Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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22nd. Slept but ill all the last part of the night, for fear of
this day's success in Parliament: therefore up, and all of us
all the morning close, till almost two o'clock, collecting all we
had to say and had done from the beginning, touching the safety
of the River Medway and Chatham. And having done this, and put
it into order, we away, I not having time to eat my dinner; and
so all in my Lord Brouncker's coach, (that is to say, Brouncker,
W. Pen, T. Hater, and myself,) talking of the other great matter
with which they charge us, that is, of discharging men by ticket,
in order to our defence in case that should be asked. We came to
the Parliament-door, and there, after a little waiting till the
Committee was sat, we were, the House being very full, called in:
(Sir W. Pen went in and sat as a Member: and my Lord Brouncker
would not at first go in, expecting to have a chair set for him,
and his brother had bid him not go in till he was called for;
but, after a few words, I had occasion to mention him, and so he
was called in, but without any more chair or respect paid him
than myself:) and so Brouncker, and T. Hater, and I were there to
answer: and I had a chair brought me to lean my books upon; and
so did give them such an account, in a series of the whole
business that had passed the office touching the matter, and so
answered all questions given me about it, that I did not perceive
but they were fully satisfied with me and the business as to our
office: and then Commissioner Pett (who was by at all my
discourse, and this held till within an hour after candle-light,
for I had candles brought in to read my papers by) was to answer
for himself, we having lodged all matters with him for execution.
But, Lord! what a tumultuous thing this Committee is, for all
the reputation they have of a great council, is a strange
consideration; there being as impertinent questions, and as
disorderly proposed, as any man could make. But Commissioner
Pett of all men living did make the weakest defence of himself:
nothing to the purpose, nor to satisfaction, nor certain; but
sometimes one thing and sometimes another, sometimes for himself
and sometimes against him; and h;s greatest failure was (that I
observed) from his considering whether the question propounded
was his part to answer or no, and the thing to be done was his
work to do: the want of which distinction will overthrow him;
for he concerns himself in giving an account of the disposal of
the boats, which he had no reason at all to do, or take any blame
upon him for them. He charged the not carrying up of "The
Charles" upon the Tuesday to the Duke of Albemarle; but I see the
House is mighty favourable to the Duke of Albemarle, and would
give little weight to it. And something of want of armes he
spoke, which Sir J. Duncomb answered with great imperiousness and
earnestness; but, for all that, I do see the House is resolved to
be better satisfied in the business of the unreadiness of
Sheernesse, and want of armes and ammunition there and every
where; and all their officers were here to-day attending, but
only one called in, about armes for boats to answer Commissioner
Pett. None of my brethren said anything but me there: but only
two or three silly words my Lord Brouncker gave in answer to one
question about the number of men that were in the King's Yard at
the time. At last the House dismissed us, and shortly after did
adjourn the debate till Friday next: and my cosen Pepys did come
out and joy me in my acquitting myself so well, and so did
several others, and my fellow officers all very briske to see
themselves so well acquitted; which makes me a little proud, but
yet not secure but we may yet meet with a back-blow which we see
not.

23rd. To White Hall, there to attend the Duke of York; but came
a little too late, and so missed it: only spoke with him, and
heard him correct my Lord Barkeley who fell foul on Sir Edward
Spragg, (who, it seems, said yesterday to the House, that if the
officers of the Ordnance had done as much work at Sheernesse in
ten weeks as "The Prince" did in ten days, he could have defended
the place against the Dutch): but the Duke of York told him that
every body must have liberty at this time to make their own
defence, though it be to the charging of the fault upon any
other, so it be true; so I perceive the whole world is at work in
blaming one another. Thence Sir W. Pen and I back into London;
and there saw the King, with his kettle-drums and trumpets, going
to the Exchange to lay the first stone of the first pillar of the
new building of the Exchange; which, the gates being shut, I
could not get in to see; so with Sir W. Pen to Captain Cocke's,
and then again toward Westminster; but in my way stopped at the
Exchange and got in, the King being newly gone; and there find
the bottom of the first pillar laid. And here was a shed set up,
and hung with tapestry, and a canopy of state, and some good
victuals and wine, for the King, who, it seems, did it; [i.e.,
Laid the stone.] and so a great many people, as Tom Killigrew
and others of the Court, there. I do find Mr. Gauden in his
gowne as Sheriffe, and understand that the King hath this morning
knighted him upon the place (which I am mightily pleased with);
and I think the other Sheriffe, who is Davis, [He became
afterwards Lord Mayor.] the little fellow, my school-fellow the
bookseller, who was one of Audley's executors, and now become
Sheriffe; which is a strange turn, methinks. To Westminster
Hall, where I came just as the House rose; and there in the Hall
met with Sir W. Coventry, who is in pain to defend himself in the
business of tickets, it being said that the paying of the ships
at Chatham by ticket was by his direction. He says the House was
well satisfied with my Report yesterday; and so several others
told me in the Hall that my Report was very good and
satisfactory, and that I have got advantage by it in the House:
I pray God it may prove so! To the King's playhouse, and saw
"The Black Prince;" which is now mightily bettered by that long
letter being printed, and so delivered to every body at their
going in, and some short reference made to it in the play. But
here to my great satisfaction I did see my Lord Hinchingbroke and
his mistress (with her father and mother); and I am mightily
pleased with the young lady, being handsome enough, and indeed to
my great liking, as I would have her. This day it was moved in
the House that a day might be appointed to bring in an
impeachment against the Chancellor, but it was decried as being
irregular; but that if there was ground for complaint, it might
be brought to the Committee for miscarriages, and, if they
thought good, to present it to the House; and so it was carried.
They did also vote this day thanks to be given to the Prince and
Duke of Albemarle, for their care and conduct in the last year's
war; which is a strange act: but, I know not how, the blockhead
Albemarle hath strange luck to be loved, though he be (and every
man must know it) the heaviest man in the world, but stout and
honest to his country. This evening late, Mr. Moore come to me
to prepare matters for my Lord Sandwich's defence; wherein I can
little assist, but will do all I can; and am in great fear of
nothing but the damned business of the prizes, but I fear my Lord
will receive a cursed deal of trouble by it.

25th. Up, and to make our answer ready for the Parliament this
afternoon, to show how Commissioner Pett was singly concerned in
the execution of all orders at Chatham, and that we did properly
lodge all orders with him. Thence with Sir W. Pen to the
Parliament Committee, and there I had no more matters asked me.
The Commissioners of the Ordnance, being examined with all
severity and hardly used, did go away with mighty blame; and I am
told by every body that it is likely to stick mighty hard upon
them: at which every body is glad, because of Duncomb's pride,
and their expecting to have the thanks of the House; whereas they
have deserved, as the Parliament apprehends, as bad as bad can
be. Here is great talk of an impeachment brought in against my
Lord Mordaunt, and that another will be brought in against my
Lord Chancellor in a few days. Here I understand for certain
that they have ordered that my Lord Arlington's letters, and
Secretary Morrice's letters of intelligence, be consulted about
the business of the Dutch fleet's coming abroad; and I do hear
how Birch is the man that do examine and trouble every body with
his questions.

26th. Mrs. Pierce tells me that the two Marshalls at the King's
house are Stephen Marshall's the great Presbyterian's daughters:
and that Nelly and Beck Marshall falling out the other day, the
latter called the other my Lord Buckhurst's mistress. Nell
answered her, "I was but one man's mistress, though I was brought
up in a brothel to fill strong water to the gentlemen; and you
are a mistress to three or four, though a Presbyter's praying
daughter!"

27th. This evening come Sir J. Minnes to me, to let me know that
a Parliament-man hath been with him to tell him that the
Parliament intend to examine him particularly about Sir W.
Coventry's selling of places, and about my Lord Brouncker's
discharging the ships at Chatham by ticket: for the former of
which I am more particularly sorry, that that business of Sir W.
Coventry should come up again; though this old man tells me, and
I believe, that he can say nothing to it.

28th. Sir W. Coventry says he is so well armed to justify
himself in every thing, unless in the old business of selling
places, when be says every body did; and he will now not be
forward to tell his own story, as he hath been; but tells me he
is grown wiser, and will put them to prove any thing, and he will
defend himself: that he is weary of public employment; and
neither ever designed, nor will ever, if his commission were
brought to him wrapt in gold, accept of any single place in the
State, as particularly Secretary of State: which, he says, the
world discourses Morrice is willing to resign.

29th. To Westminster Hall, the House sitting all this day about
the method of bringing in the charge against my Lord Chancellor;
and at last resolved for a Committee to draw up the heads.

30th. To the Parliament-house: where, after the Committee was
sat, I was called in: and the first thing was upon the complaint
of a dirty slut that was there, about a ticket which she had
lost, and had applied herself to me for another. I did give them
a short and satisfactory answer to that; and so they sent her
away, and were ashamed of their foolery, in giving occasion to
500 seamen and seamen's wives to come before them, as there were
this afternoon.

31st. I to Westminster; and there at the lobby do hear by
Commissioner Pett, to my great amazement, that he is in worse
condition than before, by the coming in of the Duke of
Albemarle's and Prince Rupert's Narratives this day; wherein the
former do most severely lay matters upon him, so as the House
this day have, I think, ordered him to the Tower again, or
something like it: so that the poor man is likely to be
overthrown, I doubt, right or wrong, so infinite fond they are of
any thing the Duke of Albemarle says or writes to them! I did
then go down, and there met with Colonell Reames and cosen Roger
Pepys: and there they do tell me how the Duke of Albemarle and
the Prince have laid blame on a great many, and particularly on
our office in general; and particularly for want of provision,
wherein I shall come to be questioned again in that business
myself; which do trouble me. But my cosen Pepys and I had much
discourse alone: and he do bewail the constitution of this
House, and says there is a direct caball and faction as much as
is possible between those for and against the Chancellor, and so
in other factions, that there is nothing almost done honestly and
with integrity; only some few, he says, there are, that do keep
out of all plots and combinations, and when their time comes will
speak and see right done if possible; and that he himself is
looked upon to be a man that will be of no faction, and so they
do shun to make him: and I am glad of it. He tells me that he
thanks God that he never knew what it was to be tempted to be a
knave in his life, till he did come into the House of Commons,
where there is nothing done but by passion, and faction, and
private interest. I espied Sir D. Gauden's coach, and so went
out of mine into his; and there had opportunity to talk of the
business of victuals, which the Duke of Albemarle and Prince did
complain that they were in want of the last year: but we do
conclude we shall be able to show quite the contrary of that;
only it troubles me that we must come to contend with these great
persons, which will overrun us.

NOVEMBER 1, 1667. I this morning before chapel visited Sir G.
Carteret, who is vexed to see how things are likely to go, but
cannot help it, and yet seems to think himself mighty safe. I
also visited my Lord Hinchingbroke, at his chamber at White Hall;
where I found Mr. Turner, Moore, and Creed talking of my Lord
Sandwich, whose case I doubt is but bad, and, I fear, will not
escape being worse. To the King's playhouse, and there saw a
silly play and an old one, "The Taming Of a Shrew."

2nd. To the King's playhouse, and there saw "Henry the Fourth;"
and, contrary to expectation, was pleased in nothing more than in
Cartwright's speaking of Falstaffe's speech about "What is
Honour?" [William Cartwright, one of Killigrew's Company at the
original establishment of Drury-lane. By his will, dated 1686,
he left his books, pictures, and furniture to Dulwich College,
where his portrait still remains.] The house full of Parliament-
men, it being holyday with them: and it was observable how a
gentleman of good habit sitting just before us, eating of some
fruit in the midst of the play, did drop down as dead, being
choked; but with much ado Orange Mall did thrust her finger down
his throat, and brought him to life again.

4th. To Westminster; and there landing at the New Exchange
stairs, I to Sir W. Coventry: and there he read over to me the
Prince's and Duke of Albemarle's Narratives; wherein they are
very severe against him and our office. But Sir W. Coventry do
contemn them; only that their persons and qualities are great,
and so I do perceive he is afraid of them, though he will not
confess it. But he do say that, if he can get out of these
briars, he will never trouble himself with Princes nor Dukes
again. He finds several things in their Narratives which are
both inconsistent and foolish, as well as untrue. Sir H. Cholmly
owns Sir W. Coventry, in his opinion, to be one of the worthiest
men in the nation, as I do really think he is. He tells me he do
think really that they will cut off my Lord Chancellor's head,
the Chancellor at this day having as much pride as is possible to
those few that venture their fortunes by coming to see him; and
that the Duke of York is troubled much, knowing that those that
fling down the Chancellor cannot stop there, but will do
something to him, to prevent his having it in his power hereafter
to avenge himself and father-in-law upon them. And this Sir H.
Cholmly fears may be by divorcing the Queene and getting another,
or declaring the Duke of Monmouth legitimate: which God forbid!
He tells me he do verily believe that there will come in an
impeachment of High Treason against my Lord of Ormond; among
other things, for ordering the quartering of soldiers in Ireland
on free quarters; which, it seems, is High Treason in that
country, and was one of the things that lost the Lord Strafford
his head, and the law is not yet repealed; which, he says, was a
mighty oversight of him not to have repealed (which he might with
ease have done), or have justified himself by an Act.

7th. At noon resolved with Sir W. Pen to go to see "The
Tempest," an old play of Shakespeare's, acted, I hear, the first
day, And so my wife, and girl, and W. Hewer by themselves, and
Sir W. Pen and I afterwards by ourselves: and forced to sit in
the side balcony over against the musique-room at the Duke's
House, close by my Lady Dorset [Frances, daughter of Lionel Earl
of Middlesex, wife of Richard fifth Earl of Dorset.] and a great
many great ones. The house mighty full; the King and Court
there: and the most innocent play that ever I saw; and a curious
piece of musique in an echo of half sentences, the echo repeating
the former half while the man goes on to the latter; which is
mighty pretty. The play has no great wit, but yet good above
ordinary plays.

9th. The House very busy, and like to be so all day, about my
Lord Chancellor's impeachment, whether Treason or not.

10th. To White Hall, to speak with Sir W. Coventry; and there,
beyond all we looked for do hear that the Duke of York hath got
and is full of the small-pox. And so we to his lodgings; and
there find most of the family going to St. James's, and the
gallery-doors locked up, that nobody might pass to nor fro: and
so a sad house, I am sorry to see. I am sad to consider the
effects of his death if he should miscarry; but Dr. Frazier tells
me that he is in as good condition as a man can be in his case.
They appeared last night: it seems he was let blood on Friday.

11th. Sir G. Carteret and I towards the Temple in coach
together; and there he did tell me how the King do all he can in
the world to overthrow my Lord Chancellor, and that notice is
taken of every man about the King that is not seen to promote the
ruine of the Chancellor; and that this being another great day in
his business, he dares not but be there. He tells me that as
soon as Secretary Morrice brought the Great Seale from my Lord
Chancellor, Bab. May fell upon his knees and catched the King
about the legs, and joyed him, and said that this was the first
time that ever he could call him King of England, being freed
from this great man: which was a most ridiculous saying. And he
told me that when first my Lord Gerard, a great while ago, came
to the King, and told him that the Chancellor did say openly that
the King was a lazy person and not fit to govern (which is now
made one of the things in people's mouths against the
Chancellor,) "Why," says the King, "that is no news, for he hath
told me so twenty times, and but the other day he told me so;"
and made matter of mirth at it: but yet this light discourse is
likely to prove bad to him.

12th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning; and
there hear that the Duke of York do yet do very well with his
small-pox: pray God he may continue to do so! This morning
also, to my astonishment, I hear that yesterday my Lord
Chancellor, to another of his Articles, that of betraying the
King's councils to his enemies, is voted to have matter against
him for an impeachment of High Treason, and that this day the
impeachment is to be carried up to the House of Lords: which is
very high, and I am troubled at it; for God knows what will
follow, since they that do this must do more to secure themselves
against any that will revenge this, if it ever come in their
power!

13th. To Westminster: where I find the House sitting, and in a
mighty heat about Commissioner Pett, that they would have him
impeached, though the Committee have yet brought in but part of
their Report: and this heat of the House is much heightened by
Sir Thomas Clifford telling them, that he was the man that did,
out of his own purse, employ people at the out-ports to prevent
the King of Scotts to escape after the battle of Worcester. The
house was in a great heat all this day about it; and at last it
was carried, however, that it should be referred back to the
Committee to make further enquiry. By and by I met with Mr.
Wren, who tells me that the Duke of York is in as good
condition as is possible for a man in his condition of the small-
pox. He, I perceive, is mightily concerned in the business of my
Lord Chancellor, the impeachment against whom is gone up to the
House of Lords; and great differences there are in the Lords'
House about it, and the Lords are very high one against another.
This day Mr. Chichly told me, with a seeming trouble, that the
House have stopped his son Jack (Sir John) his going to France,
that he may be a witness against my Lord Sandwich: which do
trouble me, though he can, I think, say little.

15th. A conference between the two Houses today; so I stayed:
and it was only to tell the Commons that the Lords' cannot agree
to the confining or sequestring of the Earle of Clarendon from
the Parliament, forasmuch as they do not specify any particular
crime which they lay upon him and call Treason. This the House
did receive, and so parted: at which, I hear the Commons are
like to grow very high, and will insist upon their privileges,
and the Lords will own theirs, though the Duke of Buckingham,
Bristoll, and others have been very high in the House of Lords to
have had him committed. This is likely to breed ill blood. The
King hath (as Mr. Moore says Sir Thomas Crewe told him) been
heard to say that the quarrel is not between my Lord Chancellor
and him, but his brother and him; which will make sad work among
us if that be once promoted, as to be sure it will, Buckingham
and Bristoll being now the only counsel the King follows, so as
Arlington and Coventry are come to signify little. He tells me
they are likely to fall upon my Lord Sandwich; but for my part
sometimes I am apt to think they cannot do him much harm, he
telling me that there is no great fear of the business of
Resumption. This day Poundy the waterman was with me, to let me
know that he was summoned to bear witness against me to Prince
Rupert's people (who have a commission to look after the business
of prize-goods), about the business of the prize-goods I was
concerned in: but I did desire him to speak all he knew, and not
to spare me, nor did promise nor give him any thing, but sent him
away with good words.

16th. Met Mr. Gregory, my old acquaintance, an understanding
gentleman; and he and I walked an hour together, talking of the
bad prospect of the times. And the sum of what I learn from him
is this: That the King is the most concerned in the world
against the Chancellor and all people that do not appear against
him, and therefore is angry with the Bishops, having said that he
had one Bishop on his side (Crofts), [Herbert Croft, Dean of
Hereford, elected Bishop of that see 1661.] and but one: that
Buckingham and Bristoll are now his only Cabinet Counsel; and
that, before the Duke of York fell sick, Buckingham was admitted
to the King of his Cabinet, and there stayed with him several
hours, and the Duke of York shut out. That it is plain that
there is dislike between the King and Duke of York, and that it
is to be feared that the House will go so far against the
Chancellor, that they must do something to undo the Duke of York,
or will not think themselves safe. That this Lord Vaughan that is
so great against the Chancellor, is one of the lewdest fellows of
the age, worse than Sir Charles Sedley; and that he was heard to
swear he would do my Lord Clarendon's business. [John Lord
Vaughan, eldest surviving son to Richard Earl of Carbery, whom he
succeeded. He was well versed in literature, and President of
the Royal Society from 1686 to 1689, and had been Governor of
Jamaica. He was amongst Dryden's earliest patrons Ob. 1712-13.]
That he do find that my Lord Clarendon hath more friends in both
Houses than he believes he would have, by reason that they do see
what are the hands that pull him down; which they do not like.
That Harry Coventry was scolded at by the King severely the other
day; and that his answer was, that if he must not speak what he
thought in this business in Parliament, he must not come thither.
And he says that by this very business Harry Coventry hath got
more fame and common esteem than any gentleman in England hath at
this day, and is an excellent and able person. That the King,
who not long ago did say of Bristoll, that he was a man able in
three years to get himself a fortune in any kingdom in the world,
and lose all again in three months, do now hug him and commend
his parts every where, above all the world. How fickle is this
man, and how unhappy we like to be! That he fears some furious
courses will be taken against the Duke of York; and that he hath
heard that it was designed, if they cannot carry matters against
the Chancellor, to impeach the Duke of York himself; which God
forbid! That Sir Edward Nicholas, whom he served while
Secretary, is one of the best men in the world, but hated by the
Queene-Mother, (for a service he did the old King against her
mind and her favourites;) and that she and my Lady Castlemaine
did make the King to lay him aside: but this man says that he is
one of the most heavenly and charitable men in the whole world.
That the House of Commons resolve to stand by their proceedings,
and have chosen a Committee to draw up the reason thereof to
carry to the Lords; which is likely to breed great heat between
them. That the Parliament, after all this, is likely to give the
King no money; and therefore, that it is to be wondered what
makes the King give way to so great extravagancies, which do all
tend to the making him less than he is, and so will every day
more and more: and by this means every creature is divided
against the other, that there never was so great an uncertainty
in England, of what would be the event of things, as at this
day; nobody being at ease, or safe. To White Hall; and there got
into the theatre room, and there heard both the vocall and
instrumentall musick. Here was the King and Queene, and some of
the ladies; among whom none more jolly than my Lady Buckingham,
her Lord being once more a great man.