The Diary of Samuel Pepys
by
Samuel Pepys
Part 8 out of 18
will be sure to be well convinced of the invention before they do
part with their money. I saw the Duke, kissed his hand, and had
his most kind expressions of his value and opinion of me, which
comforted me above all things in the world the like from Mr.
Coventry most heartily and affectionately. Saw, among other fine
ladies, Mrs. Middleton, [Jane, daughter to Sir Robert Needham,
frequently mentioned in the "Memoires de Grammont." Her portrait
is at Windsor Castle amongst the beauties of Charles II.'s
court.] a very great beauty; and I saw Waller [Edmund Waller.]
the poet, whom I never saw before.
23rd. To my Lord Sandwich, who follows the Duke this day by
water down to the Hope, where the Prince lies. He received me,
busy as he was, with mighty kindness and joy at my promotions;
telling me most largely how the Duke hath expressed on all
occasions his good opinion of my service and love for me. I paid
my thanks and acknowledgement to him; and so back home, where at
the office all the morning.
27th. Up betimes to Mr. Povy's, and there did sign and seal my
agreement with him about my place of being treasurer for Tangier.
Thence to the Duke of Albemarle, the first time that we officers
of the Navy have waited upon him since the Duke of York's going,
who hath deputed him to be Admiral in his absence. And I find
him a quiet heavy man, that will help business when he can, and
hinder nothing. I did afterwards alone give him thanks for his
favour to me about my Tangier business, which he received kindly,
and did speak much of his esteem of me. Thence, and did the same
to Sir H. Bennet, who did the like to me very fully.
APRIL 1, 1665. With Sir G. Carteret, Sir W. Batten, and Sir J.
Minnes to my Lord Treasurer, and there did lay open the expence
for the six months past, and an estimate of the seven months to
come, to November next: the first arising to above 500,000l.,
and the latter will, as we judge, come to above 1,000,000l. But
to see how my Lord Treasurer did bless himself, crying he would
do no more than he could, nor give more money than he had, if the
occasion and expence were never so great, which is but a bad
story.
3rd. To a play at the Duke's, of my Lord Orrery's, called
"Mustapha," [There was another tragedy of this name, by Fulk,
Lord Brook.] which being not good, made Beterton's part and
Ianthe's but ordinary too. All the pleasure of the play was, the
King and my Lady Castlemaine were there; and pretty witty Nell,
[Nel Gwynne.] at the King's house, and the younger Marshall sat
next us; which pleased me mightily.
6th. Great talk of a new Comet; and it is certain do appear as
bright as the late one at the best; but I have not seen it
myself.
7th. Sir Philip Warwick did show me nakedly the King's condition
for money for the Navy; and he do assure me, unless the King can
get some noblemen or rich money-gentlemen to lend him money, or
to get the City to do it, it is impossible to find money: we
having already, as he says, spent one year's share of the three-
years tax, which comes to 2,500,000l.
10th. My Lord Brouncker took me and Sir Thomas Harvy in his
coach to the Park, which is very troublesome with the dust; and
ne'er a great beauty there to day but Mrs. Middleton.
12th. Sir G. Carteret, my Lord Brouncker, Sir Thomas Harvy, and
myself, down to my Lord Treasurer's chamber to him and the
Chancellor, and the Duke of Albemarle; and there I did give them
a large account of the charge of the Navy, and want of money.
But strange to see how they hold up their hands, crying, " What
shall we do?" says my Lord Treasurer, "Why what means all this,
Mr. Pepys? This is true, you say; but what would you have me to
do. I have given all I can for my life? Why will not people
lend their money? Why will they not trust the King as well as
Oliver? Why do our prizes come to nothing, that yielded so much
heretofore?" And this was all we could get, and went away
without other answer.
16th, Captain Taylor can, as he says, show the very originall
Charter to Worcester, of King Edgar's, wherein he stiles himself,
Rex Marium Britanniae, &c.; which is the great text that Mr.
Selden and others do quote, but imperfectly and upon trust. But
he hath the very originall, which he says he will show me.
17th. To the Duke of Albemarle's, where he showed me Mr.
Coventry's letters, how three Dutch privateers are taken, in one
whereof Everson's son is captaine. But they have killed poor
Captaine Golding in The Diamond. Two of them, one of 32 and the
other of 20 odd guns, did stand stoutly up against her, which
hath 46, and the Yarmouth that hath 52 guns, and as many more men
as they. So that they did more than we could expect, not
yielding till many of their men were killed. And Everson, when
he was brought before the Duke of York, and was observed to be
shot through the hat, answered, that he wished it had gone
through his head, rather than been taken. One thing more is
written; that two of our ships the other day appearing upon the
coast of Holland, they presently fired their beacons round the
country to give them notice. And news is brought the King, that
the Dutch Smyrna fleet is seen upon the back of Scotland; and
thereupon the King hath wrote to the Duke, that he do appoint a
fleet to go to the Northward to try to meet them coming home
round: which God send! Thence to White Hall; where the King
seeing me, did come to me, and calling me by name, did discourse
with me about the ships in the River: and this is the first time
that ever I knew the King did know me personally; so that
hereafter I must not go thither, but with expectation to be
questioned, and to be ready to give good answers.
19th. Up by five o'clock, and by water to White Hall; and there
took coach, and with Mr. Moore to Chelsy; where, after all my
fears what doubts and difficulties my Lord Privy Seale [John Lord
Roberts.] would make at my Tangier Privy Seale, he did pass it
at first reading, without my speaking with him. And then called
me in, and was very civil to me. I passed my time in
contemplating (before I was called in) the picture of my Lord's
son's lady, a most beautiful woman, and most like to Mrs. Butler.
Thence very much joyed to London back again, and found out Mr.
Povy; told him this; and then went and left my Privy Seale at my
Lord Treasurer's; and so to the 'Change, and thence to Trinity-
house; where a great dinner of Captain Crisp, who is made an
Elder Brother. And so, being very pleasant at dinner, away home,
Creed with me; and there met Povy; and we to Gresham College.
20th. This night I am told the first play is played in White
Hall noon-hall, which is now turned to a house of playing.
23rd. To White Hall chapel, and heard the famous young
Stillingfleete, [Edward Stillingfleet, a most learned Divine,
consecrated Bishop of Worcester, 1689, Ob. 1699.] whom I knew at
Cambridge, and he is now newly admitted one of the King's
chaplains. And was presented, they say, to my Lord Treasurer for
St. Andrew's Holborn, where he is now minister, with these words:
that they (the Bishops of Canterbury, London, and another)
believed he is the ablest young man to preach the Gospel of any
since the Apostles. He did make a most plain, honest, good,
grave sermon, in the most unconcerned and easy yet substantial
manner, that ever I heard in my life, upon the words of Samuel to
the people, "Fear the Lord in truth with all your heart, and
remember the great things that he hath done for you." It being
proper to this day, the day of the King's Coronation. Thence to
the Cocke-pitt, and there walked an hour with my Lord Duke of
Albemarle alone in his garden, where he expressed in great words
his opinion of me; that I was the right hand of the Navy here,
nobody but I taking any care of any thing therein; so that he
should not know what could be done without me. At which I was
(from him) not a little proud.
28th. Down the River to visit the victualling-ships, where I
find all out of order. And come home to dinner, and then to
write a letter to the; Duke of Albemarle about them, and carried
it myself to the Council-chamber; and when they rose, my Lord
Chancellor passing by stroked me on the head, and told me that
the Board had read my letter, and taken order for the punishing
of the watermen for not appearing on board the ships. And so did
the King afterwards, who do now know me so well, that he never
sees me but he speaks to me about our Navy business.
30th. Thus I end this month in great content as to my estate and
gettings: in much trouble as to the pains I have taken, and the
rubs I expect to meet with, about the business of Tangier. The
fleet, with about 106 ships upon the coast of Holland, in sight
of the Dutch, within the Texel. Great fears of the sicknesse
here in the City, it being said that two or three houses are
already shut up. God preserve us all!
MAY 1, 1665. I met my Lord Brouncker, Sir Robert Murrey, Dean
Wilkins, and Mr. Hooke, going by coach to Colonel Blunt's to
dinner. [Wricklesmarsh, in the parish of Charlton, which
belonged, in 1617, to Edward Blount, Esq., whose family alienated
it towards the end of the seventeenth century. The old mansion
was pulled down by Sir Gregory Page, Bart., who erected a
magnificent stone structure on the site; which, devolving to his
great nephew, Sir Gregory Page Turner, shared the same fate as
the former house, having been sold in lots in 1784.] So they
stopped and took me with them. Landed at the Tower-wharf, and
thence by water to Greenwich; and there coaches met us; and to
his house, a very stately sight for situation and brave
plantations; and among others, a vine-yard, the first that ever I
did see. No extraordinary dinner, nor any other entertainment
good; but afterwards to the tryal of some experiments about
making of coaches easy. And several we tried; but one did prove
mighty easy, (not here for me to describe, but the whole body of
the coach lies upon one long spring,) and we all, one after
another, rid in it; and it is very fine and likely to take.
Thence to Deptford, and in to Mr. Evelyn's, which is a most
beautiful place; [Says-Court, the well-known residence of John
Evelyn, Esq.] but it being dark and late, I staid not; but Dean
Wilkins and Mr. Hooke and I, walked to Redriffe; and noble
discourse all day long did please me.
3rd. My Lord Chief-Justice Hide did die suddenly this week, a
day or two ago, of an apoplexy.
5th. After dinner, to Mr. Evelyn's; he being abroad, we walked
in his garden, and a lovely noble ground he hath indeed. And
among other rarities, a hive of bees, so as being hived in glass,
you may see the bees making their honey and combs mighty
pleasantly.
10th. To the Cocke-pitt, where the Duke did give Sir W. Batten
and me an account of the late taking of eight ships, and of his
intent to come back to the Gunfleete with the fleet presently;
which creates us much work and haste therein, against the fleet
comes. And thence to the Guard in Southwarke, there to get some
soldiers, by the Duke's order, to go keep pressmen on board our
ships.
14th. To church, it being Whit-sunday; my wife very fine in a
new yellow bird's-eye hood, as the fashion is now. I took a
coach, and to Wemstead, the house where Sir H. Mildmay died, and
now Sir Robert Brookes lives, having bought it of the Duke of
York, it being forfeited to him. [Sir Robert Brookes, Lord of
the Manor of Wanstead, from 1662 to 1687. M.P. for Aldborough in
Suffolk. He afterwards retired to France, and died there in bad
circumstances. From a letter among the PEPYS MSS., Sir Robert
Brookes appears to have been drowned in the river at Lyons.] A
fine seat, but an old-fashioned house; and being not full of
people looks flatly.
17th. The Duchesse of York went down yesterday to meet the Duke.
18th. To the Duke of Albemarle, where we did examine Nixon and
Stanesby, about their late running from two Dutchmen; for which
they were committed to a vessel to carry them to the fleet to be
tried. A most fowle unhandsome thing as ever was heard, for
plain cowardice on Nixon's part.
23rd. Late comes Sir Arthur Ingram [Sir Arthur Ingram, Knight,
of Knottingley, Surveyor of the Customs at Hull.] to my office,
to tell me, that, by letters from Amsterdam of the 18th of this
month, the Dutch fleet, being about 100 men-of-war, besides fire-
ships, &c., did set out upon the 13th and 14th inst. Being
divided into seven squadrons, viz.--1. General Opdam. 2.
Cottenar of Rotterdam. [Died of his wounds after the sea-fight
in 1665.] 3. Trump. 4. Schram, of Horne. 5. Stillingworth, of
Freezland. 6. Everson. 7. One other, not named, of Zealand.
27th. To the Coffee-house, where all the news is of the Dutch be
gone out, and of the plague growing upon us in this town; and of
remedies against it: some saying one thing, and some another.
26th. In the evening by water to the Duke of Albemarle, whom I
found mightily off the hooks, that the ships are not gone out of
the River; which vexed me to see.
28th. I hear that Nixon is condemned to be shot to death, for
his cowardice, by a Council of War. To my Lady Sandwich's,
where, to my shame, I had not been a great while. Here, upon my
telling her a story of my Lord Rochester's [John second Earl of
Rochester, celebrated for his wit and profligacy. Ob. 1680.]
running away on Friday night last with Mrs. Mallett, [Elizabeth,
daughter of John Mallett, Esq., of Enmere, co. Somerset; married
soon afterwards to the Earl of Rochester.] the great beauty and
fortune of the North, who had supped at White Hall with Mrs.
Stewart, and was going home to her lodgings with her grand-
father, my Lord Haly, [Sir Francis Hawley of Buckland House, co.
Somerset, created a Baronet 1662, in 1646 an Irish Peer; by the
title of Baron Hawley of Donamore; in 1671 he was chosen M.P. for
St. Michael's, and in 1673 became a Gentleman of the Bed-chamber
to the Duke of York. Ob. 1684, aged 76.] by coach: and was at
Charing Cross seized on by both horse and foot-men, and forcibly
taken from him, and put into a coach with six horses, and two
women provided to receive her, and carried away. Upon immediate
pursuit, my Lord of Rochester (for whom the King had spoke to the
lady often, but with no success,) was taken at Uxbridge: but the
lady is not yet heard of, and the King mighty angry, and the Lord
sent to the Tower. Hereupon my Lady did confess to me, as a
great secret, her being concerned in this story. For if this
match breaks between my Lord Rochester and her, then, by the
consent of all her friends, my Lord Hinchingbroke stands fair,
and is invited for her. She is worth, and will be at her
mother's death, (who keeps but a little from her,) 2500l. per
annum. Pray God give a good success to it! But my poor Lady who
is afraid of the sickness, and resolved to be gone into the
country, is forced to stay in town a day or two, or three about
it, to see the event of it. Thence to see my Lady Pen, where my
wife and I were shown a fine rarity: of fishes kept in a glass
of water, that will live so for ever; and finely marked they are,
being foreign.
29th. We have every where taken some prizes. Our merchants had
good luck to come home safe; Colliers from the North, and some
Streights men, just now. And our Hambrough ships, of whom we
were so much afraid, are safe in Hambrough. Our fleete resolve
to sail out again from Harwich in a day or two.
31st. To the 'Change, where great the noise and trouble of
having our Hambrough ships lost; and that very much placed upon
Mr. Coventry's forgetting to give notice to them of the going
away of our fleet from the coast of Holland. But all without
reason, for he did; but the merchants not being ready, staid
longer than the time ordered for the convoy to stay, which was
ten days.
June 1, 1665. After dinner I put on new camelott suit; the best
that ever I wore in my life, the suit costing me above 24l. In
this I went with Creed to Goldsmiths' Hall, to the burial of Sir
Thomas Viner; [Sheriff of London 1648, Lord Mayor 1654.] which
Hall, and Haberdashers' also, was so full of people, that we were
fain for ease and coolness to go forth to Pater Noster Row, to
choose silk to make me a plain ordinary suit. That done, we
walked to Corne hill, and there at Mr. Cade's stood in the balcon
and saw all the funeral, which was with the blue-coat boys and
old men, all the Aldermen, and Lord Mayor, &c. and the number of
the company very great: the greatest I ever did see for a
taverne.
3rd. All this day by all people upon the River, and almost every
where else hereabout were heard the guns, our two fleets for
certain being engaged; which was confirmed by letters from
Harwich, but nothing particular: and all our hearts full of
concernment for the Duke, and I particularly for my Lord Sandwich
and Mr. Coventry after his Royall Highness.
6th. To my Lady Sandwich's; who, poor lady, expects every hour
to hear of my Lord; but in the best temper, neither confident nor
troubled with fear, that I ever did see in my life. She tells me
my Lord Rochester is now declaredly out of hopes of Mrs. Mallett,
and now she in to receive notice in a day or two how the King
stands inclined to the giving leave for my Lord Hinchingbroke to
look after her, and that being done, to bring it to an end
shortly.
7th. The hottest day that ever I felt in my life, This day, much
against my will, I did in Drury Lane see two or three houses
marked with a red cross upon the doors, and "Lord have mercy upon
us," writ there; which was a sad sight to me, being the first of
the kind that to my remembrance I ever saw.
8th. I to my Lord Treasurer's by appointment of Sir Thomas
Ingram's, to meet the Goldsmiths; where I met with the great news
at last newly come, brought by Bab. May [Baptist May, keeper of
the Privy Purse to Charles II.; there is an original portrait of
him by Lely, at Audley End.] from the Duke of York, that we have
totally routed the Dutch; that the Duke himself, the Prince, my
Lord Sandwich, and Mr. Coventry are all well: which did put me
into such joy, that I forgot almost all other thoughts. With
great Joy to the Cocke-pitt: where the Duke of Albemarle, like a
man out of himself, with content new-told me all: and by and by
comes a letter from Mr. Coventry's own hand to him, which he
never opened, (which was a strange thing,) but did give it me to
open and read, and consider what was fit for our office to do in
it, and leave the letter with Sir W. Clerke; which upon such a
time and occasion was a strange piece of indifference, hardly
possible. I copied out the letter, and did also take minutes out
of Sir W. Clerke's other letters; and the sum of the news is:-
Victory over the Dutch, June 3, 1665.
This day they engaged: the Dutch neglecting greatly the
opportunity of the wind they had of us; by which they lost the
benefit of their fire-ships. The Earl of Falmouth, Muskerry, and
Mr. Richard Boyle [Second son to the Earl of Burlington.] killed
on board the Duke's ship, the Royall Charles, with one shot:
their blood and brains flying in the Duke's face; and the head of
Mr. Boyle striking down the Duke, as some say. Earle of
Marlborough, Portland, Rear-Admirall Sansum (to Prince Rupert)
killed, and Capt. Kerby and Ableson. Sir John Lawson wounded on
the knee: hath had some bones taken out, and is likely to be
well again. Upon receiving the hurt, he sent to the Duke for
another to command the Royal Oake. The Duke sent Jordan out of
the St. George, who did brave things in her. Capt. Jer. Smith of
the Mary was second to the Duke, and stepped between him and
Captain Seaton of the Urania, (76 guns and 400 men) who had sworn
to board the Duke; killed him 200 men, and took the ship; himself
losing 99 men, and never an officer saved but himself and
lieutenant. His master indeed is saved, with his leg cut off.
Admirall Opdam blown up, Trump killed, and said by Holmes; all
the rest of their admiralls, as they say, but Everson, (whom they
dare not trust for his affection to the Prince of Orange,) are
killed; we having taken and sunk, as is believed, about 24 of
their best ships; killed and taken near 8 or 10,000 men, and
lost, we think, not above 700. A greater victory never known in
the world. They are all fled, some 43 got into the Texell, and
others elsewhere, and we in pursuit of the rest.
9th. To White Hall, and in my way met with Mr. Moore, who eases
me in one point wherein I was troubled; which was, that I heard
of nothing said or done by my Lord Sandwich: but he tells me
that Mr. Cowling, my Lord Chamberlain's secretary, did hear the
King say that my Lord Sandwich bad done nobly and worthily. The
King, it seems, is much troubled at the fall of my Lord Falmouth;
but I do not meet with any man else that so much as wishes him
alive again, the world conceiving him a man of too much pleasure
to do the King any good, or offer any good office to him. But I
hear of all hands he is confessed to have been a man of great
honour, that did show it in this his going with the Duke, the
most that ever any man did.
10th. In the evening home to supper; and there, to my great
trouble, hear that the plague is come into the City (though it
hath these three or four weeks since its beginning been wholly
out of the City); but where should it begin but in my good friend
and neighbour's, Dr. Burnett; [He was a physician.] in Fanchurch
Street: which in both points troubles me mightily.
11th. I saw poor Dr. Burnett's door shut; but he hath, I hear,
gained great good-will among his neighbours; for he discovered it
himself first, and caused himself to be shut up of his own
accord: which was very handsome.
13th. At noon with Sir G. Carteret to my Lord Mayor's to dinner,
where much company in a little room. His name, Sir John
Lawrence. There were at table three Sir Richard Brownes, viz.:
he of the Councill, a clerk, and the Alderman, and his son; and
there was a little grandson also Richard, who will hereafter be
Sir Richard Browne. My Lord Mayor very respectfull to me.
14th. I met with Mr. Cowling; who observed to me how he finds
every body silent in the praise of my Lord Sandwich, to set up
the Duke and the Prince; but that the Duke did both to the King
and my Lord Chancellor write abundantly of my Lord's courage and
service and I this day met with a letter of Captain Ferrers,
wherein he tells how my Lord was with his ship in all the heat of
the day, and did most worthily. To Westminster; and there saw my
Lord Marlborough brought to be buried, several Lords of the
Council carrying him, and, with the herald in some state. This
day the News-book (upon Mr. Moore's showing L'Estrange Captain
Ferrers letter) did do my Lord Sandwich great right as to the
late victory. The Duke of York not yet come to town. The town
grows very sickly, and people to be afraid of it; there dying
this last week of the plague 112, from 43 the week before,
whereof but one in Fanchurch-streete, and one in Broad-streete,
by the Treasurer's office.
16th. After dinner, and doing some business at the office, I to
White Hall, where the Court is full of the Duke and his courtiers
returned from sea. All fat and lusty, and ruddy by being in the
sun. I kissed his hands, and we waited all the afternoon. By
and by saw Mr. Coventry, which rejoiced my very heart. Anon he
and I, from all the rest of the company, walked into the Matted
Gallery; where after many expressions of love, we fell to talk of
business. Among other things, how my Lord Sandwich, both in his
councils and personal service, hath done most honourably and
serviceably. Sir J. Lawson is come to Greenwich; but his wound
in his knee yet very bad. Jonas Poole, in the Vantguard, did
basely, so as to be, or will be, turned out of his ship. Captain
Holmes expecting upon Sansum's death to be made Rear-admirall to
the Prince, (but Harman is put in) hath delivered up to the Duke
his commission, which the Duke took and tore. He it seems, had
bid the Prince, who first told him of Holmes's intention, that he
should dissuade him from it; for that he was resolved to take it
if he offered it. Yet Holmes would do it, like a rash, proud
coxcombe. But he is rich, and hath, it seems, sought an occasion
of leaving the service. Several of our Captains have done ill.
The great ships are the ships do the business, they quite,
deadening the enemy. They run away upon sight of the Prince. It
is strange to see how people do already slight Sir William
Barkeley, [Killed in the sea-fight the following year. Vide June
16, 1666.] my Lord FitzHarding's brother, who, three months
since, was the delight of the Court. Captain Smith of the Mary
the Duke talks mightily of; and some great thing will be done for
him. Strange to hear how the Dutch do relate, as the Duke says,
that they are the conquerors; and bonfires are made in Dunkirke
in their behalf; though a clearer victory can never be expected.
Mr. Coventry thinks they cannot have lost less than 6000 men, and
we not dead above 200, and wounded about 400; in all about 600.
Captain Grove, the Duke told us this day, hath done the basest
thing at Lowestoffe, in hearing of the guns, and could not (as
others) be got out, but staid there; for which he will be tried;
and is reckoned a prating coxcombe, and of no courage.
17th. It struck me very deep this afternoon going with a hackney
coach from Lord Treasurer's down Holborne, the coachman I found
to drive easily and easily, at last stood still, and come down
hardly able to stand, and told me that he was suddenly struck
very sick, and almost blind, he could not see; so I light and
went into another coach, with a sad heart for the poor man and
for myself also, lest he should have been struck with the plague.
Sir John Lawson, I hear, is worse than yesterday: the King went
to see him to-day most, kindly. It seems his wound is not very
bad; but he hath a fever, a thrush and a hick-up, all three
together, which are, it seems, very bad symptoms.
20th. Thankes-giving-day for victory over the Dutch. To the
Dolphin Taverne, where all we officers of the Navy met with the
Commissioners of the Ordnance by agreement, and dined: where
good musique at my direction. Our club come to 34s. a man, nine
of us. By water to Fox-hall, and there walked an hour alone,
observing the several humours of the citizens that were there
this holy-day, pulling off cherries, and God knows what. This
day I informed myself that there died four of five at Westminster
of the plague, in several houses upon Sunday last, in Bell-Alley,
over against the Palace-gate: yet people do think that the
number will be fewer in the town than it was the last week. The
Dutch are come out again with 20 sail under Banker; supposed gone
to the Northward to meet their East India fleet.
21st. I find our tallys will not be money in less than sixteen
months, which is a sad thing for the King to pay all that
interest for every penny he spends; and, which is strange, the
goldsmiths with whom I spoke, do declare that they will not be
moved to part with money upon the increase of their consideration
of ten per cent, which they have. I find all the town almost
going out of town, the coaches and waggons being all full of
people going into the country.
23rd. To a Committee for Tangier, where unknown to me comes my
Lord of Sandwich, who, it seems, come to town last night. After
the Committee was up, my Lord Sandwich did take me aside in the
robe-chamber, telling me how much the Duke and Mr. Coventry did,
both in the fleet and here, make of him, and that in some
opposition to the Prince; and as a more private message, he told
me that he hath been with them both when they have made sport of
the Prince and laughed at him: yet that all the discourse of the
town, and the printed relation, should not give him one word of
honour my Lord thinks very strange; he assuring me, that though
by accident the Prince was in the van in the beginning of the
fight for the first pass, yet all the rest of the day my Lord was
in the van, and continued so. That notwithstanding all this
noise of the Prince, he had hardly a shot in his side or a man
killed, whereas he above 30 in her hull, and not one mast whole
nor yard: but the most battered ship of the fleet, and lost most
men, saving Captain Smith of the Mary. That the most the Duke
did was almost out of gun-shot: but that, indeed, the Duke did
come up to my Lord's rescue after he had a great while fought
with four of them. How poorly Sir John Lawson performed,
notwithstanding all that was said of him; and how his ship turned
out of the way while Sir J. Lawson himself was upon the deck, to
the endangering of the whole fleet. From that discourse my Lord
did begin to tell me how much he was concerned to dispose of his
children, and would have my advice and help; and propounded to
match my Lady Jemimah to Sir G. Carteret's eldest son, [Philip
Carteret, afterwards knighted. He perished on board Lord
Sandwich's flag ship at the battle of Solebay.] which I approved
of, and did undertake the speaking with him about it as from
myself, which my Lord liked. Home by hackney-coach, which is
become a very dangerous passage now-a-days, the sickness
encreasing mightily.
24th. To Dr. Clerke's, and there I in the best manner I could,
broke my errand about a match between Sir G. Carteret's eldest
son and my Lord Sandwich's eldest daughter, which he (as I knew
he would) took with great content: and he did undertake to find
out Sir George this morning, and put the business in execution,
So I to White Hall, where I with Creed and Povy attended my Lord
Treasurer, and did prevail with him to let us have an assignment
for 15 or 20,000l. which, I hope, will do our business for
Tangier. To Sir G. Carteret, and in the best manner I could,
moved the business: he received it with great respect and
content, and thanks to me, and promised that he would do what he
possibly could for his son, to render him fit for my Lord's
daughter, and showed great kindness to me, and sense of my
kindness to him herein. Sir William Pen told me this day that
Mr. Coventry is to be sworn a Privy Counsellor, at which my soul
is glad.
25th. To White Hall, where, after I again visited G. Carteret,
and received his (and now his Lady's) full content in my
proposal, my Lord Sandwich did direct me to return to Sir G.
Carteret, and give him thanks for his kind acceptation of this
offer, and that he would the next day be willing to enter
discourse with him shout the business. My Lord, I perceive,
intends to give 5000l. with her, and expects about 8001. per
annum joynture. To Greenwich by water, thinking to have visited
Sir J. Lawson, where, when I come, I find that he died this
morning; and indeed the nation hath a great loss. Mr. Coventry,
among other talk, entered about the great question now in the
House about the Duke's going to sea again; about which the whole
House is divided. The plague encreases mightily, I this day
seeing a house, at a bitt-maker's over against St. Clement's
Church, in the open street shut up; which is a sad sight.
28th. I did take my leave of Sir William Coventry, who it seems
was knighted, and sworn a Privy-Counsellor two days since; who
with his old kindness treated me, and I believe I shall ever find
a noble friend. In my way to Westminster Hall, I observed
several plague houses in King's street and the Palace.
29th. To White Hall, where the Court full of waggons and people
ready to go out of town. This end of the town every day grows
very bad of the plague. The Mortality Bill is come to 267:
which is about ninety more than the last: and of these but four
in the City, which is a great blessing to us. Took leave again
of Mr. Coventry; though I hope the Duke is not gone to stay, and
so do others too. Home; calling at Somerset House, where all
were packing up too: the Queene Mother setting out for France
this day to drink Bourbon waters this year, she being in a
consumption; and intends not to come till winter come twelve-
months.
30th. Thus this book of two years ends. Myself and family in
good health, consisting of myself and wife, Mercer, her woman,
Mary, Alice, and Susan our maids, and Tom my boy. In a sickly
time of the plague growing on. Having upon my hands the
troublesome care of the Treasury of Tangier, with great sums
drawn upon me, and nothing to pay them with: also the business
of the office great. Considering of removing my wife to
Woolwich; she lately busy in learning to paint, with great
pleasure and successe. All other things well; especially a new
interest I am making, by a match in hand between the eldest son
of Sir G. Carteret, and my Lady Jemimah Montagu. The Duke of
York gone down to the fleet; but all suppose not with intent to
stay there, as it is not fit, all men conceive, he should.
July 1, 1665. Sad at the news that seven or eight houses in
Burying Hall [Probably Basinghall.] street, are shut up of the
plague.
2nd. Sir G. Carteret did send me word that the business between
my Lord and him is fully agreed on, and is mightily liked of by
the King and the Duke of York. Sir G. Lawson was buried late
last night at St. Dunstan's by us, without any company at all.
4th. I hear this day the Duke and Prince Rupert are both come
back from sea, and neither of them go back again. Mr. Coventry
tells me how matters are ordered in the fleet: my Lord Sandwich
goes Admiral; under him Sir G. Ascue, and Sir T. Teddiman: Vice
Admiral, Sir W. Pen; and under him Sir W. Barkeley, and Sir Jos
Jordan: Rear-Admiral, Sir Thomas Allen; and under him Sir
Christopher Mings, and Captain Harman. Walked round to White
Hall, the Park being quite locked up; and I observed a house shut
up this day in the Pell Mell, where heretofore in Cromwell's time
we young men used to keep our weekly clubs.
6th. Alderman Backewell is ordered abroad upon some private
score with a great sum of money; wherein I was instrumental the
other day in shipping him away. It seems some of his creditors
have taken notice of it, and he was like to be broke yesterday in
his absence: Sir G. Carteret telling me that the King and the
kingdom must as good as fall with that man at this time; and that
he was forced to get 4000l. himself to answer Backewell's
people's occasions, or he must have broke; but committed this to
me as a great secret. I could not see Lord Brouncker, nor had
much mind, one of the great houses within two doors of him being
shut up: and Lord! the number of houses visited, which this day
I observed through the town quite round in my way by Long Lane
and London Wall. Sir W. Pen, it seems, sailed last night from
Solebay with about sixty sail of ship, and my Lord Sandwich in
the Prince and some others, it seems, going after them to
overtake them.
7th. At this time I have two tierces of Claret, two quarter
casks of Canary, and a smaller vessel of Sack; a vessel of Tent,
another of Malaga, and another of white wine, all in my wine
cellar together.
9th. I took occasion to have much discourse with Mr. Ph.
Carteret, and find him a very modest man, and I think verily of
mighty good nature, and pretty understanding. He did give me a
good account of the fight with the Dutch. Having promised Harman
yesterday, I to his house: the most observable thing I found
there to my content, was to hear him and his clerk tell me that
in this parish of Michell's Cornhill, one of the middle-most
parishes and a great one of the town, there hath, notwithstanding
this sickness, been buried of any disease, man, woman, or child,
not one for thirteen months last past; which is very strange.
And the like in a good degree in most other parishes, I hear,
saving only of the plague in them.
12th. A solemn fast-day; for the plague growing upon us.
13th. Above 700 died of the plague this week.
14th. I by water to Sir G. Carteret's, and there find my Lady
Sandwich buying things for my Lady Jem's wedding: and my Lady
Jem is beyond expectation come to Dagenham's, [Dagenhams near
Romford, now belonging to Sir Thomas Neave, Bart. This estate
was devised by Mrs. Anne Rider, only surviving child of Sir Henry
Wright, to her relative and friend Edward Carteret, Esq.,
Postmaster-General; whose daughters in 1749 sold it to Henry
Muilman, Esq.; in 1772 it was again disposed of to Mr. Neave
father of the present proprietor, who pulled down the old house
built by Sir H. W., and erected the present mansion on a
different site, Vide LYSONS'S ENVIRONS.] where Mr. Carteret is
to go to visit her to-morrow; and my proposal of waiting on him,
he being to go alone to all persons strangers to him, was well
accepted, and so I go with him. But Lord! to see how kind my
Lady Carteret is to her! Sends her most rich jewells, and
provides bedding and things of all sorts most richly for her.
15th. Mr. Carteret, and I to the ferry-place at Greenwich, and
there staid an hour crossing the water to and again to get our
coach and horses over; and by and by set out, and so toward
Dagenhams. But Lord! what silly discourse we had as to love-
matters, he being the most awkerd man ever I met with in my life
as to that business. Thither we come, and by that time it begun
to be dark, and were kindly received by Lady Wright and my Lord
Crewe. And to discourse they went, my Lord discoursing with him,
asking of him questions of travell, which he answered well enough
in a few words; but nothing to the lady from him at all. To
supper, and after supper to talk again, he yet taking no notice
of the lady. My Lord would have had me have consented to leaving
the young people together to-night, to begin their amours, his
staying being but to be little. But I advised against it, lest
the lady might be too much surprised. So they led him up to his
chamber, where I staid a little, to know how he liked the lady,
which he told me he did mightily: but Lord! in the dullest
insipid manner that ever lover did. So I bid him good night, and
down to prayers with my Lord Crewe's family, and after prayers,
my Lord and Lady Wright, and I, to consult what to do; and it was
agreed at last to have them go to church together, as the family
used to do, though his lameness was a great objection against it.
16th (Lord's day). I up, having lain with Mr. Moore in the
chaplin's chamber. And having trimmed myself, down to Mr.
Carteret; and we walked in the gallery an hour or two, it being a
most noble and pretty house that ever, for the bigness, I saw.
Here I taught him what to do: to take the lady always by the
hand to lead her, and telling him that I would find opportunity
to leave them together, he should make these and these
compliments, and also take a time to do the like to Lord Crewe
and Lady Wright. After I had instructed him, which he thanked me
for, owning that he needed my teaching him, my Lord Crewe come
down and family, the young lady among the rest; and so by coaches
to church four miles off: where a pretty good sermon, and a
declaration of penitence of a man that had undergone the
Churche's censure for his wicked life. Thence back again by
coach, Mr. Carteret having not had the confidence to take his
lady once by the hand, coming or going, which I told him of when
we come home, and he will hereafter do it. So to dinner. My
Lord excellent discourse. Then to walk in the gallery, and to
sit down. By and by my Lady Wright and I go out, (and then my
Lord Crewe, he not by design,) and lastly my Lady Creme come out,
and left the young people together. And a little pretty daughter
of my Lady Wright's most innocently come out afterwards, and shut
the door to, as if she had done it, poor child, by inspiration:
which made us without have good sport to laugh at. They together
an hour, and by and by church-time, whither he led her into the
coach and into the church, where several handsome ladies. But it
was most extraordinary hot that ever I knew it. Anon to supper,
and excellent discourse and dispute between my Lord Crewe and the
chaplin, who is a good scholler, but a nonconformist. Here this
evening I spoke with Mrs. Carter, my old acquaintance, that hath
lived with my lady these twelve or thirteen years, the sum of all
whose discourse and others for her, is, that I would get her a
good husband; which I have promised, but know not when I shall
perform. After Mr. Carteret was carried to his chamber, we to
prayers and then to bed.
17th. Up all of us, and to billiards; my Lady Wright, Mr.
Carteret, myself, and every body. By and by the young couple
left together. Anon to dinner; and after dinner Mr. Carteret
took my advice about giving to the servants 10l. among them.
Before we went, I took my Lady Jem apart, and would know how she
liked this gentleman, and whether she was under any difficulty
concerning him. She blushed, and hid her face awhile; but at
last I forced her to tell me. She answered that she could
readily obey what her father and mother had done; which was all
she could say, or I expect. So anon took leave, and for London.
In our way Mr. Carteret did give me mighty thanks for my care and
pains for him, and is mightily pleased.
18th. I was much troubled this day to hear at Westminster, how
the officers do bury the dead in the open Tuttle-fields,
pretending want of room elsewhere: whereas the new chapel
church-yard was walled-in at the publick charge in the last,
plague-time, merely for want of room and now none, but such as
are able to pay dear for it, can be buried there.
20th. Walked to Redriffe, where I hear the sickness is, and
indeed is scattered almost every where. There dying 1089 of the
plague this week. My Lady Carteret did this day give me a bottle
of plague-water home with me. I received yesterday a letter from
my Lord Sandwich, giving me thanks for my care about their
marriage business, and desiring it to be dispatched, that no
disappointment may happen therein.
21st. Late in my chamber, setting some papers in order; the
plague growing very ranging, and my apprehensions of it great.
22nd. The Duke of Albemarle being gone to dinner to my Lord of
Canterbury's, I thither, and there walked and viewed the new
hall, a new old-fashion hall as possible. Begun, and means left
for the ending of it, by Bishop Juxon. To Fox-hall, where to the
Spring garden; but I do not see one guest there, the town being
so empty of any body to come thither. I by coach home, not
meeting with but two coaches, and but two carts from White Hall
to my own house, that I could observe; and the streets mighty
thin of people. All the news is great: that we must of
necessity fall out with France, for He will side with the Dutch
against us. That alderman Backewell is gone over (which indeed he
is,) with money, and that Ostend is in our present possession.
But it is strange to see how poor Alderman Backewell is like to
be put to it in his absence, Mr. Shaw his right hand being ill.
And the Alderman's absence gives doubts to people, and I perceive
they are in great straits for money, besides what Sir G. Carteret
told me about fourteen days ago. Our fleet under my Lord
Sandwich being about the latitude 55 1/2 (which is a great
secret) to the Northward of the Texell.
23rd. To Hampton Court, where I followed the King to chapel, and
there heard a good sermon; and after sermon with my Lord
Arlington, Sir Thomas Ingram and others, spoke to the Duke about
Tangier, but not to much purpose. I was not invited any whither
to dinner, though a stranger, which did also trouble me; but yet
I must remember it is a Court, and indeed where most are
strangers: but, however, Cutler carried me to Mr. Marriott's the
house-keeper, and there we had a very good dinner and good
company among others Lilly, the painter.
24th. I find Mr. Carteret yet as backward almost in his
caresses, as he was the first day.
25th. Sad the story of the plague in the City, it growing
mightily. This day my Lord Brouncker did give me Mr. Grant's
book upon the Bills of Mortality, new printed and enlarged. This
day came a letter to me from Paris, from my Lord Hinchingbroke,
about his coming over; and I have sent this night an order from
the Duke of Albemarle for a ship of 36 guns to go to Calais to
fetch him.
26th. To Greenwich to the Park, where I heard the King and Duke
are come by water this morn from Hampton Court. They asked me
several questions. The King mightily pleased with his new
buildings there. I followed them to Castle's ship in building,
and there met Sir W. Batten, and thence to Sir G. Carteret's,
where all the morning with them; they not having any but the Duke
of Monmouth, and Sir W. Killigrew, [Vice-Chamberlain to the
Queen.] and one gentleman, and a page more. Great variety of
talk, and was often led to speak to the King and Duke. By and by
they to dinner, and all to dinner and sat down to the King saving
myself. The King having dined, he came down, and I went in the
barge with him, I sitting at the door. Down to Woolwich (and
there I just saw and kissed my wife, and saw some of her
painting, which is very curious; and away again to the King,) and
back again with him in the barge, hearing him and the Duke talk,
and seeing and observing their manner of discourse. And God
forgive me! though I admire them with all the duty possible, yet
the more a man considers and observes them, the less he finds of
difference between them and other men, though (blessed be God!)
they are both princes of great nobleness and spirits. The Duke
of Monmouth is the most skittish leaping gallant that ever I saw,
always in action, vaulting or leaping, or clambering. Sad news
of the death of so many in the parish of the plague, forty last
night. The bell always going. This day poor Robin Shaw at
Backewell's died and Backewell himself in Flanders. The King
himself asked about Shaw, and being told he was dead, said he was
very sorry for it. The sickness is got into our parish this
week, and is got, indeed, every where: so that I begin to think
of setting things in order, which I pray God enable me to put
both as to soul and body.
27th. To Hampton Court, where I saw the King and Queene set out
towards Salisbury, and after them the Duke and Duchesse, whose
hands I did kiss. And it was the first time I did ever, or did
see any body else, kiss her hand, and it was a most fine white
and fat hand. But it was pretty to see the young pretty ladies
dressed like men, in velvet coats, caps with ribbands, and with
laced bands, just like men. Only the Duchesse herself it did not
become. At home met the weekly Bill, where above 100 encreased
in the Bill, and of them, in all about 1700 of the plague, which
hath made the officers this day resolve of sitting at Deptford,
which puts me to some consideration what to do.
28th. Set out with my Lady Sandwich all alone with her with six
horses to Dagenhams; going by water to the Ferry. And a pleasant
going, and a good discourse; and when there very merry, and the
young couple now well acquainted. But Lord! to see in what fear
all the people here do live. How they are afraid of us that come
to them, insomuch that I am troubled at it, and wish myself away.
But some cause they have; for the chaplin, with whom but a week
or two ago we were here mighty high disputing, is since fallen
into a fever and dead, being gone hence to a friend's a good way
off. A sober and a healthful man. These considerations make us
all hasten the marriage, and resolve it upon Monday next.
30th. It was a sad noise to hear our bell to toll and ring so
often to-day, either for death or burials: I think five or six
times.
31st. Up; and very betimes by six o'clock at Deptford, and there
find Sir G. Carteret, and my Lady ready to go: I being in my new
coloured silk suit, and coat trimmed with gold buttons and gold
broad lace round my hands, very rich and fine. By water to the
Ferry, where, when we come, no coach there; and tide of ebb so
far spent as the horse-boat could not get off on the other side
the river to bring away the coach. So we were fain to stay there
in the unlucky Isle of Doggs, in a chill place, the morning cool,
and wind fresh, above two if not three hours to our great
discontent. Yet being upon a pleasant errand, and seeing that it
could not be helped, we did bear it very patiently; and it was
worth my observing, to see how upon these two scores, Sir G.
Carteret, the most passionate man in the world, and that was in
greatest haste to be gone, did bear with it, and very pleasant
all the while, at least not troubled much so as to fret and storm
at it. Anon the coach comes: in the mean time there coming a
news thither with his horse to go over, that told us he did come
from Islington this morning; and that Proctor the vintner of the
Miter in Wood-street, and his son, are dead this morning there,
of the plague; he having laid out abundance of money there, and
was the greatest vintner for some time in London for great
entertainments. We, fearing the canonicall hour would be past
before we got thither, did with a great deal of unwillingness
send away the licence and wedding-ring. So that when we come,
though we drove hard with six horses, yet we found them gone from
home; and going towards the church, met them coming from church,
which troubled us. But, however, that trouble was soon over;
hearing it was well done: they being both in their old clothes;
my Lord Crewe giving her, there being three coach fulls of them.
The young lady mighty sad, which troubled me; but yet I think it
was only her gravity in a little greater degree than usual. All
saluted her, but I did not till my Lady Sandwich did ask me
whether I had saluted her or no. So to dinner, and very merry we
were; but in such a sober way as never almost any thing was in so
great families: but it was much better. After dinner company
divided, some to cards, others to talk. My Lady Sandwich and I
up to settle accounts, and pay her some money. And mighty kind
she is to me, and would fain have had me gone down for company
with her to Hinchingbroke; but for my life I cannot. At night to
supper, and so to talk; and which, methought, was the most
extraordinary thing, all of us to prayers as usual, and the young
bride and bridegroom too: and so after prayers soberly to bed;
only I got into the bridegroom's chamber while he undressed
himself, and there was very merry, till he was called to the
bride's chamber, and into bed they went. I kissed the bride in
bed, and so the curtaines drawne with the greatest gravity that
could be, and so good night. But the modesty and gravity of this
business was so decent, that it was to me indeed ten times more
delightful than if it had been twenty times more merry and
jovial. Thus I ended this month with the greatest joy that ever
I did any in my life, because I have spent the greatest part of
it with abundance of joy, and honour, and pleasant journeys, and
brave entertainments, and without cost of money; and at last live
to see the business ended with great content; on all sides. Thus
we end this month, as I said, after the greatest glut of content
that ever I had; only under some difficulty because of the
plague, which grows mightily upon us, the last week being about
1700 or 1800 of the plague. My Lord Sandwich at sea with a fleet
of about 100 sail, to the Northward, expecting De Ruyter, or the
Dutch East India fleet. My Lord Hinchingbroke coming over from
France, and will meet his sister at Scott's-hall. Myself having
obliged both these families in this business very much; as both
my Lady and Sir G. Carteret and his Lady do confess exceedingly,
and the latter do also now call me cozen, which I am glad of. So
God preserve us all friends long, and continue health among us.
AUGUST 3, 1665. To Dagenhams. All the way people, citizens,
walking to and fro, enquire how the plague is in the City this
week by the Bill; which by chance, at Greenwich, I had heard was
2020 of the plague, and 3000 and odd of all diseases. By and by
met my Lord Crewe returning; Mr. Marr telling me by the way how a
maid-servant of Mr. John Wright's (who lives thereabouts) falling
sick of the plague, she was removed to an out-house, and a nurse
appointed to look to her; who, being once absent, the maid got
out of the house at the window, and run away. The nurse coming
and knocking, and having no answer, believed she was dead, and
went and told Mr. Wright so; who and his lady were in great
strait what to do to get her buried. At last resolved to go to
Burntwood, hard by, being in the parish, and there get people to
do it. But they would not; so he went home full of trouble, and
in the way met the wench walking over the common, which frighted
him worse than before; and was forced to send people to take her,
which he did; and they got one of the pest coaches and put her
into it to carry her to a pest house. And passing in a narrow
lane, Sir Anthony Browne [He commanded a troop of horse in the
Train-bands. 1662.] with his brother and some friends in the
coach, met this coach with the curtains drawn close. The brother
being a young man, and believing there might be some lady in it
that would not be seen, and the way being narrow, he thrust his
head out of his own into her coach, and to look, and there saw
somebody look very ill, and in a sick dress, and stunk mightily;
which the coachman also cried out upon. And presently they come
up to some people that stood looking after it, and told our
gallants that it was a maid of Mr. Wright's carried away sick of
the plague; which put the young gentle man into a fright had
almost cost him his life, but is now well again.
5th. I am told of a great ryott upon Thursday last in Cheapside;
Colonel Danvers, a delinquent, having been taken, and in his way
to the Tower was rescued from the captain of the guard, and
carried away; one only of the rescuers being taken.
8th. To my office a little, and then to the Duke of Albemarle's
about some business. The streets empty all the way, now even in
London, which is a sad sight. And to Westminster Hall, where
talking, hearing very sad stories from Mrs. Mumford; among
others, of Mr. Michell's son's family. And poor Will, that used
to sell us ale at the Hall-door, his wife and three children
died, all, I think, in a day. So home through the City again,
wishing I may have taken no ill in going; but I will go, I think,
no more thither. The news of De Ruyter's coming home is certain;
and told to the great disadvantage of our fleet, and the praise
of De Ruyter; but it cannot be helped.
10th. By and by to the office, where we sat all the morning; in
great trouble to see the Bill this week rise so high, to above
4000 in all, and of them above 3000 of the plague. Home, to draw
over anew my will, which I had bound myself by oath to dispatch
by tomorrow night; the town growing so unhealthy, that a man
cannot depend upon living two days.
12th. The people die so, that now it seems they are fain to
carry the dead to be buried by day-light, the nights not
sufficing to do it in. And my Lord Mayor commands people to be
within at nine at night all, as they say, that the sick may have
liberty to go abroad for ayre. There is one also dead out of one
of our ships at Deptford, which troubles us mightily; the
Providence, fire-ship, which was just fitted to go to sea. But
they tell me to-day no more sick on board. And this day W.
Bodham tells me that one is dead at Woolwich, not far from the
Rope-yard. I am told, too, that a wife of one of the groomes at
Court; is dead at Salisbury; so that the King and Queene are
speedily to be all gone to Milton, So God preserve us!
15th. It was dark before I could get home, and so land at
Church-yard stairs, where, to my great trouble, I met a dead
corps of the plague, in the narrow ally just bringing down a
little pair of stairs. But I thank God I was not much disturbed
at it. However, I shall beware of being late abroad again.
16th. To the Exchange, where I have not been a great while.
But, Lord! how sad a sight it is to see the streets empty of
people, and very few upon the 'Change. Jealous of every door
that one sees shut up, lest it should be the plague; and about us
two shops in three, if not more, generally shut up. This day I
had the ill news from Dagenhams, that my poor Lord of
Hinchingbroke his indisposition is turned to the small-pox. Poor
gentleman that he should be come from France so soon to fall
sick, and of that disease too, when he should be gone to see a
fine lady, his mistress. I am most heartily sorry for it.
18th. To Sheernesse, where we walked up and down, laying out the
ground to be taken in for a yard to lay provisions for cleaning
and repairing of ships, and a most proper place it is for the
purpose.
19th. Come letters from the King and Lord Arlington, for the
removal of our office to Greenwich. I also wrote letters, and
made myself ready to go to Sir G. Carteret, at Windsor; and
having borrowed a horse of Mr. Blackbrough, sent him to wait for
me at the Duke of Albemarle's door: when, on a sudden, a letter
comes to us from the Duke of Albemarle, to tell us that the fleet
is all come back to Solebay, and are presently to be dispatched
back again. Whereupon I presently by water to the Duke of
Albemarle to know what news; and there I saw a letter from my
Lord Sandwich to the Duke of Albemarle, and also from Sir W.
Coventry and Captain Teddiman; how my Lord having commanded
Teddiman with twenty-two ships (of which but fifteen could get
thither, and of those fifteen but eight or nine could come up to
play) to go to Bergen; where, after several messages to and fro
from the Governor of the Castle, urging that Teddiman ought not
to come thither with more than five ships, and desiring time to
think of it, all the while he suffering the Dutch ships to land
their guns to the best advantage; Teddiman on the second
presence, began to play at the Dutch ships, (whereof ten East
India-men,) and in three hours' time (the town and castle,
without any provocation, playing on our ships,) they did cut all
our cables, so as the wind being off the land, did force us to go
out, and rendered our fire-ships useless; without doing any
thing, but what hurt of course our guns must have done them: we
having lost five commanders, besides Mr. Edward Montagu and Mr.
Windham. Our fleet is come home to our great grief with not
above five weeks' dry, and six days' wet provisions however, must
go out again; and the Duke hath ordered the Soveraigne, and all
other ships ready, to go out to the fleet and strengthen them.
This news troubles us all, but cannot be helped. Having read all
this news, and received commands of the Duke with great content,
he giving me the words which to my great joy he hath several
times said to me, that his greatest reliance is upon me. And my
Lord Craven also did come out to talk with me, and told me that I
am in mighty esteem with the Duke, for which I bless God. Home;
and having given my fellow-officers an account hereof, to
Chatham, and wrote other letters. I by water to Charing-Cross,
to the post-house, and there the people tell me they are shut up;
and so I went to the new post-house, and there got a guide and
horses to Hounslow. So to Stanes, and there by this time it was
dark night, and got a guide who lost his way in the forest, till
by help of the moone, (which recompences me for all the pains I
ever took about studying of her motions,) I led my guide into the
way back again; and so we made a man rise that kept a gate, and
so he carried us to Cranborne. [One of the Lodges belonging to
the Crown in Windsor Forest.] Where in the dark I perceive an
old house new building with a great deal of rubbish, and was fain
to go up a ladder to Sir G. Carteret's chamber. And there in his
bed I sat down, and told him all my bad news, which troubled him
mightily; but yet we were very merry, and made the best of it;
and being myself weary did take leave, and after having spoken
with Mr. Fenn [Nicholas Fenne is mentioned as a Commissioner of
the Victualling Office, 1683.--Pepys MS. Letters.] in bed, I to
bed in my Lady's chamber that she uses to lie in, and where the
Duchesse of York, that now is, was born. So to sleep; being very
well, but weary, and, the better by having carried with me a
bottle of strong water; whereof now and then a sip did me good.
20th. I up and to walk forth to see the place; and I find it to
be a very noble seat in a noble forest, with the noblest prospect
towards Windsor, and round about over many countys, that can be
desired; but otherwise a very melancholy place, and little
variety save only trees. To Brainford; and there at the inn that
goes down to the waterside, I light and paid off my post-horses,
and so slipped on my shoes, and laid my things by, the tide not
serving, and to church, where a dull sermon, and many Londoners.
After church to my inn, and eat and drank, and so about seven
o'clock by water, and got between nine and ten to Queenhive,
[Queenhythe.] very dark. And I could not get my waterman to go
elsewhere for fear of the plague. Thence with a lanthorn, in
great fear of meeting of dead corpses, carrying to be buried;
but, blessed be God, met none, but did see now and then a linke
(which is the mark of them) at a distance.
22nd. I went away and walked to Greenwich, in my way seeing a
coffin with a dead body therein, dead of the plague, lying in an
open close belonging to Coome farme, which was carried out last
night, and the parish have not appointed any body to bury it; but
only set a watch there all day and night, that nobody should go
thither or come thence: this disease making us more cruel to one
another than we are to dogs.
23th. This day I am told that Dr. Burnett, my physician, is this
morning dead of the plague; which is strange, his man dying so
long ago, and his house this month open again. Now himself dead.
Poor unfortunate man!
28th. I think to take adieu to-day of the London streets. In
much the best posture I ever was in in my life, both as to the
quantity and the certainty I have of the money I am worth; having
most of it in my hand. But then this is a trouble to me what to
do with it, being myself this day going to be wholly at Woolwich;
but for the present I am resolved to venture it in an iron chest,
at least for a while.
30th, Abroad, and met with Hadley, our clerke, who, upon my
asking how the plague goes, told me it encreases much, and much
in our parish; for, says he, there died nine this week, though I
have returned but six: which is a very ill practice, and makes
me think it is so in other places; and therefore the plague much
greater than people take it to be. I went forth and walked
towards Moorefields to see (God forgive my presumption!) whether
I could see any dead corpse going to the grave; but, as God would
have it, did not. But, Lord! how every body looks, and
discourse in the street is of death, and nothing else, and few
people going up and down, that the town is like a place
distressed and forsaken.
31st. Up; and after putting several things in order to my
removal to Woolwich; the plague having a great encrease this week
beyond all expectation of almost 2000, making the general Bill
7000, odd 100; and the plague above 6000. Thus this month ends
with great sadness upon the publick, through the greatness of the
plague every where through the kingdom almost. Every day sadder
and sadder news of its encrease. In the City died this week
7496, and of them 6102 of the plague. But it is feared that the
true number of the dead this week is near 10,000; partly from the
poor that cannot be taken notice of, through the greatness of the
number, and partly from the Quakers and others that will not have
any bell ring for them. Our fleet gone out to find the Dutch, we
having about 100 sail in our fleet, and in them the Soveraigne
one; so that it is a better fleet than the former with which the
Duke was. All our fear is that the Dutch should be got in before
them; which would be a very great sorrow to the publick, and to
me particularly, for my Lord Sandwich's sake. A great deal of
money being spent, and the kingdom not in a condition to spare,
nor a parliament without much difficulty to meet to give more,
And to that; to have it said, what hath been done by our late
fleets? As to myself I am very well, only in fear of the plague,
and as much of an ague by being forced to go early and late to
Woolwich, and my family to lie their continually. My late
gettings have been very great to my great content, and am likely
to have yet a few more profitable jobbs in a little while; for
which Tangier and Sir W. Warren I am wholly obliged to.
Sept. 3, 1665 (Lord's day). Up; and put on my coloured silk suit
very fine, and my new periwigg, bought a good while since, but
durst not wear, because the plague was in Westminster when I
bought it; and it is a wonder what will be the fashion after the
plague is done, as to periwiggs, for nobody will dare to buy any
haire, for fear of the infection, that it had been cut off the
heads of people dead of the plague. My Lord Brouncker, Sir J.
Minnes, and I up to the Vestry at the desire of the Justices of
the Peace, in order to the doing something for the keeping of the
plague from growing; but Lord! to consider the madness of people
of the town, who will (because they are forbid) come in crowds
along with the dead corpses to see them buried; but we agreed on
some orders for the prevention thereof. Among other stories, one
was very passionate, methought, of a complaint brought against a
man in the town for taking a child from London from an infected
house. Alderman Hooker told us it was the child of a very able
citizen in Gracious Street, a saddler, who had buried all the
rest of his children of the plague, and himself and wife now
being shut up and in despair of escaping, did desire only to save
the life of this little child; and so prevailed to have it
received stark-naked into the arms of a friend, who brought it
(having put it into new fresh clothes) to Greenwich; where upon
hearing the story, we did agree it should be permitted to be
received and kept in the town.
4th. Walked home, my Lord Brouncker giving me a very neat cane
to walk with; but it troubled me to pass by Coome farme where
about twenty-one people have died of the plague.
5th. After dinner comes Colonel Blunt in his new chariot made
with springs; as that was of wicker, wherein a while since we
rode at his house. And he hath rode, he says, now his journey,
many miles in it with one horse, and out-drives any coach, and
out-goes any horse, and so easy, he says. So for curiosity I
went into it to try it, and up the hill to the heath, and over
the cart-ruts and found it pretty well, but not so easy as he
pretends.
6th. To London, to pack up more things; and there I saw fires
burning in the streets, as it is through the whole City, by the
Lord Mayor's order. Thence by water to the Duke of Albemarle's:
all the way fires on each side of the Thames, and strange to see
in broad daylight two or three burials upon the Bankeside, one at
the very heels of another: doubtless all of the plague; and yet
at least forty or fifty people going; along with every one of
them. The Duke mighty pleasant with me; telling me that he is
certainly informed, that the Dutch were not come home upon the
1st instant, and so he hopes our fleet may meet with them.
7th. To the Tower, and there sent for the Weekly Bill, and find
8252 dead in all, and of them 6978 of the plague; which is a most
dreadful number, and shows reason to fear that the plague hath
got that hold that it will yet continue amongst us. To Swakely
[Swakeley House, in the parish of Ickenham, Middlesex, was built
in 1638 by Sir Edmund Wright, whose daughter marrying Sir James
Harrington, one of Charles I.'s judges, he became possessed of
it, JURE UXORIS. Sir Robert Vyner Bart., to whom the property
was sold in 1665, entertained Charles II. at Guildhall, when
Lord Mayor. The house is now the residence of Thomas Clarke,
Esq., whose father in 1750 bought the estate of Mr. Lethieullier,
to whom it had been alienated by the Vyner family.--LYSONS'S
ENVIRONS.] to Sir R. Viner's. A very pleasant place, bought by
him of Sir James Harrington's lady. He took us up and down with
great respect, and showed us all his house and grounds; and it is
a place not very moderne in the garden nor house, but the most
uniforme in all that ever I saw; and some things to excess.
Pretty to see over the screene of the hall (put up by Sir J.
Harrington, a Long Parliament man) the King's head, and my Lord
of Essex [The Parliament General.] on one side, and Fairfax on
the other; and upon the other side of the screene, the parson of
the parish, and the lord of the manor and his sisters. The
window-cases, door-cases, and chimnys of all the house are
marble. He showed me a black boy that he had, that died of a
consumption, and being dead, he caused him to be dried in an
oven, and lies there entire in a box. By and by to dinner, where
his lady I find yet handsome, but hath been a very handsome
woman: now is old. Hath brought him near 100,000l. and now
lives, no man in England in greater plenty, and commands both
King and Council with his credit he gives them. After dinner Sir
Robert led us up to his long gallery, very fine, above stairs,
(and better, or such furniture I never did see.) A most pleasant
journey we had back. Povy tells me by a letter he showed me,
that the King is not, nor hath been of late, very well, but quite
out of humour; and, as some think, in a consumption, and weary of
every thing. He showed me my Lord Arlington's house that he was
born in, in a towne, called Harlington: and so carried me
through a most pleasant country to Brainford, and there put me
into my boat, and good night. So I wrapped myself warm, and by
water got to Woolwich about one in the morning.
9th. I was forced to get a bed at Captain Cocke's, where I find
Sir W. Doyly, [Sir William Doyly, of Shottisham, Norfolk,
knighted 1642, created Baronet 1663, M.P. for Yarmouth. Ob.
1677. He and Mr. Evelyn were at this time appointed
Commissioners for the care of the sick and wounded seamen and
prisoners of war.] and he and Evelyn at supper; and I with them
full of discourse of the neglect of our masters, the great
officers of State, about all business, and especially that of
money: having now some thousands prisoners kept to no purpose at
a great charge, and no money provided almost for the doing of it.
We fell to talk largely of the want of some persons understanding
to look after businesses, but all goes to rack. "For," says
Captain Cocke, "my Lord Treasurer, he minds his ease, and lets
things go how they will: If he can have his 8000l. per annum,
and a game at l'ombre, he is well. My Lord Chancellor he minds
getting of money and nothing else; and my Lord Ashly will rob the
Devil and the Alter, but he will get money if it be to be got."
But that which put us into this great melancholy, was news
brought to-day, which Captain Cocke reports as a certain truth,
that all the Dutch fleet, men-of-war and merchant East India
ships, are got every one in from Bergen the 3rd of this month,
Sunday last; which will make us all ridiculous.
10th (Lord's day). Walked home; being forced thereto by one of
my watermen falling sick yesterday, and it was God's great mercy
I did not go by water with them yesterday, for he fell sick on
Saturday night, and it is to be feared of the plague. So I sent
him away to London with his family; but another boat come to me
this morning. My wife before I come out telling me the ill news
that she hears that her father is very ill, and then I told her I
feared of the plague, for that the house is shut up. And so she
much troubled, and did desire me to send them something and I
said I would, and will do so. But before I come out there
happened news to come to me by an expresse from Mr. Coventry,
telling the most happy news of my Lord Sandwich's meeting with
part of the Dutch; his taking two of their East India ships, and
six or seven others, and very good prizes: and that he is in
search of the rest of the fleet, which he hopes to find upon the
Well-bancke, with the loss only of the Hector, poor Captn.
Cuttle. To Greenwich, and there sending away Mr. Andrews, I to
Captn. Cocke's, where I find my Lord Brouncker and his mistress,
[Mrs. Williams.] and Sir J. Minnes. Where we supped; (there was
also Sir W. Doyly and Mr. Evelyn,) but the receipt of this news
did put us all into such an extasy of joy, that it inspired into
Sir J. Minnes and Mr. Evelyn such a spirit of mirth, that in all
my life I never met with so merry a two hours as our company this
night was. Among other humours, Mr. Evelyn's repeating of some
verses made up of nothing but the various acceptations of MAY and
CAN, and doing it so aptly upon occasion of something of that
nature, and so fast, did make us all die almost with laughing,
and did so stop the mouth of Sir J. Minnes in the middle of all
his mirth, (and in a thing agreeing with his own manner of
genius) that I never saw any man so out-done in all my life; and
Sir J. Minnes's mirth too to see himself out-done, was the crown
of all our mirth. In this humour we sat till about ten at night,
and so my Lord and his mistress home, and we to bed.
13th. My Lord Brouncker, Sir J. Minnes, and I took boat, and in
my Lord's coach to Sir W. Hickes's, [Sir William Hickes, created
a baronet 1619. Ob. 1680, aged 84. His country-seat was called
Ruckholts, or Rookwood, at Layton, in Essex, where he entertained
King Charles II. after hunting.] whither by and by my Lady
Batten and Sir William comes. It is a good seat, with a fair
grove of trees by it, and the remains of a good garden; but so
let to run to ruine, both house and every thing in and about it,
so ill furnished and miserably looked after, I never did see in
all my life. Not so much as a latch to his dining-room door;
which saved him nothing, for the wind blowing into the room for
want thereof, flung down a great bow pott, that stood upon the
side-table, and that fell upon some Venice glasses, and did him a
crown's worth of hurt. He did give us the meanest dinner, (of
beef shoulder and umbles of venison which he takes away from the
keeper of the Forest, [Of which he was Ranger.] and a few
pigeons, and all in the meanest manner,) that ever I did see, to
the basest degree. I was only pleased at a very fine picture of
the Queene-Mother, when she was young, by Vandike; a very good
picture, and a lovely face.
14th. To the Duke of Albemarle, where I find a letter of the
12th. from Solebay, from my Lord Sandwich, of the fleet's meeting
with about eighteen more of the Dutch fleet, and his taking of
most of them; and the messenger says, they had taken three after
the letter was wrote and sealed; which being twenty-one, and the
fourteen took the other day, is forty-five sail; some of which
are good, and others rich ships. And having taken a copy of my
Lord's letter, I away toward the 'Change, the plague being all
thereabouts. Here my news was highly welcome, and I did wonder
to see the 'Change so full, I believe 200 people; but not a man
or merchant of any fashion, but plain men all. And Lord! to see
how I did endeavour all I could to talk with as few as I could,
there being now no observation of shutting up of houses infected,
that to be sure we do converse and meet with people that have the
plague upon them. I spent some thoughts upon the occurrences of
this day, giving matter for as much content on one hand and
melancholy on another, as any day in all my life. For the first;
the finding of my money and plate, and all safe at London, and
speeding in my business of money this day. The hearing of this
good news to such excess, after so great a despair of my Lord's
doing any thing this year; adding to that, the decrease of 500
and more, which is the first decrease we have yet had in the
sickness since it begun: and great hopes that the next week it
will be greater. Then, on the other side, my finding that though
the Bill in general is abated, yet the City within the walls is
encreased, and likely to continue so, and is close to our house
there. My meeting dead corpses of the plague, carried to be
buried close to me at noon-day through the City in Fanchurch-
street. To see a person sick of the sores, carried close by me
by Gracechurch in a hackney-coach. My finding the Angel tavern,
at the lower end of Tower-bill, shut up, and more than that, the
alehouse at the Tower-stairs, and more than that, that the person
was then dying of the plague when I was last there, a little
while ago, at night. To hear that poor Payne, my waiter, had
buried a child, and is dying himself. To hear that a labourer I
sent but the other day to Dagenhams, to know how they did there,
is dead of the plague; and that one of my own watermen, that
carried me daily, fell sick as soon as he had landed me on Friday
morning last, when I had been all night upon the water, (and I
believe he did get his infection that day at Brainford) and is
now dead of the plague. To hear that Captain Lambert and Cuttle
are killed in the taking these ships; and that Mr. Sidney
Montague is sick of a desperate fever at my Lady Carteret's, at
Scott's-hall. To hear that Mr. Lewes hath another daughter sick.
And, lastly, that both my servants, W. Hewer, and Tom Edwards,
have lost their fathers, both in St. Sepulchre's parish of the
plague this week, do put me into great apprehension of
melancholy, and with good reason.
17th. To Gravesend in the Bezan Yacht, and there come to anchor
for all night.
18th. By break of day we come to within sight of the fleet,
which was a very fine thing to behold, being above 100 ships,
great and small; with the flag ships of each squadron,
distinguished by their several flags on their main, fore, or
mizen masts. Among others, the Soveraigne, Charles, and Prince;
in the last of which my Lord Sandwich was. And so we come on
board, and we and my Lord Sandwich newly up in his night-gown
very well. He received us kindly; telling us the state of the
fleet, lacking provisions, having no beer at all, nor have had
most of them these three weeks or month, and but few days' dry
provisions. and indeed he tells us that he believes no fleet was
ever set to sea in so ill condition of provision, as this was
when it went out last. He did inform us in the business of
Bergen, so as to let us see how the judgment of the world is not
to be depended on in things they know not; it being a place just
wide enough, and not so much hardly, for ships to go through to
it, the yard-armes sticking in the very rocks. He do not, upon
his best enquiry, find reason to except against any part of the
management of the business by Teddiman; he having staid treating
no longer than during the night, whiles he was fitting himself to
fight, bringing his ship a-breast, and not a quarter of an hour
longer, (as it is said); nor could more ships have been brought
to play, as is thought. Nor could men be landed, there being
10,000 men effectively always in armes of the Danes; nor, says
he, could we expect more from the Dane than he did, it being
impossible to set fire on the ships but it must burn the towne.
But that wherein the Dane did amisse, is that he did assist them,
the Dutch, all the time, while he was treating with us, when he
should have been newtrall to us both. But, however, he did
demand but the treaty of us; which is, that we should not come
with more than five ships. A flag of truce is said, and
confessed by my Lord, that he believes it was hung out; but while
they did hang it out, they did shoot at us; so that it was not
seen, or perhaps they would not cease upon sight of it, while
they continued actually in action against us. But the main thing
my Lord wonders at, and condemns the Dane for, is, that the
blockhead, who is so much in debt to the Hollander, having now a
treasure more by much than all his Crowne was worth, and that
which would for ever have beggared the Hollander, should not take
this time to break with the Hollander, and thereby pay his debt
which must have been forgiven him, and have got the greatest
treasure into his hands that ever was together in the world. By
and by my Lord took me aside to discourse of his private matters,
who was very free with me touching the ill condition of the fleet
that it hath been in, and the good fortune that he hath had, and
nothing else that these prizes are to be imputed to. He also
talked with me about Mr. Coventry's dealing with him in sending
Sir W. Pen away before him, which was not fair nor kind; but that
he hath mastered and cajoled Sir W. Pen, that he hath been able
to do nothing in the fleet, but been obedient to him; but withal
tells me he is a man that is but of very mean parts, and a fellow
not to be lived with, so false and base he is; which I know well
enough to be true, and did, as I had formerly done, give my Lord
my knowledge of him. By and by was called a Council of Warr on
board, when comes Sir W. Pen there, and Sir Christopher Mings,
[The son of a shoemaker, bred to the sea service, and rose to the
rank of an Admiral. He was killed in the naval action with the
Dutch, June 1666.] Sir Edward Spragg, Sir Jos. Jordan,
[Distinguished himself as an admiral in the battle of Soleby, and
on other Occasions.] Sir Thomas Teddiman, and Sir Roger
Cuttance. So to our Yacht again, having seen many of my friends
there, and continued till we come into Chatham river.
20th. To Lambeth. But, Lord! what a sad time it is to see no
boats upon the River; and grass grows all up and down White Hall
court, and nobody but poor wretches in the streets! and, which
is worst of all, the Duke showed us the number of the plague this
week, brought in the last night from the Lord Mayor; that it is
encreased about 600 more than the last, which is quite contrary
to our hopes and expectations, from the coldness of the late
season. For the whole general number is 8297, and of them the
plague 7165; which is more in the whole by above 50, than the
biggest Bill yet: which is very grievous to us all.
21st. To Nonsuch, to the Exchequer, by appointment and walked up
and down the house and park; and a fine place it hath heretofore
been, and a fine prospect about the house. A great; walk of an
elme and a walnutt set one after another in order. And all the
house on the outside filled with figures of stories, and good
painting of Rubens' or Holben's doing. And one great thing is,
that most of the house is covered, I mean the post, and quarters
in the walls, with lead, and gilded. I walked also into the
ruined garden.
22nd. At Blackwell. Here is observable what Johnson tells us,
that in digging the late Docke, they did 12 feet under ground
find perfect trees over-covered with earth. Nut trees, with the
branches and the very nuts upon them; some of whose nuts he
showed us. Their shells black with age, and their kernell, upon
opening, decayed, but their shell perfectly hard as ever. And a
yew tree, (upon which the very ivy was taken up whole about it,)
which upon cutting; with an addes we found to be rather harder
than the living tree usually is. Among other discourse
concerning long life, Sir J. Minnes saying that his great-grand-
father was alive in Edward the Vth.'s time; my Lord Sandwich did
tell us how few there have been of his family since King Harry
the VIIIth. that is to say, the then Chiefe Justice, [Sir
Edward Montagu, ob. 1556.] and his son and the Lord Montagu, who
was father [I think this should be brother, as Edward first Lord
Montagu and Sir Sidney Montagu were both sons of the second Sir
Edward Montagu.] to Sir Sidney, [Master of the Requests to
Charles 1st.] who was his father. And yet, what is more
wonderfull, he did assure us from the mouth of my Lord Montagu
himself, that in King James's time, (when he had a mind to get
the King to cut off the entayle of some land which was given in
Harry the VIIIth.'s time to the family, with the remainder in the
Crowne;) he did answer the King in showing how unlikely it was
that ever it could revert to the Crown, but that it would be a
present convenience to him; and did show that at that time there
were 4000 persons derived from the very body of the Chiefe
Justice. It seems the number of daughters in the family had been
very great, and they too had most of them many children, and
grandchildren, and great-grand-children. This he tells as a most
known and certain truth.
25th. Found ourselves come to the fleet, and so aboard the
Prince, and there, after a good while in discourse, we did agree
a bargain of 5000l. for my Lord Sandwich for silk, cinnamon,
nutmegs, and indigo. And I was near signing to an undertaking
for the payment of the whole sum: but I did by chance escape it,
having since, upon second thoughts, great cause to be glad of it,
reflecting upon the craft and not good condition, it may be of,
Captain Cocke.
27th. To Captain Cocke's, and (he not yet come from town) to Mr.
Evelyn, where much company; and thence in his coach with him to
the Duke of Albemarle by Lambeth, who was in a mighty pleasant
humour; and tells us that the Dutch do stay abroad, and our fleet
must go out again, or be ready to do so. Here we got several
things ordered as we desired for the relief of the prisoners, and
sick and wounded men. Here I saw this week's Bill of Mortality,
wherein, blessed be God! there is above 1800 decrease, being the
first considerable decrease we have had. Most excellent
discourse with Mr. Evelyn touching all manner of learning;
wherein I find him a very fine gentleman, and particularly of
paynting, in which he tells me the beautifull Mrs. Middleton is
rare, and his own wife do brave things.
29th. Sir Martin Noell [He had been a Farmer of the Excise and
Customs before the Restoration. The messenger described in
Hudibras, Part III. Canto II. 1407, as disturbing the Cabal with
the account of the mobs burning Rumps, is said to have keen
intended for Sir Martin Noell.] is this day dead of the plague
in London.
October 1, 1665. Embarked on board the Bezan, and come to the
fleet about two of the clock. My Lord received us mighty kindly,
and did discourse to us of the Dutch fleet being abroad, eighty-
five of them still.
2nd. Having sailed all night, (and I do wonder how they in the
dark could find the way) we got by morning to Gillingham, and
thence all walked to Chatham; and there with Commissioner Pett
viewed the Yard; and among other things, a team of four horses
come close by us, he being with me, drawing a piece of timber
that I am confident one man could easily have carried upon his
back, I made the horses be taken away, and a man or two to take
the timber away with their hands.
3rd. Sir W. Batten is gone this day to meet to adjourne the
Parliament to Oxford. This night I hear that of our two watermen
that used to carry our letters, and were well on Saturday last,
one is dead, and the other dying sick of the plague; the plague,
though decreasing elsewhere, yet being greater about the Tower
and thereabouts.
4th. This night comes Sir George Smith to see me at the office,
and tells me how the plague is decreased this week 740, for which
God be praised! but that it encreases at our end of the town
still.
5th. Read a book of Mr. Evelyn's translating and sending me as a
present, about directions for gathering a Library; but the book
is above my reach, but his epistle to my Lord Chancellor is a
very fine piece. Then to Mr. Evelyn's to discourse of our
confounded business of prisoners, and sick and wounded seamen,
wherein he and we are so much put out of order. And here he
showed me his gardens, which are for variety of evergreens, and
hedge of holly, the finest things I ever saw in my life. Thence
in his coach to Greenwich, and there to my office, all the way
having fine discourse of trees and the nature of vegetables.
7th. Did business, though not much, at the office; because of
the horrible crowd and lamentable moan of the poor seamen that
lie starving in the streets for lack of money. Which do trouble
and perplex me to the heart; and more at noon when we were to go
through them, for then above a whole hundred of them followed us;
some cursing, some swearing, and some praying to us. At night
come two waggons from Rochester with more goods from Captain
Cocke; and in housing them come two of the Custom-house, and did
seize them: but I showed them my TRANSIRE. However, after some
angry words, we locked them up, and sealed up the key, and did
give it to the constable to keep till Monday, and so parted.
But, Lord! to think how the poor constable come to me in the
dark going home; "Sir," says he, "I have the key, and if you
would have me do any service for you, send for me betimes to-
morrow morning, and I will do what you would have me." Whether
the fellow do this out of kindness or knavery, I cannot tell; but
it is pretty to observe. Talking with him in the high way, come
close by the bearers with a dead corpse of the plague; but, Lord!
to see what custom is, that I am come almost to think nothing of
it.
8th. To the office, where ended my business with the Captains;
and I think of twenty-two ships we shall make shift to get out
seven. (God help us! men being sick, or provisions lacking.)
9th. Called upon by Sir John Shaw to whom I did give a civil
answer about our prize goods, that all his dues as one of the
Farmers of the Customes are paid, and showed him our TRANSIRE,
with which he was satisfied, and parted.
11th, We met Mr. Seamour, one of the Commissioners for Prizes,
and a Parliament-man, and he was mighty high, and had now seized
our goods on their behalf; and he mighty imperiously would have
all forfeited. But I could not but think it odd that a
Parliament-man, in a serious discourse before such persons as we
and my Lord Brouncker, and Sir John Minnes, should quote
Hudibras, as being the book I doubt he hath read most.
12th. Good news this week that there are about 600 less dead of
the plague than the last.
13th. Sir Jer. Smith; [A distinguished Naval Officer, made a
Commissioner of the Navy, vice Sir W. Pen, 1669.] to see me in
his way to Court, and a good man he is, and one that I must keep
fair with.
14th. My heart and head to-night is full of the Victualling
business, being overjoyed and proud at my success in my proposal
about it, it being read before the King, Duke, and the Caball
with complete applause and satisfaction. This Sir G. Carteret
and Sir W. Coventry both writ me. My own proper accounts are in
great disorder, having been neglected about a month. This, and
the fear of the sickness, and providing for my family, do fill my
head very full, besides the infinite business of the office, and
nobody here to look after it but myself.
15th. The Parliament, it seems, have voted the King 1,250,000l.
at 50,000l. per month, tax for the war; and voted to assist the
King against the Dutch, and all that shall adhere to them; and
thanks to be given him for his care of the Duke of York, which
last is a very popular vote on the Duke's behalf. The taxes of
the last assessment, which should have been in good part
gathered, are not yet laid, and that even in part of the City of
London; and the Chimny-money comes almost to nothing, nor any
thing else looked after.
16th. I walked to the Tower; but, Lord! how empty the streets
are and melancholy, so many poor sick people in the streets full
of sores; and so many sad stories overheard as I walk, every body
talking of this dead, and that man sick, and so many in this
place, and so many in that. And they tell me that, in
Westminster, there is never a physician and but one apothecary
left, all being dead; but that there are great hopes of a great
decrease this week: God send it! At the Tower found my Lord
Duke and Duchesse at dinner; so I sat down. And much good cheer,
the Lieutenant and his lady, and several officers with the Duke.
But, Lord! to hear the silly talk was there, would make one mad;
the Duke having none almost but fools about him. I have received
letters from my Lord Sandwich today, speaking very high about the
prize goods, that he would have us to fear nobody, but be very
confident in what we have done, and not to confess any fault or
doubt of what he hath done; for the King hath allowed it, and do
now confirm it, and send orders, as he says, for nothing to be
disturbed that his Lordshipp hath ordered therein as to the
division of the goods to the fleet which do comfort us. Much
talk there is of the Chancellor's speech and the King's at the
Parliament's meeting, which are very well liked; and that we
shall certainly, by their speeches, fall out with France at this
time, together with the Dutch, which will find us work.
26th. Sir Christopher Mings and I together by water to the
Tower; and I find him a very witty well-spoken fellow, and mighty
free to tell his parentage, being a shoemaker's son. I to the
'Change, where I hear how the French have taken two and sunk one
of our merchant-men in the Straights, and carried the ships to
Toulon: so that there is no expectation but we must fall out
with them. The 'Change pretty full, and the town begins to be
lively again, though the streets very empty, and most shops shut.
27th. The Duke of Albemarle proposed to me from Mr. Coventry,
that I should be Surveyor-Generall of the Victualling business,
which I accepted. But, indeed, the terms in which Mr. Coventry
proposes it for me are the most obliging that ever I could expect
from any man, and more; he saying that I am the fittest man in
England, and that he is sure, if I will undertake, I will perform
it: and that it will be also a very desirable thing that I might
have this encouragement, my encouragement in the Navy alone being
in no wise proportionable to my pains or deserts. This, added to
the letter I had three days since from Mr. Southerne, [Secretary
to Sir W. Coventry.] signifying that the Duke of York had in his
master's absence opened my letters, and commanded him to tell me
that he did approve of my being the Surveyor-General, do make me
joyful beyond myself that I cannot express it, to see that as I
do take pains, so God blesses me, and hath sent me masters that
do observe that I take pains.
28th. The Parliament hath given the Duke of York 120,000l., to
be paid him after 1,250,000l. is gathered upon the tax which they
have now given the King. He tells me that the Dutch have lately
launched sixteen new ships; all which is great news. The King
and Court, they say, have now finally resolved to spend nothing
upon clothes, but what is of the growth of England; which, if
observed, will be very pleasing to the people, and very good for
them.
29th. In the street did overtake and almost run upon two women
crying and carrying a man's coffin between them. I suppose the
husband, of one of them, which, methinks, is a sad thing.
31st. Meeting yesterday the Searchers with their rods in their
hands coming from Captain Cocke's house, I did overhear them say
that his Black did not die of the plague. About nine at night I
come home, and anon comes Mrs. Coleman [Probably the person
mentioned in the following extract from MALONE'S ACCOUNT OF THE
ENGLISH STAGE. "In 1659 or 60, in imitation of foreign theatres,
women were first introduced on the scene. In 1656, indeed, Mrs.
Coleman, wife to Mr. Edward Coleman, represented Ianthe in the
first part of the Siege of Rhodes: but the little she had to say
was spoken in recitative."] and her husband, and she sung very
finely, though her voice is decayed as to strength but mighty
sweet though soft, and a pleasant jolly woman, and in mighty good
humour. She sung part of the Opera, though she would not own she
did get any of it without book in order to the stage. Thus we
end the month. The whole number of deaths being 1388, and of
them of the plague, 1031. Want of money in the Navy puts every
thing out of order. Men grow mutinous; and nobody here to mind
the business of the Navy but myself. I in great hopes of my
place of Surveyor-General of the Victualling, which will bring me
300l. per annum.
November 1, 1665. My Lord Brouncker with us to Mrs. William's
lodgings, and Sir W. Batten, Sir Edmund Pooly, [M.P. for Bury St.
Edmunds, and in the list of proposed Knights of the Royal Oak for
Suffolk.] and others; and there, it being my Lord's birth-day,
had every one a green riband tied in our hats very foolishly; and
methinks mighty disgracefully for my Lord to have his folly so
open to all the world with this woman.
5th. By water to Deptford, and there made a visit to Mr. Evelyn,
who, among other things, showed me most excellent painting in
little; in distemper, Indian incke, water colours: graveing;
and, above all, the whole secret of mezzo-tinto, and the manner
of it, which is very pretty, and good things done with it. He
read to me very much also of his discourse, he hath been many
years and now is about, about Gardenage; which will be a most
noble and pleasant piece. He read me part of a play or two of
his making, very good, but not as he conceits them, I think, to
be. He showed me his Hortus Hyemalis; leaves laid up in a book
of several plants kept dry, which preserve colour, however, and
look very finely, better than an herball. In fine, a most
excellent person he is, and must be allowed a little for a little
conceitedness; but he may well be so, being a man so much above
others. He read me, though with too much gusto, some little
poems of his own that were not transcendant, yet one or two very
pretty epigrams; among others, of a lady looking in at a grate,
and being pecked at by an eagle that was there.
6th. Sir G. Carteret and I did walk an hour in the garden before
the house, talking of my Lord Sandwich's business; what enemies
he hath, and how they have endeavoured to bespatter him: and
particularly about his leaving of 30 ships of the enemy, when Pen
would have gone, and my Lord called him back again: which is
most false. However, he says, it was purposed by some hot-heads
in the House of Commons, at the same time when they voted a
present to the Duke of York, to have voted 10,000l. to the
Prince, and half-a-crowne to my Lord of Sandwich; but nothing
come of it. But, for all this, the King is most firme to my
Lord, and so is my Lord Chancellor, and my Lord Arlington. The
Prince, in appearance, kind; the Duke of York silent, says no
hurt; but admits others to say it in his hearing. Sir W. Pen,
the falsest rascal that ever was in the world; and that this
afternoon the Duke of Albemarle did tell him that Pen was a very
cowardly rogue, and one that hath brought all these rogueish
fanatick Captains into the fleet, and swears he should never go
out with the fleet again. That Sir W. Coventry is most kind to
Pen still; and says nothing not do any thing openly to the
prejudice of my Lord. He agrees with me, that it is impossible
for the King to set out a fleet again the next year; and that he
fears all will come to ruine, there being no money in prospect
but these prizes, which will bring, it may be 20,000l., but that
will signify nothing in the world for it.
9th. The Bill of Mortality, to all our griefs, is encreased 399
this week, and the encrease generally through the whole City and
suburbs, which makes us all sad.
14th. Captain Cocke and I in his coach through Kent-streete, (a
sad place through the plague, people sitting sick and with
plaisters about them in the street begging.)
15th. The plague, blessed be God! is decreased 400; making the
whole this week but 1300 and odd: for which the Lord be praised!
16th. To Eriffe; where after making a little visit to Madam
Williams, she did give me information of W. How's having bought
eight bags of precious stones taken from about the Dutch Vice-
admirall's neck, of which there were eight dyamonds which cost
him 4000l. sterling, in India, and hoped to have made 12,000l.
here for them. And that this is told by one that sold him one of
the bags, which hath nothing but rubys in it, which he had for
35s.; and that it will be proved he hath made 125l., of one stone
that he bought. This she desired, and I resolved I would give my
Lord Sandwich notice of. So I on board my Lord Brouncker; and
there he and Sir Edmund Pooly carried me down into the hold of
the India shipp, and there did show me the greatest wealth lie in
confusion that a man can see in the world. Pepper scattered
through every chink, you trod upon it; and in cloves and nutmegs,
I walked above the knees: whole rooms full. And silk in bales,
and boxes of copper-plate, one of which I saw opened. Having
seen this, which was as noble a sight as ever I saw in my life, I
away on board the other ship in despair to get the pleasure-boat
of the gentlemen there to carry me to the fleet. They were Mr.
Ashburnham [John Ashburnham, a Groom of the Bedchamber to
Charles I. whom he attended during the whole of the Rebellion,
and afterwards filled the same post under Charles II. He was in
1661 M.P, for Sussex; and ob. 1671.] and Colonell Wyndham; but
pleading the King's business, they did presently agree I should
have it. So I presently on board, and got under sail, and had a
good bedd by the shift, of Wyndham's; and so sailed all night,
and got down to Quinbrough water, where all the great ships are
now come, and there on board my Lord, and was soon received with
great content. And after some little discourse, he and I on
board Sir W. Pen; and there held a council of Warr about many
wants of the fleet; and so followed my Lord Sandwich, who was
gone a little before me on board the Royall James. And there
spent an hour, my Lord playing upon the gittarr, which he now
commends above all musique in the world. As an infinite secret,
my Lord tells me, the factions are high between the King and the
Duke, and all the Court are in an uproar with their loose amours;
the Duke of York being in love desperately with Mrs. Stewart.
Nay, that the Duchesse herself is fallen in love with her new
Master of the Horse, one Harry Sidney, [Younger son of Robert
Earl of Leicester, created Earl of Romney, 1694. He was Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland, Master of the Ordnance, and Warden of the
Cinque Ports in the reign of King William. Ob. 1704, unmarried.]
and another, Harry Savill. [Henry Saville, some time one of the
Grooms of the Bedchamber to the Duke of York.] So that God knows
what will be the end of it. And that the Duke is not so
obsequious as he need to be, but very high of late; and would be
glad to be in the head of an army as Generall; and that it is
said that he do propose to go and command under the King of
Spayne, in Flanders. That his amours to Mrs. Stewart are told
the King. So that all is like to be nought among them.
22nd. I was very glad to hear that the plague is come very low;
that is, the whole under 1000, and the plague 800 and odd: and
great hopes of a further decrease, because of this day's being a
very exceeding hard frost, and continues freezing. This day the
first of the Oxford Gazettes come out, which is very pretty, full
of news, and no folly in it. Wrote by Williamson. It pleased me
to have it demonstrated, that a purser without professed cheating
is a professed loser, twice as much as he gets.
23rd. Captn. Cuttance tells me how W. How is laid by the heels,
and confined to the Royall Katharin, and his things all seized.
24th. To the 'Change, where very busy with several people, and
mightily glad to see the 'Change so full, and hopes of another
abatement still the next week. Visited Mr. Evelyn, where most
excellent discourse with him; among other things he showed me a
lieger of a Treasurer of the Navy, his great grandfather, just
100 years old; which I seemed mighty fond of, and he did present
me with it, which I take as a great rarity; and he hopes to find
me more, older than it. He also showed us several letters of the
old Lord of Leicester's [There are some letters and papers
answering to this description in the Pepysian Library, and
amongst them an account of the Coroner's Inquest held upon the
Countess of Leicester at Cumnor.] in Queen Elizabeth's time,
under the very hand-writing of Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Mary,
Queen of Scotts; and others, very venerable names. But, Lord!
how poorly, methinks, they wrote in those days, and in what plain
uncut paper.
27th. With Sir G. Carteret, who tells me that my Lord hath
received still worse and worse usage from some base people about
the Court. But the King is very kind, and the Duke do not appear
the contrary; and my Lord Chancellor swore to him "by -- I will
not forsake my Lord of Sandwich." I into London, it being dark
night, by a hackny coach; the first I have durst to go in many a
day, and with great pain now for fear. But it being unsafe to go
by water in the dark and frosty cold, and unable being weary with
my morning walk to go on foot, this was my only way. Few people
yet in the streets, nor shops open, here and there twenty in a
place almost; though not above five or six o'clock at night.
30th. Great joy we have this week in the weekly Bill, it being
come to 544 in all, and but 333 of the plague so that we are
encouraged to get to London soon as we can. And my father writes
as great news of joy to them, that he saw York's waggon go again
this week to London, and full of passengers; and tells me that my
aunt Bell hath been dead of the plague these seven weeks.
December 3, 1665. To Captn. Cocke's, and there dined with him,
and Colonell Wyndham, a worthy gentleman, whose wife was nurse to
the present King, and one that while she lived governed him and
every thing else, as Cocke says, as a minister of state; the old
King putting mighty weight and trust upon her. They talked much
of matters of State and persons, and particularly how my Lord
Barkeley hath all along been a fortunate, though a passionate and
but weak man as to policy; but as a kinsman brought in and
promoted by my Lord of St. Alban's, and one that is the greatest
vapourer in the world, this Colonell Wyndham says; and to whom
only, with Jacke Ashburne [This should be Ashburnham.] and
Colonel Legg, [William Legge, Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles
I., and father to the first Lord Dartmouth. He was M.P. for
Southampton. Ob, 1672.] the King's removal to the Isle of Wight
from Hampton Court was communicated; and (though betrayed by
their knavery, or at best by their ignorance, insomuch that they
have all solemnly charged one another with their failures
therein, and have been at daggers-drawing publickly about it.)
yet now none greater friends in the world.
4th. Upon the 'Change to-day Colvill tells me, from Oxford, that
the King in person hath justified my Lord Sandwich to the highest
degree; and is right in his favour to the uttermost.
6th. Up betimes, it being fast-day; and by water to the Duke of
Albemarle, who come to town from Oxford last night. He is mighty
brisk, and very kind to me, and asks my advice principally in
every thing. He surprises me with the news that my Lord Sandwich
goes Embassador to Spayne speedily; though I know not whence this
arises, yet I am heartily glad of it. The King hath done my Lord
Sandwich all the right imaginable, by showing him his countenance
before all the world on every occasion, to remove thoughts of
discontent; and he is to go Embassador, and the Duke of York is
made generall of all forces by land and sea and the Duke of
Albemarle, lieutenant-generall.
8th. To White Hall, where we found Sir G. Carteret with the
Duke, and also Sir G. Downing, whom I had not seen in many years
before. He greeted me very kindly, and I him; though methinks I
am touched that it should be said that he was my master
heretofore, as doubtless he will.
9th. My Lord Brouncker and I dined with the Duke of Albemarle.
At table the Duchesse, a very ill-looked woman, complaining of
her Lord's going to sea the next year, said these cursed words:
"If my Lord had been a coward he had gone to sea no more: it may
be then he might have been excused, and made an embassador,"
(meaning my Lord Sandwich). This made me mad, and I believed she
perceived my countenance change, and blushed herself very much.
I was in hopes others had not minded it, but my Lord Brouncker,
after we were come away, took notice of the words to me; with
displeasure.
11th. That I may remember it the more particularly, I thought
fit to insert this memorandum of Temple's discourse this night
with me, which I took in writing from his mouth. Before the Harp
and Crosse money was cried down, he and his fellow goldsmiths did
make some particular trials what proportion that money bore to
the old King's money, and they found that generally it come to,
one with another, about 25l. in every 100l. Of this money there
was upon the calling of it in, 650,000l. at least brought into
the Tower; and from thence he computes that the whole money of
England must be full 16,250,000l. But for all this believes that
there is about 30,000,000l.; he supposing that about the King's
coming in (when he begun to observe the quantity of the new
money) people begun to be fearful of this money's being cried
down, and so picked it out and set it a-going as fast as they
could, to be rid of it; and he thinks 30,000,000l. the rather,
because if there were but 16,250,000l. the King having
2,000,000l. every year, would have the whole money of the kingdom
in his hands in eight years. He tells me about 350,000l.
sterling was coined out of the French money, the proceeds of
Dunkirke; so that, with what was coined of the Cross money, there
is new coined about 1,000,000l. besides the gold, which is
guessed at 500,000l. He tells me, that, though the King did
deposit the French money in pawn all the while for the 350,000l.
he was forced to borrow thereupon till the tools could be made
for the new Minting in the present form. Yet the interest he
paid for that time come to 35,000l. Viner having to his
knowledge 10,000l. for the use of 100,000l. of it.
13th. Away to the 'Change, and there hear the ill news, to my
great and all our great trouble, that the plague is encreased
again this week, notwithstanding there hath been a long day or
two great frosts; but we hope it is only the effects of the late
close warm weather, and if the frost continue the next week, may
fall again; but the towne do thicken so much with people, that it
is much if the plague do not grow again upon us.
15th. Met with Sir James Bunch; [Probably James Bunce, an
Alderman of London, 1660.] "This is the time for you," says he,
"that; were for Oliver heretofore; you are full of employment,
and we poor Cavaliers sit still and can get nothing;" which was a
pretty reproach I thought, but answered nothing to it, for fear
of making it worse.
22nd. I to my Lord Brouncker's, and there spent the evening by
my desire in seeing his Lordship open to pieces and make up again
his watch, thereby being taught what I never knew before; and it
is a thing very well worth my having seen, and am mightily
pleased and satisfied with it.
25th (Christmas day). To church in the morning, and there saw a
wedding in the church, which I have not seen many a day; and the
young people so merry one with another, and strange to see what
delight we married people have to see these poor fools decoyed
into our condition, every man and woman gazing and smiling at
them.
26th. Saw some fine writing work and flourishing of Mr. Hore,
with one that I knew long ago, an acquaintance of Mr. Tomson's,
at Westminster, that is this man's clerk. It is the story of the
several Archbishops of Canterbury, engrossed in vellum, to hang
up in Canterbury Cathedrall in tables, in lieu of the old ones,
which are almost worn out.
30th. All the afternoon to my accounts; and there find myself,
to my great joy, a great deal worth above 4000l. for which the
Lord be praised! and is principally occasioned by my getting
500l. of Cocke, for my profit in his bargains of prize goods, and
from Mr. Gauden's making me a present of 500l. more, when I paid
him 800l. for Tangier.
31st. Thus ends this year, to my great joy, in this manner. I
have raised my estate from 1300l. in this year to 4400l. I have
got myself greater interest I think by my diligence, and my
imployments encreased by that of Treasurer for Tangier, and
Surveyor of the Victualls. It is true we have gone through great
melancholy because of the great plague, and I put to great
charges by it, by keeping my family long at Woolwich, and myself
and another part of my family, my clerks, at my charge at
Greenwich, and a maid at London; but I hope the King will give us
some satisfaction for that. But now the plague is abated almost
to nothing, and I intending to get to London as fast as I can.
The Dutch war goes on very ill, by reason of lack of money;
having none to hope for, all being put into disorder by a new Act
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