The Diary of Samuel Pepys
by
Samuel Pepys
Part 3 out of 18
and others had intrigued with her often, which all believe to be
a lie.
16th. In the afternoon I went to White Hall, where I was
surprised with the news of a plot against the King's person and
my Lord Monk's; and that since last night there were about forty
taken up on suspicion; and, amongst others, it was my lot to meet
with Simon Beale, the Trumpeter, who took me and Tom Doling into
the Guard in Scotland Yard, and showed us Major-General Overton.
[One of Oliver Cromwell's Major-Generals: a high Republican.]
Here I heard him deny that he is guilty of any such things: but
that whereas it is said that he is found to have brought many
armes to towne, he says it is only to sell them, as he will prove
by oath.
21st. They told me that this is St. Thomas's, and that by an old
custome, this day the Exchequer men had formerly, and do intend
this night to have a supper; which if I could I promised, to come
to, but did not. To my Lady's, and dined with her: she told me
how dangerously ill the Princesse Royal is: and that this
morning she was said to be dead. But she hears that she hath
married herself to young Jermyn, [Henry Jermyn, Master of the
Horse to the Duke of York.] which is worse than the Duke of
York's marrying the Chancellor's daughter, which is now publicly
owned.
26th. To White Hall by water, and dined with my Lady Sandwich,
who at table did tell me how much fault was laid upon Dr. Frazer
and the rest of the Doctors, for the death of the Princesse. My
Lord, did dine this day with Sir Henry Wright, in order to his
going to sea with the Queen.
31st. In Paul's Church-yard I bought the play of Henry the
Fourth, and so went to the new Theatre and saw it acted; but my
expectation being too great, it did not please me, as otherwise I
believe it would: and my having a book, I believe did spoil it a
little. That being done I went to my Lord's, where I found him
private at cards with my Lord Lauderdale and some persons of
honour.
1660-61. At the end of the last and the beginning of this year,
I do live in one of the houses belonging to the Navy Office, as
one of the principal officers, and have done now about half-a-
year: my family being, myself, my wife, Jane, Will. Hewer, and
Wayneman, my girl's brother. Myself in constant good health, and
in a most handsome and thriving condition. Blessed be Almighty
God for it. As to things of State.--The King settled, and loved
of all. The Duke of York matched to my Lord Chancellor's
daughter, which do not please many. The Queen upon her returne
to France with the Princesse Henrietta. [Youngest daughter of
Charles I., married soon after to Philip Duke of Orleans, only
brother of Louis XIV. She died suddenly in 1670, not without
suspicion of having been poisoned.] The Princesse of Orange
lately dead, and we into new mourning for her. We have been
lately frighted with a great plot, and many taken up on it, and
the fright not quite over. The Parliament, which had done all
this great good to the King, beginning to grow factious, the King
did dissolve it December 29th last, and another likely to be
chosen speedily.
1660-61. JANUARY 1. Moore and I went to Mr. Pierce's; in our
way seeing the Duke of York bring his Lady to-day to wait upon
the Queen, the first time that ever she did since that business;
and the Queen is said to receive her now with much respect and
love.
2nd. My Lord did give me many commands in his business. As to
write to my uncle that Mr. Barnewell's papers should be locked
up, in case he should die, he being now suspected to be very ill.
Also about consulting with Mr. W. Montagu [William third son to
Lord Montagu of Boughton; afterwards Attorney-General to the
Queen; and made Chief Baron to the Exchequer, 1676.] for the
settling of the 4000l. a-year that the King had promised my Lord.
As also about getting Mr. George Montagu to be chosen at
Huntingdon this next Parliament, &c. That done, he to White Hall
stairs with much company, and I with him; where we took water for
Lambeth, and there coach for Portsmouth. The Queen's things were
all in White Hall Court ready to be sent away, and her Majesty
ready to be gone an hour after to Hampton Court to night, and so
to be at Portsmouth on Saturday next. This day I left Sir W.
Batten and Captn. Rider my chine of beefe for to serve to-morrow
at Trinity House, the Duke of Albemarle being to be there, and
all the rest of the Brethren, it being a great day for the
reading over of their new Charter, which the King hath newly
given them.
3rd. To the Theatre, where was acted "Beggars' Bush," it being
very well done; and here the first time that ever I saw women
come upon the stage.
4th. I had been early this morning at White Hall, at the Jewell
Office, to choose a piece of gilt plate for my Lord, in returne
of his offering to the King (which it seems is usual at this time
of year, and an Earle gives twenty pieces in gold in a purse to
the King). I chose a gilt tankard, weighing 31 ounces and a
half, and he is allowed 30; so I paid 12s. for the ounce and half
over what he is to have: but strange it was for me to see what a
company of small fees I was called upon by a great many to pay
there, which, I perceive, is the manner that courtiers do get
their estates.
7th. This morning, news was brought to me to my bed-side, that
there had been a great stir in the City this night by the
Fanatiques, who had been up and killed six or seven men, but all
are fled. My Lord Mayor and the whole City had been in armes,
above 40,000. Tom and I and my wife to the Theatre, and there
saw "The Silent Woman." Among other things here, Kinaston the boy
had the good turn to appear in three shapes: first, as a poor
woman in ordinary clothes, to please Morose; then in fine
clothes, as a gallant; and in them was clearly the prettiest
woman in the whole house: and lastly, as a man; and then
likewise did appear the handsomest man in the house. In our way
home we were in many places strictly examined, more than in the
worst of times, there being great fears of the Fanatiques rising
again: for the present I do not hear that any of them are taken.
8th. Some talk to-day of a head of Fanatiques that do appear
about, but I do not believe it. However, my Lord Mayor, Sir
Richd. Browne, hath carried himself honourably, and hath caused
one of their meeting-houses in London to be pulled down.
9th. Waked in the morning about six o'clock, by people running
up and down in Mr. Davis's house, talking that the Fanatiques
were up in armes in the City. And so I rose and went forth;
where in the street I found every body in armes at the doors. So
I returned and got my sword and pistol, which, however, I had no
powder to charge; and went to the door, where I found Sir R.
Ford, [Lord Mayor of London, 1671.] and with him I walked up and
down as far as the Exchange, and there I left him. In our way,
the streets full of train-bands, and great stir. What mischief
these rogues have done! and I think near a dozen had been killed
this morning on both sides. The shops shut, and all things in
trouble.
10th. After dinner Will. comes to tell me that he had presented
my piece of plate to Mr. Coventry, who takes it very kindly, and
sends me a very kind letter, and the plate back again; of which
my heart is very glad. Mr. Davis told us the particular
examinations of these Fanatiques that are taken: and in short it
is this, these Fanatiques that have routed all the train-bands
that they met with, put the King's life-guards to the run, killed
about twenty men, broke through the City gates twice; and all
this in the day-time, when all the City was in armes are not in
all above 31. Whereas we did believe them (because they were
seen up and down in every place almost in the City, and had been
in Highgate two or three days, and in several other places) to be
at least 500. A thing that never was heard of, that so few men
should dare and do so much mischief. Their word was, "The King
Jesus, and their heads upon the gates." Few of them would
receive any quarter, but such as were taken by force and kept
alive; expecting Jesus to come here and reign in the world
presently, and will not believe yet. The King this day come to
towne.
11th (Office day). This day comes news, by letters from
Portsmouth, that the Princesse Henrietta is fallen sick of the
measles on board the London, after the Queen and she was under
sail. And so was forced to come back again into Portsmouth
harbour; and in their way, by negligence of the pilot, run upon
the Horse sand. The Queen and she continue aboard, and do not
intend to come on shore till she sees what will become of the
young Princesse. This newes do make people think something
indeed, that three of the Royal Family should fall sick of the
same disease, one after another. This morning likewise, we had
order to see guards set in all the King's yards; and so Sir Wm.
Batten goes to Chatham, Colonel Slingsby and I to Deptford and
Woolwich. Portsmouth being a garrison, needs none.
12th. We fell to choosing four captains to command the guards,
and choosing the place where to keep them, and other things in
order thereunto. Never till now did I see the great authority of
my place, all the captains of the fleete coming cap in hand to
us.
13th. After sermon to Deptford again; where, at the
Commissioner's and the Globe, we staid long. But no sooner in
bed, but we had an alarme, and so we rose: and the Comptroller
comes into the Yard to us; and seamen of all the ships present
repair to us, and there are armed with every one a handspike,
with which they were as fierce as could be. At last we hear that
it was five or six men that did ride through the guard in the
towne, without stopping to the guard that was there; and, some
say, shot at them. But all being quiet there, we caused the
seamen to go on board again.
15th. This day I hear the Princesse is recovered again. The
King hath been this afternoon at Deptford, to see the yacht that
Commissioner Pett is building, which will be very pretty; as also
that his brother at Woolwich is making.
19th. To the Comptroller's, and with him by coach to White Hall;
In our way meeting Venner and Pritchard upon a sledge, who with
two more Fifth Monarchy men were hanged to-day, and the two first
drawn and quartered. [Thomas Venner, a cooper, and preacher to a
conventicle in Coleman-street. He was a violent enthusiast and
leader in the Insurrection on the 7th of January before
mentioned. He was much wounded before he could be taken, and
fought with courage amounting to desperation.]
21th. It is strange what weather we have had all this winter; no
cold at all; but the ways are dusty, and the flyes fly up and
down, and the rose-bushes are full of leaves, such a time of the
year as was never known is this world before here. This day many
more of the Fifth Monarchy men were hanged.
22nd. I met with Dr. Thos. Fuller. He tells me of his last and
great book that is coming out: that is, the History of all the
Families in England; and could tell me more of my owne, than I
knew myself. And also to what perfection he hath now brought the
art of memory; that he did lately to four eminently great
scholars dictate together is Latin, upon different subjects of
their proposing, faster than they were able to write, till they
were tired; and that the best way of beginning a sentence, if a
man should be out and forget his last sentence, (which he never
was,) that then his last refuge is to begin with an Utcunque.
27th (Lord's day) Before I rose, letters come to me from
Portsmouth, telling me that the Princesse is now well, and my
Lord Sandwich set sail with the Queen and her yesterday from
thence to France. This day the parson read a proclamation at
church, for the keeping of Wednesday next, the 30th of January, a
fast for the murther of the late King.
30th (Fast day). The first time that this day hath been yet
observed: and Mr. Mills made a most excellent sermon, upon "Lord
forgive us our former iniquities;" speaking excellently of the
justice of God in punishing men for the sins of their ancestors.
To my Lady Batten's; [Elizabeth Woodcock, married Feb. 3, 1658-9,
to Sir W. Batten; and subsequently became in 1671, the wife of a
foreigner called in the register of Battersea Parish, Lord
Leyenburgh. Lady Leighenburg was buried at Walthamstowe Sept.
16, 1681.--LYSONS' ENVIRONS.] where my wife and she are lately
come back again from being abroad, and seeing of Cromwell,
Ireton, and Bradshaw hanged and buried at Tyburne. [Henry
Ireton, married Bridget, daughter to Oliver Cromwell, and was
afterwards one of Charles the First's Judges, and of the
Committee who superintended his execution. He died at the siege
of Limerick, 1651.]
31st. To the Theatre, and there sat in the pitt among the
company of fine ladys, &c.; and the house was exceeding full, to
see Argalus and Parthenia, [Argalus and Parthenia, a pastoral, by
Henry Glapthorn, taken from Sydney's Arcadia.] the first time
that it hath been acted: and indeed it is good, though wronged
by my over great expectations, as all things else are.
FEB. 2, 1660-61. Home; where I found the parson and his wife
gone. And by and by the rest of the company very well pleased,
and I too; it being the last dinner I intend to make a great
while.
3rd (Lord's day). This day I first begun to go forth in my coate
and sword, as the manner now among gentlemen is. To White Hall;
where I staid to hear the trumpets and kettle drums, and then the
other drums, which are much cried up, though I think it dull,
vulgar musick. So to Mr. Fox's, unbidd; where I had a good
dinner and special company. Among other discourse, I observed
one story, how my Lord of Northwich, [George Lord Goring, created
Earl of Norwich 1644; died 1682.] at a public audience before
the King of France, made the Duke of Anjou cry, by making ugly
faces as he was stepping to the King, but undiscovered. And how
Sir Phillip Warwick's lady did wonder to have Mr. Daray send for
several dozen bottles of Rhenish wine to her house, not knowing
that the wine was his. [Sir Philip Warwick, Secretary to Charles
I. when in the Isle of Wight, and Clerk of the Signet, to which
place he was restored in 1660; knighted, and elected M.P. for
Westminster. He was also Secretary to the Treasury under Lord
Southampton till 1667. Ob. 1682-3. His second wife here
mentioned was Joan, daughter to Sir Henry Fanshawe, and widow of
Sir William Botteler, Bart.] Thence to my Lord's; where I am
told how Sir Thomas Crew's Pedro, with two of his countrymen
more, did last night kill one soldier of four that quarrelled
with them in the street, about ten o'clock. [Eldest son of Mr.
afterwards Lord Crewe, whom he succeeded in that title.] The
other two are taken; but he is now hid at my Lord's till night,
that he do intend to make his escape away.
5th. Into the Hall; and there saw my Lord Treasurer [Earl of
Southampton.] (who was sworn to-day at the Exchequer, with a
great company of Lords and persons of honour to attend him) go up
to the Treasury Offices, and take possession thereof; and also
saw the heads of Cromwell, Bradshaw, and Ireton, set up at the
further end of the Hall.
7th. To Westminster Hall. And after a walk to my Lord's; where,
while I and my Lady were in her chamber in talk, in comes my Lord
from sea, to our great wonder. He had dined at Havre de Grace on
Monday last, and come to the Downes the next day, and lay at
Canterbury that night; and so to Dartford, and thence this
morning to White Hall. Among others, Mr. Creed and Captn.
Ferrers tell me the stories of my Lord Duke of Buckingham's and
my Lord's falling out at Havre de Grace, at cards; they two and
my Lord St. Alban's playing. The Duke did, to my Lord's
dishonour, often say that he did in his conscience know the
contrary to what he then said, about the difference at cards; and
so did take up the money that he should have lost to my Lord.
Which my Lord resenting, said nothing then, but that he doubted
not but; there were ways enough to get his money of him. So they
parted that night; and my Lord sent Sir R. Stayner the next
morning to the Duke, to know whether he did remember what he said
last night, and whether he would owne it with his sword and a
second; which he said he would, and so both sides agreed. But my
Lord St. Alban's, and the Queen, and Ambassador Montagu, did way-
lay them at their lodgings till the difference was made up, to my
Lord's honour, who hath got great reputation thereby.
8th. Captn. Cuttle, and Curtis, and Mootham, and I, went to the
Fleece Taverne to drink; and there we spent till four o'clock,
telling stories of Algiers, and the manner of life of slaves
there. And truly Captn. Mootham and Mr. Dawes (who have been
both slaves there) did make me fully acquainted with their
condition there: as, how they eat nothing but bread and water.
At their redemption they pay so much for the water they drink at
the public fountaynes, during their being slaves. How they are
beat upon the soles of their feet and bellies at the liberty of
their padron. How they are all, at night, called into their
master a Bagnard; and there they lie. How the poorest men do
love their slaves best. How some rogues do live well, if they do
invent to bring their masters in so much a week by their industry
or theft; and then they are put to no other work at all. And
theft there is counted no great crime at all.
12th. By coach to the Theatre, and there saw "The Scornfull
Lady," [A Comedy, by Beaumont and Fletcher.] now done by a
woman, which makes the play appear much better than ever it did
to me.
14th. The talk of the towne now is, who the King is like to have
for his Queene: and whether Lent shall be kept with the
strictnesse of the King's proclamation; which is thought cannot
be, because of the poor, who cannot buy fish. And also the great
preparation for the King's crowning is now much thought upon and
talked of.
18th, It is much talked that the King is already married to the
niece of the Prince de Ligne, and that he hath two sons already
by her: which I am sorry to hear; but yet am gladder that it
should be so, than that the Duke of York and his family should
come to the crowne, he being a professed friend to the
Catholiques. Met with Sir G. Carteret: who afterwards, with the
Duke of York, my Lord Sandwich, and others, went into a private
room to consult: and we were a little troubled that we were not
called in with the rest. But I do believe it was upon something
very private. We staid walking in the gallery; where we met with
Mr. Slingsby, who showed me the stamps of the King's new coyne;
which is strange to see, how good they are in the stamp and bad
in the money, for lack of skill to make them. But he says
Blondeau will shortly come over, and then we shall have it
better, and the best in the world. He tells me, he is sure that
the King is not yet married, as it is said; nor that it is known
who he will have.
22nd. My wife to Sir W. Batten's, and there sat a while; he
having yesterday sent my wife half-a-dozen pair of gloves, and a
pair of silk stockings and garters, for her Valentines.
23rd. This my birthday, 28 years. Mr. Hartlett told me how my
Lord Chancellor had lately got the Duke of York and Duchesse, and
her woman, my Lord Ossory, [Thomas, Earl of Ossory, son of the
Duke of Ormond. Ob. 1680, aged 46.] and a Doctor, to make oath
before most of the Judges of the kingdom, concerning all the
circumstances of their marriage. And in fine, it is confessed
that they were not fully married till about a month or two before
she was brought to bed; but that they were contracted long
before, and time enough for the child to be legitimate. But I do
not hear that it was put to the Judges to determine whether it
was so or no. To the Play-house, and there saw "The Changeling,"
["The Changeling," a Tragedy, by Thomas Middleton. The plot is
taken from a story in "God's Revenge against Murder."] the first
time it hath been acted these twenty years, and it takes
exceedingly. Besides, I see the gallants do begin to be tyred
with the vanity and pride of the theatre actors, who are indeed
grown very proud and rich. I also met with the Comptroller, who
told me how it was easy for us all, the principal officers, and
proper for us, to labour to get into the next Parliament; and
would have me to ask the Duke's letter, but I shall not endeavour
it. This Is now 28 years that I am born. And blessed be God, in
a state of full content, and a great hope to be a happy man in
all respects, both to myself and friends.
27th. I called for a dish of fish, which we had for dinner, this
being the first day of Lent; and I do intend to try whether I can
keep it or no.
28th. Notwithstanding my resolution, yea for want of other
victualls, I did eat flesh this Lent, but am resolved to eat as
little as I can. This month ends with two great secrets under
dispute but yet known to very few: first, Who the King will
marry; and What the meaning of this fleet is which we are now
sheathing to set out for the southward. Most think against
Algier against the Turke, or to the East Indys against the Dutch
who, we hear, are setting out a great fleet thither.
MARCH 1, 1660-61. After dinner Mr. Shepley and I in private
talking about my Lord's intentions to go speedily into the
country, but to what end we know not. We fear he is to go to
sea, with his fleet now preparing. But we wish that he could
get his 4000l. per annum settled before he do go. To White-
fryars, and saw "The Bondman" acted; [By Massinger.] an
excellent play and well done. But above all that ever I saw,
Beterton do the Bondman the best.
2nd. After dinner I went to the theatre, where I found so few
people (which is strange, and the reason I do not know) that I
went out again, and so to Salsbury Court, where the house as full
as could be; and it seems it was a new play, "The Queen's Maske,"
["Love's Mistress, or The Queen's Masque," by T Heywood.]
wherein there are some good humours: among others, a good jeer
to the old story of the Siege of Troy, making it to be a common
country tale. But above all it was strange to see so little a
boy as that was to act Cupid, which is one of the greatest parts
in it.
4th. My Lord went this morning on his journey to Hinchingbroke,
Mr. Parker with him; the chief business being to look over and
determine how, and in what manner, his great work of building
shall be done. Before his going he did give me some jewells to
keep for him, viz. that that the King of Sweden did give him,
with the King's own picture in it, most excellently done; and a
brave George, all of diamonds.
8th. All the morning at the office. At noon Sir W. Batten, Col.
Slingsby and I by coach to the Tower, to Sir John Robinson's, to
dinner; where great good cheer. High company; among others the
Duchesse of Albemarle, [Ann Clarges, daughter of a blacksmith,
and bred a milliner; mistress and afterwards wife of General
Monk, over whom she possessed the greatest influence.] who is
ever a plain homely dowdy. After dinner, to drink all the
afternoon. Towards night the Duchesse and ladies went away.
Then we set to it again till it was very late. And at last come
in Sir William Wale, almost fuddled; and because I was set
between him and another, only to keep them from talking and
spoiling the company (as we did to others,) he fell out with the
Lieutenant of the Tower; but with much ado we made him understand
his error, and then all quiet.
9th. To my Lord's, where we found him lately come from
Hinchingbroke. I staid and dined with him. He took me aside,
and asked me what the world spoke of the King's marriage. Which
I answering as one that knew nothing, he enquired no further of
me. But I do perceive by it that there is something in it that
is ready to come out that the world knows not of yet.
11th. After dinner I went to the theatre, and there saw "Love's
Mistress" done by them, which I do not like in some things as
well as their acting in Salsbury Court.
15th. This day my wife and Pall went to see my Lady Kingston,
her brother's lady. [Balthazar St. Michel is the only brother of
Mrs. Pepys, mentioned in the Diary.]
18th. This day an ambassador from Florence was brought into the
towne in state. Yesterday was said to be the day that the
Princesse Henrietta was to marry the Duke d'Anjou in France.
This day I found in the newes-book that Roger Pepys is chosen at
Cambridge for the towne, the first place that we hear of to have
made their choice yet.
20th. To White Hall to Mr. Coventry, where I did some business
with him, and so with Sir W. Pen (who I found with Mr. Coventry
teaching of him the map to understand Jamaica). The great talk
of the towne is the strange election that the City of London made
yesterday for Parliament-men; viz. Fowle, Love, Jones, and . . .
[Sir W. Thompson was the fourth member.] men that, so far from
being episcopall, are thought to be Anabaptists; and chosen with
a great deal of zeale, in spite of the other party that thought
themselves so strong, calling out in the Hall, "No Bishops! no
Lord Bishops!" It do make people to fear it may come to worse,
by being an example to the country to do the same. And indeed
the Bishops are so high, that very few do love them.
23rd. To the Red Bull (where I had not been since plays come up
again) up to the tireing room, where strange the confusion and
disorder that there is among them in fitting themselves,
especially here, where the clothes are very poore, and the actors
but common fellows. At last into the pitt, where I think there
was not above ten more than myself, and not one hundred in the
whole house. And the play, which is called "All's lost by Lust,"
[A Tragedy, by W.Rowley.] poorly done; and with so much
disorder, among others, in the musique-room the boy that was to
sing a song, not singing it right, his master fell about his
eares and beat him so, that it put the whole house in an uprore.
Met my uncle Wight, and with him Lieut.-Col. Baron, who told us
how Crofton, the great Presbyterian minister that had preached
so highly against Bishops, is clapped up this day in the Tower.
Which do please some, and displease others exceedingly.
APRIL 2, 1661. To St. James's Park, where I saw the Duke of York
playing at Pelemele, the first time that ever I saw the sport.
Then to the Dolphin to Sir W. Batten, and Pen, and other company;
among others Mr. Delabar; where strange how these men, who at
other times are all wise men, do now, in their drink, betwitt and
reproach one another with their former conditions, and their
actions as in public concerns, till I was ashamed to see it.
3rd. I hear that the Dutch have sent the King a great present of
money, which we think will stop the match with Portugal; and
judge this to be the reason that our so great haste in sending
the two ships to the East Indys is also stayed.
7th. To White Hall, and there I met with Dr. Fuller of
Twickenham, newly come from Ireland; and took him to my Lord's,
where he and I dined; and he did give my Lord and me a good
account of the condition of Ireland, and how it come to pass,
through the joyning of the Fanatiques and the Presbyterians, that
the latter and the former are in their declaration put together
under the names of Fanatiques. [William Fuller of Magdalene Wall
Oxford, was a schoolmaster at Twickenham during the Rebellion;
and at the Restoration became Dean of St. Patrick's; and in 1663,
Bishop of Limerick; and in 1667 was translated to Lincoln. Ob.
1676.]
9th. at the sale of old stores at Chatham; and among other
things sold there was all the State's armes, which Sir W. Batten
bought; intending to set up some of the images in his garden, and
the rest to burn on the Coronacion night.
10th. Then to Rochester, and there saw the Cathedrall, which is
now fitting for use, and the organ then a-tuning. Then away
thence, observing the great doors of the church, as they say,
covered with the skins of the Danes.
13th. Met my Lord with the Duke; and after a little talk with
him, I went to the Banquet-house, and there saw the King heale,
the first time that ever I saw him do it; which he did with great
gravity, and it seemed to me to be an ugly office and a simple
one.
20th. Comes my boy to tell me that the Duke of York had sent for
all the principall officers, &c. to come to him to-day. So I
went by water to Mr. Coventry's, and there staid and talked a
good while with him till all the rest come. We went up and saw
the Duke dress himself, and in his night habitt he is a very
plain man. Then he sent us to his closett, where we saw among
other things two very fine chests, covered with gold and Indian
varnish, given him by the East India Company of Holland. The
Duke comes; and after he had told us that the fleet was designed
for Algier (which was kept from us till now,) we did advise about
many things as to the fitting of the fleet, and so went away to
White Hall; and in the Banqueting-house saw the King create my
Lord Chancellor and several others, Earles, and Mr. Crewe and
several others, Barons: the first being led up by Heralds and
five old Earles to the King, and there the patent is read, and
the King puts on his vest, and sword, and coronett, and gives him
the patent. And then he kisseth the King's hand, and rises and
stands covered before the King. And the same for each Baron,
only he is led up by three of the old Barons, And they are girt
with swords before they go to the King. To the Cockpitt; and
there, by the favour of one Mr. Bowman, he and I got in, and
there saw the King and Duke of York and his Duchesse, (which is a
plain woman, and like her mother, my Lady Chancellor). And so
saw "The Humersome Lieutenant" acted before the King, but not
very well done. ["The Humorous Lieutenant," a tragi-comedy, by
Beaumont and Fletcher.] But my pleasure was great to see the
manner of it, and so many great beauties, but above all Mrs.
Palmer, with whom the King do discover a great deal of
familiarity.
21st. Dined with Doctor Thos. Pepys [Doctor in Civil Law.] and
Dr. Fayrebrother; and all our talk about to-morrow's showe, and
our trouble that it is like to be a wet day. All the way is so
thronged with people to see the triumphall arches, that I could
hardly pass for them.
22nd. The King's going from the Tower to White Hall. Up early
and made myself as fine as I could, and put on my velvet coat,
the first day that I put it on, though made half a year ago. And
being ready, Sir W. Batten, my Lady, and his two daughters and
his son and wife, and Sir W. Pen and his son and I, went to Mr.
Young's, the flag maker, in Corne-hill; and there we had a good
room to ourselves, with wine and good cake, and saw the show very
well. In which it is impossible to relate the glory of this day,
expressed in the clothes of them that rid, and their horses and
horse-clothes. Among others, my Lord Sandwich's embroidery and
diamonds were not ordinary among them. The Knights of the Bath
was a brave sight of itself; and their Esquires, among which Mr.
Armiger was an Esquire to one of the Knights. Remarquable were
the two men that represent the two Dukes of Normandy and
Aquitane. The Bishops come next after Barons, which is the
higher place; which makes me think that the next Parliament they
will be called to the House of Lords. My Lord Monk rode bare
after the King, and led in his hand a spare horse, as being
Master of the Horse. The King, in a most rich embroidered suit
and cloak, looked most noble. Wadlow the vintner, at the Devil,
in Fleet-street, did lead a fine company of soldiers, all young
comely men, in white doublets. There followed the Vice-
Chamberlain, Sir G. Carteret, a Company of men all like Turkes;
but I know not yet what they are for. The streets all gravelled,
and the houses hung with carpets before them, made brave show,
and the ladies out of the windows. So glorious was the show with
gold and silver, that we were not able to look at it, our eyes at
last being so much overcome. Both the King and the Duke of York
took notice of us, as they saw us at the window. In the evening,
by water to White Hall to my Lord's, and there I spoke with my
Lord, He talked with me about his suit, which was made in France,
and cost him 200l., and very rich it is with embroidery.
CORONACON DAY.
23rd. About four I rose and got to the Abbey, where I followed
Sir J. Denham, the Surveyor, with some company that he was
leading in. [Created at the Restoration K.B., and Surveyor-
General of all the King's buildings; better know as the author of
"Cooper's Hill." Ob. 1668.] And with much ado, by the favour of
Mr. Cooper, his man, did get up into a great scaffold across the
North end of the Abbey, where with a great deal of patience I sat
from past four till eleven before the King come in. And a great
pleasure it was to see the Abbey raised in the middle, all
covered with red, and a throne (that is a chaire) and foot-stoole
on the top of it; and all the officers of all kinds, so much as
the very fidlers, in red vests. At last comes in the Dean and
Prebends of Westminster, with the Bishops, (many of them in cloth
of gold copes,) and after them the Nobility, all in their
Parliament robes, which was a most magnificent sight. Then the
Duke and the King with a scepter (carried by my Lord Sandwich)
and sword and wand before him, and the crowne too. The King in
his robes, bare-headed, which was very fine. And after all had
placed themselves, there was a sermon and the service; and then
in the Quire at the high altar, the King passed through all the
ceremonies of the Coronation, which to my great grief I and most
in the Abbey could not see. The crowne being put upon his head,
a great shout begun, and he come forth to the throne, and there
passed through more ceremonies: as taking the oath, and having
things read to him by the Bishopp; and his lords (who put on
their caps as soon as the King put on his crowne) and bishops
come, and kneeled before him. But three times the King at Armes
went to the three open places on the scaffold, and proclaimed,
that if any one could show any reason why Charles Stewart should
not be King of England, that now he should come and speak. And a
Generall Pardon also was read by the Lord Chancellor, and
meddalls flung up and down by my Lord Cornwallis, [Sir Frederick
Cornwallis, Bart., had been created a Baron three days before the
Coronation. He was Treasurer of His Majesty's Household, and a
Privy Counsellor. Ob. Jan. 21, 1661-2.] of silver, but I could
not come by any. But so great a noise that I could make but
little of the musique; and indeed, it was lost to every body. I
went out a little while before the King had done all his
ceremonies, and went round the Abbey to Westminster Hall, all the
way within rayles, and 10,000 people with the ground covered with
blue cloth; and scaffolds all the way. Into the Hall I got,
where it was very fine with hangings and scaffolds one upon
another full of brave ladies; and my wife in one little one, on
the right hand. Here I staid walking up and down, and at last
upon one of the side stalls I stood and saw the King come in with
all the persons (but the soldiers) that were yesterday in the
cavalcade; and a most pleasant sight it was to see them in their
several robes. And the King come in with his crowne on, and his
sceptre in his hand, under a canopy borne up by six silver
staves, carried by Barons of the Cinque Ports, and little bells
at; every end. And after a long time, he got up to the farther
end, and all set themselves down at their several tables; and
that was also a brave sight: and the King's first course carried
up by the Knights of the Bath. And many fine ceremonies there
was of the Heralds leading up people before him, and bowing; and
my Lord of Albemarle's going to the kitchin and eating a bit of
the first dish that was to go to the King's table. But, above
all, was these three Lords, Northumberland, and Suffolke, [James
Howard, third Earl of Suffolk.] and the Duke of Ormond, coming
before the courses on horseback, and staying so all dinner-time,
and at last bringing up (Dymock) the King's Champion, all in
armour on horseback, with his speare and targett carried before
him. And a herald proclaims "That if any dare deny Charles
Stewart to be lawful King of England, here was a Champion that
would fight with him;" and with these words, the Champion flings
down his gauntlet, and all this he do three times in his going up
towards the King's table. To which when he is come, the King
drinks to him, and then sends him the cup which is of gold, and
he drinks it off, and then rides back again with the cup in his
hand. I went from table to table to see the Bishops and all
others at their dinner, and was infinitely pleased with it. And
at the Lords' table, I met with William Howe, and he spoke to my
Lord for me, and he did give him four rabbits and a pullet, and
so Mr. Creed and I got Mr. Minshell to give us some bread, and so
we at a stall eat it, as every body else did what they could get.
I took a great deal of pleasure to go up and down, and look upon
the ladies, and to hear the musique of all sorts, but above all,
the 24 violins. About six at night they had dined, and I went up
to my wife. And strange it is to think, that these two days have
held up fair till now that all is done, and the King gone out of
the Hall; and then it fell a-raining and thundering and
lightening as I have not seen it do for some years: which people
did take great notice of; God's blessing of the work of these two
days, which is a foolery to take too much notice of such things.
I observed little disorder in all this, only the King's footmen
had got hold of the canopy and would keep it from the Barons of
the Cinque Ports, which they endeavoured to force from them
again, but could not do it till my Lord Duke of Albemarle caused
it to be put into Sir R. Pye's hand till to-morrow to be decided.
[Sir Robert Pye, Bart., of Faringdon House, Berks; married Ann,
daughter of the celebrated John Hampden. They lived together 60
years, and died in 1701, within a few weeks of each other.] At
Mr. Bowyer's; a great deal of company, some I knew, others I did
not. Here we staid upon the leads and below till it was late,
expecting to see the fire-works, but they were not performed to-
night: only the City had a light like a glory round about it
with bonfires. At last I went to King-streete, and there sent
Crockford to my father's and my house, to tell them I could not
come home to-night, because of the dirt, and a coach could not be
had. And so I took my wife and Mrs. Frankleyn (who I profered
the civility of lying with my wife at Mrs. Hunt's to-night) to
Axe-yard, in which at the further end there were three great
bonfires, and a great many great gallants, men and women; and
they laid hold of us, and would have us drink the King's health
upon our knees, kneeling upon a faggot, which we all did, they
drinking to us one after another. Which we thought a strange
frolique; but these gallants continued there a great while, and I
wondered to see how the ladies did tipple. At last I sent my
wife and her bedfellow to bed, and Mr. Hunt and I went in with
Mr. Thornbury (who did give the company all their wine, he being
yeoman of the wine-cellar to the King); and there, with his wife
and two of his sisters, and some gallant sparks that were there,
we drank the King's health, and nothing else, till one of the
gentlemen fell down stark drunk, and there lay; and I went to my
Lord's pretty well. Thus did the day end with joy every where;
and blessed be God, I have not heard of any mischance to any body
through it all, but only to Serjt. Glynne, whose horse fell upon
him yesterday, and is like to kill him, which people do please
themselves to see how just God is to punish the rogue at such a
time as this: he being now one of the king's Serjeants, [He had
been Recorder of London; and during the Protectorate was made
Chief Justice of the Upper Bench: nevertheless he did Charles
II. great service, and was in consequence knighted and appointed
King's Serjeant, and his son created a Baronet. Ob. 1666.] and
rode in the cavalcade with Maynard, to whom people wish the same
fortune. [John Maynard, an eminent lawyer; made Serjeant to
Cromwell in 1653, and afterwards King's Serjeant by Charles II.,
who knighted him. In 1661 he was chosen Member for Berealston,
and sat in every Parliament till the Revolution. Ob. 1690, aged
88.] There was also this night in King-streete, a woman had her
eye put out by a boy's flinging a firebrand into the coach. Now,
after all this, I can say, that, besides the pleasure of the
sight of these glorious things, I may now shut my eyes against
any other objects, nor for the future trouble myself to see
things of state and showe, as being sure never to see the like
again in this world.
24th. At night, set myself to write down these three days'
diary, and while I am about it, I hear the noise of the chambers
[Chamber, a species of great gun.] and other things of the fire-
works, which are now playing upon the Thames before the King; and
I wish myself with them, being sorry not; to see them.
30th. This morning my wife and I and Mr. Creed, took coach, and
in Fish-street took up Mr. Hater and his wife, who through her
maske seemed at first to be an old woman, but afterwards I found
her to be a very pretty modest black woman. We got a small bait
at Leatherhead, and so to Godlyman, [Godalming.] where we lay
all night. I am sorry that I am not at London, to be at Hide-
parke to-morrow, among the great gallants and ladies, which will
be very fine.
MAY 1, 1661. Up early, and bated at Petersfield, in the room
which the King lay in lately at his being there. Here very
merry, and played with our wives at bowles. Then we set forth
again, and so to Portsmouth, seeming to me to be a very pleasant
and strong place; and we lay at the Red Lyon, where Haselrigge
and Scott and Walton did hold their councill, when they were
here, against Lambert and the Committee of Safety.
2nd. To see the room where the Duke of Buckingham was killed by
Felton.
6th. I hear to-night that the Duke of York's son is this day
dead, which I believe will please every body; and I hear that the
Duke and his Lady themselves are not much troubled at it.
12th. At the Savoy heard Dr. Fuller preach upon David's words,
"I will wait with patience all the days of my appointed time
until my change comes;" but methought it was a poor dry sermon.
and I am afraid my former high esteem of his preaching was more
out of opinion than judgment. Met with Mr. Creed, with whom I
went and walked in Grayes-Inn-walks, and from thence to
Islington, and there eate and drank at the house my father and we
were wont of old to go to; and after that walked homeward, and
parted in Smithfield: and so I home, much wondering to see how
things are altered with Mr. Creed, who, twelve months ago, might
have been got to hang himself almost as soon as go to a drinking-
house on a Sunday.
18th. I went to Westminster; where it was very pleasant to see
the Hall in the condition it is now, with the Judges on the
benches at the further end of it, which I had not seen all this
terme till now.
19th (Lord's day). I walked in the morning towards Westminster,
and, seeing many people at York House, I went down and found them
at masse, it being the Spanish Ambassador's; and so I got into
one of the gallerys, and there heard two masses done, I think,
not in so much state as I have seen them heretofore. After that
into the garden, and walked an hour or two, but found it not so
fine a place as I always took it for by the outside. Capt.
Ferrers and Mr. Howe and myself to Mr. Wilkinson's at the Crowne:
then to my Lord's, where we went and sat talking and laughing in
the drawing-room a great while. All our talk upon their going to
sea this voyage, which Capt. Ferrers is in some doubt whether he
shall do or no, but swears that he would go, if he were sure
never to come back again; and I, giving him some hopes, he grew
so mad with joy that he fell a-dancing and leaping like a madman.
Now it fell out that the balcone windows were open, and he went
to the rayle and made an offer to leap over, and asked what if he
should leap over there. I told him I would give him 40l. if he
did not go to sea. With that thought I shut the doors, and W.
Howe hindered him all we could; yet he opened them again, and,
with a vault, leaps down into the garden:--the greatest and most
desperate frolic that ever I saw in my life. I run to see what
was become of him, and we found him crawled upon his knees, but
could not rise; so we went down into the garden and dragged him
to a bench, where he looked like a dead man, but could not stir;
and, though he had broke nothing, yet his pain in his back was
such as he could not endure. With this, my Lord (who was in the
little new room) come to us in amaze, and bid us carry him up,
which, by our strength, we did, and so laid him in East's bed-
room, by the doore; where he lay in great pain. We sent for a
doctor and chyrurgeon, but none to be found, till by-and-by by
chance comes in Dr. Clerke, who is afraid of him. So we went for
a lodging for him. [He recovered.]
21st. Up early, and, with Sir R. Slingsby, (and Major Waters the
deafe gentleman, his friend for company's sake) to the
Victualling-office (the first time that I ever knew where it
was), and there staid while he read a commission for enquiry into
some of the King's lands and houses thereabouts, that are given
his brother. And then we took boat to Woolwich, where we staid
and gave order for the fitting out of some more ships presently.
And then to Deptford, where we did the same; and so took barge
again, and were overtaken by the King in his barge, he having
been down the river with his yacht this day for pleasure to try
it; and, as I hear, Commissioner Pett's do prove better than the
Dutch one, and that that his brother built. While we were upon
the water, one of the greatest showers of rain fell that ever I
saw. The Comptroller and I landed with our barge at the Temple,
and from thence I went to my father's, and there did give order
about some clothes to be made.
23rd. In my black silk suit (the first day I have put it on this
year) to my Lord Mayor's by coach, with a great deal of
honourable company, and great entertainment. At table I had very
good discourse with Mr. Ashmole, wherein he did assure me that
frogs and many insects do often fall from the sky, ready formed.
Dr. Bates's singularity in not rising up nor drinking the King's
nor other healths at the table was very much observed. From
thence we all took coach, and to our office, and there sat till
it was late; and so home and to bed by day-light. This day was
kept a holy-day through the towne; and it pleased me to see the
little boys walk up and down in procession with their broom-
staffs in their hands, as I had myself long ago done.
26th. Sir W. Batten told me how Mr. Prin (among the two or three
that did refuse to-day to receive the sacrament upon their knees)
was offered by a mistake the drinke afterwards, which he did
receive, being denied the drinke by Dr. Gunning, unless he would
take it on his knees; and after that by another the bread was
brought him, and he did take it sitting, which is thought very
preposterous.
28th. With Mr. Shepley to the Exchange about business, and
there, by Mr. Rawlinson's favour, got into a balcone over against
the Exchange; and there saw the hangman burn, by vote of
Parliament, two old acts, the one for constituting us a
Commonwealth, and the other I have forgot. [It was an Act for
subscribing the Engagement.]
29th (King's birth-day). Rose early, and put six spoons and a
porringer of silver in my pocket to give away to-day. Sir W. Pen
and I took coach, and (the weather and way being foule) went to
Walthamstow; and being come there heard Mr. Radcliffe, my former
school fellow at Paul's, (who is yet a merry boy,) preach upon
"Nay, let him take all, since my Lord the King is returned," &c.
He read all, and his sermon very simple. Back to dinner at Sir
William Batten's; and then, after a walk in the fine gardens, we
went to Mrs. Browne's, where Sir W. Pen and I were godfathers,
and Mrs. Jordan and Shipman godmothers to her boy. And there,
before and after the christening, we were with the woman above in
her chamber; but whether we carried ourselves well or ill, I know
not; but I was directed by young Mrs. Batten. One passage of a
lady that eats wafers with her dog did a little displease me. I
did give the midwife 10s. and the nurse 5s. and the maid of the
house 2s. But for as much I expected to give the name to the
childe, but did not, (it being called John,) I forbore then to
give my plate.
30th. This day, I hear, the Parliament have ordered a bill to be
brought in for restoring the Bishops to the House of Lords; which
they had not done so soon but to spite Mr. Prin, who is every day
so bitter against them in his discourse in the House.
31st. Great talk now how the Parliament intend to make a
collection of free gifts to the King through the Kingdom; but I
think it will not come to much.
JUNE 4, 1661. To my Lord Crewe's to dinner, and had very good
discourse about having of young noblemen and gentlemen to think
of going to sea, as being as honourable service as the land war.
And among other things he told us how, in Queen Elizabeth's time,
one young nobleman would wait with a trencher at the back of
another till he come to age himself. And witnessed in my young
Lord of Kent, that then was, who waited upon my Lord Bedford at
table, when a letter come to my Lord Bedford that the Earldome of
Kent was fallen to his servant the young Lord; and so he rose
from table, and made him sit down in his place, and took a lower
for himself, for so he was by place to sit.
9th. To White Hall, and there met with Dean Fuller, and walked a
great while with him; among other things discoursed of the
liberty the Bishop (by name he of Galloway) takes to admit into
orders any body that will; among others Roundtree, a simple
mechanique that was a person formerly of the fleet. He told me
he would complain of it.
10th. Early to my Lord's, who privately told me how the King had
made him Embassador in the bringing over the Queen. That he is
to go to Algier, &c., to settle the business, and to put the
fleet in order there; and so to come back to Lisbone with three
ships, and there to meet the fleet that is to follow him. He
sent for me, to tell me that he do intrust me with the seeing of
all things done in his absence as to this great preparation, as I
shall receive orders from my Lord Chancellor and Mr. Edward
Montagu. At all which my heart is above measure glad; for my
Lord's honour, and some profit to myself, I hope. By and by, out
with Mr. Shepley, Walden, [Lionel.] Parliament-man for
Huntingdon, Rolt, Mackworth, and Alderman Backwell, to a house
hard by, to drink Lambeth ale. So I back to the Wardrobe, and
there found my Lord going to Trinity House, this being the solemn
day of choosing Master, and my Lord is chosen.
11th. At the office this morning, Sir G. Carteret with us; and
we agreed upon a letter to the Duke of York, to tell him the sad
condition of this office for want of money; how men are not able
to serve us more without some money; and that now the credit of
the office is brought so low, that none will sell us any thing
without our personal security given for the same.
12th. Wednesday, a day kept between a fast and a feast, the
Bishops not being ready enough to keep the fast for foule weather
before fair weather come; and so they were forced to keep it
between both. Then to White Hall, where I met my Lord, who told
me he must have 300l. laid out in cloth, to give in Barbary, as
presents among the Turkes.
27th. This day Mr. Holden sent me a bever, which cost me 4l. 5s.
28th. Went to Moorefields, and there walked, and stood and saw
the wrestling, which I never saw so much of before, between the
north and west countrymen.
29th. Mr. Chetwind fell commending of "Hooker's Ecclesiastical
Polity," as the best book, and the only one that made him a
Christian, which puts me upon the buying of it, which I will do
shortly
30th (Lord's day). To church, where we observe the trade of
briefs is come now up to so constant a course every Sunday, that
we resolve to give no more to them. This day the Portuguese
Embassador come to White Hall to take leave of the King; he being
now going to end all with the Queen, and to send her over.
JULY 2, 1661. Went to Sir William Davenant's Opera; this being
the fourth day that it hath begun, and the first that I have seen
it. [Sir William Davenant, the celebrated dramatic writer, and
patentee of the Duke's Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Ob.
1668, aged 64.] To-day was acted the second part of "The Siege
of Rhodes." [Of which Sir W. Davenant was the author.] We staid
a very great while for the King and Queen of Bohemia. And by the
breaking of a board over our heads, we had a great deal of dust
fell into the ladies' necks and the men's haire, which made good
sport. The King being come, the scene opened; which indeed is
very fine and magnificent, and well acted, all but the Eunuche,
who was so much out that he was hissed off the stage.
3rd. Dined with my Lady, who is in some [Probably meant for
handsome in the MS.] mourning for her brother Mr. Saml. Crewe,
who died yesterday of the spotted fever.
4th. I went to the theatre, and there I saw "Claracilla" [A
tragi-comedy by Thomas Killigrew.] (the first time I ever saw
it,) well acted. But strange to see this house, that used to be
so thronged, now empty since the Opera begun; and so will
continue for a while, I believe.
6th. Waked this morning with news, brought me by a messenger on
purpose, that my uncle Robert [Of Brampton, in Huntingdonshire.]
is dead; so I set out on horseback, and got well by nine o'clock
to Brampton, where I found my father well. My uncle's corps in a
coffin standing upon joynt-stooles in the chimney in the hall;
but it begun to smell, and so I caused it to be set forth in the
yard all night, and watched by my aunt.
7th (Lord's day). ln the morning my father and I read the will;
where, though he gives me nothing at present till my father's
death, or at least very little, yet I am glad to see that he hath
done so well for us all, and well to the rest of his kindred.
After that done, we went about getting things, as ribbands and
gloves, ready for the burial. Which in the afternoon was done;
where, it being Sunday, all people far and near come in; and in
the greatest disorder that ever I saw we made shift to serve them
with what we had of mine and other things; and then to carry him
to the church, where Mr. Taylor buried him, and Mr. Turner
preached a funerall sermon.
14th. To Hinchingbroke, which is now all in dirt, because of my
Lord's building, which will make it very magnificent. Back to
Brampton.
15th. Up by three o'clock this morning, and rode to Cambridge to
King's College chappel, where I found the scholars in their
surplices at the service with the organs, which is a strange
sight to what it used in my time to be here. I rode to
Impington, where I found my old uncle [Talbot Pepys.] sitting
all alone, like a man out of the world: he can hardly see; but
all things else he do pretty livelyly.
22nd. I come to Hatfield before twelve o'clock, and walked all
alone to the Vineyard, which is now a very beautiful place again;
and coming back I met with Mr. Looker, my Lord's gardener, (a
friend of Mr. Eglin's) who showed me the house, the chappel with
brave pictures, and, above all, the gardens, such as I never saw
in all my life; nor so good flowers, nor so great gooseburys, as
big as nutmegs. To horse again, and with much ado got to London.
26th. Mr. Hill of Cambridge tells me, that yesterday put a
change to the whole state of England as to the Church; for the
King now would be forced to favour Presbytery, or that the City
would leave him: but I heed not what he says, though upon
enquiry I do find that things in the Parliament are in a great
disorder.
27th. To Westminster Hall, where it was expected that the
Parliament was to have been adjourned for two or three months,
but something hinders it for a day or two. In the lobby I spoke
with Mr. George Montagu, and advised about a ship to carry my
Lord Hinchingbroke and the rest of the young gentlemen to France,
and they have resolved of going in a hired vessell from Rye, and
not in a man of war. He told me in discourse, that my Lord
Chancellor is much envied, and that many great men, such as the
Duke of Buckingham and my Lord of Bristoll, [George, second Earl
of Bristol.] do endeavour to undermine him, and that he believes
it will not be done; for that the King (though he loves him not
in the way of a companion, as he do these young gallants that can
answer him in his pleasures,) yet cannot be without him, for his
policy and service.
30th. After my singing-master had done with me this morning, I
went to White Hall and Westminster Hall, where I found the King
expected to come and adjourne the Parliament. I found the two
Houses at a great difference, about the Lords challenging their
privileges not to have their houses searched, which makes them
deny to pass the House of Commons' Bill for searching for
pamphlets and seditious books. Thence by water to the Wardrobe
(meeting the King upon the water going in his barge to adjourne
the House) where I dined with my Lady.
AUGUST 2, 1661. I made myself ready to get a-horseback for
Cambridge.
3rd. At Cambridge. Mr. Pechell, [John Pechell, made Master of
Magdalene College, Cambridge, 1679.] Sanchy, and others tell me
how high the old doctors are in the University over those they
found there, though a great deal better scholars than themselves;
for which I am very sorry, and, above all, Dr. Gunning. At night
I took horse, and rode with Roger Pepys and his two brothers to
Impington.
4th. To church, and had a good plain sermon. At our coming in
the country-people all rose with so much reverence; and when the
parson begins, he begins, "Right worshipfull and dearly beloved"
to us. To church again, and, after supper, to talk about
publique matters, wherein Roger Pepys told me how basely things
had been carried in Parliament by the young men, that did labour
to oppose all things that were moved by serious men. That they
are the most prophane swearing fellows that ever he heard in his
life, which makes him think that they will spoil all, and bring
things into a warr again if they can.
6th. Took horse for London, and with much ado, the ways being
very bad, got to Baldwick. [Baldock.] I find that both here,
and every where else that I come, the Quakers do still continue,
and rather grow than lessen.
9th. I to White Hall, where, after four o'clock, comes my Lord
Privy Seale, [William, first Viscount, and second Baron Say and
Sele, made Lord Privy Seal at the Restoration. Ob. April, 1662.]
and so we went up to his chamber over the gate at White Hall,
where he asked me what deputacon I had from my Lord, I told him
none; but that I am sworn my Lord's deputy by both of the
Secretarys, which did satisfye him. So he caused Mr. Moore to
read over all the bills, and all ended very well.
11th. To Grayes-lnn walks, and there staid a good while; where I
met with Ned Pickering, who told me what a great match of hunting
of a stagg the King had yesterday; and how the King tired all
their horses, and come home with not above two or three able to
keep pace with him.
14th. This morning Sir W. Batten, and Sir W. Penn and I, waited
upon the Duke of York in his chamber, to give him an account of
the condition of the Navy for lack of money, and how our own very
bills are offered upon the Exchange, to be sold at 20 in the 100
loss. He is much troubled at it, and will speak to the King and
Council of it this morning.
15th. To the Opera, which begins again to-day with "The Witts,"
[A Comedy by Sir W. Davenant.] never acted yet with scenes; and
the King and Duke and Duchesse were there (who dined to-day with
Sir H. Finch, reader at the Temple, in great state); and indeed
it is a most excellent play, and admirable scenes.
16th. At the office all the morning, though little to do;
because all our clerkes are gone to the buriall of Tom Whitten,
one of the Controller's clerkes, a very ingenious, and a likely
young man to live, as any in the Office. But it is such a sickly
time both in the City and country every where (of a sort of
fever), that never was heard of almost, unless it was in a
plague-time. Among others, the famous Tom Fuller is dead of it;
[D.D., Author of the "Worthies of England," Chaplain to the King,
and Prebendary of Salisbury.] and Dr. Nichols, Dean of Paul's;
[Matthew Nicholas, D.D., installed Dean of St. Paul's, July,
1660. Ob. August 14, 1661. He was brother to Sir Edward
Nicholas, Secretary of State.] and my Lord General Monk is very
dangerously ill.
17th. At the Privy Seale, where we had a seale this morning.
Then met with Ned Pickering, and walked with him into St. James's
Park (where I had not been a great while), and there found great
and very noble alterations. And, in our discourse, he was very
forward to complain and to speak loud of the lewdnesse and
beggary of the Court, which I am sorry to hear, and which I am
afraid will bring all to ruin again. I to the Opera, and saw
"The Witts" again, which I like exceedingly. The Queen of
Bohemia was here, brought by my Lord Craven. [William, First
Earl of Craven, a Privy Councillor, and Colonel of the Coldstream
Guards; supposed to be married to the Queen of Bohemia, Ob. 1697
aged 88.]
18th. To White Hall, and there hear that my Lord General Monk
continues very ill; and then to walk in St. James's Park, and saw
a great variety of fowle which I never saw before. At night fell
to read In "Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity," which Mr. Moore did
give me last Wednesday very handsomely bound; and which I shall
read with great pains and love for his sake.
19th. I am sent for to the Privy Seale, and there I found a
thing of my Lord Chancellor's to be sealed this afternoon, and so
I am forced to go to Worcester House, where severall Lords are
met in Council this afternoon. And while I am waiting there, in
comes the King in a plain common riding-suit and velvet cap, in
which he seemed a very ordinary man to one that had not known
him.
27th. My wife and I to the theatre, and there saw "The Joviall
Crew," [Or the "Merry Beggars," a Comedy, by Richard Brome.]
where the King, Duke and Duchesse, and Madame Palmer, were; and
my wife, to her great content, had a full sight of them all the
while.
31st. At Court things are in very ill condition, there being so
much emulacion, poverty, and the vices of drinking, swearing, and
loose amours, that I know not what will be the end of it, but
confusion. And the Clergy so high, that all people that I meet
with do protest against their practice. In short, I see no
content or satisfaction any where, in any one sort of people.
The Benevolence [A voluntary contribution made by the subjects to
their Sovereign.] proves so little and an occasion of so much
discontent every where, that it had better it had sever been set
up. I think to subscribe 20l. We are at our Office quiet, only
for lack of money all things go to rack. Our very bills offered
to be sold upon the Exchange at 10 per cent. loss. We are upon
getting Sir B. Ford's house added to our Office. But I see so
many difficulties will follow in pleasing of one another in the
dividing of it, and in becoming bound personally to pay the rent
of 200l. per annum, that I do believe it will yet scarce come to
pass. The season very sickly every where of strange and fatal
fevers.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1661. Captn. Holmes and I by coach to White Hall;
in our way, I found him by discourse, to be a great friend of my
Lord's, and he told me there was a many did seek to remove him;
but they were old seamen, such as Sir J. Minnes, [A Vice-Admiral,
and afterwards Comptroller of the Navy.] (but he would name no
more, though he do believe Sir W. Batten is one of them that do
envy him,) but he says he knows that the King do so love him, and
the Duke of York too, that there is no fear of him. He seems to
be very well acquainted with the King's mind, and with all the
several factions at Court, and spoke all with so much franknesse,
that I do take him to be my Lord's good friend, and one able to
do him great service, being a cunning fellow, and one (by his own
confession to me) that can put on two several faces, and look his
enemies in the face with as much love as his friends. But, good
God! what an age is this, and what a world is this! that a man
cannot live without playing the knave and dissimulation.
2nd. I find that there are endeavours to get my Lord out of play
at sea, which I believe Mr. Coventry and the Duke do think will
make them more absolute; but I hope, for all this, they will not
be able to do it.
3rd. Dined at home, and then with my wife to the Wardrobe, where
my Lady's child was christened, (my Lord Crewe and his Lady, and
my Lady Montagu, my Lord's mother-in-law, were the witnesses),
and named Katherine (the Queen elect's name); but to my and all
our trouble, the Parson of the parish christened her, and did not
sign the child with the sign of the cross. After that was done,
we had a very fine banquet.
7th. Having appointed the young ladies at the Wardrobe to go
with them to the play to-day, my wife and I took them to the
theatre, where we seated ourselves close by the King, and Duke of
York, and Madame Palmer, which was great content; and, indeed, I
can never enough admire her beauty. And here was "Bartholomew
Fayre," [A Comedy, by Ben Jonson; first acted in 1614.] with the
puppet-showe, acted to day, which had not been these forty years,
(it being so satyricall against puritanism, they durst not till
now, which is strange they should already dare to do it, and the
King do countenance it,) but I do never a whit like it the better
for the puppets, but rather the worse. Thence home with the
ladies, it being by reason of our staying a great while for the
King's coming, and the length of the play! near nine o'clock
before it was done.
11th. To Dr. Williams, who did carry me into his garden, where
he hath abundance of grapes: and he did show me how a dog that
he hath do kill all the cats that come thither to kill his
pigeons, and do afterwards bury them; and do it with so much care
that they shall be quite covered; that if the tip of the tail
hangs out he will take up the cat again, and dig the hole deeper.
Which is very strange; and he tells me, that he do believe that
he hath killed above 100 cats.
12th. To my Lady's to dinner at the Wardrobe; and in my way upon
the Thames, I saw the King's new pleasure-boat that is come now
for the King to take pleasure in above bridge; and also two
Gundaloes that are lately brought, which are very rich and fine.
[Gondolas. Davenant uses the expression, "Step into one of your
peascod boats, whose tilts are not so sumptuous as the roofs of
Gundaloes."]
24th. Letters from sea, that speak of my Lord's being well; and
his action, though not considerable of any side, at Argier.
25th. Sir W. Pen told me that I need not fear any reflection
upon my Lord for their ill successe at Argier, for more could not
be done. To my Lord Crewe's, and dined with him, where I was
used with all imaginable kindness both from him and her. And I
see that he is afraid my Lord's reputacon will a little suffer in
common talk by this late successe; but there is no help for it
now. The Queen of England (as she is now owned and called) I
hear doth keep open Court, and distinct at Lisbone.
27th. At noon, met my wife at the Wardrobe; and there dined
where we found Captn. Country, (my little Captain that I loved,
who carried me to the Sound,) with some grapes and millons from
my Lord at Lisbone. The first that ever I saw; but the grapes
are rare things. In the afternoon comes Mr. Edwd. Montagu (by
appointment this morning) to talk with my Lady and me about the
provisions fit to be bought, and sent to my Lord along with him.
And told us, that we need not trouble ourselves how to buy them,
for the King would pay for all, and that he would take care to
get them: which put my Lady and me into a great deal of ease of
mind. Here we staid and supped too, and, after my wife had put
up some of the grapes in a basket for to be sent to the King we
took coach and home, were we found a hampire of millons sent to
me also.
30th. This morning up by moone-shine, at 5 o'clock, to White
Hall, to meet Mr. Moore at the Privy Seale, and there I heard of
a fray between the two Embassadors of Spaine [The Baron de
Vatteville.] and France; [Godfrey, Count D'Estrades, Marshal of
France, and Viceroy of America. He proved himself upon many
occasions, an able diplomatist, and particularly at the
conferences of Nimeguen when acting as ambassador in 1673. Ob.
1686, aet. suae 79,--VIDE HIS LETTERS TO LOUIS XIV. IN THE
APPEND.] and that, this day, being the day of the entrance of an
Embassador from Sweden, they intended to fight for the
precedence. Our King, I heard, ordered that no Englishman should
meddle in the business, but let them do what they would. And to
that end all the soldiers in the town were in arms all the day
long, and some of the train-bands in the City; and a great bustle
through the City all the day. Then we took coach (which was the
business I come for) to Chelsey, to my Lord Privy Seale, and
there got him to seal the business. Here I saw by day-light two
very fine pictures in the gallery, that a little while ago I saw
by night; and did also go all over the house, and found it to be
the prettiest contrived house that I ever saw in my life. So
back again; and at White Hall light, and saw the soldiers and
people running up and down the streets. So I went to the
Spanish, Embassador's and the French, and there saw great
preparations on both sides; but the French made the most noise
and ranted most, but the other made no stir almost at all; so
that I was afraid the other would have too great a conquest over
them. Then to the Wardrobe, and dined there, and then abroad and
in Cheapside hear that the Spanish hath got the best of it, and
killed three of the French coach-horses and severall men, and is
gone through the City next to our King's coach; at which, it is
strange, to see how all the City did rejoice. And indeed we do
naturally all love the Spanish, and hate the French. But I, as I
am in all things curious, presently got to the water-side, and
there took oares to Westminster Palace, and run after them
through all the dirt and the streets full of people: till at
last, at the Mewes, I saw the Spanish coach go, with fifty drawn
swords at least to guard it, and our soldiers shouting for joy.
And so I followed the coach, and then met it at York House, where
the embassador lies; and there it went in with great state.
[York House belonged to the See of York till James 1st's time,
when Toby Matthews exchanged it with the Crown. Chancellors
Egerton and Bacon resided there, after which it was granted to
Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Subsequently to the Restoration
his son occupied the house some years, and disposing of the
premises, they were converted into the streets still bearing his
names, and the general appellation of York Buildings.] So then I
went to the French house, where I observe still, that there is no
men in the world of a more insolent spirit where they do well,
nor before they begin a matter, and more abject if they do
miscarry, than these people are; for they all look like dead men,
and not a word among them, but shake their heads. The truth is,
the Spaniards were not only observed to fight most desperately,
but also they did outwitt them; first in lining their own
harnesse with chains of iron that they could not be cut, then in
setting their coach in the most advantageous place, and to
appoint men to guard every one of their horses, and others for to
guard the coach, and others the coachmen. And above all in
setting upon the French horses and killing them, for by that
means the French were not able to stir. There were several men
slain of the French, and one or two of the Spaniards and one
Englishman, by a bullet. Which is very observable, the French
were at least four to one in number, and had near 100 case of
pistols among them, and the Spaniards had not one gun among them;
which is for their honour for ever, and the others' disgrace.
So, having been very much daubed with dirt, I got a coach, and
home; where I vexed my wife in telling of her this story, and
pleading for the Spaniards against the French. So ends this
month; myself and family in good condition of health, but my head
full of my Lord's and my own and the office business: where we
are now very busy about sending forces to Tangier, and the fleet
of my Lord of Sandwich, who is now at Lisbone to bring over the
Queene. The business of Argier hath of late troubled me, because
my Lord hath not done what he went for, though he did as much as
any man in the world could have done. The want of money puts all
things, and above all, the Navy, out of order; and yet I do not
see that the King takes care to bring in any money, but thinks of
new designs to lay out money.
OCTOBER 4, 1661. By coach to White Hall with Sir W. Pen. So to
Mr. Montagu, where his man, Mons. Eschar, makes a great complaint
against the English, that they did help the Spaniards against the
French the other day; and that their Embassador do demand justice
of our King, and that he do resolve to be gone for France the
next week; which I, and all that I met with, are glad of.
17th. Captn. Cock, a man of great observation and repute, did
tell me, that he was confident that the Parliament, when it comes
the next month to sit again, would bring trouble with it, and
enquire how the King had disposed of offices and money, before
they will raise more; which, I fear, will bring all things to
ruin again. Dined with Captain Lambert and his father-in-law,
and had much talk of Portugall; from whence he is lately come,
and he tells me it is a very poor dirty place; I mean the City
and Court of Lisbone; that the King is a very rude and simple
fellow; and, for reviling of somebody a little while ago, had
been killed, had he not told them that he was their king. That
there are no glass windows, nor will they have any; which makes
sport among our merchants there to talk of an English factor
that, being newly come thither, writ into England that glasse
would be a good commodity to send thither, &c. That the King has
his meat sent up by a dozen of lazy guards and in pipkins,
sometimes, to his own table; and sometimes nothing but fruits,
and, now-and-then, half a hen. And that now the Infanta is
become our Queen, she is come to have a whole hen or goose to her
table.
18th. To White Hall, to Mr. Montagu's, where I met with Mr.
Pierce the purser, to advise about the things to be sent to my
Lord for the Queene's provision; now there is all haste made, for
the fleete's going.
20th. To Sir W. Batten, who is to go to Portsmouth to-morrow to
wait upon the Duke of York, who goes to take possession and to
set in order the garrison there.
26th. This morning Sir J. Pen and I should have gone out of town
with my Lady Batten, to have met Sir William coming back from
Portsmouth, at Kingston, but could not, by reason that my Lord of
Peterborough (who is to go Governor of Tangier) come this
morning, [Henry, second Earl of Peterborough, a Privy Councillor,
and in 1685 made Groom of the Stole. He was also K.G., and died
1697.] with Sir G. Carteret, to advise with us about completing
of the affairs and preparacions for that place. [This place, so
often mentioned by Mr. Pepys, was first given up to the English
Fleet under Lord Sandwich, by the Portuguese, Jan. 30, 1662; and
Lord Peterborough left Governor, with a garrison. The greatest
pains were afterwards taken to preserve the fortress, and a fine
Mole was constructed, at a vast expense, to improve the harbour.
At length, after immense sums of money had been wasted there, the
House of Commons expressed a dislike to the management of the
garrison, (which they suspected to be a nursery for a Popish
army,) and seemed disinclined to maintain it any longer. The
King consequently, in 1683, sent Lord Dartmouth to bring home the
troops, and destroy the works; which he performed most
effectually, and Tangier fell into the hands of the Moors, its
importance having ceased with the demolition of the Mole.] News
was brought that Sir R. Slingsby, our Comptroller (who hath this
day been sick a week), is dead; which put me into so great a
trouble of mind, that all the night I could not sleep, he being a
man that loved me, and had many qualitys that made me to love him
above all the officers and commissioners in the Navy.
27th. (Lord's day.) At church in the morning; where in pew both
Sir Williams and I had much talk about the death of Sir Robert,
which troubles me much; and them in appearance, though I do not
believe it; because I know that he was a cheque to their
engrossing the whole trade of the Navy-office.
29th. This day I put on my half cloth black stockings and my new
coate of the fashion, which pleases me well, and with my beaver I
was (after office was done) ready to go to my Lord Mayor's feast,
as we are all invited; but the Sir Williams were both loth to go,
because of the crowd, and so none of us went. This Lord Mayor,
it seems, brings up again the custom of Lord Mayors going the day
of their instalment to Paul's, and walking round about the
Crosse, and offering something, at the altar.
30th. Sir Henry Vane, Lambert, and others, are lately sent
suddenly away from the Tower, prisoners to Scilly; but I do not
think there is any plot as is said, but only a pretence; as there
was once pretended often against the Cavaliers.
NOVEMBER 1, 1661. Sir Wm. sent for his son Mr. Wm. Pen lately
come from Oxford. [The celebrated Quaker, and founder of
Pennsylvania.]
2nd. At the office all the morning; where Sir John Minnes, our
new comptroller, was fetched by Sir Wm. Pen and myself from Sir
Wm. Batten's, and led to his place in the office. The first time
that he had come thither, and he seems in a good fair condition,
and one that I am glad hath the office.
4th. With my wife to the Opera, where we saw "The Bondman,"
which of old we both did so doate on, and do still; though to
both our thinking not so well acted here, (having too great
expectations) as formally at Salisbury-court. But for Beterton,
he is called by us both the best actor in the world. [Thomas
Betterton, the celebrated actor, born in 1635, was the son of an
under cook to Charles I., and first appeared on the stage at the
Cockpit in Drury Lane, in 1659. After the Restoration, two
distinct theatres were established by Royal Authority; one in
Drury Lane, called the King's Company, under a patent granted to
Killigrew: the other in Lincoln's Inn Fields, styled the Duke's
Troop, the patentee of which was Sir W. Davenant, who engaged Mr.
Betterton in 1662, Mr. B. died in 1710, and was buried in the
cloisters of Westminster Abbey.]
8th. This morning up early, and to my Lord Chancellor's with a
letter to him from my Lord, and did speak with him; and he did
ask me whether I was was son to Mr. Talbot Pepys or no, [Of
Impington, great uncle to our Author.] (with whom he was once
acquainted in the Court of Requests), and spoke to me with great
respect.
10th. At St. Gregory's, where I hear our Queene Katherine, the
first time by name publickly prayed for.
12th. This day Holmes come to town; and we do expect hourly to
hear what usage he hath from the Duke and the King about his late
business of letting the Swedish Embassador go by him without
striking his flag.
13th. By appointment, we all went this morning to wait upon the
Duke of York, which we did in his chamber, as he was dressing
himself in his riding suit to go this day by sea to the Downes.
He is in mourning for his wife's grandmother, which is thought a
great piece of fondness. After we had given him our letter
relating the bad condition of the Navy for want of money, he
referred it to his coming back and so parted. Thence on foot to
my Lord Crewe's; here I was well received by my Lord and Sir
Thomas; with whom I had great talk: and he tells me in good
earnest that he do believe the Parliament, (which comes to sit
again the next week,) will be troublesome to the Court and
Clergy, which God forbid! But they see things carried so by my
Lord Chancellor and some others, that get money themselves, that
they will not endure it.
17th. To church; and heard a simple fellow upon the praise of
Church musique, and exclaiming against men's wearing their hats
on in the church.
20th. To Westminster Hall by water in the morning, where I saw
the King going in his barge to the Parliament House; this being
the first day of their meeting again. And the Bishops, I hear,
do take their places is the Lords' House this day. I walked
longe in the Hall, but hear nothing of newes, but what Ned
Pickering tells me, which I am troubled at, that Sir J. Minnes
should send word to the King, that if he did not remove all my
Lord Sandwich's captains out of this fleet, he believed the King
would not be master of the fleet at its coming again: and so do
endeavour to bring disgrace upon my Lord. But I hope all that
will not do, for the King loves him.
21st. At the office all the afternoon; it being the first
afternoon that we have sat, which we are now to do always, so
long as the Parliament sits, who this day have voted the King
120,000l. to be raised to pay his debts. [According to the
Journals 1,200,000l.]
28th. Letters from my Lord Sandwich, from Tangier; where he
continues still, and hath done some execution upon the Turks, and
retaken an Englishman from them, one Mr. Parker, a merchant in
Marke-lane.
29th. I lay long in bed, till Sir Williams both sent me word
that we were to wait upon the Duke of York to-day; and that they
would have me to meet them at Westminster Hall, at noon: so I
rose and went thither; and there I understand that they are gone
to Mr. Coventry's lodgings, in the Old Palace Yard, to dinner
(the first time that I knew he had any); and there I met them,
and Sir G. Carteret, and had a very fine dinner, and good
welcome, and discourse: and so, by water, after dinner to White
Hall to the Duke, who met us in his closet; and there did
discourse upon the business of Holmes, and did desire of us to
know what hath been the common practice about making of forrayne
ships to strike sail to us, which they did all do as much as they
could; but I could say nothing to it, which I was sorry for.
After we were gone from the Duke, I told Mr. Coventry that I had
heard Mr. Selden often say, that he could prove that in Henry the
7th's time, he did give commission to his captains to make the
King of Denmark's ships to strike to him in the Baltique.
30th. This is the last day for the old State's coyne to pass in
common payments, but they say it is to pass in publique payments
to the King three months still.
DECEMBER 1, 1661. There hath lately been great clapping up of
some old statesmen, such as Ireton, Moyer, [Samuel Moyer, one of
the Council of State, 1653.] and others, and they say, upon a
great plot, but I believe no such thing; but it is but justice
that they should be served as they served the poor Cavaliers; and
I believe it will oftentimes be so as long as they live, whether
there be cause or no.
6th. To White Hall, where, at Sir G. Carteret's, Sir Williams
both and I dined very pleasantly; and after dinner, by
appointment, came the Governors of the East India Company, to
sign and seal the contract between us (in the King's name) and
them. And, that done, we all went to the King's closet, and
there spoke with the King and the Duke of York, who promise to be
very careful of the India trade to the utmost.
7th. To the Privy Seale, and sealed there; and, among other
things that passed, there was a patent for Roger Palmer (Madam
Palmer's husband [Ob. July, 1705.]) to be Earle of Castlemaine
and Baron of Limbricke in Ireland; but the honor is tied up to
the males got of the body of this wife, the Lady Barbary: the
reason whereof every body knows. That done, by water to the
office, where I found Sir W. Pen, and with him Captn. Holmes, who
had wrote his case, and gives me a copy, as he hath many among
his friends, and presented the same to the King and Council.
Which I have made use of in my attempt of writing something
concerning the business of striking sail, which I am now about.
But he do cry out against Sir John Minnes, as the veriest knave
and rogue and coward in the world.
9th. At noon to dinner at the Wardrobe; where my Lady Wright
was, who did talk much upon the worth and the desert of
gallantry; and that there was none fit to be courtiers, but such
as have been abroad and know fashions. [See note on Sir Harry
Wright, 27th March 1660.] Which I endeavoured to oppose; and was
troubled to hear her talk so, though she be a very wise and
discreet lady in other things.
15th. I am now full of study about writing something about our
making of strangers strike to us at sea; and so am altogether
reading Selden and Grotius, and such other authors to that
purpose.
18th. After dinner to the Opera, where there was a new play,
(Cutter of Coleman Street) made in the year 1658, with
reflections much upon the late times; and it being the first time
the pay was doubled, and so to save money, my wife and I went
into the gallery, and there sat and saw very well; and a very
good play it is. It seems of Cowly's making.
21st. To White Hall to the Privy Seale, as my Lord Privy Seale
did tell me he could seale no more this month, for he goes thirty
miles out of towne to keep his Christmas. At which I was glad,
but only afraid lest any thing of the King's should force as to
go after him to get a seale in the country. I spoke to Mr.
Falconberge to look whether he could out of Domesday Book, give
me any thing concerning the sea, and the dominion thereof; which
he says he will look after.
27th. In the morning to my Bookseller's to bespeak a Stephens'
Thesaurus, for which I offer 4l., to give to Paul's School, and
from thence to Paul's Church; and there I did hear Dr. Gunning
preach a good sermon upon the day, (being St. John's day,) and
did hear him tell a story, which he did persuade us to believe to
be true, that St. John and the Virgin Mary did appear to Gregory,
a Bishopp, at his prayer to be confirmed in the faith, which I
did wonder to hear from him.
28th. At home all the morning; and in the afternoon all of us at
the office, upon a letter from the Duke for the making up of a
speedy estimate of all the debts of the Navy, which is put into
good forwardness.
31st. To the office; and there late finishing our estimate of
the debts of the Navy to this day; and it come to near 374,000l.
I suppose myself to be worth about 500l. clear in the world, and
my goods of my house my owne, and what is coming to me from
Brampton, when my father dies, which God defer. But, by my
uncle's death, the whole care and trouble, and settling of all
lies upon me, which is very great, because of law-suits,
especially that with T. Frice, about the interest of 200l. I am
upon writing a little treatise to present to the Duke, about our
privilege in the seas, as to other nations striking their flags
to us.
JANUARY 2, 1661-62. I went forth, by appointment, to meet with
Mr. Grant, who promised to bring me acquainted with Cooper, the
great limner in little. [ Samuel Cooper, the celebrated
miniature painter, Ob. 1672.] Sir Richd. Fanshaw is come
suddenly from Portugal, and nobody knows what his business is
about.
To Faithorne's, [William Faithorne, the well known engraver Ob.
1691.] and there bought some pictures of him; and while I was
there, comes by the King's life-guard, he being gone to Lincoln's
Inne this afternoon to see the Revells there; there being,
according to an old custome, a prince and all his nobles, and
other matters of sport and charge.
11th. To the Exchange, and there all the news is of the French
and Dutch joyning against us; but I do not think it yet true. In
the afternoon, to Sir W. Batten's, where in discourse I heard the
custome of the election of the Duke of Genoa, who for two years
is every day attended in the greatest state, and four or five
hundred men always waiting upon him as a king; and when the two
years are out, and another is chose, a messenger is sent to him,
who stands at the bottom of the stairs, and he at, the top, and
says, "Va. Illustrissima Serenita sta finita, et puede andar en
casa."--"Your serenity is now ended; and now you may be going
home;" and so claps on his hat. And the old Duke (having by
custom sent his goods home before,) walks away, it may be but
with one man at his heels; and the new one brought immediately in
his room, in the greatest state in the world. Another account
was told us, how in the Dukedom of Ragusa, in the Adriatique, (a
State that is little, but more ancient, they say, than Venice,
and is called the mother of Venice, and the Turkes lie round
about it,) that they change all the officers of their guard, for
fear of conspiracy, every twenty-four hours, so that nobody knows
who shall be captain of the guard to-night; but two men come to a
man, and lay hold of him as a prisoner, and carry him to the
place; and there he hath the keys of the garrison given him, and
he presently issues his orders for that night's watch: and so
always from night to night. Sir Wm. Rider told the first of his
own knowledge; and both he and Sir W. Batten confirm the last.
13th. Before twelve o'clock comes, by appointment, Mr. Peter and
the Dean, [Michael Honywood, installed Dean of Lincoln, 1660, Ob.
1681, aged 85.] and Colonel Honiwood, brothers, to dine with me;
but so soon that I was troubled at it. Mr. Peter did show us the
experiment (which I had heard talke of) of the chymicall glasses,
which break all to dust by breaking off a little small end; which
is a great mystery to me.
15th. Mr. Berkenshaw [Mr. Pepys's music master.] asked me
whether we had not committed a fault in eating to-day; telling me
that it is a fast day ordered by the Parliament, to pray for more
seasonable weather; it having hitherto been summer weather, that
it is, both as to warmth and every other thing, just as if it
were the middle of May or June, which do threaten a plague (as
all men think) to follow, for so it was almost the last winter;
and the whole year after hath been a very sickly time to this
day.
16th. Towards Cheapside; and in Paul's Church-yard saw the
funeral of my Lord Cornwallis, late Steward of the King's House,
go by. Stoakes told us, that notwithstanding the country of
Gambo is so unhealthy, yet the people of the place live very
long, so as the present King there is 150 years old, which they
count by rains: because every year it rains continually four
months together. He also told us, that the Kings there have
above 100 wives a-piece.
18th. Comes Mr. Moore to give me an account how Mr. Montagu
[Edward Montagu.] was gone away of a sudden with the fleet, in
such haste that he hath left behind some servants, and many
things of consequence; and among others, my Lord's commission for
Embassador. Whereupon he and I took coach, and to Whitehall to
my Lord's lodgings, to have spoke with Mr. Ralph Montagu [Ralph,
eldest son of Edward, second Baron Montagu, of Boughton; created
Duke of Montagu, and died 1709. His sister Elizabeth had married
Sir D. Harvey, Knt., Ambassador to Constantinople.] his brother;
(and here we staid talking with Sarah and the old man,) but by
and by hearing that he was in Covent Garden, we went thither:
and at my Lady Harvy's, his sister, I spoke with him, and he
tells me that the Commission is not left behind.
22nd. After musique-practice, to White Hall, and thence to
Westminster, in my way calling at Mr. George Montagu's, to
condole on the loss of his son, who was a fine gentleman. after
this discourse he told me, among other news, the great jealousys
that are now in the Parliament House. The Lord Chancellor, it
seems, taking occasion from this late plot to raise fears in the
people, did project the raising of an army forthwith, besides the
constant militia, thinking to make the Duke of York General
thereof. But the House did, in very open termes, say, they were
grown too wise to be fooled again into another army; and said
they had found how that man that hath the command of an army is
not beholden to any body to make him King. There are factions
(private ones at Court) about Madam Palmer; but what it is about
I know not. But it is something about the King's favour to her
now that the Queene is coming. He told me, too, what sport the
King and Court do make at Mr. Edwd. Montagu's leaving his things
behind him. But the Chancellor (taking it a little more
seriously) did openly say to my Lord Chamberlaine, that had it
been such a gallant as my Lord Mandeville his son, [Lord
Mandeville was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Charles II. He
became Earl of Manchester on his father's death, and died at
Paris in 1682.] it might have been taken as a frolique: but for
him that would be thought a grave coxcombe, it was very strange.
Thence to the Hall, where I heard the House had ordered all the
King's murderers, that remain, to be executed, but Fleetwood
[Charles, son of Sir Wm. Fleetwood, Knt., General and Commander
in Chief to the Protector Richard, whose sister, Bridget, widow
of Ireton, he had married. After the King's return he lived in
contemptible obscurity, and died circa 1689.] and Downes.
25th. At home and the office all the morning. Walking in the
garden to give the gardener directions what to do this year (for
I intend to have the garden handsome), Sir W. Pen come to me, and
did break a business to me about removing his son from Oxford to
Cambridge to some private college. I proposed Magdalene, but
cannot name a tutor at present; but I shall think and write about
it. Thence with him to the Trinity-house to dinner; where Sir
Richd. Brown, one of the clerkes of the Council, and who is much
concerned against Sir N. Crisp's project of making a great sasse
["Sasse, a sluice, or lock, used in water-works."--BAILEY'S
DICTIONARY. This project is mentioned by Evelyn, and Lysons,
ENVIRONS, VOL. iv. p. 392.] in the King's lands about Deptford,
to be a wett-dock to hold 200 sail of ships. But the ground, it
seems, was long since given by the King to Sir Richard. After
the Trinity-house men had done their business, the master, Sir
Wm. Rider, come to bid us welcome; and so to dinner. Comes
Mr.Moore with letters from my Lord Sandwich, speaking of his
lying still at Tangier, looking for the fleet; which, we hope, is
now in a good way thither.
27th. This morning, both Sir Williams and I by barge to
Deptford-yard to give orders in business there; and called on
several ships, also to give orders. Going to take water upon
Tower-hill, we met with three sleddes standing there to carry my
Lord Monson [William, second son of Sir Thomas Monson, Bart.;
created by Charles I. Viscount Castlemaine of the kingdom of
Ireland; notwithstanding which, he was instrumental in his
Majesty's death: and in 1661, being degraded of his honours, was
sentenced, with Sir Henry Mildmay and Mr. Robert Wallop, to be
drawn on sledges, with ropes round their necks, to Tyburn, and
back to the Tower, there to remain prisoners for life. None of
their names were subscribed to the King's sentence.] and Sir H.
Mildmay [Sir H. Mildmay had enjoyed the confidence of Charles I.,
who made him Master of the Jewels; but he sat a few days as one
of the King's Judges. He died at Antwerp.] and another, to the
gallows and back again, with ropes about their necks; which is to
be repeated every year, this being the day of their sentencing
the King.
FEBRUARY 1, 1661-62 This morning with Commissioner Pett to the
office; and he staid there writing, while I and Sir W. Pen walked
in the garden talking about his business of putting his son to
Cambridge; and to that end I intend to write to-night to Dr.
Fairebrother, to give me an account of Mr. Burton [Hezekiah
Burton, S. T. B. 1661.] of Magdalene. Thence with Mr. Pett to
the Paynter's; and he likes our pictures very well, and so do I.
Thence he and I to the Countesse of Sandwich, to lead him to her
to kiss her hands: and dined with her, and told her the news
(which Sir W. Pen told me to do) that expresse is come from my
Lord with letters, that by a great storm and tempest the mole of
Argier is broken down, and many of their ships sunk into the
mole. So that God Almighty hath now ended that unlucky business
for us; which is very good news.
4th. To Westminster Hall, where it was full terme. Here all the
morning, and at noon to my Lord Crewe's, where one Mr. Templer
(an ingenious man and a person of honour he seems to be) dined;
and, discoursing of the nature of serpents, he told us some in
the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do
feed upon larkes, which they take thus:--They observe when the
lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be
just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their
mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson
upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its
course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the
serpent; which is very strange. He is a great traveller; and,
speaking of the tarantula, he says that all the harvest long
(about which times they are most busy) there are fidlers go up
and down the fields every where, in expectation of being hired by
those that are stung. This afternoon, going into the office, one
met me and did serve a subpoena upon me for one Field, whom we
did commit to prison the other day for some ill words he did give
the office. The like he had for others, but we shall scoure him
for it.
5th. To the Playhouse, and there saw "Rule a wife and have a
Wife;" [A comedy by J. Fletcher.] very well done. And here also
I did look long upon my Lady Castlemaine, who, notwithstanding
her sickness, continues a great beauty.
7th. I hear the prisoners in the Tower that are to die are come
to the Parliament-house this morning. To the Wardrobe to dinner
with my Lady; where a civitt cat, parrot, apes, and many other
things, are come from my Lord by Captain Hill, who dined with my
Lady with us to-day. Thence to the Paynter's, and am well
pleased with our pictures.
10th. To Paul's Church-yard, and there I met with Dr. Fuller's
"England's Worthys," the first time that I ever saw it; and so I
sat down reading in it; being much troubled that (though he had
some discourse with me about my family and armes) he says nothing
at all, nor mentions us either in Cambridgeshire or Norfolke.
But I believe, indeed, our family were never considerable.
13th. Mr. Blackburne do tell me plain of the corruption of all
our Treasurer's officers, and that they hardly pay any money
under ten per cent.; and that the other day for a mere
assignation of 200l. to some counties, they took 15l. which is
very strange. Last night died the Queene of Bohemia.
15th. With the two Sir Williams to the Trinity-house; and there
in their society had the business debated of Sir Nicholas Crisp's
sasse at Deptford. After dinner I was sworn a Younger Brother;
Sir W. Rider being Deputy-Master for my Lord of Sandwich; and
after I was sworn, all the Elder Brothers shake me by the hand:
it is their custom, it seems. No news yet of our fleet gone to
Tangier, which we now begin to think long.
17th. This morning, both Sir Williams, myself, and Captn. Cock,
and Captn. Tinker of the Covertine, which we are going to look
upon, (being intended with these ships fitting for the East
Indys) down to Deptford; and thence, after being on ship-board,
to Woolwich, and there eat something. The Sir Williams being
unwilling to eat flesh, Captn. Cock and I had a breast of veale
roasted.
18th. Having agreed with Sir Wm. Pen to meet him at the Opera,
and finding by my walking in the streets, which were every where
full of brick-bates and tyles flung down by the extraordinary
winde the last night (such as hath not been in memory before,
unless at the death of the late Protector,) that it was dangerous
to go out of doors; and hearing how several persons had been
killed to-day by the fall of things in the streets, and that the
pageant in Fleet-streete is most of it blown down, and hath broke
down part of several houses, among others Dick Brigden's; and
that one Lady Sanderson, a person of quality in Covent-Garden,
was killed by the fall of the house, in her bed, last night; I
sent my boy to forbid him to go forth, But he bringing me word
that he is gone, I went thither and saw "The Law against Lovers,"
[A tragi-comedy by Sir William Davenant; taken from "Measure for
Measure," and "Much Ado about Nothing."] a good play and well
performed, especially the little girl's (whom I never saw act
before) dancing and singing; and were it not for her, the losse
of Roxalana would spoil the house.
20th. Letters from Tangier from my Lord, telling me how, upon a
Great defete given to the Portuguese there by the Moors, he had
put in 300 men into the towne, and so he is in possession, of
which we are very glad, because now the Spaniards' designs of
hindering our getting the place are frustrated. I went with the
letter inclosed to my Lord Chancellor to the House of Lords, and
did give it him in the House. Went by promise to Mr. Savill's,
and there sat the first time for my picture in little, which
pleaseth me well.
22nd. This evening I wrote letters to my father; among other
things acquainted him with the unhappy accident which hath
happened lately to my Lord of Dorset's two oldest sons, who, with
two Belasses and one Squire Wentworth, were lately apprehended
for killing and robbing of a tanner about Newington on Wednesday
last, and are all now in Newgate. I am much troubled for it, and
for the grief and disgrace it brings to their familys and
friends. [The following account of this transaction is abridged
from the MERCURIUS PUBLICUS of the day:--"Charles Lord
Brockhurst, Edward Sackville, Esq., his brother; Sir Henry
Belasyse, K.B., eldest son of Lord Belasyse; John Belasyse,
brother to Lord Faulconberg; and Thomas Wentworth, Esq., only son
of Sir G. Wentworth, whilst in pursuit of thieves near Waltham
Cross, mortally wounded an innocent tanner named Hoppy, whom they
had endeavoured to secure, suspecting him to have been one of the
robbers; and as they took away the money found on his person,
under the idea that it was stolen property they were soon after
apprehended on the charges of robbery and murder; but the Grand
Jury found a bill for manslaughter only." By a subsequent
allusion in the Diary to their trial, it seems probable that a
verdict of acquittal was pronounced.]
23rd. This day by God's mercy I am 29 years of age, and in very
good health, and like to live and get an estate; and if I have a
heart to be contented, I think I may reckon myself as happy a man
as any in the world, for which God be praised. So to prayers and
to bed.
25th. Great talk of the effects of this late great wind; and I
heard one say that he had five great trees standing together
blown down; and, beginning to lop them, one of them, as soon as
the lops were cut off, did, by the weight of the root, rise again
and fasten. We have letters from the forest of Deane, that above
1000 oakes and as many beeches are blown down in one walke there.
And letters from my father tell me of 20l. hurt done to us at
Brampton. This day in the news-booke I find that my Lord
Buckhurst [Charles Lord Buckhurst, eldest son of Richard, fifth
Earl of Dorset; created Earl of Middlesex soon after his uncle's
death, in 1675, and succeeded his father in 1677. Ob. 1705-6.]
and his fellows have printed their case as they did give it in
upon examination to a Justice of Peace, wherein they make
themselves a very good tale that they were in pursuit of thieves,
and that they took this man for one of them, and so killed him;
and that he himself confessed it was the first time of his
robbing; and that he did pay dearly for it, for he was a dead
man. But I doubt things will be proved otherwise than they say.
MARCH 1, 1661-62. To the Opera, and there saw "Romeo and
Juliet," the first time it was ever acted. I am resolved to go
no more to see the first time of acting, for they were all of
them out more or less.
3rd. I am told that this day the Parliament hath voted 2s. per
annum for every chimney in England, as a constant revenue for
ever to the Crowne.
7th. Early to White Hall to the chapel, where by Mr. Blagrave's
means I got into his pew, and heard Mr. Creeton, the great
Scotchman, and chaplain in ordinary to the King, preach before
the King, and Duke and Duchesse, upon the words of Micah:--"Roule
yourselves in dust." He made a most learned sermon upon the
words; but in his application, the most comical man that ever I
heard in my life. Just such a man as Hugh Peters; saying that it
had been better for the poor Cavalier never to have come with the
King into England again; for he that hath the impudence to deny
obedience to the lawful magistrate, and to swear to the oath of
allegiance, &c., was better treated now-a-days in Newgate, than a
poor Royalist that hath suffered all his life for the King, is at
White Hall among his friends.
8th. By coach with both Sir Williams to Westminster; this being
a great day there in the House to pass the business for chimney-
money, which was done. In the Hall I met with Surgeon Pierce:
and he told me how my Lady Monk hath disposed of all the places
which Mr. Edwd. Montagu hoped to have had as he was Master of the
Horse to the Queene; which I am afraid will undo him, because he
depended much upon the profit of what he should make by these
places. He told me, also, many more scurvy stories of him and
his brother Ralph, which troubles me to hear of persons of honour
as they are. Sir W. Pen and I to the office, whither afterward
come Sir G. Carteret; and we sent for Sir Thos. Allen, one of the
Aldermen of the City, [Probably Sheriff of London, 1654.] about
the business of one Colonel Appesly, whom we had taken
counterfeiting of bills with all our hands and the officers of
the yards, so well that I should never have mistrusted them. We
staid about this business at the office till ten at night, and at
last did send him with a constable to the Counter; and did give
warrants for the seizing of a complice of his, one Blenkinsopp.
12th. This morning we had news from Mr. Coventry, that Sir G.
Downing (like a perfidious rogue, though the action is good and
of service to the King, yet he cannot with a good conscience do
it) hath taken Okey, Corbet, and Barkestead at Delfe, in Holland,
and sent them home in the Blackmore. [According to Hume, Downing
had once been chaplain to Okey's regiment. John Okey, Miles
Corbet, and John Barkstead, three of the regicides; executed
April 19th following.] Sir W. Pen, talking to me this afternoon
of what a strange thing it is for Downing to do this, he told me
of a speech he made to the Lords States of Holland, telling them
to their faces that he observed that he was not received with the
respect and observance now that he was when he came from the
traitor and rebell Cromwell: by whom, I am sure, he hath got all
he hath in the world,--and they know it too.
14th. Home to dinner. In the afternoon come the German Dr.
Knuffler, to discourse with us about his engine to blow up ships.
We doubted not the matter of fact, it being tried in Cromwell's
time, but the safety of carrying them in ships; but he do tell
us, that when he comes to tell the King his secret, (for none but
the Kings, successively, and their heirs must know it,) it will
appear to be of no danger at all. We concluded nothing: but
shall discourse with the Duke of York to-morrow about it.
16th. Walked to White Hall; and an houre or two in the Parke,
which is now very pleasant. Here the King and Duke come to see
their fowle play. The Duke took very civil notice of me.
17th. Last night the Blackmore pinke brought the three prisoners
Barkestead, Okey, and Corbet, to the Tower, being taken at Delfe
in Holland; where, the Captain tells me, the Dutch were a good
while before they could be persuaded to let them go, they being
taken prisoners in their land. But Sir G. Downing would not be
answered so: though all the world takes notice of him for a most
ungrateful villaine for his pains.
21st. To Westminster Hall; and there walked up and down and
heard the great difference that hath been between my Lord
Chancellor and my Lord of Bristol, about a proviso that my Lord
Chancellor would have brought into the Bill for Conformity, that
it shall be in the power of the King, when he sees fit to
dispense with the Act of Conformity; and though it be carried in
the House of Lords, yet it is believed it will hardly pass in the
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