Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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24th. At night, set myself to write down these three days'
diary, and while I am about it, I hear the noise of the chambers
[Chamber, a species of great gun.] and other things of the fire-
works, which are now playing upon the Thames before the King; and
I wish myself with them, being sorry not; to see them.

30th. This morning my wife and I and Mr. Creed, took coach, and
in Fish-street took up Mr. Hater and his wife, who through her
maske seemed at first to be an old woman, but afterwards I found
her to be a very pretty modest black woman. We got a small bait
at Leatherhead, and so to Godlyman, [Godalming.] where we lay
all night. I am sorry that I am not at London, to be at Hide-
parke to-morrow, among the great gallants and ladies, which will
be very fine.

MAY 1, 1661. Up early, and bated at Petersfield, in the room
which the King lay in lately at his being there. Here very
merry, and played with our wives at bowles. Then we set forth
again, and so to Portsmouth, seeming to me to be a very pleasant
and strong place; and we lay at the Red Lyon, where Haselrigge
and Scott and Walton did hold their councill, when they were
here, against Lambert and the Committee of Safety.

2nd. To see the room where the Duke of Buckingham was killed by
Felton.

6th. I hear to-night that the Duke of York's son is this day
dead, which I believe will please every body; and I hear that the
Duke and his Lady themselves are not much troubled at it.

12th. At the Savoy heard Dr. Fuller preach upon David's words,
"I will wait with patience all the days of my appointed time
until my change comes;" but methought it was a poor dry sermon.
and I am afraid my former high esteem of his preaching was more
out of opinion than judgment. Met with Mr. Creed, with whom I
went and walked in Grayes-Inn-walks, and from thence to
Islington, and there eate and drank at the house my father and we
were wont of old to go to; and after that walked homeward, and
parted in Smithfield: and so I home, much wondering to see how
things are altered with Mr. Creed, who, twelve months ago, might
have been got to hang himself almost as soon as go to a drinking-
house on a Sunday.

18th. I went to Westminster; where it was very pleasant to see
the Hall in the condition it is now, with the Judges on the
benches at the further end of it, which I had not seen all this
terme till now.

19th (Lord's day). I walked in the morning towards Westminster,
and, seeing many people at York House, I went down and found them
at masse, it being the Spanish Ambassador's; and so I got into
one of the gallerys, and there heard two masses done, I think,
not in so much state as I have seen them heretofore. After that
into the garden, and walked an hour or two, but found it not so
fine a place as I always took it for by the outside. Capt.
Ferrers and Mr. Howe and myself to Mr. Wilkinson's at the Crowne:
then to my Lord's, where we went and sat talking and laughing in
the drawing-room a great while. All our talk upon their going to
sea this voyage, which Capt. Ferrers is in some doubt whether he
shall do or no, but swears that he would go, if he were sure
never to come back again; and I, giving him some hopes, he grew
so mad with joy that he fell a-dancing and leaping like a madman.
Now it fell out that the balcone windows were open, and he went
to the rayle and made an offer to leap over, and asked what if he
should leap over there. I told him I would give him 40l. if he
did not go to sea. With that thought I shut the doors, and W.
Howe hindered him all we could; yet he opened them again, and,
with a vault, leaps down into the garden:--the greatest and most
desperate frolic that ever I saw in my life. I run to see what
was become of him, and we found him crawled upon his knees, but
could not rise; so we went down into the garden and dragged him
to a bench, where he looked like a dead man, but could not stir;
and, though he had broke nothing, yet his pain in his back was
such as he could not endure. With this, my Lord (who was in the
little new room) come to us in amaze, and bid us carry him up,
which, by our strength, we did, and so laid him in East's bed-
room, by the doore; where he lay in great pain. We sent for a
doctor and chyrurgeon, but none to be found, till by-and-by by
chance comes in Dr. Clerke, who is afraid of him. So we went for
a lodging for him. [He recovered.]

21st. Up early, and, with Sir R. Slingsby, (and Major Waters the
deafe gentleman, his friend for company's sake) to the
Victualling-office (the first time that I ever knew where it
was), and there staid while he read a commission for enquiry into
some of the King's lands and houses thereabouts, that are given
his brother. And then we took boat to Woolwich, where we staid
and gave order for the fitting out of some more ships presently.
And then to Deptford, where we did the same; and so took barge
again, and were overtaken by the King in his barge, he having
been down the river with his yacht this day for pleasure to try
it; and, as I hear, Commissioner Pett's do prove better than the
Dutch one, and that that his brother built. While we were upon
the water, one of the greatest showers of rain fell that ever I
saw. The Comptroller and I landed with our barge at the Temple,
and from thence I went to my father's, and there did give order
about some clothes to be made.

23rd. In my black silk suit (the first day I have put it on this
year) to my Lord Mayor's by coach, with a great deal of
honourable company, and great entertainment. At table I had very
good discourse with Mr. Ashmole, wherein he did assure me that
frogs and many insects do often fall from the sky, ready formed.
Dr. Bates's singularity in not rising up nor drinking the King's
nor other healths at the table was very much observed. From
thence we all took coach, and to our office, and there sat till
it was late; and so home and to bed by day-light. This day was
kept a holy-day through the towne; and it pleased me to see the
little boys walk up and down in procession with their broom-
staffs in their hands, as I had myself long ago done.

26th. Sir W. Batten told me how Mr. Prin (among the two or three
that did refuse to-day to receive the sacrament upon their knees)
was offered by a mistake the drinke afterwards, which he did
receive, being denied the drinke by Dr. Gunning, unless he would
take it on his knees; and after that by another the bread was
brought him, and he did take it sitting, which is thought very
preposterous.

28th. With Mr. Shepley to the Exchange about business, and
there, by Mr. Rawlinson's favour, got into a balcone over against
the Exchange; and there saw the hangman burn, by vote of
Parliament, two old acts, the one for constituting us a
Commonwealth, and the other I have forgot. [It was an Act for
subscribing the Engagement.]

29th (King's birth-day). Rose early, and put six spoons and a
porringer of silver in my pocket to give away to-day. Sir W. Pen
and I took coach, and (the weather and way being foule) went to
Walthamstow; and being come there heard Mr. Radcliffe, my former
school fellow at Paul's, (who is yet a merry boy,) preach upon
"Nay, let him take all, since my Lord the King is returned," &c.
He read all, and his sermon very simple. Back to dinner at Sir
William Batten's; and then, after a walk in the fine gardens, we
went to Mrs. Browne's, where Sir W. Pen and I were godfathers,
and Mrs. Jordan and Shipman godmothers to her boy. And there,
before and after the christening, we were with the woman above in
her chamber; but whether we carried ourselves well or ill, I know
not; but I was directed by young Mrs. Batten. One passage of a
lady that eats wafers with her dog did a little displease me. I
did give the midwife 10s. and the nurse 5s. and the maid of the
house 2s. But for as much I expected to give the name to the
childe, but did not, (it being called John,) I forbore then to
give my plate.

30th. This day, I hear, the Parliament have ordered a bill to be
brought in for restoring the Bishops to the House of Lords; which
they had not done so soon but to spite Mr. Prin, who is every day
so bitter against them in his discourse in the House.

31st. Great talk now how the Parliament intend to make a
collection of free gifts to the King through the Kingdom; but I
think it will not come to much.

JUNE 4, 1661. To my Lord Crewe's to dinner, and had very good
discourse about having of young noblemen and gentlemen to think
of going to sea, as being as honourable service as the land war.
And among other things he told us how, in Queen Elizabeth's time,
one young nobleman would wait with a trencher at the back of
another till he come to age himself. And witnessed in my young
Lord of Kent, that then was, who waited upon my Lord Bedford at
table, when a letter come to my Lord Bedford that the Earldome of
Kent was fallen to his servant the young Lord; and so he rose
from table, and made him sit down in his place, and took a lower
for himself, for so he was by place to sit.

9th. To White Hall, and there met with Dean Fuller, and walked a
great while with him; among other things discoursed of the
liberty the Bishop (by name he of Galloway) takes to admit into
orders any body that will; among others Roundtree, a simple
mechanique that was a person formerly of the fleet. He told me
he would complain of it.

10th. Early to my Lord's, who privately told me how the King had
made him Embassador in the bringing over the Queen. That he is
to go to Algier, &c., to settle the business, and to put the
fleet in order there; and so to come back to Lisbone with three
ships, and there to meet the fleet that is to follow him. He
sent for me, to tell me that he do intrust me with the seeing of
all things done in his absence as to this great preparation, as I
shall receive orders from my Lord Chancellor and Mr. Edward
Montagu. At all which my heart is above measure glad; for my
Lord's honour, and some profit to myself, I hope. By and by, out
with Mr. Shepley, Walden, [Lionel.] Parliament-man for
Huntingdon, Rolt, Mackworth, and Alderman Backwell, to a house
hard by, to drink Lambeth ale. So I back to the Wardrobe, and
there found my Lord going to Trinity House, this being the solemn
day of choosing Master, and my Lord is chosen.

11th. At the office this morning, Sir G. Carteret with us; and
we agreed upon a letter to the Duke of York, to tell him the sad
condition of this office for want of money; how men are not able
to serve us more without some money; and that now the credit of
the office is brought so low, that none will sell us any thing
without our personal security given for the same.

12th. Wednesday, a day kept between a fast and a feast, the
Bishops not being ready enough to keep the fast for foule weather
before fair weather come; and so they were forced to keep it
between both. Then to White Hall, where I met my Lord, who told
me he must have 300l. laid out in cloth, to give in Barbary, as
presents among the Turkes.

27th. This day Mr. Holden sent me a bever, which cost me 4l. 5s.

28th. Went to Moorefields, and there walked, and stood and saw
the wrestling, which I never saw so much of before, between the
north and west countrymen.

29th. Mr. Chetwind fell commending of "Hooker's Ecclesiastical
Polity," as the best book, and the only one that made him a
Christian, which puts me upon the buying of it, which I will do
shortly

30th (Lord's day). To church, where we observe the trade of
briefs is come now up to so constant a course every Sunday, that
we resolve to give no more to them. This day the Portuguese
Embassador come to White Hall to take leave of the King; he being
now going to end all with the Queen, and to send her over.

JULY 2, 1661. Went to Sir William Davenant's Opera; this being
the fourth day that it hath begun, and the first that I have seen
it. [Sir William Davenant, the celebrated dramatic writer, and
patentee of the Duke's Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Ob.
1668, aged 64.] To-day was acted the second part of "The Siege
of Rhodes." [Of which Sir W. Davenant was the author.] We staid
a very great while for the King and Queen of Bohemia. And by the
breaking of a board over our heads, we had a great deal of dust
fell into the ladies' necks and the men's haire, which made good
sport. The King being come, the scene opened; which indeed is
very fine and magnificent, and well acted, all but the Eunuche,
who was so much out that he was hissed off the stage.

3rd. Dined with my Lady, who is in some [Probably meant for
handsome in the MS.] mourning for her brother Mr. Saml. Crewe,
who died yesterday of the spotted fever.

4th. I went to the theatre, and there I saw "Claracilla" [A
tragi-comedy by Thomas Killigrew.] (the first time I ever saw
it,) well acted. But strange to see this house, that used to be
so thronged, now empty since the Opera begun; and so will
continue for a while, I believe.

6th. Waked this morning with news, brought me by a messenger on
purpose, that my uncle Robert [Of Brampton, in Huntingdonshire.]
is dead; so I set out on horseback, and got well by nine o'clock
to Brampton, where I found my father well. My uncle's corps in a
coffin standing upon joynt-stooles in the chimney in the hall;
but it begun to smell, and so I caused it to be set forth in the
yard all night, and watched by my aunt.

7th (Lord's day). ln the morning my father and I read the will;
where, though he gives me nothing at present till my father's
death, or at least very little, yet I am glad to see that he hath
done so well for us all, and well to the rest of his kindred.
After that done, we went about getting things, as ribbands and
gloves, ready for the burial. Which in the afternoon was done;
where, it being Sunday, all people far and near come in; and in
the greatest disorder that ever I saw we made shift to serve them
with what we had of mine and other things; and then to carry him
to the church, where Mr. Taylor buried him, and Mr. Turner
preached a funerall sermon.

14th. To Hinchingbroke, which is now all in dirt, because of my
Lord's building, which will make it very magnificent. Back to
Brampton.

15th. Up by three o'clock this morning, and rode to Cambridge to
King's College chappel, where I found the scholars in their
surplices at the service with the organs, which is a strange
sight to what it used in my time to be here. I rode to
Impington, where I found my old uncle [Talbot Pepys.] sitting
all alone, like a man out of the world: he can hardly see; but
all things else he do pretty livelyly.

22nd. I come to Hatfield before twelve o'clock, and walked all
alone to the Vineyard, which is now a very beautiful place again;
and coming back I met with Mr. Looker, my Lord's gardener, (a
friend of Mr. Eglin's) who showed me the house, the chappel with
brave pictures, and, above all, the gardens, such as I never saw
in all my life; nor so good flowers, nor so great gooseburys, as
big as nutmegs. To horse again, and with much ado got to London.

26th. Mr. Hill of Cambridge tells me, that yesterday put a
change to the whole state of England as to the Church; for the
King now would be forced to favour Presbytery, or that the City
would leave him: but I heed not what he says, though upon
enquiry I do find that things in the Parliament are in a great
disorder.

27th. To Westminster Hall, where it was expected that the
Parliament was to have been adjourned for two or three months,
but something hinders it for a day or two. In the lobby I spoke
with Mr. George Montagu, and advised about a ship to carry my
Lord Hinchingbroke and the rest of the young gentlemen to France,
and they have resolved of going in a hired vessell from Rye, and
not in a man of war. He told me in discourse, that my Lord
Chancellor is much envied, and that many great men, such as the
Duke of Buckingham and my Lord of Bristoll, [George, second Earl
of Bristol.] do endeavour to undermine him, and that he believes
it will not be done; for that the King (though he loves him not
in the way of a companion, as he do these young gallants that can
answer him in his pleasures,) yet cannot be without him, for his
policy and service.

30th. After my singing-master had done with me this morning, I
went to White Hall and Westminster Hall, where I found the King
expected to come and adjourne the Parliament. I found the two
Houses at a great difference, about the Lords challenging their
privileges not to have their houses searched, which makes them
deny to pass the House of Commons' Bill for searching for
pamphlets and seditious books. Thence by water to the Wardrobe
(meeting the King upon the water going in his barge to adjourne
the House) where I dined with my Lady.

AUGUST 2, 1661. I made myself ready to get a-horseback for
Cambridge.

3rd. At Cambridge. Mr. Pechell, [John Pechell, made Master of
Magdalene College, Cambridge, 1679.] Sanchy, and others tell me
how high the old doctors are in the University over those they
found there, though a great deal better scholars than themselves;
for which I am very sorry, and, above all, Dr. Gunning. At night
I took horse, and rode with Roger Pepys and his two brothers to
Impington.

4th. To church, and had a good plain sermon. At our coming in
the country-people all rose with so much reverence; and when the
parson begins, he begins, "Right worshipfull and dearly beloved"
to us. To church again, and, after supper, to talk about
publique matters, wherein Roger Pepys told me how basely things
had been carried in Parliament by the young men, that did labour
to oppose all things that were moved by serious men. That they
are the most prophane swearing fellows that ever he heard in his
life, which makes him think that they will spoil all, and bring
things into a warr again if they can.

6th. Took horse for London, and with much ado, the ways being
very bad, got to Baldwick. [Baldock.] I find that both here,
and every where else that I come, the Quakers do still continue,
and rather grow than lessen.

9th. I to White Hall, where, after four o'clock, comes my Lord
Privy Seale, [William, first Viscount, and second Baron Say and
Sele, made Lord Privy Seal at the Restoration. Ob. April, 1662.]
and so we went up to his chamber over the gate at White Hall,
where he asked me what deputacon I had from my Lord, I told him
none; but that I am sworn my Lord's deputy by both of the
Secretarys, which did satisfye him. So he caused Mr. Moore to
read over all the bills, and all ended very well.

11th. To Grayes-lnn walks, and there staid a good while; where I
met with Ned Pickering, who told me what a great match of hunting
of a stagg the King had yesterday; and how the King tired all
their horses, and come home with not above two or three able to
keep pace with him.

14th. This morning Sir W. Batten, and Sir W. Penn and I, waited
upon the Duke of York in his chamber, to give him an account of
the condition of the Navy for lack of money, and how our own very
bills are offered upon the Exchange, to be sold at 20 in the 100
loss. He is much troubled at it, and will speak to the King and
Council of it this morning.

15th. To the Opera, which begins again to-day with "The Witts,"
[A Comedy by Sir W. Davenant.] never acted yet with scenes; and
the King and Duke and Duchesse were there (who dined to-day with
Sir H. Finch, reader at the Temple, in great state); and indeed
it is a most excellent play, and admirable scenes.

16th. At the office all the morning, though little to do;
because all our clerkes are gone to the buriall of Tom Whitten,
one of the Controller's clerkes, a very ingenious, and a likely
young man to live, as any in the Office. But it is such a sickly
time both in the City and country every where (of a sort of
fever), that never was heard of almost, unless it was in a
plague-time. Among others, the famous Tom Fuller is dead of it;
[D.D., Author of the "Worthies of England," Chaplain to the King,
and Prebendary of Salisbury.] and Dr. Nichols, Dean of Paul's;
[Matthew Nicholas, D.D., installed Dean of St. Paul's, July,
1660. Ob. August 14, 1661. He was brother to Sir Edward
Nicholas, Secretary of State.] and my Lord General Monk is very
dangerously ill.

17th. At the Privy Seale, where we had a seale this morning.
Then met with Ned Pickering, and walked with him into St. James's
Park (where I had not been a great while), and there found great
and very noble alterations. And, in our discourse, he was very
forward to complain and to speak loud of the lewdnesse and
beggary of the Court, which I am sorry to hear, and which I am
afraid will bring all to ruin again. I to the Opera, and saw
"The Witts" again, which I like exceedingly. The Queen of
Bohemia was here, brought by my Lord Craven. [William, First
Earl of Craven, a Privy Councillor, and Colonel of the Coldstream
Guards; supposed to be married to the Queen of Bohemia, Ob. 1697
aged 88.]

18th. To White Hall, and there hear that my Lord General Monk
continues very ill; and then to walk in St. James's Park, and saw
a great variety of fowle which I never saw before. At night fell
to read In "Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity," which Mr. Moore did
give me last Wednesday very handsomely bound; and which I shall
read with great pains and love for his sake.

19th. I am sent for to the Privy Seale, and there I found a
thing of my Lord Chancellor's to be sealed this afternoon, and so
I am forced to go to Worcester House, where severall Lords are
met in Council this afternoon. And while I am waiting there, in
comes the King in a plain common riding-suit and velvet cap, in
which he seemed a very ordinary man to one that had not known
him.

27th. My wife and I to the theatre, and there saw "The Joviall
Crew," [Or the "Merry Beggars," a Comedy, by Richard Brome.]
where the King, Duke and Duchesse, and Madame Palmer, were; and
my wife, to her great content, had a full sight of them all the
while.

31st. At Court things are in very ill condition, there being so
much emulacion, poverty, and the vices of drinking, swearing, and
loose amours, that I know not what will be the end of it, but
confusion. And the Clergy so high, that all people that I meet
with do protest against their practice. In short, I see no
content or satisfaction any where, in any one sort of people.
The Benevolence [A voluntary contribution made by the subjects to
their Sovereign.] proves so little and an occasion of so much
discontent every where, that it had better it had sever been set
up. I think to subscribe 20l. We are at our Office quiet, only
for lack of money all things go to rack. Our very bills offered
to be sold upon the Exchange at 10 per cent. loss. We are upon
getting Sir B. Ford's house added to our Office. But I see so
many difficulties will follow in pleasing of one another in the
dividing of it, and in becoming bound personally to pay the rent
of 200l. per annum, that I do believe it will yet scarce come to
pass. The season very sickly every where of strange and fatal
fevers.

SEPTEMBER 1, 1661. Captn. Holmes and I by coach to White Hall;
in our way, I found him by discourse, to be a great friend of my
Lord's, and he told me there was a many did seek to remove him;
but they were old seamen, such as Sir J. Minnes, [A Vice-Admiral,
and afterwards Comptroller of the Navy.] (but he would name no
more, though he do believe Sir W. Batten is one of them that do
envy him,) but he says he knows that the King do so love him, and
the Duke of York too, that there is no fear of him. He seems to
be very well acquainted with the King's mind, and with all the
several factions at Court, and spoke all with so much franknesse,
that I do take him to be my Lord's good friend, and one able to
do him great service, being a cunning fellow, and one (by his own
confession to me) that can put on two several faces, and look his
enemies in the face with as much love as his friends. But, good
God! what an age is this, and what a world is this! that a man
cannot live without playing the knave and dissimulation.

2nd. I find that there are endeavours to get my Lord out of play
at sea, which I believe Mr. Coventry and the Duke do think will
make them more absolute; but I hope, for all this, they will not
be able to do it.

3rd. Dined at home, and then with my wife to the Wardrobe, where
my Lady's child was christened, (my Lord Crewe and his Lady, and
my Lady Montagu, my Lord's mother-in-law, were the witnesses),
and named Katherine (the Queen elect's name); but to my and all
our trouble, the Parson of the parish christened her, and did not
sign the child with the sign of the cross. After that was done,
we had a very fine banquet.

7th. Having appointed the young ladies at the Wardrobe to go
with them to the play to-day, my wife and I took them to the
theatre, where we seated ourselves close by the King, and Duke of
York, and Madame Palmer, which was great content; and, indeed, I
can never enough admire her beauty. And here was "Bartholomew
Fayre," [A Comedy, by Ben Jonson; first acted in 1614.] with the
puppet-showe, acted to day, which had not been these forty years,
(it being so satyricall against puritanism, they durst not till
now, which is strange they should already dare to do it, and the
King do countenance it,) but I do never a whit like it the better
for the puppets, but rather the worse. Thence home with the
ladies, it being by reason of our staying a great while for the
King's coming, and the length of the play! near nine o'clock
before it was done.