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June
1st. Having taken our leaves of Sir W. Batten and my Lady, who
are gone this morning to keep their Whitsuntide, Sir W. Pen and I and
Mr. Gauden by water to Woolwich, and there went from ship to ship to give
order for and take notice of their forwardness to go forth, and then to
Deptford and did the like, having dined at Woolwich with Captain Poole
at the tavern there. From Deptford we walked to Redriffe, calling at the
half-way house, and there come into a room where there was infinite of
new cakes placed that are made against Whitsuntide, and there we were
very merry. By water home, and there did businesses of the office. Among
others got my Lord's imprest of L1000 and Mr. Creed's of L10,000 against
this voyage their bills signed. Having wrote letters into the country
and read some things I went to bed.
2nd (Whitsunday).
The barber having done with me, I went to church, and there heard a good
sermon of Mr. Mills, fit for the day. Then home to dinner, and then to
church again, and going home I found Greatorex (whom I expected today
at dinner) come to see me, and so he and I in my chamber drinking of wine
and eating of anchovies an hour or two, discoursing of many things in
mathematics, and among others he showed me how it comes to pass the strength
that levers have, and he showed me that what is got as to matter of strength
is lost by them as to matter of time. It rained very hard, as it hath
done of late so much that we begin to doubt a famine, and so he was forced
to stay longer than I desired. At night after prayers to bed.
3rd. To the Wardrobe,
where discoursing with my Lord, he did instruct me as to the business
of the Wardrobe, in case, in his absence, Mr. Townsend should die, and
told me that he do intend to joyne me and Mr. Moore with him as to the
business, now he is going to sea, and spoke to me many other things, as
to one that he do put the greatest confidence in, of which I am proud.
Here I had a good occasion to tell him (what I have had long in my mind)
that, since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous
to lay out something for my father, and so have pitched upon Mr. Young's
place in the Wardrobe, which I desired he would give order in his absence,
if the place should fall that I might have the refusal. Which my Lord
did freely promise me, at which I was very glad, he saying that he would
do that at the least. So I saw my Lord into the barge going to Whitehall,
and I and Mr. Creed home to my house, whither my father and my cozen Scott
came to dine with me, and so we dined together very well, and before we
had done in comes my father Bowyer and my mother and four daughters, and
a young gentleman and his sister, their friends, and there staid all the
afternoon, which cost me great store of wine, and were very merry.
By and by I am called to the office, and there
staid a little. So home again, and took Mr. Creed and left them, and so
he and I to the Towre, to speak for some ammunition for ships for my Lord;
and so he and I, with much pleasure, walked quite round the Towre, which
I never did before. So home, and after a walk with my wife upon the leads,
I and she went to bed. This morning I and Dr. Peirce went over to the
Beare at the Bridge foot, thinking to have met my Lord Hinchinbroke and
his brother setting forth for France; but they being not come we went
over to the Wardrobe, and there found that my Lord Abbot Montagu being
not at Paris, my Lord hath a mind to have them stay a little longer before
they go.
4th. The Comptroller
came this morning to get me to go see a house or two near our office,
which he would take for himself or Mr. Turner, and then he would have
me have Mr. Turner's lodgings and himself mine and Mr. Davis's. But the
houses did not like us, and so that design at present is stopped. Then
he and I by water to the bridge, and then walked over the Bank-side till
we came to the Temple, and so I went over and to my father's, where I
met with my cozen J. Holcroft, and took him and my father and my brother
Tom to the Bear tavern and gave them wine, my cozen being to go into the
country again to-morrow. From thence to my Lord Crew's to dinner with
him, and had very good discourse about having of young noblemen and gentlemen
to think of going to sea, as being as honourable service as the land war.
And among other things he told us how, in Queen Elizabeth's time, one
young nobleman would wait with a trencher at the back of another till
he came to age himself. And witnessed in my young Lord of Kent, that then
was, who waited upon my Lord Bedford at table, when a letter came to my
Lord Bedford that the Earldom of Kent was fallen to his servant, the young
Lord; and so he rose from table, and made him sit down in his place, and
took a lower for himself, for so he was by place to sit. From thence to
the Theatre and saw "Harry the 4th," a good play. That done
I went over the water and walked over the fields to Southwark, and so
home and to my lute. At night to bed.
5th. This morning
did give my wife L4 to lay out upon lace and other things for herself.
I to Wardrobe and so to Whitehall and Westminster, where I dined with
my Lord and Ned Dickering alone at his lodgings. After dinner to the office,
where we sat and did business, and Sir W. Pen and I went home with Sir
R. Slingsby to bowls in his ally, and there had good sport, and afterwards
went in and drank and talked. So home Sir William and I, and it being
very hot weather I took my flageolette and played upon the leads in the
garden, where Sir W. Pen came out in his shirt into his leads, and there
we staid talking and singing, and drinking great drafts of claret, and
eating botargo [ The roe of the mullet pressed
flat and dried. Botargo was chiefly used to promote drinking by causing
thirst.] and bread and butter till 12 at
night, it being moonshine; and so to bed, very near fuddled.
6th. My head hath
aked all night, and all this morning, with my last night's debauch. Called
up this morning by Lieutenant Lambert, who is now made Captain of the
Norwich, and he and I went down by water to Greenwich, in our way observing
and discoursing upon the things of a ship, he telling me all I asked him,
which was of good use to me. There we went and eat and drank and heard
musique at the Globe, and saw the simple motion that is there of a woman
with a rod in her hand keeping time to the musique while it plays, which
is simple, methinks. Back again by water, calling at Captain Lambert's
house, which is very handsome and neat, and a fine prospect at top. So
to the office, where we sat a little, and then the Captain and I again
to Bridewell to Mr. Holland's, where his wife also, a plain dowdy, and
his mother was. Here I paid Mrs. Holland the money due from me to her
husband. Here came two young gentlewomen to see Mr. Holland, and one of
them could play pretty well upon the viallin, but, good God! how these
ignorant people did cry her up for it! We were very merry. I staid and
supped there, and so home and to bed. The weather very hot, this night
I left off my wastecoat.
7th. To my Lord's
at Whitehall, but not finding him I went to the Wardrobe and there dined
with my Lady, and was very kindly treated by her. After dinner to the
office, and there till late at night. So home, and to Sir William Batten's,
who is come this day from Chatham with my Lady, who is and has been much
troubled with the toothache. Here I staid till late, and so home and to
bed.
8th. To Whitehall to my
Lord, who did tell me that he would have me go to Mr. Townsend, whom he
had ordered to discover to me the whole mystery of the Wardrobe, and none
else but me, and that he will make me deputy with him for fear that he
should die in my Lord's absence, of which I was glad. Then to the Cook's
with Mr. Shepley and Mr. Creed, and dined together, and then I went to
the Theatre and there saw Bartholomew Faire, the first time it was acted
now a-days. It is a most admirable play and well acted, but too much prophane
and abusive.
From thence, meeting Mr. Creed at the door, he and
I went to the tobacco shop under Temple Bar gate, and there went up to
the top of the house and there sat drinking Lambeth ale a good while.
Then away home, and in my way called upon Mr. Rawlinson (my uncle Wight
being out of town), for his advice to answer a letter of my uncle Robert,
wherein he do offer me a purchase to lay some money upon, that joynes
upon some of his own lands, and plainly telling me that the reason of
his advice is the convenience that it will give me as to his estate, of
which I am exceeding glad, and am advised to give up wholly the disposal
of my money to him, let him do what he will with it, which I shall do.
So home and to bed.
9th (Lord's day).
This day my wife put on her black silk gown, which is now laced all over
with black gimp lace, as the fashion is, in which she is very pretty.
She and I walked to my Lady's at the Wardrobe, and there dined and was
exceeding much made of. After dinner I left my wife there, and I walked
to Whitehall, and then went to Mr. Pierce's and sat with his wife a good
while (who continues very pretty) till he came, and then he and I, and
Mr. Symons (dancing master), that goes to sea with my Lord, to the Swan
tavern, and there drank, and so again to White Hall, and there met with
Dean Fuller, and walked a great while with him; among other things discoursed
of the liberty the Bishop (by name the of Galloway) takes to admit into
orders any body that will; among others, Roundtree, a simple mechanique
that was a person [parson ?] formerly in the fleet. He told me he would
complain of it. By and by we went and got a sculler, and landing him at
Worcester House, I and W. Howe, who came to us at Whitehall, went to the
Wardrobe, where I met with Mr. Townsend, who is very willing he says to
communicate anything for my Lord's advantage to me as to his business.
I went up to Jane Shore's towre, and there W. Howe and I sang, and so
took my wife and walked home, and so to bed. After I came home a messenger
came from my Lord to bid me come to him tomorrow morning.
10th. Early to my
Lord's, who privately told me how the King had made him Embassador in
the bringing over the Queen. [Katherine of
Braganza, daughter of John IV. of Portugal, born 1638, married to Charles
II., May 21st, 1662. After the death of the king she lived for some time
at Somerset House, and then returned to Portugal, of which country she
became Regent in 1704 on the retirement of her brother Don Pedro. She
died December 31st, 1705.] That he is to
go to Algier, &c., to settle the business, and to put the fleet in
order there; and so to come back to Lisbone with three ships, and there
to meet the fleet that is to follow him. He sent for me, to tell me that
he do intrust me with the seeing of all things done in his absence as
to this great preparation, as I shall receive orders from my Lord Chancellor
and Mr. Edward Montagu. At all which my heart is above measure glad; for
my Lord's honour, and some profit to myself, I hope. By and by, out with
Mr. Shepley Walden, Parliament-man for Huntingdon, Rolt, Mackworth, and
Alderman Backwell, to a house hard by, to drink Lambeth ale. So I back
to the Wardrobe, and there found my Lord going to Trinity House, this
being the solemn day of choosing Master, and my Lord is chosen, so he
dines there to-day. I staid and dined with my Lady; but after we were
set, comes in some persons of condition, and so the children and I rose
and dined by ourselves, all the children and I, and were very merry and
they mighty fond of me. Then to the office, and there sat awhile. So home
and at night to bed, where we lay in Sir R. Slingsby's lodgings in the
dining room there in one green bed, my house being now in its last work
of painting and whiting.
11th. At the office this
morning, Sir G. Carteret with us; and we agreed upon a letter to the Duke
of York, to tell him the sad condition of this office for want of money;
how men are not able to serve us more without some money; and that now
the credit of the office is brought so low, that none will sell us any
thing without our personal security given for the same. All the afternoon
abroad about several businesses, and at night home and to bed.
12th. Wednesday, a day
kept between a fast and a feast, the Bishops not being ready enough to
keep the fast for foul weather before fair weather came; and so they were
forced to keep it between both. I to Whitehall, and there with Captain
Rolt and Ferrers we went to Lambeth to drink our morning draft, where
at the Three Mariners, a place noted for their ale, we went and staid
awhile very merry, and so away. And wanting a boat, we found Captain Bun
going down the river, and so we went into his boat having a lady with
him, and he landed them at Westminster and me at the Bridge. At home all
day with my workmen, and doing several things, among others writing the
letter resolved of yesterday to the Duke. Then to White Hall, where I
met my Lord, who told me he must have L300 laid out in cloth, to give
in Barbary, as presents among the Turks. At which occasion of getting
something I was very glad. Home to supper, and then to Sir R. Slingsby,
who with his brother and I went to my Lord's at the Wardrobe, and there
staid a great while, but he being now taking his leave of his friends
staid out late, and so they went away. Anon came my Lord in, and I staid
with him a good while, and then to bed with Mr. Moore in his chamber.
13th. I went up and down
to Alderman Backwell's, but his servants not being up, I went home and
put on my gray cloth suit and faced white coat, made of one of my wife's
pettycoates, the first time I have had it on, and so in a riding garb
back again and spoke with Mr. Shaw at the Alderman's, who offers me L300
if my Lord pleases to buy this cloth with, which pleased me well. So to
the Wardrobe and got my Lord to order Mr. Creed to imprest so much upon
me to be paid by Alderman Backwell. So with my Lord to Whitehall by water,
and he having taken leave of the King, comes to us at his lodgings and
from thence goes to the garden stairs and there takes barge, and at the
stairs was met by Sir R. Slingsby, who there took his leave of my Lord,
and I heard my Lord thank him for his kindness to me, which Sir Robert
answered much to my advantage. I went down with my Lord in the barge to
Deptford, and there went on board the Dutch yacht and staid there a good
while, W. Howe not being come with my Lord's things, which made my Lord
very angry.
By and by he comes and so we set sayle, and anon went
to dinner, my Lord and we very merry; and after dinner I went down below
and there sang, and took leave of W. Howe, Captain Rolt, and the rest
of my friends, then went up and took leave of my Lord, who give me his
hand and parted with great respect. So went and Captain Ferrers with me
into our wherry, and my Lord did give five guns, all they had charged,
which was the greatest respect my Lord could do me, and of which I was
not a little proud. So with a sad and merry heart I left them sailing
pleasantly from Erith, hoping to be in the Downs tomorrow early. We toward
London in our boat. Pulled off our stockings and bathed our legs a great
while in the river, which I had not done some years before. By and by
we come to Greenwich, and thinking to have gone on the King's yacht, the
King was in her, so we passed by, and at Woolwich went on shore, in the
company of Captain Poole of Jamaica and young Mr. Kennersley, and many
others, and so to the tavern where we drank a great deal both wine and
beer. So we parted hence and went home with Mr. Falconer, who did give
us cherrys and good wine. So to boat, and young Poole took us on board
the Charity and gave us wine there, with which I had full enough, and
so to our wherry again, and there fell asleep till I came almost to the
Tower, and there the Captain and I parted, and I home and with wine enough
in my head, went to bed.
14th. To Whitehall to my
Lord's, where I found Mr. Edward Montagu and his family come to lie during
my Lord's absence. I sent to my house by my Lord's order his shipp--[Qy.
glass omitted after shipp.]--and triangle virginall. So to my father's,
and did give him order about the buying of this cloth to send to my Lord.
But I could not stay with him myself, for having got a great cold by my
playing the fool in the water yesterday I was in great pain, and so went
home by coach to bed, and went not to the office at all, and by keeping
myself warm, I broke wind and so came to some ease. Rose and eat some
supper, and so to bed again.
15th. My father came and
drank his morning draft with me, and sat with me till I was ready, and
so he and I about the business of the cloth. By and by I left him and
went and dined with my Lady, who, now my Lord is gone, is come to her
poor housekeeping again. Then to my father's, who tells me what he has
done, and we resolved upon two pieces of scarlet, two of purple, and two
of black, and L50 in linen. I home, taking L300 with me home from Alderman
Backwell's. After writing to my Lord to let him know what I had done I
was going to bed, but there coming the purser of the King's yacht for
victualls presently, for the Duke of York is to go down to-morrow, I got
him to promise stowage for these things there, and so I went to bed, bidding
Will go and fetch the things from the carrier's hither, which about 12
o'clock were brought to my house and laid there all night.
16th (Lord's day). But
no purser coming in the morning for them, and I hear that the Duke went
last night, and so I am at a great loss what to do; and so this day (though
the Lord's day) staid at home, sending Will up and down to know what to
do. Sometimes thinking to continue my resolution of sending by the carrier
to be at Deal on Wednesday next, sometimes to send them by sea by a vessel
on purpose, but am not yet come to a resolution, but am at a very great
loss and trouble in mind what in the world to do herein. The afternoon
(while Will was abroad) I spent in reading "The Spanish Gypsey,"
a play not very good, though commended much. At night resolved to hire
a Margate Hoy, who would go away to-morrow morning, which I did, and sent
the things all by him, and put them on board about 12 this night, hoping
to have them as the wind now serves in the Downs to-morrow night. To-bed
with some quiet of mind, having sent the things away.
17th. Visited this morning
by my old friend Mr. Ch. Carter, who staid and went to Westminster with
me, and there we parted, and I to the Wardrobe and dined with my Lady.
So home to my painters, who are now about painting my stairs. So to the
office, and at night we all went to Sir W. Pen's, and there sat and drank
till 11 at night, and so home and to bed.
18th. All this morning
at home vexing about the delay of my painters, and about four in the afternoon
my wife and I by water to Captain Lambert's, where we took great pleasure
in their turret-garden, and seeing the fine needle-works of his wife,
the best I ever saw in my life, and afterwards had a very handsome treat
and good musique that she made upon the harpsicon, and with a great deal
of pleasure staid till 8 at night, and so home again, there being a little
pretty witty child that is kept in their house that would not let us go
without her, and so fell a- crying by the water-side. So home, where I
met Jack Cole, who staid with me a good while, and is still of the old
good humour that we were of at school together, and I am very glad to
see him. He gone, I went to bed.
19th. All the morning almost
at home, seeing my stairs finished by the painters, which pleases me well.
So with Mr. Moore to Westminster Hall, it being term, and then by water
to the Wardrobe, where very merry, and so home to the office all the afternoon,
and at night to the Exchange to my uncle Wight about my intention of purchasing
at Brampton. So back again home and at night to bed. Thanks be to God
I am very well again of my late pain, and to-morrow hope to be out of
my pain of dirt and trouble in my house, of which I am now become very
weary. One thing I must observe here while I think of it, that I am now
become the most negligent man in the world as to matters of news, insomuch
that, now-a-days, I neither can tell any, nor ask any of others.
20th.
At home the greatest part of the day to see my workmen make an end, which
this night they did to my great content.
21st. This morning going
to my father's I met him, and so he and I went and drank our morning draft
at the Samson in Paul's Churchyard, and eat some gammon of bacon, &c.,
and then parted, having bought some green Say --[A
woollen cloth.]-- for curtains in my parler. Home, and so to the
Exchequer, where I met with my uncle Wight, and home with him to dinner,
where among others (my aunt being out of town), Mr. Norbury and I did
discourse of his wife's house and land at Brampton, which I find too much
for me to buy. Home, and in the afternoon to the office, and much pleased
at night to see my house begin to be clean after all the dirt.
22nd. Abroad all the morning
about several businesses. At noon went and dined with my Lord Crew, where
very much made of by him and his lady. Then to the Theatre, "The
Alchymist,"--[Comedy by Ben Jonson, first printed
in 1612.]--which is a most incomparable play. And that being done
I met with little Luellin and Blirton, who took me to a friend's of theirs
in Lincoln's Inn fields, one Mr. Hodges, where we drank great store of
Rhenish wine and were very merry. So I went home,
where I found my house now very clean, which was great content to me.
23rd (Lord's day). In the
morning to church, and my wife not being well, I went with Sir W. Batten
home to dinner, my Lady being out of town, where there was Sir W. Pen,
Captain Allen and his daughter Rebecca, and Mr. Hempson and his wife.
After dinner to church all of us and had a very good sermon of a stranger,
and so I and the young company to walk first to Graye's Inn Walks, where
great store of gallants, but above all the ladies that I there saw, or
ever did see, Mrs. Frances Butler (Monsieur L'Impertinent's sister) is
the greatest beauty. Then we went to Islington, where at the great house
I entertained them as well as I could, and so home with them, and so to
my own home and to bed. Pall, who went this day to a child's christening
of Kate Joyce's, staid out all night at my father's, she not being well.
24th (Midsummer-day). We
kept this a holiday, and so went not to the office at all. All the morning
at home. At noon my father came to see my house now it is done, which
is now very neat. He and I and Dr. Williams (who is come to see my wife,
whose soare belly is now grown dangerous as she thinks) to the ordinary
over against the Exchange, where we dined and had great wrangling with
the master of the house when the reckoning was brought to us, he setting
down exceeding high every thing. I home again and to Sir W. Batten's,
and there sat a good while. So home.
25th. Up this morning to
put my papers in order that are come from my Lord's, so that now I have
nothing there remaining that is mine, which I have had till now. This
morning came Mr. Goodgroome [Theodore Goodgroome,
Pepys's singing-master.] to me (recommended by Mr. Mage), with
whom I agreed presently to give him 20s. entrance, which I then did, and
20s. a month more to teach me to sing, and so we began, and I hope I have
come to something in it. His first song is "La cruda la bella."
He gone my brother Tom comes, with whom I made even with my father and
the two drapers for the cloths I sent to sea lately. At home all day,
in the afternoon came Captain Allen and his daughter Rebecca and Mr. Hempson,
and by and by both Sir Williams, who sat with me till it was late, and
I had a very gallant collation for them. At night to bed.
26th. To Westminster about
several businesses, then to dine with my Lady at the Wardrobe, taking
Dean Fuller along with me; then home, where I heard my father had been
to find me about special business; so I took coach and went to him, and
found by a letter to him from my aunt that my uncle Robert is taken with
a dizziness in his head, so that they desire my father to come down to
look after his business, by which we guess that he is very ill, and so
my father do think to go to-morrow. And so God's will be done. Back by
water to the office, there till night, and so home to my musique and then
to bed.
27th. To my father's, and
with him to Mr. Starling's to drink our morning draft, and there I told
him how I would have him speak to my uncle Robert, when he comes thither,
concerning my buying of land, that I could pay ready money L600 and the
rest by L150 per annum, to make up as much as will buy L50 per annum,
which I do, though I not worth above L500 ready money, that he may think
me to be a greater saver than I am. Here I took my leave of my father,
who is going this morning to my uncle upon my aunt's letter this week
that he is not well and so needs my father's help. At noon home, and then
with my Lady Batten, Mrs. Rebecca Allen, Mrs. Thompson, &c., two coaches
of us, we went and saw "Bartholomew Fayre" acted very well,
and so home again and staid at Sir W. Batten's late, and so home to bed.
This day Mr. Holden sent me a bever, which cost me L4 5s.
[Whilst a hat (see January 28th, 1660-61, ante) cost only 35s. See also
Lord Sandwich's vexation at his beaver being stolen, and a hat only left
in lieu of it, April 30th, 1661, ante; and April 19th and 26th, 1662,
Post.--B.]
28th. At home all the morning
practising to sing, which is now my great trade, and at noon to my Lady
and dined with her. So back and to the office, and there sat till 7 at
night, and then Sir W. Pen and I in his coach went to Moorefields, and
there walked, and stood and saw the wrestling, which I never saw so much
of before, between the north and west countrymen. So home, and this night
had our bed set up in our room that we called the Nursery, where we lay,
and I am very much pleased with the room.
29th. By a letter from
the Duke complaining of the delay of the ships that are to be got ready,
Sir Williams both and I went to Deptford and there examined into the delays,
and were satisfyed. So back again home and staid till the afternoon, and
then I walked to the Bell at the Maypole in the Strand, and thither came
to me by appointment Mr. Chetwind, Gregory, and Hartlibb, so many of our
old club, and Mr. Kipps, where we staid and drank and talked with much
pleasure till it was late, and so I walked home and to bed. Mr. Chetwind
by chewing of tobacco is become very fat and sallow, whereas he was consumptive,
and in our discourse he fell commending of "Hooker's Ecclesiastical
Polity," as the best book, and the only one that made him a Christian,
which puts me upon the buying of it, which I will do shortly.
30th (Lord's day). To church,
where we observe the trade of briefs is come now up to so constant a course
every Sunday, that we resolve to give no more to them.
A good sermon, and then home to dinner, my wife and I all alone. After
dinner Sir Williams both and I by water to Whitehall, where having walked
up and down, at last we met with the Duke of York, according to an order
sent us yesterday from him, to give him an account where the fault lay
in the not sending out of the ships, which we find to be only the wind
hath been against them, and so they could not get out of the river. Hence
I to Graye's Inn Walk, all alone, and with great pleasure seeing the fine
ladies walk there. Myself humming to myself (which now-a-days is my constant
practice since I begun to learn to sing) the trillo, and found by use
that it do come upon me. Home very weary and to bed, finding my wife not
sick, but yet out of order, that I fear she will come to be sick. This
day the Portuguese Embassador came to White Hall to take leave of the
King; he being now going to end all with the Queen, and to send her over.
The weather now very fair and pleasant, but very hot. My father gone to
Brampton to see my uncle Robert, not knowing whether to find him dead
or alive. Myself lately under a great expense of money upon myself in
clothes and other things, but I hope to make it up this summer by my having
to do in getting things ready to send with the next fleet to the Queen.
Myself in good health, but mighty apt to take cold, so that this hot weather
I am fain to wear a cloth before my belly.
July
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