Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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5th. I lay down in the office again upon W. Hewer's quilt, being
mighty weary, and sore in my feet with going till I was hardly
able to stand. About two in the morning my wife calls me up, and
tells me of new cryes of fire, it being come to Barking Church,
which is the bottom of our lane. [Sethinge Lane.] I up; and
finding it so, resolved presently to take her away, and did, and
took my gold, which was about 2350l. W. Hewer, and Jane, down by
Proundy's boat to Woolwich; but Lord! what a sad sight it was by
moone-light to see the whole City almost on fire, that you might
see it plain at Woolwich, as if you were by it. There, when I
come, I find the gates shut, but no guard kept at all; which
troubled me, because of discourses now begun, that there is a
plot in it, and that the French had done it. I got the gates
open, and to Mr. Shelden's, where I locked up my gold, and
charged my wife and W. Hewer never to leave the room without one
of them in it, night or day. So back again, by the way seeing my
goods well in the lighters at Deptford, and watched well by
people. Home, and whereas I expected to have seen our house on
fire, it being now about seven o'clock, it was not. But to the
fire, and there find greater hopes than I expected; for my
confidence of finding our office on fire was such, that I durst
not ask any body how it was with us, till I come and saw it was
not burned. But going to the fire, I find by the blowing up of
houses, and the great help given by the workmen out of the King's
yards, sent up by Sir W. Pen, there is a good stop given to it,
as well at Marke-lane end, as ours; it having only burned the
dyall of Barking Church, and part of the porch, and was there
quenched. I up to the top of Barking steeple, and there saw the
saddest sight of desolation that I ever saw; every where great
fires, oyle-cellars, and brimstone, and other things burning. I
became afraid to stay there long, and therefore down again as
fast as I could, the fire being spread as far as I could see it;
and to Sir W. Pen's, and there eat a piece of cold meat, having
eaten nothing since Sunday, [He forgot the shoulder of mutton
from,the cook's the day before.] but the remains of Sunday's
dinner. Here I met with Mr. Young and Whistler; and having
removed all my things, and received good hopes that the fire at
our end is stopped, they and I walked into the town, and find
Fanchurch-street, Gracious-street, and Lumbard-street all in
dust. The Exchange a sad sight, nothing standing there, of all
the statues or pillars, but Sir Thomas Gresham's picture in the
corner. Into Moore-fields, (our feet ready to burn, walking
through the town among the hot coles,) and find that full of
people, and poor wretches carrying their goods there, and every
body keeping his goods together by themselves; (and a great
blessing it is to them that it is fair weather for them to keep
abroad night and day;) drunk there, and paid twopence for a plain
penny loaf. Thence homeward, having passed through Cheapside,
and Newgate market, all burned; and seen Anthony Joyce's house in
fire. And took up (which I keep by me) a piece of glass of
Mercer's chapel in the street, where much more was, so melted and
buckled with the heat of the fire like parchment. I also did see
a poor cat taken out of a hole in a chimney, joyning to the wall
of the Exchange, with the hair all burned off the body, and yet
alive. So home at night, and find there good hopes of saving our
office; but great endeavours of watching all night, and having
men ready; and so we lodged them in the office, and had drink and
bread and cheese for them. And I lay down and slept a good night
about midnight: though when I rose, I heard that there bad been
a great alarme of French and Dutch being risen, which proved
nothing. But it is a strange thing to see how long this time did
look since Sunday, having been always full of variety of actions,
and little sleep, that it looked like a week or more, and I had
forgot almost the day of the week.

6th. Up about five o'clock; and met Mr. Gauden at the gate of
the office, (I intending to go out, as I used, every now and then
to-day, to see how the fire is,) to call our men to Bishop's-
gate, where no fire had yet been near, and there is now one broke
out: which did give great grounds to people, and to me too, to
think that there is some kind of plot in this, (on which many by
this time have been taken, and it hath been dangerous for any
stranger to walk in the streets,) but I went with the men, and we
did put it out in a little time; so that that was well again. It
was pretty to see how hard the women did work in the cannells,
sweeping of water; but then they would scold for drink, and be as
drunk as devils. I saw good butts of sugar broke open in the
street, and people give and take handsfull out, and put into
beer, and drink it. and now all being pretty well, I took boat,
and over to Southwarke, and took boat on the other side the
bridge, and so to Westminster, thinking to shift myself, being
all in dirt from top to bottom; but could not there find any
place to buy a shirt or a pair of gloves, Westminster Hall being
full of people's goods, those in Westminster having removed all
their goods, and the Exchequer money put into vessels to carry to
Nonsuch [Nonsuch House near Epsom, where the Exchequer had
formerly been kept.] but to the Swan, and there was trimmed:
and then to White Hall, but saw nobody; and so home. A sad sight
to see how the River looks: no houses nor church near it, to the
Temple, where it stopped. At home, did go with Sir W. Batten,
and our neighbour, Knightly, (who, with one more, was the only
man of any fashion left in all the neighbourhood thereabouts,
they all removing their goods, and leaving their houses to the
mercy of the fire,) to Sir R. Ford's, and there dined in an
earthen platter--a fried breast of mutton; a great many of us,
but very merry, and indeed as good a meal, though as ugly a one,
as ever I had in my life. Thence down to Deptford, and there
with great satisfaction landed all my goods at Sir G. Carteret's
safe, and nothing missed I could see or hear. This being done to
my great content, I home, and to Sir W. Batten's, and there with
Sir R. Ford, Mr. Knightly, and one Withers, a professed lying
rogue, supped well, and mighty merry, and our fears over. From
them to the office and there slept with the office full of
labourers, who talked, and slept, and walked all night long
there. But strange it is to see Clothworkers' Hall on fire these
three days and nights in one body of flame, it being the cellar
full of oyle.

7th. Up by five o'clock; and, blessed be God! find all well;
and by water to Pane's Wharfe. Walked thence, and saw all the
towne burned, and a miserable sight of Paul's church, with all
the roofs fallen, and the body of the quire fallen into St.
Fayth's; Paul's school also, Ludgate, and Fleet-street. My
father's house, and the church, and a good part of the Temple the
like. So to Creed's lodging, near the New Exchange, and there
find him laid down upon a bed; the house all unfurnished, there
being fears of the fire's coming to them. There I borrowed a
shirt of him, and washed. To Sir W. Coventry, at St. James's,
who lay without curtains, having removed all his goods; as the
King at White Hall, and every body had done, and was doing. He
hopes we shall have no public distractions upon this fire, which
is what every body fears, because of the talk of the French
having a hand in it. And it is a proper time for discontents;
but all men's minds are full of care to protect themselves, and
save their goods: the militia is in arms every where. Our
fleetes, he tells me, have been is sight one of another, and most
unhappily by fowle weather were parted, to our great loss, as in
reason they do conclude; the Dutch being come out only to make a
shew, and please their people; but in very bad condition as to
stores, victuals, and men. They are at Boulogne, and our fleet
come to St. Ellen's. We have got nothing, but have lost one
ship, but he knows not what. Thence to the Swan, and there
drank; and so home, and find all well. My Lord Brouncker, at Sir
W. Batten's, tells us the Generall is sent for up, to come to
advise with the King about business at this juncture, and to keep
all quiet; which is great honour to him, but I am sure is but a
piece of dissimulation. So home, and did give orders for my
house to be made clean; and then down to Woolwich, and there find
all well. Dined, and Mrs. Markham come to see my wife. This day
our Merchants first met at Gresham College, which, by
proclamation, is to be their Exchange. Strange to hear what is
bid for houses; all up and down here; a friend of Sir W. Rider's
having 150l. for what he used to let for 40l. per annum. Much
dispute where the Custome-house shall be; thereby the growth of
the City again to be foreseen. My Lord Treasurer, they say, and
others, would have it at the other end of the town. I home late
to Sir W. Pen's, who did give me a bed; but without curtains or
hangings, all being down. So here I went the first time into a
naked bed, only my drawers on; and did sleep pretty well: but
still both sleeping and waking had a fear of fire in my heart,
that I took little rest. People do all the world over cry out of
the simplicity of my Lord Mayor in generall; and more
particularly in this business of the fire, laying it all upon
him. A proclamation is come out for markets to be kept at
Leadenhall and Mile-end-greene, and several other places about
the town; and Tower-hill, and all churches to be set open to
receive poor people.

8th. I stopped with Sir G. Carteret to desire him to go with us,
and to enquire after money. But the first he cannot do, and the
other as little, or say "When we can get any, or what shall we do
for it?" He, it seems, is employed in the correspondence between
the City and the King every day, in settling of things. I find
him full of trouble, to think how things will go. I left him,
and to St. James's, where we met first at Sir W. Coventry's
chamber, and there did what business we could, without any books.
Our discourse, as every thing else, was confused. The fleet is
at Portsmouth, there staying a wind to carry them to the Downes,
or towards Boulogne, where they say the Dutch fleet is gone, and
stays. We concluded upon private meetings for a while, not
having any money to satisfy any people that may come to us. I
bought two eeles upon the Thames, cost me six shillings. Thence
with Sir W. Batten to the Cock-pit, whither the Duke of Albemarle
is come. It seems the King holds him so necessary at this time,
that he hath sent for him, and will keep him here. Indeed, his
interest in the City, being acquainted, and his care in keeping
things quiet, is reckoned that wherein he will be very
serviceable. We to him: he is courted in appearance by every
body. He very kind to us; and I perceive he lays by all business
of the fleet at present, and minds the City, and is now hastening
to Gresham College, to discourse with the Aldermen. Sir W.
Batten and I home, (where met by my brother John, come to town to
see how things are done with us,) and then presently he with me
to Gresham College; where infinity of people, partly through
novelty to see the new place, and partly to find out and hear
what has become one man of another. I met with many people
undone, and more that have extraordinary great losses. People
speaking their thoughts variously about the beginning of the
fire, and the rebuilding of the City. Then to Sir W. Batten's
and took my brother with me, and there dined with a great company
of neighbours, and much good discourse; among others, of the low
spirits of some rich men in the City, in sparing any
encouragement to the poor people that wrought for the saving
their houses. Among others, Alderman Starling, a very rich man,
without children, the fire at next door to him in our lane, after
our men had saved his house, did give 2s. 6d. among thirty of
them, and did quarrel with some that would remove the rubbish out
of the way of the fire, saying that they come to steal. Sir W.
Coventry told me of another this morning in Holborne, which he
showed the King: that when it was offered to stop the fire near
his house for such a reward that come but to 2s. 6d. a man among
the neighbours he would give but 18d. Thence to Bednall Green by
coach, my brother with me, and saw all well there, and fetched
away my journall-book to enter for five days past. I was much
frighted and kept awake in my bed, by some noise I heard a great
while below stairs; and the boys not coming up to me when I
knocked. It was by their discovery of some people stealing of
some neighbours' wine that lay in vessels in the streets. So to
sleep; and all well all night.

9th. Sunday. Up; and was trimmed, and sent my brother to
Woolwich to my wife, to dine with her. I to church, where our
parson made a melancholy but good sermon; and many and most in
the church cried, specially the women. The church mighty full;
but few of fashion, and most strangers. To church again, and
there preached Dean Harding; [Probably Nathaniel Hardy, Dean of
Rochester.] but, methinks a bad, poor sermon, though proper for
the time; nor eloquent, in saying at this time that the City is
reduced from a large folio to a decimo-tertio. So to my office,
there to write down my journall, and take leave of my brother,
whom I send back this afternoon, though rainy: which it hath not
done a good while before. To Sir W. Pen's to bed, and made my
boy Tom to read me asleep.

10th. All the morning clearing our cellars, and breaking in
pieces all my old lumber, to make room, and to prevent fire. And
then to Sir W. Batten's, and dined; and there hear that Sir W.
Rider says that the town is full of the report of the wealth that
is in his house, and would be glad that his friends would provide
for the safety of their goods there. This made me get a cart;
and thither, and there brought my money all away. Took a
hackney-coach myself, (the hackney-coaches now standing at
Allgate.) Much wealth indeed there is at his house. Blessed be
God, I got all mine well thence, and lodged it in my office; but
vexed to have all the world see it. And with Sir W Batten, who
would have taken away my hands before they were stowed. But by
and by comes brother Balty from sea, which I was glad of; and so
got him, and Mr. Tooker, and the boy, to watch with them all in
the office all night, while I went down to my wife.

11th. In the evening at Sir W. Pen's at supper: he in a mad,
ridiculous, drunken humour; and it; seems there have been some
late distances between his lady and him, as my wife tells me.
After supper, I home, and with Mr. Hater, Gibson, [Probably Clerk
of the Cheque at Deptford in 1688.] and Tom alone, got all my
chests and money into the further cellar with much pains, but
great content to me when done. So very late and weary to bed.

12th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sis W. Pen to St. James's
by water, and there did our usual business with the Duke of York.

13th. Up, and down to Tower Wharfe; and there, with Balty and
labourers from Deptford, did get my goods housed well at home.
So down to Deptford again to fetch the rest, and there eat a bit
of dinner at the Globe, with the master of the Bezan with me,
while the labourers went to dinner. Here I hear that this poor
town do bury still of the plague seven or eight in a day. So to
Sir G. Carteret's to work, and there did to my content ship off
in the Bezan all the rest of my goods, saving my pictures and
fine things, that I will bring home in wherrys when the house is
fit to receive them: and so home, and unload them by carts and
hands before night, to my exceeding satisfaction: and so after
supper to bed in my house, the first time I have lain there.

14th. Up, and to work, having carpenters come to help in setting
up bedsteads and hangings; and at that trade my people and I all
the morning, till pressed by publick business to leave them
against my will in the afternoon: and yet I was troubled in
being at home, to see all my goods lie up and down the house in a
bad condition, and strange workmen going to and fro might take
what they would almost. All the afternoon busy; and Sir W.
Coventry come to me, and found me, as God would have it, in my
office, and people about me setting my papers to rights; and
there discoursed about getting an account ready against the
Parliament, and thereby did create me infinity of business and to
be done on a sudden; which troubled me; but, however, he being
gone, I about it late, and to good purpose. and so home, having
this day also got my wine out of the ground again, and set it in
my cellar; but with great pain to keep the porters that carried
it in from observing the money-chests there.

13th. Captain Cocke says be hath computed that the rents of the
houses lost this fire in the City comes to 600,000l. per annum;
that this will make the Parliament more quiet than otherwise they
would have been, and give the King a more ready supply; that the
supply must be by excise, as it is in Holland; that the
Parliament will see it necessary to carry on the war; that the
late storm hindered our beating the Dutch fleet, who were gone
out only to satisfy the people, having no business to do but to
avoid us; that the French, as late in the year as it is, are
coming; that the Dutch are really in bad condition, but that this
unhappiness of ours do give them heart: that there was a late
difference between my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry about
neglect in the latter to send away an express of the other's in
time; that it come before the King, and the Duke of York
concerned himself in it; but this fire hath stopped it. The
Dutch fleet is not gone home, but rather to the North, and so
dangerous to our Gottenburgh fleet. That the Parliament is
likely to fall foul upon some persons; and, among others, on the
Vice-chamberlaine, [Sir G. Carteret.] though we both believe
with little ground. That certainly never so great a loss as this
was borne so well by citizens in the world; he believing that not
one merchant upon the 'Change will break upon it. That he do not
apprehend there will be any disturbances in State upon it; for
that all men are busy in looking after their own business to save
themselves. He gone, I to finish my letters, and home to bed;
and find to my infinite joy many rooms clean; and myself and wife
lie in our own chamber again. But much terrified in the nights
now-a-days with dreams of fire, and falling down of houses.

17th. Up betimes, and shaved myself after a week's growth: but,
Lord! how ugly I was yesterday and how fine to-day! By water,
seeing the City all the way, a sad sight indeed, much fire being
still in. Sir W. Coventry was in great pain lest the French
fleet should be passed by our fleet, who had notice of them on
Saturday, and were preparing to go meet them; but their minds
altered, and judged them merchant-men, when the same day the
Success, Captain Ball, made their whole fleet, and come to
Brighthelmstone, and thence at five o'clock afternoon, Saturday,
wrote Sir W. Coventry news thereof; so that we do much fear our
missing them. Hence come in and talked with him Sir Thomas
Clifford, [Eldest son of Hugh Clifford, Esq., of Ugbrooke, M.P.
for Totness, 1661, and knighted for his conduct in the sea-fight
1665. After filling several high offices, he was in 1672 created
Baron Clifford of Chudleigh, and constituted High Treasurer;
which place he resigned the following year, a few months before
his death.] who appears a very fine gentleman, and much set by
at Court for his activity in going to sea, and stoutness every
where, and stirring up and down.

18th. This day the Parliament met, and adjourned till Friday,
when the King will be with them.

19th. To St. James's, and did our usual business before the Duke
of York; which signified little, our business being only
complaints of lack of money. Here I saw a bastard of the late
King of Sweden's come to kiss his hands; a mighty modish French-
like gentleman. Thence to White Hall with Sir W. Batten and W.
Pen, to Wilkes's; and there did hear many stories of Sir Henry
Wood. [Clerk of the Spicery to Charles I.; and, after the
Restoration, Clerk to the Board of Green Cloth.] About Lord
Norwich drawing a tooth at a health. Another time, he and
Pinchbacke and Dr. Goffe, [Dr. Gough, Clerk of the Queen's
Closet, and her Assistant Confessor.] now a religious man:--
Pinchbacke did begin a frolick to drink out of a glass with a
toad in it: he did it without harm. Goffe, who knew sacke would
kill the toad, called for sack; and when he saw it dead, says he,
"I will have a quick toad, and will not drink from a dead toad."
By that means, no other being to be found, he escaped the health.

20th. The fleet is come into the Downes. Nothing done, nor
French fleet seen: we drove all from our anchors. But Sir G.
Carteret says news is come that De Ruyter is dead, or very near
it, of a hurt in his mouth, upon the discharge of one of his own
guns: which put him into a fever, and he likely to die, if not
already dead.

21st. The Parliament meet to-day, and the King to be with them.
At the office, about our accounts, which now draw near the time
they should be ready, the House having ordered Sir G. Carteret,
upon his offering them, to bring them in on Saturday next.

23rd. Mr. Wayth and I by water to White Hall, and there at Sir
G. Carteret's lodgings Sir W. Coventry met, and we did debate the
whole business of our accounts to the Parliament; where it
appears to us that the charge of the war from September 1, 1664,
to this Michaelmas, will have been but 3,200,000l., and we have
paid in that time somewhat about 2,200,000l.; so that we owe
above 900,000l.: but our method of accounting, though it cannot,
I believe, be far wide from the mark, yet will not abide a strict
examination if the Parliament should be troublesome. There
happened a pretty question of Sir W. Coventry, whether this
account of ours will not put my Lord Treasurer to a difficulty to
tell what is become of all the money the Parliament have given in
this time for the war, which hath amounted to about 4,000,000l.
which nobody there could answer; but I perceive they did doubt
what his answer could be.

24th. Up, and down to look for Sir W. Coventry; and at last
found him and Sir G. Carteret with the Lord Treasurer at White
Hall, consulting how to make up my Lord Treasurer's general
account, as well as that; of the Navy particularly.

25th. With all my people to get the letter writ over about the
Navy Accounts; and by coach to Lord Brouncker's, and got his hand
to it; and then to the Parliament House and got it signed by the
rest, and then delivered it at the House-door to Sir Philip
Warwicke; Sir G. Carteret being gone into the House with his book
of accounts under his arme, to present to the House. All night
still mightily troubled in my sleep with fire and houses pulling
down.

26th. By coach home, calling at Bennet's, our late mercer, who
is come into Covent Garden to a fine house looking down upon the
Exchange. And I perceive many Londoners every day come. And Mr.
Pierce hath let his wife's closet, and the little blind
bedchamber, and a garret to a silk-man for 50l. fine, and 30l.
per annum, and 40l. per annum more for dieting the master and two
prentices. By Mr. Dugdale I hear the great loss of books in St.
Paul's Church-yard, and at their Hall also, which they value at
about 150,000l.; some book-sellers being wholly undone, and among
others they say my poor Kirton. And Mr. Crumlum, [Samuel
Cromleholme, or Crumlum, Master of St. Paul's School.] all his
books and household stuff burned; they trusting to St. Fayth's,
and the roof of the church falling, broke the arch down into the
lower church, and so all the goods burned. A very great loss.
His father hath lost above 1000l. in books; one book newly
printed, a Discourse, it seems, of Courts. Here I had the hap to
see my Lady Denham: and at night went into the dining-room and
saw several fine ladies; among others, Castlemaine, but chiefly
Denham again; and the Duke of York taking her aside and talking
to her in the sight of all the world, all alone; which was
strange, and what also I did not like. Here I met with good Mr.
Evelyn, who cries out against it, and calls it bickering; for the
Duke of York talks a little to her, and then she goes away, and
then he follows her again like a dog. He observes that none of
the nobility come out of the country at all, to help the King, or
comfort him, or prevent commotions at this fire; but do as if the
King were nobody; nor ne'er a priest comes to give the King and
Court good council, or to comfort the poor people that suffer;
but all is dead, nothing of good in any of their minds: he
bemoans it, and says he fears more ruin hangs over our heads. My
wife tells me she hath bought a gown of 15s. per yard; the same,
before her face, my Lady Castlemaine this day bought also. Sir
W. Pen proposes his and my looking out into Scotland about
timber, and to use Pett there; for timber will be a good
commodity this time of building the City. Our fleet abroad, and
the Dutch too, for all we know. The weather very bad: and under
the command of an unlucky man, I fear. God bless him and the
fleet under him!