Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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13th. Attended the Duke of York, with our usual business; who
upon occasion told us that he did expect this night or to-morrow
to hear from Bredah of the consummation of the peace.

15th. Sir W. Pen and I to the Duke's house; where a new play.
The King and Court there: the house full, and an act begun. And
so we went to the King's, and there saw "The Merry Wives of
Windsor;" which did not please me at all, in no part of it.

16th. My wife and I to the Duke's playhouse, where we saw the
new play acted yesterday, "The Feign Innocence, or Sir Martin
Marall;" a play made by my Lord Duke of Newcastle, but, as every
body says, corrected by Dryden. It is the most entire piece of
mirth, a complete farce from one end to the other, that certainly
was ever writ. I never laughed so in all my life, and at very
good wit therein, not fooling. The House full, and in all things
of mighty content to me. Every body wonders that we have no news
from Bredah of the ratification of the peace; and do suspect that
there is some stop in it.

17th. To the King's playhouse, where the house extraordinary
full; and there the King and Duke of York to see the new play,
"Queene Elizabeth's Troubles, and the history of Eighty Eight."
I confess I have sucked in so much of the sad story of Queene
Elizabeth from my cradle, that I was ready to weep for her
sometimes; but the play is the most ridiculous that sure ever
came upon stage, and, indeed, is merely a show, only shows the
true garbe of the Queene in those days, just as we see Queene
Mary and Queene Elizabeth painted: but the play is merely a
puppet play, acted by living puppets. Neither the design nor
language better; and one stands by and tells us the meaning of
things: only I was pleased to see Knipp dance among the milk
maids, and to hear her sing a song to Queene Elizabeth; and to
see her come out in her night-gowne with no lockes on, but her
bare face and hair only tied up in a knot behind; which is the
comeliest dress that ever I saw her in to her advantage.

18th. To Cree Church, to see it how it is; but I find no
alteration there, as they say there was, for my Lord Mayor and
Aldermen to come to sermon, as they do every Sunday, as they did
formerly to Paul's.

20th. Sir W. Coventry fell to discourse of retrenchments: and
therein he tells how he would have but only one Clerk of the
Acts. He do tell me he hath propounded how the charge of the
Navy in peace shall come within 200,000l., by keeping out twenty-
four ships in summer, and ten in the winter. And several other
particulars we went over of retrenchment: and I find I must
provide some things to offer, that I may be found studious to
lessen the King's charge. Sir W. Coventry did single Sir W. Pen
and me, and desired us to lend the King some money, out of the
prizes we have taken by Hogg. He did not much press it, and we
made but a merry answer thereto: but I perceive he did ask it
seriously, and did tell us that there never was so much need of
it in the world as now, we being brought to the lowest straits
that can be in the world.

22nd. Up, and to the office: whence Lord Brouncker, J. Minnes,
and W. Pen, and I went to examine some men that are put in there
for rescuing of men that were pressed into the service: and we
do plainly see that the desperate condition that we put men into
for want of their pay makes them mad, they being as good men as
over were in the world, and would as readily serve the King
again, were they but paid. Two men leapt overboard, among
others, into the Thames out of the vessel into which they were
pressed, and were shot by the soldiers placed there to keep them,
two days since; so much people do avoid the King's service! And
then these men are pressed without money, and so we cannot punish
them for any thing, so that we are forced only to make a show of
severity by keeping them in prison, but are unable to punish
them. [Shooting the men was rather more than a show of
severity.] Returning to the office, I did ask whether we might
visit Commissioner Pett (to which, I confess, I have no great
mind); and it was answered that he was close prisoner, and we
could not; but the Lieutenant of the Tower would send for him to
his lodgings, if we would: so we put it off to another time. To
Captain Cocke's to dinner; where Lord Brouncker and his lady,
Matt. Wren, and Bulteale, and Sir Allan Apsly; the last of whom
did make good sport, he being already fallen under the
retrenchments of the new Committee, as he is Master Falconer;
which makes him mad. With my Lord Brouncker and his mistress to
the King's Playhouse, and there saw "The Indian Emperour:" [A
tragi-comedy, by Dryden.] where I find Nell come again, which I
am glad of; but was most infinitely displeased with her being put
to act the Emperour's daughter, which is a great and serious
part, which she does most basely. This evening Mr. Pelling comes
to me, and tells me that this night the Dutch letters are come,
and that the peace was proclaimed there the 19th inst. and that
all is finished: which for my life I know not whether to be glad
or sorry for, a peace being so necessary, and yet so bad in its
terms.

23rd. To White Hall to attend the Council. The King there: and
it was about considering how the fleet might be discharged at
their coming in shortly, the peace being now ratified, and it
takes place on Monday next. To the Treasury-chamber, where I
waited talking with Sir G. Downing till the Lords met. He tells
me how he will make all the Exchequer officers, of one side and
the other, to lend the King money upon the Act; and that the
least Clerk shall lend money, and he believes the least will
100l.: but this I do not believe. He made me almost ashamed
that we of the Navy had not in all this time lent any; so that I
find it necessary I should, and so will speedily do it before any
of my fellows begin and lead me to a bigger sum. By and by the
Lords come; and I perceive Sir W. Coventry is the man, and
nothing done till he comes. Among other things I heard him
observe, looking over a paper, that Sir John Shaw is a miracle of
a man, for he thinks he executes more places than any man in
England: for there he finds him a Surveyor of some of the King's
woods, and so reckoned up many other places, the most
inconsistent in the world. Their business with me was to
consider how to assigne such of our commanders as will take
assignements upon the Act for their wages; and the consideration
thereof was referred to me to give them an answer the next
sitting: which is a horrid poor thing; but they scruple at
nothing of honour in the case. I find most people pleased with
their being at ease, and safe of a peace, that they may know no
more charge or hazard of an ill managed war; but nobody speaking
of the peace with any content or pleasure, but are silent in it,
as of a thing they are ashamed of; no, not at Court, much less in
the City.

24th. St. Bartholomew's Day. This morning was proclaimed the
peace between us and the States of the United Provinces, and also
of the King of France and Denmarke; and in the afternoon the
Proclamations were printed and came out; and at night the bells
rung, but no bonfires that I hear of any where, partly from the
dearness of firing, but principally from the little content most
people have in the peace. This day comes a letter from the Duke
of York to the Board, to invite us, which is as much as to fright
us, into the lending the King money; which is a poor thing, and
most dishonourable, and shows in what a case we are at the end of
the war to our neighbours. And the King do now declare publickly
to give 10 per cent. to all lenders; which make some think that
the Dutch themselves will send over money, and lend it upon our
publick faith, the Act of Parliament.

28th. To the office, where we sat upon a particular business all
the morning: and my Lord Anglesy with us; who, and my Lord
Brouncker, do bring us news how my Lord Chancellor's seal is to
be taken away from him to-day. The thing is so great and sudden
to me, that it put me into a very great admiration what should be
the meaning of it; and they do not own that they know what it
should be; but this is certain, that the King did resolve it on
Saturday, and did yesterday send the Duke of Albemarle (the only
man fit for those works) to him for his purse: to which the
Chancellor answered, that he received it from the King, and would
deliver it to the King's own hand, and so civilly returned the
Duke of Albemarle without it; and this morning my Lord Chancellor
is to be with the King, to come to an end in the business. Dined
at Sir W. Batten's, where Mr. Boreman was, who came from White
Hall; who tells us that he saw my Lord Chancellor come in his
coach with some of his men, without his seal, to White Hall to
his chamber; and thither the King and Duke of York came and staid
together alone an hour or more: and it is said that the King do
say that he will have the Parliament meet, and that it will
prevent much trouble by having of him out of their enmity by his
place being taken away; for that all their enmity will be at him.
It is said also that my Lord Chancellor answers, that he desires
he may be brought to his trial, if he have done anything to lose
his office; and that he will be willing and is most desirous to
lose that and his head both together. Upon what terms they
parted nobody knows; but the Chancellor looked sad, he says.
Then in comes Sir Richard Ford, and says he hears that there is
nobody more presses to reconcile the King and Chancellor than the
Duke of Albemarle and Duke of Buckingham: the latter of which is
very strange, not only that he who was so lately his enemy should
do it, but that this man, that but the other day was in danger of
losing his own head, should so soon come to be a mediator for
others: it shows a wise Government. They all say that he is but
a poor man, not worth above 3000l. a-year in land; but this I
cannot believe: and all do blame him for having built so great a
house, till he had got a better estate. Sir W. Pen and I had a
great deal of discourse with Mall; [Orange Moll, mentioned
before.] who tells us that Nell is already left by Lord
Buckhurst, and that he makes sport of her, and swears she hath
had all she could get of him; and Hart [The celebrated actor.]
her great admirer now hates her; and that she is very poor, and
hath lost my Lady Castlemaine, who was her great friend also:
but she is come to the playhouse, but is neglected by them all.

27th. To White Hall; and there hear how it is like to go well
enough with my Lord Chancellor; that he is like to keep his Seal,
desiring that he may stand his trial in Parliament, if they will
accuse him of any thing. This day Mr. Pierce, the surgeon was
with me; and tells me how this business of my Lord Chancellor's
was certainly designed in my Lady Castlemaine's chamber; and that
when he went from the King on Monday morning she was in bed
(though about twelve o'clock), and ran out in her smock into her
aviary looking into White Hall garden; and thither her woman
brought; her her nightgown; and stood blessing herself at the old
man's going away: and several of the gallants of White Hall (of
which there were many staying to see the Chancellor's return) did
talk to her in her bird-cage; among others Blancford, telling her
she was the bird of passage.

28th. To White Hall: till past twelve in a crowd of people in
the lobby, expecting the hearing of the great cause of Alderman
Barker against my Lord Deputy of Ireland for his ill usage in his
business of land there; but the King and Council sat so long as
they neither heard them nor me. Went twice round Bartholomew
fayre; which I was glad to see again, after two years missing it
by the plague.

29th. I find at Sir G. Carteret's that they do mightily joy
themselves in the hopes of my Lord Chancellor's getting over this
trouble; and I make them believe (and so, indeed, I do believe he
will) that my Lord Chancellor is become popular by it. I find by
all hands that the Court is at this day all to pieces, every man
of a faction of one sort or other, so as it is to be feared what
it will come to. But that that pleases me is, I hear to-night
that Mr. Brouncker is turned away yesterday by the Duke of York,
for some bold words he was heard by Colonel Werden to say in the
garden the day the Chancellor was with the King--that he believed
the King would be hectored out of every thing. For this the Duke
of York, who all say hath been very strong for his father-in-law
at this trial, hath turned him away: and every body, I think, is
glad of it; for he was a pestilent rogue, an atheist, that would
have sold his King and country for 6d. almost, so corrupt and
wicked a rogue he is by all men's report. But one observed to
me, that there never was the occasion of men's holding their
tongues at Court and every where else as there is at this day,
for nobody knows which side will be uppermost.

30th. At White Hall I met with Sir G. Downing, who tells me of
Sir W. Pen's offering to lend 500l.; and I tell him of my 300l.
which he would have me to lend upon the credit of the latter part
of the Act; saying, that by that means my 10 per cent. will
continue to me the longer. But I understand better, and will do
it upon the 380,000l. which will come to be paid the sooner;
there being no delight in lending money now, to be paid by the
King two years hence. But here he and Sir William Doyly were
attending the Council as Commissioners for sick and wounded, and
prisoners: and they told me their business, which was to know
how we shall do to release our prisoners; for it seems the Dutch
have got us to agree in the treaty (as they fool us in any
thing), that the dyet of the prisoners on both sides shall be
paid for before they be released: which they have done, knowing
ours to run high, they having more prisoners of ours than we have
of theirs; so they are able and most ready to discharge the debt
of theirs, but we are neither able nor willing to do that for
ours, the debt of those in Zeland only amounting to above 5000l.
for men taken in the King's own ships, besides others taken in
merchantmen, who expect, as is usual, that the King should redeem
them; but I think he will not, by what Sir G. Downing says. This
our prisoners complain of there; and say in their letters, which
Sir G. Downing showed me, that they have made a good feat that
they should be taken in the service of the King, and the King not
pay for their victuals while prisoners for him. But so far they
are from doing thus with their men as we do to discourage ours,
that I find in the letters of some of our prisoners there, which
he showed me, that they have with money got our men, that they
took, to work: and carry their ships home for them; and they
have been well rewarded, and released when they come into
Holland: which is done like a noble, brave, and wise people. I
to Bartholomew fayre to walk up and down; and there among other
things find my Lady Castlemaine at a puppet-play (Patient
Grizell), and the street full of people expecting her coming out.
I confess I did wonder at her courage to come abroad, thinking
the people would abuse her: but they, silly people! do not know
the work she makes, and therefore suffered her with great respect
to take coach, and she away without any trouble at all. Captain
Cocke tells me that there is yet expectation that the Chancellor
will lose the Seal; and assures me that there have been high
words between the Duke of York and Sir W. Coventry, for his being
so high against the Chancellor; so as the Duke of York would not
sign some papers that he brought, saying that he could not endure
the sight of him: and that Sir W. Coventry answered, that what
he did was in obedience to the King's commands; and that he did
not think any man fit to serve a prince, that did not know how to
retire and live a country life.

31st. At the office all the morning; where by Sir W. Pen I do
hear that the Seal was fetched away to the King yesterday from
the Lord Chancellor by Secretary Morrice; which puts me into a
great horror. In the evening Mr. Ball of the Excise-office tells
me that the Seal is delivered to Sir Orlando Bridgeman; the man
of the whole nation that is the best spoken of, and will please
most people; and therefore I am mighty glad of it. He was then
at my Lord Arlington's, whither I went, expecting to see him come
out; but staid so long, and Sir W. Coventry coming there, whom I
had not a mind should see me there idle upon a post-night, I went
home without seeing him; but he is there with his Seal in his
hand.

SEPTEMBER 1, 1667. Our new Lord-keeper Bridgeman, did this day,
the first time, attend the King to chapel with his Seal. Sir H.
Cholmly tells me there are hopes that the women also will have a
rout, and particularly that my Lady Castlemaine is coming to a
composition with the King to be gone; but how true this is, I
know not, Blancfort is made Privy-purse to the Duke of York; the
Attorney General is made Chief Justice in the room of my Lord
Bridgeman; the Solicitor-general is made Attorney-general; and
Sir Edward Turner made Solicitor-general. [According to Beatson,
no change took place in these officers at this time.] It is
pretty to see how strange every body looks, nobody knowing whence
this arises ; whether from my Lady Castlemaine, Bab. May, and
their faction; or from the Duke of York, notwithstanding his
great appearing of defence of the Chancellor; or from Sir William
Coventry, and some few with him. But greater changes are yet
expected.

2nd. This day is kept in the City as a publick fast for the fire
this day twelve months: but I was not at church, being commanded
with the rest to attend the Duke of York; and therefore with Sir
J. Minnes to St. James's, where we had much business before the
Duke of York, and observed all things to be very kind between the
Duke of York and Sir W. Coventry; which did mightily joy me.
When we had done, Sir W. Coventry called me down with him to his
chamber, and there told me that he is leaving the Duke of York's
service; which I was amazed at. But he tells me that it is not
with the least unkindness on the Duke of York's side, though he
expects (and I told him he was in the right) it will be
interpreted otherwise, because done just at this time; "but,"
says he, "I did desire it a good while since, and the Duke of
York did with much entreaty grant it, desiring that I would say
nothing of it, that he might have time and liberty to choose his
successor, without being importuned for others whom he should not
like:" and that he hath chosen Mr. Wren, which I am glad of, he
being a very ingenious man; and so Sir W. Coventry says of him,
though he knows him little; but particularly commends him for the
book he writ in answer to "Harrington's Oceana," which for that
reason I intend to buy. He tells me the true reason is, that he
being a man not willing to undertake more business than he can go
through, and being desirous to have his whole time to spend upon
the business of the Treasury, and a little for his own ease, he
did desire this of the Duke of York. He assures me that the
kindness with which he goes away from the Duke of York, is one of
the greatest joys that ever he had in the world. I used some
freedom with him, telling him how the world hath discoursed of
his having offended the Duke of York, about the late business of
the Chancellor. He does not deny it, but says that perhaps the
Duke of York might have some reason for it, he opposing him in a
thing wherein he was so earnest: but tells me, that
notwithstanding all that, the Duke of York does not now, nor can
blame him; for he was the man that did propose the removal of the
Chancellor; and that he did still persist in it, and at this day
publickly owns it, and is glad of it: but that the Duke of York
knows that he did first speak of it to the Duke of York before he
spoke to any mortal creature besides, which was fair dealing:
and the Duke of York was then of the same mind with him, and did
speak of it to the King, though since, for reasons best known to
himself, he afterwards altered. I did then desire to know, what
was the great matter that grounded his desire of the Chancellor's
removal? He told me many things not fit to be spoken, and yet
not any thing of his being unfaithful to the King, but, INSTAR
OMNIUM, he told me that while he was so great at the Council-
board, and in the administration of matters, there was no room
for any body to propose any remedy to what was amiss, or to
compass any thing, though never so good, for the kingdom, unless
approved of by the Chancellor, he managing all things with that
greatness, which now will be removed, that the King may have the
benefit of others' advice. I then told him that the world hath
an opinion that he hath joined himself with my Lady Castlemaine's
faction: but in this business, he told me, he cannot help it,
but says they are in an errour; for he will never while he lives,
truckle under any body or any faction, but do just as his own
reason and judgment directs; and when he cannot use that freedom,
he will have nothing to do in public affairs: but then he added
that he never was the man that ever had any discourse with my
Lady Castlemaine, or with others from her, about this or any
public business, or ever made her a visit, or at least not this
twelve-month, or been in her lodgings but when called on any
business to attend the King there, nor hath had any thing to do
in knowing her mind in this business. He ended all with telling
me that he knows that he that serves a prince must expect and be
contented to stand all fortunes, and be provided to retreat; and
that he is most willing to do whatever the King shall please.
And so we parted, he setting me down out of his coach at Charing
Cross, and desired me to tell Sir W. Pen what he had told me of
his leaving the Duke of York's service, that his friends might
not be the last that know it. I took a coach and went homewards;
but then turned again, and to White Hall, where I met with many
people; and among other things do learn that there is some fear
that Mr. Brouncker is got into the King's favour, and will be
cherished there; which will breed ill will between the King and
Duke of York, he lodging at this time in White Hall since he was
put away from the Duke of York; and he is great with Bab. May, my
Lady Castlemaine, and that wicked crew. But I find this denied
by Sir G. Carteret, who tells me that he is sure he hath no
kindness from the King; that the King at first, indeed, did
endeavour to persuade the Duke of York from putting him away; but
when, besides this business of his ill words concerning his
Majesty in the business of the Chancellor, he told him that he
hath had a long time a mind to put him away for his ill offices,
done between him and his wife, the King held his peace, and said
no more, but wished him to do what he pleased with him; which was
very noble. I met with Fenn; and he tells me, as I do hear from
some others, that the business of the Chancellor's had proceeded
from something of a mistake, for the Duke of York did first tell
the King that the Chancellor had a desire to be eased of his
great trouble: and that the King, when the Chancellor came to
him, did wonder to hear him deny it, and the Duke of York was
forced to deny to the King that ever he did tell him so in those
terms: but the King did answer that he was sure that he did say
some such things to him; but, however, since it had gone so far,
did desire him to be contented with it; as a thing very
convenient for him as well as for himself (the King:) and so
matters proceeded, as we find. Now it is likely the Chancellor
might some time or other, in a compliment or vanity, say to the
Duke of York, that he was weary of this burden, and I know not
what; and this comes of it. Some people, and myself among them,
are of good hope from this change that things are reforming; but
there are others that do think it is a bit of chance, as all
other our greatest matters are, and that there is no general plot
or contrivance in any number of people what to do next, (though,
I believe, Sir W. Coventry may in himself have further designs;)
and so that though other changes may come, yet they shall be
accidental and laid upon good principles of doing good. Mr. May
showed me the King's new buildings, in order to their having of
some old sails for the closing of the windows this winter. I
dined with Sir G. Carteret, with whom dined Mr. Jack Ashburnham
and Dr. Creeton, who I observe to be a most good man and scholar.
In discourse at dinner concerning the change of men's humours and
fashions touching meats, Mr. Asburnham told us, that he remembers
since the only fruit in request, and eaten by the King and Queene
at table as the best fruit, was the Katharine payre, though they
knew at the time other fruits of France and our own country.
After dinner comes in Mr. Townsend: and there I was witness of a
horrid rateing which Mr. Ashburnham, as one of the Grooms of the
King's Bedchamber, did give him for want of linen for the King's
person; which he swore was not to be endured, and that the King
would not endure it, and that the King his father would have
hanged his Wardrobe-man should he have been served so; the King
having at this day no hankerchers, and but three bands to his
neck, he swore. Mr. Townsend pleaded want of money and the owing
of the linendraper 5000l.; and that he hath of late got many rich
things made, beds and sheets and saddles, without money; and that
he can go no further: but still this old man (indeed like an old
loving servant) did cry out for the King's person to be
neglected. But when he was gone, Townsend told me that it is the
Grooms taking away the King's linen at the quarter's end, as
their fees, which makes this great want; for whether the King can
get it or no, they will run away at the quarter's end with what
he hath had, let the King get more as he can. All the company
gone, Sir G. Carteret and I to talk: and it is pretty to observe
how already he says that he did always look upon the Chancellor
indeed as his friend, though he never did do him any service at
all, nor ever got any thing by, nor was a man apt (and that, I
think, is true) to do any man any kindness of his own nature;
though I do know he was believed by all the world to be the
greatest support of Sir G. Carteret with the King of any man in
England: but so little is now made of it! He observes that my
Lord Sandwich will lose a great friend in him; and I think so
too, my Lord Hinchingbroke being about a match calculated purely
out of respect to my Lord Chancellor's family. By and by Sir G.
Carteret, and Townsend, and I to consider of an answer to the
Commissioners of the Treasury about my Lord Sandwich's profits in
the Wardrobe; which seem as we make them to be very small, not
1000l. a-year, but only the difference in measure at which he
buys and delivers out to the King, and then 6d. in the pound from
the tradesman for what money he receives for him; but this, it is
believed, these Commissioners will endeavour to take away. From
him I went to see a great match at tennis, between Prince Rupert
and one Captain Cooke against Bab. May and the elder Chichly;
where the King was, and Court; and it seems they are the best
players at tennis in the nation. But this puts me in mind of
what I observed in the morning, that the King playing at tennis
had a steele-yard carried to him; and I was told it was to weigh
him after he had done playing; and at noon Mr. Ashburnham told me
that it is only the King's curiosity, which he usually hath of
weighing himself before and after his play, to see how much he
loses in weight by playing; and this day he lost 4 1/2lbs. I to
Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen, and there discoursed of Sir W.
Coventry's leaving the Duke of York, and Mr. Wren's succeeding
him. They told me both seriously that they had long cut me out
for Secretary to the Duke of York, if ever Sir W. Coventry left
him; which agreeing with what I have heard from other hands
heretofore, do make me not only think that something of that kind
hath been thought on, but do comfort me to see that the world
hath such an esteem of my qualities as to think me fit for any
such thing: though I am glad with all my heart that I am not so;
for it would never please me to be forced to the attendance that
that would require, and leave my wife and family to themselves,
as I must do in such a case; thinking myself now in the best
place that ever man was in to please his own mind in, and
therefore I will take to preserve it.