Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys
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Samuel Pepys >> The Diary of Samuel Pepys
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30th. To the Duke of York to Council, where the officers of the
Navy did attend; and my Lord Ashly did move that an assignment
for money on the Act might be put into the hands of the East
India Company, or City of London, which he thought the seamen
would believe. But this my Lord Anglesy did very handsomely
oppose, and I think did carry it that it will not be: and it is
indeed a mean thing that the king should so far own his own want
of credit as to borrow theirs in this manner. My Lord Anglesy
told him that this was the way indeed to teach the Parliament to
trust the King no more for the time to come, but to have a
kingdom's Treasurer distinct from the King's.
October 1. To White Hall; and there in the Boarded Gallery did
hear the musick with which the King is presented this night by
Monsieur Grebus, the Master of his Musick: both instrumental
(I think twenty-four violins) and vocall: an English song upon
Peace. But, God forgive me! I never was so little pleased with
a concert of music in my life. The manner of setting of words
and repeating them out of order, and that with a number of
voices, makes me sick, the whole design of vocall musick; being
lost by it. Here was a great press of people; but I did not see
many pleased with it, only the instrumental musick he had brought
by practice to play very just.
3rd. To St. James's, where Sir W. Coventry took me into the
Gallery and walked with me an hour, discoursing of Navy business,
and with much kindness, to and confidence in me still; which I
must endeavour to preserve, and will do. And, good man! all his
care how to get the Navy paid off, and that all other things
therein may go well. He gone, I thence to my Lady Peterborough,
who sent for me: and with her an hour talking about her
husband's pension, and how she hath got an order for its being
paid again; though I believe, for all that order, it will hardly
be; but of that I said nothing; but her design is to get it paid
again: and how to raise money upon it to clear it from the
engagement which lies upon it to some citizens, who lent her
husband money (without her knowledge) upon it, to vast loss. She
intends to force them to take their money again, and release her
husband of those hard terms. The woman is a very wise woman, and
is very plain in telling me how her plate and jewels are at pawne
for money, and how they are forced to live beyond their estate,
and do get nothing by his being a courtier. The lady I pity, and
her family.
4th. To my Lord Crewe's, and there did stay with him an hour
till almost night, discoursing about the ill state of my Lord
Sandwich, that he can neither be got to be called home, nor money
got to maintain him there; [In Spain.] which will ruin his
family. And the truth is, he do almost deserve it, for by all
relation he hath, in little more than a year and half, spent
20,000l. of the King's money, and the best part of 10,000l. of
his own; which is a most prodigious expence, more than ever
Embassador spent there, and more than these Commissioners of the
Treasury will or do allow. And they demand an account before
they will give him any more money; which puts all his friends to
a loss what to answer. But more money we must get him, or to be
called home. I offer to speak to Sir W. Coventry about it; but
my Lord will not advise to it, without consent of Sir G.
Carteret.
5th. Up, and to the office; and there all the morning; none but
my Lord Anglesy and myself. But much surprized with the news of
the death of Sir W. Batten, who died this morning, having been
but two days sick. Sir W. Pen and I did dispatch a letter this
morning to Sir W. Coventry, to recommend Colonell Middleton, who
we think a most honest and understanding man, and fit for that
place. Sir G. Carteret did also come this morning, and walked
with me in the garden; and concluded not to concern or have any
advice made to Sir W. Coventry in behalf of my Lord Sandwich's
business: so I do rest satisfied, though I do think they are all
mad, that they will judge Sir W. Coventry an enemy, when he is
indeed no such man to any body, but is severe and just, as he
ought to be, where he sees things ill done. To the King's house;
and there going in met with Knipp, and she took us up into the
tireing-rooms; and to the women's shift, where Nell was dressing
herself, and was all unready, and is very pretty, prettier than I
thought. And into the scene-room, and there sat down, and she
gave us fruit: and here I read the questions to Knipp, while she
answered me, through all her part of "Flora's Figarys," which was
acted to-day. But, Lord! to see how they were both painted,
would make a man mad, and did make me loath them; and what base
company of men comes among them, and how lewdly they talk! And
how poor the men are in clothes, and yet what a show they make on
the stage by candle-light, is very observable. But to see how
Nell cursed, for having so few people in the pit, was strange;
the other house carrying away all the people at the new play, and
is said now-a-days to have generally most company, as being
better players. By and by into the pit, and there saw the play,
which is pretty good.
7th. I and my wife, and Willet, [Mrs. Pepys's maid.] set out in
a coach I have hired with four horses; and W. Hewer and Murford
rode by us on horse-back; and before night come to Bishop-
Stafford. [Stortford.] Took coach to Audly-End, and did go all
over the house and garden; and mighty merry we were. The house
indeed do appear very fine, but not so fine as it hath heretofore
to me; particularly the ceilings are not so good as I always took
them to be, being nothing so well wrought as my Lord Chancellor's
are; and though the figure of the house without be very
extraordinary good, yet the stayre-case is exceeding poor; and a
great many pictures, and not one good one in the house but one of
Harry the Eighth, done by Holben; and not one good suit of
hangings in all the house, but all most ancient things, such as I
would not give the hanging-upon in my house; and the other
furniture, beds and other things, accordingly. Only the gallery
is good, and above all things the cellars, where we went down and
drank of much good liquor. And indeed the cellars are fine: and
here my wife and I did sing to my great content. And then to the
garden, and there eat many grapes, and took some with us: and so
away thence exceeding well satisfied, though not to that degree
that by my old esteem of the house I ought and did expect to have
done, the situation of it not pleasing me. Thence away to
Cambridge, and did take up at the Rose.
9th. Up, and got ready, and eat our breakfast; and then took
coach; and the poor, as they did yesterday, did stand at the
coach to have something given them, as they do to all great
persons; and I did give them something: and the town musick did
also come and play; but, Lord! what sad musick they made! So
through the town, and observed at our College of Magdalene the
posts new painted, and understand that the Vice Chancellor is
there this year. And so away for Huntingdon; and come to
Brampton at about noon, and there find my father and sister and
brother all well: and up and down to see the garden with my
father, and the house, and do altogether find it very pretty; and
I bless God that I am like to have such a pretty place to retire
to. After dinner I walked up to Hinchingbroke, where my Lady
expected me; and there spent all the afternoon with her: the
same most excellent, good, discreet lady that ever she was; and,
among other things, is mightily pleased with the lady that is
like to be her son Hinchingbroke's wife. I am pleased with my
Lady Paulina [A mistake for Lady Catherine, Lady Paulina being
dead.] and Anne, who are both grown very proper ladies, and
handsome enough. But I do find by my Lady that they are reduced
to great straits for money, having been forced to sell her plate,
8 or 900l. worth; and she is now going to sell a suit of her best
hangings, of which I could almost wish to buy a piece or two, if
the pieces will be broke. But the house is most excellently
furnished, and brave rooms and good pictures, so that it do
please me infinitely beyond Audley End.
10th. Up, to walk up and down in the garden with my father, to
talk of all our concernments: about a husband for my sister,
whereof there is at present no appearance; but we must endeavour
to find her one now, for she grows old and ugly. My father and I
with a dark lantern, it being now night, into the garden with my
wife, and there went about our great work to dig up my gold.
But, Lord! what a tosse I was for some time in, that they could
not justly tell where it was: but by and by poking with a spit
we found it, and then begun with a spudd to lift up the ground.
But, good God! to see how sillily they did it, not half a foot
under ground, and in the sight of the world from a hundred
places, if any body by accident were near hand, and within sight
of a neighbour's window: only my father says that he saw them
all gone to church before he began the work, when he laid the
money. But I was out of my wits almost, and the more from that,
upon my lifting up the earth with the spudd, I did discern that I
had scattered the pieces of gold round about the ground among the
grass and loose earth: and taking up the iron head-pieces
wherein they were put, I perceived the earth was got among the
gold, and wet so that the bags were all rotten, and all the
notes, that I could not tell what in the world to say to it, not
knowing how to judge what was wanting or what had been lost by
Gibson in his coming down: which, all put together, did make me
mad; and at last I was forced to take up the head-pieces, dirt
and all, and as many of the scattered pieces as I could with the
dirt discern by candle light, and carry them up into my brother's
chamber, and there locke them up till I had eat a little supper:
and then, all people going to bed, W. Hewer and I did all alone
with several pails of water and besoms at last wash the dirt off
the pieces, and parted the pieces and the dirt, and then began to
tell them by a note which I had of the value of the whole (in my
pocket.) And do find that there was short above a hundred
pieces: which did make me mad; and considering that the
neighbour's house was so near that we could not possibly speak
one to another in the garden at that place where the gold lay
(especially my father being deaf) but they must know what we had
been doing, I feared that they might in the night come and gather
some pieces and prevent us the next morning; so W. Hewer and I
out again about midnight (for it was now grown so late) and there
by candle-light did make shift to gather forty-five pieces more.
And so in and to cleanse them: and by this time it was past two
in the morning; and so to bed, and there lay in some disquiet all
night telling of the clock till it was day-light.
11th. And then W. Hewer and I, with pails and a sieve, did lock
ourselves into the garden, and there gather all the earth about
the place into pails, and then sift those pails in one of the
summer-houses (just as they do for dyamonds in other parts of the
world); and there to our great content did by nine o'clock make
the last night's forty-five up seventy-nine: so that we are come
to about twenty or thirty of what I think the true number should
be. So do leave my father to make a second examination of the
dirt; and my mind at rest in it, being but an accident: and so
give me some kind of content to remember how painful it is
sometimes to keep money, as well as to get it, and how doubtful I
was to keep it all night, and how to secure it to London. About
ten o'clock took coach, my wife and I, and Willett, and W. Hewer,
and Murford and Bowles (whom my Lady lent me to go along with me
my journey, not telling her the reason, but it was only to secure
my gold,) and my brother John on horseback; and with these four I
thought myself pretty safe. My gold I put into a basket and set
under one of the seats; and so my work every quarter of an hour
was to look to see whether all was well; and I did ride in great
fear all the day.
12th. By five o'clock got home, where I find all well; and did
bring my gold to my heart's content very safe, having not this
day carried it in a basket, but in our hands: the girl took care
of one, and my wife another bag, and I the rest, I being afraid
of the bottom of the coach, lest it should break. At home we
find that Sir W. Batten's body was to-day carried from hence,
with a hundred or two of coaches, to Walthamstow, and there
buried, The Parliament met on Thursday last, and adjourned to
Monday next. The King did make them a very kind speech,
promising them to leave all to them to do, and call to account
what and whom they pleased; and declared by my Lord Keeper how
many (thirty-six) actes he had done since he saw them: among
others, disbanding the army, and putting all Papists out of
employment, and displacing persons that had managed their
business ill. The Parliament is mightily pleased with the King's
speech, and voted giving him thanks for what he said and hath
done; and among other things, would by name thank him for
displacing my Lord Chancellor, for which a great many did speak
in the House, but it was opposed by some, and particularly Harry
Coventry, who got that it should be put to a Committee to
consider what particulars to mention in their thanks to the King,
saying that it was too soon to give thanks for the displacing of
a man, before they knew or had examined what was the cause of his
displacing. And so it rested: but this do show that they are
and will be very high. And Mr. Pierce do tell me that he fears
and do hear that it hath been said among them, that they will
move for the calling my Lord Sandwich home, to bring him to
account which do trouble me mightily, but I trust it will not be
so. Anon comes home Sir W. Pen from the buriall; and he says
that Lady Batten and her children-in-law are all broke in pieces,
and that there is but 800l. found in the world of money; and is
in great doubt what we shall do towards the doing ourselves right
with them, about the prize money.
13th. To St. James's; and there to the Duke of York's chamber
and there he was dressing; and many Lords and Parliament-men come
to kiss his hands, they being newly come to town. And then the
Duke of York did of himself call me to him and tell me that he
had spoke to the King and that the King had granted me the ship
asked for; and did moreover say that he was mightily pleased with
my service, and that he would be willing to do any thing that was
in his power for me: which he said with mighty kindness; which I
did return him thanks for, and departed with mighty joy, more
than I did expect. And so walked over the Park to White Hall,
and then met Sir H. Cholmly who walked with me and told me most
of the news: heard last night of the Parliament; and thinks they
will do all things very well, only they will be revenged of my
Lord Chancellor; and says however, that he thinks there will be
but two things proved on him and that one is, that he may have
said to the King and to others words to breed in the King an ill
opinion of the Parliament--that they were factious, and that it
was better to dissolve them: and this he thinks they will be
able to prove; but what this will amount to, he knows not. And
next, that he hath taken money for several bargains that have
been made with the Crown; and did instance one that is already
complained of: but there are so many more involved in it, that
should they unravel things of this sort, every body almost will
be more or less concerned. But these are the two great points
which he thinks they will insist on, and prove against him.
14th. To Mr, Wren's; and he told me that my business was done
about my warrant on the Maybolt Galliott; which I did see, and
thought it was not so full in the reciting of my services as the
other was in that of Sir W. Pen's; yet I was well pleased with
it, and do intend to fetch it away anon. To visit Sir G.
Carteret; and from him do understand that the King himself (but
this he told me as a great secret) is satisfied that these thanks
which he expects from the House, for the laying aside of my Lord
Chancellor, are a thing irregular; but since it is come into the
House, he do think it necessary to carry it on, and will have it,
and hath made his mind known to be so to some of the House. But
Sir G. Carteret do say he knows nothing of what my Lord Brouncker
told us to-day, that the King was angry with the Duke of York
yesterday, and advised him not to hinder what he had a mind to
have done touching this business; which is news very bad, if
true. He tells me also that the King will have the thanks of the
House go on: and commends my Lord Keeper's speech for all but
what he was forced to say about the reason of the King's sending
away the House so soon the last time, when they were met.
16th. At home most of the morning with Sir H. Cholmly, about
some accounts of his: and for news he tells me that the Commons
and Lords have concurred, and delivered the King their thanks,
among other things, for his removal of the Chancellor; who took
their thanks very well, and, among other things, promised them
(in these words) never in any degree to give the Chancellor any
employment again. And he tells me that it is very true, he hath
it from one that was by, that the King did give the Duke of York
a sound reprimande; told him that he had lived with him with more
kindness than ever any brother King lived with a brother, and
that he lived as much like a monarch as himself, but advised him
not to cross him in his designs about the Chancellor; in which
the Duke of York do very wisely acquiesce, and will be quiet as
the King bade him, but presently commands all his friends to be
silent in the business of the Chancellor, and they were so: but
that the Chancellor hath done all that is possible to provoke the
King, and to bring himself to lose his head, by enraging of
people. To the Duke of York's house; and I was vexed to see
Young (who is but a bad actor at best) act Macbeth, in the room
of Betterton, who, poor man! is sick.
17th. The Parliament run on mighty furiously, having yesterday
been almost all the morning complaining against some high
proceedings of my Lord Chief Justice Keeling, that the gentlemen
of the country did complain against him in the House, and run
very high. It is the man that did fall out with my cosen Roger
Pepys, once at the Assizes there, and would have laid him by the
heels; but, it seems, a very able lawyer. This afternoon my Lord
Anglesy tells us that the House of Commons have this morning run
into the enquiry in many things; as, the sale of Dunkirke, the
dividing of the fleet the last year, the business of the prizes
with my Lord Sandwich, and many other things: so that now they
begin to fall close upon it, and God knows what will be the end
of it, but a Committee they have chosen to enquire into the
miscarriages of the war.
18th. To White Hall, and there attended the Duke of York; but
first we find him to spend above an hour in private in his closet
with Sir W. Coventry; which I was glad to see, that there is so
much confidence between them. By and by we were called in. The
Duke of York considering that the King had a mind for Spragg to
command the Rupert, which would not be well, by turning out
Hubbard, who is a good man, said he did not know whether he did
so well conforme as at this time to please the people and
Parliament, Sir W. Coventry answered, and the Duke of York
merrily agreed to it, that it was very hard to know what it was
that the Parliament would call conformity at this time.
19th. Full of my desire of seeing my Lord Orrery's new play this
afternoon at the King's house, "The Black Prince," the first time
it is acted; where, though we came by two o'clock, yet there was
no room in the pit, but were forced to go into one of the upper
boxes, at 4s. a piece, which is the first time I ever sat in a
box in my life. And in the same box came by and by, behind me,
my Lord Barkeley and his lady; but I did not turn my face to them
to be known, so that I was excused from giving them my seat. And
this pleasure I had, that from this place the scenes do appear
very fine indeed, and much better than in the pit. The house
infinite full, and the King and Duke of York there. The whole
house was mightily pleased all along till the reading of a
letter, which was so long and so unnecessary that they frequently
began to laugh, and to hiss twenty times, that had it not been
for the King's being there, they had certainly hissed it off the
stage.
20th (Lord's day). Up, and put on my new tunique of velvett;
which is very plain, but good. This morning is brought to me an
order for the presenting the Committee of Parliament to-morrow
with a list of the commanders and ships' names of all the fleets
set out since the war, and particularly of those ships which are
divided from the fleet with Prince Rupert; which gives me
occasion to see that they are busy after that business, and I am
glad of it. This afternoon comes to me Captain O'Bryan, about a
ship that the King hath given him; and he and I to talk of the
Parliament. And he tells me that the business of the Duke of
York's slackening sail in the first fight, at the beginning of
the war, is brought into question, and Sir W. Penn and Captain
Cox are to appear to-morrow about it; and it is thought will at
last be laid upon Mr. Brouncker's giving orders from the Duke of
York (which the Duke of York do not own) to Captain Cox to do it;
but it seems they do resent this very highly, and are mad in
going through all business, where they can lay any fault. I am
glad to hear that in the world I am as kindly spoke of as any
body; for, for aught I see, there is bloody work like to be, Sir
W. Coventry having been forced to produce a letter in Parliament,
wherein the Duke of Albemarle did from Sheernesse write in what
good posture all things were at Chatham, and that they were so
well placed that he feared no attempt of the enemy: so that,
among other things, I do see every body is upon his own defence,
and spares not to blame another to defend himself; and the same
course I shall take. But God knows where it will end! Pelling
tells me that my Lady Duchesse Albemarle was at Mrs. Turner's
this afternoon (she being ill,) and did there publickly talk of
business, and of our office; and that she believed that I was
safe, and had done well; and so, I thank God, I hear every body
speaks of me; and indeed I think, without vanity, I may expect to
be profited rather than injured by this inquiry which the
Parliament makes into business.
21st. To Westminster, and up to the lobby, where many commanders
of the fleet were, and Captain Cox, and Mr. Pierce the Surgeon;
the last of whom hath been in the House, and declared that he
heard Brouncker advise and give arguments to Cox: for the safety
of the Duke of York's person to shorten sail, that they might not
be in the middle of the enemy in the morning alone; and Cox
denying to observe his advice, having received the Duke of York's
commands over night to keep within gun-shot (as they then were)
of the enemy, Brouncker did go to Harman, and used the same
arguments, and told him that he was sure it would be well
pleasing to the King that care should be taken of not endangering
the Duke of York; and, after much persuasion, Harman was heard to
say, "Why, if it must be, then lower the topsail." and so did
shorten sail, to the loss, as the Parliament will have it, of the
greatest victory that ever was, and which would have saved all
the expence of blood and money, and honour, that followed; and
this they do resent, so as to put it to the question, whether
Brouncker should not be carried to the Tower: who do confess
that, out of kindness to the Duke of York's safety, he did advise
that they should do so, but did not use the Duke of York's name
therein; and so it was only his error in advising it, but; the
greatest theirs in taking it contrary to order. At last it ended
that it should be suspended till Harman comes home; and then the
Parliament-men do all tell me that it will fall heavy, and, they
think, be fatal to Brouncker or him. Sir W. Pen tells me, he was
gone to bed, having been all day labouring, and then not able to
stand, of the gout, and did give order for the keeping the sails
standing as they then were all night. But, which I wonder at, he
tells me that he did not know the next day that they had
shortened sail, nor ever did enquire into it till about ten days
ago, that this began to be mentioned; and indeed it is charged
privately as a fault on the Duke of York, that, he did not
presently examine the reason of the breach of his orders, and
punish it. But Cox tells me that he did finally refuse it; and
what prevailed with Harman he knows not, and do think that we
might have done considerable service on the enemy the next day,
if this had not been done. Thus this business ended to-day,
having kept them till almost two o'clock: and then I by coach
with Sir W. Pen as far as St. Clement's talking of this matter,
and there set down; and I walked to Sir G. Carteret's, and there
dined with him and several Parliament-men, who, I perceive, do
all look upon it as a thing certain that the Parliament will
enquire into every thing, and will be very severe where they can
find any fault. Sir W. Coventry, I hear, did this day make a
speech, in apology for his reading the letter of the Duke of
Albemarle, concerning the good condition which Chatham was in
before the enemy came thither; declaring his simple intention
therein without prejudice to my Lord. And I am told that he was
also with the Duke of Albemarle yesterday to excuse it; but this
day I do hear, by some of Sir W. Coventry's friends, that they
think he hath done himself much injury by making this man and his
interest so much his enemy. After dinner I away to Westminster,
and up to the Parliament house, and there did wait with great
patience till seven at night to be called in to the Committee,
who sat all this afternoon examining the business of Chatham; and
at last was called in, and told that the least they expected from
us Mr. Wren had promised them, and only bade me to bring all my
fellow-officers thither to-morrow afternoon. Sir Robert Brookes
in the chair: methinks a sorry fellow to be there, because a
young man; and yet he seems to speak very well. I gone thence,
my cosen Pepys comes out to me, and walks in the Hall with me,
and bids me prepare to answer to every thing; for they do seem to
lay the business of Chatham upon the Commissioners of the Navy,
and they are resolved to lay the fault heavy somewhere, and to
punish it: and prays me to prepare to save myself, and gives me
hints what; to prepare against; which I am obliged to him for.
This day I did get a list of the fourteen particular miscarriages
which are already before the Committee to be examined, wherein,
besides two or three that will concern this office much, there
are those of the prizes, and that of Bergen, and not following
the Dutch ships, against my Lord Sandwich; that I fear will ruin
him, unless he hath very good luck, or they may be in better
temper before he can come to be charged: but my heart is full of
fear for him and his family. I hear that they do prosecute the
business against my Lord Chief Justice Keeling with great
severity.
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