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Title: Diary of Samuel Pepys, May/Jun 1665
Author: Samuel Pepys, Translator: Mynors Bright, Editor: Wheatley
Release Date: June, 2003 [Etext #4156]
[Yes, we are about one year ahead of schedule]
[The actual date this file first posted = 11/16/01]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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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.
MAY & JUNE
1665
May 1st. Up and to Mr. Povy's, and by his bedside talked a good while.
Among other things he do much insist I perceive upon the difficulty of
getting of money, and would fain have me to concur in the thinking of
some other way of disposing of the place of Treasurer to one Mr. Bell,
but I did seem slight of it, and resolved to try to do the best or to
give it up. Thence to the Duke of Albemarle, where I was sorry to find
myself to come a little late, and so home, and at noon going to the
'Change I met my Lord Brunkard, Sir Robert Murry, Deane Wilkins, and Mr.
Hooke, going by coach to Colonell Blunts to dinner. So they stopped and
took me with them. Landed at the Tower-wharf, and thence by water to
Greenwich; and there coaches met us; and to his house, a very stately
sight for situation and brave plantations; and among others, a vineyard,
the first that ever I did see. No extraordinary dinner, nor any other
entertainment good; but only after dinner to the tryall of some
experiments about making of coaches easy. And several we tried; but one
did prove mighty easy (not here for me to describe, but the whole body of
the coach lies upon one long spring), and we all, one after another, rid
in it; and it is very fine and likely to take. These experiments were
the intent of their coming, and pretty they are. Thence back by coach to
Greenwich, and in his pleasure boat to Deptford, and there stopped and in
to Mr. Evelyn's,--[Sayes Court, the well-known residence of John
Evelyn.]--which is a most beautiful place; but it being dark and late, I
staid not; but Deane Wilkins and Mr. Hooke and I walked to Redriffe; and
noble discourse all day long did please me, and it being late did take
them to my house to drink, and did give them some sweetmeats, and thence
sent them with a lanthorn home, two worthy persons as are in England, I
think, or the world. So to my Lady Batten, where my wife is tonight, and
so after some merry talk home and to bed.
2nd. Up and to the office all day, where sat late, and then to the
office again, and by and by Sir W. Batten and my Lady and my wife and I
by appointment yesterday (my Lady Pen failed us, who ought to have been
with us) to the Rhenish winehouse at the Steelyard, and there eat a
couple of lobsters and some prawns, and pretty merry, especially to see
us four together, while my wife and my Lady did never intend ever to be
together again after a year's distance between one another. Hither by
and by come Sir Richard Ford and also Mrs. Esther, that lived formerly
with my Lady Batten, now well married to a priest, come to see my Lady.
Thence toward evening home, and to my office, where late, and then home
to supper and to bed.
3rd. Up betimes and walked to Sir Ph. Warwicke's, where a long time with
him in his chamber alone talking of Sir G. Carteret's business, and the
abuses he puts on the nation by his bad payments to both our vexations,
but no hope of remedy for ought I see. Thence to my Lord Ashly to a
Committee of Tangier for my Lord Rutherford's accounts, and that done we
to my Lord Treasurer's, where I did receive my Lord's warrant to Sir R.
Long for drawing a warrant for my striking of tallys. So to the Inne
again by Cripplegate, expecting my mother's coming to towne, but she is
not come this weeke neither, the coach being too full. So to the 'Change
and thence home to dinner, and so out to Gresham College, and saw a cat
killed with the Duke of Florence's poyson, and saw it proved that the
oyle of tobacco
["Mr. Daniel Coxe read an account of the effects of tobacco-oil
distilled in a retort, by one drop of which given at the mouth he
had killed a lusty cat, which being opened, smelled strongly of the
oil, and the blood of the heart more strongly than the rest ....
One drop of the Florentine 'oglio di tobacco' being again given to a
dog, it proved stupefying and vomitive, as before" (Birch's "History
of the Royal Society," vol, ii., pp. 42, 43).]
drawn by one of the Society do the same effect, and is judged to be the
same thing with the poyson both in colour and smell, and effect. I saw
also an abortive child preserved fresh in spirits of salt. Thence
parted, and to White Hall to the Councilchamber about an order touching
the Navy (our being empowered to commit seamen or Masters that do not,
being hired or pressed, follow their worke), but they could give us none.
So a little vexed at that, because I put in the memorial to the Duke of
Albemarle alone under my own hand, home, and after some time at the
office home to bed. My Lord Chief Justice Hide did die suddenly this
week, a day or two ago, of an apoplexy.
4th. Up, and to the office, where we sat busy all the morning. At noon
home to dinner, and then to the office again all day till almost
midnight, and then, weary, home to supper and to bed.
5th. Up betimes, and by water to Westminster, there to speak the first
time with Sir Robert Long, to give him my Privy Seal and my Lord
Treasurer's order for Tangier Tallys; he received me kindly enough.
Thence home by water, and presently down to Woolwich and back to
Blackewall, and there, viewed the Breach, in order to a Mast Docke,
and so to Deptford to the Globe, where my Lord Brunkard, Sir J. Minnes,
Sir W. Batten, and Commissioner Pett were at dinner, having been at the
Breach also, but they find it will be too great charge to make use of it.
After dinner to Mr. Evelyn's; he being abroad, we walked in his garden,
and a lovely noble ground he hath indeed. And among other rarities, a
hive of bees, so as being hived in glass, you may see the bees making
their honey and combs mighty pleasantly. Thence home, and I by and by to
Mr. Povy's to see him, who is yet in his chamber not well, and thence by
his advice to one Lovett's, a varnisher, to see his manner of new
varnish, but found not him at home, but his wife, a very beautiful woman,
who shewed me much variety of admirable work, and is in order to my
having of some papers fitted with his lines for my use for tables and the
like. I know not whether I was more pleased with the thing, or that I
was shewed it by her, but resolved I am to have some made. So home to my
office late, and then to supper and to bed. My wife tells me that she
hears that my poor aunt James hath had her breast cut off here in town,
her breast having long been out of order. This day, after I had suffered
my owne hayre to grow long, in order to wearing it, I find the
convenience of periwiggs is so great, that I have cut off all short
again, and will keep to periwiggs.
6th. Up, and all day at the office, but a little at dinner, and there
late till past 12. So home to bed, pleased as I always am after I have
rid a great deal of work, it being very satisfactory to me.
7th (Lord's day). Up, and to church with my wife. Home and dined.
After dinner come Mr. Andrews and spent the afternoon with me, about our
Tangier business of the victuals, and then parted, and after sermon comes
Mr. Hill and a gentleman, a friend of his, one Mr. Scott, that sings well
also, and then comes Mr. Andrews, and we all sung and supped, and then to
sing again and passed the Sunday very pleasantly and soberly, and so I to
my office a little, and then home to prayers and to bed. Yesterday begun
my wife to learn to, limn of one Browne,
[Alexander Browne, a printseller, who taught drawing, and practised
it with success. He published in 1669, "Ars Pictoria, or an Academy
treating of Drawing, Painting, Limning and Etching."]
which Mr. Hill helps her to, and, by her beginning upon some eyes, I
think she will [do] very fine things, and I shall take great delight in
it.
8th. Up very betimes, and did much business before I went out with
several persons, among others Captain Taylor, who would leave the
management of most of his business now he is going to Harwich, upon me,
and if I can get money by it, which I believe it will, I shall take some
of it upon me. Thence with Sir W. Batten to the Duke of Albemarle's and
there did much business, and then to the 'Change, and thence off with Sir
W. Warren to an ordinary, where we dined and sat talking of most usefull
discourse till 5 in the afternoon, and then home, and very busy till
late, and so home and to bed.
9th. Up betimes, and to my business at the office, where all the
morning. At noon comes Mrs. The. Turner, and dines with us, and my
wife's painting-master staid and dined; and I take great pleasure in
thinking that my wife will really come to something in that business.
Here dined also Luellin. So after dinner to my office, and there very
busy till almost midnight, and so home to supper and to bed. This day we
have newes of eight ships being taken by some of ours going into the
Texel, their two men of warr, that convoyed them, running in. They come
from about Ireland, round to the north.
10th. Up betimes, and abroad to the Cocke-Pitt, where the Duke [of
Albemarle] did give Sir W. Batten and me an account of the late taking of
eight ships, and of his intent to come back to the Gunfleete--[The
Gunfleet Sand off the Essex coast.]--with the fleete presently; which
creates us much work and haste therein, against the fleete comes. So to
Mr. Povy, and after discourse with him home, and thence to the Guard in
Southwarke, there to get some soldiers, by the Duke's order, to go keep
pressmen on board our ships. So to the 'Change and did much business,
and then home to dinner, and there find my poor mother come out of the
country today in good health, and I am glad to see her, but my business,
which I am sorry for, keeps me from paying the respect I ought to her at
her first coming, she being grown very weak in her judgement, and doating
again in her discourse, through age and some trouble in her family. I
left her and my wife to go abroad to buy something, and then I to my
office. In the evening by appointment to Sir W. Warren and Mr. Deering
at a taverne hard by with intent to do some good upon their agreement in
a great bargain of planks. So home to my office again, and then to
supper and to bed, my mother being in bed already.
11th. Up betimes, and at the office all the morning. At home dined, and
then to the office all day till late at night, and then home to supper,
weary with business, and to bed.
12th. Up betimes, and find myself disappointed in my receiving presently
of my L50 I hoped for sure of Mr. Warren upon the benefit of my press
warrant, but he promises to make it good. So by water to the Exchequer,
and there up and down through all the offices to strike my tallys for
L17,500, which methinks is so great a testimony of the goodness of God to
me, that I, from a mean clerke there, should come to strike tallys myself
for that sum, and in the authority that I do now, is a very stupendous
mercy to me. I shall have them struck to-morrow. But to see how every
little fellow looks after his fees, and to get what he can for
everything, is a strange consideration; the King's fees that he must pay
himself for this L17,500 coming to above L100. Thence called my wife at
Unthanke's to the New Exchange and elsewhere to buy a lace band for me,
but we did not buy, but I find it so necessary to have some handsome
clothes that I cannot but lay out some money thereupon. To the 'Change
and thence to my watchmaker, where he has put it [i.e. the watch] in
order, and a good and brave piece it is, and he tells me worth L14 which
is a greater present than I valued it. So home to dinner, and after
dinner comes several people, among others my cozen, Thomas Pepys, of
Hatcham,
[Thomas Pepys, of Hatcham Barnes, Surrey, Master of the Jewel House
to Charles II. and James II.]
to receive some money, of my Lord Sandwich's, and there I paid him what
was due to him upon my uncle's score, but, contrary to my expectation,
did get him to sign and seale to my sale of lands for payment of debts.
So that now I reckon myself in better condition by L100 in my content
than I was before, when I was liable to be called to an account and
others after me by my uncle Thomas or his children for every foot of land
we had sold before. This I reckon a great good fortune in the getting of
this done. He gone, come Mr. Povy, Dr. Twisden, and Mr. Lawson about
settling my security in the paying of the L4000 ordered to Sir J. Lawson.
So a little abroad and then home, and late at my office and closet
settling this day's disordering of my papers, then to supper and to bed.
13th. Up, and all day in some little gruntings of pain, as I used to
have from winde, arising I think from my fasting so long, and want of
exercise, and I think going so hot in clothes, the weather being hot,
and the same clothes I wore all winter. To the 'Change after office,
and received my watch from the watchmaker, and a very fine [one] it is,
given me by Briggs, the Scrivener. Home to dinner, and then I abroad to
the Atturney Generall, about advice upon the Act for Land Carriage, which
he desired not to give me before I had received the King's and Council's
order therein; going home bespoke the King's works, will cost me 50s., I
believe. So home and late at my office. But, Lord! to see how much of
my old folly and childishnesse hangs upon me still that I cannot forbear
carrying my watch in my hand in the coach all this afternoon, and seeing
what o'clock it is one hundred times; and am apt to think with myself,
how could I be so long without one; though I remember since, I had one,
and found it a trouble, and resolved to carry one no more about me while
I lived. So home to supper and to bed, being troubled at a letter from
Mr. Gholmly from Tangier, wherein he do advise me how people are at worke
to overthrow our Victualling business, by which I shall lose L300 per
annum, I am much obliged to him for this, secret kindnesse, and concerned
to repay it him in his own concernments and look after this.
14th (Lord's day). Up, and with my wife to church, it being Whitsunday;
my wife very fine in a new yellow bird's-eye hood, as the fashion is now.
We had a most sorry sermon; so home to dinner, my mother having her new
suit brought home, which makes her very fine. After dinner my wife and
she and Mercer to Thomas Pepys's wife's christening of his first child,
and I took a coach, and to Wanstead, the house where Sir H. Mildmay died,
and now Sir Robert Brookes lives, having bought it of the Duke of Yorke,
it being forfeited to him. A fine seat, but an old-fashioned house; and
being not full of people looks desolately. Thence to Walthamstow, where
(failing at the old place) Sir W. Batten by and by come home, I walking
up and down the house and garden with my Lady very pleasantly, then to
supper very merry, and then back by coach by dark night. I all the
afternoon in the coach reading the treasonous book of the Court of King
James, printed a great while ago, and worth reading, though ill intended.
As soon as I come home, upon a letter from the Duke of Albemarle, I took
boat at about 12 at night, and down the River in a gally, my boy and I,
down to the Hope and so up again, sleeping and waking, with great
pleasure, my business to call upon every one of
15th. Our victualling ships to set them agoing, and so home, and after
dinner to the King's playhouse, all alone, and saw "Love's Maistresse."
Some pretty things and good variety in it, but no or little fancy in it.
Thence to the Duke of Albemarle to give him account of my day's works,
where he shewed me letters from Sir G. Downing, of four days' date, that
the Dutch are come out and joyned, well-manned, and resolved to board our
best ships, and fight for certain they will. Thence to the Swan at
Herbert's, and there the company of Sarah a little while, and so away and
called at the Harp and Ball, where the mayde, Mary, is very 'formosa'--
[handsome]--; but, Lord! to see in what readiness I am, upon the
expiring of my vowes this day, to begin to run into all my pleasures and
neglect of business. Thence home, and being sleepy to bed.
16th. Up betimes, and to the Duke of Albemarle with an account of my
yesterday's actions in writing. So back to the office, where all the
morning very busy. After dinner by coach to see and speak with Mr. Povy,
and after little discourse back again home, where busy upon letters till
past 12 at night, and so home to supper and to bed, weary.
17th. Up, and by appointment to a meeting of Sir John Lawson and Mr.
Cholmly's atturney and Mr. Povy at the Swan taverne at Westminster to
settle their business about my being secured in the payment of money to
Sir J. Lawson in the other's absence. Thence at Langford's, where I
never was since my brother died there. I find my wife and Mercer, having
with him agreed upon two rich silk suits for me, which is fit for me to
have, but yet the money is too much, I doubt, to lay out altogether; but
it is done, and so let it be, it being the expense of the world that I
can the best bear with and the worst spare. Thence home, and after
dinner to the office, where late, and so home to supper and to bed. Sir
J. Minnes and I had an angry bout this afternoon with Commissioner Pett
about his neglecting his duty and absenting himself, unknown to us, from
his place at Chatham, but a most false man I every day find him more and
more, and in this very full of equivocation. The fleete we doubt not
come to Harwich by this time. Sir W. Batten is gone down this day
thither, and the Duchesse of Yorke went down yesterday to meet the Duke.
18th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to the Duke of Albemarle, where we did
much business, and I with good content to myself; among other things we
did examine Nixon and Stanesby, about their late running from two
Dutchmen;
[Captain Edward Nixon, of the "Elizabeth," and Captain John
Stanesby, of the "Eagle." John Lanyon wrote to the Navy
Commissioners from Plymouth, May 16th: "Understands from the seamen
that the conduct of Captains Nixon and Stanesby in their late
engagement with two Dutch capers was very foul; the night they left
the Dutch, no lights were put out as formerly, and though in sight
of them in the morning, they still kept on their way; the Eagle lay
by some time, and both the enemy's ships plied on her, but finding
the Elizabeth nearly out of sight she also made sail; it is true the
wind and sea were high, but there were no sufficient reasons for
such endeavours to get from them." ("Calendar of State Papers,"
Domestic, 1664-65, p. 367). Both captains were tried; Nixon was
condemned to be shot but Stanesby was cleared, and Charnock asserts
that he was commander the "Happy Return" in 1672.]
for which they are committed to a vessel to carry them to the fleete to
be tried. A most fowle unhandsome thing as ever was heard, for plain
cowardice on Nixon's part. Thence with the Duke of Albemarle in his
coach to my Lord Treasurer, and there was before the King (who ever now
calls me by my name) and Lord Chancellor, and many other great Lords,
discoursing about insuring of some of the King's goods, wherein the King
accepted of my motion that we should; and so away, well pleased. To the
office, and dined, and then to the office again, and abroad to speak with
Sir G. Carteret; but, Lord! to see how fraile a man I am, subject to my
vanities, that can hardly forbear, though pressed with never so much
business, my pursuing of pleasure, but home I got, and there very busy
very late. Among other things consulting with Mr. Andrews about our
Tangier business, wherein we are like to meet with some trouble, and my
Lord Bellasses's endeavour to supplant us, which vexes my mind; but,
however, our undertaking is so honourable that we shall stand a tug for
it I think. So home to supper and to bed.
19th. Up, and to White Hall, where the Committee for Tangier met, and
there, though the case as to the merit of it was most plain and most of
the company favourable to our business, yet it was with much ado that I
got the business not carried fully against us, but put off to another
day, my Lord Arlington being the great man in it, and I was sorry to be
found arguing so greatly against him. The business I believe will in the
end be carried against us, and the whole business fall; I must therefore
endeavour the most I can to get money another way. It vexed me to see
Creed so hot against it, but I cannot much blame him, having never
declared to him my being concerned in it. But that that troubles me most
is my Lord Arlington calls to me privately and asks me whether I had ever
said to any body that I desired to leave this employment, having not time
to look after it. I told him, No, for that the thing being settled it
will not require much time to look after it. He told me then he would do
me right to the King, for he had been told so, which I desired him to do,
and by and by he called me to him again and asked me whether I had no
friend about the Duke, asking me (I making a stand) whether Mr. Coventry
was not my friend. I told him I had received many friendships from him.
He then advised me to procure that the Duke would in his next letter
write to him to continue me in my place and remove any obstruction; which
I told him I would, and thanked him. So parted, vexed at the first and
amazed at this business of my Lord Arlington's. Thence to the Exchequer,
and there got my tallys for L17,500, the first payment I ever had out of
the Exchequer, and at the Legg spent 14s. upon my old acquaintance, some
of them the clerks, and away home with my tallys in a coach, fearful
every step of having one of them fall out, or snatched from me. Being
come home, I much troubled out again by coach (for company taking Sir W.
Warren with me), intending to have spoke to my Lord Arlington to have
known the bottom of it, but missed him, and afterwards discoursing the
thing as a confidant to Sir W. Warren, he did give me several good hints
and principles not to do anything suddenly, but consult my pillow upon
that and every great thing of my life, before I resolve anything in it.
Away back home, and not being fit for business I took my wife and Mercer
down by water to Greenwich at 8 at night, it being very fine and cool and
moonshine afterward. Mighty pleasant passage it was; there eat a cake or
two, and so home by 10 or 11 at night, and then to bed, my mind not
settled what to think.
20th. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning. At noon dined
at home, and to my office, very busy.
21st. Till past one, Lord's day, in the morning writing letters to the
fleete and elsewhere, and my mind eased of much business, home to bed and
slept till 8. So up, and this day is brought home one of my new silk
suits, the plain one, but very rich camelott and noble. I tried it and
it pleases me, but did not wear it, being I would not go out today to
church. So laid it by, and my mind changed, thinking to go see my Lady
Sandwich, and I did go a little way, but stopped and returned home to
dinner, after dinner up to my chamber to settle my Tangier accounts, and
then to my office, there to do the like with other papers. In the
evening home to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up, and down to the ships, which now are hindered from going down
to the fleete (to our great sorrow and shame) with their provisions, the
wind being against them. So to the Duke of Albemarle, and thence down by
water to Deptford, it being Trinity Monday, and so the day of choosing
the Master of Trinity House for the next yeare, where, to my great
content, I find that, contrary to the practice and design of Sir W.
Batten, to breake the rule and custom of the Company in choosing their
Masters by succession, he would have brought in Sir W. Rider or Sir W.
Pen, over the head of Hurleston (who is a knave too besides, I believe),
the younger brothers did all oppose it against the elder, and with great
heat did carry it for Hurleston, which I know will vex him to the heart.
Thence, the election being over, to church, where an idle sermon from
that conceited fellow, Dr. Britton, saving that his advice to unity, and
laying aside all envy and enmity among them was very apposite. Thence
walked to Redriffe, and so to the Trinity House, and a great dinner, as
is usual, and so to my office, where busy all the afternoon till late,
and then home to bed, being much troubled in mind for several things,
first, for the condition of the fleete for lacke of provisions, the blame
this office lies under and the shame that they deserve to have brought
upon them for the ships not being gone out of the River, and then for my
business of Tangier which is not settled, and lastly for fear that I am
not observed to have attended the office business of late as much as I
ought to do, though there has been nothing but my attendance on Tangier
that has occasioned my absence, and that of late not much.
23rd. Up, and at the office busy all the morning. At noon dined alone,
my wife and mother being gone by invitation to dine with my mother's old
servant Mr. Cordery, who made them very welcome. So to Mr. Povy's, where
after a little discourse about his business I home again, and late at the
office busy. Late comes Sir Arthur Ingram to my office, to tell me that,
by letters from Amsterdam of the 28th of this month (their style),
[The new style was adopted by most of the countries of Europe long
before it was legalized in England, although Russia still retains
the old style.]
the Dutch fleete, being about 100 men-of-war, besides fire-ships, &c.,
did set out upon the 23rd and 24th inst. Being divided into seven
squadrons; viz., 1. Generall Opdam. 2. Cottenar, of Rotterdam.
3. Trump. 4. Schram, of Horne. 5. Stillingworth, of Freezland.
6. Everson. 7. One other, not named, of Zealand.
24th. Up, and by 4 o'clock in the morning, and with W. Hewer, there till
12 without intermission putting some papers in order. Thence to the
Coffee-house with Creed, where I have not been a great while, where all
the newes is of the Dutch being gone out, and of the plague growing upon
us in this towne; and of remedies against it: some saying one thing, some
another. So home to dinner, and after dinner Creed and I to Colvill's,
thinking to shew him all the respect we could by obliging him in carrying
him 5 tallys of L5000 to secure him for so much credit he has formerly
given Povy to Tangier, but he, like an impertinent fool, cavills at it,
but most ignorantly that ever I heard man in my life. At last Mr. Viner
by chance comes, who I find a very moderate man, but could not persuade
the fool to reason, but brought away the tallys again, and so vexed to my
office, where late, and then home to my supper and to bed.
25th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined at
home, and then to the office all the afternoon, busy till almost 12 at
night, and then home to supper and to bed.
26th. Up at 4 o'clock, and all the morning in my office with W. Hewer
finishing my papers that were so long out of order, and at noon to my
bookseller's, and there bespoke a book or two, and so home to dinner,
where Creed dined with me, and he and I afterwards to Alderman
Backewell's to try him about supplying us with money, which he denied at
first and last also, saving that he spoke a little fairer at the end than
before. But the truth is I do fear I shall have a great deale of trouble
in getting of money. Thence home, and in the evening by water to the
Duke of Albemarle, whom I found mightily off the hooks, that the ships
are not gone out of the River; which vexed me to see, insomuch that I am
afeard that we must expect some change or addition of new officers
brought upon us, so that I must from this time forward resolve to make
myself appear eminently serviceable in attending at my office duly and no
where else, which makes me wish with all my heart that I had never
anything to do with this business of Tangier. After a while at my
office, home to supper vexed, and to bed.
27th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning; at noon dined at
home, and then to my office again,, where late, and so to bed, with my
mind full of fears for the business of this office and troubled with that
of Tangier, concerning which Mr. Povy was with me, but do give me little
help, but more reason of being troubled. So that were it not for our
Plymouth business I would be glad to be rid of it.
28th (Lord's day). By water to the Duke of Albemarle, where I hear that
Nixon is condemned to be shot to death, for his cowardice, by a Council
of War. Went to chapel and heard a little musique, and there met with
Creed, and with him a little while walking, and to Wilkinson's for me to
drink, being troubled with winde, and at noon to Sir Philip Warwicke's to
dinner, where abundance of company come in unexpectedly; and here I saw
one pretty piece of household stuff, as the company increaseth, to put a
larger leaf upon an oval table. After dinner much good discourse with
Sir Philip, who I find, I think, a most pious, good man, and a professor
of a philosophical manner of life and principles like Epictetus, whom he
cites in many things. Thence to my Lady Sandwich's, where, to my shame,
I had not been a great while before. Here, upon my telling her a story
of my Lord Rochester's running away on Friday night last with Mrs.
Mallett, the great beauty and fortune of the North, who had supped at
White Hall with Mrs. Stewart, and was going home to her lodgings with her
grandfather, my Lord Haly, by coach; and was at Charing Cross seized on
by both horse and foot men, and forcibly taken from him, and put into a
coach with six horses, and two women provided to receive her, and carried
away. Upon immediate pursuit, my Lord of Rochester (for whom the King
had spoke to the lady often, but with no successe) was taken at Uxbridge;
but the lady is not yet heard of, and the King mighty angry, and the Lord
sent to the Tower. Hereupon my Lady did confess to me, as a great
secret, her being concerned in this story. For if this match breaks
between my Lord Rochester and her, then, by the consent of all her
friends, my Lord Hinchingbroke stands fair, and is invited for her. She
is worth, and will be at her mother's death (who keeps but a little from
her), L2500 per annum. Pray God give a good success to it! But my poor
Lady, who is afeard of the sickness, and resolved to be gone into the
country, is forced to stay in towne a day or two, or three about it, to
see the event of it. Thence home and to see my Lady Pen, where my wife
and I were shown a fine rarity: of fishes kept in a glass of water, that
will live so for ever; and finely marked they are, being foreign.--[Gold-
fish introduced from China.]--So to supper at home and to bed, after
many people being with me about business, among others the two Bellamys
about their old debt due to them from the King for their victualling
business, out of which I hope to get some money.
29th. Lay long in bed, being in some little pain of the wind collique,
then up and to the Duke of Albemarle, and so to the Swan, and there drank
at Herbert's, and so by coach home, it being kept a great holiday through
the City, for the birth and restoration of the King. To my office, where
I stood by and saw Symson the joyner do several things, little jobbs, to
the rendering of my closet handsome and the setting up of some neat
plates that Burston has for my money made me, and so home to dinner, and
then with my wife, mother, and Mercer in one boat, and I in another, down
to Woolwich. I walking from Greenwich, the others going to and fro upon
the water till my coming back, having done but little business. So home
and to supper, and, weary, to bed. We have every where taken some
prizes. Our merchants have good luck to come home safe: Colliers from
the North, and some Streights men just now. And our Hambrough ships, of
whom we were so much afeard, are safe in Hambrough. Our fleete resolved
to sail out again from Harwich in a day or two.
30th. Lay long, and very busy all the morning, at noon to the 'Change,
and thence to dinner to Sir G. Carteret's, to talk upon the business of
insuring our goods upon the Hambrough [ships]. Here a very fine, neat
French dinner, without much cost, we being all alone with my Lady and one
of the house with her; thence home and wrote letters, and then in the
evening, by coach, with my wife and mother and Mercer, our usual tour by
coach, and eat at the old house at Islington; but, Lord! to see how my
mother found herself talk upon every object to think of old stories.
Here I met with one that tells me that Jack Cole, my old schoolefellow,
is dead and buried lately of a consumption, who was a great crony of
mine. So back again home, and there to my closet to write letters. Hear
to my great trouble that our Hambrough ships,
[On May 29th Sir William Coventry wrote to Lord Arlington: "Capt.
Langhorne has arrived with seven ships, and reports the taking of
the Hamburg fleet with the man of war their convoy; mistaking the
Dutch fleet for the English, he fell into it" ("Calendar of State
Papers," Domestic, 1664-65, p. 393)]
valued of the King's goods and the merchants' (though but little of the
former) to L200,000 [are lost]. By and by, about 11 at night, called
into the garden by my Lady Pen and daughter, and there walked with them
and my wife till almost twelve, and so in and closed my letters, and home
to bed.
31st. Up, and to my office, and to Westminster, doing business till
noon, and then to the 'Change, where great the noise and trouble of
having our Hambrough ships lost; and that very much placed upon Mr.
Coventry's forgetting to give notice to them of the going away of our
fleete from the coast of Holland. But all without reason, for he did;
but the merchants not being ready, staid longer than the time ordered for
the convoy to stay, which was ten days. Thence home with Creed and Mr.
Moore to dinner. Anon we broke up, and Creed and I to discourse about
our Tangier matters of money, which vex me. So to Gresham College, staid
a very little while, and away and I home busy, and busy late, at the end
of the month, about my month's accounts, but by the addition of Tangier
it is rendered more intricate, and so (which I have not done these 12
months, nor would willingly have done now) failed of having it done, but
I will do it as soon as I can. So weary and sleepy to bed. I
endeavoured but missed of seeing Sir Thomas Ingram at Westminster, so
went to Houseman's the Painter, who I intend shall draw my wife, but he
was not within, but I saw several very good pictures.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
JUNE
1665
June 1st. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, at noon to
the 'Change, and there did some business, and home to dinner, whither
Creed comes, and after dinner I put on my new silke camelott sute; the
best that ever I wore in my life, the sute costing me above L24. In this
I went with Creed to Goldsmiths' Hall, to the burial of Sir Thomas Viner;
which Hall, and Haberdashers also, was so full of people, that we were
fain for ease and coolness to go forth to Pater Noster Row, to choose a
silke to make me a plain ordinary suit. That done, we walked to
Cornehill, and there at Mr. Cade's' stood in the balcon and saw all the
funeral, which was with the blue-coat boys and old men, all the Aldermen,
and Lord Mayor, &c., and the number of the company very great; the
greatest I ever did see for a taverne. Hither come up to us Dr. Allen,
and then Mr. Povy and Mr. Fox. The show being over, and my discourse
with Mr. Povy, I took coach and to Westminster Hall, where I took the
fairest flower, and by coach to Tothill Fields for the ayre till it was
dark. I 'light, and in with the fairest flower to eat a cake, and there
did do as much as was safe with my flower, and that was enough on my
part. Broke up, and away without any notice, and, after delivering the
rose where it should be, I to the Temple and 'light, and come to the
middle door, and there took another coach, and so home to write letters,
but very few, God knows, being by my pleasure made to forget everything
that is. The coachman that carried [us] cannot know me again, nor the
people at the house where we were. Home to bed, certain news being come
that our fleete is in sight of the Dutch ships.
2nd. Lay troubled in mind abed a good while, thinking of my Tangier and
victualling business, which I doubt will fall. Up and to the Duke of
Albemarle, but missed him. Thence to the Harp and Ball and to
Westminster Hall, where I visited "the flowers" in each place, and so met
with Mr. Creed, and he and I to Mrs. Croft's to drink and did, but saw
not her daughter Borroughes. I away home, and there dined and did
business. In the afternoon went with my tallys, made a fair end with
Colvill and Viner, delivering them L5000 tallys to each and very quietly
had credit given me upon other tallys of Mr. Colvill for L2000 and good
words for more, and of Mr. Viner too. Thence to visit the Duke of
Albemarle, and thence my Lady Sandwich and Lord Crew. Thence home, and
there met an expresse from Sir W. Batten at Harwich, that the fleete is
all sailed from Solebay, having spied the Dutch fleete at sea, and that,
if the calmes hinder not, they must needs now be engaged with them.
Another letter also come to me from Mr. Hater, committed by the Council
this afternoon to the Gate House, upon the misfortune of having his name
used by one, without his knowledge or privity, for the receiving of some
powder that he had bought. Up to Court about these two, and for the
former was led up to my Lady Castlemayne's lodgings, where the King and
she and others were at supper, and there I read the letter and returned;
and then to Sir G. Carteret about Hater, and shall have him released
to-morrow, upon my giving bail for his appearance, which I have promised
to do. Sir G. Carteret did go on purpose to the King to ask this, and it
was granted. So home at past 12, almost one o'clock in the morning. To
my office till past two, and then home to supper and to bed.
3rd. Up and to White Hall, where Sir G. Carteret did go with me to
Secretary Morris, and prevailed with him to let Mr. Hater be released
upon bail for his appearance. So I at a loss how to get another besides
myself, and got Mr. Hunt, who did patiently stay with me all the morning
at Secretary Morris's chamber, Mr. Hater being sent for with his keeper,
and at noon comes in the Secretary, and upon entering [into]
recognizances, he for L200, and Mr. Hunt and I for L100 each for his
appearance upon demand, he was released, it costing him, I think, above
L3. I thence home, vexed to be kept from the office all the morning,
which I had not been in many months before, if not some years. At home
to dinner, and all the afternoon at the office, where late at night, and
much business done, then home to supper and to bed. All this day by all
people upon the River, and almost every where else hereabout were heard
the guns, our two fleets for certain being engaged; which was confirmed
by letters from Harwich, but nothing particular: and all our hearts full
of concernment for the Duke, and I particularly for my Lord Sandwich and
Mr. Coventry after his Royall Highnesse.
4th (Sunday). Up and at my chamber all the forenoon, at evening my
accounts, which I could not do sooner, for the last month, and, blessed
be God! am worth L1400 odd money, something more than ever I was yet in
the world. Dined very well at noon, and then to my office, and there and
in the garden discoursed with several people about business, among others
Mr. Howell, the turner, who did give me so good a discourse about the
practices of the Paymaster J. Fenn that I thought fit to recollect all
when he was gone, and have entered it down to be for ever remembered.
Thence to my chamber again to settle my Tangier accounts against tomorrow
and some other things, and with great joy ended them, and so to supper,
where a good fowl and tansy, and so to bed. Newes being come that our
fleete is pursuing the Dutch, who, either by cunning, or by being
worsted, do give ground, but nothing more for certain. Late to bed upon
my papers being quite finished.
5th. Up very betimes to look some other papers, and then to White Hall
to a Committee of Tangier, where I offered my accounts with great
acceptation, and so had some good words and honour by it, and one or two
things done to my content in my business of Treasurer, but I do clearly
see that we shall lose our business of victualling, Sir Thomas Ingram
undertaking that it shall be done by persons there as cheap as we do it,
and give the seamen their full allowance and themselves give good
security here for performance of contract, upon which terms there is no
opposing it. This would trouble me, but that I hope when that fails to
spend my time to some good advantage other ways, and so shall permit it
all to God Almighty's pleasure. Thence home to dinner, after 'Change,
where great talke of the Dutch being fled and we in pursuit of them, and
that our ship Charity
[Sir William Coventry and Sir William Penn to the Navy
Commissioners, June 4th: "Engaged yesterday with the Dutch; they
began to stand away at 3 p.m. Chased them all the rest of the day
and night; 20 considerable ships are destroyed and taken; we have
only lost the Great Charity. The Earl of Marlborough, Rear-Admiral
Sansum, and Captain Kirby are slain, and Sir John Lawson wounded"
("Calendar of State Papers," Domestic, 1664-65, p. 406).]
is lost upon our Captain's, Wilkinson, and Lieutenant's yielding, but of
this there is no certainty, save the report of some of the sicke men of
the Charity, turned adrift in a boat out of the Charity and taken up and
brought on shore yesterday to Sole Bay, and the newes hereof brought by
Sir Henry Felton. Home to dinner, and Creed with me. Then he and I down
to Deptford, did some business, and back again at night. He home, and I
to my office, and so to supper and to bed. This morning I had great
discourse with my Lord Barkeley about Mr. Hater, towards whom from a
great passion reproaching him with being a fanatique and dangerous for me
to keepe, I did bring him to be mighty calme and to ask me pardons for
what he had thought of him and to desire me to ask his pardon of Hater
himself for the ill words he did give him the other day alone at White
Hall (which was, that he had always thought him a man that was no good
friend to the King, but did never think it would breake out in a thing of
this nature), and did advise him to declare his innocence to the Council
and pray for his examination and vindication. Of which I shall consider
and say no more, but remember one compliment that in great kindness to me
he did give me, extolling my care and diligence, that he did love me
heartily for my owne sake, and more that he did will me whatsoever I
thought for Mr. Coventry's sake, for though the world did think them
enemies, and to have an ill aspect, one to another, yet he did love him
with all his heart, which was a strange manner of noble compliment,
confessing his owning me as a confidant and favourite of Mr. Coventry's.
6th. Waked in the morning before 4 o'clock with great pain to piss, and
great pain in pissing by having, I think, drank too great a draught of
cold drink before going to bed. But by and by to sleep again, and then
rose and to the office, where very busy all the morning, and at noon to
dinner with Sir G. Carteret to his house with all our Board, where a good
pasty and brave discourse. But our great fear was some fresh news of the
fleete, but not from the fleete, all being said to be well and beaten the
Dutch, but I do not give much belief to it, and indeed the news come from
Sir W. Batten at Harwich, and writ so simply that we all made good mirth
of it. Thence to the office, where upon Sir G. Carteret's accounts, to
my great vexation there being nothing done by the Controller to right the
King therein. I thence to my office and wrote letters all the afternoon,
and in the evening by coach to Sir Ph. Warwicke's about my Tangier
business to get money, and so to my Lady Sandwich's, who, poor lady,
expects every hour to hear of my Lord; but in the best temper, neither
confident nor troubled with fear, that I ever did see in my life. She
tells me my Lord Rochester is now declaredly out of hopes of Mrs.
Mallett, and now she is to receive notice in a day or two how the King
stands inclined to the giving leave for my Lord Hinchingbroke to look
after her, and that being done to bring it to an end shortly. Thence by
coach home, and to my office a little, and so before 12 o'clock home and
to bed.
7th. This morning my wife and mother rose about two o'clock; and with
Mercer, Mary, the boy, and W. Hewer, as they had designed, took boat and
down to refresh themselves on the water to Gravesend. Lay till 7
o'clock, then up and to the office upon Sir G. Carteret's accounts again,
where very busy; thence abroad and to the 'Change, no news of certainty
being yet come from the fleete. Thence to the Dolphin Taverne, where Sir
J. Minnes, Lord Brunkard, Sir Thomas Harvy, and myself dined, upon Sir G.
Carteret's charge, and very merry we were, Sir Thomas Harvy being a very
drolle. Thence to the office, and meeting Creed away with him to my Lord
Treasurer's, there thinking to have met the goldsmiths, at White Hall,
but did not, and so appointed another time for my Lord to speak to them
to advance us some money. Thence, it being the hottest day that ever I
felt in my life, and it is confessed so by all other people the hottest
they ever knew in England in the beginning of June, we to the New
Exchange, and there drunk whey, with much entreaty getting it for our
money, and [they] would not be entreated to let us have one glasse more.
So took water and to Fox-Hall, to the Spring garden, and there walked an
houre or two with great pleasure, saving our minds ill at ease concerning
the fleete and my Lord Sandwich, that we have no newes of them, and ill
reports run up and down of his being killed, but without ground. Here
staid pleasantly walking and spending but 6d. till nine at night, and
then by water to White Hall, and there I stopped to hear news of the
fleete, but none come, which is strange, and so by water home, where,
weary with walking and with the mighty heat of the weather, and for my
wife's not coming home, I staying walking in the garden till twelve at
night, when it begun to lighten exceedingly, through the greatness of the
heat. Then despairing of her coming home, I to bed. This day, much
against my will, I did in Drury Lane see two or three houses marked with
a red cross upon the doors, and "Lord have mercy upon us" writ there;
which was a sad sight to me, being the first of the kind that, to my
remembrance, I ever saw. It put me into an ill conception of myself and
my smell, so that I was forced to buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and
chaw, which took away the apprehension.
8th. About five o'clock my wife come home, it having lightened all night
hard, and one great shower of rain. She come and lay upon the bed; I up
and to the office, where all the morning. Alone at home to dinner, my
wife, mother, and Mercer dining at W. Joyce's; I giving her a caution to
go round by the Half Moone to his house, because of the plague. I to my
Lord Treasurer's by appointment of Sir Thomas Ingram's, to meet the
Goldsmiths; where I met with the great news at last newly come, brought
by Bab May' from the Duke of Yorke, that we have totally routed the
Dutch; that the Duke himself, the Prince, my Lord Sandwich, and Mr.
Coventry are all well: which did put me into such joy, that I forgot
almost all other thoughts. The particulars I shall set down by and by.
By and by comes Alderman Maynell and Mr. Viner, and there my Lord
Treasurer did intreat them to furnish me with money upon my tallys, Sir
Philip Warwicke before my Lord declaring the King's changing of the hand
from Mr. Povy to me, whom he called a very sober person, and one whom the
Lord Treasurer would owne in all things that I should concern myself with
them in the business of money. They did at present declare they could
not part with money at present. My Lord did press them very hard, and I
hope upon their considering we shall get some of them. Thence with great
joy to the Cocke-pitt; where the Duke of Albemarle, like a man out of
himself with content, new-told me all; and by and by comes a letter from
Mr. Coventry's own hand to him, which he never opened (which was a
strange thing), but did give it me to open and read, and consider what
was fit for our office to do in it, and leave the letter with Sir
W. Clerke; which upon such a time and occasion was a strange piece of
indifference, hardly pardonable. I copied out the letter, and did also
take minutes out of Sir W. Clerke's other letters; and the sum of the
newes is:
VICTORY OVER THE DUTCH, JUNE 3RD, 1665.
This day they engaged; the Dutch neglecting greatly the opportunity of
the wind they had of us, by which they lost the benefit of their fire-
ships. The Earl of Falmouth, Muskerry, and Mr. Richard Boyle killed on
board the Duke's ship, the Royall Charles, with one shot: their blood and
brains flying in the Duke's face; and the head of Mr. Boyle striking down
the Duke, as some say. Earle of Marlborough, Portland, Rear-Admirall
Sansum (to Prince Rupert) killed, and Capt. Kirby and Ableson. Sir John
Lawson wounded on the knee; hath had some bones taken out, and is likely
to be well again. Upon receiving the hurt, he sent to the Duke for
another to command the Royall Oake. The Duke sent Jordan
[Afterwards Sir Joseph Jordan, commander of the "Royal Sovereign,"
and Vice-Admiral of the Red, 1672. He was knighted on July 1st,
1665.--B.]
out of the St. George, who did brave things in her. Capt. Jer. Smith of
the Mary was second to the Duke, and stepped between him and Captain
Seaton of the Urania (76 guns and 400 men), who had sworn to board the
Duke; killed him, 200 men, and took the ship; himself losing 99 men, and
never an officer saved but himself and lieutenant. His master indeed is
saved, with his leg cut off: Admirall Opdam blown up, Trump killed, and
said by Holmes; all the rest of their admiralls, as they say, but Everson
(whom they dare not trust for his affection to the Prince of Orange), are
killed: we having taken and sunk, as is believed, about 24 of their best
ships; killed and taken near 8 or 10,000 men, and lost, we think, not
above 700. A great[er] victory never known in the world. They are all
fled, some 43 got into the Texell, and others elsewhere, and we in
pursuit of the rest. Thence, with my heart full of joy; home, and to my
office a little; then to my Lady Pen's, where they are all joyed and not
a little puffed up at the good successe of their father;
[In the royal charter granted by Charles II. in 1680 to William Penn
for the government of his American province, to be styled
Pennsylvania, special reference is made to "the memory and merits of
Sir William Penn in divers services, and particularly his conduct,
courage, and discretion under our dearest brother, James, Duke of
York, in that signal battle and victory fought and obtained against
the Dutch fleet commanded by Heer van Opdam in 1665"(Penn's
"Memorials of Sir W. Penn," vol. ii., p. 359).]
and good service indeed is said to have been done by him. Had a great
bonefire at the gate; and I with my Lady Pen's people and others to Mrs.
Turner's great room, and then down into the streete. I did give the boys
4s. among them, and mighty merry. So home to bed, with my heart at great
rest and quiett, saving that the consideration of the victory is too
great for me presently to comprehend.
[Mrs. Ady (Julia Cartwright), in her fascinating life of Henrietta,
Duchess of Orleans, gives an account of the receipt of the news of
the great sea-fight in Paris, and quotes a letter of Charles II. to
his sister, dated, "Whitehall, June 8th, 1665" The first report
that reached Paris was that "the Duke of York's ship had been blown
up, and he himself had been drowned." "The shock was too much for
Madame . . . she was seized with convulsions, and became so
dangerously ill that Lord Hollis wrote to the king, 'If things had
gone ill at sea I really believe Madame would have died.'" Charles
wrote: "I thanke God we have now the certayne newes of a very
considerable victory over the Duch; you will see most of the
particulars by the relation my Lord Hopis will shew you, though I
have had as great a losse as 'tis possible in a good frinde, poore
C. Barckely. It troubles me so much, as I hope you will excuse the
shortnesse of this letter, haveing receaved the newes of it but two
houres agoe" ("Madame," 1894, pp. 215, 216).]
9th. Lay long in bed, my head akeing with too much thoughts I think last
night. Up and to White Hall, and my Lord Treasurer's to Sir Ph.
Warwicke, about Tangier business, and in my way met with Mr. Moore, who
eases me in one point wherein I was troubled; which was, that I heard of
nothing said or done by my Lord Sandwich: but he tells me that Mr.
Cowling, my Lord Chamberlain's secretary, did hear the King say that my
Lord Sandwich had done nobly and worthily. The King, it seems, is much
troubled at the fall of my Lord of Falmouth; but I do not meet with any
man else that so much as wishes him alive again, the world conceiving him
a man of too much pleasure to do the King any good, or offer any good
office to him. But I hear of all hands he is confessed to have been a
man of great honour, that did show it in this his going with the Duke,
the most that ever any man did. Home, where my people busy to make ready
a supper against night for some guests, in lieu of my stonefeast.
At noon eat a small dinner at home, and so abroad to buy several things,
and among others with my taylor to buy a silke suit, which though I had
one lately, yet I do, for joy of the good newes we have lately had of our
victory over the Dutch, which makes me willing to spare myself something
extraordinary in clothes; and after long resolution of having nothing but
black, I did buy a coloured silk ferrandin. So to the Old Exchange, and
there at my pretty seamstresses bought a pair of stockings of her
husband, and so home, where by and by comes Mr. Honiwood and Mrs. Wilde,
and Roger Pepys and, after long time spent, Mrs. Turner, The. and Joyce.
We had a very good venison pasty, this being instead of my stone-feast
the last March, and very merry we were, and the more I know the more I
like Mr. Honiwood's conversation. So after a good supper they parted,
walking to the 'Change for a coach, and I with them to see them there.
So home and to bed, glad it was over.
10th. Lay long in bed, and then up and at the office all the morning.
At noon dined at home, and then to the office busy all the afternoon. In
the evening home to supper; and there, to my great trouble, hear that the
plague is come into the City (though it hath these three or four weeks
since its beginning been wholly out of the City); but where should it
begin but in my good friend and neighbour's, Dr. Burnett, in Fanchurch
Street: which in both points troubles me mightily. To the office to
finish my letters and then home to bed, being troubled at the sicknesse,
and my head filled also with other business enough, and particularly how
to put my things and estate in order, in case it should please God to
call me away, which God dispose of to his glory!
11th (Lord's day). Up, and expected long a new suit; but, coming not,
dressed myself in my late new black silke camelott suit; and, when fully
ready, comes my new one of coloured ferrandin, which my wife puts me out
of love with, which vexes me, but I think it is only my not being used to
wear colours which makes it look a little unusual upon me. To my chamber
and there spent the morning reading. At noon, by invitation, comes my
two cozen Joyces and their wives, my aunt James and he-cozen Harman, his
wife being ill. I had a good dinner for them, and as merry as I could be
in such company. They being gone, I out of doors a little, to shew,
forsooth, my new suit, and back again, and in going I saw poor Dr.
Burnett's door shut; but he hath, I hear, gained great goodwill among his
neighbours; for he discovered it himself first, and caused himself to be
shut up of his own accord: which was very handsome. In the evening comes
Mr. Andrews and his wife and Mr. Hill, and staid and played, and sung and
supped, most excellent pretty company, so pleasant, ingenious, and
harmless, I cannot desire better. They gone we to bed, my mind in great
present ease.
12th. Up, and in my yesterday's new suit to the Duke of Albemarle, and
after a turne in White Hall, and then in Westminster Hall, returned, and
with my taylor bought some gold lace for my sleeve hands in Pater Noster
Row. So home to dinner, and then to the office, and down the River to
Deptford, and then back again and to my Lord Treasurer's, and up and down
to look after my Tangier business, and so home to my office, then to
supper and to bed. The Duke of Yorke is sent for last night and expected
to be here to-morrow.
13th. Up and to the office, where all the morning doing business. At
noon with Sir G. Carteret to my Lord Mayor's to dinner, where much
company in a little room, and though a good, yet no extraordinary table.
His name, Sir John Lawrence, whose father, a very ordinary old man, sat
there at table, but it seems a very rich man. Here were at table three
Sir Richard Brownes, viz.: he of the Councill, a clerk, and the Alderman,
and his son; and there was a little grandson also Richard, who will
hereafter be Sir Richard Browne. The Alderman did here openly tell in
boasting how he had, only upon suspicion of disturbances, if there had
been any bad newes from sea, clapped up several persons that he was
afeard of; and that he had several times done the like and would do, and
take no bail where he saw it unsafe for the King. But by and by he said
that he was now sued in the Exchequer by a man for false imprisonment,
that he had, upon the same score, imprisoned while he was Mayor four
years ago, and asked advice upon it. I told him I believed there was
none, and told my story of Field, at which he was troubled, and said.
that it was then unsafe for any man to serve the King, and, I believed,
knows not what to do therein; but that Sir Richard Browne, of the
Councill, advised him to speak with my Lord Chancellor about it. My Lord
Mayor very respectfull to me; and so I after dinner away and found Sir J.
Minnes ready with his coach and four horses at our office gate, for him
and me to go out of towne to meet the Duke of Yorke coming from Harwich
to-night, and so as far as Ilford, and there 'light. By and by comes to
us Sir John Shaw and Mr. Neale, that married the rich widow Gold, upon
the same errand. After eating a dish of creame, we took coach again,
hearing nothing of the Duke, and away home, a most pleasant evening and
road. And so to my office, where, after my letters wrote, to supper and
to bed. All our discourse in our way was Sir J. Minnes's telling me
passages of the late King's and his father's, which I was mightily
pleased to hear for information, though the pride of some persons and
vice of most was but a sad story to tell how that brought the whole
kingdom and King to ruine.
14th. Up, and to Sir Ph. Warwicke's and other places, about Tangier
business, but to little purpose. Among others to my Lord Treasurer's,
there to speak with him, and waited in the lobby three long hours for to
speake with him, to the trial of my utmost patience, but missed him at
last, and forced to go home without it, which may teach me how I make
others wait. Home to dinner and staid Mr. Hater with me, and after
dinner drew up a petition for Mr. Hater to present to the Councill about
his troublesome business of powder, desiring a trial that his absence may
be vindicated, and so to White Hall, but it was not proper to present it
to-day. Here I met with Mr. Cowling, who observed to me how he finds
every body silent in the praise of my Lord Sandwich, to set up the Duke
and the Prince; but that the Duke did both to the King and my Lord
Chancellor write abundantly of my Lord's courage and service.
[Charles II.'s letter of thanks to Lord Sandwich, dated "Whitehall,
June 9th, 1665," written entirely in the king's hand, is printed in
Ellis's "Original Letters," 1st series, vol. iii., p. 327.]
And I this day met with a letter of Captain Ferrers, wherein he tells
[us] my Lord was with his ship in all the heat of the day, and did most
worthily. Met with Creed, and he and I to Westminster; and there saw my
Lord Marlborough
[Of the four distinguished men who died after the late action with
the Dutch and were buried in Westminster Abbey, the Earl of
Marlborough was interred on June 14th, Viscount Muskerry on the
19th, the Earl of Falmouth on the 22nd, and Sir Edward Broughton on
the 26th. After the entries in the Abbey Registers is this note:
"These four last Honble Persons dyed in his Majy's service against
the Dutch, excepting only that ST Ed Br received his death's wound
at sea, but dyed here at home" (Chester's "Westminster Abbey
Registers," p. 162).]
brought to be buried, several Lords of the Council carrying him, and with
the herald in some state. Thence, vexed in my mind to think that I do so
little in my Tangier business, and so home, and after supper to bed.
15th. Up, and put on my new stuff suit with close knees, which becomes
me most nobly, as my wife says. At the office all day. At noon, put on
my first laced band, all lace; and to Kate Joyce's to dinner, where my
mother, wife, and abundance of their friends, and good usage. Thence,
wife and Mercer and I to the Old Exchange, and there bought two lace
bands more, one of my semstresse, whom my wife concurs with me to be a
pretty woman. So down to Deptford and Woolwich, my boy and I. At
Woolwich, discoursed with Mr. Sheldon about my bringing my wife down for
a month or two to his house, which he approves of, and, I think, will be
very convenient. So late back, and to the office, wrote letters, and so
home to supper and to bed. This day the Newes book upon Mr. Moore's
showing L'Estrange
["The Public Intelligencer," published by Roger L'Estrange, the
predecessor of the "London Gazette."]
(Captain Ferrers's letter) did do my Lord Sandwich great right as to the
late victory. The Duke of Yorke not yet come to towne. The towne grows
very sickly, and people to be afeard of it; there dying this last week of
the plague 112, from 43 the week before, whereof but [one] in Fanchurch-
streete, and one in Broad-streete, by the Treasurer's office.
16th. Up and to the office, where I set hard to business, but was
informed that the Duke of Yorke is come, and hath appointed us to attend
him this afternoon. So after dinner, and doing some business at the
office, I to White Hall, where the Court is full of the Duke and his
courtiers returned from sea. All fat and lusty, and ruddy by being in
the sun. I kissed his hands, and we waited all the afternoon. By and by
saw Mr. Coventry, which rejoiced my very heart. Anon he and I, from all
the rest of the company, walked into the Matted Gallery; where after many
expressions of love, we fell to talk of business. Among other things,
how my Lord Sandwich, both in his counsells and personal service, hath
done most honourably and serviceably. Sir J. Lawson is come to
Greenwich; but his wound in his knee yet very bad. Jonas Poole, in the
Vantguard, did basely, so as to be, or will be, turned out of his ship.
Captain Holmes
[Captain Robert Holmes (afterwards knighted). Sir William Coventry,
in a letter to Lord Arlington (dated from "The Royal Charles,"
Southwold Bay, June 13th), writes: "Capt. Holmes asked to be rear
admiral of the white squadron in place of Sansum who was killed, but
the Duke gave the place to Captain Harman, on which he delivered up
his commission, which the Duke received, and put Captain Langhorne
in his stead" ("Calendar of State Papers," Domestic, 1664-65, p.
423).]
expecting upon Sansum's death to be made Rear-admirall to the Prince (but
Harman is
[John Harman, afterwards knighted. He had served with great
reputation in several naval fights, and was desperately wounded in
1673, while]
put in) hath delivered up to the Duke his commission, which the Duke took
and tore. He, it seems, had bid the Prince, who first told him of
Holmes's intention, that he should dissuade him from it; for that he was
resolved to take it if he offered it. Yet Holmes would do it, like a
rash, proud coxcombe. But he is rich, and hath, it seems, sought an
occasion of leaving the service. Several of our captains have done ill.
The great ships are the ships do the business, they quite deadening the
enemy. They run away upon sight of "The Prince."
["The Prince" was Lord Sandwich's ship; the captain was Roger
Cuttance. It was put up at Chatham for repair at this date.]
It is strange to see how people do already slight Sir William Barkeley,
[Sir William Berkeley, see note, vol. iii., p. 334. His behaviour
after the death of his brother, Lord Falmouth, is severely commented
on in "Poems on State Affairs," vol. i., p. 29
"Berkeley had heard it soon, and thought not good
To venture more of royal Harding's blood;
To be immortal he was not of age,
And did e'en now the Indian Prize presage;
And judged it safe and decent, cost what cost,
To lose the day, since his dear brother's lost.
With his whole squadron straight away he bore,
And, like good boy, promised to fight no more."--B.]
my Lord FitzHarding's brother, who, three months since, was the delight
of the Court. Captain Smith of "The Mary" the Duke talks mightily of;
and some great thing will be done for him. Strange to hear how the Dutch
do relate, as the Duke says, that they are the conquerors; and bonefires
are made in Dunkirke in their behalf; though a clearer victory can never
be expected. Mr. Coventry thinks they cannot have lost less than 6000
men, and we not dead above 200, and wounded about 400; in all about 600.
Thence home and to my office till past twelve, and then home to supper
and to bed, my wife and mother not being yet come home from W. Hewer's
chamber, who treats my mother tonight. Captain Grovel the Duke told us
this day, hath done the basest thing at Lowestoffe, in hearing of the
guns, and could not (as others) be got out, but staid there; for which he
will be tried; and is reckoned a prating coxcombe, and of no courage.
17th. My wife come to bed about one in the morning. I up and abroad
about Tangier business, then back to the office, where we sat, and at
noon home to dinner, and then abroad to Mr. Povy's, after I and Mr.
Andrews had been with Mr. Ball and one Major Strange, who looks after the
getting of money for tallys and is helping Mr. Andrews. I had much
discourse with Ball, and it may be he may prove a necessary man for our
turns. With Mr. Povy I spoke very freely my indifference as to my place
of Treasurer, being so much troubled in it, which he took with much
seeming trouble, that I should think of letting go so lightly the place,
but if the place can't be held I will. So hearing that my Lord Treasurer
was gone out of town with his family because of the sicknesse, I returned
home without staying there, and at the office find Sir W. Pen come home,
who looks very well; and I am gladder to see him than otherwise I should
be because of my hearing so well of him for his serviceablenesse in this
late great action. To the office late, and then home to bed. It struck
me very deep this afternoon going with a hackney coach from my Lord
Treasurer's down Holborne, the coachman I found to drive easily and
easily, at last stood still, and come down hardly able to stand, and told
me that he was suddenly struck very sicke, and almost blind, he could not
see; so I 'light and went into another coach, with a sad heart for the
poor man and trouble for myself, lest he should have been struck with the
plague, being at the end of the towne that I took him up; but God have
mercy upon us all! Sir John Lawson, I hear, is worse than yesterday: the
King went to see him to-day most kindly. It seems his wound is not very
bad; but he hath a fever, a thrush, and a hickup, all three together,
which are, it seems, very bad symptoms.
18th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, where Sir W. Pen was the first
time [since he] come from sea, after the battle. Mr. Mills made a sorry
sermon to prove that there was a world to come after this. Home and
dined and then to my chamber, where all the afternoon. Anon comes Mr.
Andrews to see and sing with me, but Mr. Hill not coming, and having
business, we soon parted, there coming Mr. Povy and Creed to discourse
about our Tangier business of money. They gone, I hear Sir W. Batten and
my Lady are returned from Harwich. I went to see them, and it is pretty
to see how we appear kind one to another, though neither of us care 2d.
one for another. Home to supper, and there coming a hasty letter from
Commissioner Pett for pressing of some calkers (as I would ever on his
Majesty's service), with all speed, I made a warrant presently and issued
it. So to my office a little, and then home to bed.
19th. Up, and to White Hall with Sir W. Batten (calling at my Lord
Ashly's, but to no purpose, by the way, he being not up), and there had
our usual meeting before the Duke with the officers of the Ordnance with
us, which in some respects I think will be the better for us, for
despatch sake. Thence home to the 'Change and dined alone (my wife gone
to her mother's), after dinner to my little new goldsmith's,
[John Colvill of Lombard Street, see ante, May 24th. He lost
L85,832 17s. 2d. by the closing of the Exchequer in 1672, and he
died between 1672 and 1677 (Price's "Handbook of London Bankers ").]
whose wife indeed is one of the prettiest, modest black women that ever I
saw. I paid for a dozen of silver salts L6 14s. 6d. Thence with Sir W.
Pen from the office down to Greenwich to see Sir J. Lawson, who is
better, but continues ill; his hickupp not being yet gone, could have
little discourse with him. So thence home and to supper, a while to the
office, my head and mind mightily vexed to see the multitude of papers
and business before [me] and so little time to do it in. So to bed.
20th. Thankes-giving-day for victory over ye Dutch. Up, and to the
office, where very busy alone all the morning till church time, and there
heard a mean sorry sermon of Mr. Mills. Then to the Dolphin Taverne,
where all we officers of the Navy met with the Commissioners of the
Ordnance by agreement, and dined: where good musique at my direction.
Our club--[share]
["Next these a sort of Sots there are,
Who crave more wine than they can bear,
Yet hate, when drunk, to pay or spend
Their equal Club or Dividend,
But wrangle, when the Bill is brought,
And think they're cheated when they're not."
The Delights of the Bottle, or the Compleat Vintner, 3rd ed., 1721,
p. 29.]
--come to 34s. a man, nine of us. Thence after dinner, to White Hall
with Sir W. Berkely in his coach, and so walked to Herbert's and there
spent a little time . . . . Thence by water to Fox-hall, and there
walked an hour alone, observing the several humours of the citizens that
were there this holyday, pulling of cherries,--[The game of bob-cherry]--
and God knows what, and so home to my office, where late, my wife not
being come home with my mother, who have been this day all abroad upon
the water, my mother being to go out of town speedily. So I home and to
supper and to bed, my wife come home when I come from the office. This
day I informed myself that there died four or five at Westminster of the
plague in one alley in several houses upon Sunday last, Bell Alley, over
against the Palace-gate; yet people do think that the number will be
fewer in the towne than it was the last weeke! The Dutch are come out
again with 20 sail under Bankert; supposed gone to the Northward to meete
their East India fleete.
21st. Up, and very busy all the morning. At noon with Creed to the
Excise Office, where I find our tallys will not be money in less than
sixteen months, which is a sad thing for the King to pay all that
interest for every penny he spends; and, which is strange, the goldsmiths
with whom I spoke, do declare that they will not be moved to part with
money upon the increase of their consideration of ten per cent. which
they have, and therefore desire I would not move in it, and indeed the
consequence would be very ill to the King, and have its ill consequences
follow us through all the King's revenue. Home, and my uncle Wight and
aunt James dined with me, my mother being to go away to-morrow. So to
White Hall, and there before and after Council discoursed with Sir Thomas
Ingram about our ill case as to Tangier for money. He hath got the King
to appoint a meeting on Friday, which I hope will put an end one way or
other to my pain. So homewards and to the Cross Keys at Cripplegate,
where I find all the towne almost going out of towne, the coaches and
waggons being all full of people going into the country. Here I had some
of the company of the tapster's wife a while, and so home to my office,
and then home to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up pretty betimes, and in great pain whether to send my another
into the country to-day or no, I hearing, by my people, that she, poor
wretch, hath a mind to stay a little longer, and I cannot blame her,
considering what a life she will through her own folly lead when she
comes home again, unlike the pleasure and liberty she hath had here. At
last I resolved to put it to her, and she agreed to go, so I would not
oppose it, because of the sicknesse in the towne, and my intentions of
removing my wife. So I did give her money and took a kind leave of her,
she, poor wretch, desiring that I would forgive my brother John, but I
refused it to her, which troubled her, poor soul, but I did it in kind
words and so let the discourse go off, she leaving me though in a great
deal of sorrow. So I to my office and left my wife and people to see her
out of town, and I at the office all the morning. At noon my wife tells
me that she is with much ado gone, and I pray God bless her, but it seems
she was to the last unwilling to go, but would not say so, but put it off
till she lost her place in the coach, and was fain to ride in the waggon
part. After dinner to the office again till night, very busy, and so
home not very late to supper and to bed.
23rd. Up and to White Hall to a Committee for Tangier, where his Royal
Highness was. Our great design was to state to them the true condition
of this Committee for want of money, the want whereof was so great as to
need some sudden help, and it was with some content resolved to see it
supplied and means proposed towards the doing of it. At this Committee,
unknown to me, comes my Lord of Sandwich, who, it seems, come to towne
last night. After the Committee was up, my Lord Sandwich did take me
aside, and we walked an hour alone together in the robe-chamber, the door
shut, telling me how much the Duke and Mr. Coventry did, both in the
fleete and here, make of him, and that in some opposition to the Prince;
and as a more private message, he told me that he hath been with them
both when they have made sport of the Prince and laughed at him: yet that
all the discourse of the towne, and the printed relation, should not give
him one word of honour my Lord thinks mighty strange; he assuring me,
that though by accident the Prince was in the van the beginning of the
fight for the first pass, yet all the rest of the day my Lord was in the
van, and continued so. That notwithstanding all this noise of the
Prince, he had hardly a shot in his side nor a man killed, whereas he
hath above 30 in her hull, and not one mast whole nor yard; but the most
battered ship of the fleet, and lost most men, saving Captain Smith of
"The Mary." That the most the Duke did was almost out of gun-shot; but
that, indeed, the Duke did come up to my Lord's rescue after he had a
great while fought with four of them. How poorly Sir John Lawson
performed, notwithstanding all that was said of him; and how his ship
turned out of the way, while Sir J. Lawson himself was upon the deck, to
the endangering of the whole fleete. It therefore troubles my Lord that
Mr. Coventry should not mention a word of him in his relation. I did, in
answer, offer that I was sure the relation was not compiled by Mr.
Coventry, but by L'Estrange, out of several letters, as I could witness;
and that Mr. Coventry's letter that he did give the Duke of Albemarle did
give him as much right as the Prince, for I myself read it first and then
copied it out, which I promised to show my Lord, with which he was
somewhat satisfied. From that discourse my Lord did begin to tell me how
much he was concerned to dispose of his children, and would have my
advice and help; and propounded to match my Lady Jemimah to Sir G.
Carteret's eldest son, which I approved of, and did undertake the
speaking with him about it as from myself, which my Lord liked. So
parted, with my head full of care about this business. Thence home to
the 'Change, and so to dinner, and thence by coach to Mr. Povy's. Thence
by appointment with him and Creed to one Mr. Finch; one of the
Commissioners for the Excise, to be informed about some things of the
Excise, in order to our settling matters therein better for us for our
Tangier business. I find him a very discreet, grave person. Thence well
satisfied I and Creed to Mr. Fox at White Hall to speak with him about
the same matter, and having some pretty satisfaction from him also, he
and I took boat and to Fox Hall, where we spent two or three hours
talking of several matters very soberly and contentfully to me, which,
with the ayre and pleasure of the garden, was a great refreshment to me,
and, 'methinks, that which we ought to joy ourselves in. Thence back to
White Hall, where we parted, and I to find my Lord to receive his farther
direction about his proposal this morning. Wherein I did that I should
first by another hand break my intentions to Sir G. Carteret. I pitched
upon Dr. Clerke, which my Lord liked, and so I endeavoured but in vain to
find him out to-night. So home by hackney-coach, which is become a very
dangerous passage now-a-days, the sickness increasing mightily, and to
bed.
24th (Midsummer-day). Up very betimes, by six, and at Dr. Clerke's at
Westminster by 7 of the clock, having over night by a note acquainted him
with my intention of coming, and there I, in the best manner I could,
broke my errand about a match between Sir G. Carteret's eldest son and my
Lord Sandwich's eldest daughter, which he (as I knew he would) took with
great content: and we both agreed that my Lord and he, being both men
relating to the sea, under a kind aspect of His Majesty, already good
friends, and both virtuous and good familys, their allyance might be of
good use to us; and he did undertake to find out Sir George this morning,
and put the business in execution. So being both well pleased with the
proposition, I saw his niece there and made her sing me two or three
songs very prettily, and so home to the office, where to my great trouble
I found Mr. Coventry and the board met before I come. I excused my late
coming by having been on the River about office business. So to business
all the morning. At noon Captain Ferrers and Mr. Moore dined with me,
the former of them the first time I saw him since his corning from sea,
who do give me the best conversation in general, and as good an account
of the particular service of the Prince and my Lord of Sandwich in the
late sea-fight that I could desire. After dinner they parted. So I to
White Hall, where I with Creed and Povy attended my Lord Treasurer, and
did prevail with him to let us have an assignment for 15 or L20,000,
which, I hope, will do our business for Tangier. So to Dr. Clerke, and
there found that he had broke the business to Sir G. Carteret, and that
he takes the thing mighty well. Thence I to Sir G. Carteret at his
chamber, and in the best manner I could, and most obligingly, moved the
business: he received it with great respect and content, and thanks to
me, and promised that he would do what he could possibly for his son, to
render him fit for my Lord's daughter, and shewed great kindness to me,
and sense of my kindness to him herein. Sir William Pen told me this day
that Mr. Coventry is to be sworn a Privy Counsellor, at which my soul is
glad. So home and to my letters by the post, and so home to supper and
bed.
25th (Lord's day). Up, and several people about business come to me by
appointment relating to the office. Thence I to my closet about my
Tangier papers. At noon dined, and then I abroad by water, it raining
hard, thinking to have gone down to Woolwich, but I did not, but back
through bridge to White Hall, where, after I had again visited Sir G.
Carteret, and received his (and now his Lady's) full content in my
proposal, I went to my Lord Sandwich, and having told him how Sir G.
Carteret received it, he did direct me to return to Sir G. Carteret, and
give him thanks for his kind reception of this offer, and that he would
the next day be willing to enter discourse with him about the business.
Which message I did presently do, and so left the business with great joy
to both sides. My Lord, I perceive, intends to give L5000 with her, and
expects about L800 per annum joynture. So by water home and to supper
and bed, being weary with long walking at Court, but had a Psalm or two
with my boy and Mercer before bed, which pleased me mightily. This night
Sir G. Carteret told me with great kindnesse that the order of the
Council did run for the making of Hater and Whitfield incapable of any
serving the King again, but that he had stopped the entry of it, which he
told me with great kindnesse, but the thing troubles me. After dinner,
before I went to White Hall, I went down to Greenwich by water, thinking
to have visited Sir J. Lawson, where, when I come, I find that he is
dead, and died this morning, at which I was much surprized; and indeed
the nation hath a great loss; though I cannot, without dissembling, say
that I am sorry for it, for he was a man never kind to me at all. Being
at White Hall, I visited Mr. Coventry, who, among other talk, entered
about the great question now in the House about the Duke's going to sea
again; about which the whole House is divided. He did concur with me
that, for the Duke's honour and safety, it were best, after so great a
service and victory and danger, not to go again; and, above all, that the
life of the Duke cannot but be a security to the Crowne; if he were away,
it being more easy to attempt anything upon the King; but how the fleete
will be governed without him, the Prince--[Rupert]--being a man of no
government and severe in council, that no ordinary man can offer any
advice against his; saying truly that it had been better he had gone to
Guinny, and that were he away, it were easy to say how matters might be
ordered, my Lord Sandwich being a man of temper and judgment as much as
any man he ever knew, and that upon good observation he said this, and
that his temper must correct the Prince's. But I perceive he is much
troubled what will be the event of the question. And so I left him.
26th. Up and to White Hall with Sir J. Minnes, and to the Committee of
Tangier, where my Lord Treasurer was, the first and only time he ever was
there, and did promise us L15,000 for Tangier and no more, which will be
short. But if I can pay Mr. Andrews all his money I care for no more,
and the bills of Exchange. Thence with Mr. Povy and Creed below to a new
chamber of Mr. Povy's, very pretty, and there discourse about his
business, not to his content, but with the most advantage I could to him,
and Creed also did the like. Thence with Creed to the King's Head, and
there dined with him at the ordinary, and good sport with one Mr.
Nicholls, a prating coxcombe, that would be thought a poet, but would not
be got to repeat any of his verses. Thence I home, and there find my
wife's brother and his wife, a pretty little modest woman, where they
dined with my wife. He did come to desire my assistance for a living,
and, upon his good promises of care, and that it should be no burden to
me, I did say and promise I would think of finding something for him, and
the rather because his wife seems a pretty discreet young thing, and
humble, and he, above all things, desirous to do something to maintain
her, telling me sad stories of what she endured with him in Holland, and
I hope it will not be burdensome. So down by water to Woolwich, walking
to and again from Greenwich thither and back again, my business being to
speak again with Sheldon, who desires and expects my wife coming thither
to spend the summer, and upon second thoughts I do agree that it will be
a good place for her and me too. So, weary, home, and to my office a
while, till almost midnight, and so to bed. The plague encreases
mightily, I this day seeing a house, at a bitt-maker's over against St.
Clement's Church, in the open street, shut up; which is a sad sight.
27th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined by
chance at my Lady Batten's, and they sent for my wife, and there was my
Lady Pen and Pegg. Very merry, and so I to my office again, where till
12 o'clock at night, and so home to supper and to bed.
28th. Sir J. Minnes carried me and my wife to White Hall, and thence his
coach along with my wife where she would. There after attending the Duke
to discourse of the navy. We did not kiss his hand, nor do I think, for
all their pretence, of going away to-morrow. Yet I believe they will not
go for good and all, but I did take my leave of Sir William Coventry,
who, it seems, was knighted and sworn a Privy-Counsellor two days since;
who with his old kindness treated me, and I believe I shall ever find
[him] a noble friend. Thence by water to Blackfriars, and so to Paul's
churchyard and bespoke severall books, and so home and there dined, my
man William giving me a lobster sent him by my old maid Sarah. This
morning I met with Sir G. Carteret, who tells me how all things proceed
between my Lord Sandwich and himself to full content, and both sides
depend upon having the match finished presently, and professed great
kindnesse to me, and said that now we were something akin. I am
mightily, both with respect to myself and much more of my Lord's family,
glad of this alliance. After dinner to White Hall, thinking to speak
with my Lord Ashly, but failed, and I whiled away some time in
Westminster Hall against he did come, in my way observing several plague
houses in King's Street and [near] the Palace. Here I hear Mrs. Martin
is gone out of town, and that her husband, an idle fellow, is since come
out of France, as he pretends, but I believe not that he hath been. I
was fearful of going to any house, but I did to the Swan, and thence to
White Hall, giving the waterman a shilling, because a young fellow and
belonging to the Plymouth. Thence by coach to several places, and so
home, and all the evening with Sir J. Minnes and all the women of the
house (excepting my Lady Batten) late in the garden chatting. At 12
o'clock home to supper and to bed. My Lord Sandwich is gone towards the
sea to-day, it being a sudden resolution, I having taken no leave of him.
29th. Up and by water to White Hall, where the Court full of waggons and
people ready to go out of towne. To the Harp and Ball, and there drank
and talked with Mary, she telling me in discourse that she lived lately
at my neighbour's, Mr. Knightly, which made me forbear further discourse.
This end of the towne every day grows very bad of the plague. The
Mortality Bill is come to 267;
[According to the Bills of Mortality, the total number of deaths in
London for the week ending June 27th was 684, of which number 267
were deaths from the plague. The number of deaths rose week by week
until September 19th, when the total was 8,297, and the deaths from
the plague 7,165. On September 26th the total had fallen to 6,460,
and deaths from the plague to 5,533 The number fell gradually, week
by week, till October 31st, when the total was 1,388, and deaths
from the plague 1,031. On November 7th there was a rise to 1,787
and 1,414 respectively. On November 14th the numbers had gone down
to 1,359 and 1,050 respectively. On December 12th the total had
fallen to 442, and deaths from the plague to 243. On December 19th
there was a rise to 525 and 281 respectively. The total of burials
in 1665 was 97,506, of which number the plague claimed 68,596
victims.]
which is about ninety more than the last: and of these but four in the
City, which is a great blessing to us. Thence to Creed, and with him up
and down about Tangier business, to no purpose. Took leave again of Mr.
Coventry; though I hope the Duke has not gone to stay, and so do others
too. So home, calling at Somersett House, where all are packing up too:
the Queene-Mother setting out for France this day to drink Bourbon waters
this year, she being in a consumption; and intends not to come till
winter come twelvemonths.
[The Queen-Mother never came to England again. She retired to her
chateau at Colombes, near Paris, where she died in August, 1669,
after a long illness; the immediate cause of her death being an
opiate ordered by her physicians. She was buried, September 12th,
in the church of St. Denis. Her funeral sermon was preached by
Bossuet. Sir John Reresby speaks of Queen Henrietta Maria in high
terms. He says that in the winter, 1659-60, although the Court of
France was very splendid, there was a greater resort to the Palais
Royal, "the good humour and wit of our Queen Mother, and the beauty
of the Princess [Henrietta] her daughter, giving greater invitation
than the more particular humour of the French Queen, being a
Spaniard." In another place he says: "Her majesty had a great
affection for England, notwithstanding the severe usage she and hers
had received from it. Her discourse was much with the great men and
ladies of France in praise of the people and of the country; of
their courage, generosity, good nature; and would excuse all their
miscarriages in relation to unfortunate effects of the late war, as
if it were a convulsion of some desperate and infatuated persons,
rather than from the genius and temper of the kingdom" ("Memoirs of
Sir John Reresby," ed. Cartwright, pp. 43, 45).]
So by coach home, where at the office all the morning, and at noon Mrs.
Hunt dined with us. Very merry, and she a very good woman. To the
office, where busy a while putting some things in my office in order, and
then to letters till night. About 10 a'clock home, the days being
sensibly shorter before I have once kept a summer's day by shutting up
office by daylight; but my life hath been still as it was in winter
almost. But I will for a month try what I can do by daylight. So home
to supper and to bed.
30th. Up and to White Hall, to the Duke of Albemarle, who I find at
Secretary Bennet's, there being now no other great Statesman, I think,
but my Lord Chancellor, in towne. I received several commands from them;
among others, to provide some bread and cheese for the garrison at
Guernsey, which they promised to see me paid for. So to the 'Change, and
home to dinner. In the afternoon I down to Woolwich and after me my wife
and Mercer, whom I led to Mr. Sheldon's to see his house, and I find it a
very pretty place for them to be at. So I back again, walking both
forward and backward, and left my wife to come by water. I straight to
White Hall, late, to Secretary Bennet's to give him an account of the
business I received from him to-day, and there staid weary and sleepy
till past 12 at night. Then writ my mind to him, and so back by water
and in the dark and against tide shot the bridge, groping with their pole
for the way, which troubled me before I got through. So home, about one
or two o'clock in the morning, my family at a great losse what was become
of me. To supper, and to bed. Thus this book of two years ends. Myself
and family in good health, consisting of myself and wife, Mercer, her
woman, Mary, Alice, and Susan our maids, and Tom my boy. In a sickly
time of the plague growing on. Having upon my hands the troublesome care
of the Treasury of Tangier, with great sums drawn upon me, and nothing to
pay them with: also the business of the office great. Consideration of
removing my wife to Woolwich; she lately busy in learning to paint, with
great pleasure and successe. All other things well; especially a new
interest I am making, by a match in hand between the eldest son of Sir G.
Carteret, and my Lady Jemimah Montage. The Duke of Yorke gone down to
the fleete, but all suppose not with intent to stay there, as it is not
fit, all men conceive, he should.
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
A vineyard, the first that ever I did see
All the towne almost going out of towne (Plague panic)
Buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and chaw
Consult my pillow upon that and every great thing of my life
Convenience of periwiggs is so great
Dying this last week of the plague 112, from 43 the week before
Hear that the plague is come into the City
Houses marked with a red cross upon the doors
My old folly and childishnesse hangs upon me still
Plague claimed 68,596 victims (in 1665)
Pride of some persons and vice of most was but a sad story
The coachman that carried [us] cannot know me again
Though neither of us care 2d. one for another
Which may teach me how I make others wait
End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, v40
by Samuel Pepys, Unabridged, transcribed by Bright, edited by Wheatley