Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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PEPYS'S DIARY.

1659-60. Blessed be God, at the end of the last year I was in
very good health, without any sense of my old pain, but upon
taking of cold. I lived in Axe Yard, having my wife, and servant
Jane, and no other in family than us three.

The condition of the State was thus; viz. the Rump, after being
disturbed by my Lord Lambert, [Sufficiently known by his services
as a Major-General in the Parliament forces during the Civil War,
and condemned as a traitor after the Restoration; but reprieved
and banished to Guernsey, where he lived in confinement thirty
years.] was lately returned to sit again. The officers of the
Army all forced to yield. Lawson [Sir John Lawson, the son of a
poor man at Hull, rose to the rank of Admiral, and distinguished
himself during the Protectorate; and, though a republican in his
heart, readily closed with the design of restoring the King. He
was mortally wounded in the sea fight in 1665.] lies still in
the river, and Monk is with his army in Scotland. [George Monk,
afterwards Duke of Albemarle.] Only my Lord Lambert is not yet
come into the Parliament, nor is it expected that he will without
being forced to it. The new Common Council of the City do speak
very high; and had sent to Monk their sword-bearer, to acquaint
him with their desires for a free and full Parliament, which is
at present the desires, and the hopes, and the expectations of
all. Twenty-two of the old secluded members having been at the
House-door the last week to demand entrance, but it was denied
them; and it is believed that neither they nor the people will be
satisfied till the House be filled. My own private condition
very handsome, and esteemed rich, but indeed very poor; besides
my goods of my house, and my office, which at present is somewhat
certain. Mr. Downing master of my office. [George Downing, son
of Calibute Downing, D.D. and Rector of Hackney. Wood calls him
a sider with all times and changes; skilled in the common cant,
and a preacher occasionally. He was sent by Cromwell to Holland
as resident there. About the Restoration he espoused the King's
cause, and was knighted and elected M.P. for Morpeth in 1661.
afterwards, becoming Secretary to the Treasury and Commissioner
of Customs, he was in 1663 created a Baronet of East Hatley, in
Cambridgeshire.] [The office appears to have been in the
Exchequer, and connected with the pay of the army.]

JAN. 1, 1659-60 (Lord's day). This morning (we living lately in
the garret,) I rose, put on my suit with great skirts, having not
lately worn any other clothes but them. Went to Mr. Gunning's
chapel [Peter Gunning, afterwards Master of St. John's College,
Cambridge, and successively Bishop of Chichester and Ely: ob.
1684. He had continued to read the liturgy at the chapel at
Exeter House when the Parliament was most predominant, for which
Cromwell often rebuked him.--WOOD'S ATHENAE.] at Exeter House,
[Essex-street in the Strand was built on the site of Exeter
House.] where he made a very good sermon upon these words:--
"That in the fulness of time God sent his Son, made of a woman,"
&c.; showing, that, by "made under the law," is meant the
circumcision, which is solemnized this day. Dined at home in the
garret, where my wife dressed the remains of a turkey, and in the
doing of it she burned her hand. I staid at home the whole
afternoon, looking over my accounts; then went with my wife to my
father's, and in going observed the great posts which the City
workmen set up at the Conduit in Fleet-street.

2nd. Walked a great while in Westminster Hall, where I heard
that Lambert was coming up to London: that my Lord Fairfax was
in the head of the Irish brigade, but it was not certain what he
would declare for. The House was to-day upon finishing the act
for the Council of State, which they did; and for the indemnity
to the soldiers; and were to sit again thereupon in the
afternoon. Great talk that many places had declared for a free
Parliament; and it is believed that they will be forced to fill
up the House with the old members. From the Hall I called at
home, and so went to Mr. Crewe's [John Crewe, Esq., created Baron
Crewe of Stene at the coronation of Charles II. He married
Jemima, daughter and co-heir to Edward Walgrave, Esq., of
Lawford, co. Essex.] (my wife she was to go to her father's),
and Mr. Moore and I and another gentleman went out and drank a
cup of ale together in the new market, and there I eat some bread
and cheese for my dinner.

3rd. To White Hall, where I understood that the Parliament had
passed the act for indemnity for the soldiers and officers that
would come in, in so many days, and that my Lord Lambert should
have benefit of the said act. They had also voted that all
vacancies in the House, by the death of any of the old members,
should be filled up; but those that are living shall not be
called in.

4th. Strange the difference of men's talk! Some say that
Lambert must of necessity yield up; others, that he is very
strong, and that the Fifth-monarchy-men will stick to him, if he
declares for a free Parliament. Chillington was sent yesterday
to him with the vote of pardon and indemnity from the Parliament.
Went and walked in the Hall, where I heard that the Parliament
spent this day in fasting and prayer; and in the afternoon came
letters from the North, that brought certain news that my Lord
Lambert his forces were all forsaking him, and that he was left
with only fifty horse, and that he did now declare for the
Parliament himself; and that my Lord Fairfax did also rest
satisfied, and had laid down his arms, and that what he had done
was only to secure the country against my Lord Lambert his
raising of money, and free quarter. [Thomas Lord Fairfax,
Generalissimo of the Parliament forces. After the Restoration he
retired to his country seat, where he lived in private till his
death in 1671.]

5th. I dined with Mr. Shepley, at my Lord's lodgings, [Admiral
Sir Edward Montagu, afterwards Earl of Sandwich, uniformly styled
"My Lord" throughout the Diary.] upon his turkey pie. And so to
my office again where the Excise money was brought, and some of
it told to soldiers till it was dark. Then I went home, after
writing to my Lord the news that the Parliament had this night
voted that the members that were discharged from sitting in the
years 1648 and 49, were duly discharged; and that there should be
writs issued presently for the calling of others in their places,
and that Monk and Fairfax were commanded up to town, and that the
Prince's lodgings were to be provided for Monk at Whitehall. Mr.
Fage and I did discourse concerning public business; and he told
me it is true the City had not time enough to do much, but they
had resolved to shake off the soldiers; and that unless there be
a free Parliament chosen, he did believe there are half the
Common Council will not levy any money by order of this
Parliament.

6th. This morning Mr. Shepley and I did eat our breakfast at
Mrs. Harper's, (my brother John being with me,) upon a cold
turkey-pie and a goose.

9th. I rose early this morning, and looked over and corrected my
brother John's speech, which he is to make the next opposition.
[Declamations at St. Paul's school, in which there were,
opponents and respondents.] I met with W. Simons, Muddiman, and
Jack Price, and went with them to Harper's and staid till two of
the clock in the afternoon. I found Muddiman a good scholar, an
arch rogue; and owns that though he writes new books for the
Parliament, yet he did declare that he did it only to get money;
and did talk very basely of many of them. Among other things, W.
Simons told me how his uncle Scobell [H. Scobell, clerk to the
House of Commons.] was on Saturday last called to the bar, for
entering in the journal of the House, for the year 1653, these
words: "This day his Excellence the Lord G. Cromwell dissolved
this House;" which words the Parliament voted a forgery, and
demanded of him how they same to be entered. He said that they
were his own hand-writing, and that he did it by rights of his
office, and the practice of his predecessor; and that the intent
of the practice was to let posterity know how such and such a
Parliament was dissolved, whether by the command of the King, or
by their own neglect, as the last House of Lords was; and that to
this end, he had said and writ that it was dissolved by his
Excellence the Lord G.; and that for the word dissolved, he never
at the time did hear of any other term; and desired pardon if he
would not dare to make a word himself what it was six years
after, before they came themselves to call it an interruption;
that they were so little satisfied with this answer, that they
did chuse a committee to report to the House, whether this crime
of Mr. Scobell's did come within the act of indemnity or no.
Thence into the Hall, where I heard for certain that Monk was
coming to London, and that Bradshaw's lodgings were preparing for
him. [John Bradshaw, Serjeant-at-Law, President of the High
Court of Justice.] I heard Sir H. Vane was this day voted out of
the House, and to sit no more there; and that he would retire
himself to his house at Raby, [Son of a statesman of both his
names, and one, of the most turbulent enthusiasts produced by the
Rebellion, and an inflexible republican. His execution, in 1662,
for conspiring the death of Charles I. was much called in
question as a measure of great severity.] as also all the rest
of the nine officers that had their commissions formerly taken
away from them, were commanded to their farthest houses from
London during the pleasure of the Parliament.

1Oth. To the Coffee-house, where were a great confluence of
gentlemen; viz. Mr. Harrington, Poultny, chairman, Gold, Dr.
Petty, &c., where admirable discourse till 9 at night. Thence
with Doling to Mother Lam's, who told me how this day Scott was
made Intelligencer, and that the rest of the members that were
objected against last night were to be heard this day se'nnight.

[James Harrington, the political writer, author of "Oceana," and
founder of a club called The Rota, in 1659, which met at Miles's
coffee-house in Old Palace Yard, and lasted only a few months.
In 1661 he was sent to the Tower, on suspicion of treasonable
designs. His intellects appear to have failed afterwards, and he
died 1677. Sir William Poultny, subsequently M.P. for
Westminster, and a Commissioner of the Privy Seal under King
William. Ob. 1691. Sir William Petty, an eminent physician, and
celebrated for his proficiency in every branch of science. Ob.
1687. Thomas Scott, M.P., made Secretary of State to the
Commonwealth Jan. 17th following.]

13th. Coming in the morning to my office, I met with Mr. Fage
and took him to the Swan. He told me how he, Haselrigge, [Sir
Arthur Haselrigge, Bart. of Nosely, co. Leicester, Colonel of a
regiment in the Parliament army, and much esteemed by Cromwell.
Ob. 1660.] and Morley, [Probably Colonel Morley Lieutenant of
the Tower.] the last night began at my Lord Mayor's to exclaim
against the City of London, saying that they had forfeited their
charter. And how the Chamberlain of the City did take them down,
letting them know how much they were formerly beholding to the
City, &c. He also told me that Monk's letter that came by the
sword-bearer was a cunning piece, and that which they did not
much trust to: but they were resolved to make no more
applications to the Parliament, nor to pay any money, unless the
secluded members be brought in, or a free Parliament chosen.

16th. In the morning I went up to Mr. Crewe's, who did talk to
me concerning things of state; and expressed his mind how just it
was that the secluded members should come to sit again. From
thence to my office, where nothing to do; but Mr. Downing came
and found me all alone; and did mention to me his going back into
Holland, and did ask me whether I would go or no, but gave me
little encouragement, but bid me consider of it; and asked me
whether I did not think that Mr. Hawley could perform the work of
my office alone. I confess I was at a great loss, all the day
after, to bethink myself how to carry this business. I staid up
till the bell-man came by with his bell just under my window as I
was writing of this very line, and cried, "Past one of the clock,
and a cold, frosty, windy morning."

17th. In our way to Kensington, we understood how that my Lord
Chesterfield [Philip, second Earl of Chesterfield, born. 1634,
ob. 1713.] had killed another gentleman about half an hour
before, and was fled. I went to the Coffee Club and heard very
good discourse; it was in answer to Mr. Harrington's answer, who
said that the state of the Roman government was not a settled
government, and so it was no wonder that the balance of
prosperity was in one hand, and the command in another, it being
therefore always in a posture of war; but it was carried by
ballot, that it was a steady government, though it is true by the
voices it had been carried before that it was an unsteady
government; so to-morrow it is to be proved by the opponents that
the balance lay in one hand, and the government in another.
Thence I went to Westminster, and met Shaw and Washington, who
told me how this day Sydenham [Colonel Sydenham had been an
active officer during the Civil Wars, on the Parliament side.
M.P. for Dorsetshire, and governor of Melcombe, and one of the
Committee of Safety.] was voted out of the House for sitting any
more this Parliament, and that Salloway was voted out likewise
and sent to the Tower, [In the Journals of that date Major
Salwey.] during the pleasure of the House. At Harper's Jack
Price told me, among other things, how much the Protector is
altered, though he would seem to bear out his trouble very well,
yet he is scarce able to talk sense with a man; and how he will
say that "Who should a man trust, if he may not trust to a
brother and an uncle;" and "how much those men have to answer
before God Almighty, for their playing the knave with him as they
did." He told me also, that there was 100,000l. offered, and
would have been taken for his restitution, had not the Parliament
come in as they did again; and that he do believe that the
Protector will live to give a testimony of his valour and revenge
yet before he dies, and that the Protector will say so himself
sometimes.

18th. All the world is at a loss to think what Monk will do:
the City saying that he will be for them, and the Parliament
saying he will be for them.

19th. This morning I was sent for to Mr. Downing, and at his bed
side he told me, that he had a kindness for me, and that he
thought that he had done me one; and that was, that he had got me
to be one of the Clerks of the Council; at which I was a little
stumbled, and could not tell what to do, whether to thank him or
no; but by and by I did; but not very heartily, for I feared that
his doing of it was only to ease himself of the salary which he
gives me. Mr. Moore and I went to the French Ordinary, where Mr.
Downing this day feasted Sir Arth. Haselrigge, and a great many
more of the Parliament, and did stay to put him in mind of me.
Here he gave me a note to go and invite some other members to
dinner to-morrow. So I went to White Hall, and did stay at
Marsh's with Simons, Luellin, and all the rest of the Clerks of
the Council, who I hear are all turned out, only the two Leighs,
and they do all tell me that my name was mentioned last night,
but that nothing was done in it.

20th. In the morning I met Lord Widdrington in the street, [Sir
Thomas Widdrington, Knight, Serjeant-at-Law. one of Cromwell's
Commissioners of the Treasury, appointed Speaker 1656, and first
Commissioner for the Great Seal, January, 1659; he was M.P. for
York.] going to seal the patents for the Judges to-day, and so
could not come to dinner. This day three citizens of London went
to meet Monk from the Common Council. Received my 25l. due by
bill for my trooper's pay. At the Mitre, in Fleet-street, in our
way calling on Mr. Fage, who told me how the City have some hopes
of Monk. This day Lenthall took his chair again, [William
Lenthall, Speaker of the Long or Rump Parliament, and made Keeper
of the Great Seal to the Commonwealth, ob, 1662.] and the House
resolved a declaration to be brought in on Monday to satisfy the
world what they intend to do.

22nd. To church in the afternoon to Mr. Herring, where a lazy
poor sermon. This day I began to put on buckles to my shoes.

23rd. This day the Parliament sat late, and revolved of the
declaration to be printed for the people's satisfaction,
promising them a great many good things.

24th. Came Mr. Southerne, clerk to Mr. Blackburne, and with him
Lambert, lieutenant of my Lord's ship, and brought with them the
declaration that came out to-day from the Parliament, wherein
they declare for law and gospel, and for tythes; but I do not
find people apt to believe them. This day the Parliament gave
orders that the late Committee of Safety should come before them
this day se'nnight, and all their papers, and their model of
Government that they had made, to be brought in with them.

25th. Coming home heard that in Cheapside there had been but a
little before a gibbet set up, and the picture of Huson hung upon
it in the middle of the street. [John Hewson, who had been a
shoemaker, became a Colonel in the Parliament Army, and sat in
judgement on the King: he escaped hanging by flight, and died in
1662 at Amsterdam.] I called at Paul's Churchyard, where I
bought Buxtorf's Hebrew Grammar; and read a declaration of the
gentlemen of Northampton which came out this afternoon.

26th. Called for some papers at Whitehall for Mr. Downing, one
of which was an order of the Council for 1800l. per annum, to be
paid monthly; and the other two, Orders to the Commissioners of
Customs, to let his goods pass free. Home from my office to my
Lord's lodgings where my wife had got ready a very fine dinner--
viz. a dish of marrow bones; a leg of mutton; a loin of veal; a
dish of fowl, three pullets, and a dozen of larks all in a dish;
a great tart, a neat's tongue, a dish of anchovies; a dish of
prawns and cheese. My company was my father, my uncle Fenner,
his two sons, Mr. Pierce, and all their wives, and my brother Tom
[Ob.1663]. The news this day is a letter that speaks absolutely
Monk's concurrence with this Parliament, and nothing else, which
yet I hardly believe.

28th, I went to Mr. Downing, who told me that he was resolved to
be gone for Holland this morning. So I to my office again, and
dispatch my business there, and came with Mr. Hawley to Mr.
Downing's lodgings, and took Mr. Squib from White Hall in a coach
thither with me, and there we waited in his chamber a great
while, till he came in; and in the mean time, sent all his things
to the barge that lays at Charing-Cross stairs. Then came he in,
and took a very civil leave of me, beyond my expectations, for I
was afraid that he would have told me something of removing me
from my office; but he did not, but that he would do me any
service that lay in his power. So I went down and sent a porter
to my house for my best fur cap, but he coming too late with it I
did not present it to him: and so I returned and went to Heaven,
[A place of entertainment, in Old Palace Yard, on the site of
which the Committee-Rooms of the House of Commons now stand it is
called in Hudibras, "False Heaven, at the end of the Hall."]
where Luellin and I dined.

29th. In the morning I went to Mr. Gunning's, where he made an
excellent sermon upon the 2nd of the Galatians, about the
difference that fell between St. Paul and St. Peter, whereby he
did prove, that, contrary to the doctrine of the Roman Church,
St. Paul did never own any dependance, or that he was inferior to
St Peter, but that they were equal, only one a particular charge
of preaching to the Jews, and the other to the Gentiles.

30th. This morning, before I was up, I fell a-singing of my
song, "Great, good and just," &c. and put myself thereby in mind
that this was the fatal day, now ten years since, his Majesty
died. [This is the beginning of Montrose's verses on the
execution of Charles the First, which Pepys had probably set to
music:--
Great, good, and just, could I but rate
My grief and thy too rigid fate,
I'd weep the world to such a strain
That it should deluge once again.
But since thy loud-tongued blood demands supplies
More from Briareus' hands, than Argus' eyes,
I'll sing thy obsequies with trumpet sounds,
And write thy epitaph with blood and wounds.]
There seems now to be a general cease of talk, it being taken for
granted that Monk do resolve to stand to the Parliament, and
nothing else.

31st. After dinner to Westminster Hall, where all we clerks had
orders to wait upon the Committee, at the Star-chamber that is to
try Colonel Jones, and to give an account what money we had paid
him; but the Committee did not sit to-day. [Colonel John Jones,
impeached, with General Ludlow and Miles Corbet, for treasonable
practices in Ireland.] Called in at Harper's with Mr. Pulford,
servant to Mr. Waterhouse, who tells me, that whereas my Lord
Fleetwood should have answered to the Parliament to-day, he wrote
a letter and desired a little more time, he being a great way out
of town. [Charles Fleetwood, Lord Deputy of Ireland during the
Usurpation, became Cromwell's son-in-law by his marriage with
Ireton's widow, and a member of the Council of State. He seems
disposed to have espoused Charles the Second's interests; but had
not resolution enough to execute his design. At the Restoration
he was excepted out of the Act of Indemnity, and spent the
remainder of his life in obscurity, dying soon after the
Revolution.] And how that he is quite ashamed of himself, and
confesses how he had deserved this, for his baseness to his
brother. And that he is like to pay part of the money, paid out
of the Exchequer during the Committee of Safety, out of his own
purse again, which I am glad on. I could find nothing in Mr.
Downing's letter, which Hawley brought me concerning my office;
but I could discern that Hawley had a mind that I would get to be
Clerk of the Council, I suppose that he might have the greater
salary; but I think it not safe yet to change this for a public
employment.

FEBRUARY 1, 1659-60. Took Gammer East, and James the porter, a
soldier, to my Lord's lodgings, who told me how they were drawn
into the field to-day, and that they were ordered to march away
to-morrow to make room for General Monk; but they did shout their
Colonel Fitch, [Thomas Fitch, Colonel of a regiment of foot in
1658, M.P. for Inverness.] and the rest of the officers out of
the field, and swore they would not go without their money, and
if they would not give it them, they would go where they might
have it, and that was the City. So the Colonel went to the
Parliament, and commanded what money could be got, to be got
against to-morrow for them, and all the rest of the soldiers in
town, who in all places made a mutiny this day, and do agree
together.

2nd. To my office, where I found all the officers of the
regiments in town, waiting to receive money that their soldiers
might go out of town, and what was in the Exchequer they had.
Harper, Luellin, and I went to the Temple to Mr. Calthrop's
chamber, and from thence had his man by water to London Bridge to
Mr. Calthrop a grocer, and received 60l. for my Lord. In our way
we talked with our waterman, White, who told us how the watermen
had lately been abused by some that had a desire to get in to be
watermen to the State, and had lately presented an address of
nine or ten thousand hands to stand by this Parliament, when it
was only told them that it was a petition against hackney
coaches; and that to-day they had put out another to undeceive
the world and to clear themselves. After I had received the
money we went homewards, but over against Somerset House, hearing
the noise of guns, we landed and found the Strand full of
soldiers. So I took my money and went to Mrs. Johnson, my Lord's
sempstress, and giving her my money to lay up, Doling and I went
up stairs to a window, and looked out and saw the foot face the
horse and beat them back, and stood bawling and calling in the
street for a free Parliament and money. By and by a drum was
heard to beat a march coming towards them, and they got all ready
again and faced them, and they proved to be of the same mind with
them; and so they made a great deal of joy to see one another.
After all this I went home on foot to lay up my money, and change
my stockings and shoes. I this day left off my great skirt suit,
and put on my white suit with silver lace coat, and went over to
Harper's, where I met with W. Simons, Doling, Luellin and three
merchants, one of which had occasion to use a porter, so they
sent for one, and James the soldier came, who told us how they
had been all day and night upon their guard at St. James's, and
that through the whole town they did resolve to stand to what
they had began, and that to-morrow he did believe they would go
into the City, and be received there. After this we went to a
sport called, selling of a horse for a dish of eggs and herrings,
and sat talking there till almost twelve at night.