Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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2nd. Walking in the garden this evening with Sir G. Carteret and
Sir J. Minnes, Sir G. Carteret told us with great content how
like a stage-player my Lord Digby spoke yesterday, pointing to
his head as my Lord did, and saying, "First, for his head," says
Sir G. Carteret, "I know when a calfe's head would have done
better by half: for his heart and his sword, I have nothing to
say to them." He told us that for certain his head cost the late
King his, for it was he that broke off the treaty at Uxbridge.
He told us also how great a man he was raised from a private
gentleman in France by Monsieur Grandmont, and afterwards by the
Cardinal, who raised him to be a Lieutenant-generall, and then
higher; and entrusted by the Cardinal when he was banished out of
France with great matters, and recommended by him to the Queene
as a man to be trusted and ruled by: yet when he come to have
some power over the Queene, he begun to dissuade her from her
opinion of the Cardinal; which she said nothing to till the
Cardinal [Cardinal Mazarin.] was returned, and then she told him
of it; who told my Lord Digby, "Et bien, Monsieur, vous estes un
fort bon amy donc:" but presently put him out of all; and then,
from a certainty of coming in two or three years' time to be
Mareschall of France, (to which all strangers, even Protestants,
and those as often as French themselves, are capable of coming,
though it be one of the greatest places in France,) he was driven
to go out of France into Flanders; but there was not trusted, nor
received any kindness from the Prince of Conde, as one to whom
also he had been false, as he had been to the Cardinal and
Grandmont. In fine, he told us that he is a man of excellent
parts, but of no great faith nor judgment, and one very easy to
get up to great height of preferment, but never able to hold it.

3rd. Mr. Moore tells me great news that my Lady Castlemaine is
fallen from Court, and this morning retired. He gives me no
account of the reason, but that it is so: for which I am sorry;
and yet if the King do it to leave off not only her but all other
mistresses, I should be heartily glad of it, that he may fall to
look after business. I hear my Lord Digby is condemned at Court
for his speech, and that my Lord Chancellor grows great again.
With Mr. Creed over the water to Lambeth; but could not see the
Archbishop's hearse: so over the fields to Southwarke. I spent
half an hour in St. Mary Overy's Church, where are fine monuments
of great antiquity.

4th. Sir Allen Apsley [Sir Allen Apsley, a faithful adherent to
Charles I., after the Restoration was made Falconer to the King,
and Almoner to the Duke of York in whose regiment he bore a
commission. He was in 1661 M.P. for Thetford, and died 1683.]
showed the Duke the Lisbon Gazette in Spanish, where the late
victory is set down particularly, and to the great honour of the
English beyond measure. They have since taken back Evora, which
was lost to the Spaniards, the English making the assault, and
lost not more than three men. Here I learnt that the English
foot are highly esteemed all over the world, but the horse not so
much, which yet we count among ourselves the best: but they
abroad have had no great knowledge of our horse, it seems. To
the King's Head ordinary; and a pretty gentleman in our company,
who confirms my Lady Castlemaine's being gone from Court, but
knows not the reason; he told us of one wipe the Queene a little
while ago did give her, when she come in and found the Queene
under the dresser's hands, and had been so long: "I wonder your
Majesty," says she, "can have the patience to sit so long a-
dressing?"--"I have so much reason to use patience," says the
Queene, "that I can very well bear with it." He thinks it may be
the Queene hath commanded her to retire, though that is not
likely. Thence with Creed to hire a coach to carry us to Hide
Parke, to-day there being a general muster of the King's Guards,
horse and foot but they demand so high, that I, spying Mr. Cutler
the merchant, did take notice of him, and he going into his
coach, and telling me that he was going to the muster, I asked
and went along with him; where a goodly sight to see so many fine
horses and officers, and the King, Duke, and others come by a-
horseback, and the two Queenes in the Queene-Mother's coach, (my
Lady Castlemaine not being there). And after long being there, I
light, and walked to the place where the King, Duke, &c. did
stand to see the horse and foot march by and discharge their
guns, to show a French Marquisse (for whom this muster was
caused) the goodness of our firemen; which indeed was very good,
though not without a slip now and then: and one broadside close
to our coach we had going out of the Park, even to the nearnesse
as to be ready to burn our hairs. Yet methought all these gay
men are not the soldiers that must do the King's business, it
being such as these that lost the old King all he had, and were
beat by the most ordinary fellows that could be. Thence with
much ado out of the Park, and through St. James's down the
waterside over to Lambeth, to see the Archhishop's corps, (who is
to be carried away to Oxford on Monday,) but come too late. This
day in the Duke's chamber there being a Roman story in the
hangings, and upon the standard written these four letters--
S. P. Q. R., Sir G. Carteret came to me to know what the meaning
of those four letters were; which ignorance is not to be borne in
a Privy Counsellor, methinks, what a schoolboy should be whipt
for not knowing.

6th. At my office all the morning, writing of a list of the
King's ships in my Navy collections with great pleasure.

7th. In Mr. Pett's garden I eat some of the first cherries I
have eat this year, off the tree where the King himself had been
gathering some this morning. Deane tells me that Mr. Pett did
to-day, that my Lord Bristoll told the King that he will impeach
the Chancellor of High Treason: but I find that my Lord Bristoll
hath undone himself already in everybody's opinion, and now he
endeavours to raise dust to put out other men's eyes, as well as
his own; but I hope it will not take, in consideration merely
that it is hard for a Prince to spare an experienced old officer,
be he never so corrupt; though I hope this man is not so, as some
report him to be. He tells me that Don John is yet alive, and
not killed, as was said, in the great victory against the
Spaniards in Portugall of late.

9th. Sir W. Pen tells me, my Lady Castlemaine was at Court, for
all this talk this week; but it seems the King is stranger than
ordinary to her.

10th. I met Pierce the chirurgeon, who tells me that for certain
the King is grown colder to my Lady Castlemaine than ordinary,
and that he believes he begins to love the Queene, and do make
much of her, more than he used to do. Mr. Coventry tells me that
my Lord Bristoll hath this day impeached my Lord Chancellor in
the House of Lords of High Treason. The chief of the articles
are these: 1st. That he should be the occasion of the peace
made with Holland lately upon such disadvantageous terms, and
that he was bribed to it. 2nd. That Dunkirke was also sold by
his advice chiefly, so much to the damage of England. 3rd. That
he had 6000l. given him for the drawing-up or promoting of the
Irish declaration lately, concerning the division of the lands
there. 4th. He did carry on the design of the Portugall match,
so much to the prejudice of the Crown of England, notwithstanding
that he knew the Queene is not capable of bearing children. 5th.
That the Duke's marrying of his daughter was a practice of his,
thereby to raise his family; and that it was done by indiscreet
courses. 6th. As to the breaking-off of the match with Parma,
in which he was employed at the very time when the match with
Portugall was made up here, which he took as a great slur to him,
and so it was; and that, indeed, is the chief occasion of all
this fewde. 7th. That he hath endeavoured to bring in Popery,
and wrote to the Pope for a cap for a subject of the King of
England's (my Lord Aubigny [Brother to the Duke of Lennox, and
Almoner to the King.]); and some say that he lays it to the
Chancellor, that a good Protestant Secretary, (Sir Edward
Nicholas) was laid aside, and a Papist, Sir H. Bennet, put in his
room: which is very strange, when the last of these two is his
own creature, and such an enemy accounted to the Chancellor, that
they never did nor do agree; and all the world did judge the
Chancellor to be falling from the time that Sir H. Bennet was
brought in, Besides my Lord Bristoll being a Catholique himself,
all this is very strange. These are the main of the Articles.
Upon which my Lord Chancellor desired the noble Lord that brought
in these Articles, would sign to them with his hand; which my
Lord Bristoll did presently. Then the House did order that the
Judges should, against Monday next, bring in their opinion,
Whether these articles are treason, or no? and next, they would
know, Whether they were brought in regularly or no, without leave
of the Lords' House?

11th. By barge to St. Mary's Creeke; where Commissioner Pett,
(doubtful of the growing greatnesse of Portsmouth by the finding
of those creekes there,) do design a wett docke at no great
charge, and yet no little one; he thinks towards 10,000l. And
the place, indeed, is likely to be a very fit place, when the
King hath money to do it with.

13th. I walked to the Temple; and there, from my cousin Roger,
hear that the Judges have this day brought in their answer to the
Lords, That the articles against my Lord Chancellor are not
Treason; and to-morrow they are to bring in their arguments to
the House for the same. This day also the King did send by my
Lord Chamberlain to the Lords; to tell them from him, that the
most of the articles against my Lord Chancellor he himself knows
to be false. I met the Queene-Mother walking in the Pell Mell,
led by my Lord St. Alban's. And finding many coaches at the
Gate, I found upon enquiry that the Duchesse is brought to bed of
a boy; and hearing that the King and Queene are rode abroad with
the Ladies of Honour to the Parke, and seeing a great crowd of
gallants staying here to see their return, I also staid walking
up and down. By and by the King and Queene, who looked in this
dress (a white laced waistcoate and a crimson short pettycoate,
and her hair dressed A LA NEGLIGENCE) mighty pretty; and the King
rode hand in hand with her. Here was also my Lady Castlemaine
rode among the rest of the ladies; but the King took, methought,
no notice of her; nor when she light, did any body press (as she
seemed to expect, and staid for it,) to take her down, but was
taken down by her own gentlemen. She looked mighty out of
humour, and had a yellow plume in her hat, (which all took notice
of,) and yet is very handsome, but very melancholy: nor did any
body speak to her, or she so much as smile or speak to any body.
I followed them up into White Hall, and into the Queene's
presence, where all the ladies walked, talking and fiddling with
their hats and feathers, and changing and trying one another's by
one another's heads, and laughing. But it was the finest sight
to me, considering their great beautys, and dress, that ever I
did see in all my life. But, above all, Mrs. Stewart in this
dresse, with her hat cocked and a red plume, with her sweet eye,
little Roman nose, and excellent taille, is now the greatest
beauty I ever saw, I think, in my life; and, if ever woman can,
do exceed my Lady Castlemaine, at least in this dress: nor do I
wonder if the King changes, which I verily believe is the reason
of his coldness to my Lady Castlemaine.

14th. This day I hear the Judges, according to order yesterday,
did bring into the Lords' House their reasons of their judgments
in the business between my Lord Bristoll and the Chancellor; and
the Lords do concur with the Judges that the articles are not
Treason, nor regularly brought into the House, and so voted that
a Committee should be chosen to examine them; but nothing to be
done therein till the next sitting of this Parliament, (which is
likely to be adjourned in a day or two,) and in the mean time the
two Lords to remain without prejudice done to either of them.

15th. Captain Grove come and dined with me. He told me of
discourse very much to my honour, both as to my care and ability,
happening at the Duke of Albemarle's table the other day, both
from the Duke and the Duchesse themselves; and how I paid so much
a year to him whose place it was of right, and that Mr. Coventry
did report this of me.

21st. This day the Parliament kept a fast for the present
unseasonable weather.

22nd. To my Lord Crewe's. My Lord not being come home, I met
and staid below with Captn. Ferrers, who was come to wait upon my
Lady Jemimah to St. James's, she being one of the four ladies
that hold up the mantle at the christening this afternoon of the
Duke's child (a boy). In discourse of the ladies at Court,
Captn. Ferrers tells me that my Lady Castlemaine is now as great
again as ever she was; and that her going away was only a fit of
her own upon some slighting words of the King, so that she called
for her coach at a quarter an hour's warning, and went to
Richmond; and the King the next morning, under pretence of going
a-hunting, went to see her and make friends, and never was a-
hunting at all. After which she came back to Court, and commands
the King as much as ever, and hath and doth what she will. No
longer ago than last night, there was a private entertainment
made for the King and Queene at the Duke of Buckingham's, and she
was not invited: but being at my Lady Suffolk's, [Barbara,
second wife of James Earl of Suffolk, eldest daughter of Sir
Edward Villiers, and widow of Sir Richard Wentworth. She died
Dec. 1681, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth, who married Sir
Thomas Felton, Bart.] her aunt's (where my Lady Jemimah and Lord
Sandwich dined,) yesterday, she was heard to say, "Well, much
good may it do them, and for all that I will be as merry as
they:" and so she went home and caused a great supper to be
prepared. And after the King had been with the Queene at
Wallingford House, [Wallingford House stood on the site of the
present Admiralty: it originally belonged to the Knollys family,
and during the Protectorate the office for granting passes to
persons going abroad was kept there.] he come to my Lady
Castlemaine's, and was there all night, and my Lord Sandwich with
him. He tells me he believes that, as soon as the King can get a
husband for Mrs. Stewart, however, my Lady Castlemaine's nose
will be out of joynt; for that she comes to be in great esteem,
and is more handsome than she. Wotten tells me the reason of
Harris's [Joseph Harris, a celebrated actor, who first appeared
at the Theatre in Lincoln's inn Fields, 1662. He probably died
or left the stage about 1679.] going from Sir Wm. Davenant's
house is, that he grew very proud and demanded 20l. for himself
extraordinary, more than Betterton or any body else, upon every
new play, and 10l. upon every revive which with other things Sir
W. Davenant would not give him, and so he swore he would never
act there more, in expectation of being received in the other
House; but the King will not suffer it, upon Sir W. Davenant's
desire that he would not, for then he might shut up house, and
that is true. We tells me that his going is at present a great
loss to the House, and that he fears he hath a stipend from the
other House privately. He tells me that the fellow grew very
proud of late, the King and every body else crying him up so
high, and that above Betterton he being a more ayery man, as he
is indeed. But yet Betterton, he says, they all say do act some
parts that none but himself can do. I hear that the Moores have
made some attaques upon the outworks of Tangier; but my Lord
Teviott, with the loss of about; 200 men, did beat them of and
killed many of them. To-morrow the King and Queene for certain
go down to Tunbridge. But the King comes back again against
Monday to raise the Parliament.

25th. Having intended this day to go to Banstead Downes to see a
famous race, I sent Will. to get himself ready to go with me:
but I hear it is put off, because the Lords do sit in Parliament
to-day. After some debate, Creed and I resolved to go to
Clapham, to Mr. Gauden's. [Dennis Gauden, Victualler to the
Navy; subsequently knighted when Sheriff of London.] When I come
there, the first thing was to show me his house, which is almost
built. I find it very regular and finely contrived, and the
gardens and offices about it as convenient and as full of good
variety as ever I saw in my life. It is true he hath been
censured for laying out so much money; but he tells me that he
built it for his brother, who is since dead, (the Bishop [Of
Exeter.]) who when he should come to be Bishop of Winchester,
which he was promised, (to which bishopricke at present there is
no house), he did intend to dwell here. By and by to dinner, and
in comes Mr. Creed; I saluted his lady and the young ladies, and
his sister, the Bishop's widow; who was, it seems, Sir W.
Russel's daughter, the Treasurer of the Navy; who I find to be
very well-bred, and a woman of excellent discourse. Towards the
evening we bade them adieu! and took horse; being resolved that,
instead of the race which fails us, we would go to Epsom. When
we come there we could hear of no lodging the town so full; but
which was better, I went toward Ashsted, and there we got a
lodging in a little hole we could not stand upright in. While
supper was getting I walked up and down behind my cosen Pepys's
house that was, which I find comes little short of what I took it
to be when I was a little boy.

26th (Lord's day). Up and to the Wells, where a great store of
citizens, which was the greatest part of the company, though
there were some others of better quality. Thence I walked to Mr.
Minnes's house, and thence to Durdan's and walked within the
Court Yard and to the Bowling-green, where I have seen so much
mirth in my time; but now no family in it, (my Lord Barkeley,
whose it is, being with his family at London.) Then rode through
Epsom, the whole town over, seeing the various companys that were
there walking; which was very pleasant to see how they are there
without knowing what to do, but only in the morning to drink
waters. But Lord! to see how many I met there of citizens, that
I could not have thought to have seen there; that they had ever
had it in their heads or purses to go down thither. We went
through Nonesuch Parke to the house, and there viewed as much as
we could of the outside, and looked through the great gates, and
found a noble court; and altogether believe it to have been a
very noble house, and a delicate parke about it, where just now
there was a doe killed for the King to carry up to Court.

27th. We rode hard home, and see up our horses at Fox Hall, and
I by water (observing the King's barge attending his going to the
House this day) home, it being about one o'clock. By water to
Westminster, and there come most luckily to the Lords' House, as
the House of Commons were going into the Lords' House, and there
I crowded in along with the Speaker, and got to stand close
behind him, where he made his speech to the King (who sat with
his crown on and robes, and so all the Lords in their robes, a
fine sight); wherein he told his Majesty what they have done this
Parliament, and now offered for his royall consent. The greatest
matters were a bill for the Lord's day, (which it seems the Lords
have lost, and so cannot be passed, at which the Commons are
displeased.) The bills against Conventicles and Papists (but it
seems the Lords have not passed them), and giving his Majesty
four entire subsidys; which last, with about twenty smaller Acts,
were passed with this form: The Clerk of the House reads the
title of the bill, and then looks at the end and there finds
(writ by the King I suppose) "Le Roy le veult," and that he
reads. And to others he reads, "Soit fait comme vous desirez."
And to the Subsidys as well that for the Commons, I mean the
layety, as for the Clergy, the King writes, "Le Roy remerciant
les Seigneurs et Prelats et accepte leur benevolences." The
Speaker's speech was far from any oratory, but was as plain
(though good matter) as any thing could be, and void of
elocution. After the bills passed, the King, sitting on his
throne, with his speech writ in a paper which he held in his lap,
and scarce looked off of it all the time he made his speech to
them, giving them thanks for their subsidys, of which, had he not
need, he would not have asked or received them; and that need,
not from any extravagancys of his, he was sure, in any thing, but
the disorders of the times compelling him to be at greater charge
than he hoped for the future, by their care in their country, he
should be: and that for his family expenses and others, he would
labour however to retrench in many things convenient, and would
have all others to do so too. He desired that nothing of old
faults should be remembered, or severity for the same used to any
in the country, it being his desire to have all forgot as well as
forgiven. But, however, to use all care in suppressing any
tumults, &c.; assuring them that the restless spirits of his and
their adversaries have great expectations of something to be done
this summer. And promised that though the Acts about
Conventicles and Papists, were not ripe for passing this
Sessions, yet he would take care himself that neither of them
should in this intervall be encouraged to the endangering of the
peace; and that at their next meeting he would himself prepare
two bills for them concerning them. So he concluded, that for
the better proceeding of justice he did think fit to make this a
Sessions, and to prorogue them to the 16th of March next. His
speech was very plain, nothing at all of spirit in it, nor spoke
with any; but rather on the contrary imperfectly, repeating many
times his words though he read all: which I am sorry to see, it
having not been hard for him to have got all the speech without
booke. So they all went away, the King out of the House at the
upper end, he being by and by to go to Tunbridge to the Queene;
and I in the Painted Chamber spoke with my Lord Sandwich while he
was putting off his robes, who tells me he will now hasten down
into the country. By water to White Hall, and walked over the
Parke to St. James's, but missed Mr. Coventry; and so out again,
and there the Duke was coming along the Pell-Mell. It being a
little darkish, I staid not to take notice of him, but went
directly back again. And in our walk over the Parke, one of the
Duke's footmen come running behind us, and come looking just in
our faces to see who we were, and went back again. What his
meaning is I know not, but was fearful that I might not go far
enough with my hat off.

29th. To Deptford, reading by the way a most ridiculous play, a
new one, called "The Politician cheated." [A comedy by Alexander
Green.]

30th. To Woolwich, and there come Sir G. Carteret, and then by
water back to Deptford, where we dined with him at his house. I
find his little daughter Betty, [Her name was Caroline.
Elizabeth died unmarried.] that was in hanging sleeves but a
month or two ago, and is a very little young child, married, and
to whom, but to young Scott, [Thomas, eldest son of Sir Thomas
Scott, of Scott's Hall, in the parish of Smeeth, Kent.] son to
Madam Catharine Scott, [Prince Rupert was supposed to have
intrigued with Mrs. Scott, and was probably the father of the
child.] that was so long in law, and at whose trial I was with
her husband; he pleading that it was unlawfully got and would not
own it, but it seems a little before his death he did owne the
child, and hath left him his estate, not long since. So Sir G.
Carteret hath struck up of a sudden a match with him for his
little daughter. He hath about 2000l. per annum; and it seems
Sir G. C. hath by this means over-reached Sir H. Bennet, who did
endeavour to get this gentleman for a sister of his. By this
means Sir G. Carteret hath married two daughters this year both
very well. [The other daughter was Anne, wife of Sir Nicholas
Slaning, K.B.] The towne talk this day is of nothing but the
great foot-race run this day on Banstead Downes, between Lee, the
Duke of Richmond's footman, and a tyler, a famous runner. And
Lee hath beat him; though the King and Duke of York and all men
almost did bet three or four to one upon the tyler's head.

31st. To the Exchange, where I met Dr. Pierce, who tells me of
his good luck to get to be groom of the Privy-Chamber to the
Queene, and without my Lord Sandwich's help, but only by his good
fortune, meeting a man that hath let him have his right for a
small matter, about 60l. for which he can every day have 400l.
But he tells me my Lord bath lost much honour in standing so long
and so much for that coxcomb Pickering, and at last not carrying
it for him; but hath his name struck out by the King and Queene
themselves after he had been in ever since the Queene's coming.
But he tells me he believes that either Sir H. Bennet, my Lady
Castlemaine, or Sir Charles Barkeley had received some money for
the place, and so the King could not disappoint them, but was
forced to put out this fool rather than a better man. And I am
sorry to hear what he tells me that Sir Charles Barkeley hath
still such power over the King, as to be able to fetch him from
the Council-table to my Lady Castlemaine when he pleases. He
tells me also, as a friend, the great injury that he thinks I do
myself by being so severe in the Yards, and contracting the ill-
will of the whole Navy for those offices, singly upon myself.
Now I discharge a good conscience therein, and I tell him that no
man can (nor do he say any say it,) charge me with doing wrong;
but rather do as many good offices as any man. They think, he
says, that I have a mind to get a good name with the King and
Duke, who he tells me do not consider any such thing; but I shall
have as good thanks to let all alone, and do as the rest. But I
believe the contrary; and yet I told him I never go to the Duke
alone, as others do, to talk of my own services. However, I will
make use of his council, and take some course to prevent having
the single ill-will of the office. Mr. Grant showed me letters
of Sir William Petty's, wherein he says, that his vessel which he
hath built upon two keeles, (a modell whereof, built for the
King, he showed me) hath this month won a wager of 50l. in
sailing between Dublin and Holyhead with the pacquett-boat, the
best ship or vessel the King hath there; and he offers to lay
with any vessel in the world. It is about thirty ton in burden,
and carries thirty men, with good accommodation, (as much more as
any ship of her burden,) and so any vessel of this figure shall
carry more men, with better accommodation by half, than any other
ship. This carries also ten guns, of about five tons weight. In
their coming back from Holyhead they started together, and this
vessel come to Dublin by five at night, and the pacquett-boat not
before eight the next morning; and when they come they did
believe that this vessel had been drowned, or at least behind,
not thinking she could have lived in that sea. Strange things
are told of this vessel, and he concludes his letter with this
position, "I only affirm that the perfection of sayling lies in
my principle, finde it out who can."