
ness, they may not think of it at Court, and the
charge of an express is not considerable to the King.
The King and Duke of York up and down all the
day here and there : some time on Tower Hill,
where the City militia was ; where the King did
make a speech to them, that they should venture
themselves no further than he would himself. I also
sent, my mind being in pain, Saunders after my wife
and father, to overtake them at their night's lodgings,
to see how matters go with them. In the evening,
I sent for my cousin Sarah [Gyles] and her husband,
who come; and I did deliver them my chest of
writings about Brampton, and my brother Tom's
papers, and my journalls, which I value much ; and
did send my two silver flaggons2 to Kate Joyce's :
1 After the Bank Restriction Act, in 1797, guineas were sold for
27s. 2 See 28th July, 1664, and nth January, 1667.

i667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 369
that so, being scattered what I have, something
might be saved. I have also made a girdle, by which,
with some trouble, I do carry about me 300/ in gold
about my body, that I may not be without something
in case I should be surprised : for I think, in any
nation but our's, people that appear, for we are not
indeed so, so faulty as we, would have their throats
cut. In the evening comes Mr. Pelling, and several
others, to the office, and tell me that never were
people so dejected as they are in the City all over at
this day ; and do talk most loudly, even treason ; as,
that we are bought and sold — that we are betrayed
by the Papists ; and others, about the King, cry out
that the office of the Ordnance hath been so back
ward as no powder to have been at Chatham nor
Upnor Castle till such a time, and the carriages all
broken ; that Legg is a Papist ; that Upnor, the old
good castle built by Queen Elizabeth, should be lately
slighted ; that the ships at Chatham should not be
carried up higher. They look upon us as lost, and
remove their families and rich goods in the City;
and do think verily that the French, being come
down with his army to Dunkirke, it is to invade us,
and that we shall be invaded. Mr. Clerke, the
solicitor, comes to me about business, and tells me
that he hears that the King hath chosen Mr. Pierpont1
and Vaughan2 of the West, Privy-councillors ; that
my Lord Chancellor was affronted in the Hall this
day, by people telling him of his Dunkirke House ;3
and that there are regiments ordered to be got
together, whereof to be commanders my Lord Fair
fax, Ingoldsby, Beth ell, Norton, and Birch, and other
1 William Pierrepont, called "wise Pierrepont," younger son of the
first Earl of Kingston, and brother to the Marquis of Dorchester.
His grandson, Robert, succeeded as third Earl of Kingston.
2 See 28th March, 1664, ante.
3 See 20th February, 1664-5, ante.
t. B B

370 DIARY OF June 14
Presbyterians ; and that Dr. Bates will have liberty
to preach. Now, whether this be true or not, I know
not ; but do think that nothing but this will unite us
together. Late at night comes Mr. Hudson, the
cooper, my neighbour, and tells me that he came
from Chatham this evening at five o'clock, and saw
this afternoon " The Royal James," " Oake," and
" London," burnt by the enemy with their fire-ships :
that two or three men-of-war came up with them, and
made no more of Upnor Castle's shooting, than of a
fly ; that those ships lay below Upnor Castle, but
therein, I conceive, he is in an error ; that the Dutch
are fitting out " The Royall Charles ;" that we shot
so far as from the Yard thither, so that the shot did
no good, for the bullets grazed on the water; that
Upnor played hard with their guns at first,, but
slowly afterwards, either from the men being beat
off, or their powder spent.1 But we hear that the
fleete in the Hope is not come up any higher the
last flood ; and Sir W. Batten tells me that ships
are provided to sink in the River, about Woolwich,
that will prevent their coming up higher if they
should attempt it. I made my will also this day,
and did give all I had equally between my father
and wife.
14th. Up, and to the office; where Mr. Fryer
1 The want of ammunition when the Dutch burnt the fleet, and
the revenge of the deserter sailors, are well described by Marvel,
" Works," iii. p. 386 :—
" Our Seamen, whom no danger's shape could fright,
Unpaid, refuse to mount their ships, for spite :
Or to their fellows swim, on board the Dutch,
Who show the tempting metal in their clutch.
Oft had (Monk) sent, of Duncomb and of Legge,
Cannon and powder, but in vain, to beg ;
And Upnor's Castle's ill-deserted wall,
Now needful does for ammunition call,
He finds, where e'er he succour might expect,
Confusion, folly, treachery, fear, neglect."

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 371
comes and tells me that there are several Frenchmen
and Flemish ships in the River, with passes from
the Duke of York for carrying of prisoners, that
ought to be parted from the rest of the ships, and
their powder taken, lest they do fire themselves when
the enemy comes, and so spoil us ; which is good
advice, and I think I will give notice of it ; and did
so. But it is pretty odd to see how every body, even
at this high time of danger, puts business off of their
own hands ! He says that he told this to the Lieu
tenant of the Tower, to whom I, for the same reason,
was directing him to go ; and the Lieutenant of the
Tower bade him come to us, for he had nothing to do
with it ; and yesterday comes Captain Crew, of one
of the fire-ships, and told me that the officers of the
Ordnance would deliver his gunner's materials, but
not compound them,1 but that we must do it ; where
upon I was forced to write to them about it ; and
one that like a great many come to me this morning
by and by comes — Mr. Wilson, and, by direction of
his, a man of Mr. Gauden's ; who are come from
Chatham last night, and saw the three ships burnt,
they lying all dry, and boats going from the men-of-
war and fire them. But that, that he tells me of
worst consequence is, that he himself, I think he
said, did hear many Englishmen on board the Dutch
ships speaking to one another in English ; and that
they did cry and say, " We did heretofore fight for
tickets ; now we fight for dollars ! " and did ask how
such and such a one did, and would commend them
selves to them : which is a sad consideration. And
Mr. Lewes, who was present at this fellow's dis
course to me, did tell me, that he is told that when
1 Meaning, apparently, that the Ordnance would deliver the
charcoal, sulphur, and saltpetre separately, but not mix them as
gunpowder — a distinction which has been brought prominently
forward lately in the war-rocket case.

372 DIARY OF June 14
they took " The Royall Charles," they said that they
had their tickets signed, and showed some, and that
now they come to have them paid, and would have
them paid before they parted. And several seamen
came this morning to me, to tell me that, if I would
get their tickets paid, they would go and do all they
could against the Dutch ; but otherwise they would
not venture being killed, and lose all they have
already fought for : so that I was forced to try what
I could do to get them paid. This man tells me that
the ships burnt last night did lie above Upnor Castle,
over against the Docke ; and the boats came from
the ships of war and burnt them : all which is
very sad. And masters of ships, that we are now
taking up, do keep from their ships all their stores, or
as much as they can, so that we can despatch them,
having not time to appraise them nor secure their
payment ; only some little money we have, which we
are fain to pay the men we have with, every night, or
they will not work. And indeed the hearts as well
as affections of the seamen are turned away ; and in
the open streets in Wapping, and up and down, the
wives have cried publickly, " This comes of your not
paying our husbands ; and now your work is undone,
or done by hands that understand it not." And Sir
W. Batten told me that he was himself affronted
with a woman, in language of this kind, on Tower
Hill publickly yesterday ; and we are fain to bear it,
and to keep one at the office door to let no idle
people in, for fear of firing of the office and doing
us mischief. The City is troubled at their being put
upon duty : summoned one hour, and discharged two
hours after; and then again summoned two hours
after that ; to their great charge as well as trouble.
And Pelling, the Potticary, tells me the world says
all over, that less charge than what the kingdom is

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 373
put to, of one kind or other, by this business, would
have set out all our great ships. It is said they
did in open streets yesterday, at Westminster, cry,
" A Parliament ! a Parliament ! " and I do believe it
will cost blood to answer for these miscarriages. We
do not hear that the Dutch are come to Gravesend ;
which is a wonder. But a wonderful thing it is that
to this day we have not one word yet from Brouncker,
or Peter Pett, or J. Minnes, of anything at Chatham.
The people that come hither to hear how things go,
make me ashamed to be found unable to answer
them : for I am left alone here at the office ; and the
truth is, I am glad my station is to be here, near my
own home and out of danger, yet in a place of
doing the King good service. I have this morning
good news from Gibson; three letters from three
several stages, that he was safe last night as far as
Royston, at between nine and ten at night. The
dismay that is upon us all, in the business of the
kingdom and Navy at this day, is not to be expressed
otherwise than by the condition the citizens were in
when the City was on fire, nobody knowing which
way to turn themselves, while every thing concurred
to greaten the fire ; as here the easterly gale and
spring-tides for coming up both rivers, and enabling
them to break the chaine. D. Gauden did tell me
yesterday, that the day before at the Council they
were ready to fall together by the ears at the Council-
table, arraigning one another of being guilty of the
counsel that brought us into this misery, by laying up
all the great ships. Mr. Hater tells me at noon that
some rude people have been, as he hears, at my Lord
Chancellor's, where they have cut down the trees
before his house and broke his windows ; and a gibbet
either set up before or painted upon his gate, and these
three words writ : " Three sights to be seen ; Dun-

374 DIARY OF Junei4
kirke, Tangier, and a barren Queene." x It gives
great matter of talk that it is said there is at this
hour, in the Exchequer, as much money as is ready
to break down the floor. This arises, I believe, from
Sir G. Downing's late talk of the greatness of the
sum lying there of people's money, that they would
not fetch away, which he showed me and a great
many others. Most people that I speak with are
in doubt how we shall do to secure our seamen
from running over to the Dutch ; which is a sad
but very true consideration at this day. At noon
I am told that my Lord Duke of Albemarle is
made Lord High Constable; the meaning whereof
at this time I know not, nor whether it be true or no.2
Dined, and Mr. Hater and W. Hewer with me;
where they do speak so sorrowfully of the posture
of the times, and how people do cry out in the streets
of their being bought and sold ; and both they, and
every body that come to me, do tell me that people
make nothing of talking treason in the streets openly :
as, that we are bought and sold, and governed by
Papists, and that we are betrayed by people about
1 See 19th February, 1665-6, ante, and " Poems on State Affairs,"
vol. i. p. 253 :—
" Pride, Lust, Ambition, and the People's Hate,
The kingdom's broker, ruin of the State,
Dunkirk's sad loss, divider of the fleet,
Tangier's compounder for a barren sheet:
This shrub of gentry, married to the crown,
His daughter to the heir, is tumbled down :
The grand imposter of the nobles lies
Grov'ling in dust, as a just sacrifice,
To appease the injured King and abased nation :
Who would believe the sudden alteration ?
God will revenge, too, for the stones he took
From aged Paul's to make a nest for rooks ;
All cormorants of State, as well as he,
We now may hope in the same plight to see."
2 The report was not true.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 375
the King, and shall be delivered up to the French,
and I know not what. At dinner we discoursed of
Tom of the Wood, a fellow that lives like a hermit
near Woolwich, who, as they say, and Mr. Bodham,
they tell me, affirms that he was by at the Justice's
when some did accuse him there for it, did fortell the
burning of the City, and now says that a greater
desolation is at hand. Thence we read and laughed
at Lilly's prophecies this month, in his Almanack
this year.1 So to the office after dinner ; and thither
comes Mr. Pierce, who tells me his condition, how he
cannot get his money, about 500/., which, he says, is
a very great part of what he hath for his family and
children, out of Viner's hand : and indeed it is to be
feared that this will wholly undo the bankers. He
says he knows nothing of the late affronts to my
Lord Chancellor's house, as is said, nor hears of the
Duke of Albemarle's being made High Constable ;
but says that they are in great distraction at White
Hall, and that every where people do speak high
against Sir W. Coventry :2 but he agrees with me,
that he is the best Minister of State the King hath,
and so from my heart I believe. At night come
home Sir W. Batten and W. Pen, who only can tell
me that they have placed guns at Woolwich and
1 Probably the following prognostications amused Pepys and his
friends : — " The several lunations of this month do rather portend
sea-fights, wars, &c, than give hopes of peace, particularly the
several configurations do very much threaten Holland with a most
strange and unusual loss at sea, if they shall dare to fight His
Majesty's forces. Still poor Poland is threatened either by the
Muscovites or wandering Cossacks. Strange rumours dispersed in
London, some vain people abuse His Majesty's subjects with
untruths and ill-grounded suggestions. Much division in London
about building ; perhaps that may occasion those vain and idle
reports. Strange news out of Holland, as if all were in an uproar ;
we. believe they are now in a sad and fearful condition."
2 Evelyn (" Diary," July 29, 1667) says it was owing to Sir W.
Coventry that no fleet was sent out in 1667.

376 DIARY OF June 14
Deptford, and sunk some ships below Woolwich and
Blackewall, and are in hopes that they will stop the
enemy's coming up. But strange our confusion !
that among them that are sunk they have gone and
sunk without consideration " The Francklin," one of
the King's ships, with stores to a very considerable
value, that hath been long loaden for supply of the
ships ; and the new ship at Bristoll, and much wanted
there ; and nobody will own that they directed it,
but do lay it on Sir W. Rider. They speak also of
another ship, loaden to the value of 80,000/., sunk
with the goods in her, or at least was mightily con
tended for by him, and a foreign ship, that had the
faith of the nation for her security : this Sir R. Ford
tells us. And it is too plain a truth, that both here
and at Chatham the ships that we have sunk have
many, and the first of them, been ships completely
fitted for fire-ships at great charge. But most
strange the backwardness and disorder of all people,
especially the King's people in pay, to do any work,
Sir W. Pen tells me, all crying out for money ; and
it was so at Chatham, that this night comes an
order from Sir W. Coventry to stop the pay of the
wages of that Yard ; the Duke of Albemarle having
related, that not above three of 1,100 in pay there
did attend to do any work there. This evening
having sent a messenger to Chatham on purpose, we
have received a dull letter from my Lord Brouncker
and Peter Pett, how matters have gone there this
week ; but not so much, or so particularly, as we
knew it by common talk before, and as true. I doubt
they will be found to have been but slow men in
this business ; and they say the Duke of Albemarle
did tell my Lord Brouncker to his face that his dis
charging of the great ships there was the cause of all
this ; and I am told that it is become common talk
against my Lord Brouncker. But in that he is to be

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 377
justified, for he did it by verbal order from Sir W.
Coventry, and with good intent ; and it was to good
purpose, whatever the success be, for the men would
have but spent the King so much the more in wages,
and yet not attended on board to have done the
King any service ; and as an evidence of that, just
now, being the, 15th day in the morning that I am
writing yesterday's passages, one is with me, Jacob
Bryan, Purser of "The Princesse," who confesses to
me that he hath but 180 men borne at this day in
victuals and wages on that ship lying at Chatham,
being lately brought in thither; of which 180 there
was not above five appeared to do the King any
service at this late business. And this morning also,
some of the Cambridge's men come up from Ports
mouth, by order from Sir Fretcheville Hollis, who
boasted to us the other day that he had sent for 50,
and would be hanged if 100 did not come up that
would do as much as twice the number of other
men : I say some of them, instead of being at work
at Deptford, where they were intended, do come to
the office this morning to demand the payment of
their tickets ; for otherwise they would, they said,
do no more work ; and are, as I understand from
everybody that has to do with them, the most de
bauched, damning, swearing rogues that ever were
in the Navy, just like their prophane commander.
Home, being at pretty good ease by a letter from
my wife, brought by Saunders, that my father and
wife got well last night to their Inne and out again
this morning, and Gibson's being got safe to Caxton
at twelve last night.
15th. All the morning at the office. No newes
more than last night ; only Purser Tyler comes and
tells me that he being at all the passages in this
business at Chatham, he says there have been hor
rible miscarriages, such as we shall shortly hear of :

378 DIARY OF June 16
that the want of boats hath undone us ; and it is
commonly said, and Sir J. Minnes under his hand
tells us, that they were employed by the men of the
Yard to carry away their goods ; and I hear that
Commissioner Pett will be found the first man that
began to remove ; he is much spoken against, and
Brouncker is complained of and reproached for dis
charging the men of the great ships heretofore. At
* noon Mr. Hater dined with me ; and tells me he
believes that it will hardly be the want of money
alone that will excuse to the Parliament the neglect
of not setting out a fleete, it having never been done
in our greatest straits, but however unlikely it ap
peared, yet when it was gone about, the State or
King did compass it ; and there is something in it.
At night comes, unexpectedly so soon, Mr. Gibson,
who left my wife well, and all got down well with
them, but not with himself, which I was afeard of,
and cannot blame him, but must mvself be wiser
against another time. He had one of his bags broke,
through his breeches, and some pieces dropped out,
not many, he thinks, but two, for he light, and took
them up, and went back and could find no more.
But I am not able to tell how many, which troubles
me, but the joy of having the greatest part safe there
makes me bear with it, so as not to afflict myself
for it. Home and to my flageolet. Played with
pleasure, but with a heavy heart, only it pleased me
to think how it may please God I may live to spend
my time in the country with plainness and pleasure,
though but with little glory.
1 6th. (Lord's day.) Comes Roger Pepys and his
son Talbot, whom he had brought to town to settle
at the Temple, but, by reason of our present stirs,
will carry him back again with him this week. He
seems to be but a silly lad. I sent them to church
this morning. Roger Pepys told me, that when I

«667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 379
come to his house he will show me a decree in Chan
cery, wherein there was twenty-six men all house
keepers in the town of Cottenham, in Queene Eliza
beth's time, of our name. By and by occasion offered
for my writing to Sir W. Coventry a plain bold letter
touching lack of money ; which, when it was gone, I
was afeard might give offence : but upon two or three
readings over again the copy of it, I was satisfied it
was a good letter ; only Sir W. Batten signed it with'
me, which I could wish I had done alone.
17th. To my office, where busy all the morning,
particularly setting my people to work in transcribing
pieces of letters publique and private, which I do
collect against a black day to defend the office with
and myself. At noon dined at home, Mr. Hater with
me alone, who do seem to be confident that this
nation will be undone, and with good reason. Wishes
himself at Hambrough, as a great many more, he
says, he believes do, but nothing but the reconciling
of the Presbyterians will save us, and I am of his
mind. At the office all the afternoon, where every
moment business of one kind or ofher about the fire-
ships and other businesses, most of them vexatious
for want of money, the commanders all complaining
that, if they miss to pay their men a night, they run
away ; seamen demanding money of them by way of
advance, and some of Sir Fretcheville Hollis's men,
that he so bragged of, demanding their tickets to be
paid, or they would not work : this Hollis, Sir W.
Batten and W. Pen say, proves a conceited, idle,
prating, lying fellow. But it was pleasant this
morning to hear Hollis give me the account what, he
says, he told the King in Commissioner Pett's pre
sence, whence it was that his ship was fit sooner than
Others, telling the King how he dealt with the several
Commissioners and agents of the Ports where he
comes, offering Lanyon to carry him a Ton or two of

380 DIARY OF June 1 8
goods to the streights, giving Middleton an hour or
two's hearing of his stories of Barbadoes, going to
prayer with Taylor, and standing bare and calling,
" If it please your Honour," to Pett, but Sir W. Pen
says that he tells this story to everybody, and believes
it to be a very lie. Captain Cocke tells me there
have been great endeavours of bringing in the Pres
byterian interest, but that it will not do. He named
to me several of the insipid lords that are to com
mand the armies that are to be raised. He says the
King and Court are all troubled, and the gates of the
Court were shut up upon the first coming of the
Dutch to us, but they do mind the business no more
than ever : that the bankers, he fears, are broke as to
ready-money, though Viner had 1 00,000/. by him when
our trouble begun : that he and the Duke of Albe
marle have received into their own hands, of Viner,
the former 10,000/., and the latter 12,000/., in tallies
or assignments, to secure what was in his hands of
theirs ; and many other great men of our masters
have done the like ; which is no good sign, when
they begin to fear the main. He and every body
cries out of the office of the Ordnance, for their
neglects, both at Gravesend and Upnor, and every
where else. This night, late, comes a porter with a
letter from Monsieur Pratt, to borrow 100/. for my
Lord Hinchingbroke, to enable him to go out with
his troop in the country, as he is commanded ; but I
did find an excuse to decline it. Among other reasons
to myself, this is one, to teach him the necessity of
being a good husband, and keeping money or credit
by him.
1 8th. To the office, and by and by word was
brought me that Commissioner Pett is brought to
the Tower,1 and there laid up close prisoner ; which
1 "June 17th. This day, Commissioner Pett, to whom was
committed the care of the Yard at Chatham, with the affairs of

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 381
puts me into a fright, lest they may do the same with
us as they do with him. Great newes to-night of the
blowing up of one of the Dutch greatest ships, while
a Council of War was on board : the latter part, I
doubt, is not so, it not being confirmed since ; but
the former, that they had a ship blown up, is said to
he true. This evening comes Sir G. Carteret to the
office, to talk of business at Sir W. Batten's ; where
all to be undone for want of money, there being none
to pay the Chest at their public pay the 24th of this
month, which will make us a scorn to the world.
After he had done there, he and I into the garden,
and walked ; and the greatest of our discourse is, his
sense of the requisiteness of his parting with his being
Treasurer of the Navy, if he can, on any good terms.
He do harp upon getting my Lord Brouncker to take
it on half profit, but that he is not able to secure him
in paying him so much. My Lady Jem goes down
to Hinchingbroke to lie down, because of the troubles
of the times here. He tells me now the great
question is, whether a Parliament or no Parliament ;
and says the Parliament itself cannot be thought able
at present to raise money, and therefore it will be to
no purpose to call one.
19th. Comes an order from Sir R. Browne, com
manding me this afternoon to attend the Council-
board, with all my books and papers touching the
Medway. I was ready to fear some mischief to my
self, though it appears most reasonable that it is to
inform them about Commissioner Pett ; and so took
coach and to the Council-chamber lobby, where I met
Mr. Evelyn, who do miserably decry our follies that
bring all this misery upon us, While we were dis
coursing over our public misfortunes, I am called in
to a large Committee of the Council : present the
the Navy there, was committed close prisoner to the Tower, in
order to his farther examination." — The London Gazette, No. 166.

382 DIARY OF June 19
Duke of Albemarle, Anglesey, Arlington, Ashly,
Carteret, Duncomb, Coventry, Ingram, Clifford, Lau
derdale, Morrice, Manchester, Craven, Carlisle, Bridge-
water. And after Sir W. Coventry's telling them
what orders His Royal Highness had made for the
safety of the Medway, I told them to their full con
tent what we had done, and showed them our letters.
Then was Peter Pett called in, with the Lieutenant
of the Tower. He is in his old clothes, and looked
most sillily. His charge was chiefly the not carrying
up of the ships, and the using of the boats in carrying
away his goods ; to which he answered very sillily;
though his faults to me seem only great omissions.
Lord Arlington and Coventry very severe against
him ; the former saying that, if he was not guilty, the
world would think them all guilty.1 The latter urged,
that there must be some faults, and that the Admiral
1 Pett was made a scapegoat. This is confirmed in Marvel's
Satire ("Works," vol. iii. p. 390) : —
" After this loss, to relish discontent,
Some one must be accused by Parliament ;
All our miscarriages on Pett must fall,
His name alone seems fit to answer all.
Whose counsel first did this mad war beget ?
Who all commands sold through the Navy ? Pett.
Who would not follow when the Dutch were beat?
Who treated out the time at Bergen ? Pett.
Who the Dutch fleet with storms disabled met, •
And, rifling prizes, them neglected ? Pett.
Who with false news prevented the Gazette,
The fleet divided, writ for Rupert ? Pett.
Who all our seamen cheated of their debt ?
And all our prizes who did swallow ? Pett.
Who did advise no navy out to set ?
And who the fort left unprepared ? Pett.
Who to supply with powder did forget
Langufird, Sheerness, Gravesend, and Upnor ? Pett.
Who all our ships exposed in Chatham net?
Who should it be but the fanatick Petti
Pett, the sea-architect, in making ships,
Was the first cause of all these naval slips.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 383
must be found to have done his part. I did say an
unhappy word, which I was sorry for, when he com
plained of want of oares for the boats : and there was,
it seems, enough, and good enough, to carry away all
the boats with from the King's occasions. He said
he used never a boat till they were all gone but one ;
and that was to carry away things of great value, and
these were his models of ships ; which, when the
Council, some of them, had said they wished that the
Dutch had had them instead of the King's ships, he
answered, he did believe the Dutch would have made
more advantage of the models than of the ships, and
that the King had had greater loss thereby ; this they
all laughed at. After having heard him for an hour
or more, they bid him withdraw. I all this while
showing him no respect, but rather against him, for
which God forgive me ! for I mean no hurt to him,
but only find that these Lords are upon their own
purgation, and it is necessary I should be so in be
half of the office. He being gone, they caused Sir
Richard Browne 1 to read over his minutes ; and
then my Lord Arlington moved that they might be
put into my hands to put into form, I being more
acquainted with such business ; and they were so.
So I away back with my books and papers; and
when I got out into the Court it was pretty to
see how people gazed upon me, that I thought
myself obliged to salute people and to smile, lest
they should think I was a prisoner too ; but after
wards I found that most did take me to be there
to bear evidence against P. Pett ; but my fear
was such, at my going in, of the success of the
Had he not built, none of these faults had been ; '
If no creation, there had been no sin :
But his great crime, one boat away he sent,
That lost our fleet, and did our flight prevent."
1 Clerk of the Council.

384 DIARY OF June 20
day, that I did think fit to give T. Hater, whom I
took with me, to wait the event, my closet-key and
directions where to find 500/. and more in silver and
gold, and my tallys, to remove, in case of any mis
fortune to me. Thence to Sir G. Carteret's to take
my leave of my Lady Jem, who is going into the
country to-morrow ; but she being now at prayers
with my Lady and family, and hearing by Yorke, the
carrier, that my wife is coming to towne, I did make
haste home to see her, that she might not find me
abroad, it being the first minute I have been abroad
since yesterday was se'ennight. It is pretty to see
how strange it is to be abroad to see people, as it
used to be after a month or two's absence, and I have
brought myself so to it, that I have no great mind to
be abroad, Which I could not have believed of myself.
I got home, and after being there a little, my wife
came, and two of her fellow-travellers with her, with
whom we drunk : a couple of merchant-like men, I
think, but have friends in our country. They being
gone, my wife did give so bad an account of her and
my father's method in burying of our gold, that made
me mad : and she herself is not pleased with it, she
believing that my sister knows of it. My father and
she did it on Sunday, when they were gone to church,
in open daylight, in the midst of the garden ; where, for
aught they knew, many eyes might see them : which
put me into such trouble, that I was almost mad about
it, and presently cast about, how to have it back again
to secure it here, the times being a little better now.
Such was my trouble at this, that I fell out with my
wife, that though new come to towne, I did not sup with
her, nor speak to her to-night, but to bed and sleep.
20th. Up without any respect to my wife, only
answering her a question or two, without any anger
though, and so to the office, where Mr. Barber came
to me (one of the clerks of the ticket office) to get me

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 385
to sign some tickets, and told me that all the dis
course yesterday, about that part of the town where
he was, was that Mr. Pett and I were in the Tower ;
and I did hear the same before. At noon, home to
dinner, and there my wife and I very good friends ;
the care of my gold being somewhat over, considering
it was in their hands that have as much cause to
secure it as myself almost, and so if they will be mad,
let them. But yet I do intend to send for it away.
Busy all the afternoon ; in the evening did treat with,
and in the end agree, but by some kind of compul
sion, with the owners of six merchant ships, to serve
the King as men-of-war. But, Lord ! to see how
against the hair it is with these men and every body
to trust us and the King ; and how unreasonable it
is to expect they should be willing to lend their ships,
and lay out 2 or 300/ a man to fit their ships for new
voyages, when we have not paid them half of what
we owe them for their old services ! I did write so
to Sir W. Coventry this night.
2 1 st. Up and by water to White Hall, there to
discourse with Sir G. Carteret and Mr. Fen about
office business. I found them all aground, and no
money to do anything with. Thence homewards,
calling at my Tailor's to bespeak some coloured
clothes, and thence to Hercules Pillars, all alone, and
there spent 6d. on myself, and so home and busy all
the morning. At noon to dinner, where my wife
shows me a letter from her father, who is going over
sea, and this afternoon would take his leave of her.
I sent him by her three Jacobuses in gold, having
real pity for him and her. This day comes news
from Harwich that the Dutch fleete are all in sight,
near 100 sail great and small, they think, coming to
wards them ; where, they think, they shall be able to
oppose them ; but do cry out of the falling back of
the seamen, few standing by them, and those with
c c

386 DIARY OF June 22
much faintness. The like they write from Ports
mouth, and their letters this post are worth reading.
Sir H. Cholmly came to me this day, and tells me the
Court is as mad as ever -y and that the night the
Dutch burned our ships the King did sup with my
Lady Castlemaine, at the Duchess of Monmouth's,
and there were all mad in hunting of a poor moth.1
All the Court afraid of a Parliament ; but he thinks
nothing can save us but the King's giving up all to a
Parliament. 22 nd. At the office all the morning busy. At
noon to dinner, where Mr. Lewes Phillips, by invita
tion of my wife, comes, he coming up to town with
her in the coach this week, and she expected another
gentleman, a fellow traveller, and I perceive the feast
was for him, though she did not say it, but by some
mistake he came not, so there was a good dinner lost.
Much talk with Mr. Phillips about country business,
among others that there is no way for me to purchase
any severall lands in Brampton, or making any
severall that is not so, without much trouble and cost,
and, it may be, not do it neither, so that there is no
more ground to be laid to our Brampton house. In
the evening came Captain Hart2 and Haywood to me
about the six merchant-ships now taken up for men-
of-war ; and in talk they told me about the taking of
" The Royal Charles ;" that nothing but carelessness
lost the ship, for they might have saved her the very
tide that the Dutch come up, if they would have but
used means and had had but boats : and that the
want of boats plainly lost all the other ships. That
the Dutch did take her with a boat of nine men, who
found not a man on board her, and her laying so near
1 Nero fiddled while Rome was burning.
2 The warrant of the Earl of Sandwich, appointing John Hart
Captain of the "Revenge," 13th September, 1665, is among the
loose papers in Rawlinson, A. 289.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 387
them was a main temptation to them to come on ;
and presently a man went up and struck her flag and
jacke, and a trumpeter sounded upon her "Joan's
placket is torn : 'n that they did carry her down at a
time, both for tides and wind, when the best pilot in
Chatham would not have undertaken it, they heeling
her on one side to make her draw little water : and
so carried her away safe. They being gone, by and
by comes Sir W. Pen, who hath been at Court ; and
in the first place, I hear the Duke of Cambridge is
dead ;2 which is a great loss to the nation, having, I
think, never an heyre male now of the King's or
Duke's to succeed to the Crown. He tells me that
they do begin already to damn the Dutch, and call
them cowards at White Hall, and think of them and
their business no better than they used to do ; which
is very sad. The King did tell him himself, which is
so, I was told, here in the City, that the City hath
lent him 10,000/., to be laid out towards securing of
the River of Thames ; which, methinks, is a very
poor thing, that we should be induced to borrow by
such mean sums. He tells me that it is most mani
fest that one great thing making it impossible for us
to have set out a fleete this year, if we could have
done it for money or stores, was the liberty given the
beginning of the year for the setting out of merchant
men, which did take up, as is said, above ten, if not
fifteen thousand seamen : and this appears in the
council-books. 23rd. (Lord's day.) To my chamber, and there
all the morning reading in my Lord Coke's pleas of
the Crowne, very fine and noble reading. To Wool
wich, and there called on Mr. Bodham : and he and
I to see the batterys newly raised ; which, indeed,
are good works to command the River below the
1 Placket : the open part of a woman's petticoat.
2 He died on the 20th June, at Richmond.

388 DIA RY OF June 23
ships that are sunk, but not above them. It is a sad
sight to see so many good ships there sunk in the
River, while we would be thought to be masters of
the sea. Cocke says the bankers cannot, till peace
returns, ever hope to have credit again ; so that they
can pay no more money, but people must be con
tented to take publick security such as they can give
them ; and if so, and they do live to receive the
money thereupon, the bankers will be happy men.
Fenn read me an order of council passed the 17th
instant, directing all the Treasurers of any part of
the King's revenue to make no payments but such
as shall be approved by the present Lords Commis
sioners ; which will, I think, spoil the credit of all his
Majesty's service, when people cannot depend upon
payment any where. But the King's declaration in
behalf of the bankers, to make good their assign
ments for money, is very good, and will, I hope, se
cure me. Cocke says, that he hears it is come to it
now, that the King will try what he can soon do for a
peace; and if he cannot, that then he will cast all upon
the Parliament to do as they see fit : and in doing so,
perhaps, he may save us all. The King of France, it
is believed, is engaged for this year ;x so that we shall
be safe as to him. The great misery the City and
kingdom is like to suffer for want of coals2 in a little
time is very visible, and, it is feared, will breed a mu
tiny; for we are not in any prospect to command the
1 Louis XIV. was at this time in Flanders, with his Queen, his
mistresses, and all his Court. Turenne commanded under him.
Whilst Charles was hunting moths at Lady Castlemaine's, and the
English fleet was burning, Louis was carrying on the campaign
with vigour. Armentieres was taken on the 28th May; Charleroi
on the 2nd June, St". Winox on the 6th, Fumes on the 12th, Ath
on the 1 6th, Tournay on the 24th; the Escarpe on the 6th July,
Courtray on the 18th, Audenarde on the 31st; and Lisle on the
27 th August.
2 See 26th June, post.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 389
sea for our colliers tp come, but rather, it is feared, the
Dutch may go and burn all our colliers at Newcastle;
though others do say that they lie safe enough there.
No news at all of late from Bredah1 what our Treaters
do. 24th. Troubled a little at a letter from my father,
which tells me of an idle companion, one Coleman,
who went down with him and my wife in the coach,
and came up again with my wife, a pensioner of the
King's Guard, and one that my wife, indeed, made
the feast for on Saturday last, though he did not
come ; but if he knows nothing of our money I will
prevent any other inconvenience. In the evening
comes Mr. Povy about business ; and he and I to
walk in the garden an hour or two, and to talk of
State matters. He tells me his opinion that it is out
of possibility for us to escape being undone, there
being nothing in our power to do that is necessary
for the saving us : a lazy Prince, no Council, no
money, no reputation at home or abroad. He says
that to this day the King do follow the women as
much as ever he did ; that the Duke of York hath
not got Mrs. Middleton, as I was told the other day :
but says that he wants not her, for he hath others,
and hath always had, and that he [Povy] hath known
them brought through the Matted Gallery at White
Hall into his [the Duke's] closet; nay, he hath come
out of his wife's bed, and gone to others laid in bed
for him : that Mr. Brouncker is not the only pimp,
but that the whole family are of the same strain, and
will do any thing to please him : that, besides the
death of the two Princes lately, the family is in hor
rible disorder by being in debt by spending above
60,000/. per annum, when he hath not 40,000/. : that
the Duchess is not only the proudest woman in the
world,. but the most expensefull; and that the Duke
1 See 9th August, /&rf.

390 DIARY OF June 24
of York's marriage with her hath undone the king
dom, by making the Chancellor so great above reach,
who otherwise would have been but an ordinary man,
to have been dealt with by other people ; and he
would have been careful of managing things well,
for fear of being called to account; whereas, now
he is secure, and hath let things run to rack, as they
now appear. That at a certain time Mr. Povy did
carry him an account of the state of the Duke of
York's estate, showing in~ faithfullness how he spent
more than his estate would bear, by above 20,000/.
per annum, and asked my Lord's opinion to it ; to
which he answered that no man that loved the King
or kingdom durst own the writing of that paper ; at
which Povy was startled, and reckoned himself un
done for this good service, and found it necessary
then to show it to the Duke of York's Commis
sioners ; l who read, examined, and approved of it,
so as to cause it to be put into form, and signed it,
and gave it the Duke. Now the end of the Chan
cellor was, for fear that his daughter's ill housewifery
should be condemned. He [Povy] tells me that the
other day, upon this ill newes of the Dutch being
upon us, White Hall was shut up, and the Council
called and sat close ; and, by the way, he do assure
me, from the mouth of some Privy-councillors, that
at this day the Privy-council in general do know no
more what the state of the kingdom as to peace and
war is, than he or I ; nor who manages it, nor upon
whom it depends; and there my Lord Chancellor
did make a speech to them, saying that they knew
well that he was no friend to the war from the be
ginning, and therefore had concerned himself little
1 The Commissioners for regulating the Duke of York's affairs,
in May, 1667, were John Lord Berkeley, of Stratton, Colonel Robert
Werden, and Colonel Anthony Eyre.— Household Book, at Audley-
End.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 391
in, nor could say much to it ; and a great deal of that
kind, to discharge himself of the fault of the war.
Upon which my Lord Anglesey rose up and told his
Majesty that he thought their coming now together
was not to enquire who was, or was not, the cause
of the war, but to enquire what was, or could be,
done in the business of making a peace, and in whose
hands that was, and where it was stopped or for
warded ; and went on very highly to have all made
open to them : and, by the way, I remember that
Captain Cocke did the other day tell me that this
Lord Anglesey hath said, within few days, that he
would willingly give 10,000/. of his estate that he
was well secured of the rest, such apprehensions
he hath of the sequel of things, as giving all over
for lost. He tells me, speaking of the horrid effemi
nacy of the King, that the King hath taken ten times
more care and pains in making friends between my
Lady Castlemaine and Mrs. Stewart, when they have
fallen out, than ever he did - to save his kingdom ;
nay, that upon any falling out between my Lady
Castlemaine's nurse and her woman, my Lady hath
often said she would make the King to make them
friends, and they would be friends and be quiet ;
which the King hath been fain to do : that the King
is, at this day, every night in Hyde Park with the
Duchess of Monmouth, or with my Lady Castle
maine : that he [Povy] is concerned of late by my
Lord Arlington in the looking after some buildings
that he is about in Norfolke,1 where my Lord is laying
1 At Euston Hall, in Suffolk, on the borders of Norfolk, which
afterwards came into the Grafton family by the marriage of the first
Duke with Lord Arlington's only child. Among Pepys's papers
(Rawlinson, A. 195, fol. 58) is a document entitled "Considera
tions touching the purchase of the Park and Woods near Euston,
drawn and presented by Mr. Povy, as his advice to my Lord
Arlington, at this time (Oct. 28, 1668) in treaty for the purchase
of Euston."

392 DIARY OF June 24
out a great deal of money ; and that he, Mr. Povy,
considering the unsafeness of laying out money at
such a time as this, and, besides, the enviousness of
the particular county, as well as all the kingdom, to
find him building and employing workmen, while all
the ordinary people of the country are carried down
to the sea-sides for securing the land, he thought it
becoming him to go to my Lord Arlington (Sir
Thomas Clifford by), and give it as his advice to
hold his hands a little ; but my Lord would not, but
would have him go on, and so Sir Thomas Clifford
advised also, which one would think, if he were a
statesman, should be a sign of his foreseeing that all
should do well. He tells me that there is not so
great confidence between any two men of power in
the nation at this day, that he knows of, as between
my Lord Arlington and Sir Thomas Clifford ; and
that it arises by accident only, there being no relation
nor acquaintance between them, but only Sir Thomas
Clifford's coming to him, and applying himself to
him for favours, when he came first up to town to
be a Parliament-man. He tells me that he do not
think there is anything in the world for us possibly to
be saved by but the King of France's generousness
to stand by us against the Dutch, and getting us a
tolerable peace, it may be, upon our giving him Tan
gier and the islands he has taken, and other things
he shall please to ask. He confirms me in the se
veral grounds I have conceived of fearing that we
shall shortly fall into mutinies and outrages among
ourselves, and that therefore he, as a Treasurer, and
therefore much more myself, as being not only a
Treasurer but an officer in the Navy, on whom, for
all the world knows, the faults of all our evils are to
be laid, do fear to be seized on by some rude hands
as having money to answer for, which will make me
the more desirous to get off of this Treasurership as

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 393
soon as I can, as I had before in my mind resolved.
Having done all this discourse, and concluded the
kingdom in a desperate condition, we parted ; and I
to my wife, with whom was Mercer and Betty Michell,
poor woman, come with her husband to see us after
the death of her little girle.
25th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen in his new chariot,
which indeed is plain, but pretty and more fashion
able in shape than any coach he hath, and yet do not
cost him, harness and all, above 32/., to White Hall ;
where staid a very little : and thence to St. James's
to Sir W. Coventry, whom I have not seen since
before the coming of the Dutch into the river, nor
did indeed know how well to go to see him, for
shame either to him or me, or both of us, to find
ourselves in so much misery. I find that he and his
fellow-Treasurers are in the utmost want of money,
and do find fault with Sir G. Carteret, that, having
kept the mystery of borrowing money to himself so
long, to the ruin of the nation, as Sir W. Coventry
said in words to Sir W. Pen and me, he should now
lay it aside and come to them for money for every
penny he hath, declaring that he can raise no more :
which, I confess, do appear to me the most like ill-
will of any thing that I have observed of Sir W. Co
ventry, when he himself did tell us, on another occa
sion at the same time, that the bankers who used to
furnish them money are not able to lend a farthing,
and he knows well enough that that was all the mys
tery Sir G. Carteret did use, that is, only his credit
with them. He told us the masters and owners
of the two ships that I had complained of, for not
readily setting forth their ships, which we had taken
up to make men-of-war, had been yesterday with the
King and Council, and had made their case so well
understood, that the King did owe them for what
they had earned the last year, and that they could

394 DIARY OF June 25
not set them out again without some money or stores
out of the King's Yard ; the latter of which Sir W.
Coventry said must be done, for that they were not
able to raise money for them, though it was but 200/.
a ship : which do show us our condition to be so bad,
that I am in a total despair of ever having the nation
do well. After that talking awhile, and all out of
heart with stories of want of seamen, and seamen's
running away, and their demanding a month's ad
vance, and our being forced to give seamen 3.5-. a-day
to go hence to work at Chatham, and other things
that show nothing but destruction upon us ; for it is
certain that, as it now is, the seamen of England, in
my conscience, would, if they could, go over and
serve the King of France or Holland rather than us.
Up to the Duke of York to his chamber, where he
seems to be pretty easy, and now and then merry ;
but yet one may perceive in all their minds there is
something of trouble and care, and with good reason.
Thence to White Hall, with Sir W. Pen, by chariot ;
and there in the Court met with my Lord Anglesey :
and he to talk with Sir W. Pen, and told him of the
masters of ships being with the Council yesterday, and
that we were not in condition, though the men were
willing, to furnish them with 200/. of money, already
due to them as earned by them the last year, to
enable them to set out their ships again this year for
the King •. which he is amazed at ; and when I told
him, " My Lord, this is a sad instance of the con
dition we are in," he answered, that it was so indeed,
and sighed ; and so parted : and he up to the Council-
chamber, where I perceive they sit every morning.
It is worth noting that the King and Council, in
their order of the 23rd instant, for unloading three
merchant-ships taken up for the King's service for
men-of-war, do call the late coming of the Dutch "an
invasion." I was told, yesterday, that Mr. Olden-

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 395
burg,1 our Secretary at Gresham College, is put into
the Tower, for writing newes to a virtuoso in France,
with whom he constantly corresponds in philosophi
cal matters ; which makes it very unsafe at this time
to write, or almost do any thing. Several captains
come to the office yesterday and to-day, complaining
that their men come and go when they will, and will
not be commanded, though they are paid every night,
or may be. Nay, this afternoon comes Harry Russell
from Gravesend, telling us that the money carried
down yesterday for the chest at Chatham had like to
have been seized upon yesterday, in the barge there,
by seamen, who did beat our watermen : and what
men should these be but the boat's crew of Sir
Fretcheville Hollis, who used to brag so much of
the goodness and order of his men, and his command
over them. Sir H. Cholmly tells me great newes;
that this day in Council the King hath declared that
he will call his Parliament in thirty days : which is
the best newes I have heard a great while, and will,
if any thing, save the kingdom. How the King came
to be advised to this, I know not ; but he tells me
that it was against the Duke of York's mind flatly,
who did rather advise the King to raise money as
he pleased; and against the Chancellor's, who told
the King that Queen Elizabeth did do all her busi
ness in eighty-eight without calling a Parliament, and
so might he do, for anything he saw. But, blessed
be God! it is done; and pray God it may hold,
though some of us must surely go to the pot, for all
must be flung up to them, or nothing will be done.
26th. The Parliament is ordered to meet the 25th
of July, being, as they say, St. James's day; which
every creature is glad of. Walking to the Old Swan,
I met Sir Thomas Harvy, whom, asking the newes of
1 Henry Oldenburgh, Secretary to the Royal Society.

396 DIARY OF June 26
the Parliament's meeting, he told me it was true, and
they would certainly make a great rout among us. I
answered, I did not care for my part, though I was
ruined, so that the Commonwealth might escape ruin
by it. He answered, that is a good one, in faith;
for you know yourself to be secure, in being neces
sary to the office ; but for my part, says he, I must
look to be removed ; but then, says he, I doubt not
but I shall have amends made me ; for all the world
knows upon what terms I came in, which is a saying
that a wise man would not unnecessarily have said,
I think, to any body, meaning his buying his place
of my Lord Barkely [of Stratton]. Colonel Reymes
tells me of a letter come last night, or the day be
fore, from my Lord St. Albans, out of France,
wherein he says, that the King of France did lately
fall out with him, giving him ill names, saying that
he had belied him to our King, by saying that he
had promised to assist our King, and to forward the
peace ; saying that indeed he had offered to forward
the peace at such a time, but it was not accepted of,
and so he thinks himself not obliged, and would do
what was fit for him ; and so made him to go out of
his sight in great displeasure : and he hath given
this account to the King, which, Colonel Reymes
tells me, puts them into new melancholy at Court,
and he believes hath forwarded the resolution of call
ing the Parliament. At White Hall, spied Mr. Povy,
who tells me, as a great secret, which none knows
but himself, that Sir G. Carteret hath parted with his
place of Treasurer of the Navy, by consent, to my
Lord Anglesey, and is to be Treasurer of Ireland in
his stead ; but upon what terms it is, I know not :
and that it is in his power to bring me to as great a
friendship and confidence in my Lord Anglesey as
ever I was with Sir W. Coventry. Such is the want
already of coals, and the despair of having any sup-

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

397

ply, by reason of the enemy's being abroad, and no
fleete of ours to secure them, that they are come this
day to 5/. 1 os. per chaldron.
27th. Wakened this morning, about three o'clock,
by a letter from Sir W. Coventry to W. Pen, that
the Dutch are come up to the Nore again, and he
knows not whether further or no, and would have,
therefore, several things done — ships sunk, and I
know not what — which Sir W. Pen (who it seems is
very ill this night, or would be thought so) hath di
rected Griffin to carry to the Trinity House. So up
about six o'clock, full of thought what to do with the
little money I have left and my plate, wishing with
all my heart, that that was all secured. So to the
office, where much business, and the more by my
brethren being all out of the way ; Sir W. Pen this
night taken so ill cannot stir ; Sir W. Batten ill at
Walthamstow; Sir J. Minnes the like at Chatham,
and my Lord Brouncker there also upon business.
Horrible trouble with the backwardness of the mer
chants to let us have their ships, and seamen's run
ning away, and not to be got or kept without money.
It is worth while turning to our letters this day to
Sir W. Coventry about these matters. At noon to
dinner, having a haunch of venison boiled ; and all
my clerks at dinner with me ; and mightily taken with
Mr. Gibson's discourse of the faults of this war in
its management compared with that in the last war,
which I will get him to put into writing. Thence to
the office, where I saw the proclamations come out
this day for the Parliament to meet the 25th of next
month ; for which God be praised ! and another
to invite seamen to bring in their complaints, of
their being ill-used in the getting their tickets and
money. Pierce tells me that he hears for certain
fresh at Court, that France and we shall agree ; and
more, that yesterday was damned at the Council, the

398 DIARY OF June 28
Canary Company ; and also that my Lord Mordaunt
hath laid down his Commission, both good things to
please the Parliament, which I hope will do good.
Pierce tells me that all the town do cry out of our
office, for a pack of fools and knaves ; but says that
everybody speaks either well, or at least the best of
me, which is my great comfort, and I think I deserve
it, and shall show I have ; but yet do think, and he
also, that the Parliament will send us all going ; and
I shall be well contented with it, God knows ! But
he tells me how Matt. Wren should say that he was
told that I should say that W. Coventry was guilty
of the miscarriage at Chatham, though I myself, as
he confesses, did tell him otherwise, and that it was
wholly Pett's fault. This do trouble me, not only as
untrue, but as a design in some one or other to do
me hurt ; for, as the thing is false, so it never entered
into my mouth or thought, nor ever shall. He says
that he hath rectified Wren in his belief of this, and
so all is well. He gone, I to business till the even
ing, and then by chance home, and find the fellow
that came up with my wife, Coleman, last from
Brampton, a silly rogue, but one that would seem
a gentleman ; but I did not stay with him. News
this tide, that about 80 sail of the Dutch, great and
small, were seen coming up the river this morning ;
and this tide some of them to the upper end of the
Hope. 28th. Sir W. Batten is come to town : I to see
him ; he is very ill of his fever, and come only for
advice.. Sir J. Minnes, I hear also, is very ill all
this night, worse than before. We find the Duke of
York and Sir W. Coventry gone this morning, by
two o'clock, to Chatham, to come home to-night :
and it is fine to observe how both the King and
Duke of York have, in their several late journeys to
and again, done them in the night for coolnesse. To

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 399
Sir G. Carteret, and I dined with my Lady and good
company, and good dinner. My Lady and the fa
mily in very good humour upon this business of his
parting with his place of Treasurer of the Navy,
which I perceive they do own. They tell me that
the Duke of Buckingham hath surrendered himself
to Secretary Morrice, and is going to the Tower.
Mr. Fenn, at the table, says that he hath been taken
by the watch two or three times of late, at unsea
sonable hours, but so disguised that they could not
know him : and when I come home, by and by, Mr.
Lowther tells me that the Duke of Buckingham do
dine publickly this day at Wadlow's, at the Sun
Tavern ; and is mighty merry, and sent word to the
Lieutenant of the Tower, that he would come to him
as soon as he had dined. Now, how sad a thing it
is, when we come to make sport of proclaiming men
traitors, and banishing them, and putting them out
of their offices, and Privy Council, and of sending to
and going to the Tower : God have mercy on us !
At table, my Lady and Sir Philip Carteret have
great and good discourse of the greatness of the pre
sent King of France — what great things he hath done,
that a man may pass, at any hour of the night, all
over that wild city [Paris], with a purse in his hand
and no danger : that there is not a beggar to be seen
in it, nor dirt lying in it ; that he hath married two
of Colbert's daughters to two of the greatest princes
of France, and given them portions — bought the
greatest dukedom in France, and given it to Colbert;1
1 The Carterets appear to have mystified Pepys, who eagerly
believed all that was told him. At this time Paris was notoriously
unsafe, infested with robbers and beggars, and abominably un
clean. Colbert had three daughters, of whom the eldest was just
married when Pepys wrote, viz., Jean Marie Therese, to the Due
de Chevreuse, on the 3rd February, 1667. The second daughter,
Henriette Louise, was not married to the Due de St. Aignan till
21st January, 1671; and the third, Marie Anne, to the Due de

400 DIARY OF June 28
and ne'er a prince in France dare whisper against it,
whereas here our King cannot do any such thing,
but everybody's mouth is open against him for it,
and the man that hath the favour also. That to
several commanders that had not money to set them
out to the present campagne, he did of his own ac
cord send them 1,000/ sterling a-piece, to equip them
selves. But then they did enlarge upon the slavery
of the people — that they are taxed more than the
real estates they have ; nay, it is an ordinary thing
for people to desire to give the King all their land
that they have, and themselves become only his
tenants, and pay him rent for the full value of it : so
they may have but their earnings. But this will not
be granted ; but he shall give the value of his rent,
and part of his labour too. That there is not a petty
governor of a province — nay, of a town, but he will
take the daughter from the richest man in the town
under him, that hath got anything, and give her to,
his. footman for a wife if he pleases, and the King of
France will do the like to the best man in his king
dom — take his daughter from him, and give her to
his footman, or whom he pleases. It is said that he
do make a sport of us now ; and says, that he knows
no reason why his cozen, the King of England, should
not be as willing to let him "have his kingdom, as
that the Dutch should take it from him. Sir G.
Carteret did tell me, that the business was done be
tween him and my Lord Anglesey ; that himself is
to have the other's place of Deputy Treasurer of
Ireland, which is a place of honour and great profit,
being far better than the Treasurer's, my Lord of
Corke's,1 and to give the other his, of Treasurer of
Mortemart, 14th February, 1679. Colbert himself was never
made a Duke. His highest title was Marquis de Seignelay.
1 The Earl of Burlington. Pepys here calls him by his Irish
title.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 401
the Navy; that the King, at his earnest entreaty, did,
with much unwillingness, but with owning of great
obligations to him, for his faithfulness and long ser
vice to him and his father, grant his desire. My
Lord Chancellor, I perceive, is his friend in it. I
remember I did in the morning tell Sir H. Cholmly
of this business : and he answered me, he was sorry
for it ; for, whatever Sir G. Carteret was, he is confi
dent my Lord Anglesey is one of the greatest knaves
in the world. Home, and there find my wife making
of tea ; a drink which Mr. Pelling, the Potticary, tells
her is good for her cold and defluxions. To Sir W.
Batten's, to see how he did ; and he is better than
he was. He told me how Mrs. Lowther had her
train held up yesterday by her page,1 at his house in
the country ; which is so ridiculous a piece of pride
as I am ashamed of. He told me also how he hears
by somebody that Mrs. Williams had sold her jewels'
and clothes to raise money for something or other ;
and indeed the last night a letter was sent from her
to me, to send to my Lord, with about five pieces of
gold in it, which methought at the time was but a
poor supply. I then to Sir W. Pen, who continues
a little ill, or dissembles it, the latter of which I am
apt to believe. Here I staid but little, not meaning
much kindness in it ; and so to the office, and dis
patched more business. Mr. Pelling supped with us,
and told us the news of the town ; how the officers
of the Navy are cried out upon, and a great many
greater men ; but do think that I shall do well
enough ; and I think, if I have justice, I shall. He
tells me of my Lord Duke of Buckingham, his dining
to-day at the Sun, and that he was mighty merry ;
and, what is strange, tells me that really he is at this
day a very popular man, the world reckoning him to
1 See 14th July, post.
. D D

402 DIARY OF June 29
suffer upon no other account than that he did pro
pound in Parliament to have all the questions that
had to do with the receipt of the taxes and prizes ;
but they must be very silly that do think he can do
any thing out of good intention. After a great deal
of tittle-tattle with this honest man, we to bed. We
hear that the Dutch are gone down again ; and,
thanks be to God ! the trouble they give us this
second time is not very considerable.
29th. By coach to St. James's, and there find Sir
W. Coventry and Sir W. Pen, and then we to dis
course about making up our accounts against the
Parliament ; and Sir W. Coventry did give us the
best advice he could for us to provide for our own
justification, believing, as every body do, that they
will fall heavily upon us all, though he lay all upon
want of money. He says he do prepare to justify
himself, and that he hears that my Lord Chancellor,
my Lord Arlington, the Vice Chamberlain and him
self are reported all up and down the Coffee houses
to be the four sacrifices that must be made to atone
the people. Then we to talk of the loss of all
affection and obedience now in the seamen, so that
all power is lost. He told us that he do concur in
thinking that want of money do do the most of it,
but that that is not all, but the having of gentlemen
Captains, who discourage all Tarpaulins, and have
given out that they would in a little time bring it to
that pass that a Tarpaulin should not dare to aspire
to more than to be a Boatswain or a gunner. That
this makes the Sea Captains to lose their own good
affections to the service, and to instil it into the
seamen also, and that the seamen do see it them
selves and resent it ; and tells us that it is notorious,
even to his bearing of great ill will at Court, that he
has been the opposer of gentlemen Captains ; and Sir
W. Pen did put in, and said that he was esteemed to

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

403

have been the man that did instil it into Sir W.
Coventry, which Sir W. Coventry did owne also, and
says that he has always told the Gentlemen Captains
his opinion of them, and that himself who had now
served to the business of the sea 6 or 7 years should
know a little, and as much as them that had never
almost been at sea, and that yet he found himself
fitter to be a Bishop or Pope than to be a Sea-Com
mander, and so indeed he is. So home, and there I
found Coleman come again, which vexed me. I staid
there awhile and then to my study vexed, showing
no civility to the man. But he comes on a compli
ment to receive my wife's commands into the country,
whither he is going. By and by my cozen Thomas
Pepys,1 of Hatcham, came to see me, and he thinks
nothing but a union of religious interests will ever
settle us ; and I do think that, and the Parliament's
taking the whole management of things into their
hands, and severe inquisitions into our miscarriages,
will help us. To my wife, to whom I now propose
the going to Chatham, who, mightily pleased with it,
sent for Mercer to go with her, but she could not go,
having friends at home ; and the poor wretch was
contented to stay at home, on condition to. go to
Epsum next Sunday. Talking with Sir W. Batten,
he did give me an account how ill the King and
Duke of York was advised to send orders for our
frigates and fire-ships to come from Gravesend, soon
as ever news come of the Dutch being returned into
the river, wherein no seamen, he believes, was advised
with ; for, says he, we might have done just as War
wicke2 did, when he, W. Batten,3 came with the King
and the like fleete, in the late wars, into the river ;
for Warwicke did not run away from them, but sailed
1 See ante, May 12, 1665, note.
2 Robert Rich, second of the name, Earl of Warwick.
3 See 25th of May, 1660, note.

404 DIARY OF June 30
before them when they sailed, and came to anchor
when they came to anchor, and always kept in a
small distance from them : so as to be able to take
every opportunity of any of their ships running
aground, or change of wind, or any thing else, to
his advantage. So might we have done with our
fire-ships, and we have lost an opportunity of taking
or burning a good ship of their's, which was run
aground about Holehaven, I think he said, with the
wind so as their ships could not get her away ; but
we might have done what we would with her, and, it
may be, done them mischief, too, with the wind.
30th. (Lord's day.) Up about three o'clock, and
Creed and I got ourselves ready, and took coach at
our gate, it being very fine weather, and the cool of
the morning, and with much pleasure, without any
stop, got to Rochester about ten of the clock. At
the landing-place, I met my Lord Brouncker and my
Lord Douglas,1 and all the officers of the soldiers in
the town, waiting there for the Duke of York, who
they heard was coming. By and by comes my Lord
Middleton, well mounted : he seems a fine soldier,
and so every body says he is ; and a man, like my
Lord Teviott and indeed most of the Scotch gentry,
as I observe, of few words. After seeing the boats
come up from Chatham, with them that rowed with
bandeleers about their shoulders, and muskets in
their boats ; they being the workmen of the Yard,
who have promised to redeem their credit, lost by
their deserting the service when the Dutch were
there ; I and Creed down by boat to Chatham-yard.
Thence to see the batteries made ; which, indeed, are
very fine, and guns placed so as one would think
the River should be very secure. I was glad, as also
it was new to me, to see so many fortifications as I
1 James, second Marquis of Douglas, and nephew to the Duke
of Hamilton.

i667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 405
have of late seen, and so up to the top of the Hill,
there to look, and could see towards Sheerenesse, to
spy the Dutch fleete, but could make out none but
one vessel, they being all gone. Here I was told,
that, in all the late attempt, there was but one man
that they know killed on shore : and that was a man
that had laid upon his belly upon one of the hills, on
the other side of the River, to see the action ; and a
bullet come, and so he was killed. Thence back to
the docke, and in my way saw how they are fain to
take the deals of the rope-house to supply other
occasions, and how sillily the country troopers look,
that stand upon the passes there ; and, methinks, as
if they were more willing to run away than to fight,
and it is said that the country soldiers did first run
at Sheerenesse, but that then my Lord Douglas's
men did run also ; but it is excused that there was
no defence for them towards the sea, that so the very
beach did fly in their faces as the bullets came, and
annoyed them, they having, after all this preparation
of the officers of the ordnance, only done something
towards the land, and nothing at all towards the sea.
The people here everywhere do speak very badly of
Sir Edward Spragge, as not behaving himself as he
should have done in that business, going away with
the first, and that old Captain Pyne, who, I am here
told, and no sooner, is Master-Gunner of England,
was the last that staid there. Thence by barge, it
raining hard, down to the chaine ; and in our way
did see the sad wrackes of the poor " Royall Oake,"
" James," and " London ; " and several other of our
ships by us sunk, and several of the enemy's, whereof
three men-of-war that they could not get off, and so
burned. I do not see that Upnor Castle hath re
ceived any hurt by them, though they played long
against it ; and they themselves shot till they had
hardly a gun left upon the carriages, so badly pro-

406 DIARY OF June 30
vided they were : they have now made two batteries
on that side, which will be very good, and do good
service. So to the chaine, and there saw it fast at
the end on Upnor side of the River ; very fast, and
borne up upon the several stages across the River ;
and where it is broke nobody can tell me. I went
on shore on Upnor side to look upon the end of the
chaine ; and caused the link to be measured, and it
was six inches and one-fourth in circumference. It
seems very remarkable to me, and of great honour
to the Dutch, that those of them that did go on shore
to Gillingham, though they went in fear of their lives,
and were some of them killed ; and, notwithstanding
their provocation at Schelling,1 yet killed none of our
people nor plundered their houses, but did take some
things of easy carriage, and left the rest, and not a
house burned ; and, which is to our eternal disgrace,
that what my Lord Douglas's men, who came after
them, found there, they plundered and took all away ;
and the watermen that carried us did further tell us,
that our own soldiers are far more terrible to those
people of the country- towns than the Dutch them
selves. We were told at the batteries, upon my seeing
of the field-guns that were there, that, had they come
a day sooner, they had been able to have saved all ;
but they had no orders, and lay lingering upon the
way, and did not come forward for want of direction.
Commissioner Pett's house was all unfurnished, he
having carried away all his goods. I met with no
satisfaction whereabouts the chaine was broke, but do
confess I met with nobody that I could well expect
to have satisfaction from, it being Sunday ; and the
officers of the Yard most of them abroad, or at the
Hill house. Several complaints, I hear, of the Mon
mouth's coming away too soon from the chaine,
1 The island near the entrance of the Zuyder Zee, on which Sir
Robert Holmes had landed. See August 15, 1666, ante.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

407

where she was placed with the two guard-ships to
secure it ; and Captain Robert Clerke, my friend, is
blamed for so doing there, but I hear nothing of him
at London about it ; but Captain Brooke's running
aground with the " Sancta Maria," which was one of
the three ships that were ordered to be sunk to have
dammed up the River at the chaine, is mightily
cried against, and with reason, he being the chief
man to approve of the abilities of the other men,
and the two other ships did get safe thither and he
run aground ; but yet I do hear that though he be
blameable, yet if she had been there, she nor two
more to them three would have been able to have
commanded the river all over. I find that here, as
it hath been in our river,1 fire-ships, when fitted, have
been sunk afterwards, and particularly those here at
the Mussle,2 where they did no good at all. Our
great ships that were run aground and sunk are all
well raised but the " Vanguard," which they go about
to raise to-morrow. " The Henery," being let loose
to drive up the river of herself, did run up as high as
the bridge, and broke down some of the rails of the
bridge, and so back again with the tide, and up again,
and then berthed himself so well as no pilot could
ever have done better ; and Punnet says he would
not, for his life, have undertaken to have done it,
with all his skill. I find it is true that the Dutch did
heele " The Charles " to get her down, and yet run
aground twice or thrice, and yet got her safe away,
and have her, with a great many good guns in her,
which none of our pilots would ever have undertaken.
It is very considerable the quantity of goods, which
the making of these platforms and batterys do take
out of the King's stores : so that we shall have little
left there, and, God knows ! no credit to buy any.
1 The Thames. 2 Muscle Bank, in the Medway.

408 DIARY OF June 30
It is a strange thing to see that, while my Lords
Douglas and Middleton do ride up and down upon
single horses, my Lord Brouncker do go up and
down with his hackney-coach and six horses at the
King's charge. But I do not see that he hath any
command over the seamen, he being affronted by
three or four seamen before my very face, which he
took sillily, methought ; and is not able . to do so
much good as a good boatswain in this business.
My Lord Brouncker, I perceive, do endeavour to
speak well of Commissioner Pett, saying that he did
exercise great care and pains while he was there,
but do not undertake to answer for his carrying up
of the great ships. Back again to Rochester, and
there walked to the Cathedral as they were begun of
the service, but would not be seen to stay at church
there, besides had no mind, but rather to go to our
inne, the White Hart, where we drank and were fain
(the towne being so full of soldiers) to have a bed
corded for us to lie in. Here in the streets, I did
hear the Scotch march beat by the drums before the
soldiers, which is very odde. Thence to the Castle,
and viewed it with Creed, and had good satisfaction
from him that showed it us touching the history of it. .
Then into the fields, a fine walk, and there saw Sir
F. Clerk's house, which is a pretty seat, and into the
cherry garden, and here met with a young, plain,
silly shopkeeper, and his wife, a pretty young
woman, and I did kiss her, and we talked and eat
cherries together, and then to walk in the fields till
it was late, and then to our inne, where, I hear, my
Lord Brouncker hath sent to speak with me : so I
took his coach, which stands there with two horses,
and to him and to his bedside, where he was in bed,
and hath a watchman with a halbert at his door ;
and to him, and did talk a little, and find him a very
weak man for this business that he is upon ; and do

i667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 409
pity the King's service, that is no better handled,
and his folly to call away Pett before we could have
found a better man to have staid in his stead. With
Creed back to our inne to supper, and then to bed,
but could get no sheets to our bed, only linen to our
mouths, and so to sleep.
July 1 st. We took coach, and, being very sleepy,
droused most part of the way to Gravesend, and there
'light, and down to the new batterys, which are like
to' be very fine, and there did hear a plain fellow cry
out upon the folly of the King's officers above, to
spend so much money in works at Woolwich and
Deptford, and sinking of good ships loaden with
goods, when, if half the charge had been laid out
here, it would have secured all that, and this place
too, before now. And I think it is not only true, but
that the best of the actions of us all are so silly, that
the meanest people begin to see through them, and
contemn them. Besides, says he, they spoil the river
by it. Then informed ourselves where we might
have some creame, and thither we went with the
coach, and found it a mighty clean, plain, house, and
had a dish of very good creame to our liking, and so
away presently very merry, and fell to reading of the
several advices to a Painter, which made us good
sport, and indeed are very witty, and Creed did also
repeat to me some of the substance of letters of old
Burleigh in Queen Elizabeth's time, which he has of
late read in the printed Cabbala, which is a very fine
style at this day and fit to be imitated. With this,
and talking and laughing at the folly of our masters
in the management of things at this day, we got home
by noon, where all well. Then to the office, where
I am sorry to hear that Sir J . Minnes is likely to die
this night.
2nd. Up and put on my new silke camelott suit,
made of my cloak, and suit now made into a vest.

410 DIARY OF July 3
So to the office, where W. Pen and myself, and Sir
T. Harvy met, the first time we have had a meeting,
since the coming of the Dutch upon this coast. Our
only business (for we have little else to do, nobody
being willing to trust us for anything) was to speak
with the owners of six merchantmen which we have
been taking up this fortnight, and are yet in no readi
ness, they not fitting their ships without money ad
vanced to them, we owing them for what their ships
have earned the last year. So everything stands still
while we want money to pay for some of the most
necessary things that we promised ready money for
in the height of our wants, as grapnells, &c. Busy
till night, and then comes Mrs. Turner, and tells me
how she hears at the other end of the town how bad
our office is spoken of by the King and Prince and
Duke of Albemarle, and that there is not a good word
said of any of us but of me, and me they all do speak
mightily of, which, whether true or no, I am mighty
glad to hear, but from all put together that I hear
from other people, I am likely to pass as well as any
body. So, she gone, comes my wife and to walk in
the garden, Sir J. Minnes being still ill and so keep
ing us from singing, and by and by Sir W. Pen came
and walked with us and gave us a bottle of Syder,
and so we home to supper. This day I am told that
poor Tooker is dead, a very painfull poor man as
ever I knew.
3rd. Sir Richard Ford tells us how he hath been
at the Sessions-house, and there it is plain that there
is a combination of rogues in the town, that do make
it their business to set houses on fire, and that one
house they did set on fire in Aldersgate Streete last
Easter ; and that this is proved by two young men,.
whom one of them debauched by degrees to steal
their fathers' plate and clothes, and at last to be of
their company ; and they had their places to take up

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 411
what goods were flung into the streets out of the
windows, when the houses were on fire ; and this is like
to be proved to a great number of rogues, whereof
five are already found, and some found guilty this
day. One of these boys is the son of a Montagu,1 of
my Lord Manchester's family; but whose son he
could not tell me. To the Council- chamber, to deliver
a letter to their Lordships about the state of the six
merchantmen which we have been so long fitting out.
When I came, the King and the whole table full of
Lords were hearing of a pitifull cause of a complaint
of an old man, with a great grey beard, against his
son, for not allowing him something to live on ; and at
-last came to the ordering the son to allow his father
10/ a-year. This cause lasted them near two hours ;
which, methinks, at this time to be the work of the
Council-board of England, is a scandalous thing.
Here I find all the newes is the enemy's landing 3,000
men near Harwich, and attacking Landguard Fort,
and being beat off thence with our great guns, killing
some of their men, and they leaving their ladders
behind them ; but we had no-Horse in the way on Suf
folk side, otherwise we might have galled their Foot.
The Duke of York is gone down thither this day,
while the General ? sat sleeping this afternoon at the
Council-table. This cause being over, the Trinity
men, whom I did not expect to meet, were called in,
and there Sir W. Pen made a formal speech in answer
to a question of the King's, whether the lying of the
sunk ships in the river would spoil the river. But
Lord ! how gingerly he answered it, and with a deal
of do that he did not know whether it would be safe
as to the enemy to have them taken up, but that
1 A son of James Montague, of Lackham, third son of the first
Earl of Manchester, by his wife, Mary, daughter of Sir R. Baynard,
of Lackham, Wilts.
2 The Duke of Albemarle.

412 DIARY OF July 4
doubtless it would be better for the river. Methought
the Council found them answer like fools, and it ended
in bidding them think more of it, and putting their
answer in writing. Thence I to Westminster Hall,
and there hear how they talk against the present
management of things, and against Sir W. Coventry
for his bringing in of new commanders and casting out
the old seamen, which I did endeavour to rectify them
in, letting them know that he has opposed it all his
life the most of any man in England. Thence to
White Hall to Mr. Williamson, and by and by my
Lord Arlington about Mr. Lanyon's business, and it
is pretty to see how Mr. Williamson did altogether
excuse himself that my business was not done when
I came to my Lord and told him my business ; Why,
says my Lord, it has been done, and the King signed
it several days ago, and so it was and was in Mr.
Williamson's hand, which made us both laugh, and I
in innocent mirth, I remember, said, it is pretty to
see in what a condition we are that all our matters
now-a-days are undone, we know not how, and done
we know not when. He laughed at it, but I have
since reflected on it, and find it a severe speech as it
might be taken by a chief minister of state, as indeed
Mr. Williamson is, for he is indeed the Secretary.
But we fell to other pleasant talk, and a fine gentle
man he is, and so gave him 5/. for his fee, and away
home. 4th. To the Sessions-house, where I have a mind
to hear Bazill Fielding's case x tried ; and so got up
to the Bench, my Lord Chief-Justice Keeling 2 being
Judge. Here I stood bare, not challenging, though
I might well enough, to be covered. But here were
several fine trials ; among others, several brought in
1 See 9th May, 1667, ante.
3 Sir John Keeling, King's Serjeant, 1661 ; Chief Justice of the
King's Bench, 1665.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 413
for making it their trade to set houses on fire merely
to get plunder ; and all proved by the two little boys
spoken of yesterday by Sir R. Ford, who did give so
good account of particulars that I never heard chil
dren in my life. And I confess, though I was unsatis
fied with the force given to such little boys, to take
away men's lives, yet, when I was told that my Lord
Chief-Justice did declare that there was no law against
taking the oath of children above twelve years old,
and then heard from Sir R. Ford the good account
which the boys had given of their understanding the
nature and consequence of an oath, and now my own
observation of the sobriety and readiness of their
answers, further than of any man of any rank that
came to give witness this day, though some men of
years and learning, I was a little amazed, and fully
satisfied that they ought to have as much credit as
the rest. They proved against several, their consult
ing several times at a brothel in Moore-Fields, called
the Russia House, among many other rogueries, of
setting houses on fire, that they might gather the
goods that were flung into the streets ; and it is
worth considering how unsafe it is to have children
play up and down this lewd town. For these two
boys, one my Lady Montagu's, I know not what
Lady Montagu, son, and the other of good condition,
were playing in Moore-Fields, and one rogue, Gabriel
Holmes, did come to them and teach them to drink,
and then to bring him plate and clothes from their
fathers' houses, and carry him into their houses, and
leaving open the doors for him, and at last were made
of their conspiracy, and were at the very burning of
this house in Aldersgate Street, on Easter Sunday
night last, and did gather up goods, as they had re
solved before : and this Gabriel Holmes did advise
to have had two houses set on fire, one after another,
that, while they were quenching of one, they might

4i4 DIARY OF July 4
be burning another. And it is pretty that G. Holmes
did tell his fellows, and these boys swore it, that he
did set fire to a box of linen in the Sheriffe, Sir
Joseph Shelden's house, while he was attending the
fire in Aldersgate Street, and the Sheriffe himself
said that there was a fire in his house, in a box of
linen, at the same time, but cannot conceive how
this fellow should do it. The boys did swear against
one of them, that he had made it his part to pull the
plug out of the engine while it was a-playing ; and it
really was so. And goods they did carry away, and
the manner of the setting the house on fire was, that
Holmes did get to a cockpit, where, it seems, there
was a publick cockpit, and set fire to the straw in it,
and hath a fire-ball at the end of the straw, which did
take fire, and so it prevailed, and burned the house ;
and, among other things they carried away, he took
six of the cocks that were at the cockpit ; and after
wards the boys told us how they had one dressed, by
the same token it was so hard they could not eat it.
But that which was most remarkable was the impu
dence of this Holmes, who hath been arraigned often,
and still got away ; and on this business was taken
and broke loose just at Newgate Gate ; and was last
night luckily taken about Bow, where he got loose,
and run into the river, and hid himself in the rushes ;
and they pursued him with a dog, and the dog got
him and held him till he was taken. But the impu
dence of this fellow was such, that he denied he ever
saw the boys before, or ever knew the Russia House, or
that the people knew him ; and by and by the mistress
of the Russia House was called in, being indicted, at
the same time, about another thing ; and she denied
that the fellow was of her acquaintance, when it was
pretty to see how the little boys did presently fall
upon her, and ask her how she durst say so, when
she was always with them when they met at her house,

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 415
and particularly when she came in her smock before
a dozen of them, at which the Court laughed, and
put the woman away. Well, this fellow Holmes x
was found guilty of the act of burning the house, and
other things, that he stood indicted for. And then
there were other good cases, as of a woman that came
to serve a gentlewoman, and in three days run away,
betimes in the morning, with a great deal of plate
and rings, and other good things. It was time very
well spent to be here. Here I saw how favourable
the judge was to a young gentleman that struck one
of the officers, for not making him room : told him
he had endangered the loss of his hand, but that he
hoped he had not struck him, and would suppose
that he had not struck him. The Court then rose,
and I to dinner with my Lord Mayor and Sheriffs ;
where a good dinner and a good discourse, the Judge
being there. There was also tried this morning Field
ing, which I thought had been Bazill; — but it proved
the other, and Bazill was killed ; — that killed his
brother, who was found guilty of murder, and no
body pitied him. The Judge seems to be a worthy
man, and able : and do intend, for these rogues that
burned this house to be hung in some conspicuous
place in the town, for an example.
5th. Sir G. Carteret did come to us. He told us
that the great seale is passed to my Lord Anglesey
for Treasurer of the Navy : so that now he do no
more belong to us : and I confess, for his sake, I am
glad of it, and do believe the other will have little con
tent in it. At noon I home to dinner with my wife, and
after dinner to sing, and then to the office a little and
Sir W. Batten's, where I am vexed to hear that Nan
Wright, now Mrs. Markham, Sir W. Pen's mayde
1 According to Smith's " Obituary," Gabriel Holmes was hanged
on the nth July, 1667, and buried in the new churchyard in the
fields, in Cripplegate parish.

416 DIARY OF July 6
and mistress, is come to sit in our pew at church, and
did so while my Lady Batten was there. I confess
I am very much vexed at it and ashamed. No news,
but that the Dutch are gone clear from Harwich
northward, and have given out that they are going
to Yarmouth.
6th. Up and to the office. At noon home, whither
Creed came to dine with us and brings the first news
of a peace. The news was so good and sudden that
I went with great joy to Sir W. Batten and then to
Sir W. Pen to tell it them, and so home to dinner
mighty merry, and light at my heart only on this
ground, that a continuing of the war must undo us,
and so though peace may do the like if we do not
make good use of it to reform ourselves and get up
money, yet there is an opportunity for us to save
ourselves ; at least, for my own particular, we shall
continue well till I can get my money into my hands,
and then I will shift for myself. Thence with joyful
heart to White Hall to ask Mr. Williamson, who told
me that Mr. Coventry is coming over with a project
of a peace; which, if the States agree to, and our
King, when their Ministers on both sides have showed
it them, we shall agree, and that is all : but the King,
I hear, do give it out plain that the peace is con
cluded. Thence by coach home, and there wrote
a few letters, and then to consult with my wife about
going to Epsum to-morrow, sometimes designing to
go and then again not ; at last I bethought myself of
business to employ me at home to-morrow, and so I
did not go. This afternoon I met with Mr. Rolt,
who tells me that he is going Cornett under Collonel
Ingoldsby, being his old acquaintance, and Ingoldsby
has a troop now from under the King, and I think it
is a handsome way for him, but it was an ominous
thing, methought, just as he was bidding me his last
adieu, his nose fell a-bleeding, which ran in my mind

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 417
a pretty while after. This afternoon Sir Alexander
Frazier, who was of counsel for Sir J. Minnes, and
had given him over for a dead man, said to me at
White Hall :— " What," says he, " Sir J. Minnes is
dead." I told him, "No! but that there is hopes
of his life." Methought he looked very sillily after it,
and went his way. Late home, a little troubled at
my not going to Epsum to-morrow, as I had re
solved, especially having the Duke of York and Sir
W. Coventry out of town, but it was my own fault and
at last my judgment to stay, and so after supper to
bed. This day, with great satisfaction, I hear that
my Lady Jemimah is brought to bed, at Hinching
broke, of a boy.1
7th. (Lord's day.) Mr. Moore tells me that the
discontented Parliament-men are fearful that the next
sitting the King will try for a general excise, by which
to raise him money, and then to fling off the Parlia
ment, and raise a land-army and keep them all down
like slaves ; and it is gotten among them, that Bab.
May, the Privy-purse, had been heard to say that
300/. a-year is enough for any country gentleman ;
which makes them mad, and they do talk of 6 or
800,000/. gone into the Privy-purse this war, when in
King James's time it arose but to 5,000/., and in
King Charles's time but 10,000/ in a year. He tells
me that a goldsmith in town told him that, being with
some plate with my Lady Castlemaine lately, she
directed her woman (the great beauty), "Wilson,"
says she, " make a note for this, and for that, to the
Privy-purse for money." He tells me a little more
of the baseness of the courses taken at Court in the
case of Mr. Moyer,* who is at liberty, and is to give
1 George Carteret, in 1681, created Baron Carteret, of Hawnes,
co. Bedford, in consideration of the eminent services rendered by
his father and grandfather to Charles II.
2 See vol. i. Dec. 1, 1661. E E

418 DIARY OF July 8
500/. for his liberty ; but now the great ones are
divided, who shall have the money, the Duke of
Albemarle on one hand, and another Lord on the
other ; and that it is fain to be decided by having
the person's name put into the King's warrant for
his liberty, at whose intercession the King shall own
that he is set at liberty ; which is a most lamentable
thing, that we do professedly own that we do these
things, not for right and justice sake, but only to
gratify this or that person about the King. God
forgive us all! Busy till the evening, and then with
my wife and Jane over to half-way house,1 a very
good walk ; and there drank, and in the cool of the
evening back again, and sang with pleasure upon the
water, and were mightily pleased in hearing a boat-
full of Spaniards sing. Jane of late mighty fine, by
reason of a laced whiske her mistress hath given her,
which makes her a very gracefull servant. But, above
all, my wife and I were the most surprised in the
beauty of a plain girle, which we met in the little lane
going from Redriffe-stairs into the fields, one of the
prettiest faces that we think we ever saw in our
lives. 8th. Mr. Coventry is come from Bredah, as was
expected ; but, contrary to expectation, brings with
him two or three articles which do not please the
King : as, to retrench the Act of Navigation, and
then to ascertain what are contraband goods ; and
then that those exiled persons, who are or shall take
refuge in their country, may be secure from any
further prosecution. Whether these will be enough
to break the peace upon, or no, he cannot tell ; but
I perceive the certainty of peace is blown over. So
called on my wife and to Charing Cross, there to
see the great boy and girle that are lately come out
1 Probably the Jamaica House. See 14th April, 1667, ante.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 419
of Ireland, the latter eight, the former but four
years old, of most prodigious bigness for their age.
I tried to weigh them in my arms, and find them
twice as heavy as people almost twice their age ; and
yet I am apt to believe they are very young. Their
father a little sorry fellow, and their mother an old
Irish woman. They have had four children of this
bigness, and four of ordinary growth, whereof two of
each are dead. If, as my Lord Ormond certifies, it
be true that they are no older, it is very monstrous.
9th. This day my Lord Anglesey, our new Trea
surer, came the first time to the Board ; arid I do
perceive he is a very notable man, and understanding,
and will do things regular, and understand them him
self, not trust Fenn, as Sir G. Carteret did, and will
solicit soundly for money, which I do7 fear was Sir
G. Carteret's fault, that he did not do that enough,
considering the age we live in. This evening comes
news for certain that the Dutch are with their fleete
before Dover, and that it is expected they will attempt
something there. The business of the peace is quite
dashed again, so as now it is doubtful whether the
King will condescend to what the Dutch demand, it
being so near a Parliament, it being a thing that will,
it may be, recommend him to them when they shall
find that the not having of a peace lies on his side by
denying some of their demands. This morning Cap
tain Clerke (Robin Clerke) was at the table, now
commands the Monmouth, and did when the enemy
passed the chaine at Chatham the other day, who
said publickly at the table that he did admire at the
order when it was brought him for sinking of the
Monmouth, to the endangering of the ship, and
spoiling of all her provisions, when her number of
men were upon her that he could have carried her
up the River whither he pleased, and have been a
guard to the rest, and could have sunk her at any

420 DIARY OF Julyn
time. He did carry ioo barrels of powder out of the
ship to save it after the orders came for the sinking her.
He knew no reason at all, he declares, that could
lead them to order the sinking her, nor the rest of the
great ships that were sunk, but above all admires
they would turn them on shore and sink them there,
when it had been better to have sunk them long
way in the middle of the River, for then they would
not have burned them so low as now they did.
ioth. This day our girle Mary, whom Payne helped
us to, to be under his daughter, when she came to
be our cook-mayde, did go away declaring that, she -
must be where she might earn something one day,
and spend it and play away the next. But a good
civil wench, and one neither wife nor I did ever give
angry word to, but she has a silly vanity that she must
play. nth. Up betimes and to my office, and there busy
till the office met, which was only Sir T. Harvey and
myself. He tells me that the Council last night did
sit close to determine of the King's answer about the
peace, and that though he do not certainly know,
vet by all discourse yesterday he do believe it is
peace, and that the King had said it should be peace,
and had been with Alderman Backwell to declare it
upon the 'Change. It is high time for us to have
peace that the King and Council may get up their
credits and have time to do it, for that indeed is the
bottom of all our misery, that nobody has any so
good opinion of the King and his Council and their
advice as to lend money or venture their persons, or
estates, or pains upon people that they know cannot
thrive with all that we can do, but either by their
corruption or negligence must be undone. This
indeed is the very bottom of every man's thought, and
the certain grounds that we must be ruined unless the
King changes his course, or the Parliament come

i667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 421
and alter it. At noon dined alone with my wife.
All the afternoon close at the office, very hard at
gathering papers and putting things in order against
the Parliament, in hopes to have all things in my
office in good condition in a little time for any body
to examine, which I am sure none else will.
1 2th. Up betimes, and by and by comes Greeting
and begun a new month with him, and now to learn
to set anything from the notes upon the flageolet,
but, Lord ! to see how like a fool he goes about to
give me direction would make a man mad. I out by
coach to White Hall and to the Treasury chamber,
where did a little business. Met at White Hall with
Sir H. Cholmly, he telling me that undoubtedly the
peace is concluded ; for he did stand yesterday where
he did hear part of the discourse at the Council table,
and there did hear the King argue for it. Among
other things, that the spirits of the seamen were down,
and the forces of our enemies are grown too great and
many for us, and he would not have his subjects over-
pressed ; for he knows an Englishman would do as
much as any man upon hopeful terms ; but where he
sees he is overpressed, he despairs as soon as any
other ; and, besides that, they have already such a
load of dejection upon them, that they will not be in
temper a good while again. He heard my Lord
Chancellor say to the King, " Sir," says he, " the
whole world do complain publickly of treachery, that
things have been managed falsely by some of your
great ministers. Sir," says he, " I am for your
Majesty's falling into a speedy enquiry into the truth
of it, and, where you meet with it, punish it. But,
at the same time, consider what you have to do, and
make use of your time for having a peace ; for more
money will not be given without much trouble, nor is
it, I fear, to be had of the people, nor will a little do
it to put us into condition of doing our business."

422 DIARY OF July 12
But the other day Sir H. Cholmly tells me he [the
Chancellor] did say at his table, " Treachery ! " says
he ; " I could wish we could prove there was any
thing of that sort in it ; for that would imply some
wit and thoughtfulness ; but we are ruined merely
by folly and neglect." And so they did all argue for
peace, and so he do believe that the King hath agreed
to the three points Mr. Coventry brought over, which
I have mentioned before, and is gone with them
back. He tells me further that the Duke of Buck
ingham was before the Council the other day, and
there did carry it very submissively and pleasingly
to the King ; but to my Lord Arlington, who did pro
secute the business, he was most bitter and sharp,
and very slighting. As to the letter about his em
ploying a man to cast the King's nativity, says he to
the King, " Sir, this is none of my hand, and I refer
it to your Majesty whether you do not know this
hand." The King answered, that it was indeed none
of his, and that he knew whose it was, but could not
recall it presently. " Why," says he, " it is my sister of
Richmond's,1 some frolick or other of her's about some
certain person ; and there is nothing of the King's
name in it, but it is only said to be his by supposition,
as is said." The King, it seems, was not very much
displeased with what the Duke had said ; but, how
ever, he is still in the Tower, and no discourse of his
being out in haste, though my Lady Castlemaine
hath so far solicited for him that the King and she
are quite fallen out : he comes not to her, nor hath
for some three or four days ; and parted with very
foul words, the King calling her a jade that meddled
with things she had nothing to do with at all : and
she calling him a fool ; and told him if he was not a
fool, he would not suffer his businesses to be carried
1 See note, April 21, 1662.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 423
on by fellows that did not understand them, and cause
his best subjects, and those best able to serve him,
to be imprisoned ; meaning the Duke of Buckingham.
And it seems she was not only for his liberty, but to
be restored to all his places ; which, it is thought, he
will never be. It was computed that the Parliament
had given the King for this war only, besides all
prizes, and beside the 200,000/. which he was to
spend of his own revenue, to guard the sea above
5,000,000/. and odd 100,000/ ; which is a most pro
digious sum. Sir H. Cholmly, as a true English
gentleman, do decry the King's expenses of his
Privy-purse, which in King James's time did not
rise to above 5,000/. a-year, and in King Charles's
to 10,000/., do now cost us above 100,000/., besides
the great charge of the monarchy, as the Duke of
York 100,000/ of it, and other limbs of the Royal
family, and the guards, which, for his part, says he,
" I would have all disbanded, for the King is not the
better by them, and would be as safe without them ;
for we have had no rebellions to make him fear any
thing." But, contrarily, he is now raising of a land
army, which this Parliament and kingdom will never
bear ; besides, the commanders they put over them
are such as will never be able to raise or command
them ; but the design is, and the Duke of York, he
says, is hot for it, to have a land-army, and so to make
the government like that of France, but our princes
have not brains, or at least care and forecast enough
to do that. It is strange how every body do now-a-
days reflect upon Oliver, and commend him, what
brave things he did, and made all the neighbour
princes fear him ; while here a prince, come in with
all the love and prayers and good liking of his people,
who have given greater signs of loyalty and willing
ness to serve him with their estates than ever was
done by any people, hath lost all so soon, that it is a

424 DIARY OF July t3
miracle what way a man could devise to lose so much
in so little time. Thence he set me down at my Lord
Crew's and I up to my Lord, where Sir Thomas Crew
was. Here was my Lord Hinchingbroke also, newly
come from Hinchingbroke, where all well, but me
thinks I knowing in what case he stands for money
by his demands to me and the report Mr. Moore
gives of the management of the family, makes me,
God forgive me ! to contemn him, though I do really
honour and pity them, though they deserve it not,
that have so good an estate and will live beyond it.
To dinner, and very good discourse with my Lord.
Sir Thomas Crew tells me how I am mightily in
esteem with the Parliament ; there being harangues
made in the House to the Speaker, of Mr. Pepys's
readiness and civility to show them every thing,
which I am at this time very glad of. Thence, after
dinner home, and there find my wife in a dogged
humour for my not dining at home, and I did give
her a pull by the nose and some ill words, which she
provoked me to by something she spoke, that we fell
extraordinarily out, insomuch, that I going to the
office to avoid further anger, she followed me in a
devilish manner thither, and with much ado I got
her into the garden out of hearing, to prevent shame,
1 and so home, and by degrees I found it necessary to
calme her, and did, and then to the office, where
pretty late, and then to walk with her in the garden,
and pretty good friends, and so to bed with my mind
very quiet.
13th. Mighty hot weather, I lying this night, which
I have not done, I believe, since a boy, with only a
rugg and a sheet upon me. Mr. Pierce tells us what
t troubles me, that my Lord Buckhurst hath got Nell
away from the King's house, and gives her 100/. a
year, so as she hath sent her parts to the house, and
will act- no more. And yesterday Sir Thomas Crew

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 425
told me that Lacy lies a-dying ; nor will receive any
ghostly advice from a Bishop, an old acquaintance of
his, that went to see him. My wife and I to the-New
Exchange, to pretty mayde Mrs. Smith's shop, where
I left my wife, and I mightily pleased with this Mrs.
Smith, being a very pleasant woman. It is an odd
and sad thing to say, that though this be a peace
worse than we had before, yet every body's fear
almost is, that the Dutch will not stand by their pro
mise, now the King hath consented to all they would
have. And yet no wise man that I meet with, when
he comes to think of it, but wishes, with all his heart,
a war ; but that the King is not a man to be trusted
with the management of it. It was pleasantly said by
a man in this City, a stranger, to one that told him that
the peace was concluded, "Well," says he, "and have
you a peace?" — "Yes," says the other. — "Why, then,"
says he, " hold your peace ! " partly reproaching us
with the disgracefulness of it, that it is not fit to be
mentioned ; and next, that we are not able to make
the Dutch keep it, when they have a mind to break
it. Sir Thomas Crew yesterday, speaking of the
King of France, how great a man he is, why, says
he, all the world thought that when the last Pope
died,1 there would have been such bandying between
the Crowns of France and Spain, whereas, when he
was asked what he would have his ministers at Rome
do, why, says he, let them choose who they will ; if
the Pope will do what is fit, the Pope and I will be
friends. If he will not, I will take a course with him :
therefore, I will not trouble myself ; and thereupon the
election 2 was despatched in a little time — I think in
a day, and all ended.
14th. (Lord's-day.) Up, and my wife, a little be-
.' Alexander VII. He died 22nd May, 1667, N. S.
2 Of Clement IX., Giulio Rospigliosi, elected 20th June, 1667,
N. S.

426 DIARY OF July 14
fore four, and to make us ready ; and by and by Mrs.
Turner came to us, by agreement, and she and I staid
talking below, while my wife dressed herself, which
vexed me that she was so long about it, keeping us
till past five o'clock before she was ready. She ready;
and, taking some bottles of wine, and beer, and some
cold fowle with us into the coach, we took coach and
four horses, which I had provided last night, and so
away. A very fine day, and so towards Epsum, talk
ing all the way pleasantly, and particularly of the
pride and ignorance of Mrs. Lowther, in having of
her train carried up.1 The country very fine, only
the way very dusty. To Epsum, by eight o'clock,
to the well ; where much company, and I drank the
water : they did not, but I did drink four pints. And
to the towne, to the King's Head ; and hear that my
Lord Buckhurst and Nelly are lodged at the next
house, and Sir Charles Sedley with them : and keep
a merry house. Poor girl ! I pity her; but more the
loss of her at the King's house. W. Hewer rode
with us, and I left him and the women, and myself
walked to the church, where few people to what I
expected, and none I knew, but all the Houblons,
brothers, and them after sermon I did salute, and
walk with towards my inne. James did tell me that
I was the only happy man of the Navy, of whom, he
says, during all this freedom the people hath taken
to speaking treason, he hath not heard one bad word
of me, which is a great joy to me ; for I hear the
same of others, but do know that I have deserved as
well as most. We parted to meet anon, and I to my
women into a better room, which the people of the
house borrowed for us, and there to a good dinner,
and were merry, and Pembleton came to us, who
happened to be in the house, and there talked and
1 See 28th June, ante.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 427
were merry. After dinner, he gone, we all lay down,
the day being wonderful hot, to sleep, and each of
us took a good nap, and then rose ; and here Tom
Wilson came to see me, and sat and talked an hour ;
and I perceive he hath been much acquainted with
Dr. Fuller (Tom) and Dr. Pierson, and several of
the great cavalier parsons during the late troubles ;
and I was glad to hear him talk of them, which he did
very ingenuously, and very much of Dr. Fuller's art
of memory, which he did tell me several instances of.
By and by he parted, and we took coach and to take
the ayre, there being a fine breeze abroad ; and I
carried them to the well, and there filled some bottles
of water to carry home with me ; and there I talked
with the two women that farm the well, at 12/ per
annum, of the lord of the manor. Mr. Evelyn1 with
his lady, and also my Lord George Barkeley's lady,2
and their fine daughter, that the King of France liked
so well, and did dance so rich in Jewells before the
King at the Ball I was at, at our Court, last winter,
and also their son,3 a Knight of the Bath, were at
church this morning. Here W. Hewer's horse broke
loose, and we had the sport to see him taken again.
Then I carried them to see my cozen Pepys's house,
and 'light, and walked round about it, and they like
it, as indeed it deserves, very well, and is a pretty
place ; and then I walked them to the wood hard by,
and there got them in the thickets till they had lost
themselves, and I could not find the way into any of
the walks in the wood, which indeed are very pleasant,
1 This was probably Richard Evelyn, of Woodcote Park, near
Epsom, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter and heir of George Mynne,
Esq., of Horton in Epsom, both of which places belonged to
her. 2 Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Massingberd.
3 Charles, eldest son, summoned to Parliament as Baron Berke
ley, vita patris, 1680. Ob. 17 10; having succeeded his father in
the EarWom, 1698.

.428 DIARY OF July u
if I could have found them. At last got out of
the wood again ; and I, by leaping down the little
bank, coming out of the wood, did sprain my right
foot, which brought me great present pain, but pre
sently, with walking, it went away for the present,
. and so the women and W. Hewer and I walked upon
the Downes, where a flock of sheep was ; and the
most pleasant and innocent sight that ever I saw in
my life. We found a shepherd and his little boy
reading, far from any houses or sight of people, the
Bible to him ; so I made the boy read to me, which
he did, with the forced tone that children do usually
read, that was mighty pretty, and then I did give
him something, and went to the father, and talked
with him ; and I find he had been a servant in my
cozen Pepys's house, and told me what was become
of their old servants. He did content himself
mightily in my liking his boy's reading, and did bless
God for him, the most like one of the old patriarchs
that ever I saw in my life, and it brought those
thoughts of the old age of the world in my mind
for two or three days after. We took notice of his
woolen knit stockings of two colours mixed, and
of his shoes shod with iron, both at the toe and
heels, and with great nails in the soles of his feet,
which was mighty pretty : and, taking notice of them,
"Why," says the poor man, " the downes, you see, are
full of stones, and we are faine to shoe ourselves thus ;
and these," says he, "will make the stones fly till they
ring before me." I did give the poor man something,
for which he was mighty thankful, and I tried to cast
stones with his home crooke. He values his dog
mightily, that would turn a sheep any way which he
would have him, when he goes to fold them : told
me there was about eighteen score sheep in his flock,
and that he hath four shillings a week the year round
for keeping of them : and Mrs. Turner, in the common

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 429-
fields here, did gather one of the prettiest nosegays
that ever I saw in my life. So to our coach, and
through Mrs. Minnes's wood, and looked upon Mr.
Evelyn's house; and so over the common, and through
Epsum towne to our inne, in the way stopping a poor
woman with her milk-pail, and in one of my gilt
tumblers did drink our bellyfulls of milk, better than
any creame ; and so to our inne, and there had a dish
of creame, but it was sour, and so had no pleasure in
it ; and so paid our reckoning, and took coach, it
being about seven at night, and passed and saw the
people walking with their wives and children to
take the ayre, and we set out for home, the sun by
and by going down, and we in the cool of the even
ing all the way with much pleasure home, talking
and pleasing ourselves with the pleasure of this day's
work. Mrs. Turner mightily pleased with my reso
lution, which, I tell her, is never to keep a country-
house, but to keep a coach, and with my wife on the
Saturday to go sometimes for a day to this place, and
then quit to another place ; and there is more variety
and as little charge, and no trouble, as there is in a
country-house. Anon it grew dark, and we had the
pleasure to see several glow-wormes, which was
mighty pretty, but my foot begins more and more to
pain me, which Mrs. Turner, by keeping her warm
hand upon it, did much ease ; but so that when we
come home, which was just at eleven at night, I was
not able to walk from the lane's end to my house
without being helped. So to bed, and there had a
cere-cloth laid to my foot, but in great pain all night
long. 1 5th. I was not able to go to-day to wait on the
Duke of York with my fellows, but was forced in bed
to write the particulars for their discourse there. Anon
comes Mrs. Turner, and new-dressed my foot, and
did it so, that I was at much ease presently. Our

430 DIARY OF July 17
poor Jane very sad for the death of her poor brother,
who hath left a wife and two small children. I did
give her 20.y. in money, and what wine she needed,
for the burying him.
1 6th. To the Office without pain, and there sat all
the morning.
17th. Home, where I am saluted with the news of
Hogg's bringing a rich Canary prize to Hull : and
Sir W. Batten do offer me 1,000/ down for my par
ticular share, beside Sir Richard Ford's part, which
do tempt me ; but yet I would not take it, but will
stand and fall with the company. He and two more,
the Panther and Fanfan, did enter into consortship ;
and so they have all brought in each a prize, though
our's worth as much as both theirs, and more. How
ever, it will be well worth ' having, God be thanked
for it ! This news makes us all very glad. I at Sir
W. Batten's did hear the particulars of it ; and there
for joy he did give the company that were there a
bottle or two of his own last year's wine, growing at
Walfhamstow, than which the whole company said
they never drank better foreign wine in their lives.
The Duke of Buckingham is, it seems, set at liberty,
without any further charge against him or other clear
ing of him, but let to go out ; which is one of the
strangest instances of the fool's play with which all
publick things are done in this age, that is to be appre
hended. And it is said that when he was charged with
making himself popular — as indeed he is, for many
of the discontented Parliament, Sir Robert Howard,
and Sir Thomas Meres, and others, did attend at the
Council-chamber when he was examined — he should
answer, that whoever was committed to prison by my
Lord Chancellor or my Lord Arlington, could not
want being popular. But it is worth considering the
ill state a Minister of State is in, under such a Prince
as our's is ; for, undoubtedly, neither of those two

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 431
great men would have been so fierce against the
Duke of Buckingham at the Council-table the other
day, had they not been assured of the King's good
liking, and supporting them therein: whereas, per
haps at the desire of my Lady Castlemaine, who, I
suppose, hath at last overcome the King, the Duke
of Buckingham is well received again, and now these
men delivered up to the interest he can make for his
revenge. He told me over the story of Mrs. Stewart,
much after the manner which I was told it by Mr.
Evelyn ; only he says if is verily believed that the
King did never intend to marry her to any but him
self, and that the Duke of York and Lord Chancellor
were jealous of it ; and that Mrs. Stewart might be
got with child by the King, or somebody else, and
the King own a marriage before his contract, for it
is but a contract, as he tells me, to this day, with the
Queen, and so wipe their noses of the Crown ; and
that, therefore, the Duke of York and Chancellor did
do all they could to forward the match with my Lord
Duke of Richmond, that she might be married out
of the way ; but, above all, it is a worthy part that
this good lady hath acted. My sister Michell J came
from Lee 2 to see us ; but do tattle so much of the
late business of the Dutch coming thither that I was
weary of it. Yet it is worth remembering what she
says : that she hath heard both seamen and soldiers
swear they would rather serve the Dutch than the
King, for they should be better used.3 She saw "The
Royal Charles" brought into the river by them; and
how they shot off their great guns for joy, when they
1 The wife of Balthazar St. Michel, Mrs. Pepys's brother.
2 Leigh, opposite to Sheemess.
3 " Our seamen, whom no danger's shape could fright,
Unpay'd, refuse to mount their ships for spite ;
Or to their fellows swim on board the Dutch,
Who shew the tempting metal in their clutch."
Andrew Marvel's Instructions to a Painter.

432 DIARY OF July 19
got her out of Chatham River. I would not forget
that this very day when we had nothing to do almost
but five merchantmen to man in the River, which have
now been about it some weeks, I was asked at West
minster, what the matter was that there was such ado
kept in pressing of men, as it seems there is there
abouts at this day.
1 8th. To the office, where busy all the morning, and
most of our time taken up with Carcasse upon some
complaints brought in against him, and many other
petitions about tickets lost, which spends most of our
time. Very well employed at the office till evening;
and then, being weary, took out my wife and Will
Batelier by coach to Islington, but no pleasure in our
going, the way being so dusty that one durst not
breathe. Drank at the old house, and so home.
19th. Up and comes the flageolet master, and
brings me two new great Ivory pipes which cost me
32^., and so to play, and he being done, I to West
minster and there did receive 15,000/ orders out of
the Exchequer in part of a bigger sum upon the 1 1
months tax for Tangier. So home, and in my way
by coach down Mark Lane, mightily pleased and
smitten to see, as I thought, in passing, the pretty
woman, the line-maker's wife that lived in Fenchurch
Streete, and I had great mind to have gone back to
have seen, but yet would correct my nature and would
not. So to dinner with my wife, and then to sing, and
so to the office, where busy all the afternoon late, and
to Sir W. Batten's and to Sir R. Ford's, we all to con
sider about our great prize at Hull, being troubled at
our being likely to be troubled with Prince Rupert,
by reason of Hogg's consorting himself with two
privateers of the Prince's, and so we study how to
ease or secure ourselves. One tells me that, by letter
from Holland, the people there are made to believe
that our condition in England is such as they may

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 433
have whatever they will ask ; and that so they are
mighty high, and despise us, or a peace with us : and
there is too much reason for them to do so. The
Dutch fleete are in great squadrons everywhere still
about Harwich, and were lately at Portsmouth ; and
the last letters say at Plymouth, and now gone to
Dartmouth to destroy our Streights' fleete lately got
in thither : but God knows whether they can do it
any hurt, or no.
20th. Towards the 'Change, at noon, in my way
observing my mistake yesterday in Mark Lane, that
the woman I saw was not the pretty woman I meant,
the line-maker's wife, but a new-married woman, very
pretty, a strong- water seller : and in going by, to my
content, I find that the very pretty daughter at the
Ship tavern, at the end of Billiter Lane, is there still,
and in the bar : and, I believe, is married to him that
is new come, and hath new trimmed the house.
Home to dinner, and then to the office, we having
dispatched away Mr. Oviatt to Hull, about our prizes
there ; and I have wrote a letter of thanks by him to
Lord Bellassis, who had writ to me to offer all his
service for my interest there, but I dare not trust
him. 2 1st (Lord's day.) Up betimes, and all the morn
ing, and then all the afternoon in like manner, in my
chamber, making up my Tangier accounts and draw
ing a letter, which I have done at last to my full
content, to present to the Lords Commissioners
for Tangier to-morrow ; and about 7 o'clock I
and my wife and Mercer up by water to Barne
Elmes, where we walked by moonshine, and called
at Lambeth, and drank and had cold meat in the
boat, and did eat, and sang, and down home, by
almost twelve at night, very fine and pleasant, only
could not sing ordinary songs with the freedom that
otherwise I would. Here Mercer tells me that the
a. F F

434 DIARY OF July ^
pretty maid of the Ship tavern is married there, which
I am glad of. So having spent this night, with much
serious pleasure to consider that I am in a condition
to fling away an angell1 in such a refreshment to my
self and family, we home and to bed, leaving Mercer,
by the way, at her own door.
22nd. Up to my Lord Chancellor's, where was a
Committee of Tangier in my Lord's roome, where he
sits to hear causes, and where all the Judges' pictures
hung up,2 very fine. Here I read my letter to them,
which was well received, and they did fall seriously
to discourse the want of money and other particulars,
and to some pretty good purpose. But to see how
Sir W. Coventry did oppose both my Lord Chancellor
and the Duke of York himself, about the Order of
the Commissioners of the Treasury to me for not
paying of pensions, and with so much reason, and
eloquence so natural, was admirable. And another
thing, about his pressing for the reduction of the
charge of Tangier, which they would have put off to
another time; " But," says he, "the King suffers so
much by the putting off of the consideration of reduc
tions of charge, that he is undone ; and therefore I
do pray you, sir," to his Royal Highness, " that when
any thing offers of the kind, you will not let it escape
you." Here was a great bundle of letters brought
hither, sent up from sea, from a vessel of ours that
hath taken them after they had been flung over by a
Dutchman; wherein, among others, the Duke of York
did read the superscription of one to De Witt, thus —
" To the most wise, foreseeing and discreet, These,
&c. ; " which, I thought with myself, I could have
been glad might have been duly directed to any one
1 The ancient English gold coin, of the value often shillings.
2 See Lady Theresa Lewis's " Lives of the Friends and Contem
poraries of Lord Chancellor Clarendon ; illustrative of Portraits in
his Gallery," 1852. 3 vols. 8vo.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

435

of them at the table, though the greatest men in this
kingdom. The Duke of York, the Lord Chancellor,
my Lord Duke of Albemarle, Arlington, Ashley,
Peterborough, and Coventry, the best of them all for
parts, I perceive they do all profess their expectation
of a peace, and that suddenly. Sir W. Coventry did
declare his opinion that if Tangier were offered us
now, as the King's condition is, he would advise
against the taking it ; saying, that the King's charge
is too great, and must be brought down, it being, like
the fire of this City, never to be mastered till you
have brought it under you ; and that these places
abroad are but so much charge to the King, and we
do rather hitherto strive to greaten them than lessen
them ; and then the King is forced to part with them,
" as," says he, " he did with Dunkirke, by my Lord
Teviott's making it so chargeable to the King as he
did that, and would have done Tangier, if he had
lived." I perceive he is the only man that do seek
the King's profit, and is bold to deliver what he thinks
on every occasion. With much pleasure reflecting
upon our discourse to-day at the Tangier meeting,
and crying up the worth of Sir W. Coventry. Creed
tells me of the fray between the Duke of Buckingham
at the Duke's playhouse the last Saturday, (and it is
the first day I have heard that they have acted at either
the King's or Duke's houses this month or six weeks)
and Henry Killigrew, whom the Duke of Buckingham
did soundly beat and take away his sword, and make
a fool of, till the fellow prayed him to spare his life ;
and I am glad of it ; for it seems in this business the
Duke of Buckingham did carry himself very inno
cently and well, and I wish he had paid this fellow's
coat well. I heard something of this at the 'Change
to-day : and it is pretty to hear how people do speak
kindly of the Duke of Buckingham, as one that will
enquire into faults ; and therefore they do mightily

436 DIAR Y OF July 24
favour him. And it puts me in mind that, this after
noon, Billing, the Quaker, meeting me in the Hall,
came to me, and after a little discourse did say,
" Well," says he, " now you will be all called to an
account ; " meaning the Parliament is drawing near.
23rd. To the office, doing something towards our
great account to the Lords Commissioners of the
Treasury, and anon the office sat, and all the morning
doing business. In the evening Sir R. Ford is come
back from the Prince and tells Sir W. Batten and me
how basely Sir W. Pen received our letter we sent
him about the prizes at Hull, and slily answered him
about the Prince's leaving all his concerns to him,
but a very rogue he is. By and by comes sudden
news to me by letter from the Clerke of the Cheque
at Gravesend, that there were thirty sail of Dutch
men-of-war coming up into the Hope this last tide :
which I told Sir W. Pen of ; but he would not believe
it, but laughed, and said it was a fleete of Billanders
[coasters], and that the guns that were heard was the
salutation of the Swede's Ambassador that comes
over with them. But within half an hour comes
another letter from Captain Proud, that eight of them
were come into the Hope, and thirty more following
them, at ten this morning. By and by comes an order
from White Hall to send down one of our number
to Chatham, fearing that, as they did before, they
may make a show first up hither, but then go to
Chatham : so my Lord Brouncker do go, and we here
are ordered to give notice to the merchant men-of-
war, gone below the barricado at Woolwich, to come
up again.
24th. Betimes this morning comes a letter from
the Clerke of the Cheque at Gravesend to me, to tell
me that the Dutch fleete did come all into the Hope
yesterday noon, and held a fight with our ships from
thence till seven at night ; that they had burned

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 437
twelve fire-ships, and we took one of theirs, and
burned five of our fire-ships. But then rising and
going to Sir W. Batten, he tells me that we have
burned one of their men-of-war, and another of their's
is blown up : but how true this is, I know not. But
these fellows are mighty bold, and have had the for
tune of the wind easterly this time to bring them up,
and prevent our troubling them with our fire-ships ;
and, indeed, have had the winds at their command
from the beginning, and now do take the beginning
of the spring, as if they had some great design to do.
I to my office, and there hard at work all the morn
ing, to my great content, abstracting the contract book
into my abstract book, which I have by reason of the
war omitted for above two years, but now am en
deavouring to have all my books ready and perfect
against the Parliament comes, that upon examination
I may be in condition to value myself upon my per
fect doing of my own duty. At noon home to dinner,
where my wife mighty musty, but I took no notice-'
of it, but after dinner to the office, and there with
Mr. Harper did another good piece of work about
my late collection of the accounts of the Navy pre
sented to the Parliament at their session, which was
left unfinished, and now I have done it, which sets my
mind at my ease, and so, having tired myself, I took
a pair of oares about five o'clock down to Gravesend,
all the way with extraordinary content reading of
Boyle's Hydrostatickes, which the more I read and
understand, the more I admire, as a most excellent
piece of philosophy ; and as we come nearer Graves-.
end, we hear the Dutch fleete and our's a-firing their
guns most distinctly and loud. So I landed, and
discoursed with the landlord of the Ship, who un
deceives me in what I heard this morning about the
Dutch having lost two men-of-war, for it is not so,
but several of their fire-ships. He do say, that this

438 DIARY OF July 25
afternoon they did force our ships to retreat, but that
now they are gone down as far as Shield-haven : 1
but what the event hath been of this evening's guns
they know not, but suppose not much, for they have
all this while shot at good distance one from another.
They seem confident of the security of this town and
the River above it, if the enemy should ¦. come up so
high ; their fortifications being so good, and guns
many. But he do say that people do complain of
Sir Edward Spragg, that he hath not done extra
ordinary ; and more of Sir W. Jenings, that he came
up with his tamkins2 in his guns. Having eat a bit
of cold venison and drank, I away, took boat, and
homeward again, with great pleasure, the moon
shining, and it being a fine pleasant cool evening,
and got home by half-past twelve at night, and so to
bed. 25th. At night Sir W. Batten, W. Pen, and myself,
and Sir R. Ford, did meet in the garden to discourse
about our prizes at Hull. It appears that Hogg is
the veriest rogue, the most observable embezzler,
that ever was known. This vexes us, and made us
very free and plain with Sir W. Pen, who hath been
his great patron, and as very a rogue as he. But he
do now seem to own that his opinion is changed of
him, and that he will joyne with us in our strictest
inquiries, and did sign to the letters we had drawn,
which he had refused before, and so seemingly parted
good friends. I demanded of Sir R. Ford and the
rest, what passed to-day at the meeting of Parliament :
who told me that, contrary to all expectation by the
King that there would be but a thin meeting, there
met above 300 this first day, and all the discontented
party ; and, indeed, the whole House seems to be
1 Shellhaven, on the Essex coast, opposite to Cliffe, on the
Kentish side.
2 Tamkin, or tampion, the stopple of a great gun.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 439
no other almost. The Speaker told them, as soon
as they were sat, that he was ordered by the King
to let them know he was hindered by some important
business to come to them and speak to them, as he
intended ; and, therefore, ordered him to move that
they would adjourn themselves till Monday next, it
being very plain to all the House that he expects to
hear by that time of the sealing of the peace, which
by letters, it seems, from my Lord Hollis, was to be
sealed the last Sunday.1 But before they would come
to the question whether they would adjourn, Sir
Thomas Tomkins steps up and tells them, that all
the country is grieved at this new-raised standing
army ; and that they thought themselves safe enough
in their trayn-bands ; and that, therefore, he desired
that the King might be moved to disband them.
Then rises Garraway and seconds him, only with
this explanation, which he said he believed the other
meant ; that, as soon as peace should be concluded,
they might be disbanded. Then rose Sir W. Coven
try, and told them that he did approve of what the
last gentleman said ; but also, that at the same time
he did no more than what, he durst be bold to say,
he knew to be the King's mind, that as soon as peace
was concluded he would do it of himself. Then rose
Sir Thomas Littleton, and did give several reasons
for the uncertainty of their meeting again but to
adjourne, in case news comes of the peace being
ended before Monday next, and the possibility of the
King's having some about him that may endeavour
to alter his own, and the good part of his Council's
advice, for the keeping up of the land-army ; and,
therefore, it was fit that they did present it to the
King as their desire, that, as soon as peace was con
cluded, the land-army might be laid down, and that
1 The peace was signed on the 31st : see 9th August, post.

440 DIARY OF July 27
this their request might be carried to the King by
them of their House that were Privy-councillors;
which was put to the vote, and carried nemine con
tradicente. So after this vote passed, they adjourned :
but it is plain what the effects of this Parliament will
be, if they be suffered to sit, that they will fall foul
upon the faults of the Government ; and I pray God
they may be permitted to do it, for nothing else, I
fear, will save the King and kingdom than the doing
it betimes. 26th. No news at all this day what we have done
to the enemy, but that the enemy is fallen down, and
we after them, but to little purpose.
27th. To the office, where I hear that Sir John
Coventry1 is come over from Bredah, a nephew, I
think, of Sir W. Coventry's : but what message he
brings I know not. This morning news is come that
Sir Jos. Jordan is come from Harwich, with sixteen
fire-ships and four other little ships of war : and did
attempt to do some execution upon the enemy, but
did it without discretion, as most do say, so as they
have been able to do no good, but have lost four of
their fire-ships. They attempted this, it seems, when
the wind was too strong, that our grapplings could
not hold : others say we came to leeward of them,
but all condemn it as a foolish management. They are
come to Sir Edward Spragg about Lee, and the Dutch
are below at the Nore. At the office all the morn
ing ; and at noon to the 'Change, where I met Fenn ;
and he tells me that Sir John Coventry do bring the
confirmation of the peace ; but I do not find the
1 Created K.B. at Charles II.'s coronation, and M.P. for Wey
mouth in several Parliaments. He was the son of John Coventry,
the eldest brother of Sir W. Coventry ; and the outrage committed
on his person, on the 21st December, 1670, by Sir Thomas Sandys,
O'Bryan, and others, who cut his nose to the bone, gave rise to the
passing of the Bill still known by the name of The Coventry Act,
under which persons so offending were to suffer death.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 441
'Change at all glad of it, but rather the worse, they
looking upon it as a peace made only to preserve the
King for a time in his lusts and ease, and to sacrifice
trade and his kingdoms only to his own pleasures :
so that the hearts of merchants are quite down. He
tells me that the King and my Lady Castlemaine are
quite broke off, and she is gone away, and is with
child, and swears the King shall own it;1 and she
will have it christened in the Chapel at White Hall
so, and owned for the King's, as other Kings have
done ; or she will bring it into White Hall gallery,
and dash the brains of it out before the King's face.
He tells me that the King and Court were never in
the world so bad as they are now for gaming, swear
ing, women, and drinking, and the most abominable
vices that ever were in the world ; so that all must
come to nought. He told me that Sir G. Carteret
was at this end of the town : so I went to visit him
in Broad Street ; and there he and I together : and
he is mightily pleased with my Lady Jem's having a
son ; and a mighty glad man he is. He [Sir George
Carteret] tells me, as to news, that the peace is now
confirmed, and all that over. He says it was a very
unhappy motion in the House the other day about
the land-army ; for, whether the King hath a mind
of his own to do the thing desired or no, his doing it
will be looked upon as a thing done only in fear of
the Parliament. He says that the Duke of York is
suspected to be the great man that is for raising of
this army, and bringing things to be commanded by
an army ; but that he do know that he is wronged
therein. He do say that the Court is in a way to
1 Charles owned only four children by Lady Castlemaine — Anne,
Countess of Sussex, and the Dukes of Southampton, Grafton, and
Northumberland. The last of these was born in 1665. The
paternity of all her other children was certainly doubtful. See
30th July, post.

442

DIARY OF July 29

ruin all for their pleasures ; and says that he himself
hath once taken the liberty- to tell the King the ne
cessity of having, at least, a show of religion in the
Government, and sobriety ; and that it was that, that
did set up and keep up Oliver, though he was the
greatest rogue in the world, and that it is so fixed in
the nature of the common Englishman that it will
not out of him. He tells me that while all should
be labouring to settle the kingdom, they are at Court
all in factions, some for and others against my Lord
Chancellor, and another for and against another man,
and the King adheres to no man, but this day de
livers himself up to this, and the next to that, to the
ruin of himself and business ; that he is at the
command of any woman like a slave, though he be
the best man to the Queen in the world, with so
much respect, and never lies a night from her : but
yet cannot command himself in the presence of a
woman he likes. It raining this day all day to our
great joy, it having not rained, I think, this month
before, so as the ground was everywhere so burned
and dry as could be ; and no travelling in the road
or streets in London, for dust.
28th. All the morning close, to draw up a letter to
Sir W. Coventry upon the tidings of peace, taking
occasion, before I am forced to it, to resign up to his
Royall Highness my place of the Victualling, and to
recommend myself to him by promise of doing my
utmost to improve this peace in the best manner we
may, to save the kingdom from ruin.
29th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to St. James's,
to Sir W. Coventry's chamber ; where, among other
things, he came to me, and told me that he had re
ceived my yesterday's letters, and that we concurred
very well in our notions ; and that, as to my place
which I had offered to resign of the Victualling,
he had drawn up a letter at the same time for the

i667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 443
Duke of York's signing for the like places in general
raised during this war ; and that he had done me
right to the Duke of York, to let him know that I
had, of my own accord, offered to resign mine. The
letter do bid us to do all things, particularizing several,
for the laying up of the ships, and easing the King of
charge ; so that the war is now professedly over. By
and by up to the Duke of York's chamber ; and there
all the talk was about Jordan's coming with so much
indiscretion, with his four little frigates and sixteen
fire-ships from Harwich, to annoy the enemy. His
failures were of several sorts, I know not which the
truest : that he came with so strong a gale of wind,
that his grapplings would not hold ; that he did come
by their lee ; whereas if he had come athwart their
hawse, they would have held ; that they did not stop
a tide, and come up with a windward tide, and then
they would not have come so fast. Now, there
happened to be Captain Jenifer by, who commanded
the Lily in this business, and thus says : that, finding
the Dutch not so many as they expected, they did not
know that there were more of them above, and so
were not so earnest to the setting upon these ; that
they did do what they could to make the fire-ships
fall in among the enemy ; and, for their lives, neither
Sir J. Jordan nor others could, by shooting several
times at them, make them go in ; and it seems they
were commanded by some idle fellows, such as they
could of a sudden gather up at Harwich ; which is a
sad consideration that, at such a time as this, where
the saving the reputation of the whole nation lay at
stake, and after so long a war, the King had not credit
to gather a few able men to command these vessels.
He says, that if they had come up slower, the enemy
would, with their boats and their great sloops, which
they have to row with a great many men, and did,
come and cut up several of our fire-ships, and would

444 DIARY OF July 29
certainly have taken most of them, for they do come
with a great provision of these boats on purpose, and
to save their men, which is bravely done of them,
though they did, on this very occasion, show great
fear, as they say, by some men leaping overboard out
of a great ship, as these were all of them of sixty and
seventy guns a-piece, which one of our fire-ships laid
on board, though the fire did not take. But yet it is
brave to see what care they do take to encourage
their men to provide great stores of boats to save
them, while we have not credit to find one boat for a
ship. And, further, he told us that this new way used
by Deane, and this Sir W. Coventry observed several
times, of preparing of fire-ships, do not do the work ;
for the fire, not being strong and quick enough to
flame up, so as to take the rigging and sails, lies
smothering a great while, half an hour before it flames,
in which time they can get the fire-ship off safely,
though, which is uncertain, and did fail in one or two
this bout, it do serve to burn our own ships. But
what a shame it is to consider how two of our ships'
companies did desert their ships for fear of being
taken by their boats, our little frigates being forced to
leave them, being chased by their greater ! And one
more company did set their ship on fire, and leave
her ; which afterwards a Feversham fisherman came
up to, and put out the fire, and carried safe into Fever-
sham, where she now is, which was observed by the
Duke of York, and all the company with him, that it
was only want of courage, and a general dismay and
abjectness of spirit upon all our men ; and others did
observe our ill management, and God Almighty's
curse upon all that we have in hand, for never such
an opportunity was of destroying so many good ships
of their's as we now had. But to see how negligent
we were in this business, that our fleete of Jordan's
should not have any notice where Spragg was, nor

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 445
Spragg of Jordan's, so as to be able to meet and join
in the business, and help one another ; but Jordan,
when he saw Spragg's fleete above, did think them
to be another part of the enemy's fleete ! While, on
the other side, notwithstanding our people at Court
made such a secret of Jordan's design that nobody
must know it, and even this Office itself must not
know it ; nor for my part I did not, though Sir W.
Batten says by others' discourse to him he had heard
something of it ; yet De Ruyter, or he that com
manded this fleete, had notice of it, and told it to a
fisherman of our's that he took and released on Thurs
day last, which was the day before our fleete came to
him. But then, that, that seems most to our disgrace,
and which the Duke of York did take special and
vehement notice of, is, that when the Dutch saw so
many fire-ships provided for them, themselves lying,
I think, about the Nore, they did with all their great
ships, with a North-east wind, as I take it they said,
but whatever it was, it was a wind that we should
not have done it with, turn down to the Middle-
ground ; which the Duke of York observed, never
was nor would have been undertaken by ourselves.
And whereas some of the company answered, it was
their great fear, not their choice that made them do
it, the Duke of York answered, that it was, it may be,
their fear and wisdom that made them do it ; but yet
their fear did not make them mistake, as we should
have done, when we have had no fear upon us, and
have run our ships on ground. And this brought it
into my mind, that they managed their retreat down
this difficult passage, with all their fear, better than we
could do ourselves in the main sea, when the Duke of
Albemarle ran away from the Dutch, when the Prince
was lost, and the Royal Charles and the other great
ships came on ground upon the Galloper. Thus, in
all things, in wisdom, courage, force, knowledge of

446 DIARY OF July 29
our own streams, and success, the Dutch have the
best of us, and do end the war with victory on their
side. The Duke of York being ready, we into his
closet, but, being in haste to go to the Parliament
House, he could not stay. So we parted, and to
Westminster Hall, where the Hall full of people to
see the issue of the day, the King being come to
speak to the House to-day. One thing extraordinary
was, this day a man, a Quaker,1 came naked through
the Hall, only very civilly tied about the loins to
avoid scandal, and with a chafing-dish of fire and
brimstone burning upon his head, did pass through
the Hall, crying, "Repent! repent!" Presently comes
down the House of Commons, the King having made
then a very short and no pleasing speech to them at
all, not at all giving them thanks for their readiness
to come up to town this busy time ; but told them that
he did think he should have had occasion for them,
but had none, and therefore did dismiss them to look
after their own occasions till October ; and that he
did wonder any should offer to bring in a suspicion
that he intended to rule by an army, or otherwise
than by the laws of the land, which he promised them
1 In De Foe's fabulous "History of the Plague" 1665, he imagines
a like case : — " Another ran about naked, except a pair of drawers
about his waist, crying day and night, like a man that Josephus
mentions, who cried, Woe to Jerusalem! a little before the
destruction of that city. So this poor naked creature cried, O, the
great and the dreadful God ! and said no more, but repeated those
words continually, with a voice and countenance full of horror, a
swift pace, and nobody could ever find him to stop, or rest, or take
any sustenance, at least that ever I could hear of. I met this poor
creature several times in the streets, and would have spoke to him,
but he would not enter into speech with me or any one else ; but
held on his dismal cries continually." — p. 26. A good picture on
this subject, painted by Mr. P. F. Poole, was exhibited by the
Royal Academy, where the name of the enthusiast was given as
Solomon Eagle, in 1843. It was engraved in the "Illustrated
London News " for that year, p. 399. De Foe had probably heard
of the Quaker.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 447
he would do ; and so bade them go home and settle
the minds of the country in that particular ; and only
added, that he had made a peace which he did believe
they would find reasonable, and a good peace, but did
give them none of the particulars thereof. Thus they
are dismissed again to their general great distaste, I
believe the greatest that ever Parliament was, to see
themselves so fooled, and the nation in certain con
dition of ruin, while the King, they see, is only go
verned by his lust, and women, and rogues about him.
The Speaker, they found, was kept from coming in
the morning to the House on purpose, till after the
King was come to the House of Lords, for fear they
should be doing anything in the House of Commons
to the further dissatisfaction of the King and his
courtiers. They do all give up the kingdom for lost
that I speak to ; and do hear what the King says, how
he and the Duke of York do do what they can to get
up an army, that they may need no more Parliaments :
and how my Lady Castlemaine hath, before the late
breach between her and the King, said to the King
that he must rule by an army, or all would be lost,
and that Bab. May hath given the like advice to the
King, to crush the English gentlemen, , saying that
300/. a-year was enough for any man but them that
lived at Court. I am told that many petitions were
provided for the Parliament, complaining of the
wrongs they have received from the Court and cour
tiers, in city and country, if the Parliament had but
sat : and I do perceive they all do resolve to have a
good account of the money spent before ever they
give a farthing more ; and the whole kingdom is
everywhere sensible of their being abused, insomuch
that they forced their Parliament-men to come up to
sit ; and my cozen Roger told me that, but that was
in mirth, he believed, if he had not come up, he should
have had his house burned. The kingdom never in

448 DIARY OF July 29
so troubled a condition in this world as now; nobody
pleased with the peace, and yet nobody daring wish for
the continuance of the war, it being plain that nothing
do or can thrive under us. Here I saw old good
Mr. Vaughan,1 and several of the great men of the
Commons, and some of them old men, that are come
200 miles, and more, to attend this session of Parlia
ment ; and have been at great charge and disappoint
ments in their other private business ; and now all to
no purpose, neither to serve their country, content
themselves, nor receive any thanks from the King.
It is verily expected by many of them that the King
will continue the prorogation in October, so as, if it
be possible, never to have this Parliament more. My
Lord Bristoll took his place in the House of Lords this
day, but not in his robes ; and when the King came in,
he withdrew : but my Lord of Buckingham was there
as brisk as ever, and sat in his robes ; which is a
monstrous thing, that a man should be proclaimed
against, and put in the Tower, and released without
any trial, and yet not restored to his places. But,
above all, I saw my Lord Mordaunt as merry as the
best, that it seems hath done such further indignities
to Mr. Taylor 2 since the last sitting of Parliament as
would hang him, if there were nothing else, would
the King do what were fit for him ; but nothing of
that is now likely to be. After having spent an hour
or two in the hall, my cozen Roger and I and Creed
to the Old Exchange, where I find all the merchants
sad at this peace and breaking up of the Parliament,
as men despairing of any good to the nation, which
is a grievous consideration ; and so home. Cozen
Roger and Creed to dinner with me, and very merry :
but among other things they told me of the strange,
bold sermon of Dr. Creeton yesterday, before the
1 John Vaughan, M.P. for Cardiganshire.
2 See November 26, 1666, ante.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 449
King ; how he preached against the sins of the Court,
and particularly against adultery, over and over in
stancing how for that single sin in David, the whole
nation was undone ; and of our negligence in having
our castles without ammunition and powder when
the Dutch came upon us ; and how we have no
courage now-a-days, but let our ships be taken out
of our harbour. Here Creed did tell us the story of
the duell last night, in Covent-garden, between Sir
H. Bellassis and Tom Porter. It is worth remem
bering the silliness of the quarrell, and is a kind of
emblem of the general complexion of this whole king
dom at present. They two dined yesterday at Sir
Robert Carr's,1 where it seems people do drink high,
all that come. It happened that these two, the
greatest friends in the world, were talking together :
and Sir H. Bellassis talked a little louder than ordi
nary to Tom Porter, giving of him some advice.
Some of the company standing by said, " What ! are
they quarrelling, that they talk so high ?" Sir H.
Bellassis hearing it, said, " No ! " says he : "I would
have you know that I never quarrel, but I strike ;
and take that as a rule of mine ! " " How ? " says Tom
Porter, " strike ! I would I could see the man in
England that durst give me a blow ! " with that Sir
H. Bellassis did give him a box of the eare ; and so
they were going to fight there, but were hindered.
And by and by Tom Porter went out ; and meeting
Dryden the poet, told him of the business, and that
he was resolved to fight Sir H. Bellassis presently ;
for he knew, if he did not, they should be friends to
morrow, and then the blow would rest upon him ;
which he would prevent, and desired Dryden to let
him have his boy to bring him notice which way Sir
H. Bellassis goes. By and by he is informed that
1 Baronet, of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, and one of the proposed
Knights of the Royal Oak for that county.
G G

450 DIARY OF July 29
Sir H. Bellassis's coach was coming: so Tom Porter
went out of the Coffee-house where he staid for the
tidings, and stopped the coach, and bade Sir H.
Bellassis come out. "Why," says H. Bellassis, "you
will not hurt me coming out, will you ? " — " No," says
Tom Porter. So out he went, and both drew : and
H. Bellassis having drawn and flung away his scab-
bard.'Tom Porter asked him whether he was ready ?
The other answering him he was, they fell to fight,
some of their acquaintance by. They wounded one
another, and H. Bellassis so much that it is feared
he will die : and finding himself severely wounded,
he called to Tom Porter, and kissed him, and bade
him shift for himself; "for," says he, "Tom, thou
hast hurt me ; but I will make shift to stand upon
my legs till thou mayest withdraw, and the world not
take notice of you, for I would not have thee troubled
for what thou hast done." And so whether he did
fly or no I cannot tell : but Tom Porter showed H.
Bellassis that he was wounded too : and they are
both ill, but H. Bellassis to fear of life. And this is
a fine example ; and H. Bellassis a Parliament-man,1
too, and both of them extraordinary friends ! Among
other discourse, my cozen Roger told us a thing
certain, that the Archbishop of Canterbury,2 that now
is, do keep a wench, and that he is as very a wencher
as can be ; and tells us it is a thing publickly known
that Sir Charles Sedley had got away one of the
Archbishop's wenches from him, and the Archbishop
sent to him to let him know that she was his kins
woman, and did wonder that he would offer any dis
honour to one related to him. To which Sir Charles
Sedley is said to answer, " Pray, tell his Grace that I
believe he finds himself too old, and is afraid that I
should outdo him among his girls, and spoil his trade."
1 He was serving for Grimsby. 2 Gilbert Sheldon.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 451
But he makes no more of doubt to say that the Arch
bishop is a wencher, and known to be so, which is
one of the most astonishing things that I have heard
of, unless it be, what for certain he says is true, that
my Lady Castlemaine hath made a Bishop lately,
namely, her uncle, Dr. Glenham,1 who, I think they
say, is Bishop of Carlisle ; a drunken, swearing rascal,
and a scandal to the Church ; and do now pretend to
be Bishop of Lincoln,2 in competition with Dr. Rayn-
bow,3 who is reckoned as worthy a man as most in
the Church for piety, and learning : which are things
so scandalous to consider, that no man can doubt
but we must be undone that hears of them. Cozen
Roger did acquaint me in private with an offer made of
his marrying of Mrs. Elizabeth Wiles, whom I know ; a
kinswoman of Mr. Honiwood's, an ugly old maid, but
a good housewife, and is said to have 2,500/ to her
portion ; but if I can find that she hath but 2,000/.,
which he prays me to examine, he says he will have
her, she being one he hath long known intimately,
and a good housewife, and discreet woman ; though
I am against it in my heart, she being not handsome
at all : and it hath been the very bad fortune of the
Pepyses that ever I knew, never to marry an hand
some woman, excepting Ned Pepys.* To White
Hall ; and looking out of the window into the garden,
I saw the King, whom I have not had any desire to
1 Henry Glenham, D.D., was Dean of Bristol in 1661 ; but he
never was raised to the Bench.
2 Lincoln was vacant by the translation of Benjamin Laney to
Ely, on the 24th of May, previously. William Fuller, Bishop of
Limerick, was made Bishop of Lincoln on the 17th September
following. 3 Dr. Edward Rainbow was Bishop of Carlisle from 1664 to
1684. 4 Edward Pepys, of Broomsthorpe who married Elizabeth Wal-
pole. The author's own wife could not be included amongst the
plain women whom the Pepyses married ? — it is otherwise well for
his domestic peace that he wrote in cipher.

452

DIARY OF July 29

see since the Dutch came upon the coast first to
Sheerness, for shame that I should see him, or he me,
methinks, after such a dishonour, come upon the
garden ; with him two or three idle Lords ; and in
stantly after him, in another walk, my Lady Castle
maine, led by Bab. May : at which I was surprised,
having but newly heard the stories of the King and
her being parted for ever. So I took Mr. Povy, who
was there, aside, and he told me all, — how imperious
this woman is, and hectors the King to whatever she
will. It seems she is with child, and the King says
he did not get it : with that she made a slighting puh
with her mouth, and went out of the house, and never
came in again till the King went to Sir Daniel Harvy's
to pray her; and so she is come to-day, when one
would think his mind should be full of some other
cares, having but this morning broken up such a
Parliament, with so much discontent, and so many
wants upon him, and but yesterday heard such a
sermon against adultery. But it seems she hath told
the King, that whoever did get it, he should own it ;
and the bottom of the quarrel is this : — She is fallen
in love with young Jermin,1 who hath of late been
with her oftener than the King, and is now going to
marry my Lady Falmouth ; 2 the King is mad at her
entertaining Jermin, and she is mad at Jermin's going
to marry from her : so they are all mad ; and thus
the kingdom is governed ! But he tells me for cer
tain that nothing is more sure than that the King,
and Duke of York, and the Chancellor, are desirous
and labouring all they can to get an army, whatever
the King says to the Parliament ; and he believes
that they are at last resolved to stand and fall all
1 Henry Jermyn, afterwards Earl of Dover ; from whom Dover
Street, Piccadilly, derives its name.
2 Lady Falmouth remarried Charles Lord Buckhurst, afterwards
the sixth Earl of Dorset.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 453
three together : so that he says in terms that the
match of the Duke of York with the Chancellor's
daughter hath undone the nation. He tells me also
that the King hath not greater enemies in the world
than those of his own family; for there is not an
officer in the house almost but curses him for letting
them starve, and there is not a farthing of money to
be raised for the buying them bread. To walk in
the garden with my wife, telling her of my losing
300/. a year by my place that I am to part with,
which do a little trouble me, but we must live with
somewhat more thrift. Many guns were heard this
afternoon, it seems, at White Hall and in the Temple
garden very plain ; but what it should be nobody
knows, unless the Dutch be driving our ships up the
river. To-morrow we shall know.
30th. Up and to the Office, where we sat busy all
the morning. At noon to dinner, where Daniel and
his wife with me to see whether I could get him any
employment. But I am so far from it, that I have
the trouble upon my mind how to dispose of Mr.
Gibson and one or two more I am concerned for in
the Victualling business, which are now to be dis
charged. So to White Hall, to the Treasury-chamber,
where I did speak with the Lords, and did my busi
ness about getting them to assent to 10 per cent.
interest on the 1 1 months tax, but find them mightily
put to it for money. Here I do hear that there are
three Lords more to be added to them ; my Lord
Bridgewater, my Lord Anglesey, and my Lord
Chamberlaine.1 Thence with Creed to White Hall;
in our way, meeting with Mr. Cooling, my Lord
Chamberlain's secretary, on horseback, who stopped
to speak with us, and he proved very drunk, and did
talk, and would have talked all night with us, I not
1 Earl of Manchester.

454

DIARY OF July 3°

being able to break loose from him, he holding me
so by the hand. But, Lord! to see his present hu
mour, how he swears at every word, and talks of the
King and my Lady Castlemaine in the plainest words
in the world. And from him I gather that the story
I learned yesterday is true — that the King hath
declared that he did not get the child of which she
is conceived at this time. But she told him, " G — d
d — n me, but you shall own it ! " : It seems, he is
jealous of Jermin, and she loves him so, that the
thoughts of his marrying of my Lady Falmouth puts
her into fits of the mother ; and he, it seems, hath
been in her good graces from time to time, continually,
for a good while ; and once, as this Cooling says, the
King had like to have taken him a-bed with her, but
that he was fain to creep under the bed into her closet.
Mr. Cooling told us how the King, once speaking of
the Duke of York's being mastered by his wife, said
to some of the company by, that he would go no
more abroad with this Tom Otter,2 meaning the
Duke of York, and his wife. Tom Killigrew, being
by, said, " Sir, pray which is the best for a man, to
be a Tom Otter to his wife or to his mistress ? "
meaning the King's being so to my Lady Castlemaine.
Thus he went on ; and speaking then of my Lord
Sandwich, whom he professed to love exceedingly,
says Creed, " I know not what, but he is a man, me
thinks, that I could love for himself, without other
regards." He talked very lewdly; and then took
notice of my kindness to him on ship-board seven
years ago, when the King was coming over, and how
much he was obliged to me ; but says, pray look upon
1 See 27th July, ante.
2 In the play of " Epicene, or the Silent Woman," Mrs. Otter
thus addresses her henpecked husband, Thomas Otter — " Is this
according to the instrument when I married you, that I would be
princess and reign in my own house, and you would be my subject,
and obey me ? " — Act. iii. scene 1.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 455
this acknowledgement of a kindness in me to be a
miracle ; for, says he, "it is against the law at Court
for a man that borrows money of me, even to buy
his place with, to own it the next Sunday ; " and then
told us his horse was a bribe, and his boots a bribe ;
and told us he was made up of bribes, as an Oxford
scholar is set out with other men's goods when he
goes out of town, and that he makes every sort of
tradesman to bribe him ; and invited me home to his
house, to taste of his bribe wine.1 I never heard so
much vanity from a man in my life ; so, being now
weary of him, we parted, and I took coach, and carried
Creed to the Temple. There set him down, and to
my office, till my eyes begun to ake, and then home
to supper : a pullet, with good sauce, to my liking,
and then to play on the flageolet with my wife, which
she now does very prettily, and so to bed.
- 3 1 st. Among other things, did examine a fellow of
our private man-of-war, who we have found come
up from Hull, with near 500/ worth of pieces of eight, -
though he will confess but 100 pieces. But it appears
that there have been fine doings there. Major Halsey,
speaking much of my doing business, and under
standing business, told me how my Lord Generall
do say that I am worth them all. To Marrowbone,2
where my Lord Mayor and Aldermen, it seems,
dined to-day : and were just now going away, me
thought, in a disconsolate condition, compared with
their splendour they formerly had, when the City was
standing. August 1 st. Dined at Sir W. Pen's, only with
Mrs. Turner and her husband, on a venison pasty,
that stunk like a devil. However, I did not know
1 " Divide me like a bribe-buck, each a haunch." — Merry Wives
of Windsor.
2 To the Lord Mayor's Banquetting House ; on the site of what
is Stratford Place, Oxford Street.

456 DIARY OF Aug. i
it till dinner was done. We had nothing but only
this, and a leg of mutton, and a pullet or two. Mrs.
Markham was here, with her great belly. I was
very merry, and after dinner, upon a motion of the
women, I was got to go to the play with them — the
first I have seen since before the Dutch coming upon
our coast, and so to the King's house, to see " The
Custome of the Country." The house mighty empty
— more than ever I saw it — and an ill play. After
the play, we into the house, and spoke with Knipp,
who went abroad with us by coach to the Neat
Houses1 in the way to Chelsy ; and there, in a box
in a tree,2 we sat and sang, and talked and eat ; my
wife out of humour, as she always is, when this woman
is by. So, after it was dark, we home. Set Knipp
down at home, who told us the story how Nell is
gone from the King's house, and is kept by my Lord
Buckhurst. Home, the gates of the City shut, it
being so late : and at Newgate we find them in
trouble, some thieves having this night broke open
prison. So we through, and home ; and our coach
man was fain to drive hard from two or three fellows,
which he said were rogues, that he met at the end of
1 The site of the "neat-houses " is described in a grant in the
Clause Rolls, 28 Henry VIII., as the " Manor of Neyte, with the
precinct of water called the Mote of the said manor." John, fifth
son of Richard Duke of York, was born at the Manor House of
Neyte, November 7, 1448. King Edward VI., on June 28,
1 Edward VI., granted the " House of Neate " to Sir Anthony
Brown. — Walcott's Westminster, 338. Stow's Continuators describe
this place as " a parcel of houses taken up by gardeners for plant
ing of asparagus," &c. They seem to have been situated at or near
Millbank. The " neat-houses " is still the name of the market
gardens in that neighbourhood.
2 Within the hollow of the trunk of Sir Philip Sidney's oak at
Penshurst, celebrated by several of our poets, was a seat which
contained five or six persons with ease and convenience. Pepys
probably means a summer-house erected in the branches. A few
years since one existed near Beckenham, in Kent.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 457
Blow-bladder Street, next Cheapside. So set Mrs.
Turner home, and then we home, and I to the Office
a little ; and so home and to bed, my wife in an ill
humour still.
_ 2nd. Up, and before I rose my wife fell into angry
discourse of my kindness yesterday to Mrs. Knipp,
and in some bad words reproached me with it. I
was troubled, but having much business in my head
and desirous of peace rose and did not provoke her.
So she up and came to me and spoke basely of my
father, who I perceive did do something in the
country, at her last being there, that did not like -J
her, but I would not enquire into anything, but let
her talk, and when ready away to the Office, where
Mr. Gauden came to me, and he and I home to my
chamber, and there reckoned, and I received my
profits for Tangier of him, and 250/ on my victuall
ing score. He is a most noble-minded man as ever f
I met with, and seems to own himself much obliged
to me, which I will labour to make him ; for he is a
good man also : and, in fine, I had much matter of
joy by this morning's work, receiving above 400/ of
him, on one account or other ; and a promise that,
though I lay down my victualling place, yet, as long
as he continues victualler, I shall be the better by
him. 3rd. To the Office, there to enable myself, by
finishing our great account, to give it to the Lords
Commissioners of the Treasury ; which I did, and
there was called in to them, to tell them only the
total of our debt of the Navy on the 25th of May
last, which is above 950,000/. Here I find them
mighty hot in their answer to the Council-board
about our Treasurer's threepences of the Victuall
ing, and also against the present farm of the Customes,
which they do most highly inveigh against.
4th. (Lord's day.) Busy at my Office from morn-

458 DIARY OF Aug. 5
ing till night, in writing with my own hand fair our
large general account of the expence and debt of the
Navy, which lasted me till midnight to do, that I was
almost blind.
5th. To St. James's, where we did our ordinary
business with the Duke of York, where I perceive
they have taken the highest resolution in the world
*> to become good husbands, and to retrench all charge ;
and to that end we are commanded to give him an
account of the establishment in the seventh year of
the late King's reign, and how offices and salaries
had been increased since ; and I hope it will end in
the taking away some of our Commissioners. After
done with the Duke of York, and coming out through
his dressing-room, I there spied Signor Francisco
tuning his gittar, and Monsieur de Puy with him,
who did make him play to me, which he did most
admirably — so well that I was mightily troubled that
all that pains should have been taken upon so bad
an instrument. I hear the ill news of our loss lately
of four rich ships, two from Guinea, one from Galli-
poly, all with rich oyles ; and the other from Barba
does, worth, as is guessed, 80,000/ But here is
strong talk, as if Harman had taken some of the
Dutch East India ships, but I dare not yet believe
it, and brought them into Lisbon. Home, and dined
with my wife at Sir W. Pen's, where a very good
pasty of venison, better than we expected, the last
stinking basely, and after dinner he and my wife and
I to the Duke of York's house, and there saw " Love's
vTrickes, or the School of Compliments;"1 a silly
play, only Miss Davis's dancing in a shepherd's
clothes did please us mightily. Thence without
much pleasure home and to my Office. My wife
mighty angry with Nell, who is turned out a very
1 A comedy, by James Shirley.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

459

gossip, and gads abroad as soon as our backs are
turned, and will put her away to-morrow, which I
am not sorry for.
6th. A full Board. Here, talking of news, my
Lord Anglesey did tell us that the Dutch do make a
further bogle with us about two or three things,
which they will be satisfied in, he says, by us easily ;
but only in one, it seems, they do demand that we
shall not interrupt their East Indiamen coming home,
and of which they are in some fear ; and we are full
of hopes that we have light upon some of them, and
carried them into Lisbon, by Harman ; which God
send ! But they, which do show the low esteem they
have of us, have the confidence to demand that we
shall have a cessation on our parts, and yet they at
liberty to take what they will ; which is such an
affront, as another cannot be devised greater. At
noon home to dinner, where I find Mrs. Wood, for
merly Bab. Sheldon, and our Mercer, who is dressed
to-day in a paysan dress, that looks mighty pretty.
We dined and sang and laughed mighty merry, and
then I to the Office, only met at the door with Mrs.
Martin and Mrs. Burroughs, who I took in and
drank with, but was afeard my wife should see them,
they being, especially the first, tattling gossips, and
so after drinking with them parted, and I to the
Office, busy as long as my poor eyes would endure,
which troubles me mightily. My wife, as she said
last night, hath put away Nell to-day, for her gossip
ing abroad and telling of stories. Sir W. Batten did
tell me to-night that the Council have ordered a
hearing before them of Carcasse's business, which do
vex me mightily, that we should be troubled so much
by an idle rogue, a servant of our own, and all my
thoughts to-night have been how to manage the
matter before the Council.
7th. My wife abroad with her maid Jane and Tom

460 DIARY OF Aug. 8
all the afternoon, being gone forth to eat some
pasties at " The Bottle of Hay," in John's Street, as
you go to Islington, of which she is mighty fond, and
I dined at home alone. Mr. Pierce, the surgeon,
tells me that though the King and my Lady Castle
maine are friends again, she is not at White Hall,
but at Sir D. Harvy's, whither the King goes to her ;
but he says she made him ask her forgiveness upon
his knees, and promise to offend her no more so : and
that, indeed, she did threaten to bring all his bas
tards to his closet-door, and hath nearly hectored him
out of his wits.
8th. Sir Henry Bellassis is dead of the duell he
fought about ten days ago, with Tom Porter ; and it
is pretty to see how the world do talk of them as a
couple of fools, that killed one another out of love.
I to my bookseller's ; where, by and by, I met Mr.
Evelyn, and talked of several things, but particularly
of the times : and he tells me that wise men do pre
pare to remove abroad what they have, for that we
must be ruined,, our case being past relief, the king
dom so much in debt, and the King minding nothing
but his lust, going two days a-week to see my Lady
Castlemaine at Sir D. Harvy's. I met with Mr.
Moore, who tells me that my Lord Hinchingbroke is
now with "his mistress, but that he is not married, as
W. Howe came and told us the other day. To White
Hall, and so took up my wife : and as far as Bow,
where we staid and drank, and there, passing by
Mr. Lowther and his lady, they stopped : and we
talked a little with them, they being in their gilt coach.
Presently came to us Mr. Andrews, whom I had not
seen a good while, who, as other merchants do, do all
give over any hopes of things doing well, and so he
spends his time here most, playing at bowles. After
dining together at the coach-side, we with great plea
sure home.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 461
9th. To Westminster, to Mr. Burges, and he and
I talked, and he do really declare that he expects that
of necessity this kingdom will fall back again to a
commonwealth, and other wise men are of the same
mind : this family doing all that silly men can do, to
make themselves unable to support their kingdom,
minding their lust and their pleasure, and making
their government so chargeable, that people do well
remember better things were done, and better man
aged, and with much less charge under a common
wealth than they have been by this King. Home,
and find Mr. Goodgroome,1 my wife's singing-master.
There I did soundly rattle him for neglecting her so
much as he has done — she not having learned three
songs these three months and more. To St. James's,
and there met Sir W. Coventry ; and he and I walked
in the Park an hour. And then to his chamber,
where he read to me the heads of the late great dis
pute between him and the rest of the Commissioners
of the Treasury, and our new Treasurer of the Navy:
where they have overthrown him the last Wednes
day, in the great dispute touching his having the
payment of the Victualler, which is now settled by
Council that he is not to have it : and, indeed, they
have been most just, as well as most severe and bold,
in the doing this against a man of his quality ; but I
perceive Sir W. Coventry does really make no differ
ence between any man. He tells me this day it is
supposed the peace is ratified at Bredah,2 and all that
matter over. We did talk of many retrenchments of
1 See December 17, 1666, ante.
2 The peace was signed at Breda, on the 31st July. There were
three separate acts, or instruments— the first, between France and
England, by which D'Estrades and Courtin agreed that all con
quests made during the war should be mutually restored ; the
second, between England and Denmark ; the third, between Eng
land and Holland. In this last it is to be observed that England
retained the right of the flag.

462 DIARY OF Aug. 10
charge of the Navy which he will put in practice, and
every where else ; though, he tells me, he despairs of
being able to do what ought to be done for the saving
of the kingdom, which I tell him, indeed, all the
world is almost in hopes of, upon the proceeding of
these gentlemen for the. regulating of the Treasury,
it being so late, and our poverty grown so great, that
they want where to set their feet, to begin to do any
thing. He tells me how weary he hath for this year
and a half been of the war ; and how in the Duke of
York's bedchamber, at Christ Church, at Oxford,
when the Court was there, he did labour to persuade
the Duke to fling off the care of the Navy, and get
it committed to other hands ; which, if he had done,
would have been much to his honour, being just come
home with so much honour from sea as he was. I
took notice of the sharp letter he wrote,. which he
sent us to read yesterday, to Sir Edward Spragg,
where he is very plain about his leaving his charge
of the ships at Gravesend, when the enemy came last
up, and several other things : a copy whereof I have
kept. But it is done like a most worthy man ; and
he says it is good, now and then, to tell these gentle
men their duties, for they need it. And it seems, as
he tells me, all our Knights are fallen out one with
another, he, and Jenings, and Hollis, and, his words
were, they are disputing which is the coward among
them ; and yet men that take the greatest liberty of
censuring others! Here, with him, very late, till I
could hardly get a coach or link willing to go through
the ruines ; but I do, but I will not do it again, being,
indeed, very dangerous.
10th. To the Office, and there finished the letter
about Carcasse, and sent it away, I think well writ,
though it troubles me we should be put to trouble by
the rogue so much. At noon to dinner, where I sang
and piped with my wife with great pleasure. Then

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 463
abroad and to the New Exchange, to the bookseller's 2
there, where I hear of several new books coming out
—Mr. Spratt's History of the Royal Society,2 and
Mrs. Phillips's3 poems. Sir John Denham's poems
are all going to be printed together ; and, among
others, some new things ; and among them he showed
me a copy of verses of his upon Sir John Minnes's
going heretofore to Bullogne to eat a pig.4 Cowley,
he tells me, is dead ; who, it seems, was a mighty
civil, serious man ; which I did not know before.5
Several good plays are likely to be abroad soon, as
Mustapha and Henry the 5th.
1 To Herringman's, at the Blue Anchor, in the Lower Walk of
the New Exchange. He published Mrs. Phillips's Poems, Cow
ley's Poems, Davenant's Works, and was the great predecessor of
Jacob Tonson. He died rich, and is buried under a handsome
monument, at Chiselhurst, in Kent.
2 By Thomas Sprat : then about to be published.
3 Catherine Fowler, wife of James Phillips, of Cardigan, and once
celebrated as a distinguished poetess ; best known as the matchless
Orinda. She died at the early age of thirty-three, in 1664; but
the praise of her contemporaries has not been sufficient to preserve
her works from oblivion.
4 This was before the Restoration, when Sir John Minnes was at
Calais. 5 We have here a striking instance of the slow communication of
intelligence. Cowley died on the 28th of July, at Chertsey ; and
Pepys, though in London, and at all times a great newsmonger, did
not learn till the 10th of August, that so distinguished a person was
dead. Evelyn says that he attended Cowley's funeral on the 3rd
of August, which shows that he did not keep his " Diary " entered up
as regularly as our journalist, for the interment is thus recorded in
the Register of Westminster Abbey : — " On the 17th of August, Mr.
Cowley, a famous poet, was buried at the foot of the steps to Henry
VII.'s Chapel." Cowley's corpse lay in state at Wallingford
House, then the residence of the Duke of Buckingham.
[In "Notes and Queries," 4th series, x. p. 13, Colonel Chester
writes respecting this note : — " Although Lord Braybrooke appears
to have quoted the Abbey Register, it is clear that he really quoted
from the version of it printed in the ' Collectanea Topographica et
Genealogica,' vii. 374. In order to comprehend fully my further
remarks, I give two consecutive entries from the burial register

464 DIARY OF Aug. 11
nth. (Lord's day.) Up by four o'clock, and ready,
with Mrs. Turner to take coach before five ; and set
on our journey, and got to the Wells at Barnett by
seven o'clock, and there found many people a-drink-
ing ; but the morning is a very cold morning, so as
we were very cold all the way in the coach. Here
we met Joseph Batelier and W. Hewer also, and
his uncle Steventon : so, after drinking three glasses
and the women nothing, we back by coach to Barnett,
where to the Red Lyon, where we 'light, and went
up to the great Room, and there drank, and eat some
of the best cheese-cakes that ever I eat in my life,
and so took coach again, and W. Hewer on horse
back with us, and so to Hatfield, to the inn, next my
Lord Salisbury's house, and there rested ourselves,
and drank, and bespoke dinner; and so to church,
it being just church-time. Did hear a most excellent
good sermon, which pleased me mightily, and very
devout ; it being upon the designs of saving grace,
where it is in a man, and one sign, which held him
all this day, was, that where that grace was, there is
also the grace of prayer, which he did handle very
finely. In this church lies the former Lord of Salis
bury, Cecil,1 buried in a noble tomb. Then we to our
inn, and there dined very well, and mighty merry ;
and walked out into the Park through the fine walk
of trees, and to the Vineyard, and there showed them
of the Abbey, under the year 1667 : — 'August 3rd, Mr. Cowly,
a famous Poet, was buried neare Mr. Chaucer's monument.'
'August 17th. The Countess of Clarendon was buried at the
foot of the steps ascending to K. H. 7th's Chapel.'
" It will be seen that in the ' Collectanea,' these two entries were
jumbled together, the name of the Countess of Clarendon being
omitted altogether  This mutilated copy misled the
learned editor of Pepys into making a charge of inaccuracy against
Evelyn, who it now appears was strictly correct." (M. B.)]
1 Robert Cecil, the first Earl, son of the great Lord Burghley.
He died in 1612.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 465
that, which is in good order, and indeed a place of
great delight; which, together with our fine walk
through the Park, was of as much pleasure as could
be desired in the world for country pleasure and good
ayre. Being come back, and weary with the walk, the
women had pleasure in putting on some straw hats,
which are much worn in this country, and did become
them mightily, but especially my wife. So, after rest
ing awhile, we took coach again, and back to Bar
nett, where W. Hewer took us into his lodging, which
is very handsome, and there did treat us very highly
with cheesecakes, cream, tarts, and other good things ;
and then walked into the garden, which was pretty,
and there filled my pockets full of filberts, and so with
much pleasure. Among other things, I met in this
house with a printed book of the Life of O. Crom
well,1 to his honour as a soldier and politician, though
as a rebell, the first of that kind that ever I saw, and
it is well done. Took coach again, and got home
with great content.
1 2th. To St. James's, where we find the Duke gone
a-hunting with the King, but found Sir W. Coventry
within, and he did largely discourse with us about
our speedy falling upon considering of retrenchments
in the expense of the Navy, which I will put forward
as much as I can. So to the New Exchange, and
there to my bookseller's, and did buy Scott's Dis
course of Witches ; and do hear Mr. Cowley mightily
lamented his death, by Dr. Ward, the Bishop of
Winchester,2 and Dr. Bates,3 who were standing
there, as the best poet of our nation, and as good a (
man. Thence I to the printseller's, over against the
1 " The History of the Life and Death of Oliver Cromwell, the late
Usurper and pretended Protector of England, &c, truly collected
and published for a warning to all tyrants and usurpers, by I. H.,
Gent. London, printed for F. Coles, at the Lamb, in the old
Bailey, 1663," 4to. pp. 22 ; reprinted in " Harl. Miscel." i. p. 279.
2 Dr. George Morley. 3 See 23rd May, 1661, ante.
H H

466 DIARY OF Aug. 12
Exchange towards Covent Garden, and there bought
a few more prints of cittys. So home, and my wife
? and maids being gone over the water to the whitster's1
with their clothes, this being the first time of her
trying this way of washing her linen, I dined at
Sir W. Batten's, and after dinner, all alone to the
King's playhouse, and there did happen to sit just
before Mrs. Pierce, and Mrs. Knipp, who pulled me
by the hair ; and so I addressed myself to them, and
, talked to them all the intervals of the play, and did
give them fruit. The play is " Brenoralt," which I
y do find but little in, for my part. Here was many
fine ladies— among others, the German Baron, with
his lady, who is envoy from the Emperor, and their
vfine daughter, which hath travelled all Europe over
with them, it seems ; and is accordingly accomplished,
and, indeed, is a wonderful pretty woman. Here
Sir Philip Frowde,2 who sat next to me, did tell me
how Sir H. Bellassis is dead, and that the quarrel
between him and Tom Porter, who is fled, did arise
in the ridiculous fashion that I was first told it,
which is a strange thing between two so good friends.
The play being done, I took the women, and Mrs.
Corbett, who was with them, by coach, it raining, to
Mrs. Manuel's, the Jew's widow, formerly a player,
whom we heard sing with one of the Italians that
was there ; and, indeed, she sings mightily well, and
just after the Italian manner, but yet do not please
me like one of Mrs. Knipp's songs, to a good English
tune, the manner of their ayre not pleasing me so
well as the fashion of our own, nor so natural. Then
home, and my wife come; and so, saying nothing
where I had been, we to supper and pipe, and so to
bed.
1 Whitester : a bleacher of linen.
2 Ob. August 6, 1674. There is a monument to Sir Philip
Frowde in Bath Abbey Church. See ante, 6th June, 1666.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 467
13th. Attended the Duke of York, with our usual
business ; who, upon occasion, told us that he did
expect this night or to-morrow to hear from Bredah
of the consummation of the peace. Thence Sir W.
Pen and I to the King's house, and there saw " The ,
Committee," which I went to with some prejudice,
not liking it before, but I do now find it a very good
play, and a great deal of good invention in it ; but
Lacy's part is so well performed that it would set off
anything. The play being done, I to the office, and
then home to my chamber to sing and pipe till my
wife comes home from her washing, which was nine
at night, and a dark and rainy night, that I was
troubled at her staying out so long.
14th. At noon, my wife being gone to the whit-
ster's again to her clothes, I to dinner to Sir W.
Batten's. By and by to talk of our prize at Hull,
and Sir W. Batten offering, again and again, seriously
how he would sell his part for 1,000/., and I consider
ing the knavery of Hogg and his company, and the
trouble we may have with the Prince Rupert about
the consort ship, and how we are linked with Sir R.
Ford, and then the danger of the sea, if it shall be
brought about, or bad debts contracted in the sale,
but chiefly to be eased of my fears about all or any
of this, I did offer my part to him for 700/. With a
little beating the bargain, we came to a perfect
agreement for 666/. 135-. 4^., which is two-thirds of
1,000/., which is my proportion of the prize. I went
to my office full of doubts and joy concerning what I
had done ; but, however, did put into writing the
heads of our agreement, and we both signed them ;
and Sir R. Ford, being come thither since, witnessed
them. I away, satisfied, and to the King's play
house, and there saw " The Country Captain," which
is a very ordinary play.
15th. Sir W. Pen and I to the Duke's house,

468 DIARY OF Aug. 17
where a new play. The King and Court there : the
house full, and an act begun. And so went to the
King's, and there saw "The Merry Wives of
Windsor : " which did not please me at all, in ho
part of it.
1 6th. My wife and I to the Duke's playhouse,
where we saw the new play acted yesterday, " The
Feign Innocence, or Sir Martin Marr-all ; " a play
made by my Lord Duke of Newcastle, but, as every
body says, corrected by Dryden.1 It is the most
entire piece of mirth, a complete farce from one end
to the other, that certainly was ever writ. I never
laughed so in all my life, and at very good wit therein,
not fooling. The house full, and in all things of
mighty content to me. To the New Exchange,
where, at my bookseller's, I saw " The History of
the Royal Society," 2 which, I believe, is a fine book,
and have bespoke one in quires. To my chamber,
and read the history of 88 3 in Speede, in order to
my seeing the play thereof acted to-morrow at the
King's house. Every body wonders that we have
no news from Bredah of the ratification of the peace;
and do suspect that there is some stop in it.
1 7th. All the morning at the office, and my head
was full of the business of Carcasse, who has a hear
ing this morning before the Council and hath- sum
moned at least thirty persons, and what is wonderful,
a great many of them, I hear, do declare more against
him than for him. Sure he is distracted. At noon to
dinner, and presently my wife and I and Sir W. Pen
to the King's playhouse, where the house extra
ordinary full; and there the King and Duke of
York to see the new play, "Queen Elizabeth's
1 Downes says that the Duke gave this comedy to Dryden, who
adapted it to the stage ; but it is entered on the books of the
Stationers' Company as the production of his Grace.
2 Spratt's. s 1588.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 469
Troubles, and the History of Eighty Eight."1 I
confess I have sucked in so much of the sad story
of Queen Elizabeth, from my cradle, that I was
ready to weep for her sometimes ; but the play is
the most ridiculous that sure ever came upon the
stage ; and, indeed, is merely a show, only shows the
true garbe of the Queen in those days, just as we
see Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth painted ; but
the play is merely a puppet play, acted by living
puppets. Neither the design nor language better;
and one stands by and tells us the meaning of things :
only I was pleased to see Knipp dance among the
milkmaids, and to hear her sing a song to Queen
Elizabeth ; and to see her come out in her night-
gowne with no lockes on, but her bare face and hair
only tied up in a knot behind ; which is the comeliest
dress that ever I saw her in to her advantage. Went
as far as Mile End with Sir W. Pen, whose coach
took him up there for his country-house ; and after
having drunk there, at the Rose and Crowne, a good
house for Alderman Bide's2 ale, we parted.
1 8th. To Cree Church, to see it how it is; but I find
no alteration there, as they say there was, for my
Lord Mayor and Aldermen to come to sermon, as
they do every Sunday, as they did formerly to Paul's.3
Back home and to our own church, where a dull ser-
1 Pepys here, as elsewhere, took the second title of the piece, as,
perhaps, it appeared in the bills of the day. He alludes to the
revival of a play by Thomas Hey wood, originally printed in 1605,
under the title of "If you know not me, you know nobody, or the
Troubles of Queen Elizabeth," which especially relates to the defeat
of the Armada, in 1588. It was so popular that it went through
eight or nine early editions. In 1667 it was no doubt brought out
with some alterations, but probably not printed.
2 John Bide, brewer, Sheriff of London in 1647.
3 The church of St. Catherine Cree, having escaped the fire, was
resorted to by the Corporation after the destruction of St. Paul's
and so many other ecclesiastical edifices ; and Pepys probably ex
pected to see alterations made for their accommodation.

470 DIARY OF Aug. 18
mon and our church empty of the best sort of people,
they being at their country houses. There dined
with me Mr. Turner and his daughter Betty. Betty
is grown a fine young lady as to carriage and dis
course. We had a good haunch of venison, powdered
and boiled, and a good dinner. I walked towards
White Hall, but, being weary, turned into St. Dun-
stan's Church, where I heard an able sermon of the
minister1 of the place ; and stood by a pretty, modest
maid, whom I did labour to take by the hand ; but
she would not, but got further and further from me ;
and, at last, I could perceive her to take pins out of
her pocket to prick me if I should touch her again —
which seeing I did forbear, and was glad I did spy
her design. And then I fell to gaze upon another
pretty maid in a pew close to me, and she on me ;
and I did go about to take her by the hand, which
she suffered a little and then withdrew. So the ser
mon ended, and the church broke up, and my amours
ended also. Took coach and home, and there took
up my wife, and to Islington. Between that and
Kingsland, there happened an odd adventure : one
of our coach-horses fell sick of the staggers, so as
he was ready to fall down. The coachman was fain
to 'light, and hold him up, and cut his tongue to
make him bleed, and his tail. The horse continued
shaking every part of him, as if he had been in an
ague, a good while, and the coachman thought and
believed he would presently drop down dead ; then
he blew some tobacco in his nose, upon which the
horse sneezed, and, by and by, grew well, and drew
us the rest of our way, as well as ever he did;
which was one of the strangest things of a horse I
ever observed. It is the staggers. Staid and eat
and drank at Islington, at the old house, and so
home.
1 John Thompson, vicar of St. Dunstan's-in-the-West.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 471
19th. To the Duke of York's house, all alone, and
there saw "Sir Martin Marr-all" again, though I saw
him but two days since, and do find it the most
comical play that ever I saw in my life. Mr. Moore
do agree with most people that I meet with, that we
shall fall into a commonwealth in a few years, whether
we will or no ; for the charge of a monarchy is such
as the kingdom cannot be brought to bear willingly,
nor are things managed so well now-a-days under it
as heretofore.
20th. Sir W. Coventry fell to discourse of retrench
ments ; and therein he tells how he would have but
only one Clerk of the Acts. He do tell me he hath
propounded how the charge of the Navy in peace
shall come within 200,000/, by keeping out twenty-
four ships in summer, and ten in the winter. And
several other particulars we went over of retrench
ment : and I find I must provide some things to
offer that I may be found studious to lessen the
King's charge. We up to the Duke of York, but
no money to be heard of — nay, not 100/ upon the
most pressing service that can be imagined of bring
ing in the King's timber from Whittlewood,1 while
we have the utmost want of it. Sir W. Coventry
did single out Sir W. Pen and me, and desired us to
lend the King some money, out of the prizes we have
taken by Hogg. He did not much press it, and we
made but a merry answer thereto; but I perceive he
did ask it seriously, and did tell us that there never
was so much need of it in the world as now, we
being brought to the lowest straits that can be in the
world. This troubled me much. Thence, with my
Lord Brouncker to the Duke's Playhouse, telling
my wife so at the 'Change, where I left her, and
there saw " Sir Martin Marr-all " again, which I have
1 Whittlebury Forest.

472 DIARY OF Aug. 22
now seen three times, and it has been acted but
four times, and still find it a very ingenious play, and
full of variety. My wife mighty pressing for a new
pair of cuffs, which I am against the laying out of
money upon yet, which makes her angry.
2 1 st. Up, and my wife and I fell out about the
pair of cuffs, which she has a mind to have to go to
see the ladies dancing to-morrow at Betty Turner's
school ; and do vex me so that I am resolved to
deny them her. However, by-and-by a way was
found that she had them, and I well satisfied, being
unwilling to let our difference grow higher upon so
small an occasion and frowardness of mine. To the
Commissioners of the Treasury, who do sit very
close, and are bringing the King's charges as low as
they can ; but Sir W. Coventry did here again tell
me that he is very serious in what he said to Sir W.
Pen and me yesterday about our lending of money
to the King ; and says that people do talk that we
had had the King's ships at his cost to take prizes,
and that we ought to lend the King money more
than other people. I did tell him I will consider it,
and so parted; and do find I cannot avoid it. I sent
my cozen Roger a tierce of claret, which I give him.
This morning come two of Captain Cocke's boys,
whose voices are broke, and are gone from the
Chapel, but have extraordinary skill ; and they and
my boy, with his broken voice, did sing three parts ;
their names were Blaew and Loggings ; but, notwith
standing their skill, yet to hear them sing with their
broken voices, which they could not command to
keep in tune, would make a man mad — so bad it
was. 22nd. Up.and to the office; whence Lord Brouncker,
J. Minnes, W. Pen, and I, went to examine some men
that are put in there, for rescuing of men that were
pressed into the service : and we do plainly see that the

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

473

desperate condition that we put men into for want of
their pay, makes them mad, they being as good men
as ever were in the world, and would as readily serve
the King again, were they but paid. Two men leapt
overboard, among others, into the Thames, out of
the vessel into which they were pressed, and were
shot by the soldiers placed there to keep them, two
days since; so much people do avoid the King's
service ! And then these men are pressed without
money, and so we cannot punish them for any thing,
so that we are forced only to make a show of se
verity^ by keeping them in prison, but are unable
to punish them. Returning to the office, I did ask
whether we might visit Commissioner Pett, to which,
I confess, I have no great mind ; and it was answered
that he was a close prisoner, and we could not ; but
the Lieutenant of the Tower would send for him to
his lodgings, if we would : so we put it off to another
time. To Captain Cocke's to dinner; where Lord
Brouncker and his Lady, Matt. Wren, and Bulteale,
and Sir Allen Apsly ; the last of whom did make
good sport, he being already fallen under the re
trenchments of the new Committee, as he is Master
Falconer ;2 which makes him mad, and swears that
we are doing what the Parliament would have done
— that is, that we are now endeavouring to destroy
one another. But it was well observed by some at
the table, that they do not think this retrenchment
of the King's charge will be so acceptable, to the
Parliament, they having given the King a revenue
of so many 100,000/ a-year more than his prede
cessors had, that he might live in pomp, like a king.
With my Lord Brouncker and his mistress to the
1 Shooting the men was rather more than " a show of severity."
2 The post of Master Falconer was afterwards granted to Charles's
son by Nell Gwyn, and it is still held by the Duke of St. Albans, as
an hereditary office.

474 DIARY OF Aug. 23
King's playhouse, and there saw " The Indian Em-
perour ;" where I find Nell come again, which I am
glad of; but was most infinitely displeased with her
being put to act the Emperour's daughter, which
is a great and serious part,1 which she does most
basely. The rest of the play, though pretty good,
was not well acted by most of them, methought ; so
that I took no great content in it. But that, that
troubled me most was, that Knipp sent by Moll2 to
desire to speak to me after the play ; and she beckoned
to me at the end of the play, and I promised to come ;
but it was so late, and I forced to step to Mrs. Wil
liams's lodgings with my Lord Brouncker and her,
where I did not stay, however, for fear of her show
ing me her closet, and thereby forcing me to give
her something ; and it was so late, that for fear of
my wife's coming home before me, I was forced to
go straight home, which troubled me. Anon, late,
comes home my wife, with Mr. Turner and Mrs.
Turner, with whom she supped, having been with
Mrs. Turner to-day at her daughter's school, to see
her daughters dancing, and the rest, which she says
is fine. My wife very fine to-day, in her new suit of
laced cuffs and perquisites. This evening Mr. Pel
ling comes to me, and tells me that this night the
Dutch letters are come, and that the peace was pro
claimed there the 19th inst, and that all is finished;
which, for my life, I know not whether to be glad or
sorry for, a peace being so necessary, and yet so bad
in its terms.
23rd. Up, and Greeting comes, who brings me a
tune for two flageolets, which we played, and is a tune
1 Nell Gwyn's dislike to serious parts is commemorated in the
Epilogue to the Duke of Lerma, spoken by her : —
" I know you, in your hearts,
Hate serious plays, as I hate serious parts."
2 Orange Moll, mentioned, ante, August 29th, 1666.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

475

played at the King's playhouse, which goes so well,
that I will have more of them, and it will be a mighty
pleasure for me to have my wife able to play a part
with me, which she will easily, I find, do. Abroad
to White Hall in a hackney-coach with Sir W. Pen ;
and in our way, in the narrow street near Paul's, going
the backway by Tower Street, and the coach being
forced to put back, he was turning himself into a
cellar,1 which made people cry out to us, and so we
were forced to leap out— he out of one, and I out of
the other boote ; 2 Query, whether a glass-coach would
have permitted us to have made the escape1 ? neither
of us getting any hurt ; nor could the coach have got
much hurt had we been in it ; but, however, there
was cause enough for us to do what we could to save
ourselves. So being all dusty, we put into the Castle
tavern, by the Savoy, and there brushed ourselves.
To White Hall, to attend the Council. The King
there : and it was about considering how the fleete
1 So much of London was yet in ruins.
2 See " Notes and Queries," 2nd series, vol. viii. p. 238. " By the
bye, Dean Trench says in his ' Select Glossary,' p. 23, ' I do not
know the history of the word boot, as describing one part of a
carriage, but it is plain that not the luggage, but the chief persons
used once to ride in the Boot."
As so eminent an English scholar confesses his lack of infor
mation on this point, it may not be superfluous to mention that the
" boots " were the two projections from the sides of the carriage,
open to the air and in which the occupants were carried sideways.
Such a " boot " is seen in the carriage containing the attendants of
Queen Elizabeth, in Hoefnagel's well-known picture of Nonsuch
Palace, dated 1582. Taylor, the Water Poet, the inveterate
opponent of the introduction of coaches, thus satirizes the one in
which he was forced to take his place as a passenger : " It wears
two boots and no spurs, sometimes having two pairs of legs in one
boot ; and oftentimes against nature most preposterously it makes
fair ladies wear the boot. Moreover, it makes people imitate sea-
crabs, in being drawn sideways, as they are when they sit in the
boot of the coach." — C. Knight, Pictorial Half-hours, vol.
p. 56." (M. B.)

476 DIARY OF Aug. 23
might be discharged at their coming in shortly, the
peace being now ratified, and it takes place on Mon
day next. I to Westminster to the Exchequer, to see
what sums of money other people will lend upon the
Act; and find of all sizes from 1,000/. to 100/. — rtay,
to 50/., and to 20/., and to 5/. : for I find that one Dr.
Reade, Doctor of Law, gives no more, and others of
them 20/. ; which is a poor thing, methinks, that we
should stoop so low as to borrow such sums. Upon
the whole, I do think to lend, since I must lend, 300/.,
though, God knows ! it is much against my will to
lend any, unless things were in better condition, and
likely to continue so. To the Treasury-chamber,
where I waited, talking with Sir G. Downing, till the
Lords met. He tells me how he will make all the Ex
chequer officers, of one side and the other, to lend the
King money upon the Act ; and that the least clerk
shall lend money, and he believes the least will 100/.:
but this I do not believe. He made me almost
ashamed that we of the Navy had not in all this time
lent any ; so that I find it necessary I should, and so
will speedily do it, before any of my fellows begin,
and lead me to a bigger sum. By and by the Lords
come ; and I perceive Sir W. Coventry is the man,
and nothing done till he comes. Among other things,
I hear him observe, looking over a paper, that Sir
John Shaw is a miracle of a man, for he thinks he
executes more places than any man in England ; for
there he finds him a Surveyor of some of the King's
woods, and so reckoned up many other places, the
most inconsistent in the world. Their business with
me was to consider how to assigne such of our com
manders as will take assignements upon the Act for
their wages ; and the consideration thereof was re
ferred to me to give them an answer the next sitting :
which is a horrid poor thing : but they scruple at
nothing of honour in the case. So away, and called

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

477

my wife, and to the King's house, and saw " The f
Mayden Queene," which pleased us mightily; and
then away, and took up Mrs. Turner at her door, and
so to Mile End, and there drank, and so back to her
house, it being a fine evening, and there supped. The
first time I ever was there since they lived there ; and
she hath all things so neat and well done, that I am
mightily pleased with her, and all she do. So here
very merry, and then home and to bed. I find most
people pleased with their being at ease, and safe of
a peace, that they may know no more charge or
hazard of an ill-managed war : but nobody speaking
of the peace with any content or pleasure, but are
silent in it, as of a thing they are ashamed of; no, not
at Court, much less in the City.
24th. St. Bartholomew's day. This morning was
proclaimed the peace1 between us and the States of
the United Provinces, and also the King of France
and Denmarke ; and in the afternoon the Procla
mations were printed and came out ; and at night the
bells rung, but no bonfires that I hear of any where,
partly from the dearness of firing, but principally from
the little content most people have in the peace.
After dinner we to a play, and there saw " The Car-
dinall " at the King's house, wherewith I am mightily
pleased ; but, above all, with Becke Marshall. But
it is pretty to see how I look up and down for, and
did spy Knipp ; but durst not own it to my wife, for
fear of angering her, and so I was forced not to take
notice of her, and so homeward : and my belly now full
with plays, that I do intend to bind myself to see no
more till Michaelmas. Most of our discourse is about
our keeping a coach the next year, which pleases my
wife mightily ; and if I continue as able as now, it will
save us money. This day comes a letter from the
1 See 9th August, ante.

478 DIARY OF Aug. 26
Duke of York to the Board to invite us, which is as
much as to fright us, into the lending the King money;
which is a poor thing, and most dishonourable, and
shows in what a case we are at the end of the war
to our neighbours. And the King do now declare
publickly to give 10 per cent, to all lenders; which
makes some think that the Dutch themselves will
send over money, and lend it upon our publick faith,
the Act of Parliament.
25th. (Lord's day.) Up and to church, and thence
home ; and Pelling comes by invitation to dine with
me, and much pleasant discourse with him. After
dinner, away by water to White Hall, where I landed
Pelling, who is going to his wife, where she is in the
country, at Parson's Greene j1 and myself to West
minster, and to the parish church, thinking to see
Betty Michell ; and did stay an hour in the crowd,
thinking, by the end of a nose that I saw, that it had
been her ; but at last the head turned towards me,
and it was her mother, which vexed me. So I back
to my boat, which had broke one of her oars in row
ing, and had now fastened it again ; and so I up to
Putney, and there stepped into the church, to look
upon the fine people there, whereof there is great
store, and the young ladies ; and so walked to Barne-
Elmes, whither I sent Russel,2 reading of Boyle's Hy-
drostatickes, which are of infinite delight. I walked
in the Elmes a good while, and then to my boat, and
leisurely home, with great pleasure to myself ; and
there supped, and W. Hewer with us, with whom a
great deal of good talk touching the Office, and so to
bed. 26th. To the Office, where we sat upon a particular
business all the morning : and my Lord Anglesey
with us : who, and my Lord Brouncker, do bring us
1 In the parish of Fulham, Middlesex. 2 His waterman.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS.

479

news how my Lord Chancellor's seal is to be taken
away from him to-day. The thing is so great and
sudden to me, that it put me into a very great ad
miration what should be the meaning of it ; and they
do not own that they know what it should be : but
this is certain, that the King did resolve it on Satur
day, and did yesterday send the Duke of Albemarle,
the only man fit for those works, to him for his purse :
to which the Chancellor answered, that he received it
from the King, and would deliver it to the King's
own hand, and so civilly returned the Duke of Albe
marle without it ; and this morning my Lord Chan
cellor is to be with the King, to come to an end in
the business. Dined at Sir W. Batten's, where Mr.
Boreman was, who came from White Hall ; who tells
us that he saw my Lord Chancellor come in his coach
with some of his men, without his Seal, to White Hall
to his chamber ; and thither the King and Duke of
York came and staid together alone, an hour or more:
and it is said that the King do say that he will have
the Parliament meet, and that it will prevent much
trouble by having of him out of their enmity, by his
place being taken away ; for that all their enmity will
be at him. It is said also that my Lord Chancellor
answers, that he desires he may be brought to his
trial, if he have done any thing to lose his office ; and
that he will be willing, and is most desirous, to lose
that, and his head both together. Upon what terms
they parted nobody knows : but the Chancellor looked
sad, he says. Then in comes Sir Richard Ford, and
says he hears that there is nobody more presses to
reconcile the King and Chancellor than the Duke of
Albemarle and Duke of Buckingham : the latter of
which is very strange, not only that he who was so
lately his enemy should do it, but that this man, that
but the other day was in danger of losing his own
head, should so soon come to be a mediator for others :

480 DIARY OF Aug. 27
it shows a wise Government. They all say that he
[Clarendon] is but a poor man, not worth above 3,000/.
a-year in land ; but this I cannot believe : and all do
blame him for having built so great a house, till he
had got a better estate. So I walked to the King's
playhouse, and saw " The Surprizall,"1 a very mean
play, I thought : or else it was because I was out of
humour, and but very little company in the house.
Sir W. Pen and I had a great deal of discourse with
Moll ; who tells us that Nell is already left by my
Lord Buckhurst, and that he makes sport of her, and
swears she hath had all she could get of him ; and
Hart,2 her great admirer, now hates her : and that she
is very poor, and hath lost my Lady Castlemaine, who
was her great friend also: but she is come to the
House, but is neglected by them all.3
27th. Up, and am invited betimes to be godfather
to-morrow to Captain Poole's child with my Lady Pen
and Lady Batten, which I accepted out of complais
ance to them, and so to the office. Then to St. James's,
where we waited on the Duke of York, but did little
business, and he, I perceive, his head full of other
business, and of late has not been very ready to be
troubled with our business. To White Hall, and
there hear how it is like to go well enough with my
Lord Chancellor ; that he is like to keep his Seal,
desiring that he may stand his trial in Parliament, if
they will accuse him of any thing. Here Sir J.
Minnes and I looking upon the pictures ; and Mr.
Cheffins,* being by, did take us, of his own accord,
into the King's closet, to show us some pictures,
1 A comedy, by Sir Robert Howard. 2 The celebrated actor.
3 The King afterwards took her into keeping. His son by her
was born 8th May, 1670, and was subsequently made Duke of St.
Albans. It may be well doubted if Charles were indeed the father.
See also note, 28th September, 1667, post.
4 William Chiffinch, noticed April 8, 1866, ante.

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 481
which, indeed, is a very noble place, and exceeding
great variety of brave pictures, and the best hands.
I could have spent three or four hours there well,
and we had great liberty to look : and Cheffins
seemed to take pleasure to show us, and commend
the pictures. I to visit Colonel Fitzgerald,1 who
hath been sick at Woolwich, where most of the
officers and soldiers quartered there, since the Dutch
being in the river, have died or been sick, and he
among the rest ; and, by the growth of his beard
and gray hairs, I did not know him. His desire to
speak with me was about the late command for my
paying no more pensions for Tangier. This day, Mr.
Pierce, the surgeon, was with me ; and tells me how
this business of my Lord Chancellor's was certainly
designed in my Lady Castlemaine's chamber ; and
that, when he went from the King on Monday morn
ing, she was in bed, though about twelve o'clock,
and ran out in her smock into her aviary looking
into White Hall; and thither her woman brought
her, her nightgown ; and stood joying herself at the
old man's"" going away : and several of the gallants of
White Hall, of which there were many staying to see
the Chancellor return, did talk to her in her bird
cage ; among others, Blancford,2 telling her she was
the bird of paradise.3
28th. Up; and staid undressed till my tailor's boy
did mend my vest, in order to my going to the
christening anon. To White Hall, to attend the
Council, by their order, with an answer to their de
mands touching our advice for the paying off of the
seamen, when their ships shall come in, which answer
is worth seeing, showing the badness of our condi-
1 Deputy-Governor of Tangier.
2 See note, Feb. 3, 1664-5, ante.
3 See Clarendon's account of this scene, "Life," vol. iii. p. 32,
8vo, 1 761.
4 II

482 DIARY OF Aug. 29
tion. There, when I came, I was forced to stay till
past twelve, in a crowd of people in the lobby, ex
pecting the hearing of the great cause of Alderman
Barker1 against my Lord Deputy of Ireland, for his
ill usage in his business of land there ; but the King
and Council sat so long, as they neither heard them
nor me. So when they rose, I into the House, and
saw the King and Queen at dinner, and heard a little
of their viallins' musick, and so home. In the after
noon with my Lady Batten, Pen, and her daughter,
and my wife, to Mrs. Poole's, where I mighty merry
among the women, and christened the child, a girl,
Elizabeth, which, though a girl, yet my Lady Batten
would have me to give the name. After christening
comes Sir W. Batten, W. Pen, and Mr. Lowther,
and mighty merry there, and I forfeited for not kiss
ing the two godmothers presently after the christen
ing, before I kissed the mother, which made good
mirth ; and so anon away, and my wife and I went
twice round Bartholomew fayre ; which I was glad to
see again, after two years missing it by the plague.
29th. Mr. Moore tells me that my Lord 'Crew and
his friends take it very ill of me that my Lord Sand
wich's sea-fee should be retrenched, and so reported
from this Office, and I give them no notice of it.
The thing, though I know it to be false — at least,
that nothing went from our office towards it — yet it
troubled me, and therefore I went and dined with
my Lord Crew, and I did enter into that discourse,
and laboured to satisfy him ; but found, though be
said little, yet that he was not yet satisfied; but after
dinner did pray me to go and see how it was, whether
true or no. Did tell me that if I was not their friend,
they could trust to nobody, and that he did not
1 William Barker, who married Martha, daughter of William
Turner, and widow of Daniel Williams. His son William was
created a Baronet in 1676.

,667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 483
forget my service and love to my Lord, and adven
tures for him in dangerous times, and therefore would
not willingly doubt me now ; but yet asked my par
don if, upon this news, he did begin to fear it. This
did mightily trouble me : so I away thence to White
Hall, but could do nothing. In the evening to White
Hall again, and there met Sir Richard Browne, Clerk
to the Committee for retrenchments, who assures me
no one word was ever yet mentioned about my Lord's
salary ; and the mistake ended very merrily, and to
all our contents. I find at Sir G. Carteret's that
they do mightily joy themselves in the hopes of
my Lord Chancellor's getting over this trouble ; and
I make them believe, and so, indeed, I do believe
he will, that my Lord Chancellor is become popular
by it. I find by all hands that the Court is at this
day all to pieces, every man of a faction of one sort
or other, so as it is to be feared what it will come to.
But that, that pleases me is, I hear to-night that Mr.
Brouncker is turned away yesterday by the Duke of
York, for some bold words he was heard by Colonel
Werden1 to say in the garden, the day the Chancel
lor was with the King — that he believed the King
would be hectored out of everything. For this the
Duke of York, who all say hath been very strong
for his father-in-law at this trial, hath turned him
away : and every body, I think, is glad of it ; for he
was a pestilent rogue, an atheist, that would have
sold his King and country for 6d. almost, so covetous
and wicked a rogue he is, by all men's report. But
one observed to me, that there never was the occa
sion of men's holding their tongues at Court and
everywhere else as there is at this day, for nobody
knows which side will be uppermost.
1 Colonel Werden afterwards held office under James II. and
Queen Mary. His eldest son, John, was created a Baronet in 1672.
See note to June 23, 1667, ante.

484 DIARY OF Aug. 30
30th. At White Hall I met with Sir G. Downing,
who tells me of Sir W. Pen's offering to lend 500/. ;
and I tell him of my 300/ which he would have me
to lend upon the credit of the latter part of the Act;
saying, that by that means my 10 per cent, will con
tinue to me the longer. But I understand better, and
will do it upon the 380,000/. which will come to be
paid the sooner ; there being no delight in lending
money now, to be paid by the King two years hence.
But here he and Sir William Doyly were attending
the Council as Commissioners for sick and wounded,
and prisoners : and they told me their business, which
was to know how we shall do to release our pri
soners ; for it seems the Dutch have got us to agree
in the treaty, as they fool us in anything, that the
dyet of the prisoners on both sides shall be paid
for, before they be released ; which they have done,
knowing ours to run high, they having more pri
soners of ours than we have of theirs ; so that they
are able and most ready to discharge the debt of
theirs, but we are neither able nor willing to do that
for ours, the debt of those in Zealand only, amount
ing to above 5,000/. for men taken in the King's own
ships, besides others taken in merchantmen, who ex
pect, as is usual, that the King should redeem them ;
but I think he will not, by what Sir G. Downing
says. This our prisoners complain of there ; and say
in their letters, which Sir G. Downing showed me,
that they have made a good feat that they should be
taken in the service of the King, and the King not
pay for their victuals while prisoners for him. But
so far they are from doing thus with their men, as
we do to discourage ours, that I find in the letters of
some of our prisoners there, which he showed me,
that they have with money got our men, that they
took, to work and carry their ships home for them ;
and they have been well rewarded, and released

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 485
when they came into Holland : which is done like a
noble, brave, and wise people. To Walthamstow, to
Sir W. Pen's by invitation ; a very bad dinner, and
everything suitable, that I never knew people in my
life that make their flutter, that do things so meanly.
I was sick to see it, but was merry at some ridiculous
humours of my Lady Batten, who, as being an ill-
bred woman, would take exceptions at anything any
body said, and I made good sport at it. Into the
garden and wilderness, which is like the rest of the
house, nothing in order, nor looked after. By and
by comes newes that my Lady Viner was come to
see Mrs. Lowther, and all the pleasure I had here
was to see her, which I did, and saluted her, and find
she is pretty, though not so eminently so as people
talked of her, and of very pretty carriage and dis
course. Leaving my wife to come home with them,
I to Bartholomew fayre, to walk up and down ; and
there, among other things find my Lady Castlemaine
at a puppet-play, " Patient Grizill,"1 and the street
full of people expecting her coming out. I confess
I did wonder at her courage to come abroad, thinking
the people would abuse her ; but they, silly people !
do not know the work she makes, and therefore
suffered her with great respect to take coach, and
she away, without any trouble at all. I, among
others, saw Tom Pepys, the turner, who has a shop,
and I think, lives in the fair when the fair is not.
Captain Cocke tells me that there is yet expectation
that the Chancellor will lose the Seal ; and assures
me that there have been high words between the
1 The well-known story, first told by Boccacio, then by Petrarca,
afterwards by Chaucer, and which has since become proverbial.
Tom Warton, writing about 1770, says, " I need not mention that
it is to this day represented in England, on a stage of the lowest
species, and of the highest antiquity : I mean at a puppet show." —
Hist, of English Poetry, sect. xv.

486 DIARY OF Aug. 3i
Duke of York and Sir W. Coventry, for his being
so high against the Chancellor ; so as the Duke of
York would not sign some papers that he brought,
saying that he could not endure the sight of him :
and that Sir W. Coventry answered, that what he
did was in obedience to the King's commands ; and
that he did not think any man fit to serve a Prince,
that did not know how to retire and live a country
life. 31st. At the office all the morning ; where, by Sir
W. Pen, I do hear that the Seal was fetched away to
the King yesterday from the Lord Chancellor by
Secretary Morrice ; which puts me into a great
horror. My Lord Brouncker tells me that he hath
of late discoursed about this business with Sir W.
Coventry, who he finds is the great man in the doing
this business of the Chancellor's, and that he do per
severe in it, though against the Duke of York's opi
nion, to which he says that the Duke of York was
once of the same mind, and that if he had thought
fit since, for any reason, to alter his mind, he hath
not found any to alter his own, and so desires to
be excused, for it is for the King's and kingdom's
good. And it seems that the Duke of York himself
was the first man that did speak to the King of this,
though he hath since altered his mind ; and that W.
Coventry did tell the Duke of York that he was not
fit to serve a Prince that did not know how to retire,
and live a private life ; and that he was ready for
that, if it be his and the King's pleasure. In the
evening, Mr. Ball, of the Excise-office, tells me that
the Seal is delivered to Sir Orlando Bridgeman ; the
man of the whole nation that is the best spoken of,
and will please most people ; and therefore I am
mighty glad of it. He was then at my Lord Ar
lington's, whither I went, expecting to see him come
out ; but staid so long, and Sir W. Coventry coming

.667 SAMUEL PEPYS. 487
there, whom I had not a mind should see me there
idle upon a post-night, I went home without seeing
him ; but he is there with his Seal in his hand. This
day, being dissatisfied with my wife's learning so few
songs of Goodgroome, I did come to a new bargain
with him to teach her songs at so much, viz., ioy. a
song, which he accepts of, and will teach her.

END OF VOL. IV.

CHISWICK PRESS I — C. WHITTINGHAM, TOOKS COURT,
CHANCERY LANE.

; UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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