Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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15th. Up, and to my Lord Sandwich's; where he sent for me up,
and I did give my Lord an account of what had passed with my Lord
Chancellor yesterday; with which he was pleased, and advised me
by all means to study in the best manner I could to serve him in
this business. After this discourse ended, he began to tell me
that he had now pitched upon his day of going to sea upon Monday
next, and that he would now give me an account how matters are
with him. He told me that his work now in the world is only to
keep up his interest at Court, having little hopes to get more
considerably, he saying that he hath now about 8000l. per annum.
It is true, be says, he oweth about 10,000l.; but he hath been at
great charges in getting things to this pass in his estate;
besides his building and good goods that he hath bought. He says
that he hath now evened his reckonings at the Wardrobe till
Michaelmas last, and hopes to finish it to Lady-day before he
goes. He says now there is due, too, 7000l. to him there, if he
knew how to get it paid, besides 2000l. that Mr. Montagu do owe
him. As to his interest, he says that he hath had all the injury
done him that ever man could have by another bosom friend that
knows all his secrets, by Mr. Montagu: but he says that the
worst of it all is past, and he gone out and hated, his very
person by the King, and he believes the more upon the score of
his carriage to him; nay, that the Duke of York did say a little
while since in his closet, that he did hate him because of his
ungrateful carriage to my Lord of Sandwich. He says that he is
as great with the Chancellor, or greater, than ever in his life.
That with the King he is the like; and told me an instance, that
whereas he formerly was of the private council to the King before
he was last sick, and that by the sickness an interruption was
made in his attendance upon him; the King did not constantly call
him as he used to do to his private council, only in businesses
of the sea and the like; but of late the King did send a message
to him by Sir Harry Bennet, to excuse the King to my Lord that he
had not of late sent for him as he used to do to his private
council, for it was not out of any distaste, but to avoid giving
offence to some others whom he did not name; but my Lord supposes
it might be Prince Rupert, or it may be only that the King would
rather pass it by an excuse, than be thought unkind; but that now
he did desire him to attend him constantly, which of late he hath
done, and the King never more kind to him in his life than now.
The Duke of York, as much as is possible; and in the business of
late, when I was to speak to my Lord about his going to sea, he
says that he finds the Duke did it with the greatest ingenuity
and love in the world: "and whereas," says my Lord, "here is a
wise man hard by that thinks himself so, and it may be is in a
degree so, (naming by and by my Lord Crewe,) would have had me
condition with him that neither Prince Rupert nor any body should
come over his head, and I know not what." The Duke himself hath
caused in his commission, that he be made Admirall of this and
what other ships or fleets shall hereafter be put out after
these; which is very noble. He tells me in these cases, and that
of Mr. Montagu's, and all others, he finds that bearing of them
patiently is the best way, without noise or trouble, and things
wear out of themselves and come fair again. But says he takes it
from me, never to trust too much to any man in the world, for you
put yourself into his power; and the best seeming friend and real
friend as to the present may have or take occasion to fall out
with you, and then out comes all. Then he told me of Sir Harry
Bennet, though they were always kind, yet now it is become to an
acquaintance and familiarity above ordinary, that for these
months he hath done no business but with my Lord's advice in his
chamber, and promises all faithfull love to him and service upon
all occasions. My Lord says, that he hath the advantage of being
able by his experience to help out and advise him; and he
believes that that chiefly do invite Sir Harry to this manner of
treating him. "Now," says my Lord, "the only and the greatest
embarras that I have in the world is, how to behave myself to Sir
H. Bennet and my Lord Chancellor, in case that there do lie any
thing under the embers about my Lord Bristoll, which nobody can
tell; for then," says he, "I must appear for one or other, and I
will lose all I have in the world rather than desert my Lord
Chancellor: so that," says he, "I know not for my life what to
do in that case." For Sir H. Bennet's love is come to the
height, and his confidence, that he hath given my lord a
character, [A cypher.] and will oblige my Lord to correspond
with him. "This," says he, "is the whole condition of my estate
and interest; which I tell you, because I know not whether I
shall see you again or no." Then as to the voyage, he thinks it
will be of charge to him, and no profit; but that he must not now
look after nor think to encrease, but study to make good what he
hath, that what is due to him from the Wardrobe or elsewhere may
be paid, which otherwise would fail, and all a man hath be but
small content to him. So we seemed to take leave one of another;
my Lord of me, desiring me that I would write to him and give him
information upon all occasions in matters that concern him;
which, put together with what he preambled with yesterday, makes
me think that my Lord do truly esteem me still, and desires to
preserve my service to him; which I do bless God for. In the
middle of our discourse my Lady Crewe come in to bring my Lord
word that he hath another son, my Lady being brought to bed just
now, for which God be praised! and send my Lord to study the
laying up of something the more! Thence with Creed to St.
James's, and missing Mr. Coventry, to White Hall; where, staying
for him in one of the galleries, there comes out of the
chayre-roome Mrs. Stewart in a most lovely form, with her hair
all about her eares, having her picture taken there. There was
the King and twenty more I think, standing by all the while, and
a lovely creature she in the dress seemed to be.

18th. Sir G. Cateret and I did talk together in the Parke about
my Lord Chancellor's business of the timber; he telling me freely
that my Lord Chancellor was never so angry with him in all his
life, as he was for this business, and in a great passion; and
that when he saw me there, he knew what it was about. And plots
now with me how we may serve my Lord, which I am mightily glad
of; and I hope together we may do it. Thence I to my Lord
Chancellor, and discoursed his business with him. I perceive,
and he says plainly,that he will not have any man to have it in
his power to say that my Lord Chancellor did contrive the
wronging the King of his timber; but yet I perceive, he would be
glad to have service done him therein; and told me Sir G.
Carteret hath told him that he and I would look after his
business to see it done in the best manner for him.

20th. With Mr. Deane, discoursing upon the business of my Lord
Chancellor's timber, in Clarendon Park, and how to make a report
therein without offending him; which at last I drew up, and hope
it will please him. But I would to God neither I nor he ever had
any thing to have done with it! To White Hall, to the Committee
for Fishing; but nothing done, it being a great day to-day there
upon drawing at the Lottery of Sir Arthur Slingsby. [Evelyn says
this Lottery was a shameful imposition.] I got in and stood by
the two Queenes and the Duchesse of York, and just behind my Lady
Castlemaine, whom I do heartily admire; and good sport to see how
most that did give their ten pounds did go away with a pair of
globes only for their lot, and one gentlewoman, one Mrs. Fish,
with the only blanke. And one I staid to see draw a suit of
hangings valued at 430l. and they say are well worth the money,
or near it. One other suit there is better than that; but very
many lots of three and four-score pounds. I observed the King
and Queene did get but as poor lots as any else. But the wisest
man I met with was Mr. Cholmley, who insured as many as would,
from drawing of the one blank for 12d.; in which case there was
the whole number of persons to one, which I think was three or
four hundred. And so he insured about 200 for 200 shillings, so
that he could not have lost if one of them had drawn it for there
was enough to pay the 10l. but it happened another drew it, and
so he got all the money he took.

25th. Met with a printed copy of the King's commission for the
repairs of Paul's, which is very large, and large power for
collecting money, and recovering of all people that had bought or
sold formerly any thing belonging to the Church. No news, only
the plague is very hot still, and encreases among the Dutch.

26th. Great discourse of the fray yesterday in Moorefields, how
the butchers at first did beat the weavers, (between whom there
hath been ever an old competition for mastery,) but at last the
weavers rallied and beat them. At first the butchers knocked
down all for weavers that had green or blue aprons, till they
were fain to pull them off and put them in their breeches. At
last the butchers were fain to pull off their sleeves, that they
might not be known, and were roundly beaten out of the field, and
some deeply wounded and bruised; till at last the weavers went
out tryumphing, calling 100l. for a butcher.

28th. I am overjoyed in hopes that upon this month's account I
shall find myself worth 1000l. besides the rich present of two
silver and gilt flaggons, which Mr. Gauden did give me the other
day. My Lord Sandwich newly gone to sea, and he did before his
going, and by his letter since, show me all manner of respect and
confidence.

30th. To the 'Change, where great talk of a rich present brought
by an East India ship from some of the Princes of India, worth to
the King 70,000l. in two precious stones.

AUGUST 1, 1664. To the Coffee-house, and there all the house
full of the victory Generall Soushe (who is a Frenchman, a
soldier of fortune, commanding part of the German army) hath had
against the Turke; killing 4000 men, and taking most
extraordinary spoil.

2nd. To the King's play-house, and there saw "Bartholomew
Fayre;" which do still please me; and is, as it is acted, the
best comedy in the world, I believe. I chanced to sit by Tom
Killigrew, who tells me that he is setting up a nursery; that is,
is going to build a house in Moorefields, wherein he will have
common plays acted. But four operas it shall have in the year,
to act six weeks at a time: where we shall have the best scenes
and machines, the best musique, and everything as magnificent as
is in Christendome; and to that end hath sent for voices and
painters and other persons from Italy. Thence homeward called
upon my Lord Marlborough.

4th. To a play at the King's house, "The Rivall Ladys," [A
Tragedy by Dryden.] a very innocent and meet pretty witty play.
I was much pleased with it, and it being given me, [His companion
paid for him.] I look upon it as no breach of my oath. Here we
hear that Clun, one of their best actors, was, the last night,
going out of towne (after he had acted the Alchymist, wherein was
one of his best parts that he acts) to his country-house, set
upon and murdered; one of the rogues taken, an Irish fellow. It
seems most cruelly butchered and bound. The house will have a
great miss of him. Thence visited my Lady Sandwich, who tells me
my Lord FitzHarding is to be made a Marquis.

5th. About ten o'clock I dressed myself, and so mounted upon a
very pretty mare, sent me by Sir W. Warren, according to his
promise yesterday. And so through the City, not a little proud,
God knows, to be seen upon so pretty a beast, and to my cosen W.
Joyce's, who presently mounted too, and he and I out of towne
toward Highgate; in the way, at Kentish-towne, he showing me the
place and manner of Clun's being killed and laid in a ditch, and
yet was not killed by any wounds, having only one in his arm, but
bled to death through his struggling. He told me, also, the
manner of it, of his going home so late drinking with his
mistress, and manner of having it found out.

7th. I saw several poor creatures carried by, by constables, for
being at a conventicle. They go like lambs, without any
resistance. I would to God they would either conform, or be more
wise, and not be catched,'

9th. This day come the news that the Emperour hath beat, the
Turke: killed the Grand Vizier and several great Bassas, with an
army of 80,000 men killed and routed; with some considerable loss
of his own side, having lost three generals, and the French
forces all cut off almost. Which is thought as good a service to
the Emperour as beating the Turke almost.

10th. Abroad to find out one to engrave my tables upon my new
sliding rule with silver plates, it being so small that Browne
that made it cannot get one to do it. So I got Cocker, [Edward
Cocker, the well known writing-master and arithmetician. Ob.
circ. 1679.] the famous writing-master, to do it, and I set an
hour by him to see him design it all: and strange it is to see
him with his natural eyes to cut so small at his first designing
it, and read it all over, without any missing, when for my life I
could not, with my best skill, read one word, or letter of it;
but it is use. He says that the best light for his life to do a
very small thing by, (contrary to Chaucer's words to the Sun,
"that he should lend his light to them that small seals grave,")
it should be by an artificial light of a candle, set to
advantage, as he could do it. I find the fellow, by his
discourse, very ingenious: and among other things, a great
admirer and well read in the English poets, and undertakes to
judge of them all, and that not impertinently.

11th. Comes Cocker with my rule, which he hath engraved to
admiration, for goodness and smallness of work: it cost me 14s.
the doing. This day, for a wager before the King, my Lords of
Castlehaven and Arran, (a son of my Lord of Ormond's) they two
alone did run down and kill a stoute bucke in St. James's parke.

13th. To the new play, at the Duke's house, of "Henry the
Fifth;" a most noble play, writ by my Lord Orrery; wherein
Betterton, Harris, and Ianthe's parts most incomparably wrote and
done, and the whole play the most full of height and raptures of
wit and sense, that ever I heard; having but one incongruity,
that King Harry promises to plead for Tudor to their mistress,
Princesse Katherine of France, more than when it comes to it he
seems to do; and Tudor refused by her with some kind of
indignity, not with a difficulty and honour that it ought to have
been done in to him.

15th. With Sir J. Minnes, he talking of his cures abroad, while
he was with the King as a doctor. And among others, Sir J.
Benham he told me he had cured to a miracle. At Charing Cross,
and there saw the great Dutchman that is come over, under whose
arm I went with my hat on, and could not reach higher than his
eyebrowes with, the tip of my fingers. He is a comely and well-
made man, and his wife a very little but pretty comely Dutch
woman.

16th. Wakened about two o'clock this morning with a noise of
thunder, which lasted for an hour, with such continued
lightnings, not flashes, but flames, that all the sky and ayre
was light; and that for a great while, not a minute's space
between new flames all the time: such a thing as I never did
see, nor could have believed had even been in nature. And being
put into a great sweat with it, could not sleep till all was
over. And that accompanied with such a storm of rain as I never
heard in my life. I expected to find my house in the morning
overflowed; but I find not one drop of rain in my house, nor any
news of hurt done. Mr. Pierce tells me the King do still sup
every night with my Lady Castlemaine.

19th. The news of the Emperour's victory over the Turkes is by
some doubted, but by most confessed to be very small (though
great,) of what was talked, which was 80,000 men to be killed and
taken of the Turke's side.

20th. I walked to Cheapside to see the effect of a fire there
this morning, since four o'clock: which I find in the house of
Mr. Bois, that married Doctor Fuller's niece, who are both out of
town, leaving only a maid and man in town. It begun in their
house, and hath burned much and many houses backward, though none
forward; and that in the great uniform pile of buildings in the
middle of Cheapside. I am very sorry for them, for the Doctor's
sake. Thence to the 'Change, and so home to dinner. And thence
to Sir W. Batten's, whither Sir Richard Ford come, the Sheriffe,
who hath been at this fire all the while; and he tells me, upon
my question, that he and the Mayor [Sir John Robinson.] were
there, as it is their dutys to be, not only to keep the peace,
but they have power of commanding the pulling down of any house
or houses, to defend the City. By and by comes in the Common
Cryer of the City to speak with him; and when he was gone, says
he, "You may see by this man the constitution of the Magistracy
of this City; that this fellow's place, I dare give him (if he
will be true to me,) 1000l. for his profits every year, and
expect to get 500l. more to myself thereby. When," says he, "I
in myself am forced to spend many times as much."

26th. To see some pictures at one Hiseman's, [Huysman.] a
picture-drawer, a Dutchman, which is said to exceed Lilly, and
indeed there is both of the Queenes and Maids or honour
(particularly Mrs. Stewart's in a buff doublet like a soldier)
[Still to be seen at Kensington Palace.] as good pictures I
think as ever I saw. The Queene is drawn in one like a
shepherdess, in the other like St. Katharin, most like and most
admirably. I was mightily pleased with this sight indeed. Mr.
Pen, Sir William's son, is come back from France, and come to
visit my wife. A most modish person grown, she says a fine
gentleman.

27th. All the news this day is, that the Dutch are, with twenty-
two sail of ships of warr, crewsing up and down about Ostend: at
which we are alarmed. My Lord Sandwich is come back into the
Downes with only eight sail, which is or may be a prey to the
Dutch, if they knew our weakness and inability to set out any
more speedily.

31st. Prince Rupert I hear this day is to go to command this
fleet going to Guinny against the Dutch. I doubt few will be
pleased with his going, being accounted an unhappy man.

SEPTEMBER 5, 1664. With the Duke; where all our discourse of war
in the highest measure. Prince Rupert was with us; who is
fitting himself to go to sea in the Heneretta. And afterwards I
met him and Mr. Gray, and says he, "I can answer but for one
ship, and in that I will do my part; for it is not in that as in
the army, where a man can command every thing."

6th. This day Mr. Coventry did tell us how the Duke did receive
the Dutch Embassador the other day: by telling him that, whereas
they think us in jest, he believes that the Prince (Rupert) which
goes in this fleet to Guinny will soon tell them that we are in
earnest, and that he himself will do the like here, in the head
of the fleet here at home; and that he did not doubt to live to
see the Dutch as fearfull of provoking the English, under the
government of a King, as he remembers there to have been under
that of a Coquin.

11th. With Mr. Blagrave walking in the Abbey, he telling me the
whole government and discipline of White Hall Chapel, and the
caution now used against admitting any debauched persons.

12th. Up, and to my cosen Anthony Joyce's, and there took leave
of my aunt James, and both cosens, their wives, who are this day
going down to my father's by coach. I did give my aunt 20s., to
carry as a token to my mother, and 10s. to Poll. [His sister
Paulina.] With the Duke; and saw him with great pleasure play
with his little girle, like an ordinary private father of a
child.

19th. Dr. Pierce tells me (when I was wondering that Fraizer
should order things with the Prince in that confident manner,)
that Fraizer is so great with my Lady Castlemaine, and Stewart,
and all the ladies at Court, in helping to slip their calfes when
there is occasion, and with the great men in curing of them, that
he can do what he please with the King in spite of any man, and
upon the same score with the Prince; they all having more or less
occasion to make use of him.

22nd. Home to-bed; having got a strange cold in my head, by
flinging off my hat at dinner, and sitting with the wind in my
neck. [In Lord Clarendon's Essay on the decay of respect paid to
Age, he says, that in his younger days he never kept his hat on
before those older than himself, except at dinner.]

23rd. We were told to-day of a Dutch ship of 3 or 400 tons,
where all the men were dead of the plague, and the ship cast
ashore at Gottenburgh.

29th. Fresh newes come of our beating the Dutch at Guinny quite
out of all their castles almost, which will make them quite mad
here at home sure. and Sir G. Carteret did tell me, that the
King do joy mightily at it; but asked him laughing, "But," says
he, "how shall I do to answer this to the Embassador when he
comes?" Nay they say that we have beat them out of the New
Netherlands too; so that we have been doing them mischief for a
great while in several parts of the world, without publick
knowledge or reason. Their fleete for Guinny is now, they say,
ready, and abroad, and will be going this week.

OCTOBER 1, 1664. We go now on with vigour in preparing against
the Dutch; who, they say, will now fall upon us without doubt
upon this high news come of our beating them so wholly in Guinny.

2nd. After church I walked to my Lady Sandwich's, through my
Lord Southampton's new buildings in the fields behind Gray's Inn,
and, indeed, they are a very great and a noble work.

3rd. With Sir J. Minnes, by coach, to St. James's; and there all
the news now of very hot preparations for the Dutch: and being
with the Duke, he told us he was resolved to take a tripp
himself, and that Sir W. Pen should go in the same ship with him.
Which honour, God forgive me! I could grudge him, for his
knavery and dissimulation, though I do not envy much the having
the same place myself. Talk also of great haste in the getting
out another fleet, and building some ships; and now it is likely
we have put one another's dalliance past a retreate.

4th. After dinner to a play, to see "The Generall;" which is so
dull and so ill-acted, that I think it is the worst I ever saw or
heard in all my days. I happened to sit near to Sir Charles
Sedley: who I find a very witty man, and he did at every line
take notice of the dullness of the poet and badness of the
action, that most pertinently; which I was mightily taken with.

5th. To the Musique-meeting at the Post-office, where I was once
before. And thither anon come all the Gresham College, and a
great deal of noble company: and the new instrument was brought
called the Arched Viall, where being tuned with lute-strings, and
played on with kees like an organ, a piece of parchment is always
kept moving; and the strings, which by the kees are pressed down
upon it, are grated in imitation of a bow, by the parchment; and
so it is intended to resemble several vyalls played on with one
bow, but so basely and so harshly, that it will never do. But
after three hours' stay it could not be fixed in tune: and so
they were fain to go to some other musique of instruments. This
morning, by three o'clock, the Prince [Rupert.] and King, and
Duke with him, went down the River, and the Prince under sail
the next tide after, and so is gone from the Hope. God give him
better success than he used to have!

10th. This day, by the blessing of God, my wife and I have been
married nine years: but my head being full of business, I did
not think of it to keep it in any extraordinary manner. But
bless God for our long lives and loves and health together, which
the same God long continue, I wish, from my very heart!

11th. Luellin tells me what an obscene loose play this "Parson's
Wedding" [A comedy, by Thomas Killigrew.] is, that is acted by
nothing but women at the King's house. My wife tells me the sad
news of my Lady Castlemaine's being now become so decayed, that
one would not know her; at least far from a beauty, which I am
sorry for. This day with great joy Captain Titus told us the
particulars of the French's expedition against Gigery upon the
Barbary Coast, in the Straights, with 6000 chosen men. They have
taken the Fort of Gigery, wherein were five men and three guns,
which makes the whole story of the King of France's policy and
power to be laughed at.

12th. For news, all say De Ruyter is gone to Guinny before us.
Sir J. Lawson is come to Portsmouth; and our fleet is hastening
all speed: I mean this new fleet. Prince Rupert with his is got
into the Downes.