The Diary of Samuel Pepys
by
Samuel Pepys
Part 16 out of 18
18th. I did receive a hint or two from my Lord Anglesy, as if he
thought much of my taking the ayre as I have done; but I care
not: but whatever the matter is, I think he hath some ill-will
to me, or at least an opinion that I am more the servant of the
Board than I am. To my Lady Peterborough's; who tells me, among
other things, her Lord's good words to the Duke of York lately
about my Lord Sandwich, and that the Duke of York is kind to my
Lord Sandwich; which I am glad to hear.
19th. Between two and three in the morning we were waked with
the maids crying out, "Fire, fire, in Marke-lane!" So I rose and
looked out, and it was dreadful; and strange apprehensions in me
and us all of being presently burnt. So we all rose; and my care
presently was to secure my gold and plate and papers, and could
quickly have done it, but I went forth to see where it was; and
the whole town was presently in the streets; and I found it in a
new-built house that stood alone in Minchin-lane, over against
the Cloth-workers'-hall, which burned furiously: the house not
yet quite finished; and the benefit of brick was well seen, for
it burnt all inward and fell down within itself; so no fear of
doing more hurt. Yesterday I heard how my Lord Ashly is like to
die, having some imposthume in his breast, that he hath been fain
to be cut into the body. To White Hall, were we attended the
Duke of York in his closet upon our usual business. And thence
out, and did see many of the Knights of the Garter with the King
and Duke of York going into the Privy-chamber to elect the
Elector of Saxony in that Order; who, I did hear the Duke of York
say, was a good drinker: I know not upon what score this
compliment is done him.
22nd. With Balty to St. James's, and there presented him to Mr.
Wren about his being Muster-master this year; which will be done.
So up to wait on the Duke of York, and thence with Sir W.
Coventry walked to White Hall: good discourse about the Navy,
where want of money undoes us. Thence to the Coffee-house in
Covent-garden; but met with nobody but Sir Philip Howard, who
shamed me before the whole house there in commendation of my
speech in Parliament. To the King's playhouse, and saw an act or
two of the new play, "Evening Love," ["An Evening's Love, or The
Mock Astrologer," a comedy by Dryden.] again, but like it not.
Calling this day at Herringman's, [H. Herringman, a printer and
publisher in the New Exchange.] he tells me Dryden do himself
call it but a fifth-rate play. From thence to my Lord
Brouncker's, where a Council of the Royall Society; and there
heard Mr. Harry Howard's noble offers about ground for our
college, and his intentions of building his own house there, most
nobly. My business was to meet Mr. Boyle; which I did, and
discoursed about my eyes; and he did give me the best advice he
could, but refers me to one Turberville [Daubigney Turberville,
of Oriel College; created M.D. at Oxford 1660.] of Salisbury
lately come to town, who I will go to. Thence home; where the
streets full at our end of the town, removing their wine against
the Act begins, which will be two days hence, to raise the price.
23rd. To Dr. Turberville about my eyes; whom I met with: and he
did discourse, I thought, learnedly about them; and takes time,
before he did prescribe me any thing, to think of it.
24th. Creed and Colonel Atkins come to me about sending coals to
Tangier; and upon that most of the morning.
28th. Much talk of the French setting out their fleet afresh;
but I hear nothing that our King is alarmed at it at all, but
rather making his fleet less.
29th. To Dr. Turberville's, and there did receive a direction
for some physic, and also a glass of something to drop into my
eyes: he gives me hopes that I may do well. Then to White Hall;
where I find the Duke of York in the Council-chamber; and the
officers of the Navy were called in about Navy business, about
calling in of more ships; the King of France having, as the Duke
of York says, ordered his fleet to come in, notwithstanding what
he had lately ordered for their staying abroad. Thence to the
chapel, it being St. Peter's day, and did hear an anthem of Silas
Taylor's making; a dull, old-fashioned thing of six and seven
parts, that nobody could understand: and the Duke of York, when
he came out, told me that he was a better storekeeper than
anthem-maker, and that was bad enough too. This morning Mr. May
showed me the King's new buildings at White Hall, very fine; and
among other things, his cielings and his houses of office.
JULY 1, 1668. To White Hall, and so to St. James's where we met;
and much business with the Duke of York. And I find the Duke of
York very hot for regulations in the Navy; and I believe is put
on it by Sir W. Coventry; and I am glad of it: and particularly
he falls heavy on Chatham-yard, and is vexed that Lord Anglesy
did the other day complain at the Council-table of disorders in
the Navy, and not to him. So I to White Hall to a Committee of
Tangier; and there vexed with the importunity and clamours of
Alderman Backewell for my acquittance for money by him supplied
to the garrison, before I have any order for paying it. So home,
calling at several places, among others the 'Change, and on
Cooper, to know when my wife shall come and sit for her picture.
3rd. To Commissioners of Accounts at Brooke-house, the first
time I was ever there: and found Sir W. Turner in the chair; and
present, Lord Halifax, Thomas Gregory, Dunster, and Osborne. I
long with them, and see them hot set on this matter; but I did
give them proper and safe answers. Halifax, I perceive, was
industrious on my side on behalf of his uncle Coventry, it being
the business of Sir W. Warren. Vexed only at their denial of a
copy of what I set my hand to and swore. To an alehouse: met
Mr. Pierce the surgeon, and Dr. Clerke, Waldron, [Thomas Waldron,
of Baliol College; created M.D. at Oxford 1653; afterwards
Physician in Ordinary to Charles II.] Turberville my physician
for the eyes, and Lowre, [Probably Richard Lower, of Christ
Church; admitted Bachelor of Physic at Oxford 1665.] to dissect
several eyes of sheep and oxen, with great pleasure and to my
great information. But strange that this Turberville should be
so great a man, and yet to this day had seen no eyes dissected,
or but once, but desired this Dr. Lowre to give him the
opportunity to see him dissect some.
4th. Up, and to see Sir W. Coventry, and give him an account of
my doings yesterday; which he well liked of, and was told thereof
by my Lord Halifax before; but I do perceive he is much concerned
for this business. Gives me advice to write a smart letter to
the Duke of York about the want of money in the Navy, and desire
him to communicate it to the Commissioners of the Treasury; for
he tells me he hath hot work sometimes to contend with the rest
for the Navy, they being all concerned for some other part of the
King's expenses, which they would prefer to this of the Navy. He
showed me his closet, with his round-table for him to sit in the
middle, very convenient; and I borrowed several books of him, to
collect things out of the Navy, which I have not.
6th. With Sir W. Coventry; and we walked in the Park together a
good while. He mighty kind to me; and hear many pretty stories
of my Lord Chancellor's being heretofore made sport of by Peter
Talbot the priest, in his story of the death of Cardinal Bleau;
by Lord Cottington, in his DOLOR DE LAS TRIPAS; and Tom
Killigrew, in his being bred in Ram-ally, and now bound prentice
to Lord Cottington, going to Spain with 1000l. and two suits of
clothes, Thence to Mr. Cooper's, and there met my wife and W.
Hewer and Deb.; and there my wife first sat for her picture: but
he is a most admirable workman, and good company. Here comes
Harris, and first told us how Betterton is come again upon the
stage: whereupon my wife and company to the house to see "Henry
the Fifth;" while I to attend the Duke of York at the Committee
of the Navy at the Council, where some high dispute between him
and W. Coventry about settling pensions upon all flag-officers
while unemployed: W. Coventry against it, and, I think, with
reason. Great doings at Paris, I hear, with their triumphs for
their late conquests. The Duchesse of Richmond sworn last week
of the Queene's Bedchamber, and the King minding little else but
what he used to do--about his women.
7th. We are fain to go round by Newgate because of Fleet-bridge
being under rebuilding.
8th. To Sir W. Coventry, and there discoursed of several things;
and I find him much concerned in the present enquiries now on
foot of the Commissioners of accounts, though he reckons himself
and the rest very safe, but vexed to see us liable to these
troubles in things wherein we have laboured to do best. Thence,
he being to go out of town to-morrow to drink Banbury waters, I
to the Duke of York to attend him about business of the office;
and find him mighty free to me, and how he is concerned to mend
things in the Navy himself, and not leave it to other people. So
home to dinner; sad then with my wife to Cooper's, and there saw
her sit; and he do extraordinary things indeed. So to White
Hall; and there by and by the Duke of York comes to the Robe-
chamber and spent with us three hours till night, in hearing the
business of the Masters-attendants of Chatham, and the Store-
keeper of Woolwich; and resolves to displace them all; so hot he
is of giving proofs of his justice at this time, that it is their
great fate now to come to be questioned at such a time as this.
10th. To Cooper's; and there find my wife (and W. Hewer and
Deb.), sitting, and painting: and here he do work finely, though
I fear it will not be so like as I expected: but now I
understand his great skill in musick, his playing and setting to
the French lute most excellently: and he speaks French, and
indeed is an excellent man.
11th. To the King's Playhouse to see an old play of Shirly's,
called "Hide Parke;" the first day acted; where horses are
brought upon the stage: but it is but a very moderate play, only
an excellent epilogue spoke by Beck Marshall.
13th. To Cooper's and spent the afternoon with them; and it will
be an excellent picture. This morning I was let blood, and did
bleed about fourteen ounces, towards curing my eyes.
14th. This day Bosse finished his copy of my picture, which I
confess I do not admire, though my wife prefers him to Browne;
nor do I think it like. He does it for W. Hewer, who hath my
wife's also, which I like less.
15th. At noon is brought home the espinette I bought the other
day of Haward; cost me 5l. My Lady Duchesse of Monmouth is still
lame, and likely always to be so; which is a sad chance for a
young lady to get only by trying of tricks in dancing.
17th. To White Hall, where waited on the Duke of York and then
the Council about the business of tickets; and I did discourse to
their liking, only was too high to assert that nothing could be
invented to secure the King more in the business of tickets than
there is, which the Duke of Buckingham did except against, and I
could have answered, but forbore, but all liked very well.
18th. They say the King of France is making a war again in
Flanders with the King of Spain; the King of Spain refusing to
give him all that he says was promised him in that treaty.
19th. Come Mr. Cooper, Hales, Harris, Mr. Butler that wrote
Hudibras, and Mr. Cooper's cosen Jacke; and by and by come Mr.
Reeves and his wife, whom I never saw before. And there we
dined: a good dinner, and company that pleased me mightily,
being all eminent men in their way. Spent all the afternoon in
talk and mirth, and in the evening parted.
20th. To visit my Lord Crewe, who is very sick, to great danger,
by an erisypelas; the first day I heard of it.
21st. Went to my plate-maker's, and there spent an hour about
contriving my little plates for my books of the King's four
Yards.
22nd. Attending at the Committee of the Navy about the old
business of tickets; where the only expedient they have found is
to bind the commanders and officers by oaths. The Duke of York
told me how the Duke of Buckingham, after the Council the other
day, did make mirth at my position about the sufficiency of
present rules in the business of tickets; and here I took
occasion to desire a private discourse with the Duke of York, and
he granted it me on Friday next.
24th. Up, and by water to St. James's (having by the way shown
Symson Sir W. Coventry's chimney-pieces, in order to the making
me one;) and there, after the Duke of York was ready, he called
me to his closet; and there I did long and largely show him the
weakness of our office, and did give him advice to call us to
account for our duties; which he did take mighty well, and
desired me to draw up what I would have him write to the office.
I did lay open the whole failings of the office, and how it was
his duty to fine them and to find fault with them as Admiral,
especially at this time; which he agreed to, and seemed much to
rely on what I said.
27th. To see my Lord Crewe, whom I find up; and did wait on him;
but his face sore, but in hopes to do now very well again.
Thence to Cooper's, where my wife's picture almost done, and
mighty fine indeed. So over the water with my wife and Deb. and
Mercer to Spring-garden, and there eat and walked; and observe
how rude some of the young gallants of the town are become, to go
into people's arbors where there are not men, and almost force
the women; which troubled me, to see the confidence of the vice
of the age: and so we away by water with much pleasure home.
30th. To White Hall. There met with Mr. May, who was giving
directions about making a close way for people to go dry from the
gate up into the House, to prevent their going through the
galleries; which will be very good. I staid and talked with him
about the state of the King's offices in general, and how ill he
is served, and do still find him an excellent person.
31st. With Mr. Ashburnham; and I made him admire my drawing a
thing presently in shorthand; but, God knows, I have paid dear
for it in my eyes. To the King's house, to see the first day of
Lacy's "Monsieur Ragou," now new acted. The King and Court all
there and mighty merry: a farce. The month ends mighty sadly
with me, my eyes being now past all use almost; and I am mighty
hot upon trying the late printed experiment of paper tubes.
AUGUST 5, 1668. To the Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw
"The Guardian;" formerly the same, I find, that was called
"Cutter of Coleman-street;" a silly play. And thence to
Westminster Hall, where I met Fitzgerald; and with him to a
tavern to consider of the instructions for Sir Thomas Allen,
against his going to Algier; he and I being designed to go down
to Portsmouth by the Council's order to-morrow morning. So I
away home, and there bespeak a coach; and so home, and to bed.
6th. Waked betimes, and my wife at an hour's warning is resolved
to go with me; which pleases me, her readiness. But before ready
comes a letter from Fitzgerald, that he is seized upon last night
by a order of the General's by a file of musqueteers, and kept
prisoner ill his chamber. The Duke of York did tell me of it to-
day: it is about a quarrel between him and Witham, and they fear
a challenge. So I to him, and sent my wife by the coach round to
Lambeth, I lost my labour going to his lodgings; and he in bed:
and staying a great while for him I at last grew impatient, and
would stay no longer; but to St. James's to Mr. Wren, to bid him
"God be with you!" and so over the water to Fox Hall; and there
my wife and Deb. took me up, and we away to Gilford, losing our
way for three or four miles about Cobham. At Gilford we dined;
and I showed them the hospitall there of Bishop Abbot's, [George
Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, Ob. 1633.] and his tomb in the
church; which, and the rest of the tombs there, are kept mighty
clean and neat, with curtains before them. So to coach again,
and got to Lippook, late over Hindhead, having an old man a guide
in the coach with us; but got thither with great fear of being
out of our way, it being ten at night. Here good, honest people;
and after supper to bed.
7th. To coach, and with a guide to Petersfield, where I find Sir
Thomas Allen and Mr. Tippets [John Tippet, a Surveyor of the
Navy; afterwards knighted.] come; the first about the business
the latter only in respect to me; as also Fitzgerald, who came
post all last night, and newly arrived here. We four sat down
presently to our business, and in an hour despatched all our
talk; and did inform Sir Thomas Allen well in it, who, I
perceive, in serious matters is a serious man: and tells me he
wishes all we are told be true, in our defence; for he finds by
all that the Turkes have to this day been very civil to our
merchantmen every where; and if they would have broke with us,
they never had such an opportunity over our rich merchantmen as
lately coming out of the Streights. Then to dinner; and pretty
merry: and here was Mr. Martin the purser, who dined with us,
and wrote some things for us, And so took coach again back:
Fitzgerald with us, whom I was pleased with all the day, with his
discourse of his observations abroad, as being a great soldier
and of long standing abroad; and knows all things and persons
abroad very well,--I mean the great soldiers of France and Spain
and Germany; and talkes very well. Came at night to Gilford;
where the Red Lyon so full of people, and a wedding, that the
master of the house did get us a lodging over the way, at a
private house, his landlord's, mighty neat and fine: and there
supped; and so bed.
8th. I hear that Colbert the French Ambassador is come, and hath
been at Court INGOGNITO. When he hath his audience, I know not.
9th. Waited on the Duke of York; and both by him and several of
the Privy-council, beyond expectation, I find that my going to
Sir Thomas Allen was looked upon as a thing necessary; and I have
got some advantage by it among them.
10th. To my Lord Arlington's house, the first time since he came
thither, at Goring-house, a very fine, noble place; and there he
received me in sight of several Lords with great respect. I did
give him an account of my journey. And here, while I waited for
him a little, my Lord Orrery took notice of me, and begun
discourse of hangings, and of the improvement of shipping; I not
thinking that he knew me, but did then discover it was a mighty
compliment of my abilities and ingenuity; which I am mighty proud
of; and he do speak most excellently. To Cooper's, where I spent
all the afternoon with my wife and girl, seeing him make an end
of her picture; which he did to my great content, though not so
great as I confess I expected, being not satisfied in the
greatness of the resemblance, nor in the blue garment; but it is
most certainly a most rare piece of work as to the painting. He
hath 30l. for his work, and the chrystal and case and gold case
comes to 8l. 3s. 4d.; and which I sent him this night, that I
might be out of his debt.
11th. The Parliament met enough to adjourne to the 10th of
November next. At the office all the afternoon till night, being
mightily pleased with a trial I have made of the use of a tube-
spectacall of paper, tried with my right eye. This day I hear
that, to the great joy of the Non-conformists, the time is out of
the Act against them; so that they may meet: and they have
declared that they will have a morning lecture up again, which is
pretty strange; and they are connived at by the King every where,
I hear, in the City and country. This afternoon my wife and
Mercer and Deb. went with Pelling to see the gypsies at Lambeth,
and have their fortunes told; but what they did, I did not
enquire.
12th. Captain Cocke tells me that he hears for certain the Duke
of York: will lose the authority of an Admirall, and be governed
by a Committee: and all our office changed; only they are in
dispute whether I shall continue or no; which puts new thoughts
in me, but I know not whether to be glad or sorry.
14th. I with Mr. Wren, by invitation, to Sir Stephen Fox's to
dinner: where the Cofferer and Sir Edward Savage; where many
good stories of the antiquity and estates of many families at
this day in Cheshire, and that part of the kingdom, more than
what is on this side near London. My Lady dining with us; a very
good lady, and a family governed so nobly and neatly as do me
good to see it. Thence the Cofferer, Sir Stephen, and I to the
Commissioners of the Treasury about business: and so I up to the
Duke of York, who enquired for what I had promised him, about my
observations of the miscarriages of our office; and I told him he
should have it next week, being glad he called for it; for I find
he is concerned to do something, and to secure himself thereby, I
believe: for the world is labouring to eclipse him, I doubt; I
mean the factious part of the Parliament. The office met this
afternoon as usual, and waited on him; where, among other things,
he talked a great while of his intentions of going to Dover soon,
to be sworn as Lord Warden; which is a matter of great ceremony
and state.
16th. All the morning at my office with W. Hewer; there drawing
up my Report to the Duke of York, as I have promised, about the
faults of this office.
17th. To Hamstead, to speak with the Atturny-generall; whom we
met in the fields, by his old rout and house. And after a little
talk about our business of Ackeworth, went and saw the Lord
Wotton's [Henry de Kirkhoven, Lord of Denfleet in Holland,
married Katherine widow of Henry Lord Stanhope, and daughter of
Lord Wotton; and her second husband the person here mentioned,
was created Lord Wotton, of Wotton in Kent, 1651.] house
[Belsize House, pulled down long ago.] and garden, which is
wonderfull fine: too good for the house the gardens are, being
indeed the most noble that ever I saw, and brave orange and
lemon-trees. Thence to Mr. Chichly's by invitation, and there
dined with Sir John, his father not coming home. And while at
dinner comes by the French Ambassador Colbert's mules (the first
I ever saw,) with their sumpter-clothes mighty rich, and his
coaches, he being to have his entry to-day: but his things,
though rich, are not new; supposed to be the same his brother had
the other day at the treaty at Aix-la-Chapelle, in Flanders.
18th. Alone to the Park; but there were few coaches: among the
few there were our two great beauties, my Lady Castlemaine and
Richmond; the first time I saw the latter since she had the small
pox. I had much pleasure to see them, but I thought they were
strange one to another.
20th. To work till past twelve at night, that I might get my
great letter to the Duke of York ready against to-morrow; which I
shall do, to my great content.
21st. Up betimes, and with my people again to work, and finished
all before noon: and then I by water to White Hall, and there
did tell the Duke of York that I had done; and he hath desired me
to come to him at Sunday next in the afternoon, to read it over;
by which I have more time to consider and correct it. To St.
James's: and by and by comes Monsieur Colbert the French
Ambassador, to make his first visit to the Duke of York, and then
to the Duchesse. And I saw it: a silly piece of ceremony, he
saying only a few formal words. A comely man, and in a black
suit and cloak of silk; which is a strange fashion now it hath
been so long left off. This day I did first see the Duke of
York's room of pictures of some Maids of Honour, done by Lilly:
good, but not like.
22nd. To the 'Change, and thence home, and took London-bridge in
my way; walking down Fish-street and Gracious-street, to see how
very fine a descent they have now made down the hill, that it is
become very easy and pleasant.
23rd. To church, and heard a good sermon of Mr. Gifford's at our
church, upon "Seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven and its
righteousness, and all things shall be added to you." A very
excellent and persuasive, good and moral sermon. He showed, like
a wise man, that righteousness is a surer moral way of being
rich, than sin and villany. After dinner to the office, Mr.
Gibson and I, to examine my letter to the Duke of York; which, to
my great joy, I did very well by my paper tube, without pain to
my eyes. And I do mightily like what I have therein done; and
did according to the Duke of York's order make haste to St.
James's, and about four o'clock got thither: and there the Duke
of York was ready expecting me, and did hear it all over with
extraordinary content; and did give me many and hearty thanks,
and in words the most expressive tell me his sense of my good
endeavours, and that he would have a care of me on all occasions;
and did with much inwardness tell me what was doing, suitable
almost to what Captain Cocke tells me, of designs to make
alterations in the Navy: and is most open to me in them, and
with utmost confidence desires my further advice on all
occasions: and he resolves to have my letter transcribed and
sent forthwith to the office. So with as much satisfaction as I
could possibly or did hope for, and obligation on the Duke of
York's side professed to me, I away.
25th. Up, and by water to St. James's; and there with Mr. Wren
did discourse about my great letter, which the Duke of York hath
given him; and he hath set it to be transcribed by Billings his
man, whom, as be tells me, he can most confide in for secresy;
and is much pleased with it, and earnest to have it be: and he
and I are like to be much together in the considering how to
reform the office, and that by the Duke of York's command.
Thence I, mightily pleased with this success, away to the office;
where all the morning, my head full of this business. And it is
pretty how Lord Brouncker this day did tell me how he hears that
a design is on foot to remove us out of the office; and proposes
that we two do agree to draw up a form of new constitution of the
office, there to provide remedies for the evils we are now under,
that so we may be beforehand with the world; which I agreed to,
saying nothing of my design: and the truth is, he is the best
man of them all, and I would be glad next myself to save him; for
as he deserves best, so I doubt he needs his place most.
26th. It is strange to see with what speed the people employed
do pull down Paul's steeple, and with what ease: it is said that
it and the quire are to be taken down this year, and another
church begun in the room thereof the next. Home by coach with
Sir D. Gauden; who by the way tells me how the City do go on in
several things towards the building of the public places, which I
am glad to hear; and gives hope that in a few years it will be a
glorious place. But we met with several stops and troubles in
the way in the streets, so as makes it bad to travel in the dark:
now through the City. So I to Mr. Batelier's by appointment,
where I find my wife and Deb. and Mercer; Mrs. Pierce and her
husband, son, and daughter; and Knipp and Harris, and W. Batelier
and his sister Mary and cosen Gumbleton, a good-humoured fat
young gentleman, son to the Jeweller, that dances well. And here
danced all night long, with a noble supper; and about two in the
morning the table spread again for a noble breakfast beyond all
moderation; and then broke up.
27th. To St. James's; and there with Mr. Wren did correct his
copy of my letter, which the Duke of York hath signed in my very
words, without alteration of a syllable. And so, pleased
therewith, I to my Lord Brouncker, who I find within, but hath
business, and so comes not to the office to-day. And so I by
water to the office, where we sat all the morning: and just as
the Board rises comes the Duke of York's letter; which I knowing,
and the Board not being full, and desiring rather to have the
Duke of York deliver it himself to us, I suppressed it for this
day, my heart beginning to falsify in this business, as being
doubtful of the trouble it may give me by provoking them; but,
however, I am resolved to go through it, and it is too late to
help it now. At noon to dinner to Captain Cocke's, where I met
with Mr. Wren; my going being to tell him what I have done, which
he likes, and to confer with Cocke about our office; who tells me
that he is confident the design of removing our officers do hold,
but that he is sure that I am safe enough. So away home; and
there met at Sir Richard Ford's with the Duke of York's
Commissioners about our prizes, with whom we shall have some
trouble before we make an end with them.
28th. To White Hall; where the Duke of York did call me aside,
and told me that he must speak with me in the afternoon and with
Mr. Wren, for that now he hath got the paper from my Lord Keeper
about the exceptions taken against the management of the Navy;
and so we are to debate upon answering them. At noon I home with
Sir W. Coventry to his house; and there dined with him, and
talked freely with him; and did acquaint him with what I have
done, which he is well pleased with and glad of: and do tell me
that there are endeavours on foot to bring the Navy into new,
but, he fears, worse hands. The Duke of York fell to work with
us (the Committee being gone) in the Council-chamber; and there
with his own hand did give us his long letter, telling us that he
had received several from us, and now did give us one from him,
taking notice of our several doubts and failures, and desired
answer to it as he therein desired: this pleased me well. And
so fell to other business, and then parted. And the Duke of York
and Wren and I, it being now candle-light, into the Duke of
York's closet in White Hall; and there read over this paper of my
Lord Keeper's, wherein are laid down the faults of the Navy, so
silly, and the remedies so ridiculous, or else the same that are
now already provided, that we thought it not to need any answer,
the Duke of York being able himself to do it: that so it makes
us admire the confidence of these men to offer things so silly in
a business of such moment. But it is a most perfect instance of
the complexion of the times! And so the Duke of York said
himself; who, I perceive, is mightily concerned in it, and do
again and again recommend it to Mr. Wren and me together, to
consider upon remedies fit to provide for him to propound to the
King, before the rest of the world, and particularly the
Commissioners of Accounts, who are men of understanding and
order, to find our faults, and offer remedies of their own:
which I am glad of, and will endeavour to do something in it. So
parted, and with much difficulty by candle-light walked over the
Matted Gallery, as it is now with the mats and boards all taken
up, so that we walked over the rafters. But strange to see how
hard matter the plaister of Paris is that is there taken up, as
hard as stone! And pity to see Holben's work in the ceiling
blotted on and only whited over! My wife this day with Hales, to
sit for her hand to be mended in her picture.
29th. Up, and all the morning at the office; where the Duke of
York's long letter was read to their great trouble, and their
suspecting me to have been the writer of it. And at noon comes
by appointment Harris to dine with me: and after dinner he and I
to Chyrurgeons'-hall, where they are building it new, very fine;
and there to see their theatre, which stood all the fire, and
(which was our business) their great picture of Holben's,
thinking to have bought it by the help of Mr. Pierce for a little
money: I did think to give 200l. for it, it being said to be
worth 1000l.; but it is so spoiled that I have no mind to it, and
is not a pleasant though a good picture. Thence carried Harris
to his playhouse; where, though four o'clock, so few people there
are at "The Impertinents," as I went out; and do believe they did
not act, though there was my Lord Arlington and his company
there. So I out, and met my wife in a coach, and stopped her
going thither to meet me; and took her and Mercer and Deb. to
Bartholomew fair, and there did see a ridiculous, obscene little
stage-play, called "Marry Audrey;" a foolish thing, but seen by
every body: and so to Jacob Hall's [Jacob Hall, the famous rope-
dancer, was said to have received a salary from Lady Castlemaine,
who had become enamoured of him.] dancing on the ropes; a thing
worth seeing, and mightily followed.
30th. Lord's day. Walked to St. James's and Pell Mell, and,
read over with Sir W. Coventry my long letter to the Duke of
York, and which the Duke of York hath from mine wrote to the
Board, wherein he is mightily pleased, and I perceive do put
great value upon me, and did talk very openly on all matters of
State, and how some people have got the Bill into their mouths
(meaning the Duke of Buckingham and his party), and would likely
run away with all. But what pleased me mightily was to hear the
good character he did give of my Lord Falmouth for his
generosity, good-nature, desire of public good, and low thoughts
of his own wisdom; his employing his interest in the King to do
good offices to all people, without any other fault than the
freedom he do learn in France of thinking himself obliged to
serve his King in his pleasures; and was Sir W. Coventry's
particular friend; and Sir W. Coventry do tell me very odde
circumstances about the fatality of his death, which are very
strange. [I have read the particulars of this prediction in a
MS. in the Pepysian Collection, but the reference to it is
unfortunately mislaid.] Thence to White Hall to chapel, and
heard the anthem, and did dine with the Duke of Albemarle in a
dirty manner as ever. All the afternoon I sauntered up and down
the house and Park. And there was a Committee for Tangier met;
wherein Lord Middleton would, I think, have found fault with me
for want of coles; but I slighted it;, and he made nothing of it,
but was thought to be drunk; and I see that he hath a mind to
find fault with me and Creed, neither of us having yet applied
ourselves to him about any thing: but do talk of his profits and
perquisites taken from him, and garrison reduced, and that it
must be increased, and such things as I fear he will be just such
another as my Lord Tiviott, and the rest to ruin that place. So
I to the Park, and there walk an hour or two; and in the King's
garden, and saw the Queene and ladies walk; and I did steal some
apples off the trees; and here did see my Lady Richmond, who is
of a noble person as ever I did see, but her face worse than it
was considerably by the small-pox: her sister is also very
handsome. So to White Hall in the evening to the Queene's side,
and there met the Duke of York; and he did tell me and Sir W.
Coventry, who was with me, how the Lord Anglesy did take notice
of our reading his long and sharp letter to the Board; but that
it was the better, at least he said so. The Duke of York, I
perceive, is earliest in it, and will have good effects of it;
telling Sir W. Coventry that it was a letter that might have come
from the Commissioners of Accounts, but it was better it should
come first from him. I met Lord Brouncker; who, I perceive, and
the rest, do smell that it comes from me, but dare not find fault
with me; and I am glad of it, it being my glory and defence that
I did occasion and write it. So by water home; and did spend the
evening with W. Hewer, telling him how we are all like to be
turned out, Lord Brouncker telling me this evening that the Duke
of Buckingham did within few hours say that he had enough to turn
us all out: which I am not sorry for at all, for I know the
world will judge me to go for company; and my eyes are such as I
am not able to do the business of my office as I used, and would
desire to do while I am in it.
31st. To the Duke of York's playhouse, and saw "Hamlet," which
we have not seen this year before, or more; and mightily pleased
with it, but above all with Betterton, the best part, I believe
that ever man acted.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1668. To the fair and there saw several sights;
among others, the mare that tells money and many things to
admiration.
2nd. Fast-day for the burning of London strictly observed.
3rd. To my bookseller's for "Hobbs's Leviathan," which is now
mightily called for: and what was heretofore sold for 8s. I now
give 24s. at the second hand, and is sold for 30s. it being a
book the Bishops will not let be printed again.
4th. To the fair to see the play "Bartholomew-fair," with
puppets. and it is an excellent play; the more I see it, the
more I love the wit of it; only the business of abusing the
Puritans begins to grow stale and of no use, they being the
people that at last will be found the wisest. This night Knipp
tells us that there is a Spanish woman lately come over that
pretends to sing as well as Mrs. Knight; [A celebrated singer and
favourite of Charles Il. Her portrait was engraved in 1749 by
Faber, after Kneller. There is in Waller's Poems a song, sung by
Mrs. Knight to the Queen on her birthday.] both of whom I must
endeavour to hear.
5th. To Mr. Hales's new house, where I find he hath finished my
wife's hand, which is better than the other. And here I find
Harris's picture done in his habit of "Henry the Fifth;" mighty
like a player, but I do not think the picture near so good as any
yet he hath made for me; however, it is pretty well.
7th. With my Lord Brouncker (who was this day in unusual manner
merry, I believe with drink), J. Minnes, and W. Pen to
Bartholomew-fair; and there saw the dancing mare again (which to-
day I find to act much worse than the other day, she forgetting
many things, which her master beat her for, and was mightily
vexed,) and then the dancing of the ropes, and also the little
stage-play, which is very ridiculous.
8th. This day I received so earnest an invitation again from
Roger Pepys to come to Stourbridge-fair, that I resolve to let my
wife go; which she shall do the next week.
9th. To the Duke of Richmond's lodgings by his desire by letter
yesterday. I find him at his lodgings in the little building in
the bowling-green at White Hall, that was begun to be built by
Captain Rolt. They are fine rooms. I did hope to see his lady;
but she, I hear, is in the country. His business was about his
yacht; and he seems a mighty good-natured man, and did presently
write me a warrant for a doe from Cobham, when the season comes,
buck season being past. I shall make much of this acquaintance,
that I may live to see his lady near. Thence to Westminster, to
Sir R. Long's office; and going, met Mr. George Montagu, who
talked and complimented me mightily; and a long discourse I had
with him: who, for news, tells me for certain that Trevor do
come to be Secretary at Michaelmas, and that Morrice goes out,
and, he believes, without any compensation. He tells me that now
Buckingham do rule all; and the other day, in the King's journey
he is now in, at Bagshot and that way, he caused Prince Rupert's
horses to be turned out of an inne, and caused his own to be kept
there; which the Prince complained of to the King, and the Duke
of York seconded the complaint; but the King did over-rule it for
Buckingham, by which there are high displeasures among them: and
Buckingham and Arlington rule all. To White Hall; where
Brouncker, W. Pen, and I attended the Commissioners of the
Treasury about the victualling contract; where high words between
Sir Thomas Clifford and us, and myself more particularly, who
told him that something, that he said was told him about this
business, was a flat untruth. However, we went on to our
business in the examination of the draught, and so parted, and I
vexed at what happened.
13th (Lord's day). By coach to St. James's, and met, to my wish,
the Duke of York and Mr. Wren: and understand the Duke of York
hath received answers from Brouncker, W. Pen, and J. Minnes; and
as soon as he saw me, he bid Mr. Wren read them over with me. So
having no opportunity of talk with the Duke of York, and Mr. Wren
some business to do, he put them into my hands like an idle
companion, to take home with me before himself had read them;
which do give me great opportunity of altering my answer, if
there was cause. After supper made my wife to read them all
over, wherein she is mighty useful to me: and I find them all
evasions, and in many things false, and in few to the full
purpose. Little said reflective on me; though W. Pen and J.
Minnes do mean me in one or two places, and J. Minnes a little
more plainly would lead the Duke of York to question the
exactness of my keeping my records; but all to no purpose. My
mind is mightily pleased by this, if I can but get time to have a
copy taken of them for my future use; but I must return them
tomorrow. So to bed.
14th. Up betimes, and walked to the Temple, and stopped, viewing
the Exchange and Paul's and St. Fayth's; where strange how the
very sight of the stones falling from the top of the steeple do
make me sea-sick! But no hurt, I hear, hath yet happened in all
this work of the steeple; which is very much. So from the Temple
I by coach to St. James's; where I find Sir W. Pen and Lord
Anglesy, who delivered this morning his answer to the Duke of
York, but I could not see it. But after being above with the
Duke of York, I down with Mr. Wren; and he and I read all over
that I had, and I expounded them to him, and did so order it that
I had them home with me, so that I shall to my heart's wish be
able to take a copy of them. After dinner I by water to White
Hall; and there, with the Cofferer and Sir Stephen Fox, attended
the Commissioners of the Treasury about bettering our fund; and
are promised it speedily.
15th. To the King's playhouse to see a new play, acted but
yesterday, a translation out of French by Dryden, called "The
Ladys a la Mode:" so mean a thing as, when they come to say it
would be acted again to-morrow, both he that said it (Beeson
[Probably Beeston, who had been Manager of the Cockpit Theatre.])
and the pit fell a-laughing.
18th. Walking it to the Temple, and in my way observe that the
stockes are now pulled quite down: and it will make the coming
into Cornhill and Lumber-street mighty noble. I stopped too at;
Paul's, and there did go into St. Fayth's church, and also in the
body of the west part of the church; and do see a hideous sight
of the walls of the church ready to fall, that I was in fear as
long as I was in it; and here I saw the great vaults underneath
the body of the church. No hurt, I hear, is done yet, since
their going to pull down the church and steeple; but one man, one
Mound, this week fell from the top of the roof of the east end
that stands next the steeple, and there broke himself all to
pieces. It is pretty here to see how the late church was but a
case wrought over the old church; for you may see the very old
pillars standing whole within the wall of this. When I come to
St. James's, I find the Duke of York gone with the King to see
the muster of the Guards in Hide Park; and their Colonell, the
Duke of Monmouth, to take his command this day of the King's
Life-guard, by surrender of my Lord Gerard. So I took a hackney-
coach and saw it all: and indeed it was mighty noble, and their
firing mighty fine, and the Duke of Monmouth in mighty rich
clothes; but the well ordering of the men I understand not.
Here, among a thousand coaches that were there, I saw and spoke
to Mrs. Pierce: and by and by Mr. Wren hunts me out and gives me
my Lord Anglesy's answer to the Duke of York's letter: where, I
perceive, he do do what he can to hurt me, by bidding the Duke of
York call for my books: but this will do me all the right in the
world, and yet I am troubled at it. So away out of the Park, and
home; and there Mr. Gibson and I to dinner: and all the
afternoon with him writing over anew and a little altering my
answer to the Duke of York, which I have not yet delivered, and
so have the opportunity of doing it after seeing all their
answers, though this do give me occasion to alter very little.
This done, he to write it over, and I to the office; where late,
and then home, and he had finished it. And then he to read to me
the Life of Archbishop Laud, wrote by Dr. Heylin; which is a
shrewd book, but that which I believe will do the Bishops in
general no great good, but hurt, it pleads so much for Popery.
18th. To St. James's, and there took a turn or two in the Park;
and then up to the Duke of York, and there had opportunity of
delivering my answer to his late letter, which he did not read,
but give to Mr. Wren, as looking on it as a thing I needed not
have done, but only that I might not give occasion to the rest to
suspect my communication with the Duke of York against them. So
now I am at rest in that matter, and shall be more when my copies
are finished of their answers.
19th. To the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Silent Woman;"
the best comedy, I think, that ever was wrote: and sitting by
Shadwell [Thomas Shadwell, the dramatic writer. Ob. 1692.] the
poet, he was big with admiration of it. Here was my Lord
Brouncker and W. Pen and their ladies in the box, being grown
roughly kind of a sudden; but, God knows, it will last but a
little while, I dare swear. Knipp did her part mighty well. All
the news now is that Mr. Trevor is for certain to be Secretary in
Morrice's place, which the Duke of York did himself tell me
yesterday; and also that Parliament is to be adjourned to the 1st
of March, which do please me well, hoping thereby to get my
things in a little better order than I should have done; and the
less attendances at that end of the town in winter.
20th. To church, and thence home to dinner, staying till past
one o'clock for Harris, whom I invited, and to bring Shadwell the
poet with him; but they came not, and so a good dinner lost
through my own folly. And so to dinner alone, having since
church heard the boy read over Dryden's Reply to Sir R. Howard's
Answer about his Essay of Poesy, and a Letter in answer to that;
the last whereof is mighty silly, in behalf of Howard. The
Duchesse of Monmouth is at this time in great trouble of the
shortness of her lame leg, which is likely to grow shorter and
shorter, that she will never recover it.
21st. To St. James's, and there the Duke of York did of his own
accord come to me and tell me that he had read and do like of my
answers to the objections which he did give me the other day
about the Navy: and so did Sir W. Coventry too, who told me that
the Duke of York had shown him them. To Southwarke-fair, very
dirty, and there saw the puppet-show of Whittington, which was
pretty to see: and how that idle thing do work upon people that
see it, and even myself too! And thence to Jacob Hall's dancing
on the ropes, where I saw such action as I never saw before, and
mightily worth seeing; and here took acquaintance with a fellow
that carried me to a tavern, whither come the musick of this
booth, and by and by Jacob Hall himself, with whom I had a mind
to speak, to hear whether he had ever any mischief by falls in
his time. He told me, "Yes, many, but never to the breaking of a
limb." He seems a mighty strong man. So giving them a bottle or
two of wine, I away. So by water by link-light through the
bridge, it being mighty dark, but still weather; and so home.
This day came out first the new five-pieces in gold, coined by
the Guiny Company; and I did get two pieces of Mr. Holder.
22nd. This day Mr. Wren did give me at the Board Commissioner
Middleton's answer to the Duke of York's great letter; so that
now I have all of them.
23rd. At noon comes Mr. Evelyn to me about some business with
the office, and there in discourse tells me of his loss to the
value of 500l. which he hath met with in a late attempt of making
of bricks upon an adventure with others, by which he presumed to
have got a great deal of money: so that I see the most ingenious
men may sometimes be mistaken.
27th. In the Park, where I met Mr. Wren; and he and I walked
together in the Pell-Mell, it being most summer weather that ever
was seen. And here talking of several things; of the corruption
of the Court, and how unfit it is for ingenuous men, and himself
particularly, to live in it, where a man cannot live but he must
spend, and cannot get suitably without breach of his honour: and
he did thereupon tell me of the basest thing of my Lord Barkeley
that ever was heard of any man--which was this: how the Duke of
York's Commissioners do let his wine-licenses at a bad rate, and
being offered a better, they did persuade the Duke of York to
give some satisfaction to the former to quit it, and let it to
the latter; which being done, my Lord Barkeley did make the
bargain for the former to have 1500l. a-year to quit it; whereof
since it is come to light that they were to have but 800l. and
himself 700l., which the Duke of York hath ever since for some
years paid, though the second bargain hath been broken, and the
Duke of York lost by it half of what the first was. He told me
that there had been a seeming accommodation between the Duke of
York and the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Arlington, the two
latter desiring it; but yet that there is not true agreement
between them, but they do labour to bring in all new creatures
into play, and the Duke of York do oppose it. Thence, he gone, I
to the Queene's chapel, and there heard some good singing; and so
to White Hall, and saw the King and Queene at dinner: and thence
with Sir Stephen Fox to dinner; and the Cofferer with us; and
there mighty kind usage and good discourse. Thence spent all the
afternoon walking in the Park, and then in the evening at Court
on the Queene's side; and there met Mr. Godolphin, who tells me
that the news is true we heard yesterday of my Lord Sandwich's
being come to Mount's-bay, in Cornwall. This night, in the
Queene's drawing-room, my Lord Brouncker told me the difference
that is now between the three Embassadors here, the Venetian,
French, and Spaniard; the third not being willing to make a visit
to the first, because he would not receive him at the door; who
is willing to give him, as much respect as he did to the French,
who was used no otherwise, and who refuses now to take more of
him, upon being desired thereto in order to the making an
accommodation in this matter.
28th. Knipp's maid comes to me to tell me that the women's day
at the playhouse is to-day, and that therefore I must be there to
encrease their profit. By water to St. James's, and there had
good opportunity of speaking with the Duke of York; who desires
me again talking on that matter, to prepare something for him to
do for the better managing of our office; telling me that my Lord
Keeper and he talking about it yesterday, my Lord Keeper did
advise him to do so, it being better to come from him than
otherwise; which I have promised to do. Thence to my Lord
Burlington's house, the first time I ever was there, it being the
house built by Sir John Denham, next to Clarendon-house, And here
I visited my Lord Hinchingbroke and his lady; Mr. Sidney Montagu
being last night come to town unexpectedly from Mount's-bay,
where he left my Lord well eight days since, so as we now hourly
expect to hear of his arrivall at Portsmouth. Sidney is mighty
grown; and I am glad I am here to see him at his first coming,
though it cost me dear, for here I come to be necessitated to
supply them with 500l. for my Lord. [VIDE Mr. Pepys's letter to
Lord Sandwich on this subject in the Appendix.] He sent him up
with a declaration to his friends, of the necessity of his being
presently supplied with 2000l.; but I do not think he will get
1000l.: however, I think it becomes my duty to my Lord to do
something extraordinary in this, and the rather because I have
been remiss in writing to him during this voyage, more than ever
I did in my life and more indeed than was fit for me. By and by
comes Sir W. Godolphin to see Mr. Sidney, who, I perceive, is
much dissatisfied that he should come to town last night, and not
yet be with my Lord Arlington; who, and all the town, hear of his
being come, and he did it seems, take notice of it to Godolphin
this morning. So that I perceive this remissness in affairs do
continue in my Lord's managements still: which I am sorry for;
but, above all, to see in what a condition my Lord is for money,
that I dare swear he do not know where to take up 500l. of any
man in England at this time upon his word but or myself, as I
believe by the sequel hereof it will appear. Here I first saw
and saluted my Lady Burlington, [Elizabeth, sole daughter and
heir to Henry Earl of Cumberland, wife of Richard first Earl of
Burlington.] a very fine-speaking lady, and a good woman, but
old and not handsome; but a brave woman. Here I also, standing
by a candle that was brought for sealing a letter, do set my
periwigg a-fire; which made such an odd noise nobody could tell
what it was till they saw the flame, my back being to the candle.
To the King's playhouse, and there saw "The City Match," [A
comedy, by Jasper Mayne, D.D.] not acted these thirty years, and
but a silly play: the King and Court there; the house for the
women's sake mighty full. So I to White Hall, and there all the
evening on the Queene's side; and it being a most summer-like
day, and a fine warm evening, the Italians came in a barge under
the leads before the Queene's drawing-room; and so the Queene and
ladies went out and heard them for almost an hour: and the
singing was indeed very good together; but yet there was but one
voice that alone did appear considerable, and that was Signior
Joanni. This done, by and by they went in: and here I saw Mr.
Sidney Montagu kiss the Queene's hand, who was mighty kind to
him, and the ladies looked mightily on him; and the King came by
and by, and did talk to him. So I away by coach with Alderman
Backewell home, who is mighty kind to me, more than ordinary, in
his expressions. But I do hear this day what troubles me, that
Sir W. Coventry is quite out of play, the King seldom speaking to
him; and that there is a design of making a Lord Treasurer, and
that my Lord Arlington shall be the man; but I cannot believe it.
But yet the Duke of Buckingham hath it in his mind, and those
with him, to make a thorough alteration in things; and, among the
rest, Coventry to be out.
[A HIATUS occurs in the Diary at this period for thirteen days;
during which Mr. Pepys went into the country, as he subsequently
alludes to his having been at Saxham whilst the King was there.
He had probably been to Impington to fetch his wife, and perhaps
omitted copying his rough notes into the blank pages evidently
left for them in the Journal.]
OCTOBER 12, 1668. To White Hall to enquire when the Duke of York
will be in town, in order to Mr. Turner's going down to Audley
End about his place; and here I met in St. James's Park with one
that told me that the Duke of York would be in town to-morrow.
Home, where I find Sir H. Cholmly come to town; and is come
hither to see me: and he is a man that I love mightily, as being
of a gentleman the most industrious that ever I saw. He staid
with me awhile talking and telling me his obligations to my Lord
Sandwich, which I was glad of; and that the Duke of Buckingham is
now chief of all men in this kingdom, which I knew before; and
that he do think the Parliament will hardly ever meet again;
which is a great many men's thoughts and I shall not be sorry for
it. Read a ridiculous nonsensical book set out by Will. Pen for
the Quakers; but so full of nothing but nonsense, that I was
ashamed to read in it.
13th. With my Lord Brouncker, and did get his ready assent to T.
Hater's having of Mr. Turner's place, and so Sir J. Minnes's
also: but when we come to sit down at the Board comes to us Mr.
Wren this day to town, and tells me that James Southern do
petition the Duke of York for the Store-keeper's place of
Deptford; which did trouble me much, and also the Board; though
upon discourse after he was gone we did resolve to move hard for
our Clerks, and that places of preferment may go according to
seniority and merit at my Lord Middleton's; and I did this day
find by discourse with somebody that this gentleman was the great
Major-general Middleton that was of the Scots army in the
beginning of the late war against the King.
14th. To White Hall, and there walked to St. James's, where I
find the Court mighty full, it being the Duke of York's birthday;
and he mighty fine, and all the musick, one after another, to my
great content. Here I met with Sir H. Cholmly; and he and I to
walk, and to my Lord Barkeley's new house, there to see a new
experiment of a cart, which, by having two little wheeles
fastened to the axle-tree, is said to make it go with half the
ease and more than another cart; but we did not see the trial
made. To the King's playhouse, and saw "The Faithful
Shepherdess," [A dramatic pastoral, by J. Fletcher.] that I
might hear the French eunuch sing; which I did to my great
content; though I do admire his action as much as his singing,
being both beyond all I ever saw or heard.
15th. This day at the Board came unexpected the warrants from
the Duke of York for Mr. Turner and Hater, for the places they
desire; which contents me mightily.
17th. Mr. Moore and Seamour were, with me this afternoon; who
tell me that my Lord Sandwich was received mighty kindly by the
King, and is in exceeding great esteem with him and the rest
about him; but I doubt it will be hard for him to please both the
King and the Duke of York, which I shall be sorry for. Mr. Moore
tells me the sad condition my Lord is in in his estate and debts;
and the way he now lives in so high, and so many vain servants
about him, that he must be ruined if he do not take up; which, by
the grace of God, I will put him upon when I come to see him.
18th. With Lord Brouncker to Lincolne's Inn, and Mr. Ball, to
visit Dr. Wilkins, now newly Bishop of Chester: and he received
us mighty kindly; and had most excellent discourse from him about
his book of Reall Character. And so I with Lord Brouncker to
White Hall, and there saw the Queene and some ladies.
19th. To the Duke of York's playhouse; and there saw, the first
time acted, "The Queene of Aragon," [A tragi-comedy, by William
Habington. Upon its revival, the prologue and epilogue were
written by Butler, the author of Hudibras.] an old Blackfriars'
play, but an admirable one, so good that I am astonished at it,
and wonder where it hath lain asleep all this while that I have
never heard of it before.
20th. At this time my wife and I mighty busy laying out money in
dressing up our best chamber, and thinking of a coach and
coachman and horses, &c.; and the more because of Creed's being
now married to Mrs. Pickering; [Elizabeth, daughter of Sir
Gilbert Pickering, Bart., became the wife of John Creed Esq., of
Oundle, and had issue by him: Major Richard Creed, killed at the
battle of Blenheim.] a thing I could never have expected, but it
is done about seven or ten days since. I walked out to look for
a coach, and saw many; and did light on one for which I bid 50l.
which do please me mightily.
21st. Dining with Mr. Batelier, I rose from table before the
rest, because under an obligation to go to my Lord Brouncker's,
where to meet several gentlemen of the Royal Society, to go and
make a visit to the French Embassador Colbert at Leicester-house,
he having endeavoured to make one or two to my Lord Brouncker as
our President: but he was not within, but I came too late. To
my Lord Sandwich's lodgings; who came to town the last night, and
is come thither to lie: and met with him within: and among
others my new cosen Creed, who looks mighty soberly; and he and I
saluted one another with mighty gravity, till we came to a little
more freedom of talk about it. But here I hear that Sir Gilbert
Pickering is lately dead, about three days since; which makes
some sorrow there, though not much, because of his being long
expected to die, having been in a lethargy long. So waited on my
Lord to Court, and there staid and saw the ladies awhile: and
thence to my wife, and took them up; and so home, and to supper
and bed.
23rd. To my Lord Sandwich's, where I find my Lord within, but
busy private; and so I staid a little talking with the young
gentlemen, and so away with Mr. Pierce the surgeon towards
Tyburne, to see the people executed; but came too late, it being
done: two men and a woman hanged. Pierce do tell me, among
other news, the late frolick and debauchery of Sir Charles Sedley
and Buckhurst running up and down all the night, almost naked,
through the streets; and at last fighting, and being beat by the
watch and clapped up all night; and how the King takes their
parts; and my Lord Chief Justice Keeling hath laid the constable
by the heels to answer it next Sessions: which is a horrid
shame. How the King and these gentlemen did make the fiddlers of
Thetford this last progress to sing them all the obscene songs
they could think of. How Sir W. Coventry was brought the other
day to the Duchesse of York by the Duke of York, to kiss her
hand; who did acknowledge his unhappiness to occasion her so much
sorrow, declaring his intentions in it, and praying her pardon;
which she did give him upon his promise to make good his
pretences of innocence to her family by his faithfulness to his
master the Duke of York. That the Duke of Buckingham is now all
in all, and will ruin Coventry, if he can: and that W. Coventry
do now rest wholly upon the Duke of York for his standing; which
is a great turn. He tells me that my Lady Castlemaine, however,
is a mortal enemy to the Duke of Buckingham: which I understand
not, but it seems she is disgusted with his greatness and his ill
usage of her. That the King was drunk at Saxam [Saxham, near
Newmarket, in Suffolk, a seat of William Baron Crofts, long since
pulled down.] with Sedley, Buckhurst, &c. the night that my Lord
Arlington came thither, and would not give him audience, or could
not which is true, for it was the night that I was there and saw
the King go up to his chamber, and was told that the King had
been drinking. He tells me too that the Duke of York did the
next day chide Bab. May for his occasioning the King's giving
himself up to these gentlemen, to the neglecting of my Lord
Arlington: to which he answered merrily, that there was no man
in England that had a head to lose durst do what they do every
day with the King, and asked the Duke of York's pardon: which is
a sign of a mad world; God bless us out of it!
24th. This morning comes to me the coachmaker, and agreed with
me for 53l. and to stand to the courtesy of what more I should
give him upon the finishing of it. He is likely also to fit me
with a coachman.
26th. I was obliged to attend the Duke of York, thinking to have
had a meeting of Tangier to-day but had not: but he did take me
and Mr. Wren into his closet, and there did press me to prepare
what I had to say upon the answers of my fellow-officers to his
great letter; which I promised to do against his coming to town
again the next week: and so to other discourse, finding plainly
that he is in trouble and apprehensions of the Reformers, and
would be found to do what he can towards reforming himself. And
so thence to my Lord Sandwich's; where after long stay, he being
in talk with others privately, I to him; and there, he taking
physic and keeping his chamber, I had an hour's talk with him
about the ill posture of things at this time, while the King
gives countenance to Sir Charles Sedley and Lord Buckhurst. He
tells me that he thinks his matters do stand well with the King,
and hopes to have dispatch to his mind; but I doubt it, and do
see that he do fear it too. He told me of my Lady Carteret's
trouble about my writing of that letter of the Duke of York's
lately to the office; which I did not own, but declared to be of
no injury to G. Carteret, and that I would write a letter to him
to satisfy him therein. But this I am in pain how to do without
doing myself wrong, and the end I had of preparing a
justification to myself hereafter, when the faults of the Navy
come to be found out: however, I will do it in the best manner I
can.
29th. Mr. Wren first tells us of the order from the King, come
last night to the Duke of York, for signifying his pleasure to
the Solicitor-generall for drawing up a Commission for
suspending of my Lord Anglesy, and putting in Sir Thomas
Littleton and Sir Thomas Osborne [Eldest son of Sir Edward
Osborne, Bart.; made a Privy-counsellor 1672, and the following
year constituted Lord High Treasurer, and elected K.G. in 1677.
He was created Baron Kiveton and Viscount Latimer 1678, Earl Of
Danby 1674, Marquis of Caermarthen 1689, and Duke of Leeds 1694.
Ob. 1712, AET.SUAE 81.] (the former a creature of Arlington's,
and the latter of the Duke of Buckingham's) during the
suspension. The Duke of York was forced to obey, and did grant
it, he being to go to Newmarket this day with the King, and so
the King pressed for it. But Mr. Wren do own that the Duke of
York is the most wounded in this in the world, for it is done and
concluded without his privity, after his appearing for him; and
that it is plain that they do ayme to bring the Admiralty into
Commission too, and lessen the Duke of York. This do put strange
apprehensions into all our Board; only I think I am the least
troubled at it, for I care not at all for it: but my Lord
Brouncker and Pen do seem to think much of it.
30th. Up betimes; and Mr. Povy comes to even accounts with me;
which we did, and then fell to other talk. He tells me, in
short, how the King is made a child of by Buckingham and
Arlington, to the lessening of the Duke of York, whom they cannot
suffer to be great, for fear of my Lord Chancellor's return,
which therefore they make the King violent against. That he
believes it is impossible these two great men can hold together
long; or, at least, that the ambition of the former is so great
that he will endeavour to master all, and bring into play as many
as he can. That Anglesy will not lose his place easily, but will
contend in law with whoever comes to execute it. That the Duke
of York, in all things but in his amours, is led by the nose by
his wife. That Sir W. Coventry is now by the Duke of York made
friends with the Duchesse; and that he is often there, and waits
on her. That he do believe that these present great men will
break in time, and that Sir W. Coventry will be a great man
again; for he do labour to have nothing to do in matters of the
State, and is so usefull to the side that he is on, that he will
stand, though at present he is quite out of play. That my Lady
Castlemaine hates the Duke of Buckingham. That the Duke of York
hath expressed himself very kind to my Lord Sandwich; which I am
mighty glad of. That we are to expect more changes if these men
stand.
31st. This day my Lord Anglesy was at the office, and do seem to
make nothing of this business of his suspension, resolving to
bring it into Council; where he seems not to doubt to have right,
he standing upon his defence and patent; and hath put in his
caveats to the several offices; so as soon as the King comes back
again, which will be on Tuesday next, he will bring it into the
Council.
NOVEMBER 2, 1668. To Mr. Povy's; and there I find my Lords
Sandwich, Peterborough, and Hinchingbroke, Charles Harbord, and
Sidney Montagu; and there I was stopped, and dined mighty nobly
at a good table with one little dish at a time upon it; but
mighty merry. I was glad to see it; but sorry, methought, to see
my Lord have so little reason to be merry, and yet glad for his
sake to have him cheerful. After dinner up, and looked up and
down the house, and so to the cellar; and thence I slipt away
without taking leave.
4th. To White Hall; and there I find the King and Duke of York
came the last night, and every body's mouth full of my Lord
Anglesy's suspension being sealed, which it was, it seems,
yesterday; so that he is prevented in his remedy at the Council.
And, it seems, the two new Treasurers did kiss the King's hand
this morning, brought in by my Lord Arlington. They walked up
and down together in the Court this day, and several people joyed
them; but I avoided it, that I might not be seen to look either
way. This day also I hear that my Lord Ormond is to be declared
in Council no more Deputy Governor of Ireland, his commission
being expired: and the King is prevailed with to take it out of
his hands; which people do mightily admire, saying that he is the
greatest subject of any prince in Christendome, and hath more
acres of land than any, and hath done more for his Prince than
ever any yet did. But all will not do; he must down, it seems,
the Duke of Buckingham carrying all before him. But that that
troubles me most is that they begin to talk that the Duke of
York's regiment is ordered to be disbanded; and more that
undoubtedly his Admiralty will follow: which do shake me
mightily, and I fear will have ill consequences in the nation,
for these counsels are very mad. The Duke of York do by all
men's report, carry himself wonderfull submissive to the King in
the most humble manner in the world; but yet, it seems, nothing
must be spared that tends to the keeping out the Chancellor; and
that is the reason of all this. The great discourse now is, that
the Parliament shall be dissolved and another called, which shall
give the King the Dean and Chapter's lands; and that will put him
out of debt. And it is said that Buckingham do knowingly meet
daily with Wildman and other Commonwealth-men; and that when he
is with them he makes the King believe that he is with his
wenches. And something looks like the Parliament's being
dissolved, by Harry Brouncker's being now come back, and
appearing this day the first day at White Hall; but he hath not
been yet with the King, but is secure that he shall be well
received, I hear. God bless us when such men as he shall be
restored! But that that pleases me most is, that several do tell
me that Pen is to be removed; and others that he hath resigned
his place; and particularly Spragg tells me for certain that he
hath resigned it, and is become a partner with Gauden in the
Victualling: in which I think he hath done a very cunning thing;
but I am sure I am glad of it; and it will be well for the King
to have him out of this office. Sir John Talbot talks mighty
high for my Lord of Ormond: and I perceive this family of the
Talbots hath been raised by my Lord.
5th. The Duke of York did call me and Mr. Wren; and my paper
that I have lately taken pains to draw up was read, and the Duke
of York pleased therewith; and we did all along conclude upon
answers to my mind for the Board, and that that, if put in
execution, will do the King's business. But I do now more and
more perceive the Duke of York's trouble, and that he do lie
under great weight of mind from the Duke of Buckingham's carrying
things against him; and particularly when I advised that he would
use his interest that a seaman might come into the room of Sir W.
Pen, who is now declared to be gone from us to that of the
Victualling, and did show how the office would now be left
without one seaman in it but the Surveyor and the Controller, who
is so old as to be able to do nothing. He told me plainly that I
knew his mind well enough as to seamen, but that it must be as
others will. And Wren did tell it me as a secret, that when the
Duke of York did first tell the King about Sir W. Pen's leaving
of the place, and that when the Duke of York did move the King
that either Captain Cox or Sir Jer. Smith might succeed him, the
King did tell him that that was a matter fit to be considered of,
and would not agree to either presently: and so the Duke of York
could not prevail for either, nor knows who it shall be. The
Duke of York did tell me himself, that if he had not carried it
privately when first he mentioned Pen's leaving his place to the
King, it had not been done: for the Duke of Buckingham and those
of his party do cry out upon it as a strange thing to trust such
a thing into the hands of one that stands accused in Parliament:
and that they have so far prevailed upon the King that he would
not have him named in Council, but only take his name to the
Board; but I think he said that only D. Gauden's name shall go in
the patent; at least, at the time when Sir Richard Browne asked
the King the names of D.Gauden's security, the King told him it
was not yet necessary for him to declare them. And by and by,
when the Duke of York and we had done, Wren brought into the
closet Captain Cox and James Temple about business of the Guinea
Company; and talking something of the Duke of Buckingham's
concernment therein, says the Duke of York, "I shall give the
Devil his due," as they say the Duke of Buckingham hath paid in
his money to the Company, or something of that kind, wherein he
would do right to him. The Duke of York told me how these people
do begin to cast dirt upon the business that passed the Council
lately touching Supernumeraries, as passed by virtue of his
authority there, there being not liberty for any man to withstand
what the Duke of York advises there; which, he told me, they
bring only as an argument to insinuate the putting of the
Admiralty into Commission, which by all men's discourse is now
designed, and I perceive the same by him. This being done, and
going from him, I up and down the house to hear news: and there
every body's mouth full of changes; and among others, the Duke of
York's regiment of Guards that was raised during the late war at
sea it is to be disbanded: and also, that this day the King do
intend to declare that the Duke of Ormond is no more Deputy of
Ireland, but that he will put it into Commission. This day our
new Treasurers did kiss the King's hand; who complimented them,
as they say, very highly,--that he had for a long time been
abused in his Treasury, and that he was now safe in their hands.
I saw them walk up and down the Court together all this morning;
the first time I ever saw Osborne, who is a comely gentleman.
This day I was told that my Lord Anglesy did deliver a petition
on Wednesday in Council to the King, laying open, that whereas he
had heard that his Majesty had made such a disposal of his place,
which he had formerly granted him for life upon a valuable
consideration, and that without any thing laid to his charge, and
during a Parliament's sessions, he prayed that his Majesty would
be pleased to let his case be heard before the Council and the
Judges of the land, who were his proper Counsel in all matters of
right: to which, I am told, the King, after my Lord's being
withdrawn, concluded upon his giving him an answer some few days
hence; and so he was called in and told so. At the Treasurer's,
Sir Thomas Clifford, where I did eat some oysters; which while we
were at, in comes my Lord Keeper and much company; and so I
thought it best to withdraw. And so away, and to the Swedes
Agent's, and there met Mr. Povy; where the agent would have me
stay and dine, there being only them and Joseph Williamson, and
Sir Thomas Clayton; [Thomas Clayton, M.D., Professor of Physic,
and Anatomy Lecturer at Oxford, for which University he was
chosen Member 1660, and afterwards, knighted and made Warden of
Merton College.] but what he is I know not. Here much
extraordinary noble discourse of foreign princes, and
particularly the greatness of the King of France, and of his
being fallen into the right way of making the kingdom great. I
was mightily pleased with this company and their discourse.
6th. To see Roger Pepys at his lodgings next door to Arundell-
house, a barber's. And there I did see a book, which my Lord
Sandwich hath promised one to me of, "A Description of the
Escuriall in Spain;" which I have a great desire to have, though
I took it for a finer book when he promised it me.
9th. The Duke of York told me that Sir W. Pen had been with him
this morning to ask whether it would be fit for him to sit at the
office now, because of his resolution to be gone and to become
concerned in the Victualling. The Duke of York answered, Yes,
till his contract was signed. Thence I to Lord Sandwich's, and
there to see him; but was made to stay very long, as his best
friends are, and when I came to him had little pleasure, his head
being full of his own business, I think. Thence to White Hall
with him to a Committee of Tangier; a day appointed for him to
give an account of Tangier, and what he did and found there;
which, though he had admirable matter for it, and his doings
there were good, and would have afforded a noble account, yet he
did it with a mind so low and mean, and delivered in so poor a
manner, that it appeared nothing at all, nor any body seemed to
value it; whereas he might have shown himself to have merited
extraordinary thanks, and been held to have done a very great
service: whereas now, all that cost the King hath been at for
his journey through Spain thither, seems to be almost lost.
After we were up, Creed and I walked together, and did talk a
good while of the weak Report my Lord made, and were troubled for
it; I fearing that either his mind and judgment are depressed, or
that he do it out of his great neglect, and so that he do all the
rest of his affairs accordingly.
11th. To the office; where by a speciall desire the new
Treasurers came, and there did show their Patent and the Great
Seal for the suspension of my Lord Anglesy: and here did sit and
discourse of the business of the office; and brought Mr.
Hutchinson with them, who, I hear, is to be their Paymaster, in
the room of Mr. Waith. For it seems they do turn out every
servant that belongs to the present Treasurer; and so for Fenn do
bring in Mr. Littleton, Sir Thomas's brother, and oust all the
rest. But Mr. Hutchinson do already see that his work now will
be another kind of thing than before, as to the trouble of it.
13th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen by coach to White Hall; where to
the Duke of York, and there did our usual business. And thence I
to the Commissioners of the Treasury; where I staid and heard an
excellent case argued between my Lord Gerard and the town of
Newcastle, about a piece of ground which that Lord hath got a
grant of under the Exchequer Seal, which they were endeavouring
to get of the King under the Great Seal. I liked mightily the
Counsel for the town, Shaftow their recorder, and Mr. Offly. But
I was troubled, and so were the Lords, [The Lords Commissioners.]
to hear my Lord fly out against their [The inhabitants of
Newcastle.] great pretence of merit from the King for their
sufferings and loyalty; telling them that they might thank him
for that repute which they have for their loyalty, for that it
was he that forced them to be so against their wills, when he was
there: and, moreover, did offer a paper to the Lords to read
from the town, sent in 1648; but the Lords would not read it; but
I believe it was something about bringing the King to trial, or
some such thing, in that year. Thence I to the Three Tuns Tavern
by Charing Cross, and there dined with W. Pen, Sir J. Minnes, and
Commissioner Middleton; and as merry as my mind could be, that
hath so much trouble upon it at home. And thence to White Hall,
and there staid in Mr. Wren's chamber with him reading over my
draught of a letter, which Mr. Gibson then attended me with; and
there he did like all, but doubted whether it would be necessary
for the Duke to write in so sharp a style to the office as I had
drawn it in: which I yield to him, to consider the present
posture of the times and the Duke of York, and whether it were
not better to err on that hand than the other. He told me that
he did not think it was necessary for the Duke of York to do, and
that it would not suit so well with his nature nor greatness;
which last perhaps is true, but then do too truly show the
effects of having princes in places where order and discipline
should be. I left it to him to do as the Duke of York pleases;
and so fell to other talk, and with great freedom, of public
things. And he told me, upon my several inquiries to that
purpose, that he did believe it was not yet resolved whether the
Parliament should ever meet more or no, the three great rulers of
things now standing thus:--The Duke of Buckingham is absolutely
against their meeting, as moved thereto by his people that he
advises with, the people of the late times, who do never expect
to have any thing done by this Parliament for their religion, and
who do propose that, by the sale of the Church-lands, they shall
be able to put the King out of debt: my Lord Keeper is utterly
against putting away this and choosing another Parliament, lest
they prove worse than this, and will make all the King's friends,
and the King himself, in a desperate condition: my Lord
Arlington knows not which is best for him, being to seek whether
this or the next will use him worst. He tells me that he
believes that it is intended to call this Parliament, and try
them with a sum of money; and if they do not like it, then to
send them going, and call another who will, at the ruin of the
Church perhaps, please the King with what he will have for a
time. And he tells me, therefore, that he do believe that this
policy will be endeavoured by the Church and their friends,--to
seem to promise the King money when it shall be propounded, but
make the King and these great men buy it, dear before they have
it. He tells me that he is really persuaded that the design of
the Duke of Buckingham is, by bringing the State into such a
condition as, if the King do die without issue, it shall upon his
death break into pieces again; and so put by the Duke of York,
whom they have disobliged, they know, to that degree as to
despair of his pardon. He tells me that there is no way to rule
the King but by brisknesse, which the Duke of Buckingham hath
above all men; and that the Duke of York having it not, his best
way is what he practices, that is to say, a good temper, which
will support him till the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Arlington
fall out, which cannot be long first, the former knowing that the
latter did, in the time of the Chancellor, endeavour with the
Chancellor to hang him at that time, when he was proclaimed
against. And here, by the by, he told me that the Duke of
Buckingham did by his friends treat with my Lord Chancellor, by
the mediation of Matt. Wren and Clifford, to fall in with my Lord
Chancellor; which, he tells me, he did advise my Lord Chancellor
to accept of, as that, that with his own interest and the Duke of
York's, would undoubtedly have secured all to him and his family;
but that my Lord Chancellor was a man not to be advised, thinking
himself too high to be counselled: and so all is come to
nothing; for by that means the Duke of Buckingham became
desperate, and was forced to fall in with Arlington, to his ruin.
This morning at the Treasury-chamber I did meet Jack Fenn, and
there he did show me my Lord Anglesy's petition and the King's
answer: the former good and stout, as I before did hear it; but
the latter short and weak, saying that he was not by what the
King had done hindered from taking the benefit of his laws, and
that the reason he had to suspect his mismanagement of his money
in Ireland did make him think it unfit to trust him with his
Treasury in England till he was satisfied in the former.
15th. After dinner, W. How to tell me what hath happened between
him and the Commissioners of late, who are hot again, more than
ever, about my Lord Sandwich's business of prizes; which I am
troubled for, and the more because of the great security and
neglect with which I think my Lord do look upon this matter, that
may yet, for aught I know, undo him.
17th. To the office all the morning, where the new Treasurers
come their second time, and before they sat down did discourse
with the Board, and particularly my Lord Brouncker, about their
place, which they challenge as having been heretofore due and
given to their predecessor; which, at last, my Lord did own hath
been given him only out of courtesy to his quality, and that he
did not take it as of right at the Board: so they, for the
present, sat down and did give him the place, but I think with an
intent to have the Duke of York's directions about it.
20th. This evening comes Mr. Billup to me, to read over Mr.
Wren's alterations of my draught of a letter for the Duke of York
to sign to the Board; which I like mighty well, they being not
considerable, only in mollifying some hard terms which I had
thought fit to put in. From this to other discourse; and do find
that the Duke of York and his master, Mr. Wren, do look upon this
service of mine as a very seasonable service to the Duke of York,
as that which he will have to show to his enemies in his own
justification of his care of the King's business: and I am sure
I am heartily glad of it, both for the King's sake and the Duke
of York's, and my own also; for if I continue, my work by this
means will be the less, and my share in the blame also.
22nd. This day my boy's livery is come home, the first I ever
had, of greene lined with red; and it likes me well enough.
23rd. To visit my Lord Sandwich, who is now so reserved, or
moped rather I think with his own business, that he bids welcome
to no man, I think, to his satisfaction. I met with Mr. Povy;
who tells me: that this discourse which I told him of, of the
Duke of Monmouth being made Prince of Wales, hath nothing in it;
though he thinks there are all the endeavours used in the world
to overthrow the Duke of York. He would not have me doubt of my
safety in the Navy, which I am doubtful of, from the reports of a
general removal; but he will endeavour to inform me what he can
gather from my Lord Arlington. That he do think that the Duke of
Buckingham hath a mind rather to overthrow all the kingdom, and
bring in a Commonwealth, wherein he may think to be General of
their Army, or to make himself King; which, he believes, he may
be led to by some advice he hath had with conjurors, which he do
affect.
25th. Mr. Wren and I to his chamber, and there talked: and he
seems to hope that these people, the Duke of Buckingham and
Arlington, will run themselves off of their legs; they being
forced to be always putting the King upon one idle thing or
other, against the easiness of his nature, which he will never be
able to bear nor they to keep him to, and so will lose
themselves. And, for instance of their little progress, he tells
me that my Lord of Ormond is like yet to carry it, and to
continue in his command in Ireland; at least, they cannot get the
better of him yet. But he tells me that the Keeper is wrought
upon, as they say, to give his opinion for the dissolving of the
Parliament; which, he thinks, will undo him in the eyes of the
people. He do not seem to own the hearing or fearing of any
thing to be done in the Admiralty to the lessening of the Duke of
York, though he hears how the town-talk is full of it.
26th. Troubled at W. Hewer's losing of a tally of 1000l., which
I sent him this day to receive of the Commissioners of Excise.
27th. Comes Mr. Povey by appointment to dine with me; and much
pleasant discourse with him, and some serious: and he tells me
that he would by all means have me get to be a Parliament-man the
next Parliament. By and by comes my cosen Roger, and dines with
us; and, after dinner, did seal his mortgage, wherein I do wholly
rely on his honesty, not having so much as read over what he hath
given me for it, nor minded it, but do trust to his integrity
therein.
28th. This day presented to the Board the Duke of York's letter;
which, I perceive, troubled Sir W. Pen, he declaring himself
meant in that part that concerned excuse by sickness; but I do
not care, but am mightily glad that it is done, and now I shall
begin to be at pretty good ease in the office. This morning, to
my great content, W. Hewer tells me that a porter is come who
found my tally in Holborn, and brings it him, for which he gives
him 20s.
29th. My wife lately frighted me about her being a Catholique;
and I dare not, therefore, move her to go to church, for fear she
should deny me. But this morning, of her own accord, she spoke
of going to church the next Sunday: which pleases me mightily.
30th. My wife after dinner went the first time abroad in her
coach, calling on Roger Pepys, and visiting Mrs. Creed and my
cosen Turner. Thus ended this month with very good content, but
most expenseful to my purse on things of pleasure, having
furnished my wife's closet, and the best chamber, and a coach and
horses, that ever I knew in the world; and I am put into the
greatest condition of outward state that ever I was in, or hoped
ever to be, or desired: and this at a time when we do daily
expect great changes in this office; and by all reports we must
all of us turn out. But my eyes are come to that condition that
I am not able to work; and therefore that and my wife's desire
make me have no manner of trouble in my thoughts about it. So
God do his will in it!
DECEMBER 2, 1668. Abroad with my wife, the first time that ever
I rode in my own coach, which do make my heart rejoice and praise
God, and pray him to bless it to me and continue it. So she and
I to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Usurper:" [A
tragedy by Edward Howard.] a pretty good play in all but what is
designed to resemble Cromwell and Hugh Peters, which is mighty
silly. The play done, we to White Hall; where my wife staid
while I up to the Duchesse and Queene's side, to speak with the
Duke of York: and here saw all the ladies, and heard the silly
discourse of the King with his people about him, telling a story
of my Lord Rochester's having of his clothes stole while he was
with a wench; and his gold all gone, but his clothes found
afterwards stuffed into a feather-bed by the wench that stole
them. I spoke with the Duke of York, just as he was set down to
supper with the King, about our sending of victuals to Sir Thomas
Allen's fleet hence to Cales, to meet him.
3rd. Sir Jer. Smith with me; who is a silly, prating, talking
man; but he tells me what he hears,--that Holmes and Spragg now
rule all with the Duke of Buckingham as to sea-business, and will
be great men: but he do prophecy what will be the fruit of it;
so I do. So to the office, where we sat all the morning; and at
noon home to dinner, and then abroad again with my wife to the
Duke of York's playhouse, and saw "The Unfortunate Lovers:" [A
tragedy, by Sir Wm. Davenant.] a mean play I think, but some
parts very good, and excellently acted. We sat under the boxes,
and saw the fine ladies; among others, my Lady Kerneguy, who is
most devilishly painted. And so home, it being mighty pleasure
to go alone with my poor wife in a coach of our own to a play,
and makes us appear mighty great, I think, in the world; at
least, greater than ever I could, or my friends for me, have once
expected; or, I think, than ever any of my family ever yet lived
in my memory, but my cosen Pepys in Salisbury Court.
4th. Did wait as usual upon the Duke of York, where, upon
discoursing something touching the Ticket-office, which by letter
the Board did give the Duke of York their advice to be put upon
Lord Brouncker, Sir J. Minnes did foolishly rise up and complain
of the office, and his being made nothing of; and this before Sir
Thomas Littleton, who would be glad of this difference among us:
which did trouble me mightily; and therefore I did forbear to say
what I otherwise would have thought fit for me to say on this
occasion, upon so impertinent a speech as this doating fool made
--but, I say, I let it alone, and contented myself that it went
as I advised, as to the Duke of York's judgment in the thing
dispated. Mr. Pickering, who meets me at Smithfield, and I, and
W. Hewer, and a friend (a jockey) of his, did go about to see
several pairs of horses for my coach but it was late, and we
agreed on none, but left it to another time: but here I do see
instances of a piece of craft and cunning that I never dreamed
of, concerning the buying and choosing of horses. To the office,
where vexed to see how ill all the Controller's business is
likely to go, as long as ever Sir J. Minnes lives; and so
troubled I was that I thought it a good occasion for me to give
my thoughts of it in writing, and there fore wrote a letter at
the Board, by the help of a tube, to Lord Brouncker, and did give
it him, which I kept a copy of, and it may be of use to me
hereafter to show in this matter. This being done, I home to my
aunt, who supped with us, and my uncle also: and a good-humoured
woman she is, so that I think we shall keep her acquaintance; but
mighty proud she is of her wedding-ring, being lately set with
diamonds; cost her about 12l.: and I did commend it mightily to
her, but do not think it very suitable for one of our quality.
5th. No news stirring, but that my Lord of Ormond is likely to
go to Ireland again, which do show that the Duke of Buckingham do
not rule all so absolutely; and that, however, we shall speedily
have more changes in the Navy: and it is certain that the
Nonconformists do now preach openly in houses in many places, and
among others the house that was heretofore Sir G. Carteret's in
Leadenhall-streete, and have ready access to the King. And now
the great dispute is, whether this Parliament or another; and my
great design, if I continue in the Navy, is to get myself to be a
Parliament-man.
6th. Lord's day. Up, and with my wife to church; which pleases
me mightily, I being full of fear that she would never go to
church again, after she had declared to me that she was a Roman
Catholique. But though I do verily think she fears God, and is
truly and sincerely righteous, yet I do see she is not so
strictly a Catholique as not to go to church with me; which
pleases me mightily.
7th. Sir W. Coventry says that he hath no more mind to be found
meddling with the Navy, lest it should do it hurt as well as him.
So to talk of general things: and telling him that with all
these doings he, I thanked God, stood yet; he told me, Yes, but
that he thought his continuing in did arise from his enemies my
Lord of Buckingham and Arlington's seeing that he cared so little
if he was out; and he do protest to me that he is as weary of the
Treasury as ever he was of the Navy. He tells me that he do
believe that their heat is over almost as to the Navy, their
being now none left of the old stock but my Lord Brouncker, J.
Minnes (who is ready to leave the world), and myself. But he
tells me that he do foresee very great wants and great disorders
by reason thereof; insomuch, as he is represented to the King by
his enemies as a melancholy man, and one that is still
prophecying ill events, so as the King called him Visionaire;
which being told him, he said he answered the party, that,
whatever he foresaw, he was not afraid as to himself of any
thing, nor particularly of my Lord Arlington so much as the Duke
of Buckingham hath been, nor of the Duke of Buckingham so much as
my Lord Arlington at this time is. But he tells me that he hath
been always looked upon as a melancholy man; whereas others that
would please the King do make him believe that all is safe: and
so he hath heard my Lord Chancellor openly say to the King, that
he was now a glorious prince, and in a glorious condition,
because of some one accident that hath happened, or some one rut
that hath been removed; "when," says Sir W. Coventry "they
reckoned their one good meal, without considering that there was
nothing left in the cupboard for to-morrow." After this
discourse to my Lord Sandwich's, and took a quarter of an hour's
walk in the garden with him, which I have not done for so much
time with him since his coming into England; and talking of his
own condition, and particularly of the world's talk of his going
to Tangier. I find if his conditions can be made profitable and
safe as to money, he would go, but not else; but, however, will
seem not averse to it, because of facilitating his other accounts
now depending; which be finds hard to get through, but yet hath
some hopes, the King, he says, speaking very kindly to him.
8th. Up, and Sir R. Cholmly betimes with me, about some accounts
and monies due to him: and he gone, I to the office, where sat
all the morning. And here, among other things, breaks out the
storm W. Hewer and I have long expected from the Surveyor, about
W. Hewer's conspiring to get a contract to the burdening of the
stores with kerseys and cottons, of which he hath often
complained, and lately more than ever, and now he did by a most
scandalous letter to the Board reflecting on my office: and by
discourse it fell to such high words between him and me as can
hardly ever be forgot; I declaring I would believe W. Hewer as
soon as him, and laying the fault, if there be any, upon himself;
he, on the other hand, vilifying of my word and W. Hewer's,
calling him knave, and that if he were his clerk he should lose
his ears. At last I closed the business for this morning with
making the thing ridiculous, as it is, and he swearing that the
King should have right in it, or he would lose his place. The
office was cleared of all but ourselves and W. Hewer; but,
however, the world did by the beginning see what it meant, and it
will, I believe, come to high terms between us; which I am sorry
for, to have any blemish laid upon me or mine at this time,
though never so unjustly, for fear of giving occasion to my real
discredit: and therefore I was not only all the rest of the
morning vexed, but so went home to dinner; where my wife tells me
of my Lord Orrery's new play "Tryphon," [A tragedy, taken from
the first book of Maccabees, and performed with great success.]
at the Duke of York's house, which, however, I would see, and
therefore put a bit of meat in our mouths and went thither;
where, with much ado, at half-past one, we got into a blind hole
in the 18d. place above stairs, where we could not hear well.
The house infinite fill, but the prologue most silly, and the
play, though admirable, yet no pleasure almost in it, because
just the very same design, and words, and sense, and plot, as
every one of his plays have, any one of which alone would be held
admirable, whereas so many of the same design and fancy do but
dull one another; and this, I perceive, is the sense of every
body else as well as myself, who therefore showed but little
pleasure in it. So home mighty hot, and my mind mightily out of
order, so as I could not eat my supper, or sleep almost all
night; though I spent till twelve at night with W. Hewer to
consider of our business: and we find it not only most free from
any blame of our side, but so horrid scandalous on the other, to
make so groundless a complaint, and one so shameful to him, that
it could not but let me see that there is no need of my being
troubled; but such is the weakness of my nature that I could not
help it, which vexes me, showing me how unable I am to live with
difficulties.
10th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning:
Middleton not there, so no words or looks of him. At noon home
to dinner; and so to the office, and there all the afternoon
busy. And at night W. Hewer home with me; and we think we have
got matter enough to make Middleton appear a coxcomb. But it
troubled me to have Sir W. Warren meet me at night going out of
the office home, and tell me that Middleton do intend to complain
to the Duke of York: but, upon consideration of the business, I
did go to bed satisfied that it was best for me that he should;
and so my trouble was over, and to bed and slept well.
11th. Up, and with W. Hewer by water to Somerset-house; and
there I to my Lord Brouncker before he went forth to the Duke of
York, and there told him my confidence that I should make
Middleton appear a fool, and that it was, I thought, best for me
to complain of the wrong he hath done; but brought it about that
my Lord desired me I would forbear, and promised that he would
prevent Middleton till I had given in my answer to the Board,
which I desired. And so away to White Hall, and there did our
usual attendance: and no word spoke before the Duke of York by
Middleton at all; at which I was glad to my heart, because by
this means I have time to draw up my answer to my mind.
Concluded upon giving 50l. for a fine pair of black horses we saw
this day se'nnight; and so set Mr. Pickering down near his house
(whom I am much beholden to for his care herein, and he hath
admirable skill, I perceive, in this business), and so home.
12th. I hear this day that there is fallen down a new house not
quite finished in Lumberd-street, and that there have been
several so, they making use of bad mortar and bricks; but no hurt
yet, as God hath ordered it. This day was brought home my pair
of black coach-horses, the first I ever was master of, a fine
pair.
14th. This day I hear, and am glad, that the King hath prorogued
the Parliament to October next; and, among other reasons, it will
give me time to go to France, I hope.
15th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning, and the
new Treasurers there; and, for my life, I cannot keep Sir J.
Minnes and others of the Board from showing our weakness, to the
dishonour of the Board, though I am not concerned; but it do vex
me to the heart to have it before these people, that would be
glad to find out all our weaknesses.
18th. To Lord Brouncker, and got him to read over my paper, who
owns most absolute content in it, and the advantages I have in
it, and the folly of the Surveyor. At noon home to dinner; and
then to Brooke-house, and there spoke with Colonell Thomson, I by
order carrying them our Contract-books, from the beginning to the
end of the late war. I found him finding of errors in a ship's
book, where he showed, me many; which must end in the ruin, I
doubt, of the Controller, who found them not out in the pay of
the ship, or the whole office. To the office, and after some
other business done we fell to mine. The Surveyor began to be a
little brisk at the beginning; but when I came to the point to
touch him, which I had all the advantages in the world to do, he
became as calm as a lamb, and owned, as the whole Board did,
their satisfaction, and cried excuse: and so all made friends;
and their acknowledgment put into writing and delivered into Sir
J. Minnes's hand, to be kept there for the use of the board or
us, when I shall call for it; they desiring it might be so, that
I might not make use of it to the prejudice of the Surveyor, whom
I had an advantage over by his extraordinary folly in this
matter. So Middleton desiring to be friends, I forgave him; and
all mighty quiet, and fell to talk of other stories, and there
staid all of us till nine or ten at night (more than ever we did
in our lives before together).
19th. My wife and I by Hackney to the King's playhouse, and
there, the pit being full, sat in the box above, and saw
"Catiline's Conspiracy," yesterday being the first day: a play
of much good sense and words to read, but that do appear the
worst upon the stage, I mean the least diverting, that ever I saw
any, though most fine in clothes; and a fine scene of the Senate
and of a fight as ever I saw in my life. We sat next to Betty
Hall, that did belong to this house, and was Sir Philip Howard's
mistress; a mighty pretty wench.
20th. The Duke of York in good humour did fall to tell us many
fine stories of the wars in Flanders, and how the Spaniards are
the best disciplined foot in the world; will refuse no
extraordinary service if commanded, but scorn to be paid for it
as in other countries, though at the same time they will beg in
the streets: not a soldier will carry you a cloak-bag for money
for the world, though he will beg a penny and will do the thing
if commanded by his commander. That in the citadel of Antwerp a
soldier hath not a liberty of begging till he hath served three
years, They will cry out against their King and commanders and
generals, none like them in the world, and yet will not hear a
stranger say a word of them but they will cut his throat. That
upon a time some of the commanders of their army exclaiming
against their generals, and particularly the Marquis of Caranen,
the Confessor of the Marquis coming by and hearing them, he stops
and gravely tells them that the three great trades of the world
are, the lawyers, who govern the world, the churchmen, who enjoy
the world; and a sort of fellows whom they call soldiers, who
make it their work to defend the world. He told us too, that
Turenne being now become a Catholique, he is likely to get over
the head of Colbert, their interests being contrary; the latter
to promote trade and the sea (which, says the Duke of York, is
that we have most cause to fear), and Turenne to employ the King
and his forces by land to encrease his conquests. W. Hewer tells
me to-day that he hears that the King of France hath declared in
print, that he do intend this next summer to forbid his
commanders to strike to us, but that both we and the Dutch shall
strike to him, and that he hath made his captains swear it
already that; they will observe it: which is a great thing if he
do it, as I know nothing to hinder him.
21st. Went into Holborne, and there saw the woman that is to be
seen with a beard. She is a little plain woman, a Dane; her
name, Ursula Dyan; about forty years old; her voice like a little
girl's; with a beard as much as any man I ever saw, black almost
and grizly: it began to grow at about seven years old, and was
shaved not above seven months ago, and is now so big as any man's
almost that ever I saw; I say, bushy and thick. It was a strange
sight to me, I confess, and what pleased me mightily. Thence to
the Duke's playhouse, and saw "Macbeth." The King and Court
there; and we sat just under them and my Lady Castlemaine, and
close to a woman that comes into the pit, a kind of a loose
gossip, that pretends to be like her, and is so something. And
my wife, by my troth, appeared, I think, as pretty as any of
them; I never thought so much before; and so did Talbot and W,
Hewer, as they said, I heard, to one another. The King and Duke
of York minded me, and smiled upon me, at the handsome woman near
me: but it vexed me to see Moll Davis, in the box over the
King's and my Lady Castlemaine, look down upon the King, and he
up to her; and so did my Lady Castlemaine once, to see who it
was; but when she saw Moll Davis, she looked like fire; which
troubled me.
23rd. Discoursed with Sir John Bankes; who thinks this
prorogation will please all but the Parliament itself, which
will, if ever they meet, be vexed at Buckingham, who yet governs
all. He says the Nonconformists are glad of it, and, he
believes, will get the upper hand in a little time, for the King
must trust to them or nobody; and he thinks the King will be
forced to it. He says that Sir D. Gauden is mightily troubled at
Pen's being put upon him by the Duke of York, and that he
believes he will get clear of it; which, though it will trouble
me to have Pen still at the office, yet I shall think D. Gauden
do well in it, and what I would advise him to, because I love
him. I up to my Lord Brouncker at his lodgings; and sat with him
an hour on purpose to talk over the wretched state of this office
at present, according to the present hands it is made up of;
wherein he do fully concur with me, and that it is our part not
only to prepare for defending it and ourselves against the
consequences of it, but to take the best ways we can to make it
known to the Duke of York; for, till Sir J. Minnes be removed,
and a sufficient man brought into W. Pen's place when he is gone,
it is impossible for this office to support itself.
25th. Christmas day. To dinner alone with my wife, who, poor
wretch! sat undressed all day till ten at night, altering and
lacing of a noble petticoat; while I by her making the boy read
to me the Life of Julius Caesar, and Des Cartes' book of Musick.
27th. Lord's day. Saw the King at chapel; but staid not to hear
any thing, but went to walk in the Park with W. Hewer; and there,
among others, met with Sir G. Downing, and walked with him an
hour talking of business, and how the late war was managed, there
being nobody to take care of it: and he telling, when he was in
Holland, what he offered the King to do if he might have power,
and then upon the least word, perhaps of a woman, to the King, he
was contradicted again, and particularly to the loss of all that
we lost in Guinny. He told me that he had so good spies, that he
hath had the keys taken out of De Witt's pocket when he was a-
bed, and his closet opened and papers brought to him and left in
his hands for an hour, and carried back and laid in the place
again, and keys put into his pocket again. He says he hath
always had their most private debates, that have been but between
two or three of the chief of them, brought to him in an hour
after, and an hour after that hath sent word thereof to the King,
but nobody here regarded them. But he tells me the sad news that
he is out of all expectations that ever the debts of the Navy
will be paid, if the Parliament do not enable the King to do it
by money; all they can hope for to do out of the King's revenue
being but to keep our wheels a-going on present services, and, if
they can, to cut off the growing interest: which is a sad story,
and grieves me to the heart.
28th. Called up by drums and trumpets; these things and boxes
having cost me much money this Christmas already, and will do
more.
1668-9. JANUARY 1. Presented from Captain Beckford with a noble
silver warming-pan.
4th. W. Hewer and I went and saw the great tall woman that is to
be seen, who is but twenty-one years old, and I do easily stand
under her arms. To White Hall, where a Committee of Tangier met;
and I did receive an instance of the Duke of York's kindness to
me, and the whole Committee, that they would not order any thing
about the Treasury for the Corporation now in establishing,
without my assent and considering whether it would be to my wrong
or no. Thence up and down the house, and to the Duke of York's
side, and there in the Duchesse's presence: and was mightily
complimented by my Lady Peterborough in my Lord Sandwich's
presence, whom she engaged to thank me for my kindness to her and
her Lord. We also declared our minds together to the Duke of
York about Sir John Minnes's incapacity to do any service in the
office: he promised to speak to the King about it.
7th. My wife and I to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The
Island Princesse," [A tragi-comedy by Beaumont and Fletcher.]
the first time I ever saw it ; and it is a pretty good play,
many good things being in it, and a good scene of a town on fire.
We sat in an upper box, and the jade Nell came and sat in the
next box; a bold merry slut, who lay laughing there upon people:
and with a comrade of hers, of the Duke's house, that came in to
see the play.
11th. Abroad with my wife to the King's playhouse, and there saw
"The Joviall Crew;" but ill acted to what it was heretofore in
Clun's time, and when Lacy could dance. Thence to the New
Exchange, to buy some things; and, among others, my wife did give
me my pair of gloves, which by contract she is to give me in her
30l. a-year. Here Mrs. Smith tells us of the great murder
thereabouts on Saturday last, of one Captain Bumbridge, by one
Symons, both of her acquaintance; and hectors that were at play,
and in drink: the former is killed, and is kinsman to my Lord of
Ormond, which made him speak of it with so much passion.
12th. Mr. Pierce, I asking him whither he was going, told me as
a great secret that he was going to his master's mistress, Mrs.
Churchill, [Arabella Churchill, sister to John Duke of
Marlborough, one of the Maids of Honour to the Duchess of York.
James Duke of Berwick and three other children were the fruits of
this intrigue. She married subsequently Colonel Godfrey,
Comptroller of the Household, and died 1730, aged 82.] with some
physic; meaning, I suppose, that she is with child.
15th. To Sir W. Coventry; where with him a good while in his
chamber, talking of the great factions at Court at this day, even
to the sober engaging of great persons, and differences, and
making the King cheap and ridiculous. It is about my Lady
Harvy's being offended at Doll Common's acting of Sempronia, to
imitate her; for which she got my Lord Chamberlain, her kinsman,
to imprison Doll: upon which my Lady Castlemaine made the King
to release her, and to order her to act it again worse than ever,
the other day where the King himself was; and since it was acted
again, and my Lady Harvy provided people to hiss her and fling
oranges at her: but it seems the heat is come to a great height,
and real troubles at Court about it. Through the Park, where I
met the King and the Duke of York, and so walked with them; and I
did give the Duke of York thanks for his favour to me yesterday,
at the Committee of Tangier, in my absence, (where some business
was brought forward which the Duke of York would not suffer to go
on without my presence at the debate.) And he answered me just
thus: that he ought to have a care of him that do the King's
business in the manner that I do, and words of more force than
that. Then down with Lord Brouncker to Sir R. Murray, into the
King's little elaboratory under his closet; a pretty place; and
there saw a great many chymical glasses and things, but
understood none of them.
16th. Mr. Wren thinks that the Parliament is likely to meet
again, the King being frighted with what the Speaker hath put him
in mind of,--his promise not to prorogue, but only to adjourne
them. They speak mighty freely of the folly of the King this
foolish women's business of my Lady Harvy. Povy tells me that
Sir W. Coventry was with the King alone an hour this day; and
that my Lady Castlemaine is now in a higher command over the King
than ever,--not as a mistress, for she scorns him, but as a
tyrant, to command him: and says that the Duchesse of York and
the Duke of York are mighty great with her, which is a great
interest to my Lord Chancellor's family; and that they do agree
to hinder all they can the proceedings of the Duke of Buckingham
and Arlington. And so we are in the old mad condition, or rather
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