Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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11th. To the King's house, to see "The Wildgoose Chase." [By
Beaumont and Fletcher.] In this play I met with nothing
extraordinary at all, but very dull inventions and designs.
Knipp came and sat by us, and her talk pleased me a little, she
tells me how Miss Davis is for certain going away from the Duke's
house, the King being in love with her; and a house is taken for
her, and furnishing; and she hath a ring given her already worth
600l.: that the King did send several times for Nelly, and she
was with him; and I am sorry for it, and can hope for no good to
the State from having a Prince so devoted to his pleasure. She
told me also of a play shortly coming upon the stage of Sir
Charles Sedley's, which, she thinks, will be called "The
Wandering Ladys," a comedy that she thinks will be most pleasant;
and also another play, called "The Duke of Lorane:" besides
"Catiline," which she thinks, for want of the clothes which the
King promised them, will not be acted for a good while.

14th. To my bookseller, Martin, and there did receive my book I
expected of China, a most excellent book with rare cuts; and
there fell into discourse with him about the burning of Paul's
when the City was burned, his house being in the church-yard.
And he tells me that it took fire first upon the end of a board
that among others was laid upon the roof instead of lead, the
lead being broke off, and thence down lower and lower: but that
the burning of the goods under St. Fayth's arose from the goods
taking fire in the church-yard, and so got into St. Fayth's
church; and that they first took fire from the Draper's side, by
some timber of the houses that were burned falling into the
church. He says that one warehouse of books was saved under
Paul's; and there were several dogs found burned among the goods
in the churchyard, and but one man, which was an old man, that
said he would go and save a blanket which he had in the church,
and being weak the fire overcame him. He says that most of the
booksellers do design to fall a-building again the next year; but
that the Bishop of London do use them most basely, worse than any
other landlords, and says he will be paid to this day the rent,
or else he will not come to treat with them for the time to come;
and will not, on that condition either, promise them in any thing
how he will use them; and the Parliament sitting, he claims his
privilege, and will not be cited before the Lord Chief Justice as
others are there, to be forced to a fair dealing. Thence by
coach to Mrs. Pierce's, where my wife is; and there they fell to
discourse of the last night's work at Court, where the ladies and
Duke of Monmouth and others acted. "The Indian Emperour;"
wherein they told me these things most remarkable: That not any
woman but the Duchesse of Monmouth and Mrs. Cornwallis did any
thing but like fools and stocks, but that these two did do most
extraordinary well: that not any man did any thing well but
Captain Olrigran, [SIC. ORIG.] who spoke and did well, but above
all things did dance most incomparably. That she did sit near
the players of the Duke's house; among the rest Miss Davis, who
is the most impertinent slut, she says, in the world; and the
more, now the King do show her countenance; and is reckoned his
mistress, even to the scorne of the whole world; the King gazing
on her, and my Lady Castlemaine being melancholy and out of
humour, all the play not smiling once. The King, it seems, hath
given her a ring of 700l. which she shows to every body, and owns
that the King did give it her; and he hath furnished a house in
Suffolke-street most richly for her; which is a most infinite
shame. It seems she is a bastard of Colonell Howard, my Lord
Berkshire, and that he hath got her for the King: but Pierce
says that she is a most homely jade as ever she saw, though she
dances beyond any thing in the world. She tells me that the
Duchesse of Richmond do not yet come to the Court, nor hath seen
the King, nor will not, nor do he own his desire of seeing her;
but hath used means to get her to Court, but they do not take.

15th. This afternoon my Lord Anglesy tells us that it is voted
in Council to have a fleet of 50 ships out: but it is only a
disguise for the Parliament to get some money by; but it will not
take, I believe.

16th. Lord Anglesy tells us again that a fleet is to be set out;
and that it is generally, he hears, said that it is but a Spanish
rhodomontado; and that he saying so just now to the Duke of
Albemarle, who came to town last night (after the thing was
ordered,) he told him a story of two seamen: one wished all the
guns of the ship were his, and that they were silver; and says
the other, "You are a fool, for if you can have it for wishing,
why do you not wish them gold?" "So," says he, "if a
rhodomontado will do any good, why do you not say 100 ships?"
And it is true; for the Dutch and French are said to make such
preparations as 50 sail will do no good. Mightily pleased with
Mr. Gibson's talking; he telling me so many good stories relating
to the war and practices of commanders which I will find a time
to recollect; and he will be an admirable help to my writing a
history of the Navy, if ever I do.

17th. Much discourse of the duell yesterday between the Duke of
Buckingham, Holmes, and one Jenkins, on one side, and my Lord of
Shrewsbury, [Francis, eleventh Earl of Shrewsbury, died of his
wounds March 16th following.] Sir John Talbot, [Sir John Talbot,
a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, M.P. for Knaresborough.] and
one Bernard Howard [Bernard Howard, eighth son of Henry Frederic
Earl of Arundel.] on the other side: and all about; my Lady
Shrewsbury, [Anna Maria, daughter of Robert Earl of Cardigan, the
Duke of Buckingham's mistress, and said to have held his horse,
in the habit of a page, while he was fighting with her husband.
She married, secondly, George Rodney Bridges, son of Sir Thomas
Bridges of Keynsham, Somerset, and died April 20, 1702.] who is
at this time, and hath for a great while been, a mistress to the
Duke of Buckingham. And so her husband challenged him, and they
met yesterday in a close near Barne-Elmes and there fought: and
my Lord Shrewsbury is run through the body, from the right breast
through the shoulder; and Sir John Talbot all along up one of his
armes; and Jenkins killed upon the place, and the rest all in a
little measure wounded. This will make the world think that the
King hath good counsellors about him, when the Duke of
Buckingham, the greatest man about him, is a fellow of no more
sobriety than to fight about a mistress. And this may prove a
very bad accident to the Duke of Buckingham, but that my Lady
Castlemaine do rule all at this time as much as ever she did, and
she will, it is believed, keep all matters well with the Duke of
Buckingham: though this is a time that the King will be very
backward, I suppose, to appear in such a business. And it is
pretty to hear how the King had some notice of this challenge a
week or two ago, and did give it to my Lord Generall to confine
the Duke, or take security that he should not do any such thing
as fight: and the Generall trusted to the King that he, sending
for him, would do it; and the King trusted to the Generall. And
it is said that my Lord Shrewsbury's case is to be feared, that
he may die too; and that may make it much worse for the Duke of
Buckingham: and I shall not be much sorry for it, that we may
have some sober man come in his room to assist in the Government.
Creed tells me of Mr. Harry Howard's giving the Royall Society a
piece of ground next to his house to build a college on: which
is a most generous act. And he tells me he is a very fine
person, and understands and speaks well; and no rigid Papist
neither, but one that would not have a Protestant servant leave
his religion, which he was going to do, thinking to recommend
himself to his master by it; saying, that he had rather have an
honest Protestant than a knavish Catholique. I was not called in
to the Council and therefore home, first informing myself that my
Lord Hinchingbroke hath been married this week to my Lord
Burlington's daughter: so that that great business is over; and
I am mighty glad of it, though I am not satisfied that I have not
a favour sent me.

19th. Lord Shrewsbury is likely to do well.

20th. To Drumbleby's the pipe-maker, there to advise about the
making of a flageolet to go low and soft; and he do show me a way
which do do, and also a fashion of having two pipes of the same
note fastened together, so as I can play on one, and then echo it
upon the other; which is mighty pretty. So to my Lord Crewe's to
dinner; where we hear all the good news of our making a league
now with Holland against the French Power coming over them or us:
which is the first good act that hath been done a great while,
and done secretly and with great seeming wisdom; and is certainly
good for us at this time, while we are in no condition to resist
the French, if he should come over hither: and then a little
time of peace will give us time to lay up something, which these
Commissioners of the Treasury are doing; and the world do begin
to see that they will do the King's work for him, if he will let
them. My Lord told a good story of Mr. Newman, the Minister in
New England, who wrote the Concordance, of his foretelling his
death and preaching a funeral sermon, and did at last bid the
angels do their office, and died. It seems there is great
presumption that there will be a Toleration granted: so that the
Presbyterians do hold up their heads; but they will hardly trust
the King or the Parliament what to yield them, though most of the
sober party be for some kind of allowance to be given them. Lord
Gerard is likely to meet with ill, the next sitting of
Parliament, about Carr being set in the pillory; and I am glad of
it. And it is mighty acceptable to the world to hear, that among
other reductions the King do reduce his Guards: which do please
mightily.

21st. Comes news from Kate Joyce that, if I would see her
husband alive, I must come presently. So I to him, and and his
breath rattled in the throate; and they did lay pigeons to his
feet, and all despair of him. It seems on Thursday last he went
sober and quiet to Islington, and behind one of the inns (the
White Lion) did fling himself into a pond: was spied by a poor
woman, and got out by some people, and set on his head and got to
life: and so his wife and friends sent for. He confessed his
doing the thing, being led by the Devil; and do declare his
reason to be his trouble in having forgot to serve God as he
ought since he came to his new employment: [He kept a tavern.]
and I believe that, and the sense of his great loss by the fire,
did bring him to it; for he grew sick, and worse and worse to
this day. The friends that were there being now in fear that the
goods and estate would be seized on, though he lived all this
while, because of his endeavouring to drown himself, my cosen did
endeavour to remove what she could of plate out of the house, and
desired me to take my flagons; which I did, but in great fear all
the way of being seized; though there was no reason for it, he
not being dead. So with Sir D. Gauden to Guild Hall to advise
with the Towne-Clerke about the practice of the City and nation
in this case: and he thinks it cannot be found selfe-murder; but
if it be, it will fall, all the estate, to the King. So I to my
cosen's again; where I no sooner come but find that he was
departed. So at their entreaty I presently to White Hall, and
there find Sir W. Coventry; and he carried me to the King, the
Duke of York being with him, and there told my story which I had
told him; and the King, without more ado, granted that, if it was
found, the estate should be to the widow and children: which
indeed was every great courtesy, for people are looking out for
the estate.

22nd. At noon with any Lord Brouncker to Sir D. Gauden's, at the
Victualling-office, to dinner, where I have not dined since he
was Sheriffe. He expected us: and a good dinner, and much good
company; and a fine house, and especially two rooms very fine, he
hath built there. His lady a good lady; but my Lord led himself
and me to a great absurdity in kissing all the ladies, but the
finest of all the company, leaving her out I know not how; and I
was loath to do it, since he omitted it. Here little Chaplin
dined, who is like to be Sheriffe the next year; and a pretty
humoured little man he is: and Mr. Talents the younger, of
Magdalene College, Chaplain to the Sheriffe; which I was glad to
see, though not much acquainted with him.

23rd. At the office all the morning; and at noon find the Bishop
of Lincolne [Dr. William Fuller, translated from Limerick 1667.]
come to dine with us; and after him comes Mr. Brisband. And
there mighty good company. But the Bishop a very extraordinary
good-natured man, and one that is mightily pleased, as well as I
am, that I live so near Bugden, [At Brampton.] the seat of his
bishopricke, where he is like to reside; and indeed I am glad of
it. In discourse we think ourselves safe for this year, by this
league with Holland; which pleases every body, and, they say,
vexes France; insomuch that De l'Estrade, the French Embassador
in Holland, when he heard it, told the States that he would have
them not forget that his master is in the head of 100,000 men,
and is but 28 years old; which was a great speech. The Bishop
tells me he thinks that the great business of Toleration will
not, notwithstanding this talk, be carried this Parliament; nor
for the King's taking away the Deans' and Chapters' lands to
supply his wants, they signifying little to him if he had them
for his present service.

27th. Mr. Povy do tell me how he is like to lose his 400l. a-
year pension of the Duke of York, which he took in consideration
of his place that was taken from him. He tells me the Duchesse
is a devil against him, and do now come like Queene Elizabeth,
and sits with the Duke of York's Council, and sees what they do;
and she crosses out this man's wages and prices as she sees fit
for saving money: but yet, he tells me, she reserves 5000l. a-
gear for her own spending; and my Lady Peterborough by and by
tells me that the Duchesse do lay up mightily jewells.

28th. To White Hall; and by and by the Duke of York comes, and
we had a little meeting, Anglesy, W. Pen, and I there, and none
else: and, among other things, did discourse of the want of
discipline in the fleet; which the Duke of York confessed, and
yet said that he while he was there did keep it in a good
measure, but that it was now lost when he was absent; but he will
endeavour to have it again. That he did tell the Prince and Duke
of Albemarle they would lose all order by making such and such
men commanders, which they would because they were stout men: he
told them it was a reproach to the nation, as if there were no
sober men among us, that were stout to be had. That they did put
out some men for cowards that the Duke of York had put in, but;
little before, for stout men; and would now, were he to go to sea
again, entertain them in his own division to choose: and did put
in an idle fellow, Greene, who was hardly thought fit for a
boatswain by him; they did put him from being a lieutenant to a
captain's place of a second-rate ship; as idle a drunken fellow,
he said, as any was in the fleet. That he will now desire the
King to let him be what he is, that is, Admirall; and he will put
in none but those that he hath great reason to think well of:
and particularly says that though he likes Colonel Legg well, yet
his son that was, he knows not how, made a captain after he had
been but one voyage at sea, he should go to sea another
apprenticeship before ever he gives him a command. We did tell
him of the many defects and disorders among the captains, and I
prayed we might do it in writing to him; which he liked; and I am
glad of an opportunity of doing it. My wife this day hears from
her father and mother: they are in France, at Paris; he, poor
good man! thankful for my small charities to him.

29th. To Sir W. Coventry. He tells me he hath no friends in the
whole Court but my Lord Keeper and Sir John Duncomb. They have
reduced the charges of Ireland about 70,000l. a-year, and thereby
cut off good profits from my Lord Lieutenant; which will make a
new enemy, but he cares not. He tells me that Townsend, of the
Wardrobe, is the veriest knave and bufflehead that over he saw.

30th. I first heard that my cosen Pepys, of Salisbury Court, was
Marshall to my Lord Coke when he was Lord Chief Justice; which
beginning of his I did not know to be so low; but so it was, it
seems.

31st. Up; and by coach, with W. Griffin with me, and our
Contract-books, to Durham Yard, to the Commissioners for
Accounts; the first time I ever was there; and staid awhile
before I was admitted to them. I did observe a great many people
attending about complaints of seamen concerning tickets, and
among others Mr. Carcasse, and Mr. Martin my purser. And I
observe a fellow, one Collins, is there, who is employed by these
Commissioners particularly to hold an office in Bishopsgate-
street, or somewhere thereabouts, to receive complaints of all
people about tickets: and I believe he will have work enough.
Presently I was called in; where I found the whole number of
Commissioners, and was there received with great respect and
kindness; and did give them great satisfaction, making it my
endeavour to inform them what it was they were to expect from me,
and what was the duty of other people; this being my only way to
preserve myself, after all my pains and trouble. They did ask
many questions, and demanded other books of me, which I did give
them very ready and acceptable answers to; and, upon the whole, I
do observe they go about their business like men resolved to go
through with it, and in a very good method, like men of
understanding. They have Mr. Jessop their secretary: and it is
pretty to see that they are fain to find out an old-fashioned man
of Cromwell's to do their business for them, as well as the
Parliament to pitch upon such for the most part in the lowest of
people that were brought into the House for Commissioners. I
went away giving and receiving great satisfaction: and so to
White Hall, to the Commissioners of the Treasury; where waiting
some time I there met with Colonell Birch: and he and I fell
into discourse; and I did give him thanks for his kindness to me
in the Parliament-house, both before my face and behind my back.
He told me that he knew me to be a man of the old way of taking
pains, and did always endeavour to do me right, and prevent any
thing that was moved that might tend to my injury; which I was
obliged to him for, and thanked him. Thence to talk of other
things, and the want of money: and he told me of the general
want of money in the country; that land sold for nothing, and the
many pennyworths he knows of lands and houses upon them, with
good titles in his country, at 16 years' purchase: "And," says
he, "though I am in debt, yet I have a mind to one thing, and
that is a Bishop's lease:" but said, "I will yet choose such a
lease before any other, because I know they cannot stand, and
then it will fall into the King's hands, and I in possession
shall have an advantage by it." Says he, "I know they must fall,
and they are now near it, taking all the ways they can to undo
themselves, and showing us the way:" and thereupon told me a
story of the present quarrel between the Bishop [John Hacket.]
and Dean [Henry Greswold, A.M.] of Coventry and Lichfield; the
former of whom did excommunicate the latter, and caused his
excommunication to be read in the church while he was there; and
after it was read, the Dean made the service be gone through
with, though himself an excommunicate was present (which is
contrary to the Canon), and said he would justify the quire
therein against the Bishop: and so they are at law in the Arches
about it; which is a very pretty story. He tells me that the
King is for Toleration, though the Bishops be against it; and
that he do not doubt but it will be carried in Parliament: but
that he fears some will stand for the tolerating of Papists with
the rest; and that he knows not what to say, but rather thinks
that the sober party will be without it rather than have it upon
those terms; and I do believe so. It is observed, and is true,
in the late fire of London, that the fire burned just as many
parish-churches as there were hours from the beginning to the end
of the fire; and next, that there were just as many churches left
standing as there were taverns left standing in the rest of the
City that was not burned, being, I think, thirteen in all of
each: which is pretty to observe.

FEBRUARY 1, 1667-8. To the office till past two o'clock; where
at the Board some high words passed between Sir W. Pen and I,
begun by me, and yielded to by him, I being in the right in
finding fault with him for his neglect of duty. Home, my head
mighty full of business now on my hands: viz. of finishing my
Tangier Accounts; of auditing my last year's accounts; of
preparing answers to the Commissioners of Accounts; of drawing up
several important letters to the Duke of York and the
Commissioners of the Treasury; the marrying of my sister; the
building of a coach and stables against summer, and the setting
many things in the office right: and the drawing up a new form
of Contract with the Victualler of the Navy, and several other
things, which pains, however, will go through with.

5th. Mr. Moore mightily commends my Lord Hinchingbroke's match
and lady, though he buys her 10,000l. dear, by the jointure and
settlement his father makes her; and says that the Duke of York
and Duchesse of York did come to see them in bed together on
their wedding-night, and how my Lord had fifty pieces of gold
taken out of his pocket that night after he was in bed. He tells
me that an Act of Comprehension is likely to pass this Parliament
for admitting of all persuasions in religion to the public
observation of their particular worship, but in certain places,
and the persons therein concerned to be listed of this or that
church; which, it is thought, will do them more hurt than good,
and make them not own their persuasion. He tells me that there
is a pardon passed to the Duke of Buckingham, my Lord of
Shrewsbury and the rest, for the late duell and murder; which he
thinks a worse fault than any ill use my late Lord Chancellor
ever put the great Seal to, and will be so thought by the
Parliament, for them to be pardoned without bringing them to any
trial: and that my Lord Privy-seale therefore would not have it
pass his hand, but made it go by immediate warrant; or at least
they knew that he would not pass it, and so did direct it to go
by immediate warrant, that it might not come to him. He tells me
what a character my Lord Sandwich hath sent over of Mr.
Godolphin; [Sidney Godolphin, Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles
II.; made a Commissioner of the Treasury 1678-9, and in 1684
created Baron Godolphin.] as the worthiest man, and such a
friend to him as he may be trusted in any thing relating to him
in the world; as one whom, he says, he hath infallible assurances
that he will remaine his friend: which is very high, but indeed
they say the gentleman is a fine man.

6th. Sir H. Cholmly tells me how the Parliament (which is to
meet again to-day) are likely to fall heavy on the business of
the Duke of Buckingham's pardon; and I shall be glad of it: and
that the King hath put out of the Court the two Hides, my Lord
Chancellor's two sons, and also the Bishops of Rochester [John
Dolben.] and Winchester [George Morley.] the latter of whom
should have preached before him yesterday, being Ash-Wednesday,
and had sermon ready, but was put by; which is great news. My
wife being gone before, I to the Duke of York's playhouse; where
a new play of Etheridge's, called "She would if she could;" and
though I was there by two o'clock, there was 1000 people put back
that could not have room in the pit; and I at last, because my
wife was there, made shift to get into the 18d. box, and there
saw: but, Lord! how full was the house, and how silly the play,
there being nothing in the world good in it, and few people
pleased in it. The King was there; but I sat mightily behind,
and could see but little, and hear not all. The play being done,
I into the pit to look for my wife, it being dark and raining;
but could not find her, and so staid going between the two doors
and through the pit an hour and half, I think, after the play was
done; the people staying there till the rain was over, and to
talk one with another. And among the rest here was the Duke of
Buckingham to-day openly sat in the pit; and there I found him
with my Lord Buckhurst, and Sedley, and Etheridge the poet; the
last of whom I did hear mightily find fault with the actors, that
they were out of humour and had not their parts perfect, and that
Harris did do nothing, nor could so much as sing a ketch in it;
and so was mightily concerned: while all the rest did through
the whole pit blame the play as a silly, dull thing, though there
was something very roguish and witty; but the design of the play
and end mighty insipid. At last I did find my wife.