Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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27th. This day at a leisure, the King and Duke of York being
gone down to Sheerenesse this morning to lay out the design for a
fortification there to the river Medway; and so we do not attend
the Duke or York as we should otherwise have done. To the Dock
Yard, and went into Mr. Pett's; and there beyond expectation he
did present me with a Japan cane with a silver head, and his wife
sent me by him a ring with a Woolwich stone, now much in request;
which I accepted, the values not being great: and then at my
asking did give me an old draught of an ancient-built ship, given
him by his father, of the Beare in Queene Elizabeth's time. Mr.
Hunt, newly come out of the country, tells me the country is much
impoverished by the greatness of taxes: the farmers do break
every day almost, and 1000l. a year become not worth 500l. He
told me some ridiculous pieces of thrift of Sir G. Downing's, who
is his countryman, in inviting some poor people at Christmas
last, to charm the country people's mouths; but did give them
nothing but beef, porridge, pudding, and pork, and nothing said
all dinner, but only his mother would say, "It's good broth,
son." He would answer, "Yes, it is good broth." Then says his
lady, "Confirm all, and say, Yes, very good broth." By and by
she would begin and say, "Good pork:" "Yes," says the mother,
"good pork." Then he cries, "Yes, very good pork." And so they
said of all things; to which nobody made any answer, they going
there not out of love or esteem of them, but to eat his victuals,
knowing him to be a, niggardly fellow; and with this he is jeered
now all over the country. Met Mr. Cooling, who tells me of my
Lord Duke of Buckingham's being sent for last night by a Sergeant
at Armes to the Tower for treasonable practices, and that the
King is infinitely angry with him, and declared him no longer one
of his Council. I know not the reason of it, or occasion.

28th. Mr. Holland gives it me as his opinion, that the City will
never be built again together, as is expected, while any
restraint is laid upon them. I did within these six days see
smoke still remaining of the late fire in the City. Sir J.
Minnes this night tells me that he hears for certain that ballads
are made of us in Holland for begging of a peace; which I
expected, but am vexed at. So ends this month with nothing of
weight upon my mind but for my father and mother, who are both
very ill, and have been so for some weeks: whom God help! but I
do fear my poor father will hardly be ever naturally well again.

March 1, 1666-7. In Mark-lane I do observe (it being St. David's
day) the picture of a man, dressed like a Welchman, hanging by
the neck upon one of the poles that stand out at the top of one
of the merchant's houses, in full proportion, and very handsomely
done; which is one of the oddest sights I have seen a good while.
Tom Woodall, the known chyrurgeon, is killed at Somerset House by
a Frenchman in a drunken quarrel.

2nd. After dinner with my wife to the King's house to see "The
Mayden Queene," a new play of Dryden's, mightily commended for
the regularity of it, and the strain and wit: and the truth is,
there is a comical part done by Nell, which is Florimell, that I
never can hope ever to see the like done again by man or woman.
The King and Duke of York were at the play. But so great
performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in the world
before as Nell do this, both as a mad girle, then most and best
of all when she comes in like a young gallant; and hath the
motions and carriage of a spark the most that ever I saw any man
have. It makes me, I confess, admire her.

3rd. it is believed that the Dutch will yield to have the treaty
at London or Dover, neither of which will get our King any
credit, we having already consented to have it at the Hague;
which, it seems, De Witt opposed, as a thing wherein the King of
England must needs have some profound design, which in my
conscience he hath not. They do also tell me that news is this
day come to the King, that the King of France is come with his
army to the frontiers of Flanders, demanding leave to pass
through their country towards Poland, but is denied, and
thereupon that he is gone into the country. How true this is I
dare not believe till I hear more. I walked into the Park, it
being a fine but very cold day; and there took two or three turns
the length of the Pell Mell: and there I met Serjeant Bearcroft,
who was sent for the Duke of Buckingham, to have brought him
prisoner to the Tower. He come to town this day, and brings word
that being overtaken and outrid by the Duchesse of Buckingham
within a few miles of the Duke's house of Westhorp, he believes
she got thither about a quarter of an hour before him, and so had
time to consider; so that when he come the doors were kept shut
against him. The next day coming with officers of the neighbour
market-town to force open the doors, they were open for him, but
the Duke gone: so he took horse presently, and heard upon the
road that the Duke of Buckingham was gone before him for London:
so that he believes he is this day also come to town before him;
but no news is yet heard of him. This is all he brings. Thence
to my Lord Chancellor's, and there meeting Sir H. Cholmly, he and
I walked in my Lord's garden, and talked among other things, of
the treaty; and he says there will certainly be a peace, but I
cannot believe it. He tells me that the Duke of Buckingham his
crimes, as far as he knows, are his being of a cabal with some
discontented persons of the late House of Commons, and opposing
the desires of the King in all his matters in that House: and
endeavouring to become popular, and advising how the Commons'
House should proceed, and how he would order the House of Lords.
And that he hath been endeavouring to have the King's nativity
calculated: which was done, and the fellow now in the Tower
about it: which itself hath heretofore, as he says, been held
treason, and people died for it: but by the Statute of Treason
in Queen Mary's time and since, it hath been left out. He tells
me that this silly Lord hath provoked by his ill carriage the
Duke of York, my Lord Chancellor, and all the great persons; and
therefore most likely will die. He tells me too many pratices of
treachery against this King; as betraying him in Scotland, and
giving Oliver an account of the King's private councils: which
the King knows very well, and yet hath pardoned him.

6th. To White Hall; and here the Duke of York did acquaint us
(and the King did the like also afterwards coming in) with his
resolution of altering the manner of the war this year: that is,
we shall keep what fleet we have abroad in several squadrons: so
that now all is come out; but we are to keep it as close as we
can, without hindering the work that is to be done in preparation
to this. Great preparations there are to fortify Sheerenesse and
the yard at Portsmouth, and forces are drawing down to both those
places, and elsewhere by the sea-side; so that we have some fear
of invasion: and the Duke of York himself did declare his
expectation of the enemy's blocking us up here in the river, and
therefore directed that we should send away all the ships that we
have to fit out hence. Sir W. Pen told me, going with me this
morning to White Hall, that for certain the Duke of Buckingham is
brought into the Tower, and that he hath had an hour's private
conference with the King before he was sent thither. Every body
complains of the dearness of coals, being at 4l. per chaldron,
the weather too being become most bitter cold, the King saying
to-day that it was the coldest day he ever knew in England.
Thence by coach to my Lord Crewe's, where very welcome. Here I
find they are in doubt where the Duke of Buckingham is; which
makes me mightily reflect on the uncertainty of all history, when
in a business of this moment, and of this day's growth, we cannot
tell the truth.

7th. To Devonshire House, to a burial of a kinsman of Sir R.
Viner's; and there I received a ring. To the Duke's playhouse,
and saw "The English Princesse, or Richard the Third;" [A
tragedy, by J. Caryl.] a most sad, melancholy play, and pretty
good, but nothing eminent in it, as some tragedys are; only
little Miss Davis did dance a jigg after the end of the play, and
there telling the next day's play, so that it come in by force
only to please the company to see her dance in boy's clothes; and
the truth is, there is no comparison between Nell's dancing the
other day at the King's house in boy's clothes and this, this
being infinitely beyond the other. [Mary Davis, some time a
comedian in the Duke of York's troop, was, according to Pepys,
natural daughter of the Earl of Berkshire: she afterwards became
the King's mistress, and had by him a child named Mary Tudor,
married to Francis Ratcliffe, 2nd Earl of Derwentwater; whose son
James, the 3rd Earl, was attainted and beheaded for High Treason.
There is a fine whole-length portrait of Miss Davis, by Kneller,
lately removed to Audley End, from the collection at Billingbear,
in which she is represented as a tall handsome woman, and her
general appearance ill accords with time description given of her
in the Diary.] This day was reckoned by all people the coldest
day that ever was remembered in England; and, God knows, coals at
a very great price.

8th. Sir H. Cholmly and I to the Temple, and there parted, he
telling me of my Lord Bellasses's want of generosity, and that he
will certainly be turned out of his government, and he thinks
himself stands fair for it.

9th. Captain Cocke, who was here to-night, did tell us that he
is certain that yesterday a proclamation was voted at the council
touching the proclaiming of my Lord Duke of Buckingham a traytor,
and that it will be out on Monday.

11th. Yesterday the King did publicly talk of the King of
France's dealing with all the Princes of Christendome. As to the
States of Holland he hath advised them, on good grounds, to
refuse to treat with us at the Hague, because of having
opportunity of spies by reason of our interest in the House of
Orange; and then, it being a town in one particular province, it
would not be fit to have it but in a town wherein the provinces
have equal interest, as at Mastricht and other places named. That
he advises them to offer no terms, nor accept of any, without his
privity and consent, according to agreement; and tells them, if
not so, he hath in his power to be even with them, the King of
England being come to offer any terms he pleases: and that my
Lord St. Albans is now at Paris, Plenipotentiary, to make what
peace he pleases; and so he can make it and exclude them (the
Dutch) if he sees fit. A copy of this letter of the King of
France's the Spanish Ambassador here gets, and comes and tells
all to our King; which our King denies, and says the King of
France only uses his power of saying anything. At the same time
the King of France writes to the Emperor, that he is resolved to
do all things to express affection to the Emperor, having it now
in his power to make what peace he pleases between the King of
England and him, and the States of the United Provinces; and
therefore, that he would not have him to concern himself in a
friendship with us; and assures him that on that regard he will
not offer anything to his disturbance in his interest in Flanders
or elsewhere. He writes at the same time to Spain, to tell him
that he wonders to hear of a league almost ended between the
Crown of Spain and England, by my Lord Sandwich, and all without
his privity, while he was making a peace upon what terms he
pleased with England. That he is a great lover of the Crown of
Spain, and would take the King and his affairs during his
minority into his protection, nor would offer to set; his foot in
Flanders or any where else to disturb him; and therefore would
not have him to trouble himself to make peace with any body; only
he hath a desire to offer an exchange, which he thinks may be of
moment to both sides: that is, that he will enstate the King of
Spain in the kingdom of Portugall, and he and the Dutch will put;
him into possession of Lisbon; and that being done, he may have
Flanders: and this, they say, do mightily take in Spain, which
is sensible of the fruitless expence Flanders, so far off, gives
them; and how much better it would be for them to be master of
Portugall: and the King of France offers for security herein
that the King of England shall be bond for him, and that he will
counter-secure the King of England with Amsterdam: and it seems
hath assured our King, that if he will make a league with him, he
will make a peace exclusive to the Hollander. These things are
almost romantique, but yet true, as Sir H. Cholmly tells me the
King himself did relate it all yesterday; and it seems as if the
King of France did think other princes fit for nothing but to
make sport for him: but simple princes they are that are forced
to suffer this from him. The proclamation has this day come out
against the Duke of Buckingham, commanding him to come in to one
of the Secretaries, or to the Lieutenant of the Tower. A silly,
vain man to bring himself to this: and there be many hard
circumstances in the proclamation of the causes of this
proceeding of the King's, which speak great displeasure of the
King's, and crimes of his.

13th. The Duke of Buckingham is concluded gone over sea, and, it
is thought, to France.

14th. To my Lord Treasurer's. By and by comes the King and Duke
of York, and presently the officers of the Ordnance were called;
my Lord Barkeley, Sir John Duncomb, and Mr. Chichly; then my Lord
Brouncker, W. Batten, W. Pen, and myself; where we find only the
King and Duke of York, and my Lord Treasurer, and Sir G.
Carteret; when I only did speak, laying down the state of our
wants, which the King and Duke of York seemed very well pleased
with, and we did get what we asked, 500,000l., signed upon the
eleven months' tax: but that is not so much ready-money, or what
will raise 40,000l. per week, which we desired, and the business
will want. The King did prevent my offering any thing by and by
as Treasurer for Tangier, telling me that he had ordered us
30,000l. on the same tax; but that is not what we would have to
bring our payments to come within a year. So we gone out, in
went others; viz. one after another, Sir Stephen Fox for the
Army, Captain Cocke for sick and wounded, Mr. Ashburnham for the
household. Thence W. Batten, W. Pen, and I back again; I
mightily pleased with what I had said and done, and the success
thereof.

15th. Letters this day come to Court do tell us that we are
likely not to agree, the Dutch demanding high terms, and the King
of France the like in a most braveing manner. This morning I was
called up by Sir John Winter, poor man! come in a sedan from the
other end of the town, about helping the King in the business of
bringing down his timber to the sea-side in the forest of Deane.

18th. The weather is now grown warm again after much cold; and
it is observable that within these eight days I did see smoke
remaining, coming out of some cellars from the late great fire,
now above six months since.

17th. I to the Duke of York's lodging, where in his dressing-
chamber, he talking of his journey to-morrow or next day to
Harwich, to prepare some fortifications there; so that we are
wholly upon the defensive part this year. I to walke in the
Parke; where to the Queene's chapel, and there heard a fryer
preach with his cord about his middle in Portuguese, something I
could understand, showing that God did respect the meek and
humble as well as the high and rich. He was full of action, but
very decent and good, I thought, and his manner of delivery very
good. Then I went back to White Hall, and there up to the
closet, and spoke with several people till sermon was ended,
which was preached by the Bishop of Hereford, [Dr. Herbert Croft
was made Bishop of Hereford 1661, but he could not then be very
old, as he lived till 1691. The Bishop's father was a knight and
his son a Baronet.] an old good man, that they say made an
excellent sermon. He was by birth a Catholique, and a great
gallant, having 1500l. per annum patrimony, and is a Knight
Barronet: was turned from his persuasion by the late Archbishop
Laud. He and the Bishop of Exeter, Dr. Ward, are the two Bishops
that the King do say he cannot have bad sermons from. Here I met
with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me, that undoubtedly my Lord
Bellasses do go no more to Tangier, and that he do believe he do
stand in a likely way to go governor; though he sees and showed
me a young silly lord (one Lord Allington [William 2nd Baron
Allington of Killard, Ireland, created an English Peer 1682;
which title was extinct 1692. He was thrice married.]) who hath
offered a great sum of money to go, and will put hard for it, he
having a fine lady, and a great man would be glad to have him out
of the way. The King is very kind to my Lord Sandwich, and did
himself observe to him (Sir G. Carteret) how those very people
(meaning the Prince, and Duke of Albemarle) are punished in the
same kind as they did seek to abuse my Lord Sandwich.

18th. Comes my old good friend Mr. Richard Cumberland [Richard
Cumberland educated at St. Paul's School, and Magdalene College,
Cambridge, made Bishop of Peterborough 1691. Ob. 1718, aged 86.]
to see me, being newly come to town, whom I have not seen almost,
if not quite these seven years. In a plain country-parson's
dress. I could not spend much time with him, but prayed him to
come with his brother, who was with him, to dine with me to-day;
which he did do: and I had a great deal of his good company; and
a most excellent person he is as any I know, and one that I am
sorry should be lost and buried in a little country town, and
would be glad to remove him thence; and the truth is, if he would
accept of my sister's fortune, I should give 100l. more with him
than to a man able to settle her four times as much as I fear he
is able to do. Comes Captain Jenifer to me, a great servant of
my Lord Sandwich's, who tells me that he do hear for certain,
though I do not yet believe it, that Sir W. Coventry is to be
Secretary of State, and my Lord Arlington Lord Treasurer. I only
wish that the latter were as fit for the latter office as the
former is for the former, and more fit than my Lord Arlington.
Anon Sir W. Pen come and talked with me in the garden; and tells
me that for certain the Duke of Richmond is to marry Mrs.
Stewart, he having this day brought in an account of his estate
and debts to the King on that account. This day Mr. Caesar told
me a pretty experiment of his of angling with a minikin, a gut-
string varnished over, which keeps it from swelling, and is
beyond any hair for strength and smallness. The secret I like
mightily.

19th. It comes in my mind this night to set down how a house was
the other day in Bishopsgate-street blowed up with powder; a
house that was untenanted; but, thanks be to God, it did no more
hurt; and all do conclude it a plot. This afternoon I am told
again that the town do talk of my Lord Arlington's being to be
Lord Treasurer, and Sir W. Coventry to be Secretary of State; and
that for certain the match is concluded between the Duke of
Richmond and Mrs. Stewart; which I am well enough pleased with:
and it is pretty to consider how his quality will allay people's
talk; whereas had a meaner person married her, he would for
certain have been derided at first dash.

20th. To our church to the vestry, to be assessed by the late
Poll Bill, where I am rated as an Esquire, and for my office all
will come to about 50l. But not more than I expected, nor so much
by a great deal as I ought to be for all my offices. The Duke of
Richmond and Mrs. Stewart were betrothed last night. It is
strange how "Rycaut's Discourse of Turky," which before the fire
I was asked but 8s. for, there being all but twenty-two or
thereabouts burned, I did now offer 20s., and he demands 50s.,
and I think I shall give it him, though it be only as a monument
of the fire.

21st. To the Duke of York's playhouse, where unexpectedly I come
to see only the young men and women of the house act; they having
liberty to act for their own profit on Wednesdays and Fridays
this Lent: and the play they did yesterday, being Wednesday, was
so well taken, that they thought fit to venture it publickly to-
day; a play my Lord Falkand's, [Henry Carey, third Viscount
Falkland, M.P, for Arundell 1661. Ob. 1664.] called "The
Wedding Night," a kind of a tragedy, and some things very good in
it, but the whole together, I thought, not so. I confess I was
well enough pleased with my seeing it; and the people did do
better (without the great actors) than I did expect, but yet far
short of what they do when they are there. Our trial for a good
prize came on to-day, "The Phoenix, worth 2 or 3000l." when by
and by Sir W. Batten told me we had got the day, which was mighty
welcome news to me and us all. But it is pretty to see what
money will do. Yesterday Walker [Sir W. Walker.] was mighty
cold on our behalf, till Sir W. Batten promised him, if we sped
in this business of the goods, a coach; and if at the next trial
we sped for the ship, we would give him a pair of horses. And he
hath strove for us to-day like a prince. Though the Swedes'
Agent was there with all the vehemence he could to save the
goods, but yet we carried it against him.

23rd. At the office, where Sir W. Pen come, being returned from
Chatham, from considering the means of fortifying the river
Medway, by a chain at the stakes, and ships laid there with guns
to keep the enemy from coming up to burn our ships; all our care
being now to fortify ourselves against their invading us.

24th. With Sir G. Carteret and Sir J. Minnes; and they did talk
of my Lord Brouncker; whose father it seems did give Mr.
Ashburnham and the present Lord Digby [The Earl of Bristol,
frequently called in the Diary Lord Digby, long after he had
succeeded to the Earldom.] 1200l. to be made an Irish lord, and
swore the same day that he had not 12d. left to pay for his
dinner: they made great mirth at this, my Lord Brouncker having
lately given great matter of offence both to them and us all,
that we are at present mightily displeased with him. By and by
to the Duke of York, where we all met, and there was the King
also; and all our discourse was about fortifying of the Medway
and Harwich, which is to be entrenched quite round, and
Portsmouth: and here they advised with Sir Godfrey Lloyd and Sir
Bernard de Gunn, [Engineer-general, who had been employed in 1661
to construct the works at Dunkirk.] the two great engineers, and
had the plates drawn before them; and indeed all their care they
now take is to fortify themselves, and are not ashamed of it; for
when by and by my Lord Arlington come in with letters, and seeing
the King and Duke of York give us and the officers of the
Ordnance directions in this matter, he did move that we might do
it as privately as we could, that it might not come into the
Dutch Gazette presently, as the King's and Duke of York's going
down the other day to Sheerenesse was the week after in the
Harlem Gazette. The King and Duke of York both laughed at it,
and made no matter, but said, "Let us be safe, and let them talk,
for there is nothing will trouble them more, nor will prevent
their coming more, than to hear that we are fortifying
ourselves." And the Duke of York said further, "What said
Marshal Turenne, when some in vanity said that the enemies were
afraid, for they entrenched themselves? 'Well,' says he, 'I
would they were not afraid, for then they would not entrench
themselves, and so we could deal with them the better.'" Away
thence, and met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that he do
believe the government of Tangier is bought by my Lord Allington
for a sum of money to my Lord Arlington, and something to Lord
Bellasses. I did this night give the waterman who uses to carry
me 10s. at his request, for the painting of his new boat, on
which shall be my arms.

25th. Called at Mr. Lilly's, who was working; and indeed his
pictures are without doubt much beyond Mr. Hales's, I think I may
say I am convinced: but a mighty proud man he is, and full of
state. To the King's playhouse; and by and by comes Mr. Lowther
and his wife and mine, and into a box forsooth, neither of them
being dressed, which I was almost ashamed of. Sir W. Pen and I
in the pit, and here saw "The Mayden Queene" again; which indeed
the more I see the more I like, and is an excellent play, and so
done by Nell her merry part, as cannot be better done in nature.

26th. To Exeter House, where the Judge was sitting, and there
heard our cause pleaded; Sir -- Turner, Sir W. Walker, and Sir
Ellis Layton being our counsel against Sir Robert Wiseman [D.C.L.
King's Advocate 1669.] on the other. The second of our three
counsel was the best, and indeed did speak admirably, and is a
very shrewd man. Nevertheless as good as he did make our case,
and the rest, yet when Wiseman come to argue (nay, and though he
did begin so sillily that we laughed in scorn in our sleeves at
him,) he did so state the case, that the Judge [Sir Leoline
Jenkins, Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, and afterwards made
Judge of the Admiralty and the Prerogative Court. He was
subsequently employed on several Embassies, and in 1680 succeeded
Henry Coventry as secretary of State. Ob. 1685, aged 62.] did
not think it to decide the cause to-night, but took to to-morrow,
and did stagger us in our hopes, so as to make us despair of the
success. I am mightily pleased with the Judge, who seems a very
rational, learned, and uncorrupt man, though our success do shake
me.