Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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11th. To Dr. Williams, who did carry me into his garden, where
he hath abundance of grapes: and he did show me how a dog that
he hath do kill all the cats that come thither to kill his
pigeons, and do afterwards bury them; and do it with so much care
that they shall be quite covered; that if the tip of the tail
hangs out he will take up the cat again, and dig the hole deeper.
Which is very strange; and he tells me, that he do believe that
he hath killed above 100 cats.

12th. To my Lady's to dinner at the Wardrobe; and in my way upon
the Thames, I saw the King's new pleasure-boat that is come now
for the King to take pleasure in above bridge; and also two
Gundaloes that are lately brought, which are very rich and fine.
[Gondolas. Davenant uses the expression, "Step into one of your
peascod boats, whose tilts are not so sumptuous as the roofs of
Gundaloes."]

24th. Letters from sea, that speak of my Lord's being well; and
his action, though not considerable of any side, at Argier.

25th. Sir W. Pen told me that I need not fear any reflection
upon my Lord for their ill successe at Argier, for more could not
be done. To my Lord Crewe's, and dined with him, where I was
used with all imaginable kindness both from him and her. And I
see that he is afraid my Lord's reputacon will a little suffer in
common talk by this late successe; but there is no help for it
now. The Queen of England (as she is now owned and called) I
hear doth keep open Court, and distinct at Lisbone.

27th. At noon, met my wife at the Wardrobe; and there dined
where we found Captn. Country, (my little Captain that I loved,
who carried me to the Sound,) with some grapes and millons from
my Lord at Lisbone. The first that ever I saw; but the grapes
are rare things. In the afternoon comes Mr. Edwd. Montagu (by
appointment this morning) to talk with my Lady and me about the
provisions fit to be bought, and sent to my Lord along with him.
And told us, that we need not trouble ourselves how to buy them,
for the King would pay for all, and that he would take care to
get them: which put my Lady and me into a great deal of ease of
mind. Here we staid and supped too, and, after my wife had put
up some of the grapes in a basket for to be sent to the King we
took coach and home, were we found a hampire of millons sent to
me also.

30th. This morning up by moone-shine, at 5 o'clock, to White
Hall, to meet Mr. Moore at the Privy Seale, and there I heard of
a fray between the two Embassadors of Spaine [The Baron de
Vatteville.] and France; [Godfrey, Count D'Estrades, Marshal of
France, and Viceroy of America. He proved himself upon many
occasions, an able diplomatist, and particularly at the
conferences of Nimeguen when acting as ambassador in 1673. Ob.
1686, aet. suae 79,--VIDE HIS LETTERS TO LOUIS XIV. IN THE
APPEND.] and that, this day, being the day of the entrance of an
Embassador from Sweden, they intended to fight for the
precedence. Our King, I heard, ordered that no Englishman should
meddle in the business, but let them do what they would. And to
that end all the soldiers in the town were in arms all the day
long, and some of the train-bands in the City; and a great bustle
through the City all the day. Then we took coach (which was the
business I come for) to Chelsey, to my Lord Privy Seale, and
there got him to seal the business. Here I saw by day-light two
very fine pictures in the gallery, that a little while ago I saw
by night; and did also go all over the house, and found it to be
the prettiest contrived house that I ever saw in my life. So
back again; and at White Hall light, and saw the soldiers and
people running up and down the streets. So I went to the
Spanish, Embassador's and the French, and there saw great
preparations on both sides; but the French made the most noise
and ranted most, but the other made no stir almost at all; so
that I was afraid the other would have too great a conquest over
them. Then to the Wardrobe, and dined there, and then abroad and
in Cheapside hear that the Spanish hath got the best of it, and
killed three of the French coach-horses and severall men, and is
gone through the City next to our King's coach; at which, it is
strange, to see how all the City did rejoice. And indeed we do
naturally all love the Spanish, and hate the French. But I, as I
am in all things curious, presently got to the water-side, and
there took oares to Westminster Palace, and run after them
through all the dirt and the streets full of people: till at
last, at the Mewes, I saw the Spanish coach go, with fifty drawn
swords at least to guard it, and our soldiers shouting for joy.
And so I followed the coach, and then met it at York House, where
the embassador lies; and there it went in with great state.
[York House belonged to the See of York till James 1st's time,
when Toby Matthews exchanged it with the Crown. Chancellors
Egerton and Bacon resided there, after which it was granted to
Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Subsequently to the Restoration
his son occupied the house some years, and disposing of the
premises, they were converted into the streets still bearing his
names, and the general appellation of York Buildings.] So then I
went to the French house, where I observe still, that there is no
men in the world of a more insolent spirit where they do well,
nor before they begin a matter, and more abject if they do
miscarry, than these people are; for they all look like dead men,
and not a word among them, but shake their heads. The truth is,
the Spaniards were not only observed to fight most desperately,
but also they did outwitt them; first in lining their own
harnesse with chains of iron that they could not be cut, then in
setting their coach in the most advantageous place, and to
appoint men to guard every one of their horses, and others for to
guard the coach, and others the coachmen. And above all in
setting upon the French horses and killing them, for by that
means the French were not able to stir. There were several men
slain of the French, and one or two of the Spaniards and one
Englishman, by a bullet. Which is very observable, the French
were at least four to one in number, and had near 100 case of
pistols among them, and the Spaniards had not one gun among them;
which is for their honour for ever, and the others' disgrace.
So, having been very much daubed with dirt, I got a coach, and
home; where I vexed my wife in telling of her this story, and
pleading for the Spaniards against the French. So ends this
month; myself and family in good condition of health, but my head
full of my Lord's and my own and the office business: where we
are now very busy about sending forces to Tangier, and the fleet
of my Lord of Sandwich, who is now at Lisbone to bring over the
Queene. The business of Argier hath of late troubled me, because
my Lord hath not done what he went for, though he did as much as
any man in the world could have done. The want of money puts all
things, and above all, the Navy, out of order; and yet I do not
see that the King takes care to bring in any money, but thinks of
new designs to lay out money.

OCTOBER 4, 1661. By coach to White Hall with Sir W. Pen. So to
Mr. Montagu, where his man, Mons. Eschar, makes a great complaint
against the English, that they did help the Spaniards against the
French the other day; and that their Embassador do demand justice
of our King, and that he do resolve to be gone for France the
next week; which I, and all that I met with, are glad of.

17th. Captn. Cock, a man of great observation and repute, did
tell me, that he was confident that the Parliament, when it comes
the next month to sit again, would bring trouble with it, and
enquire how the King had disposed of offices and money, before
they will raise more; which, I fear, will bring all things to
ruin again. Dined with Captain Lambert and his father-in-law,
and had much talk of Portugall; from whence he is lately come,
and he tells me it is a very poor dirty place; I mean the City
and Court of Lisbone; that the King is a very rude and simple
fellow; and, for reviling of somebody a little while ago, had
been killed, had he not told them that he was their king. That
there are no glass windows, nor will they have any; which makes
sport among our merchants there to talk of an English factor
that, being newly come thither, writ into England that glasse
would be a good commodity to send thither, &c. That the King has
his meat sent up by a dozen of lazy guards and in pipkins,
sometimes, to his own table; and sometimes nothing but fruits,
and, now-and-then, half a hen. And that now the Infanta is
become our Queen, she is come to have a whole hen or goose to her
table.

18th. To White Hall, to Mr. Montagu's, where I met with Mr.
Pierce the purser, to advise about the things to be sent to my
Lord for the Queene's provision; now there is all haste made, for
the fleete's going.

20th. To Sir W. Batten, who is to go to Portsmouth to-morrow to
wait upon the Duke of York, who goes to take possession and to
set in order the garrison there.

26th. This morning Sir J. Pen and I should have gone out of town
with my Lady Batten, to have met Sir William coming back from
Portsmouth, at Kingston, but could not, by reason that my Lord of
Peterborough (who is to go Governor of Tangier) come this
morning, [Henry, second Earl of Peterborough, a Privy Councillor,
and in 1685 made Groom of the Stole. He was also K.G., and died
1697.] with Sir G. Carteret, to advise with us about completing
of the affairs and preparacions for that place. [This place, so
often mentioned by Mr. Pepys, was first given up to the English
Fleet under Lord Sandwich, by the Portuguese, Jan. 30, 1662; and
Lord Peterborough left Governor, with a garrison. The greatest
pains were afterwards taken to preserve the fortress, and a fine
Mole was constructed, at a vast expense, to improve the harbour.
At length, after immense sums of money had been wasted there, the
House of Commons expressed a dislike to the management of the
garrison, (which they suspected to be a nursery for a Popish
army,) and seemed disinclined to maintain it any longer. The
King consequently, in 1683, sent Lord Dartmouth to bring home the
troops, and destroy the works; which he performed most
effectually, and Tangier fell into the hands of the Moors, its
importance having ceased with the demolition of the Mole.] News
was brought that Sir R. Slingsby, our Comptroller (who hath this
day been sick a week), is dead; which put me into so great a
trouble of mind, that all the night I could not sleep, he being a
man that loved me, and had many qualitys that made me to love him
above all the officers and commissioners in the Navy.

27th. (Lord's day.) At church in the morning; where in pew both
Sir Williams and I had much talk about the death of Sir Robert,
which troubles me much; and them in appearance, though I do not
believe it; because I know that he was a cheque to their
engrossing the whole trade of the Navy-office.

29th. This day I put on my half cloth black stockings and my new
coate of the fashion, which pleases me well, and with my beaver I
was (after office was done) ready to go to my Lord Mayor's feast,
as we are all invited; but the Sir Williams were both loth to go,
because of the crowd, and so none of us went. This Lord Mayor,
it seems, brings up again the custom of Lord Mayors going the day
of their instalment to Paul's, and walking round about the
Crosse, and offering something, at the altar.

30th. Sir Henry Vane, Lambert, and others, are lately sent
suddenly away from the Tower, prisoners to Scilly; but I do not
think there is any plot as is said, but only a pretence; as there
was once pretended often against the Cavaliers.

NOVEMBER 1, 1661. Sir Wm. sent for his son Mr. Wm. Pen lately
come from Oxford. [The celebrated Quaker, and founder of
Pennsylvania.]

2nd. At the office all the morning; where Sir John Minnes, our
new comptroller, was fetched by Sir Wm. Pen and myself from Sir
Wm. Batten's, and led to his place in the office. The first time
that he had come thither, and he seems in a good fair condition,
and one that I am glad hath the office.

4th. With my wife to the Opera, where we saw "The Bondman,"
which of old we both did so doate on, and do still; though to
both our thinking not so well acted here, (having too great
expectations) as formally at Salisbury-court. But for Beterton,
he is called by us both the best actor in the world. [Thomas
Betterton, the celebrated actor, born in 1635, was the son of an
under cook to Charles I., and first appeared on the stage at the
Cockpit in Drury Lane, in 1659. After the Restoration, two
distinct theatres were established by Royal Authority; one in
Drury Lane, called the King's Company, under a patent granted to
Killigrew: the other in Lincoln's Inn Fields, styled the Duke's
Troop, the patentee of which was Sir W. Davenant, who engaged Mr.
Betterton in 1662, Mr. B. died in 1710, and was buried in the
cloisters of Westminster Abbey.]

8th. This morning up early, and to my Lord Chancellor's with a
letter to him from my Lord, and did speak with him; and he did
ask me whether I was was son to Mr. Talbot Pepys or no, [Of
Impington, great uncle to our Author.] (with whom he was once
acquainted in the Court of Requests), and spoke to me with great
respect.

10th. At St. Gregory's, where I hear our Queene Katherine, the
first time by name publickly prayed for.

12th. This day Holmes come to town; and we do expect hourly to
hear what usage he hath from the Duke and the King about his late
business of letting the Swedish Embassador go by him without
striking his flag.

13th. By appointment, we all went this morning to wait upon the
Duke of York, which we did in his chamber, as he was dressing
himself in his riding suit to go this day by sea to the Downes.
He is in mourning for his wife's grandmother, which is thought a
great piece of fondness. After we had given him our letter
relating the bad condition of the Navy for want of money, he
referred it to his coming back and so parted. Thence on foot to
my Lord Crewe's; here I was well received by my Lord and Sir
Thomas; with whom I had great talk: and he tells me in good
earnest that he do believe the Parliament, (which comes to sit
again the next week,) will be troublesome to the Court and
Clergy, which God forbid! But they see things carried so by my
Lord Chancellor and some others, that get money themselves, that
they will not endure it.

17th. To church; and heard a simple fellow upon the praise of
Church musique, and exclaiming against men's wearing their hats
on in the church.

20th. To Westminster Hall by water in the morning, where I saw
the King going in his barge to the Parliament House; this being
the first day of their meeting again. And the Bishops, I hear,
do take their places is the Lords' House this day. I walked
longe in the Hall, but hear nothing of newes, but what Ned
Pickering tells me, which I am troubled at, that Sir J. Minnes
should send word to the King, that if he did not remove all my
Lord Sandwich's captains out of this fleet, he believed the King
would not be master of the fleet at its coming again: and so do
endeavour to bring disgrace upon my Lord. But I hope all that
will not do, for the King loves him.

21st. At the office all the afternoon; it being the first
afternoon that we have sat, which we are now to do always, so
long as the Parliament sits, who this day have voted the King
120,000l. to be raised to pay his debts. [According to the
Journals 1,200,000l.]

28th. Letters from my Lord Sandwich, from Tangier; where he
continues still, and hath done some execution upon the Turks, and
retaken an Englishman from them, one Mr. Parker, a merchant in
Marke-lane.

29th. I lay long in bed, till Sir Williams both sent me word
that we were to wait upon the Duke of York to-day; and that they
would have me to meet them at Westminster Hall, at noon: so I
rose and went thither; and there I understand that they are gone
to Mr. Coventry's lodgings, in the Old Palace Yard, to dinner
(the first time that I knew he had any); and there I met them,
and Sir G. Carteret, and had a very fine dinner, and good
welcome, and discourse: and so, by water, after dinner to White
Hall to the Duke, who met us in his closet; and there did
discourse upon the business of Holmes, and did desire of us to
know what hath been the common practice about making of forrayne
ships to strike sail to us, which they did all do as much as they
could; but I could say nothing to it, which I was sorry for.
After we were gone from the Duke, I told Mr. Coventry that I had
heard Mr. Selden often say, that he could prove that in Henry the
7th's time, he did give commission to his captains to make the
King of Denmark's ships to strike to him in the Baltique.

30th. This is the last day for the old State's coyne to pass in
common payments, but they say it is to pass in publique payments
to the King three months still.

DECEMBER 1, 1661. There hath lately been great clapping up of
some old statesmen, such as Ireton, Moyer, [Samuel Moyer, one of
the Council of State, 1653.] and others, and they say, upon a
great plot, but I believe no such thing; but it is but justice
that they should be served as they served the poor Cavaliers; and
I believe it will oftentimes be so as long as they live, whether
there be cause or no.

6th. To White Hall, where, at Sir G. Carteret's, Sir Williams
both and I dined very pleasantly; and after dinner, by
appointment, came the Governors of the East India Company, to
sign and seal the contract between us (in the King's name) and
them. And, that done, we all went to the King's closet, and
there spoke with the King and the Duke of York, who promise to be
very careful of the India trade to the utmost.

7th. To the Privy Seale, and sealed there; and, among other
things that passed, there was a patent for Roger Palmer (Madam
Palmer's husband [Ob. July, 1705.]) to be Earle of Castlemaine
and Baron of Limbricke in Ireland; but the honor is tied up to
the males got of the body of this wife, the Lady Barbary: the
reason whereof every body knows. That done, by water to the
office, where I found Sir W. Pen, and with him Captn. Holmes, who
had wrote his case, and gives me a copy, as he hath many among
his friends, and presented the same to the King and Council.
Which I have made use of in my attempt of writing something
concerning the business of striking sail, which I am now about.
But he do cry out against Sir John Minnes, as the veriest knave
and rogue and coward in the world.

9th. At noon to dinner at the Wardrobe; where my Lady Wright
was, who did talk much upon the worth and the desert of
gallantry; and that there was none fit to be courtiers, but such
as have been abroad and know fashions. [See note on Sir Harry
Wright, 27th March 1660.] Which I endeavoured to oppose; and was
troubled to hear her talk so, though she be a very wise and
discreet lady in other things.

15th. I am now full of study about writing something about our
making of strangers strike to us at sea; and so am altogether
reading Selden and Grotius, and such other authors to that
purpose.

18th. After dinner to the Opera, where there was a new play,
(Cutter of Coleman Street) made in the year 1658, with
reflections much upon the late times; and it being the first time
the pay was doubled, and so to save money, my wife and I went
into the gallery, and there sat and saw very well; and a very
good play it is. It seems of Cowly's making.

21st. To White Hall to the Privy Seale, as my Lord Privy Seale
did tell me he could seale no more this month, for he goes thirty
miles out of towne to keep his Christmas. At which I was glad,
but only afraid lest any thing of the King's should force as to
go after him to get a seale in the country. I spoke to Mr.
Falconberge to look whether he could out of Domesday Book, give
me any thing concerning the sea, and the dominion thereof; which
he says he will look after.

27th. In the morning to my Bookseller's to bespeak a Stephens'
Thesaurus, for which I offer 4l., to give to Paul's School, and
from thence to Paul's Church; and there I did hear Dr. Gunning
preach a good sermon upon the day, (being St. John's day,) and
did hear him tell a story, which he did persuade us to believe to
be true, that St. John and the Virgin Mary did appear to Gregory,
a Bishopp, at his prayer to be confirmed in the faith, which I
did wonder to hear from him.

28th. At home all the morning; and in the afternoon all of us at
the office, upon a letter from the Duke for the making up of a
speedy estimate of all the debts of the Navy, which is put into
good forwardness.

31st. To the office; and there late finishing our estimate of
the debts of the Navy to this day; and it come to near 374,000l.
I suppose myself to be worth about 500l. clear in the world, and
my goods of my house my owne, and what is coming to me from
Brampton, when my father dies, which God defer. But, by my
uncle's death, the whole care and trouble, and settling of all
lies upon me, which is very great, because of law-suits,
especially that with T. Frice, about the interest of 200l. I am
upon writing a little treatise to present to the Duke, about our
privilege in the seas, as to other nations striking their flags
to us.

JANUARY 2, 1661-62. I went forth, by appointment, to meet with
Mr. Grant, who promised to bring me acquainted with Cooper, the
great limner in little. [ Samuel Cooper, the celebrated
miniature painter, Ob. 1672.] Sir Richd. Fanshaw is come
suddenly from Portugal, and nobody knows what his business is
about.

To Faithorne's, [William Faithorne, the well known engraver Ob.
1691.] and there bought some pictures of him; and while I was
there, comes by the King's life-guard, he being gone to Lincoln's
Inne this afternoon to see the Revells there; there being,
according to an old custome, a prince and all his nobles, and
other matters of sport and charge.

11th. To the Exchange, and there all the news is of the French
and Dutch joyning against us; but I do not think it yet true. In
the afternoon, to Sir W. Batten's, where in discourse I heard the
custome of the election of the Duke of Genoa, who for two years
is every day attended in the greatest state, and four or five
hundred men always waiting upon him as a king; and when the two
years are out, and another is chose, a messenger is sent to him,
who stands at the bottom of the stairs, and he at, the top, and
says, "Va. Illustrissima Serenita sta finita, et puede andar en
casa."--"Your serenity is now ended; and now you may be going
home;" and so claps on his hat. And the old Duke (having by
custom sent his goods home before,) walks away, it may be but
with one man at his heels; and the new one brought immediately in
his room, in the greatest state in the world. Another account
was told us, how in the Dukedom of Ragusa, in the Adriatique, (a
State that is little, but more ancient, they say, than Venice,
and is called the mother of Venice, and the Turkes lie round
about it,) that they change all the officers of their guard, for
fear of conspiracy, every twenty-four hours, so that nobody knows
who shall be captain of the guard to-night; but two men come to a
man, and lay hold of him as a prisoner, and carry him to the
place; and there he hath the keys of the garrison given him, and
he presently issues his orders for that night's watch: and so
always from night to night. Sir Wm. Rider told the first of his
own knowledge; and both he and Sir W. Batten confirm the last.

13th. Before twelve o'clock comes, by appointment, Mr. Peter and
the Dean, [Michael Honywood, installed Dean of Lincoln, 1660, Ob.
1681, aged 85.] and Colonel Honiwood, brothers, to dine with me;
but so soon that I was troubled at it. Mr. Peter did show us the
experiment (which I had heard talke of) of the chymicall glasses,
which break all to dust by breaking off a little small end; which
is a great mystery to me.

15th. Mr. Berkenshaw [Mr. Pepys's music master.] asked me
whether we had not committed a fault in eating to-day; telling me
that it is a fast day ordered by the Parliament, to pray for more
seasonable weather; it having hitherto been summer weather, that
it is, both as to warmth and every other thing, just as if it
were the middle of May or June, which do threaten a plague (as
all men think) to follow, for so it was almost the last winter;
and the whole year after hath been a very sickly time to this
day.

16th. Towards Cheapside; and in Paul's Church-yard saw the
funeral of my Lord Cornwallis, late Steward of the King's House,
go by. Stoakes told us, that notwithstanding the country of
Gambo is so unhealthy, yet the people of the place live very
long, so as the present King there is 150 years old, which they
count by rains: because every year it rains continually four
months together. He also told us, that the Kings there have
above 100 wives a-piece.