Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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30th. Thus this book of two years ends. Myself and family in
good health, consisting of myself and wife, Mercer, her woman,
Mary, Alice, and Susan our maids, and Tom my boy. In a sickly
time of the plague growing on. Having upon my hands the
troublesome care of the Treasury of Tangier, with great sums
drawn upon me, and nothing to pay them with: also the business
of the office great. Considering of removing my wife to
Woolwich; she lately busy in learning to paint, with great
pleasure and successe. All other things well; especially a new
interest I am making, by a match in hand between the eldest son
of Sir G. Carteret, and my Lady Jemimah Montagu. The Duke of
York gone down to the fleet; but all suppose not with intent to
stay there, as it is not fit, all men conceive, he should.

July 1, 1665. Sad at the news that seven or eight houses in
Burying Hall [Probably Basinghall.] street, are shut up of the
plague.

2nd. Sir G. Carteret did send me word that the business between
my Lord and him is fully agreed on, and is mightily liked of by
the King and the Duke of York. Sir G. Lawson was buried late
last night at St. Dunstan's by us, without any company at all.

4th. I hear this day the Duke and Prince Rupert are both come
back from sea, and neither of them go back again. Mr. Coventry
tells me how matters are ordered in the fleet: my Lord Sandwich
goes Admiral; under him Sir G. Ascue, and Sir T. Teddiman: Vice
Admiral, Sir W. Pen; and under him Sir W. Barkeley, and Sir Jos
Jordan: Rear-Admiral, Sir Thomas Allen; and under him Sir
Christopher Mings, and Captain Harman. Walked round to White
Hall, the Park being quite locked up; and I observed a house shut
up this day in the Pell Mell, where heretofore in Cromwell's time
we young men used to keep our weekly clubs.

6th. Alderman Backewell is ordered abroad upon some private
score with a great sum of money; wherein I was instrumental the
other day in shipping him away. It seems some of his creditors
have taken notice of it, and he was like to be broke yesterday in
his absence: Sir G. Carteret telling me that the King and the
kingdom must as good as fall with that man at this time; and that
he was forced to get 4000l. himself to answer Backewell's
people's occasions, or he must have broke; but committed this to
me as a great secret. I could not see Lord Brouncker, nor had
much mind, one of the great houses within two doors of him being
shut up: and Lord! the number of houses visited, which this day
I observed through the town quite round in my way by Long Lane
and London Wall. Sir W. Pen, it seems, sailed last night from
Solebay with about sixty sail of ship, and my Lord Sandwich in
the Prince and some others, it seems, going after them to
overtake them.

7th. At this time I have two tierces of Claret, two quarter
casks of Canary, and a smaller vessel of Sack; a vessel of Tent,
another of Malaga, and another of white wine, all in my wine
cellar together.

9th. I took occasion to have much discourse with Mr. Ph.
Carteret, and find him a very modest man, and I think verily of
mighty good nature, and pretty understanding. He did give me a
good account of the fight with the Dutch. Having promised Harman
yesterday, I to his house: the most observable thing I found
there to my content, was to hear him and his clerk tell me that
in this parish of Michell's Cornhill, one of the middle-most
parishes and a great one of the town, there hath, notwithstanding
this sickness, been buried of any disease, man, woman, or child,
not one for thirteen months last past; which is very strange.
And the like in a good degree in most other parishes, I hear,
saving only of the plague in them.

12th. A solemn fast-day; for the plague growing upon us.

13th. Above 700 died of the plague this week.

14th. I by water to Sir G. Carteret's, and there find my Lady
Sandwich buying things for my Lady Jem's wedding: and my Lady
Jem is beyond expectation come to Dagenham's, [Dagenhams near
Romford, now belonging to Sir Thomas Neave, Bart. This estate
was devised by Mrs. Anne Rider, only surviving child of Sir Henry
Wright, to her relative and friend Edward Carteret, Esq.,
Postmaster-General; whose daughters in 1749 sold it to Henry
Muilman, Esq.; in 1772 it was again disposed of to Mr. Neave
father of the present proprietor, who pulled down the old house
built by Sir H. W., and erected the present mansion on a
different site, Vide LYSONS'S ENVIRONS.] where Mr. Carteret is
to go to visit her to-morrow; and my proposal of waiting on him,
he being to go alone to all persons strangers to him, was well
accepted, and so I go with him. But Lord! to see how kind my
Lady Carteret is to her! Sends her most rich jewells, and
provides bedding and things of all sorts most richly for her.

15th. Mr. Carteret, and I to the ferry-place at Greenwich, and
there staid an hour crossing the water to and again to get our
coach and horses over; and by and by set out, and so toward
Dagenhams. But Lord! what silly discourse we had as to love-
matters, he being the most awkerd man ever I met with in my life
as to that business. Thither we come, and by that time it begun
to be dark, and were kindly received by Lady Wright and my Lord
Crewe. And to discourse they went, my Lord discoursing with him,
asking of him questions of travell, which he answered well enough
in a few words; but nothing to the lady from him at all. To
supper, and after supper to talk again, he yet taking no notice
of the lady. My Lord would have had me have consented to leaving
the young people together to-night, to begin their amours, his
staying being but to be little. But I advised against it, lest
the lady might be too much surprised. So they led him up to his
chamber, where I staid a little, to know how he liked the lady,
which he told me he did mightily: but Lord! in the dullest
insipid manner that ever lover did. So I bid him good night, and
down to prayers with my Lord Crewe's family, and after prayers,
my Lord and Lady Wright, and I, to consult what to do; and it was
agreed at last to have them go to church together, as the family
used to do, though his lameness was a great objection against it.

16th (Lord's day). I up, having lain with Mr. Moore in the
chaplin's chamber. And having trimmed myself, down to Mr.
Carteret; and we walked in the gallery an hour or two, it being a
most noble and pretty house that ever, for the bigness, I saw.
Here I taught him what to do: to take the lady always by the
hand to lead her, and telling him that I would find opportunity
to leave them together, he should make these and these
compliments, and also take a time to do the like to Lord Crewe
and Lady Wright. After I had instructed him, which he thanked me
for, owning that he needed my teaching him, my Lord Crewe come
down and family, the young lady among the rest; and so by coaches
to church four miles off: where a pretty good sermon, and a
declaration of penitence of a man that had undergone the
Churche's censure for his wicked life. Thence back again by
coach, Mr. Carteret having not had the confidence to take his
lady once by the hand, coming or going, which I told him of when
we come home, and he will hereafter do it. So to dinner. My
Lord excellent discourse. Then to walk in the gallery, and to
sit down. By and by my Lady Wright and I go out, (and then my
Lord Crewe, he not by design,) and lastly my Lady Creme come out,
and left the young people together. And a little pretty daughter
of my Lady Wright's most innocently come out afterwards, and shut
the door to, as if she had done it, poor child, by inspiration:
which made us without have good sport to laugh at. They together
an hour, and by and by church-time, whither he led her into the
coach and into the church, where several handsome ladies. But it
was most extraordinary hot that ever I knew it. Anon to supper,
and excellent discourse and dispute between my Lord Crewe and the
chaplin, who is a good scholler, but a nonconformist. Here this
evening I spoke with Mrs. Carter, my old acquaintance, that hath
lived with my lady these twelve or thirteen years, the sum of all
whose discourse and others for her, is, that I would get her a
good husband; which I have promised, but know not when I shall
perform. After Mr. Carteret was carried to his chamber, we to
prayers and then to bed.

17th. Up all of us, and to billiards; my Lady Wright, Mr.
Carteret, myself, and every body. By and by the young couple
left together. Anon to dinner; and after dinner Mr. Carteret
took my advice about giving to the servants 10l. among them.
Before we went, I took my Lady Jem apart, and would know how she
liked this gentleman, and whether she was under any difficulty
concerning him. She blushed, and hid her face awhile; but at
last I forced her to tell me. She answered that she could
readily obey what her father and mother had done; which was all
she could say, or I expect. So anon took leave, and for London.
In our way Mr. Carteret did give me mighty thanks for my care and
pains for him, and is mightily pleased.

18th. I was much troubled this day to hear at Westminster, how
the officers do bury the dead in the open Tuttle-fields,
pretending want of room elsewhere: whereas the new chapel
church-yard was walled-in at the publick charge in the last,
plague-time, merely for want of room and now none, but such as
are able to pay dear for it, can be buried there.

20th. Walked to Redriffe, where I hear the sickness is, and
indeed is scattered almost every where. There dying 1089 of the
plague this week. My Lady Carteret did this day give me a bottle
of plague-water home with me. I received yesterday a letter from
my Lord Sandwich, giving me thanks for my care about their
marriage business, and desiring it to be dispatched, that no
disappointment may happen therein.

21st. Late in my chamber, setting some papers in order; the
plague growing very ranging, and my apprehensions of it great.

22nd. The Duke of Albemarle being gone to dinner to my Lord of
Canterbury's, I thither, and there walked and viewed the new
hall, a new old-fashion hall as possible. Begun, and means left
for the ending of it, by Bishop Juxon. To Fox-hall, where to the
Spring garden; but I do not see one guest there, the town being
so empty of any body to come thither. I by coach home, not
meeting with but two coaches, and but two carts from White Hall
to my own house, that I could observe; and the streets mighty
thin of people. All the news is great: that we must of
necessity fall out with France, for He will side with the Dutch
against us. That alderman Backewell is gone over (which indeed he
is,) with money, and that Ostend is in our present possession.
But it is strange to see how poor Alderman Backewell is like to
be put to it in his absence, Mr. Shaw his right hand being ill.
And the Alderman's absence gives doubts to people, and I perceive
they are in great straits for money, besides what Sir G. Carteret
told me about fourteen days ago. Our fleet under my Lord
Sandwich being about the latitude 55 1/2 (which is a great
secret) to the Northward of the Texell.

23rd. To Hampton Court, where I followed the King to chapel, and
there heard a good sermon; and after sermon with my Lord
Arlington, Sir Thomas Ingram and others, spoke to the Duke about
Tangier, but not to much purpose. I was not invited any whither
to dinner, though a stranger, which did also trouble me; but yet
I must remember it is a Court, and indeed where most are
strangers: but, however, Cutler carried me to Mr. Marriott's the
house-keeper, and there we had a very good dinner and good
company among others Lilly, the painter.

24th. I find Mr. Carteret yet as backward almost in his
caresses, as he was the first day.

25th. Sad the story of the plague in the City, it growing
mightily. This day my Lord Brouncker did give me Mr. Grant's
book upon the Bills of Mortality, new printed and enlarged. This
day came a letter to me from Paris, from my Lord Hinchingbroke,
about his coming over; and I have sent this night an order from
the Duke of Albemarle for a ship of 36 guns to go to Calais to
fetch him.

26th. To Greenwich to the Park, where I heard the King and Duke
are come by water this morn from Hampton Court. They asked me
several questions. The King mightily pleased with his new
buildings there. I followed them to Castle's ship in building,
and there met Sir W. Batten, and thence to Sir G. Carteret's,
where all the morning with them; they not having any but the Duke
of Monmouth, and Sir W. Killigrew, [Vice-Chamberlain to the
Queen.] and one gentleman, and a page more. Great variety of
talk, and was often led to speak to the King and Duke. By and by
they to dinner, and all to dinner and sat down to the King saving
myself. The King having dined, he came down, and I went in the
barge with him, I sitting at the door. Down to Woolwich (and
there I just saw and kissed my wife, and saw some of her
painting, which is very curious; and away again to the King,) and
back again with him in the barge, hearing him and the Duke talk,
and seeing and observing their manner of discourse. And God
forgive me! though I admire them with all the duty possible, yet
the more a man considers and observes them, the less he finds of
difference between them and other men, though (blessed be God!)
they are both princes of great nobleness and spirits. The Duke
of Monmouth is the most skittish leaping gallant that ever I saw,
always in action, vaulting or leaping, or clambering. Sad news
of the death of so many in the parish of the plague, forty last
night. The bell always going. This day poor Robin Shaw at
Backewell's died and Backewell himself in Flanders. The King
himself asked about Shaw, and being told he was dead, said he was
very sorry for it. The sickness is got into our parish this
week, and is got, indeed, every where: so that I begin to think
of setting things in order, which I pray God enable me to put
both as to soul and body.

27th. To Hampton Court, where I saw the King and Queene set out
towards Salisbury, and after them the Duke and Duchesse, whose
hands I did kiss. And it was the first time I did ever, or did
see any body else, kiss her hand, and it was a most fine white
and fat hand. But it was pretty to see the young pretty ladies
dressed like men, in velvet coats, caps with ribbands, and with
laced bands, just like men. Only the Duchesse herself it did not
become. At home met the weekly Bill, where above 100 encreased
in the Bill, and of them, in all about 1700 of the plague, which
hath made the officers this day resolve of sitting at Deptford,
which puts me to some consideration what to do.

28th. Set out with my Lady Sandwich all alone with her with six
horses to Dagenhams; going by water to the Ferry. And a pleasant
going, and a good discourse; and when there very merry, and the
young couple now well acquainted. But Lord! to see in what fear
all the people here do live. How they are afraid of us that come
to them, insomuch that I am troubled at it, and wish myself away.
But some cause they have; for the chaplin, with whom but a week
or two ago we were here mighty high disputing, is since fallen
into a fever and dead, being gone hence to a friend's a good way
off. A sober and a healthful man. These considerations make us
all hasten the marriage, and resolve it upon Monday next.

30th. It was a sad noise to hear our bell to toll and ring so
often to-day, either for death or burials: I think five or six
times.

31st. Up; and very betimes by six o'clock at Deptford, and there
find Sir G. Carteret, and my Lady ready to go: I being in my new
coloured silk suit, and coat trimmed with gold buttons and gold
broad lace round my hands, very rich and fine. By water to the
Ferry, where, when we come, no coach there; and tide of ebb so
far spent as the horse-boat could not get off on the other side
the river to bring away the coach. So we were fain to stay there
in the unlucky Isle of Doggs, in a chill place, the morning cool,
and wind fresh, above two if not three hours to our great
discontent. Yet being upon a pleasant errand, and seeing that it
could not be helped, we did bear it very patiently; and it was
worth my observing, to see how upon these two scores, Sir G.
Carteret, the most passionate man in the world, and that was in
greatest haste to be gone, did bear with it, and very pleasant
all the while, at least not troubled much so as to fret and storm
at it. Anon the coach comes: in the mean time there coming a
news thither with his horse to go over, that told us he did come
from Islington this morning; and that Proctor the vintner of the
Miter in Wood-street, and his son, are dead this morning there,
of the plague; he having laid out abundance of money there, and
was the greatest vintner for some time in London for great
entertainments. We, fearing the canonicall hour would be past
before we got thither, did with a great deal of unwillingness
send away the licence and wedding-ring. So that when we come,
though we drove hard with six horses, yet we found them gone from
home; and going towards the church, met them coming from church,
which troubled us. But, however, that trouble was soon over;
hearing it was well done: they being both in their old clothes;
my Lord Crewe giving her, there being three coach fulls of them.
The young lady mighty sad, which troubled me; but yet I think it
was only her gravity in a little greater degree than usual. All
saluted her, but I did not till my Lady Sandwich did ask me
whether I had saluted her or no. So to dinner, and very merry we
were; but in such a sober way as never almost any thing was in so
great families: but it was much better. After dinner company
divided, some to cards, others to talk. My Lady Sandwich and I
up to settle accounts, and pay her some money. And mighty kind
she is to me, and would fain have had me gone down for company
with her to Hinchingbroke; but for my life I cannot. At night to
supper, and so to talk; and which, methought, was the most
extraordinary thing, all of us to prayers as usual, and the young
bride and bridegroom too: and so after prayers soberly to bed;
only I got into the bridegroom's chamber while he undressed
himself, and there was very merry, till he was called to the
bride's chamber, and into bed they went. I kissed the bride in
bed, and so the curtaines drawne with the greatest gravity that
could be, and so good night. But the modesty and gravity of this
business was so decent, that it was to me indeed ten times more
delightful than if it had been twenty times more merry and
jovial. Thus I ended this month with the greatest joy that ever
I did any in my life, because I have spent the greatest part of
it with abundance of joy, and honour, and pleasant journeys, and
brave entertainments, and without cost of money; and at last live
to see the business ended with great content; on all sides. Thus
we end this month, as I said, after the greatest glut of content
that ever I had; only under some difficulty because of the
plague, which grows mightily upon us, the last week being about
1700 or 1800 of the plague. My Lord Sandwich at sea with a fleet
of about 100 sail, to the Northward, expecting De Ruyter, or the
Dutch East India fleet. My Lord Hinchingbroke coming over from
France, and will meet his sister at Scott's-hall. Myself having
obliged both these families in this business very much; as both
my Lady and Sir G. Carteret and his Lady do confess exceedingly,
and the latter do also now call me cozen, which I am glad of. So
God preserve us all friends long, and continue health among us.

AUGUST 3, 1665. To Dagenhams. All the way people, citizens,
walking to and fro, enquire how the plague is in the City this
week by the Bill; which by chance, at Greenwich, I had heard was
2020 of the plague, and 3000 and odd of all diseases. By and by
met my Lord Crewe returning; Mr. Marr telling me by the way how a
maid-servant of Mr. John Wright's (who lives thereabouts) falling
sick of the plague, she was removed to an out-house, and a nurse
appointed to look to her; who, being once absent, the maid got
out of the house at the window, and run away. The nurse coming
and knocking, and having no answer, believed she was dead, and
went and told Mr. Wright so; who and his lady were in great
strait what to do to get her buried. At last resolved to go to
Burntwood, hard by, being in the parish, and there get people to
do it. But they would not; so he went home full of trouble, and
in the way met the wench walking over the common, which frighted
him worse than before; and was forced to send people to take her,
which he did; and they got one of the pest coaches and put her
into it to carry her to a pest house. And passing in a narrow
lane, Sir Anthony Browne [He commanded a troop of horse in the
Train-bands. 1662.] with his brother and some friends in the
coach, met this coach with the curtains drawn close. The brother
being a young man, and believing there might be some lady in it
that would not be seen, and the way being narrow, he thrust his
head out of his own into her coach, and to look, and there saw
somebody look very ill, and in a sick dress, and stunk mightily;
which the coachman also cried out upon. And presently they come
up to some people that stood looking after it, and told our
gallants that it was a maid of Mr. Wright's carried away sick of
the plague; which put the young gentle man into a fright had
almost cost him his life, but is now well again.

5th. I am told of a great ryott upon Thursday last in Cheapside;
Colonel Danvers, a delinquent, having been taken, and in his way
to the Tower was rescued from the captain of the guard, and
carried away; one only of the rescuers being taken.

8th. To my office a little, and then to the Duke of Albemarle's
about some business. The streets empty all the way, now even in
London, which is a sad sight. And to Westminster Hall, where
talking, hearing very sad stories from Mrs. Mumford; among
others, of Mr. Michell's son's family. And poor Will, that used
to sell us ale at the Hall-door, his wife and three children
died, all, I think, in a day. So home through the City again,
wishing I may have taken no ill in going; but I will go, I think,
no more thither. The news of De Ruyter's coming home is certain;
and told to the great disadvantage of our fleet, and the praise
of De Ruyter; but it cannot be helped.

10th. By and by to the office, where we sat all the morning; in
great trouble to see the Bill this week rise so high, to above
4000 in all, and of them above 3000 of the plague. Home, to draw
over anew my will, which I had bound myself by oath to dispatch
by tomorrow night; the town growing so unhealthy, that a man
cannot depend upon living two days.

12th. The people die so, that now it seems they are fain to
carry the dead to be buried by day-light, the nights not
sufficing to do it in. And my Lord Mayor commands people to be
within at nine at night all, as they say, that the sick may have
liberty to go abroad for ayre. There is one also dead out of one
of our ships at Deptford, which troubles us mightily; the
Providence, fire-ship, which was just fitted to go to sea. But
they tell me to-day no more sick on board. And this day W.
Bodham tells me that one is dead at Woolwich, not far from the
Rope-yard. I am told, too, that a wife of one of the groomes at
Court; is dead at Salisbury; so that the King and Queene are
speedily to be all gone to Milton, So God preserve us!

15th. It was dark before I could get home, and so land at
Church-yard stairs, where, to my great trouble, I met a dead
corps of the plague, in the narrow ally just bringing down a
little pair of stairs. But I thank God I was not much disturbed
at it. However, I shall beware of being late abroad again.

16th. To the Exchange, where I have not been a great while.
But, Lord! how sad a sight it is to see the streets empty of
people, and very few upon the 'Change. Jealous of every door
that one sees shut up, lest it should be the plague; and about us
two shops in three, if not more, generally shut up. This day I
had the ill news from Dagenhams, that my poor Lord of
Hinchingbroke his indisposition is turned to the small-pox. Poor
gentleman that he should be come from France so soon to fall
sick, and of that disease too, when he should be gone to see a
fine lady, his mistress. I am most heartily sorry for it.

18th. To Sheernesse, where we walked up and down, laying out the
ground to be taken in for a yard to lay provisions for cleaning
and repairing of ships, and a most proper place it is for the
purpose.

19th. Come letters from the King and Lord Arlington, for the
removal of our office to Greenwich. I also wrote letters, and
made myself ready to go to Sir G. Carteret, at Windsor; and
having borrowed a horse of Mr. Blackbrough, sent him to wait for
me at the Duke of Albemarle's door: when, on a sudden, a letter
comes to us from the Duke of Albemarle, to tell us that the fleet
is all come back to Solebay, and are presently to be dispatched
back again. Whereupon I presently by water to the Duke of
Albemarle to know what news; and there I saw a letter from my
Lord Sandwich to the Duke of Albemarle, and also from Sir W.
Coventry and Captain Teddiman; how my Lord having commanded
Teddiman with twenty-two ships (of which but fifteen could get
thither, and of those fifteen but eight or nine could come up to
play) to go to Bergen; where, after several messages to and fro
from the Governor of the Castle, urging that Teddiman ought not
to come thither with more than five ships, and desiring time to
think of it, all the while he suffering the Dutch ships to land
their guns to the best advantage; Teddiman on the second
presence, began to play at the Dutch ships, (whereof ten East
India-men,) and in three hours' time (the town and castle,
without any provocation, playing on our ships,) they did cut all
our cables, so as the wind being off the land, did force us to go
out, and rendered our fire-ships useless; without doing any
thing, but what hurt of course our guns must have done them: we
having lost five commanders, besides Mr. Edward Montagu and Mr.
Windham. Our fleet is come home to our great grief with not
above five weeks' dry, and six days' wet provisions however, must
go out again; and the Duke hath ordered the Soveraigne, and all
other ships ready, to go out to the fleet and strengthen them.
This news troubles us all, but cannot be helped. Having read all
this news, and received commands of the Duke with great content,
he giving me the words which to my great joy he hath several
times said to me, that his greatest reliance is upon me. And my
Lord Craven also did come out to talk with me, and told me that I
am in mighty esteem with the Duke, for which I bless God. Home;
and having given my fellow-officers an account hereof, to
Chatham, and wrote other letters. I by water to Charing-Cross,
to the post-house, and there the people tell me they are shut up;
and so I went to the new post-house, and there got a guide and
horses to Hounslow. So to Stanes, and there by this time it was
dark night, and got a guide who lost his way in the forest, till
by help of the moone, (which recompences me for all the pains I
ever took about studying of her motions,) I led my guide into the
way back again; and so we made a man rise that kept a gate, and
so he carried us to Cranborne. [One of the Lodges belonging to
the Crown in Windsor Forest.] Where in the dark I perceive an
old house new building with a great deal of rubbish, and was fain
to go up a ladder to Sir G. Carteret's chamber. And there in his
bed I sat down, and told him all my bad news, which troubled him
mightily; but yet we were very merry, and made the best of it;
and being myself weary did take leave, and after having spoken
with Mr. Fenn [Nicholas Fenne is mentioned as a Commissioner of
the Victualling Office, 1683.--Pepys MS. Letters.] in bed, I to
bed in my Lady's chamber that she uses to lie in, and where the
Duchesse of York, that now is, was born. So to sleep; being very
well, but weary, and, the better by having carried with me a
bottle of strong water; whereof now and then a sip did me good.