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Title: Diary of Samuel Pepys, February 1667/68
Author: Samuel Pepys
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THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M.A. F.R.S.
CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY
TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY
MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE FELLOW
AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE
(Unabridged)
WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES
EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY
HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
FEBRUARY
1667-1668
February 1st. Up, and to the office pretty betimes, and the Board not
meeting as soon as I wished, I was forced to go to White Hall in
expectation of a Committee for Tangier, but when I come it was put off,
and so home again to the office, and sat till past two o'clock; where at
the Board some high words passed between Sir W. Pen and I, begun by me,
and yielded to by him, I being in the right in finding fault with him for
his neglect of duty. At noon home to dinner, and after dinner out with
my wife, thinking to have gone to the Duke of York's playhouse, but was,
to my great content in the saving my vow, hindered by coming a little too
late; and so, it being a fine day, we out to Islington, and there to the
old house and eat cheese-cakes and drank and talked, and so home in the
evening, the ways being mighty bad, so as we had no pleasure in being
abroad at all almost, but only the variety of it, and so to the office,
where busy late, and then home to supper and to bed, my head mighty full
of business now on my hands: viz., of finishing my Tangier Accounts; of
auditing my last year's Accounts; of preparing answers to the
Commissioners of Accounts; of drawing up several important letters to the
Duke of York and the Commissioners of the Treasury; the marrying of my
sister; the building of a coach and stables against summer, and the
setting many things in the Office right; and the drawing up a new form of
Contract with the Victualler of the Navy, and several other things, which
pains, however, will go through with, among others the taking care of
Kate Joyce in that now she is in at present for saving her estate.
2nd (Lord's day). Wife took physick this day, I all day at home, and all
the morning setting my books in order in my presses, for the following
year, their number being much increased since the last, so as I am fain
to lay by several books to make room for better, being resolved to keep
no more than just my presses will contain. At noon to dinner, my wife
coming down to me, and a very good dinner we had, of a powdered leg of
pork and a loin of lamb roasted, and with much content she and I and Deb.
After dinner, my head combed an hour, and then to work again, and at it,
doing many things towards the setting my accounts and papers in order,
and so in the evening Mr. Pelling supping with us, and to supper, and so
to bed.
3rd. Up, and to the office, where with my clerks all the morning very
busy about several things there wherein I was behindhand. At noon home
to dinner, and thence after dinner to the Duke of York's house, to the
play, "The Tempest," which we have often seen, but yet I was pleased
again, and shall be again to see it, it is so full of variety, and
particularly this day I took pleasure to learn the tune of the seaman's
dance, which I have much desired to be perfect in, and have made myself
so. So home with my wife and Deb., and there at the office met to my
trouble with a warrant from the Commissioners of Accounts for my
attending them and Cocke two days hence, which I apprehend by Captain
Cocke's being to go also, to be about the prizes. But, however, there is
nothing of crime can be laid to my charge, and the worst that can be is
to refund my L500 profit, and who can help it. So I resolve not to be
troubled at it, though I fear I cannot bear it so, my spirit being very
poor and mean as to the bearing with trouble that I do find of myself.
So home, and there to my chamber and did some business,--and thence to
supper and to bed.
4th. Up, and to the office, where a full Board sat all the morning, busy
among other things concerning a solemn letter we intend to write to the
Duke of York about the state of the things of the Navy, for want of
money, though I doubt it will be to little purpose. After dinner I
abroad by coach to Kate Joyce's, where the jury did sit where they did
before, about her husband's death, and their verdict put off for fourteen
days longer, at the suit of somebody, under pretence of the King; but it
is only to get money out of her to compound the matter. But the truth
is, something they will make out of Stillingfleete's sermon, which may
trouble us, he declaring, like a fool, in his pulpit, that he did confess
that his losses in the world did make him do what he did. This do vex me
to see how foolish our Protestant Divines are, while the Papists do make
it the duty of Confessor to be secret, or else nobody would confess their
sins to them. All being put off for to-day, I took my leave of Kate, who
is mightily troubled at it for her estate sake, not for her husband; for
her sorrow for that, I perceive, is all over. I home, and, there to my
office busy till the evening, and then home, and there my wife and Deb.
and I and Betty Turner, I employed in the putting new titles to my books,
which we proceeded on till midnight, and then being weary and late to
bed.
5th. Up, and I to Captain Cocke's, where he and I did discourse of our
business that we are to go about to the Commissioners of Accounts about
our prizes, and having resolved to conceal nothing but to confess the
truth, the truth being likely to do us most good, we parted, and I to
White Hall, where missing of the Commissioners of the Treasury, I to the
Commissioners of Accounts, where I was forced to stay two hours before I
was called in, and when come in did take an oath to declare the truth to
what they should ask me, which is a great power; I doubt more than the
Act do, or as some say can, give them, to force a man to swear against
himself; and so they fell to enquire about the business of prize-goods,
wherein I did answer them as well as I could, answer them in everything
the just truth, keeping myself to that. I do perceive at last, that,
that they did lay most like a fault to me was, that I did buy goods upon
my Lord Sandwich's declaring that it was with the King's allowance, and
my believing it, without seeing the King's allowance, which is a thing I
will own, and doubt not to justify myself in. That that vexed me most
was, their having some watermen by, to witness my saying that they were
rogues that they had betrayed my goods, which was upon some discontent
with one of the watermen that I employed at Greenwich, who I did think
did discover the goods sent from Rochester to the Custom-House officer;
but this can do me no great harm. They were inquisitive into the
minutest particulars, and the evening great information; but I think that
they can do me no hurt, at the worst, more than to make me refund, if it
must be known, what profit I did make of my agreement with Captain Cocke;
and yet, though this be all, I do find so poor a spirit within me, that
it makes me almost out of my wits, and puts me to so much pain, that I
cannot think of anything, nor do anything but vex and fret, and imagine
myself undone, so that I am ashamed of myself to myself, and do fear what
would become of me if any real affliction should come upon me. After
they had done with me, they called in Captain Cocke, with whom they were
shorter; and I do fear he may answer foolishly, for he did speak to me
foolishly before he went in; but I hope to preserve myself, and let him
shift for himself as well as he can. So I away, walked to my flageolet
maker in the Strand, and there staid for Captain Cocke, who took me up
and carried me home, and there coming home and finding dinner done, and
Mr. Cooke, who come for my Lady Sandwich's plate, which I must part with,
and so endanger the losing of my money, which I lent upon my thoughts of
securing myself by that plate. But it is no great sum--but L60: and if
it must be lost, better that, than a greater sum. I away back again, to
find a dinner anywhere else, and so I, first, to the Ship Tavern, thereby
to get a sight of the pretty mistress of the house, with whom I am not
yet acquainted at all, and I do always find her scolding, and do believe
she is an ill-natured devil, that I have no great desire to speak to her.
Here I drank, and away by coach to the Strand, there to find out Mr.
Moore, and did find him at the Bell Inn, and there acquainted him with
what passed between me and the Commissioners to-day about the prize
goods, in order to the considering what to do about my Lord Sandwich, and
did conclude to own the thing to them as done by the King's allowance,
and since confirmed. Thence to other discourse, among others, he
mightily commends my Lord Hinchingbroke's match and Lady, though he buys
her L10,000 dear, by the jointure and settlement his father makes her;
and says that the Duke of York and Duchess of York did come to see them
in bed together, on their wedding-night, and how my Lord had fifty pieces
of gold taken out of his pocket that night, after he was in bed. He
tells me that an Act of Comprehension is likely to pass this Parliament,
for admitting of all persuasions in religion to the public observation of
their particular worship, but in certain places, and the persons therein
concerned to be listed of this, or that Church; which, it is thought,
will do them more hurt than good, and make them not own, their
persuasion. He tells me that there is a pardon passed to the Duke of
Buckingham, my Lord of Shrewsbury, and the rest, for the late duell and
murder;
[The royal pardon was thus announced in the "Gazette" of February
24th, 1668: "This day his Majesty was pleased to declare at the
Board, that whereas, in contemplation of the eminent services
heretofore done to his Majesty by most of the persons who were
engaged in the late duel, or rencounter, wherein William Jenkins was
killed, he Both graciously pardon the said offence: nevertheless, He
is resolved from henceforth that on no pretence whatsoever any
pardon shall be hereafter granted to any person whatsoever for
killing of any man, in any duel or rencounter, but that the course
of law shall wholly take place in all such cases." The warrant for
a pardon to George, Duke of Buckingham, is dated January 27th, 1668;
and on the following day was issued, "Warrant for a grant to
Francis, Earl of Shrewsbury, of pardon for killing William Jenkins,
and for all duels, assaults, or batteries on George, Duke of
Buckingham, Sir John Talbot, Sir Robert Holmes, or any other,
whether indicted or not for the same, with restitution of lands,
goods, &c." ("Calendar of State Papers," 1667-68, pp. 192,193).]
which he thinks a worse fault than any ill use my late Lord Chancellor
ever put the Great Seal to, and will be so thought by the Parliament, for
them to be pardoned without bringing them to any trial: and that my Lord
Privy-Seal therefore would not have it pass his hand, but made it go by
immediate warrant; or at least they knew that he would not pass it, and
so did direct it to go by immediate warrant, that it might not come to
him. He tells me what a character my Lord Sandwich hath sent over of Mr.
Godolphin, as the worthiest man, and such a friend to him as he may be
trusted in any thing relating to him in the world; as one whom, he says,
he hath infallible assurances that he will remaine his friend which is
very high, but indeed they say the gentleman is a fine man. Thence,
after eating a lobster for my dinner, having eat nothing to-day, we broke
up, here coming to us Mr. Townsend of the Wardrobe, who complains of the
Commissioners of the Treasury as very severe against my Lord Sandwich,
but not so much as they complain of him for a fool and a knave, and so I
let him alone, and home, carrying Mr. Moore as far as Fenchurch Street,
and I home, and there being vexed in my mind about my prize businesses I
to my chamber, where my wife and I had much talk of W. Hewer, she telling
me that he is mightily concerned for my not being pleased with him, and
is herself mightily concerned, but I have much reason to blame him for
his little assistance he gives me in my business, not being able to copy
out a letter with sense or true spelling that makes me mad, and indeed he
is in that regard of as little use to me as the boy, which troubles me,
and I would have him know it,--and she will let him know it. By and by
to supper, and so to bed, and slept but ill all night, my mind running
like a fool on my prize business, which according to my reason ought not
to trouble me at all.
6th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning,, and among other
things Sir H. Cholmly comes to me about a little business, and there
tells me how the Parliament, which is to meet again to-day, are likely to
fall heavy on the business of the Duke of Buckingham's pardon; and I
shall be glad of it: and that the King hath put out of the Court the two
Hides, my Lord Chancellor's two sons, and also the Bishops of Rochester
and Winchester, the latter of whom should have preached before him
yesterday, being Ash Wednesday, and had his sermon ready, but was put by;
which is great news: He gone, we sat at the office all the morning, and
at noon home to dinner, and my wife being gone before, I to the Duke of
York's playhouse; where a new play of Etherige's, called "She Would if
she Could;" and though I was there by two o'clock, there was 1000 people
put back that could not have room in the pit: and I at last, because my
wife was there, made shift to get into the 18d. box, and there saw; but,
Lord! how full was the house, and how silly the play, there being nothing
in the world good in it, and few people pleased in it. The King was
there; but I sat mightily behind, and could see but little, and hear not
all. The play being done, I into the pit to look (for) my wife, and it
being dark and raining, I to look my wife out, but could not find her;
and so staid going between the two doors and through the pit an hour and
half, I think, after the play was done; the people staying there till the
rain was over, and to talk with one another. And, among the rest, here
was the Duke of Buckingham to-day openly sat in the pit; and there I
found him with my Lord Buckhurst, and Sidly, and Etherige, the poet; the
last of whom I did hear mightily find fault with the actors, that they
were out of humour, and had not their parts perfect, and that Harris did
do nothing, nor could so much as sing a ketch in it; and so was mightily
concerned while all the rest did, through the whole pit, blame the play
as a silly, dull thing, though there was something very roguish and
witty; but the design of the play, and end, mighty insipid. At last I
did find my wife staying for me in the entry; and with her was Betty
Turner, Mercer, and Deb. So I got a coach, and a humour took us, and I
carried them to Hercules Pillars, and there did give them a kind of a
supper of about 7s., and very merry, and home round the town, not through
the ruines; and it was pretty how the coachman by mistake drives us into
the ruines from London-wall into Coleman Street: and would persuade me
that I lived there. And the truth is, I did think that he and the
linkman had contrived some roguery; but it proved only a mistake of the
coachman; but it was a cunning place to have done us a mischief in, as
any I know, to drive us out of the road into the ruines, and there stop,
while nobody could be called to help us. But we come safe home, and
there, the girls being gone home, I to the office, where a while busy, my
head not being wholly free of my trouble about my prize business, I home
to bed. This evening coming home I did put my hand under the coats of
Mercer and did touch her thigh, but then she did put by my hand and no
hurt done, but talked and sang and was merry.
7th. Up, and to the office, to the getting of my books in order, to
carry to the Commissioners of Accounts this morning. This being done, I
away first to Westminster Hall, and there met my cozen, Roger Pepys, by
his desire, the first time I have seen him since his coming to town, the
Parliament meeting yesterday and adjourned to Monday next; and here he
tells me that Mr. Jackson, my sister's servant, is come to town, and hath
this day suffered a recovery on his estate, in order to the making her a
settlement. The young man is gone out of the Hall, so I could not now
see him, but here I walked a good while with my cozen, and among other
things do hear that there is a great triall between my Lord Gerard and
Carr to-day, who is indicted for his life at the King's Bench, for
running from his colours; but all do say that my Lord Gerard, though he
designs the ruining of this man, will not get any thing by it. Thence to
the Commissioners of Accounts, and there presented my books, and was made
to sit down, and used with much respect, otherwise than the other day,
when I come to them as a criminal about the business of the prizes. I
sat here with them a great while, while my books were inventoried. And
here do hear from them by discourse that they are like to undo the
Treasurer's instruments of the Navy by making it a rule that they shall
repay all money paid to wrong parties, which is a thing not to be
supported by these poor creatures the Treasurer's instruments, as it is
also hard for seamen to be ruined by their paying money to whom they
please. I know not what will be the issue of it. I find these gentlemen
to sit all day, and only eat a bit of bread at noon, and a glass of wine;
and are resolved to go through their business with great severity and
method. Thence I, about two o'clock, to Westminster Hall, by
appointment, and there met my cozen Roger again, and Mr. Jackson, who is
a plain young man, handsome enough for Pall, one of no education nor
discourse, but of few words, and one altogether that, I think, will
please me well enough. My cozen had got me to give the odd sixth L100
presently, which I intended to keep to the birth of the first child: and
let it go--I shall be eased of the care, and so, after little talk, we
parted, resolving to dine together at my house tomorrow. So there
parted, my mind pretty well satisfied with this plain fellow for my
sister, though I shall, I see, have no pleasure nor content in him, as if
he had been a man of reading and parts, like Cumberland, and to the Swan,
and there sent for a bit of meat and eat and drank, and so to White Hall
to the Duke of York's chamber, where I find him and my fellows at their
usual meeting, discoursing about securing the Medway this year, which is
to shut the door after the horse is stole. However, it is good. Having
done here, my Lord Brouncker, and W. Pen, and I, and with us Sir Arnold
Breames, to the King's playhouse, and there saw a piece of "Love in a
Maze," a dull, silly play, I think; and after the play, home with W. Pen
and his son Lowther, whom we met there, and then home and sat most of the
evening with my wife and Mr. Pelting, talking, my head being full of
business of one kind or other, and most such as do not please me, and so
to supper and to bed.
8th. Up, and to the office, where sat all day, and at noon home, and
there find cozen Roger and Jackson by appointment come to dine with me,
and Creed, and very merry, only Jackson hath few words, and I like him
never the worse for it. The great talk is of Carr's coming off in all
his trials, to the disgrace of my Lord Gerard, to that degree, and the
ripping up of so many notorious rogueries and cheats of my Lord's, that
my Lord, it is thought, will be ruined; and, above all things, do skew
the madness of the House of Commons, who rejected the petition of this
poor man by a combination of a few in the House; and, much more, the base
proceedings (just the epitome of all our publick managements in this
age), of the House of Lords, that ordered him to stand in the pillory for
those very things, without hearing and examining what he hath now, by the
seeking of my Lord Gerard himself, cleared himself of, in open Court, to
the gaining himself the pity of all the world, and shame for ever to my
Lord Gerard. We had a great deal of good discourse at table, and after
dinner we four men took coach, and they set me down at the Old Exchange,
and they home, having discoursed nothing today with cozen or Jackson
about our business. I to Captain Cocke's, and there discoursed over our
business of prizes, and I think I shall go near to state the matter so as
to secure myself without wrong to him, doing nor saying anything but the
very truth. Thence away to the Strand, to my bookseller's, and there
staid an hour, and bought the idle, rogueish book, "L'escholle des
filles;" which I have bought in plain binding, avoiding the buying of it
better bound, because I resolve, as soon as I have read it, to burn it,
that it may not stand in the list of books, nor among them, to disgrace
them if it should be found. Thence home, and busy late at the office,
and then home to supper and to bed. My wife well pleased with my
sister's match, and designing how to be merry at their marriage. And I
am well at ease in my mind to think that that care will be over. This
night calling at the Temple, at the Auditor's, his man told me that he
heard that my account must be brought to the view of the Commissioners of
Tangier before it can be passed, which though I know no hurt in it, yet
it troubled me lest there should be any or any designed by them who put
this into the head of the Auditor, I suppose Auditor Beale, or Creed,
because they saw me carrying my account another way than by them.
9th (Lord's day). Up, and at my chamber all the morning and the office
doing business, and also reading a little of "L'escholle des filles,"
which is a mighty lewd book, but yet not amiss for a sober man once to
read over to inform himself in the villainy of the world. At noon home
to dinner, where by appointment Mr. Pelting come and with him three
friends, Wallington, that sings the good base, and one Rogers, and a
gentleman, a young man, his name Tempest, who sings very well indeed, and
understands anything in the world at first sight. After dinner we into
our dining-room, and there to singing all the afternoon. (By the way, I
must remember that Pegg Pen was brought to bed yesterday of a girl; and,
among other things, if I have not already set it down, that hardly ever
was remembered such a season for the smallpox as these last two months
have been, people being seen all up and down the streets, newly come out
after the smallpox.) But though they sang fine things, yet I must confess
that I did take no pleasure in it, or very little, because I understood
not the words, and with the rests that the words are set, there is no
sense nor understanding in them though they be English, which makes me
weary of singing in that manner, it being but a worse sort of
instrumental musick. We sang until almost night, and drank mighty good
store of wine, and then they parted, and I to my chamber, where I did
read through "L'escholle des filles," a lewd book, but what do no wrong
once to read for information sake . . . . And after I had done it I
burned it, that it might not be among my books to my shame, and so at
night to supper and to bed.
10th. Up, and by coach to Westminster, and there made a visit to Mr.
Godolphin, at his chamber; and I do find him a very pretty and able
person, a man of very fine parts, and of infinite zeal to my Lord
Sandwich; and one that says he is, he believes, as wise and able a person
as any prince in the world hath. He tells me that he meets with
unmannerly usage by Sir Robert Southwell, in Portugall, who would sign
with him in his negociations there, being a forward young man: but that
my Lord mastered him in that point, it being ruled for my Lord here, at a
hearing of a Committee of the Council. He says that if my Lord can
compass a peace between Spain and Portugall, and hath the doing of it and
the honour himself, it will be a thing of more honour than ever any man
had, and of as much advantage. Thence to Westminster Hall, where the
Hall mighty full: and, among other things, the House begins to sit to-
day, and the King come. But, before the King's coming, the House of
Commons met; and upon information given them of a Bill intended to be
brought in, as common report said, for Comprehension, they did mightily
and generally inveigh against it, and did vote that the King should be
desired by the House (and the message delivered by the Privy-counsellers
of the House) that the laws against breakers of the Act of Uniformity
should be put in execution: and it was moved in the House that, if any
people had a mind to bring any new laws into the House, about religion,
they might come, as a proposer of new laws did in Athens, with ropes
about their necks. By and by the King comes to the Lords' House, and
there tells them of his league with Holland, and the necessity of a
fleete, and his debts; and, therefore, want of money; and his desire that
they would think of some way to bring in all his Protestant subjects to a
right understanding and peace one with another; meaning the Bill of
Comprehension. The Commons coming to their House, it was moved that the
vote passed this morning might be suspended, because of the King's
speech, till the House was full and called over, two days hence: but it
was denied, so furious they are against this Bill: and thereby a great
blow either given to the King or Presbyters, or, which is the rather of
the two, to the House itself, by denying a thing desired by the King, and
so much desired by much the greater part of the nation. Whatever the
consequence be, if the King be a man of any stomach and heat, all do
believe that he will resent this vote. Thence with Creed home to my
house to dinner, where I met with Mr. Jackson, and find my wife angry
with Deb., which vexes me. After dinner by coach away to Westminster;
taking up a friend of Mr. Jackson's, a young lawyer, and parting with
Creed at White Hall. They and I to Westminster Hall, and there met Roger
Pepys, and with him to his chamber, and there read over and agreed upon
the Deed of Settlement to our minds: my sister to have L600 presently,
and she to be joyntured in L60 per annum; wherein I am very well
satisfied. Thence I to the Temple to Charles Porter's lodgings, where
Captain Cocke met me, and after long waiting, on Pemberton,
[Francis Pemberton, afterwards knighted, and made Lord Chief Justice
of the King's Bench in 1679. His career was a most singular one, he
having been twice removed from the Bench, and twice imprisoned by
the House of Commons. He twice returned to the bar, and after his
second return he practised with great success as a serjeant for the
next fourteen years till his death, June 10th, 1697. Evelyn says,
"He was held to be the most learned of the judges and an honest man"
("Diary," October 4th, 1683).]
an able lawyer, about the business of our prizes, and left the matter
with him to think of against to-morrow, this being a matter that do much
trouble my mind, though there be no fault in it that I need fear the
owning that I know of. Thence with Cocke home to his house and there
left him, and I home, and there got my wife to read a book I bought to-
day, and come out to-day licensed by Joseph Williamson for Lord
Arlington, shewing the state of England's affairs relating to France at
this time, and the whole body of the book very good and solid, after a
very foolish introduction as ever I read, and do give a very good account
of the advantage of our league with Holland at this time. So, vexed in
my mind with the variety of cares I have upon me, and so to bed.
11th. At the office all the morning, where comes a damned summons to
attend the Committee of Miscarriages to-day, which makes me mad, that I
should by my place become the hackney of this Office, in perpetual
trouble and vexation, that need it least. At noon home to dinner, where
little pleasure, my head being split almost with the variety of troubles
upon me at this time, and cares, and after dinner by coach to Westminster
Hall, and sent my wife and Deb. to see "Mustapha" acted. Here I brought
a book to the Committee, and do find them; and particularly Sir Thomas
Clarges, mighty hot in the business of tickets, which makes me mad to see
them bite at the stone, and not at the hand that flings it, and here my
Lord Brouncker unnecessarily orders it that he is called in to give
opportunity to present his report of the state of the business of paying
by ticket, which I do not think will do him any right, though he was made
believe that it did operate mightily, and that Sir Fresh. Hollis did make
a mighty harangue and to much purpose in his defence, but I believe no
such effects of it, for going in afterward I did hear them speak with
prejudice of it, and that his pleading of the Admiral's warrant for it
now was only an evasion, if not an aspersion upon the Admirall, and
therefore they would not admit of this his report, but go on with their
report as they had resolved before. The orders they sent for this day
was the first order that I have yet met with about this business, and was
of my own single hand warranting, but I do think it will do me no harm,
and therefore do not much trouble myself with it, more than to see how
much trouble I am brought to who have best deported myself in all the
King's business. Thence with Lord Brouncker, and set him down at Bow
Streete, and so to the Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw the last
act for nothing, where I never saw such good acting of any creature as
Smith's part of Zanger; and I do also, though it was excellently acted by
---------, do yet want Betterton mightily. Thence to the Temple, to
Porter's chamber, where Cocke met me, and after a stay there some time,
they two and I to Pemberton's chamber, and there did read over the Act of
calling people to account, and did discourse all our business of the
prizes; and, upon the whole, he do make it plainly appear, that there is
no avoiding to give these Commissioners satisfaction in everything they
will ask; and that there is fear lest they may find reason to make us
refund for all the extraordinary profit made by those bargains; and do
make me resolve rather to declare plainly, and, once for all, the truth
of the whole, and what my profit hath been, than be forced at last to do
it, and in the meantime live in gain, as I must always do: and with this
resolution on my part I departed, with some more satisfaction of mind,
though with less hopes of profit than I expected. It was pretty here to
see the heaps of money upon this lawyer's table; and more to see how he
had not since last night spent any time upon our business, but begun with
telling us that we were not at all concerned in that Act; which was a
total mistake, by his not having read over the Act at all. Thence to
Porter's chamber, where Captain Cocke had fetched my wife out of the
coach, and there we staid and talked and drank, he being a very generous,
good-humoured man, and so away by coach, setting Cocke at his house, and
we with his coach home, and there I to the office, and there till past
one in the morning, and so home to supper and to bed, my mind at pretty
good ease, though full of care and fear of loss. This morning my wife in
bed told me the story of our Tom and Jane:--how the rogue did first
demand her consent to love and marry him, and then, with pretence of
displeasing me, did slight her; but both he and she have confessed the
matter to her, and she hath charged him to go on with his love to her,
and be true to her, and so I think the business will go on, which, for my
love to her, because she is in love with him, I am pleased with; but
otherwise I think she will have no good bargain of it, at least if I
should not do well in my place. But if I do stand, I do intend to give
her L50 in money, and do them all the good I can in my way.
12th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning drawing up my
narrative of my proceedings and concernments in the buying of prize-
goods, which I am to present to the Committee for Accounts; and being
come to a resolution to conceal nothing from them, I was at great ease
how to draw it up without any inventions or practise to put me to future
pain or thoughts how to carry on, and now I only discover what my profit
was, and at worst I suppose I can be made but to refund my profit and so
let it go. At noon home to dinner, where Mr. Jackson dined with me, and
after dinner I (calling at the Excise Office, and setting my wife and
Deb. at her tailor's) did with Mr. Jackson go to find my cozen Roger
Pepys, which I did in the Parliament House, where I met him and Sir
Thomas Crew and Mr. George Montagu, who are mighty busy how to save my
Lord's name from being in the Report for anything which the Committee is
commanded to report to the House of the miscarriages of the late war. I
find they drive furiously still in the business of tickets, which is
nonsense in itself and cannot come to any thing. Thence with cozen Roger
to his lodgings, and there sealed the writings with Jackson, about my
sister's marriage: and here my cozen Roger told me the pleasant passage
of a fellow's bringing a bag of letters to-day, into the lobby of the
House, and left them, and withdrew himself without observation. The bag
being opened, the letters were found all of one size, and directed with
one hand: a letter to most of the Members of the House. The House was
acquainted with it, and voted they should be brought in, and one opened
by the Speaker; wherein if he found any thing unfit to communicate, to
propose a Committee to be chosen for it. The Speaker opening one, found
it only a case with a libell in it, printed: a satire most sober and
bitter as ever I read; and every letter was the same. So the House fell
a-scrambling for them like boys: and my cozen Roger had one directed to
him, which he lent me to read. So away, and took up my wife, and setting
Jackson down at Fetter Lane end, I to the old Exchange to look Mr.
Houblon, but, not finding him, did go home, and there late writing a
letter to my Lord Sandwich, and to give passage to a letter of great
moment from Mr. Godolphin to him, which I did get speedy passage for by
the help of Mr. Houblon, who come late to me, and there directed the
letter to Lisbon under cover of his, and here we talked of the times,
which look very sad and distracted, and made good mirth at this day's
passage in the House, and so parted; and going to the gate with him, I
found his lady and another fine lady sitting an hour together, late at
night, in their coach, while he was with me, which is so like my wife,
that I was mighty taken with it, though troubled for it. So home to
supper and to bed. This day Captain Cocke was with the Commissioners of
Accounts to ask more time for his bringing in his answer about the prize
goods, and they would not give him 14 days as he asks, but would give
only two days, which was very hard, I think, and did trouble me for fear
of their severity, though I have prepared my matter so as to defy it.
13th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon home to
dinner, and thence with my wife and Deb. to White Hall, setting, them at
her tailor's, and I to the Commissioners of the Treasury, where myself
alone did argue the business of the East India Company against their
whole Company on behalf of the King before the Lords Commissioners, and
to very good effect, I think, and with reputation. That business being
over, the Lords and I had other things to talk about, and among the rest,
about our making more assignments on the Exchequer since they bid us
hold, whereat they were extraordinary angry with us, which troubled me.
a little, though I am not concerned in it at all. Waiting here some time
without, I did meet with several people, among others Mr. Brisband, who
tells me in discourse that Tom Killigrew hath a fee out of the Wardrobe
for cap and bells,
[The Lord Chamberlain's Records contain a copy of a warrant dated
July 12th, 1661, "to deliver to Mr. Killegrew thirty yards of
velvett, three dozen of fringe, and sixteene yards of Damaske for
the year 1661." The heading of this entry is "Livery for ye jester"
(Lowe's "Betterton," p. 70).]
under the title of the King's Foole or jester; and may with privilege
revile or jeere any body, the greatest person, without offence, by the
privilege of his place. Thence took up my wife, and home, and there busy
late at the office writing letters, and so home to supper and to bed.
The House was called over to-day. This morning Sir G. Carteret come to
the Office to see and talk with me: and he assures me that to this day
the King is the most kind man to my Lord Sandwich in the whole world;
that he himself do not now mind any publick business, but suffers things
to go on at Court as they will, he seeing all likely to come to ruin:
that this morning the Duke of York sent to him to come to make up one of
a Committee of the Council for Navy Affairs; where, when he come, he told
the Duke of York that he was none of them: which shews how things are
now-a-days ordered, that there should be a Committee for the Navy; and
the Lord Admiral not know the persons of it! And that Sir G. Carteret
and my Lord Anglesey should be left out of it, and men wholly improper
put into it. I do hear of all hands that there is a great difference at
this day between my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry, which I am sorry
for.
14th (Valentine's day). Up, being called up by Mercer, who come to be my
Valentine, and so I rose and my wife, and were merry a little, I staying
to talk, and did give her a guinny in gold for her Valentine's gift.
There comes also my cozen Roger Pepys betimes, and comes to my wife, for
her to be his Valentine, whose Valentine I was also, by agreement to be
so to her every year; and this year I find it is likely to cost L4 or L5
in a ring for her, which she desires. Cozen Roger did come also to speak
with Sir W. Pen, who was quoted, it seems, yesterday by Sir Fr. Hollis to
have said that if my Lord Sandwich had done so and so, we might have
taken all the Dutch prizes at the time when he staid and let them go.
But Sir W. Pen did tell us he should say nothing in it but what would do
my Lord honour, and he is a knave I am able to prove if he do otherwise.
He gone, I to my Office, to perfect my Narrative about prize-goods; and
did carry it to the Commissioners of Accounts, who did receive it with
great kindness, and express great value of, and respect to me: and my
heart is at rest that it is lodged there, in so full truth and plainness,
though it may hereafter prove some loss to me. But here I do see they
are entered into many enquiries about prizes, by the great attendance of
commanders and others before them, which is a work I am not sorry for.
Thence I away, with my head busy, but my heart at pretty good ease, to
the Old Exchange, and there met Mr. Houblon. I prayed him to discourse
with some of the merchants that are of the Committee for Accounts, to see
how they do resent my paper, and in general my particular in the relation
to the business of the Navy, which he hath promised to do carefully for
me and tell me. Here it was a mighty pretty sight to see old Mr.
Houblon, whom I never saw before, and all his sons about him, all good
merchants. Thence home to dinner, and had much discourse with W. Hewer
about my going to visit Colonel Thomson, one of the Committee of
Accounts, who, among the rest, is mighty kind to me, and is likely to
mind our business more than any; and I would be glad to have a good
understanding with him. Thence after dinner to White Hall, to attend the
Duke of York, where I did let him know, too, the troublesome life we
lead, and particularly myself, by being obliged to such attendances every
day as I am, on one Committee or another. And I do find the Duke of York
himself troubled, and willing not to be troubled with occasions of having
his name used among the Parliament, though he himself do declare that he
did give directions to Lord Brouncker to discharge the men at Chatham by
ticket, and will own it, if the House call for it, but not else. Thence
I attended the King and Council, and some of the rest of us, in a
business to be heard about the value of a ship of one Dorrington's:--
and it was pretty to observe how Sir W. Pen making use of this argument
against the validity of an oath, against the King, being made by the
master's mate of the ship, who was but a fellow of about 23 years of age
--the master of the ship, against whom we pleaded, did say that he did
think himself at that age capable of being master's mate of any ship; and
do know that he, himself, Sir W: Pen, was so himself, and in no better
degree at that age himself: which word did strike Sir W. Pen dumb, and
made him open his mouth no more; and I saw the King and Duke of York wink
at one another at it. This done, we into the gallery; and there I walked
with several people, and among others my Lord Brouncker, who I do find
under much trouble still about the business of the tickets, his very case
being brought in; as is said, this day in the Report of the Miscarriages.
And he seems to lay much of it on me, which I did clear and satisfy him
in; and would be glad with all my heart to serve him in, and have done it
more than he hath done for himself, he not deserving the least blame, but
commendations, for this. I met with my cozen Roger Pepys and Creed; and
from them understand that the Report was read to-day of the Miscarriages,
wherein my Lord Sandwich is [named] about the business I mentioned this
morning; but I will be at rest, for it can do him no hurt. Our business
of tickets is soundly up, and many others: so they went over them again,
and spent all the morning on the first, which is the dividing of the
fleete; wherein hot work was, and that among great men, Privy-
Councillors, and, they say, Sir W. Coventry; but I do not much fear it,
but do hope that it will shew a little, of the Duke of Albemarle and the
Prince to have been advisers in it: but whereas they ordered that the
King's Speech should be considered today, they took no notice of it at
all, but are really come to despise the King in all possible ways of
chewing it. And it was the other day a strange saying, as I am told by
my cozen Roger Pepys, in the House, when it was moved that the King's
speech should be considered, that though the first part of the Speech,
meaning the league that is there talked of, be the only good publick
thing that hath been done since the King come into England, yet it might
bear with being put off to consider, till Friday next, which was this
day. Secretary Morrice did this day in the House, when they talked of
intelligence, say that he was allowed but L70 a-year for intelligence,--
[Secret service money]--whereas, in Cromwell's time, he [Cromwell] did
allow L70,000 a-year for it; and was confirmed therein by Colonel Birch,
who said that thereby Cromwell carried the secrets of all the princes of
Europe at his girdle. The House is in a most broken condition; nobody
adhering to any thing, but reviling and finding fault: and now quite mad
at the Undertakers, as they are commonly called, Littleton, Lord Vaughan,
Sir R. Howard, and others that are brought over to the Court, and did
undertake to get the King money; but they despise, and would not hear
them in the House; and the Court do do as much, seeing that they cannot
be useful to them, as was expected. In short, it is plain that the King
will never be able to do any thing with this Parliament; and that the
only likely way to do better, for it cannot do worse, is to break this
and call another Parliament; and some do think that it is intended. I
was told to-night that my Lady Castlemayne is so great a gamester as to
have won L5000 in one night, and lost L25,000 in another night, at play,
and hath played L1000 and L1500 at a cast. Thence to the Temple, where
at Porter's chamber I met Captain Cocke, but lost our labour, our
Counsellor not being within, Pemberton, and therefore home and late at my
office, and so home to supper and to bed.
15th. Up betimes, and with Captain Cocke my coach to the Temple to his
Counsel again about the prize goods in order to the drawing up of his
answer to them, where little done but a confirmation that our best
interest is for him to tell the whole truth, and so parted, and I home to
the office, where all the morning, and at noon home to dinner, and after
dinner all the afternoon and evening till midnight almost, and till I had
tired my own backe, and my wife's, and Deb.'s, in titleing of my books
for the present year, and in setting them in order, which is now done to
my very good satisfaction, though not altogether so completely as I think
they were the last year, when my mind was more at leisure to mind it.
So about midnight to bed, where my wife taking some physic overnight it
wrought with her, and those coming upon her with great gripes, she was in
mighty pain all night long, yet, God forgive me! I did find that I was
most desirous to take my rest than to ease her, but there was nothing I
could do to do her any good with.
16th (Lord's day). Up, and to my chamber, where all the morning making a
catalogue of my books, which did find me work, but with great pleasure,
my chamber and books being now set in very good order, and my chamber
washed and cleaned, which it had not been in some months before, my
business and trouble having been so much. At noon Mr. Holliard put in,
and dined with my wife and me, who was a little better to-day. His
company very good. His story of his love and fortune, which hath been
very good and very bad in the world, well worth hearing. Much discourse
also about the bad state of the Church, arid how the Clergy are come to
be men of no worth in the world; and, as the world do now generally
discourse, they must be reformed; and I believe the Hierarchy will in a
little time be shaken, whether they will or no; the King being offended
with them, and set upon it, as I hear. He gone, after dinner to have my
head combed, and then to my chamber and read most of the evening till
pretty late, when, my wife not being well, I did lie below stairs in our
great chamber, where I slept well.
17th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning till noon getting
some things more ready against the afternoon for the Committee of
Accounts, which did give me great trouble, to see how I am forced to
dance after them in one place, and to answer Committees of Parliament in
another. At noon thence toward the Committee, but meeting with Sir W.
Warren in Fleet Street he and I to the Ordinary by Temple Bar and there
dined together, and to talk, where he do seem to be very high now in
defiance of the Board, now he says that the worst is come upon him to
have his accounts brought to the Committee of Accounts, and he do reflect
upon my late coldness to him, but upon the whole I do find that he is
still a cunning fellow, and will find it necessary to be fair to me,
and what hath passed between us of coldness to hold his tongue, which do
please me very well. Thence to the Committee, where I did deliver the
several things they expected from me, with great respect and show of
satisfaction, and my mind thereby eased of some care. But thence I to
Westminster Hall, and there spent till late at night walking to and again
with many people, and there in general I hear of the great high words
that were in the House on Saturday last, upon the first part of the
Committee's Report about the dividing of the fleete; wherein some would
have the counsels of the King to be declared, and the reasons of them,
and who did give them; where Sir W. Coventry laid open to them the
consequences of doing that, that the King would never have any honest and
wise men ever to be of his Council. They did here in the House talk
boldly of the King's bad counsellors, and how they must be all turned
out, and many of them, and better; brought in: and the proceedings of the
Long-Parliament in the beginning of the war were called to memory: and
the King's bad intelligence was mentioned, wherein they were bitter
against my Lord Arlington, saying, among other things, that whatever
Morrice's was, who declared he had but L750 a-year allowed him for
intelligence, the King paid too dear for my Lord Arlington's, in giving
him L10,000 and a barony for it. Sir W. Coventry did here come to his
defence, in the business of the letter that was sent to call back Prince
Rupert, after he was divided from the fleete, wherein great delay was
objected; but he did show that he sent it at one in the morning, when the
Duke of York did give him the instructions after supper that night, and
did clear himself well of it: only it was laid as a fault, which I know
not how he removes, of not sending it by an express, but by the ordinary
post; but I think I have heard he did send it to my Lord Arlington's; and
that there it lay for some hours; it coming not to Sir Philip Honiwood's
hand at Portsmouth till four in the afternoon that day, being about
fifteen or sixteen hours in going; and about this, I think, I have heard
of a falling out between my Lord Arlington, heretofore, and W. Coventry.
Some mutterings I did hear of a design of dissolving the Parliament; but
I think there is no ground for it yet, though Oliver would have dissolved
them for half the trouble and contempt these have put upon the King and
his councils. The dividing of the fleete, however, is, I hear, voted a
miscarriage, and the not building a fortification at Sheernesse: and I
have reason every hour to expect that they will vote the like of our
paying men off by ticket; and what the consequence of that will be I know
not, but I am put thereby into great trouble of mind. I did spend a
little time at the Swan, and there did kiss the maid, Sarah. At noon
home, and there up to my wife, who is still ill, and supped with her, my
mind being mighty full of trouble for the office and my concernments
therein, and so to supper and talking with W. Hewer in her chamber about
business of the office, wherein he do well understand himself and our
case, and it do me advantage to talk with him and the rest of my people.
I to bed below as I did last night.
18th. Up by break of day, and walked down to the old Swan, where I find
little Michell building, his booth being taken down, and a foundation
laid for a new house, so that that street is like to be a very fine
place. I drank, but did not see Betty, and so to Charing Cross stairs,
and thence walked to Sir W. Coventry's,
[Sir William Coventry's love of money is said by Sir John Denham to
have influenced him in promoting naval officers, who paid him for
their commissions.
"Then Painter! draw cerulian Coventry
Keeper, or rather Chancellor o' th' sea
And more exactly to express his hue,
Use nothing but ultra-mariuish blue.
To pay his fees, the silver trumpet spends,
And boatswain's whistle for his place depends.
Pilots in vain repeat their compass o'er,
Until of him they learn that one point more
The constant magnet to the pole doth hold,
Steel to the magnet, Coventry to gold.
Muscovy sells us pitch, and hemp, and tar;
Iron and copper, Sweden; Munster, war;
Ashley, prize; Warwick, custom;
Cart'ret, pay;
But Coventry doth sell the fleet away."--B.]
and talked with him, who tells me how he hath been persecuted, and how he
is yet well come off in the business of the dividing of the fleete, and
the sending of the letter. He expects next to be troubled about the
business of bad officers in the fleete, wherein he will bid them name
whom they call bad, and he will justify himself, having never disposed of
any but by the Admiral's liking. And he is able to give an account of
all them, how they come recommended, and more will be found to have been
placed by the Prince and Duke of Albemarle than by the Duke of York
during the war, and as no bad instance of the badness of officers he and
I did look over the list of commanders, and found that we could presently
recollect thirty-seven commanders that have been killed in actuall
service this war. He tells me that Sir Fr. Hollis is the main man that
hath persecuted him hitherto, in the business of dividing the fleete,
saying vainly that the want of that letter to the Prince hath given him
that, that he shall remember it by to his grave, meaning the loss of his
arme; when, God knows! he is as idle and insignificant a fellow as ever
come into the fleete. He tells me that in discourse on Saturday he did
repeat Sir Rob. Howard's words about rowling out of counsellors, that for
his part he neither cared who they rowled in, nor who they rowled out, by
which the word is become a word of use in the House, the rowling out of
officers. I will remember what, in mirth, he said to me this morning,
when upon this discourse he said, if ever there was another Dutch war,
they should not find a Secretary; "Nor," said I, "a Clerk of the Acts,
for I see the reward of it; and, thanked God! I have enough of my own to
buy me a good book and a good fiddle, and I have a good wife;"--"Why,"
says he, "I have enough to buy me a good book, and shall not need a
fiddle, because I have never a one of your good wives." I understand by
him that we are likely to have our business of tickets voted a
miscarriage, but [he] cannot tell me what that will signify more than
that he thinks they will report them to the King and there leave them,
but I doubt they will do more. Thence walked over St. James's Park to
White Hall, and thence to Westminster Hall, and there walked all the
morning, and did speak with several Parliament-men-among others, Birch,
who is very kind to me, and calls me, with great respect and kindness,
a man of business, and he thinks honest, and so long will stand by me,
and every such man, to the death. My business was to instruct them to
keep the House from falling into any mistaken vote about the business of
tickets, before they were better informed. I walked in the Hall all the
morning with my Lord Brouncker, who was in great pain there, and, the
truth is, his business is, without reason, so ill resented by the
generality of the House, that I was almost troubled to be seen to walk
with him, and yet am able to justify him in all, that he is under so much
scandal for. Here I did get a copy of the report itself, about our
paying off men by tickets; and am mightily glad to see it, now knowing
the state of our case, and what we have to answer to, and the more for
that the House is like to be kept by other business to-day and to-morrow,
so that, against Thursday, I shall be able to draw up some defence to put
into some Member's hands, to inform them, and I think we may [make] a
very good one, and therefore my mind is mightily at ease about it. This
morning they are upon a Bill, brought in to-day by Sir Richard Temple,
for obliging the King to call Parliaments every three years; or, if he
fail, for others to be obliged to do it, and to keep him from a power of
dissolving any Parliament in less than forty days after their first day
of sitting, which is such a Bill as do speak very high proceedings, to
the lessening of the King; and this they will carry, and whatever else
they desire, before they will give any money; and the King must have
money, whatever it cost him. I stepped to the Dog Tavern, and thither
come to me Doll Lane, and there we did drink together, and she tells me
she is my valentine . . . . Thence, she being gone, and having spoke
with Mr. Spicer here, whom I sent for hither to discourse about the
security of the late Act of 11 months' tax on which I have secured part
of my money lent to Tangier. I to the Hall, and there met Sir W. Pen,
and he and I to the Beare, in Drury Lane, an excellent ordinary, after
the French manner, but of Englishmen; and there had a good fricassee, our
dinner coming to 8s., which was mighty pretty, to my great content; and
thence, he and I to the King's house, and there, in one of the upper
boxes, saw "Flora's Vagarys," which is a very silly play; and the more,
I being out of humour, being at a play without my wife, and she ill at
home, and having no desire also to be seen, and, therefore, could not
look about me. Thence to the Temple, and there we parted, and I to see
Kate Joyce, where I find her and her friends in great ease of mind, the
jury having this day given in their verdict that her husband died of a
feaver. Some opposition there was, the foreman pressing them to declare
the cause of the feaver, thinking thereby to obstruct it: but they did
adhere to their verdict, and would give no reason; so all trouble is now
over, and she safe in her estate, which I am mighty glad of, and so took
leave, and home, and up to my wife, not owning my being at a play, and
there she shews me her ring of a Turky-stone set with little sparks of
dyamonds,
[The turquoise. This stone was sometimes referred to simply as the
turkey, and Broderip ("Zoological Recreations") conjectured that the
bird (turkey) took its name from the blue or turquoise colour of the
skin about its head.]
which I am to give her, as my Valentine, and I am not much troubled at
it. It will cost me near L5--she costing me but little compared with
other wives, and I have not many occasions to spend on her. So to my
office, where late, and to think upon my observations to-morrow, upon the
report of the Committee to the Parliament about the business of tickets,
whereof my head is full, and so home to supper and to bed.
19th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning drawing up an answer
to the Report of the Committee for miscarriages to the Parliament
touching our paying men by tickets, which I did do in a very good manner
I think. Dined with my clerks at home, where much good discourse of our
business of the Navy, and the trouble now upon us, more than we expected.
After dinner my wife out with Deb., to buy some things against my
sister's wedding, and I to the office to write fair my business I did in
the morning, and in the evening to White Hall, where I find Sir W.
Coventry all alone, a great while with the Duke of York, in the King's
drawing-room, they two talking together all alone, which did mightily
please me. Then I did get Sir W. Coventry (the Duke of York being gone)
aside, and there read over my paper, which he liked and corrected, and
tells me it will be hard to escape, though the thing be never so fair,
to have it voted a miscarriage; but did advise me and my Lord Brouncker,
who coming by did join with us, to prepare some members in it, which we
shall do. Here I do hear how La Roche, a French captain, who was once
prisoner here, being with his ship at Plymouth, hath played some freakes
there, for which his men being beat out of the town, he hath put up his
flag of defiance, and also, somewhere thereabout, did land with his men,
and go a mile into the country, and did some pranks, which sounds pretty
odd, to our disgrace, but we are in condition now to bear any thing.
But, blessed be God! all the Court is full of the good news of my Lord
Sandwich's having made a peace between Spain and Portugall, which is
mighty great news, and, above all, to my Lord's honour, more than any
thing he ever did; and yet I do fear it will not prevail to secure him in
Parliament against incivilities there. Thence, took up my wife at
Unthanke's, and so home, and there my mind being full of preparing my
paper against to-morrow for the House, with an address from the office to
the House, I to the office, very late, and then home to supper and to
bed.
20th. Up, and to the office a while, and thence to White Hall by coach
with Mr. Batelier with me, whom I took up in the street. I thence by
water to Westminster Hall, and there with Lord Brouncker, Sir T. Harvy,
Sir J. Minnes, did wait all the morning to speak to members about our
business, thinking our business of tickets would come before the House
to-day, but we did alter our minds about the petition to the House,
sending in the paper to them. But the truth is we were in a great hurry,
but it fell out that they were most of the morning upon the business of
not prosecuting the first victory; which they have voted one of the
greatest miscarriages of the whole war, though they cannot lay the fault
anywhere yet, because Harman is not come home. This kept them all the
morning, which I was glad of. So down to the Hall, where my wife by
agreement stayed for me at Mrs. Michell's, and there was Mercer and the
girl, and I took them to Wilkinson's the cook's in King Street (where I
find the master of the house hath been dead for some time), and there
dined, and thence by one o'clock to the King's house: a new play, "The
Duke of Lerma," of Sir Robert Howard's: where the King and Court was; and
Knepp and Nell spoke the prologue most excellently, especially Knepp, who
spoke beyond any creature I ever, heard. The play designed to reproach
our King with his mistresses, that I was troubled for it, and expected it
should be interrupted; but it ended all well, which salved all. The play
a well-writ and good play, only its design I did not like of reproaching
the King, but altogether a very good and most serious play. Thence home,
and there a little to the office, and so home to supper, where Mercer
with us, and sang, and then to bed.
21st. At the office all the morning to get a little business done, I
having, and so the whole office, been put out of doing any business there
for this week by our trouble in attending the Parliament. Hither comes
to me young Captain Beckford, the slopseller, and there presents me a
little purse with gold in it, it being, as he told me, for his present to
me, at the end of the last year. I told him I had not done him any
service I knew of. He persisted, and I refused, but did at several
denials; and telling him that it was not an age to take presents in, he
told me he had reason to present me with something, and desired me to
accept of it, which, at his so urging me, I did, and so fell to talk of
his business, and so parted. I do not know of any manner of kindness I
have done him this last year, nor did expect any thing. It was therefore
very welcome to me, but yet I was not fully satisfied in my taking it,
because of my submitting myself to the having it objected against me
hereafter, and the rather because this morning Jacke Fen come and shewed
me an order from the Commissioners of Accounts, wherein they demand of
him an account upon oath of all the sums of money that have been by him
defalked or taken from any man since their time, of enquiry upon any
payments, and if this should, as it is to be feared, come to be done to
us, I know not what I shall then do, but I shall take counsel upon it.
At noon by coach towards Westminster, and met my Lord Brouncker, and W.
Pen, and Sir T. Harvey, in King's Street, coming away from the Parliament
House; and so I to them, and to the French ordinary, at the Blue Bells,
in Lincolne's Inn Fields, and there dined and talked. And, among other
things, they tell me how the House this day is still as backward for
giving any money as ever, and do declare they will first have an account
of the disposals of the last Poll-bill, and eleven months' tax: and it is
pretty odde that the very first sum mentioned in the account brought in
by Sir Robert Long, of the disposal of the Poll-bill money, is L5000 to
my Lord Arlington for intelligence; which was mighty unseasonable, so
soon after they had so much cried out against his want of intelligence.
The King do also own but L250,000, or thereabouts, yet paid on the Poll-
bill, and that he hath charged L350,000 upon it. This makes them mad;
for that the former Poll-bill, that was so much less in its extent than
the last, which took in all sexes and qualities, did come to L350,000.
Upon the whole, I perceive they are like to do nothing in this matter to
please the King, or relieve the State, be the case never so pressing;
and, therefore, it is thought by a great many that the King cannot be
worse if he should dissolve them: but there is nobody dares advise it,
nor do he consider any thing himself. Thence, having dined for 2os.,
we to the Duke of York at White Hall, and there had our usual audience,
and did little but talk of the proceedings of the Parliament, wherein he
is as much troubled as we; for he is not without fears that they do ayme
at doing him hurt; but yet he declares that he will never deny to owne
what orders he hath given to any man to justify him, notwithstanding
their having sent to him to desire his being tender to take upon him the
doing any thing of that kind. Thence with Brouncker and T. Harvey to
Westminster Hall, and there met with Colonel Birch and Sir John Lowther,
and did there in the lobby read over what I have drawn up for our
defence, wherein they own themselves mightily satisfied; and Birch, like
a particular friend, do take it upon him to defend us, and do mightily do
me right in all his discourse. Here walked in the Hall with him a great
while, and discoursed with several members, to prepare them in our
business against to-morrow, and meeting my cozen Roger Pepys, he showed
me Granger's written confession,
[Pepys here refers to the extraordinary proceedings which occurred
between Charles, Lord Gerard, and Alexander Fitton, of which a
narrative was published at the Hague in 1665. Granger was a witness
in the cause, and was afterwards said to be conscience-stricken from
his perjury. Some notice of this case will be found in North's
"Examen," p. 558; but the copious and interesting note in Ormerod's
"History of Cheshire," Vol. iii., p. 291, will best satisfy the
reader, who will not fail to be struck by the paragraph with which
it is closed-viz., "It is not improbable that Alexander Fitton, who,
in the first instance, gained rightful possession of Gawsworth under
an acknowledged settlement, was driven headlong into unpremeditated
guilt by the production of a revocation by will which Lord Gerard
had so long concealed. Having lost his own fortune in the
prosecution of his claims, he remained in gaol till taken out by
James II. to be made Chancellor of Ireland (under which character
Hume first notices him), was knighted, and subsequently created Lord
Gawsworth after the abdication of James, sat in his parliament in
Dublin in 1689, and then is supposed to have accompanied his fallen
master to France. Whether the conduct of Fitton was met, as he
alleges, by similar guilt on the part of Lord Gerard, God only can
judge; but his hand fell heavily on the representatives of that
noble house. In less than half a century the husbands of its two
co-heiresses, James, Duke of Hamilton, and Charles, Lord Mohun, were
slain by each other's hands in a murderous duel arising out of a
dispute relative to the partition of the Fitton estates, and
Gawsworth itself passed to an unlineal hand, by a series of
alienations complicated beyond example in the annals of this
country."--B.]
of his being forced by imprisonment, &c., by my Lord Gerard, most
barbarously to confess his forging of a deed in behalf of Fitton, in the
great case between him [Fitton] and my Lord Gerard; which business is
under examination, and is the foulest against my Lord Gerard that ever
any thing in the world was, and will, all do believe, ruine him; and I
shall be glad of it. Thence with Lord Brouncker and T. Harvey as far as
the New Exchange, and there at a draper's shop drawing up a short note of
what they are to desire of the House for our having a hearing before they
determine any thing against us, which paper is for them to show to what
friends they meet against to-morrow, I away home to the office, and there
busy pretty late, and here comes my wife to me, who hath been at Pegg
Pen's christening, which, she says, hath made a flutter and noise; but
was as mean as could be, and but little company, just like all the rest
that that family do. So home to supper and to bed, with my head full of
a defence before the Parliament tomorrow, and therein content myself very
well, and with what I have done in preparing some of the members thereof
in order thereto.
22nd. Up, and by coach through Ducke Lane, and there did buy Kircher's
Musurgia, cost me 35s., a book I am mighty glad of, expecting to find
great satisfaction in it. Thence to Westminster Hall and the lobby, and
up and down there all the morning, and to the Lords' House, and heard the
Solicitor-General plead very finely, as he always do; and this was in
defence of the East India Company against a man that complains of wrong
from them, and thus up and down till noon in expectation of our business
coming on in the House of Commons about tickets, but they being busy
about my Lord Gerard's business I did give over the thoughts of ours
coming on, and so with my wife, and Mercer, and Deb., who come to the
Hall to me, I away to the Beare, in Drury Lane, and there bespoke a dish
of meat; and, in the mean time, sat and sung with Mercer; and, by and by,
dined with mighty pleasure, and excellent meat, one little dish enough
for us all, and good wine, and all for 8s., and thence to the Duke's
playhouse, and there saw "Albumazar," an old play, this the second time
of acting. It is said to have been the ground of B. Jonson's
"Alchymist;" but, saving the ridicuiousnesse of Angell's part, which is
called Trinkilo, I do not see any thing extraordinary in it, but was
indeed weary of it before it was done. The King here, and, indeed, all
of us, pretty merry at the mimique tricks of Trinkilo. So home, calling
in Ducke Lane for the book I bought this morning, and so home, and wrote
my letters at the office, and then home to supper and to bed.
23rd (Lord's day). Up, and, being desired by a messenger from Sir G.
Carteret, I by water over to Southwarke, and so walked to the Falkon, on
the Bank-side, and there got another boat, and so to Westminster, where I
would have gone into the Swan; but the door was locked; and the girl
could not let me in, and so to Wilkinson's in King Street, and there
wiped my shoes, and so to Court, where sermon not yet done I met with
Brisband; and he tells me, first, that our business of tickets did come
to debate yesterday, it seems, after I was gone away, and was voted a
miscarriage in general. He tells me in general that there is great
looking after places, upon a presumption of a great many vacancies; and
he did shew me a fellow at Court, a brother of my Lord Fanshaw's, a witty
but rascally fellow, without a penny in his purse, that was asking him
what places there were in the Navy fit for him, and Brisband tells me, in
mirth, he told him the Clerke of the Acts, and I wish he had it, so I
were well and quietly rid of it; for I am weary of this kind of trouble,
having, I think, enough whereon to support myself. By and by, chapel
done, I met with Sir W. Coventry, and he and I walked awhile together in
the Matted Gallery; and there he told me all the proceedings yesterday:
that the matter is found, in general, a miscarriage, but no persons
named; and so there is no great matter to our prejudice yet, till, if
ever, they come to particular persons. He told me Birch was very
industrious to do what he could, and did, like a friend; but they were
resolved to find the thing, in general, a miscarriage; and says, that
when we shall think fit to desire its being heard, as to our own defence,
it will be granted. He tells me how he hath, with advantage, cleared
himself in what concerns himself therein, by his servant Robson, which I
am glad of. He tells me that there is a letter sent by conspiracy to
some of the House, which he hath seen, about the matter of selling of
places, which he do believe he shall be called upon to-morrow for: and
thinks himself well prepared to defend himself in it; and then neither
he, nor his friends for him, are afeard of anything to his prejudice.
Thence by coach, with Brisband, to Sir G. Carteret's, in Lincoln's Inn
Fields, and there dined: a good dinner and good company; and after dinner
he and I alone, discoursing of my Lord Sandwich's matters; who hath, in
the first business before the House, been very kindly used beyond
expectation, the matter being laid by, till his coming home and old Mr.
Vaughan did speak for my Lord, which I am mighty glad of. The business
of the prizes is the worst that can be said, and therein I do fear
something may lie hard upon him; but, against this, we must prepare the
best we can for his defence. Thence with G. Carteret to White Hall,
where I, finding a meeting of the Committee of the Council for the Navy,
his Royal Highness there, and Sir W. Pen, and, some of the Brethren of
the Trinity House to attend, I did go in with them; and it was to be
informed of the practice heretofore, for all foreign nations, at enmity
one with another, to forbear any acts of hostility to one another, in the
presence of any of the King of England's ships, of which several
instances were given: and it is referred to their further enquiry, in
order to the giving instructions accordingly to our ships now, during the
war between Spain and France. Would to God we were in the same condition
as heretofore, to challenge and maintain this our dominion! Thence with
W. Pen homeward, and quite through to Mile End, for a little ayre; the
days being now pretty long, but the ways mighty dirty, and here we drank
at the Rose, the old house, and so back again, talking of the Parliament
and our trouble with them and what passed yesterday. Going back again,
Sir R. Brookes overtook us coming to town; who hath played the jacke with
us all, and is a fellow that I must trust no more, he quoting me for all
he hath said in this business of tickets; though I have told him nothing
that either is not true, or I afeard to own. But here talking, he did
discourse in this stile: "We,"--and "We" all along,--" will not give any
money, be the pretence never so great, nay, though the enemy was in the
River of Thames again, till we know what is become of the last money
given;" and I do believe he do speak the mind of his fellows, and so let
them, if the King will suffer it. He gone, we home, and there I to read,
and my belly being full of my dinner to-day, I anon to bed, and there, as
I have for many days, slept not an hour quietly, but full of dreams of
our defence to the Parliament and giving an account of our doings. This
evening, my wife did with great pleasure shew me her stock of jewells,
encreased by the ring she hath made lately as my Valentine's gift this
year, a Turky stone' set with diamonds: and, with this and what she had,
she reckons that she hath above L150 worth of jewells, of one kind or
other; and I am glad of it, for it is fit the wretch should have
something to content herself with.
24th. Up, and to my office, where most of the morning, entering my
journal for the three days past. Thence about noon with my wife to the
New Exchange, by the way stopping at my bookseller's, and there leaving
my Kircher's Musurgia to be bound, and did buy "L'illustre Bassa,"
in four volumes, for my wife. Thence to the Exchange and left her; while
meeting Dr. Gibbons there, he and I to see an organ at the Dean of
Westminster's lodgings at the Abby, the Bishop of Rochester's; where he
lives like a great prelate, his lodgings being very good; though at
present under great disgrace at Court, being put by his Clerk of the
Closet's place. I saw his lady, of whom the 'Terrae Filius' of Oxford
was once so merry;
[A scholar appointed to make a satirical and jesting speech at an
Act in the University of Oxford. Mr. Christopher Wordsworth gives,
in his "Social Life at the English Universities in the Eighteenth
Century," 1874, a list of terra-filii from 1591 to 1713 (pp. 296-
298, 680). The 'terrae filius' was sometimes expelled the
university on account of the licence of his speech. The practice
was discontinued early in the eighteenth century.]
and two children, whereof one a very pretty little boy, like him, so fat
and black. Here I saw the organ; but it is too big for my house, and the
fashion do not please me enough; and therefore will not have it. Thence
to the 'Change back again, leaving him, and took my wife and Deb. home,
and there to dinner alone, and after dinner I took them to the Nursery,--
[Theatre company of young actors in training.]--where none of us ever
were before; where the house is better and the musique better than we
looked for, and the acting not much worse, because I expected as bad as
could be: and I was not much mistaken, for it was so. However, I was
pleased well to see it once, it being worth a man's seeing to discover
the different ability and understanding of people, and the different
growth of people's abilities by practise. Their play was a bad one,
called "Jeronimo is Mad Again," a tragedy. Here was some good company by
us, who did make mighty sport at the folly of their acting, which I could
not neither refrain from sometimes, though I was sorry for it. So away
hence home, where to the office to do business a while, and then home to
supper and to read, and then to bed. I was prettily served this day at
the playhouse-door, where, giving six shillings into the fellow's hand
for us three, the fellow by legerdemain did convey one away, and with so
much grace faced me down that I did give him but five, that, though I
knew the contrary, yet I was overpowered by his so grave and serious
demanding the other shilling, that I could not deny him, but was forced
by myself to give it him. After I come home this evening comes a letter
to me from Captain Allen, formerly Clerk of the Ropeyard at Chatham, and
whom I was kind to in those days, who in recompense of my favour to him
then do give me notice that he hears of an accusation likely to be
exhibited against me of my receiving L50 of Mason, the timber merchant,
and that his wife hath spoke it. I am mightily beholden to Captain Allen
for this, though the thing is to the best of my memory utterly false, and
I do believe it to be wholly so, but yet it troubles me to have my name
mentioned in this business, and more to consider how I may be liable to
be accused where I have indeed taken presents, and therefore puts me on
an enquiry, into my actings in this kind and prepare against a day of
accusation.
25th. Up, having lain the last night the first night that I have lain
with my wife since she was last ill, which is about eight days. To the
office, where busy all the morning. At noon comes W. Howe to me, to
advise what answer to give to the business of the prizes, wherein I did
give him the best advice I could; but am sorry to see so many things,
wherein I doubt it will not be prevented but Sir Roger Cuttance and Mr.
Pierce will be found very much concerned in goods beyond the
distribution, and I doubt my Lord Sandwich too, which troubles me
mightily. He gone I to dinner, and thence set my wife at the New
Exchange, and I to Mr. Clerke, my solicitor, to the Treasury chamber,
but the Lords did not sit, so I by water with him to the New Exchange,
and there we parted, and I took my wife and Deb. up, and to the Nursery,
where I was yesterday, and there saw them act a comedy, a pastorall, "The
Faythful Shepherd," having the curiosity to see whether they did a comedy
better than a tragedy; but they do it both alike, in the meanest manner,
that I was sick of it, but only for to satisfy myself once in seeing the
manner of it, but I shall see them no more, I believe. Thence to the New
Exchange, to take some things home that my wife hath bought, a dressing-
box, and other things for her chamber and table, that cost me above L4,
and so home, and there to the office, and tell W. Hewer of the letter
from Captain Allen last night, to give him caution if any thing should be
discovered of his dealings with anybody, which I should for his sake as
well, or more than for my own, be sorry for; and with great joy I do
find, looking over my memorandum books, which are now of great use to me,
and do fully reward me for all my care in keeping them, that I am not
likely to be troubled for any thing of the kind but what I shall either
be able beforehand to prevent, or if discovered, be able to justify
myself in, and I do perceive, by Sir W. Warren's discourse, that they
[the House] do all they can possibly to get out of him and others, what
presents they have made to the Officers of the Navy; but he tells me that
he hath denied all, though he knows that he is forsworn as to what
relates to me. So home to supper and to bed.
26th. Up, and by water to Charing Cross stairs, and thence to W.
Coventry to discourse concerning the state of matters in the Navy, where
he particularly acquainted me with the trouble he is like to meet with
about the selling of places, all carried on by Sir Fr. Hollis, but he
seems not to value it, being able to justify it to be lawful and constant
practice, and never by him used in the least degree since he upon his own
motion did obtain a salary of L500 in lieu thereof. Thence to the
Treasury Chamber about a little business, and so home by coach, and in my
way did meet W. Howe going to the Commissioners of Accounts. I stopped
and spoke to him, and he seems well resolved what to answer them, but he
will find them very strict, and not easily put off: So home and there to
dinner, and after dinner comes W. Howe to tell me how he sped, who says
he was used civilly, and not so many questions asked as he expected; but
yet I do perceive enough to shew that they do intend to know the bottom
of things, and where to lay the great weight of the disposal of these
East India goods, and that they intend plainly to do upon my Lord
Sandwich. Thence with him by coach and set him down at the Temple,
and I to Westminster Hall, where, it being now about six o'clock, I find
the House just risen; and met with Sir W. Coventry and the Lieutenant of
the Tower, they having sat all day; and with great difficulty have got a
vote for giving the King L300,000, not to be raised by any land-tax. The
sum is much smaller than I expected, and than the King needs; but is
grounded upon Mr. Wren's reading our estimates the other day of L270,000,
to keep the fleete abroad, wherein we demanded nothing for setting and
fitting of them out, which will cost almost L200,000, I do verily
believe: and do believe that the King hath no cause to thank Wren for
this motion. I home to Sir W. Coventry's lodgings, with him and the
Lieutenant of the Tower, where also was Sir John Coventry, and Sir John
Duncomb, and Sir Job Charleton. And here a great deal of good discourse:
and they seem mighty glad to have this vote pass, which I did wonder at,
to see them so well satisfied with so small a sum, Sir John Duncomb
swearing, as I perceive he will freely do, that it was as much as the
nation could beare. Among other merry discourse about spending of money,
and how much more chargeable a man's living is now more than it was
heretofore, Duncomb did swear that in France he did live of L100 a year
with more plenty, and wine and wenches, than he believes can be done now
for L200, which was pretty odd for him, being a Committee-man's son, to
say. Having done here, and supped, where I eat very little, we home in
Sir John Robinson's coach, and there to bed.
27th. All the morning at the office, and at noon home to dinner, and
thence with my wife and Deb. to the King's House, to see "The Virgin
Martyr," the first time it hath been acted a great while: and it is
mighty pleasant; not that the play is worth much, but it is finely acted
by Becke Marshall. But that which did please me beyond any thing in, the
whole world was the wind-musique when the angel comes down, which is so
sweet that it ravished me, and indeed, in a word, did wrap up my soul so
that it made me really sick, just as I have formerly been when in love
with my wife; that neither then, nor all the evening going home, and at
home, I was able to think of any thing, but remained all night
transported, so as I could not believe that ever any musick hath that
real command over the soul of a man as this did upon me: and makes me
resolve to practice wind-musique, and to make my wife do the like.
28th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing business, and
after dinner with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, where we and the rest of us
presented a great letter of the state of our want of money to his Royal
Highness. I did also present a demand of mine for consideration for my
travelling-charges of coach and boat-hire during the war, which, though
his Royal Highness and the company did all like of, yet, contrary to my
expectation, I find him so jealous now of doing any thing extraordinary,
that he desired the gentlemen that they would consider it, and report
their minds in it to him. This did unsettle my mind a great while, not
expecting this stop: but, however, I shall do as well, I know, though it
causes me a little stop. But that, that troubles me most is, that while
we were thus together with the Duke of York, comes in Mr. Wren from the
House, where, he tells us, another storm hath been all this day almost
against the Officers of the Navy upon this complaint,--that though they
have made good rules for payment of tickets, yet that they have not
observed them themselves, which was driven so high as to have it urged
that we should presently be put out of our places: and so they have at
last ordered that we shall be heard at the bar of the House upon this
business on Thursday next. This did mightily trouble me and us all; but
me particularly, who am least able to bear these troubles, though I have
the least cause to be concerned in it. Thence, therefore, to visit Sir
H. Cholmly, who hath for some time been ill of a cold; and thence walked
towards Westminster, and met Colonel Birch, who took me back to walk with
him, and did give me an account of this day's heat against the Navy
Officers, and an account of his speech on our behalf, which was very
good; and indeed we are much beholden to him, as I, after I parted with
him, did find by my cozen Roger, whom I went to: and he and I to his
lodgings. And there he did tell me the same over again; and how much
Birch did stand up in our defence; and that he do see that there are many
desirous to have us out of the Office; and the House is so furious and
passionate, that he thinks nobody can be secure, let him deserve never so
well. But now, he tells me, we shall have a fair hearing of the House,
and he hopes justice of them: but, upon the whole, he do agree with me
that I should hold my hand as to making any purchase of land, which I had
formerly discoursed with him about, till we see a little further how
matters go. He tells me that that made them so mad to-day first was,
several letters in the House about the Fanatickes, in several places,
coming in great bodies, and turning people out of the churches, and there
preaching themselves, and pulling the surplice over the Parsons' heads:
this was confirmed from several places; which makes them stark mad,
especially the hectors and bravadoes of the House, who shew all the zeal
on this occasion. Having done with him, I home vexed in my mind, and so
fit for no business, but sat talking with my wife and supped with her;
and Nan Mercer come and sat all the evening with us, and much pretty
discourse, which did a little ease me, and so to bed.
29th. Up, and walked to Captain Cocke's, where Sir G. Carteret promised
to meet me and did come to discourse about the prize-business of my Lord
Sandwich's, which I perceive is likely to be of great ill consequence to
my Lord, the House being mighty vehement in it. We could say little but
advise that his friends should labour to get it put off, till he comes.
We did here talk many things over, in lamentation of the present posture
of affairs, and the ill condition of all people that have had anything to
do under the King, wishing ourselves a great way off: Here they tell me
how Sir Thomas Allen hath taken the Englishmen out of "La Roche," and
taken from him an Ostend prize which La Roche had fetched out of our
harbours; and at this day La Roche keeps upon our coasts; and had the
boldness to land some men and go a mile up into the country, and there
took some goods belonging to this prize out of a house there; which our
King resents, and, they say, hath wrote to the King of France about; and
everybody do think a war will follow; and then in what a case we shall be
for want of money, nobody knows. Thence to the office, where we sat all
the morning, and at noon home to dinner, and to the office again in the
afternoon, where we met to consider of an answer to the Parliament about
the not paying of tickets according to our own orders, to which I hope we
shall be able to give a satisfactory answer, but that the design of the
House being apparently to remove us, I do question whether the best
answer will prevail with them. This done I by coach with my wife to
Martin, my bookseller's, expecting to have had my Kercher's Musurgia, but
to my trouble and loss of trouble it was not done. So home again, my
head full of thoughts about our troubles in the office, and so to the
office. Wrote to my father this post, and sent him now Colvill's--[The
Goldsmith.]--note for L600 for my sister's portion, being glad that I
shall, I hope, have that business over before I am out of place, and I
trust I shall be able to save a little of what I have got, and so shall
not be troubled to be at ease; for I am weary of this life. So ends
this month, with a great deal of care and trouble in my head about the
answerings of the Parliament, and particularly in our payment of seamen
by tickets.
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
Being very poor and mean as to the bearing with trouble
Bite at the stone, and not at the hand that flings it
Burned it, that it might not be among my books to my shame
Come to see them in bed together, on their wedding-night
Fear what would become of me if any real affliction should come
Force a man to swear against himself
L'escholle des filles, a lewd book
Live of L100 a year with more plenty, and wine and wenches
No pleasure--only the variety of it
End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, v70
by Samuel Pepys, Unabridged, transcribed by Bright, edited by Wheatley