Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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7th. Met my cosen Roger Pepys, (the Parliament meeting yesterday
and adjourned to Monday next;) and here he tells me that Mr.
Jackson my sister's servant is come to town, and hath this day
suffered a recovery on his estate in order to the making her a
settlement. There is a great triall between my Lord Gerard and
Carr to-day, who is indicted for his life at the King's Bench for
running from his colours; but all do say that my Lord Gerard,
though he designs the ruin of this man, will not get any thing by
it. Met my cosen Roger again, and Mr. Jackson, who is a plain
young man, handsome enough for her, [Paulina Peps.] one of no
education nor discourse, but of few words, and one altogether
that, I think, will please me well enough. My cosen had got me
to give the odd sixth 100l. presently, which I intended to keep
to the birth of the first child: and let it go--I shall be eased
of the care. So there parted, my mind pretty well satisfied with
this plain fellow for my sister; though I shall, I see, have no
pleasure nor content in him, as if he had been a man of reading
and parts, like Cumberland.

8th. The great talk is of Carr's coming off in all his trials,
to the disgrace of my Lord Gerard to that degree, and the ripping
up of so many notorious rogueries and cheats of my Lord's, that
my Lord, it is thought, will be ruined: and above all do show
the madness of the House of Commons, who rejected the petition of
this poor man by a combination of a few in the House; and, much
more, the base proceedings (just the epitome of all our publick
managements in this age) of the House of Lords, that ordered him
to stand in the pillory for those very things, without hearing
and examining what he hath now, by the seeking of my Lord Gerard
himself, cleared himself of in open Court, to the gaining himself
the pity of all the world, and shame for ever to my Lord Gerard.

10th. Made a visit to Mr. Godolphin at his chamber; and I do
find him a very pretty and able person, a man of very fine parts,
and of infinite zeal to my Lord Sandwich; and one that says, he
is (he believes) as wise and able a person as any prince in the
world hath. He tells me that he meets with unmannerly usage by
Sir Robert Southwell, [He was knighted and sent as Envoy
Extraordinary to Portugal 1666, and with the same rank to
Brussels in 1671. He became afterwards Clerk to the Privy
Council and was five times elected President of the Royal
Society. Ob. 1702, aged 60.] in Portugall, who would sign with
him in his negociations there, being a forward young man; but
that my Lord mastered him in that point, it being ruled for my
Lord here at a hearing of a Committee of the Council. He says
that if my Lord can compass a peace between Spain and Portugall,
and hath the doing of it and the honour himself, it will be a
thing of more honour than ever any man had, and of as much
advantage. Thence to Westminster Hall, where the Hall mighty
full: and, among other things, the House begins to sit to-day,
and the King came. But before the King's coming the House of
Commons met; and upon information given them of a Bill intended
to be brought in as common report said, for Comprehension, they
did mightily and generally inveigh against it, and did vote that
the King should be desired by the House, and the message
delivered by the Privy-counsellors of the House, that the laws
against breakers of the Act for Uniformity should be put in
execution: and it was moved in the House that if any people had
a mind to bring any new laws into the House about religion, they
might come as a proposer of new laws did in Athens, with ropes
about their necks. By and by the King comes to the Lords' House,
and there tells them of his league with Holland, and the
necessity of a fleet, and his debts; and, therefore, want of
money; and his desire that they would think of some way to bring
in all his Protestant subjects to a right understanding and peace
one with another; meaning the Bill of Comprehension. The Commons
coming to their House, it was moved that the vote passed this
morning might be suspended, because of the King's Speech, till
the House was full and called over, two days hence: but it was
denied, so furious they are against this Bill; and thereby a
great blow either given to the King or Presbyters, or, which is
the rather of the two, to the House itself, by denying a thing
desired by the King, and so much desired by much the greater part
of the nation. Whatever the consequence be, if the King be a man
of any stomach and heat, all do believe that he will resent this
vote. Read over and agreed upon the deed of settlement to our
minds: my sister to have 600l. presently, and she to be
joyntured in 60l. per annum; wherein I am very well satisfied.

11th. To Pemberton's [Francis Pemberton, afterwards knighted,
and made Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench 1679.] chamber.
It was pretty here to see the heaps of money upon this lawyer's
table; and more, to see how he had not since last night spent any
time upon our business, but begun with telling us that we were
not at all concerned in that Act; which was a total mistake, by
his not having read over the Act at all.

12th. My cosen Roger told me the pleasant passage of a fellow's
bringing a bag of letters to-day into the lobby of the House,
where he left them, and withdrew himself without observation.
The bag being opened, the letters were found all of one size, and
directed with one hand: a letter to most of the Members of the
House. The House was acquainted with it, and voted they should
be brought in and one opened by the Speaker; wherein if he found
any thing unfit to communicate, to propose a Committee to be
chosen for it. The Speaker opening one, found it only a case
with a libell in it, printed: a satire most sober and bitter as
ever I read; and every letter was the same. So the House fell a-
scrambling for them like boys; and my cosen Roger had one
directed to him, which he lent me to read.

13th. Mr. Brisband tells me in discourse that Tom Killigrew hath
a fee out of the Wardrobe for cap and bells, under the title of
the King's Foole or Jester; and may revile or jeere any body, the
greatest person without offence, by the privilege of his place.
This morning Sir G. Carteret come to the office to see and talk
with me: and he assures me that to this day the King is the most
kind man to my Lord Sandwich in the whole world; that he himself
do not now mind any publick business, but suffers things to go on
at Court as they will, he seeing all likely to come to ruin:
that this morning the Duke of York sent to him to come to make up
one of a Committee of the Council for Navy Affairs; upon which,
when he came, he told the Duke of York that he was none of them:
which shows how things are now-a-days ordered, that there should
be a Committee for the Navy, and the Lord Admirall knows not the
persons of it; and that Sir G. Carteret and my Lord Anglesy
should be left out of it, and men wholly improper put into it. I
do hear of in hands that there is great difference at this day
between my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry; which I am sorry
for.

14th. I to my office to perfect my Narrative about prize-goods;
and did carry it to the Commissioners of Accounts, who did
receive it with great kindness, and express great value of and
respect to me: and my heart is at rest that it is lodged there
in so full truth and plainness, though it may hereafter prove
some loss to me. But here I do see they are entered into many
enquiries about prizes, by the great attendance of commanders and
others before them; which is a work I am not sorry for. Thence I
away, with my head busy but my heart at pretty good ease, to
visit Colonell Thomson, one of the Committee of Accounts; who
among the rest is mighty kind to me, and is likely to mind our
business more than any; and I would be glad to have a good
understanding with him. Thence after dinner to White Hall to
attend the Duke of York; where I did let him know too the
troublesome life we lead, and particularly myself, by being
obliged to such attendances every day as I am, on one Committee
or other. And I do find the Duke of York himself troubled, and
willing not to be troubled with occasions of having his name used
among the Parliament though he himself do declare that he did
give directions to Lord Brouncker to discharge the men at Chatham
by ticket, and will own it if the House call for it, but not
else. Thence I attended the King and Council, and some of the
rest of us, in a business to be heard about the value of a ship
of one Dorrington's. And it was pretty to observe how Sir W.
Pen, making use of this argument against the validity of an oath,
against the King, being made by the master's mate of the ship,
who was but a fellow of about 23 years of age; the master of the
ship, against whom we pleaded, did say that he did think himself
at that age capable of being master's mate of any ship; and do
know that he, Sir W. Pen, was so himself; and in no better degree
at that age himself: which word did strike Sir W. Pen mad, and
made him open his mouth no more; and I saw the King and Duke of
York wink at one another at it. This done, we into the Gallery;
and there I walked with several people, and among others my Lord
Brouncker; who I do find under much trouble still about the
business of the tickets, his very case being brought in, as is
said, this day in the Report of the miscarriages. And he seems
to lay much of it on me, which I did clear and satisfy him in;
and would be glad with all my heart to serve him in, and have
done it more than he hath done for himself, he not deserving the
least blame, but commendations, for this. I met with my cosen
Roger Pepys and Creed; and from them understand that the report
was read to-day of the Miscarriages, wherein my Lord Sandwich is
named about the business I mentioned this morning; but I will be
at rest, for it can do him no hurt. Our business of tickets is
soundly up, and many others; so they went over them again, and
spent all the morning on the first, which is the dividing of the
fleet; wherein hot work was, and that among great men, Privy-
counsellors, and, they say, Sir W. Coventry; but I do not much
fear it, but do hope that it will show a little of the Duke of
Albemarle and the Prince to have been advisers in it: but
whereas they ordered that the King's Speech should be considered
to-day, they took no notice of it at all, but are really come to
despise the King in all possible ways of showing it. And it was
the other day a strange saying, as I am told by my cosen Roger
Pepys, in the House, when it was moved that the King's Speech
should be considered, that though the first part of the Speech,
meaning the league that is there talked of, be the only good
publick thing that hath been done since the King come into
England, yet it might bear with being put off to consider till
Friday next, which was this day. Secretary Morrice did this day
in the House, when they talked of intelligence, say that he was
allowed but 700l. a-year for intelligence; whereas in Cromwell's
time he did allow 70,000l. a-year for it; and was confirmed
therein by Colonell. Birch, who said that thereby Cromwell
carried the secrets of all the princes of Europe at his girdle.
The House is in a most broken condition; nobody adhering to any
thing, but reviling and finding fault: and now quite mad at the
Undertakers, as they are commonly called, Littleton, Lord
Vaughan, Sir R. Howard, and others that are brought over to the
Court, and did undertake to get the King money: but they despise
and will not hear them in the House; and the Court do as much,
seeing that they cannot be useful to them, as was expected. In
short, it is plain that the King will never be able to do any
thing with this Parliament; and that the only likely way to do
better (for it cannot do worse) is to break this and call another
Parliament; and some do think that it is intended. I was told
to-night that my Lady Castlemaine is so great a gamester as to
have won 15,000l. in one night, and lost 25,000l. in another
night at play, and hath played 1000l. and 1500l. at a cast.

16th. Mr. Hollier [He was a Surgeon.] dined with my wife and
me. Much discourse about the bad state of the Church, and how
the Clergy are come to be men of no worth in the world; and, as
the world do now generally discourse, they must be reformed: and
I believe the Hierarchy will in a little time be shaken, whether
they will or no; the King being offended with them and set upon
it, as I hear.

17th. Great high words in the House on Saturday last upon the
first part of the Committee's Report about the dividing of the
fleet; wherein some would have the counsels of the King to be
declared, and the reasons of them, and who did give them; where
Sir W. Coventry laid open to them the consequences of doing that,
that the King would never have any honest and wise men ever to be
of his Council. They did here in the House talk boldly of the
King's bad Counsellors, and how they must all be turned out, and
many others, and better brought in: and the proceedings of the
Long-Parliament in the beginning of the war were called to
memory; and the King's bad intelligence was mentioned, wherein
they were bitter against my Lord Arlington, saying, among other
things, that whatever Morrice's was, who declared he had but
750l. a-year allowed him for intelligence, the King paid too dear
for my Lord Arlington's in giving him 10,000l. and a Barony for
it. Sir W. Coventry did here come to his defence in the business
of the letter that was sent to call back Prince Rupert after he
was divided from the fleet, wherein great delay was objected; but
he did show that he sent it at one in the morning, when the Duke
of York did give him the instructions after supper that night,
and did clear himself well of it; only it was laid as a fault,
which I know not how he removes, of not sending it by an express,
but by the ordinary post; it coming not to Sir Philip Honiwood's
hand at Portsmouth till four in the afternoon that day, being
about fifteen or sixteen hours in going. The dividing of the
fleet however is, I hear, voted a miscarriage, and the not
building a fortification at Sheernesse: and I have reason every
hour to expect that they will vote the like of our paying men off
by ticket; and what the consequence of that will be, I know not.

18th. Sir W. Coventry and I did look over the list of
commanders, and found that we could presently recollect thirty-
seven commanders that have been killed in actuall service this
war. He tells me that Sir Fr. Hollis is the main man that hath
prosecuted him hitherto in the business of dividing the fleet,
saying vainly that the want of that letter to the Prince hath
given him that that he shall remember it by to his grave, meaning
the loss of his arme [Vide Note June 10, 1667.] when, God knows,
he is as idle and insignificant a fellow as ever came into the
fleet. I well remember what in mirth he said to me this morning,
when upon this discourse he said if ever there was another Dutch
war they should not find a Secretary; "Nor," said I, "a Clerk of
the Acts, for I see the reward of it; and, thank God, I have
enough of my own to buy me a book and a good fiddle, and I have a
good wife;"--"Why," says he, "I have enough to buy me a good
book, and shall not need a fiddle because I have never a one of
your good wives." This morning the House is upon a Bill, brought
in to-day by Sir Richard Temple, for obliging the King to call
Parliaments every three years; or if he fail, for others to be
obliged to do it, and to keep him from a power of dissolving any
Parliament in less than forty days after their first day of
sitting: which is such a Bill as do speak very high proceedings
to the lessening of the King; and this they will carry, and
whatever else they desire, before they will give any money; and
the King must have money, whatever it cost him. I to see Kate
Joyce; where I find her and her friends in great ease of mind,
the Jury having this day given in their verdict that her husband
died of a fever. Some opposition there was, the foreman pressing
them to declare the cause of the fever, thinking thereby to
obstruct it; but they did adhere to their verdict, and would give
no reason: so all trouble is now over, and she safe in her
estate.

19th. In the evening to White Hall; where I find Sir W. Coventry
a great while with the Duke of York in the King's drawing-room,
they two talking together all alone; which did mightily please
me. I do hear how La Roche, a French captain, who was once
prisoner here, being with his ship at Plymouth, hath played some
freakes there, for which his men being beat out of the town, he
hath put up a flag of defiance, and also somewhere there about
did land with his men and go a mile into the country, and did
some prank; which sounds pretty odd to our disgrace, but we are
in condition now to bear any thing. But, blessed be God! all
the Court is full of good news of my Lord Sandwich having made a
peace between Spain and Portugall; which is mighty great news,
and above all to my Lord's honour more than any thing he ever
did; and yet I do fear it will not prevail to secure him in
Parliament against incivilities there.

20th. The House most of the morning upon the business of not
prosecuting the first victory: which they have voted one of the
greatest miscarriages of the whole war, though they cannot lay
the fault any where yet, because Harman is not come home. Dined,
and by one o'clock to the King's house: a new play, "The Duke of
Lerma," of Sir Robert Howard's: where the King and Court was;
and Knipp and Nell spoke the prologue most excellently,
especially Knipp, who spoke beyond any creature I ever heard.
The play designed to reproach our King with his mistresses, that
I was troubled for it, and expected it should be interrupted; but
it ended all well, which salved all.

21st. The House this day is still as backward for giving any
money as ever, and do declare they will first have an account of
the disposals of the last Poll-bill, and eleven months' tax. And
it is pretty odde that the very first sum mentioned in the
account brought in by Sir Robert Long of the disposal of the
Poll-bill money is 5000l. to my Lord Arlington for intelligence;
which was mighty unseasonable, so soon after they had so much
cried out against his want of intelligence. The King do also own
but 250,000l. or thereabouts yet paid on the Poll-bill, and that
he hath charged 350,000l. upon it. This makes them mad; for that
the former Poll-bill, that was so much less in its extent than
the last, which took in all sexes and qualities, did come to
350,000l. Upon the whole, I perceive they are like to do nothing
in this matter to please the King, or relieve the State, be the
case never so pressing; and therefore it is thought by a great
many that the King cannot be worse if he should dissolve them;
but there is nobody dares advise it, nor do he consider any thing
himself. My cosen Roger Pepys showed me Granger's written
confession, of his being forced by imprisonment, &c. by my Lord
Gerard, most barbarously to confess his forging of a deed in
behalf of Fitton, in the great case between him and my Lord
Gerard; which business is under examination, and is the foulest
against my Lord Gerard that ever any thing in the world was, and
will, all do believe, ruine him; and I shall be glad of it.

22nd. To the Duke's playhouse, and there saw "Alblemanazar,"
[Albumazar, a comedy, by Tomkins of Trin. Coll. Cambridge.] an
old play, this the second time of acting. It is said to have
been the ground of B. Jonson's "Alchymist;" but, saving the
ridiculousnesse of Angell's part, which is called Trinkilo, I do
not see any thing extraordinary in it, but was indeed wary of it
before it was done. The King here; and indeed all of us pretty
merry at the mimique tricks of Trinkilo.

23rd. I met with Sir W. Coventry, and he and I walked awhile
together in the Matted Gallery; and there he told me all the
proceedings yesterday: that the matter is found in general a
miscarriage, but no persons named; and so there is no great
matter to our prejudice yet, till, if ever, they come to
particular persons. He told me Birch was very industrious to do
what he could, and did like a friend; but they were resolved to
find the thing in general a miscarriage: and says, that when we
shall think fit to desire its being heard, as to our own defence,
it will be granted. He tells me how he hath with advantage
cleared himself in what concerns himself therein, by his servant
Robson; which I am glad of. He tells me that there is a letter
sent by conspiracy to some of the House, which he hath seen,
about the manner of selling of places; which he do believe he
shall be called upon to-morrow for: and thinks himself well
prepared to defend himself in it; and then neither he nor his
friends for him are afraid of any thing to his prejudice. Thence
by coach with Brisband to Sir G. Carteret's, in Lincoln's Inn-
fields, and there dined: a good dinner and good company. And
after dinner he and I alone, discoursing of my Lord Sandwich's
matters; who hath, in the first business before the House, been
very kindly used beyond expectation, the matter being laid by
till his coming home: and old Mr. Vaughan did speak for my Lord;
which I am mighty glad of. The business of the prizes is the
worst that can be said, and therein I do fear something may lie
hard upon him; but against this we must prepare the best we can
for his defence. Thence with Sir G. Carteret to White Hall;
where finding a meeting of the Committee of the Council for the
Navy, his Royal Highness there, and Sir W. Pen, and some of the
Brethren of the Trinity House to attend, I did go in with them.
And it was to be informed of the practice heretofore, for all
foreign nations at enmity one with another to forbear any acts of
hostility to one another in the presence of any of the King of
England's ships; of which several instances were given: and it
is referred to their further enquiry, in order to the giving
instructions accordingly to our ships now during the war between
Spain and France. Would to God we were in the same condition as
heretofore, to challenge and maintain this our dominion! Thence
with W. Pen homeward, and quite through to Mile End for a little
ayre; the days being now pretty long, but the ways mighty dirty.
Going back again, Sir R. Brookes overtook us coming to town; who
played the jacke with us all, and is a fellow that I must trust
no more, he quoting me for all he hath said in this business of
tickets; though I have told him nothing that either is not true,
or I afraid to own. But here talking he did discourse in this
stile: "We," and We all along, "will not give any money, be the
pretence never so great, nay, though the enemy was in the River
of Thames again, till we know what is become of the last money
given." And I do believe he do speak the mind of his fellows;
and so let him. This evening my wife did with great pleasure
show me her stock of jewells, encreased by the ring she hath made
lately as my Valentine's gift this year, a Turky stone set with
diamonds: and with this, and what she had, she reckons that she
hath above 150l. worth of jewells of one kind or other; and I am
glad of it, for it is fit the wretch should have something to
content herself with.

24th. Meeting Dr. Gibbons, [Christopher Gibbons, Organist to the
King and of Westminster abbey. He was admitted Doctor of Music
at Oxford 1664, and died 1676.] he and I to see an organ at the
Dean of Westminster's lodgings at the abby, the Bishop of
Rochester's; [John Dolben; afterwards translated to York.] where
he lives like a great prelate, his lodgings being very good;
though at present under great disgrace at Court, being put by his
Clerks of the Closet's place. I saw his lady, of whom the TERROE
FILIUS of Oxford was once so merry; and two children, whereof one
a very pretty little boy, like him, so fat and black. Here I saw
the organ; but it is too big for my house, and the fashion do not
please me enough; and therefore I will not have it. To the
Nursery, where none of us ever were before; where the house is
better and the musique better than we looked for, and the acting
not much worse, because I expected as bad as could be: and I was
not much mistaken, for it was so. I was prettily served this day
at the playhouse-door; where, giving six shillings into the
fellow's hand for three of us, the fellow by legerdemain did
convey one away, and with so much grace faced me down that I did
give him but five, that, though I knew the contrary, yet I was
overpowered by his so grave and serious demanding the other
shilling, that I could not deny him, but was forced by myself to
give it; him.

28th. To Westminster Hall, where, it being now about six
o'clock, I find the House just risen; and met with Sir W.
Coventry and the Lieutenant of the Tower, they having sat all
day; and with great difficulty have got a vote for giving; the
King 300,000l., not to be raised by any land-tax. The sum is
much smaller than I expected, and than the King needs; but is
grounded upon Mr. Wren's reading our estimates the other day of
270,000l. to keep the fleet abroad, wherein we demanded nothing
for setting and fitting of them out, which will cost almost
200,000l. I do verily believe: and do believe that the King hath
no cause to thank Wren for this motion. I home to Sir W.
Coventry's lodgings with him and the Lieutenant of the Tower,
where also was Sir John Coventry, and Sir John Duncomb, and Sir
Job Charleton. [M.P. for Ludlow ; and in 1663 elected Speaker
which office he resigned on account of ill health. He was
successively King's Serjeant, Chief Justice of Chester and a
Justice of the Common Pleas; created a Baronet 1686, and ob.
1697.] And here a great deal of good discourse: and they seem
mighty glad to have this vote pass; which I did wonder at, to see
them so well satisfied with so small a sum, Sir John Duncomb
swearing (as I perceive he will freely do) that it was as much as
the nation could beare.