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July
1st.
To
the office, and there we sat till past noon, and then Captain Cuttance and
I by water to Deptford, where the Royal James (in which my Lord went out
the last voyage, though [he] came back in the Charles) was paying off by
Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen. So to dinner, where I had Mr. Sheply to dine
with us, and from thence I sent to my Lord to know whether she should be
a first rate, as the men would have her, or a second. He answered that we
should forbear paying the officers and such whose pay differed upon the
rate of the ship, till he could speak with his Royal Highness. To the Pay
again after dinner, and seeing of Cooper, the mate of the ship, whom I knew
in the Charles, I spoke to him about teaching the mathematiques, and do
please myself in my thoughts of learning of him, and bade him come to me
in a day or two. Towards evening I left them, and to Redriffe by land, Mr.
Cowly, the Clerk of the Cheque, with me, discoursing concerning the abuses
of the yard, in which he did give me much light. So by water home, and after
half an hour sitting talking with my wife, who was afeard I did intend to
go with my Lord to fetch the Queen mother over, in which I did clear her
doubts, I went to bed by daylight, in order to my rising early to-morrow.
2nd. Up while the chimes
went four, and to put down my journal, and so to my office, to read over
such instructions as concern the officers of the Yard; for I am much upon
seeing into the miscarriages there. By and by, by appointment, comes Commissioner
Pett; and then a messenger from Mr. Coventry, who sits in his boat expecting
us, and so we down to him at the Tower, and there took water all, and
to Deptford (he in our passage taking notice how much difference there
is between the old Captains for obedience and order, and the King's new
Captains, which I am very glad to hear him confess); and there we went
into the Store-house, and viewed first the provisions there, and then
his books, but Mr. Davis himself was not there, he having a kinswoman
in the house dead, for which, when by and by I saw him, he do trouble
himself most ridiculously, as if there was never another woman in the
world; in which so much laziness, as also in the Clerkes of the Cheque
and Survey (which after one another we did examine), as that I do not
perceive that there is one-third of their duties performed; but I perceive,
to my great content, Mr. Coventry will have things reformed. So Mr. Coventry
to London, and Pett and I to the Pay, where Sir Williams both were paying
off the Royal James still, and so to dinner, and to the Pay again, where
I did relieve several of my Lord Sandwich's people, but was sorry to see
them so peremptory, and at every word would, complain to my Lord, as if
they shall have such a command over my Lord. In the evening I went forth
and took a walk with Mr. Davis, and told him what had passed at his office
to-day, and did give him my advice, and so with the rest by barge home
and to bed
3rd. Up by four o'clock
and to my office till 8 o'clock, writing over two copies of our contract
with Sir W. Rider, &c., for 500 ton of hempe, which, because it is
a secret, I have the trouble of writing over as well as drawing. Then
home to dress myself, and so to the office, where another fray between
Sir R. Ford and myself about his yarn, wherein I find the board to yield
on my side, and was glad thereof, though troubled that the office should
fall upon me of disobliging Sir Richard. At noon we all by invitation
dined at the Dolphin with the Officers of the Ordnance; where Sir W. Compton,
Mr. O'Neale,'and other great persons, were, and a very great dinner, but
I drank as I still do but my allowance of wine. After dinner, was brought
to Sir W. Compton a gun to discharge seven times, the best of all devices
that ever I saw, and very serviceable, and not a bawble; for it is much
approved of, and many thereof made. Thence to my office all the afternoon
as long as I could see, about setting many businesses in order. In the
evening came Mr. Lewis to me, and very ingeniously did enquire whether
I ever did look into the business of the Chest at Chatham; [Pepys
gives some particulars about the Chest on November 13th, 1662. "The
Chest at Chatham was originally planned by Sir Francis Drake and Sir John
Hawkins in 1588, after the defeat of the Armada; the seamen voluntarily
agreed to have 'defalked' out of their wages certain sums to form a fund
for relief. B.] and after my readiness to be informed did appear
to him, he did produce a paper, wherein he stated the government of the
Chest to me; and upon the whole did tell me how it hath ever been abused,
and to this day is; and what a meritorious act it would be to look after
it; which I am resolved to do, if God bless me; and do thank him very
much for it. So home, and after a turn or two upon the leads with my wife,
who has lately had but little of my company, since I begun to follow my
business, but is contented therewith since she sees how I spend my time,
and so to bed.
4th. Up by five o'clock,
and after my journall put in order, to my office about my business, which
I am resolved to follow, for every day I see what ground I get by it.
By and by comes Mr. Cooper, mate of the Royall Charles, of whom I intend
to learn mathematiques, and do begin with him to-day, he being a very
able man, and no great matter, I suppose, will content him. After an hour's
being with him at arithmetique (my first attempt being to learn the multiplication-table);
then we parted till to-morrow. And so to my business at my office again
till noon, about which time Sir W. Warren did come to me about business,
and did begin to instruct me in the nature of fine timber and deals, telling
me the nature of every sort; and from that we fell to discourse of Sir
W. Batten's corruption and the people that he employs, and from one discourse
to another of the kind. I was much pleased with his company, and so staid
talking with him all alone at my office till 4 in the afternoon, without
eating or drinking all day, and then parted, and I home to eat a bit,
and so back again to my office; and toward the evening came Mr. Sheply,
who is to go out of town to-morrow, and so he and I with much ado settled
his accounts with my Lord, which, though they be true and honest, yet
so obscure, that it vexes me to see in what manner they are kept. He being
gone, and leave taken of him as of a man likely not to come to London
again a great while, I eat a bit of bread and butter, and so to bed. This
day I sent my brother Tom, at his request, my father's old Bass Viall
which he and I have kept so long, but I fear Tom will do little good at
it.
5th. To my office all the
morning, to get things ready against our sitting, and by and by we sat
and did business all the morning, and at noon had Sir W. Pen, who I hate
with all my heart for his base treacherous tricks, but yet I think it
not policy to declare it yet, and his son William, to my house to dinner,
where was also Mr. Creed and my cozen Harry Alcocke. I having some venison
given me a day or two ago, and so I had a shoulder roasted, another baked,
and the umbles [The umbles are the liver, kidneys,
and other portions of the inside of the deer. They were usually made into
pies, and old cookery books contain directions for the making of 'umble
pies.'] baked in a pie, and all very well done. We were merry as
I could be in that company, and the more because I would not seem otherwise
to Sir W. Pen, he being within a day or two to go for Ireland. After dinner
he and his son went away, and Mr. Creed would, with all his rhetoric,
have persuaded me to have gone to a play; and in good earnest I find my
nature desirous to have gone, notwithstanding my promise and my business,
to which I have lately kept myself so close, but I did refuse it, and
I hope shall ever do so, and above all things it is considerable that
my mind was never in my life in so good a condition of quiet as it has
been since I have followed my business and seen myself to get greater
and greater fitness in my employment, and honour every day more than other.
So at my office all the afternoon, and then my mathematiques at night
with Mr. Cooper, and so to supper and to bed.
6th (Lord's day). Lay long
in bed to-day with my wife merry and pleasant, and then rose and settled
my accounts with my wife for housekeeping, and do see that my kitchen,
besides wine, fire, candle, sope, and many other things, comes to about
30s. a week, or a little over. To church, where Mr. Mills made a lazy
sermon. So home to dinner, where my brother Tom dined with me, and so
my wife and I to church again in the afternoon, and that done I walked
to the Wardrobe and spent my time with Mr. Creed and Mr. Moore talking
about business; so up to supper with my Lady [Sandwich], who tells me,
with much trouble, that my Lady Castlemaine is still as great with the
King, and that the King comes as often to her as ever he did, at which,
God forgive me, I am well pleased. It began to rain, and so I borrowed
a hat and cloak of Mr. Moore and walked home, where I found Captain Ferrer
with my wife, and after speaking a matter of an hour with him he went
home and we all to bed. Jack Cole, my old friend, found me out at the
Wardrobe; and, among other things, he told me that certainly most of the
chief ministers of London would fling up their livings; and that, soon
or late, the issue thereof would be sad to the King and Court.
7th. Up and to my office
early, and there all the morning alone till dinner, and after dinner to
my office again, and about 3 o'clock with my wife by water to Westminster,
where I staid in the Hall while my wife went to see her father and mother,
and she returning we by water home again, and by and by comes Mr. Cooper,
so he and I to our mathematiques, and so supper and to bed. My morning's
work at the office was to put the new books of my office into order, and
writing on the backsides what books they be, and transcribing out of some
old books some things into them.
8th. At the office all
the morning and dined at home, and after dinner in all haste to make up
my accounts with my Lord, which I did with some trouble, because I had
some hopes to have made a profit to myself in this account and above what
was due to me (which God forgive me in), but I could not, but carried
them to my Lord, with whom they passed well. So to the Wardrobe, where
alone with my Lord above an hour; and he do seem still to have his old
confidence in me; and tells me to boot, that Mr. Coventry hath spoke of
me to him to great advantage; wherein I am much pleased. By and by comes
in Mr. Coventry to visit my Lord; and so my Lord and he and I walked together
in the great chamber a good while; and I found him a most ingenuous man
and good company. He being gone I also went home by water, Mr. Moore with
me for discourse sake, and then parted from me, Cooper being there ready
to attend me, so he and I to work till it was dark, and then eat a bit
and by daylight to bed.
9th. Up by four o'clock,
and at my multiplicacion-table hard, which is all the trouble I meet withal
in my arithmetique. So made me ready and to the office, where all the
morning busy, and Sir W. Pen came to my office to take his leave of me,
and desiring a turn in the garden, did commit the care of his building
to me, and offered all his services to me in all matters of mine. I did,
God forgive me! promise him all my service and love, though the rogue
knows he deserves none from me, nor do I intend to show him any; but as
he dissembles with me, so must I with him. Dined at home, and so to the
office again, my wife with me, and while I was for an hour making a hole
behind my seat in my closet to look into the office, she was talking to
me about her going to Brampton, which I would willingly have her to do
but for the cost of it, and to stay here will be very inconvenient because
of the dirt that I must have when my house is pulled down. Then to my
business till night, then Mr. Cooper and I to our business, and then came
Mr. Mills, the minister, to see me, which he hath but rarely done to me,
though every day almost to others of us; but he is a cunning fellow, and
knows where the good victuals is, and the good drink, at Sir W. Batten's.
However, I used him civilly, though I love him as I do the rest of his
coat. So to supper and to bed.
10th. Up by four o'clock,
and before I went to the office I practised my arithmetique, and then,
when my wife was up, did call her and Sarah, and did make up a difference
between them, for she is so good a servant as I am loth to part with her.
So to the office all the morning, where very much business, but it vexes
me to see so much disorder at our table, that, every man minding a several
business, we dispatch nothing. Dined at home with my wife, then to the
office again, and being called by Sir W. Batten, walked to the Victualler's
office, there to view all the several offices and houses to see that they
were employed in order to give the Council an account thereof. So after
having taken an oath or two of Mr. Lewes and Captain Brown and others
I returned to the office, and there sat despatching several businesses
alone till night, and so home and by daylight to bed.
11th. Up by four o'clock,
and hard at my multiplicacion-table, which I am now almost master of,
and so made me ready and to my office, where by and by comes Mr. Pett,
and then a messenger from Mr. Coventry, who stays in his boat at the Tower
for us. So we to him, and down to Deptford first, and there viewed some
deals lately served in at a low price, which our officers, like knaves,
would untruly value in their worth, but we found them good. Then to Woolwich,
and viewed well all the houses and stores there, which lie in very great
confusion for want of storehouses, and then to Mr. Ackworth's and Sheldon's
to view their books, which we found not to answer the King's service and
security at all as to the stores. Then to the Ropeyard, and there viewed
the hemp, wherein we found great corruption, and then saw a trial between
Sir R. Ford's yarn and our own, and found great odds. So by water back
again. About five in the afternoon to Whitehall, and so to St. James's;
and at Mr. Coventry's chamber, which is very neat and fine, we had a pretty
neat dinner, and after dinner fell to discourse of business and regulation,
and do think of many things that will put matters into better order, and
upon the whole my heart rejoices to see Mr. Coventry so ingenious, and
able, and studious to do good, and with much frankness and respect to
Mr. Pett and myself particularly. About 9 o'clock we broke up after much
discourse and many things agreed on in order to our business of regulation,
and so by water (landing Mr. Pett at the Temple) I went home and to bed.
12th. Up by five o'clock,
and put things in my house in order to be laid up, against my workmen
come on Monday to take down the top of my house, which trouble I must
go through now, but it troubles me much to think of it. So to my office,
where till noon we sat, and then I to dinner and to the office all the
afternoon with much business. At night with Cooper at arithmetique, and
then came Mr. Creed about my Lord's accounts to even them, and he gone
I to supper and to bed.
13th (Lord's day) . . .
. I had my old pain all yesterday and this morning, and so kept my bed
all this morning. So up and after dinner and some of my people to church,
I set about taking down my books and papers and making my chamber fit
against to-morrow to have the people come to work in pulling down the
top of my house. In the evening I walked to the garden and sent for Mr.
Turner (who yesterday did give me occasion of speaking to him about the
difference between him and me), and I told him my whole mind, and how
it was in my power to do him a discourtesy about his place of petty purveyance,
and at last did make him see (I think) that it was his concernment to
be friendly to me and what belongs to me. After speaking my mind to him
and he to me, we walked down and took boat at the Tower and to Deptford,
on purpose to sign and seal a couple of warrants, as justice of peace
in Kent, against one Annis, who is to be tried next Tuesday, at Maidstone
assizes, for stealing some lead out of Woolwich Yard. Going and coming
I did discourse with Mr. Turner about the faults of our management of
the business of our office, of which he is sensible, but I believe is
a very knave. Come home I found a rabbit at the fire, and so supped well,
and so to my journall and to bed.
14th. Up by 4 o'clock and
to my arithmetique, and so to my office till 8, then to Thames Street
along with old Mr. Green, among the tarr-men, and did instruct myself
in the nature and prices of tarr, but could not get Stockholm for the
use of the office under L10 15s. per last, which is a great price. So
home, and at noon Dr. T. Pepys came to me, and he and I to the Exchequer,
and so back to dinner, where by chance comes Mr. Pierce, the chyrurgeon,
and then Mr. Battersby, the minister, and then Mr. Dun, and it happened
that I had a haunch of venison boiled, and so they were very wellcome
and merry; but my simple Dr. do talk so like a fool that I am weary of
him. They being gone, to my office again, and there all the afternoon,
and at night home and took a few turns with my wife in the garden and
so to bed. My house being this day almost quite untiled in order to its
rising higher. This night I began to put on my waistcoat also. I found
the pageant in Cornhill taken down, which was pretty strange.
15th. Up by 4 o'clock,
and after doing some business as to settling my papers at home, I went
to my office, and there busy till sitting time. So at the office all the
morning, where J. Southern, Mr. Coventry's clerk, did offer me a warrant
for an officer to sign which I desired, claiming it for my clerk's duty,
which however did trouble me a little to be put upon it, but I did it.
We broke up late, and I to dinner at home, where my brother Tom and Mr.
Cooke came and dined with me, but I could not be merry for my business,
but to my office again after dinner, and they two and my wife abroad.
In the evening comes Mr. Cooper, and I took him by water on purpose to
tell me things belonging to ships, which was time well spent, and so home
again, and my wife came home and tells me she has been very merry and
well pleased with her walk with them. About bedtime it fell a-raining,
and the house being all open at top, it vexed me; but there was no help
for it.
16th. In the morning I
found all my ceilings, spoiled with rain last night, so that I fear they
must be all new whited when the work is done. Made me ready and to my
office, and by and by came Mr. Moore to me, and so I went home and consulted
about drawing up a fair state of all my Lord's accounts, which being settled,
he went away, and I fell to writing of it very neatly, and it was very
handsome and concisely done. At noon to my Lord's with it, but found him
at dinner, and some great company with him, Mr. Edward Montagu and his
brother, and Mr. Coventry, and after dinner he went out with them, and
so I lost my labour; but dined with Mr. Moore and the people below, who
after dinner fell to talk of Portugall rings, and Captain Ferrers offered
five or six to sell, and I seeming to like a ring made of a coco-nutt
with a stone done in it, he did offer and would give it me. By and by
we went to Mr. Creed's lodging, and there got a dish or two of sweetmeats,
and I seeing a very neat leaden standish to carry papers, pen, and ink
in when one travels I also got that of him, and that done I went home
by water and to finish some of my Lord's business, and so early to bed.
This day I was told that my Lady Castlemaine (being quite fallen out with
her husband) did yesterday go away from him, with all her plate, jewels,
and other best things; and is gone to Richmond to a brother of her's;
which, I am apt to think, was a design to get out of town, that the King
might come at her the better. But strange it is how for her beauty I am
willing to construe all this to the best and to pity her wherein it is
to her hurt, though I know well enough she is a whore.
17th. To my office, and
by and by to our sitting; where much business. Mr. Coventry took his leave,
being to go with the Duke over for the Queen-Mother. I dined at home,
and so to my Lord's, where I presented him with a true state of all his
accounts to last Monday, being the 14th of July, which did please him,
and to my great joy I continue in his great esteem and opinion. I this
day took a general acquittance from my Lord to the same day. So that now
I have but very few persons to deal withall for money in the world. Home
and found much business to be upon my hands, and was late at the office
writing letters by candle light, which is rare at this time of the year,
but I do it with much content and joy, and then I do please me to see
that I begin to have people direct themselves to me in all businesses.
Very late I was forced to send for Mr. Turner, Smith, Young, about things
to be sent down early to-morrow on board the King's pleasure boat, and
so to bed with my head full of business, but well contented in mind as
ever in my life.
18th. Up very early, and
got a-top of my house, seeing the design of my work, and like it very
well, and it comes into my head to have my dining- room wainscoated, which
will be very pretty. By-and-by by water to Deptford, to put several things
in order, being myself now only left in town, and so back again to the
office, and there doing business all the morning and the afternoon also
till night, and then comes Cooper for my mathematiques, but, in good earnest,
my head is so full of business that I cannot understand it as otherwise
I should do. At night to bed, being much troubled at the rain coming into
my house, the top being open.
19th. Up early and to some
business, and my wife coming to me I staid long with her discoursing about
her going into the country, and as she is not very forward so am I at
a great loss whether to have her go or no because of the charge, and yet
in some considerations I would be glad she was there, because of the dirtiness
of my house and the trouble of having of a family there. So to my office,
and there all the morning, and then to dinner and my brother Tom dined
with me only to see me. In the afternoon I went upon the river to look
after some tarr I am sending down and some coles, and so home again; it
raining hard upon the water, I put ashore and sheltered myself, while
the King came by in his barge, going down towards the Downs to meet the
Queen: the Duke being gone yesterday. But methought it lessened my esteem
of a king, that he should not be able to command the rain. Home, and Cooper
coming (after I had dispatched several letters) to my mathematiques, and
so at night to bed to a chamber at Sir W. Pen's, my own house being so
foul that I cannot lie there any longer, and there the chamber lies so
as that I come into it over my leads without going about, but yet I am
not fully content with it, for there will be much trouble to have servants
running over the leads to and fro.
20th (Lord's day). My wife
and I lay talking long in bed, and at last she is come to be willing to
stay two months in the country, for it is her unwillingness to stay till
the house is quite done that makes me at a loss how to have her go or
stay. But that which troubles me most is that it has rained all this morning
so furiously that I fear my house is all over water, and with that expectation
I rose and went into my house and find that it is as wet as the open street,
and that there is not one dry- footing above nor below in my house. So
I fitted myself for dirt, and removed all my books to the office and all
day putting up and restoring things, it raining all day long as hard within
doors as without. At last to dinner, we had a calf's head and bacon at
my chamber at Sir W. Pen's, and there I and my wife concluded to have
her go and her two maids and the boy, and so there shall be none but Will
and I left at home, and so the house will be freer, for it is impossible
to have anybody come into my house while it is in this condition, and
with this resolution all the afternoon we were putting up things in the
further cellar against next week for them to be gone, and my wife and
I into the office and there measured a soiled flag that I had found there,
and hope to get it to myself, for it has not been demanded since I came
to the office. But my wife is not hasty to have it, but rather to stay
a while longer and see the event whether it will be missed or no. At night
to my office, and there put down this day's passages in my journall, and
read my oaths, as I am obliged every Lord's day. And so to Sir W. Pen's
to my chamber again, being all in dirt and foul, and in fear of having
catched cold today with dabbling in the water. But what has vexed me to-day
was that by carrying the key to Sir W. Pen's last night, it could not
in the midst of all my hurry to carry away my books and things, be found,
and at last they found it in the fire that we made last night. So to bed.
21st. Up early, and though
I found myself out of order and cold, and the weather cold and likely
to rain, yet upon my promise and desire to do what I intended, I did take
boat and down to Greenwich, to Captain Cocke's, who hath a most pleasant
seat, and neat. Here I drank wine, and eat some fruit off the trees; and
he showed a great rarity, which was two or three of a great number of
silver dishes and plates, which he bought of an embassador that did lack
money, in the edge or rim of which was placed silver and gold medalls,
very ancient, and I believe wrought, by which, if they be, they are the
greatest rarity that ever I saw in my life, and I will show Mr. Crumlum
them. Thence to Woolwich to the Rope- yard; and there looked over several
sorts of hemp, and did fall upon my great survey of seeing the working
and experiments of the strength and the charge in the dressing of every
sort; and I do think have brought it to so great a certainty, as I have
done the King great service in it: and do purpose to get it ready against
the Duke's coming to town to present to him. I breakfasted at Mr. Falconer's
well, and much pleased with my inquiries. Thence to the dock, where we
walked in Mr. Shelden's garden, eating more fruit, and drinking, and eating
figs, which were very good, and talking while the Royal James was bringing
towards the dock, and then we went out and saw the manner and trouble
of docking such a ship, which yet they could not do, but only brought
her head into the Dock, and so shored her up till next tide. But, good
God! what a deal of company was there from both yards to help to do it,
when half the company would have done it as well. But I see it is impossible
for the King to have things done as cheap as other men. Thence by water,
and by and by landing at the riverside somewhere among the reeds, we walked
to Greenwich, where to Cocke's house again and walked in the garden, and
then in to his lady, who I find is still pretty, but was now vexed and
did speak very discontented and angry to the Captain for disappointing
a gentleman that he had invited to dinner, which he took like a wise man
and said little, but she was very angry, which put me clear out of countenance
that I was sorry I went in. So after I had eat still some more fruit I
took leave of her in the garden plucking apricots for preserving, and
went away and so by water home, and there Mr. Moore coming and telling
me that my Lady goes into the country to-morrow, I carried my wife by
coach to take her leave of her father, I staying in Westminster Hall,
she going away also this week, and thence to my Lady's, where we staid
and supped with her, but found that my Lady was truly angry and discontented
with us for our neglecting to see her as we used to do, but after a little
she was pleased as she was used to be, at which we were glad. So after
supper home to bed.
22d. Among my workmen early:
then to the office, and there I had letters from the Downs from Mr. Coventry;
who tells me of the foul weather they had last Sunday, that drove them
back from near Boulogne, whither they were going for the Queen, back again
to the Downs, with the loss of their cables, sayles, and masts; but are
all safe, only my Lord Sandwich, who went before with the yachts; they
know not what is become of him, which do trouble me much; but I hope he
got ashore before the storm begun; which God grant! All day at the office,
only at home at dinner, where I was highly angry with my wife for her
keys being out of the way, but they were found at last, and so friends
again. All the afternoon answering letters and writing letters, and at
night to Mr. Coventry an ample letter in answer to all his and the Duke's
business. Late at night at the office, where my business is great, being
now all alone in town, but I shall go through it with pleasure. So home
and to bed.
23rd. This morning angry
a little in the morning, and my house being so much out of order makes
me a little pettish. I went to the office, and there dispatched business
by myself, and so again in the afternoon; being a little vexed that my
brother Tom, by his neglect, do fail to get a coach for my wife and maid
this week, by which she will not be at Brampton Feast, to meet my Lady
at my father's. At night home, and late packing up things in order to
their going to Brampton to-morrow, and so to bed, quite out of sorts in
my mind by reason that the weather is so bad, and my house all full of
wet, and the trouble of going from one house to another to Sir W. Pen's
upon every occasion. Besides much disturbed by reason of the talk up and
down the town, that my Lord Sandwich is lost; but I trust in God the contrary.
24th. Up early this morning
sending the things to the carrier's, and my boy, who goes to-day, though
his mistress do not till next Monday. All the morning at the office, Sir
W. Batten being come to town last night. I hear, to my great content,
that my Lord Sandwich is safe landed in France. Dined at our chamber,
where W. Bowyer with us, and after much simple talk with him, I left him,
and to my office, where all the afternoon busy till 9 at night, among
other things improving my late experiment at Woolwich about hemp. So home
and to bed.
25th. At the office all
the morning, reading Mr. Holland's' discourse of the Navy, lent me by
Mr. Turner, and am much pleased with them, they hitting the very diseases
of the Navy, which we are troubled with now- a-days. I shall bestow writing
of them over and much reading thereof. This morning Sir W. Batten came
in to the office and desired to speak with me; he began by telling me
that he observed a strangeness between him and me of late, and would know
the reason of it, telling me he heard that I was offended with merchants
coming to his house and making contracts there. I did tell him that as
a friend I had spoke of it to Sir W. Pen and desired him to take a time
to tell him of it, and not as a backbiter, with which he was satisfied,
but I find that Sir W. Pen has played the knave with me, and not told
it from me as a friend, but in a bad sense. He also told me that he heard
that exceptions were taken at his carrying his wife down to Portsmouth,
saying that the King should not pay for it, but I denied that I had spoke
of it, nor did I. At last he desired the difference between our wives
might not make a difference between us, which I was exceedingly glad to
hear, and do see every day the fruit of looking after my business, which
I pray God continue me in, for I do begin to be very happy. Dined at home,
and so to the office all the afternoon again, and at night home and to
bed.
26th. Sir W. Batten, Mr.
Pett, and I at the office sitting all the morning. So dined at home, and
then to my office again, causing the model hanging in my chamber to be
taken down and hung up in my office, for fear of being spoilt by the workmen,
and for my own convenience of studying it. This afternoon I had a letter
from Mr. Creed, who hath escaped narrowly in the King's yacht, and got
safe to the Downs after the late storm; and that there the King do tell
him, that he is sure that my Lord is landed at Callis safe, of which being
glad, I sent news thereof to my Lord Crew, and by the post to my Lady
into the country. This afternoon I went to Westminster; and there hear
that the King and Queen intend to come to White Hall from Hampton Court
next week, for all winter. Thence to Mrs. Sarah, and there looked over
my Lord's lodgings, which are very pretty; and White Hall garden and the
Bowling-ally (where lords and ladies are now at bowles), in brave condition.
Mrs. Sarah told me how the falling out between my Lady Castlemaine and
her Lord was about christening of the child lately, [The
boy was born in June at Lady Castlemaine's house in King Street. By the
direction of Lord Castlemaine, who had become a Roman Catholic, the child
was baptized by a priest, and this led to a final separation between husband
and wife. Some days afterwards the child was again baptized by the rector
of St. Margaret's, Westminster, in presence of the godparents, the King,
Aubrey De Vere, Earl of Oxford, and Barbara, Countess of Suffolk, first
Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen and Lady Castlemaine's aunt. The entry
in the register of St. Margaret's is as follows: "1662 June 18 Charles
Palmer Ld Limbricke, s. to ye right honorble Roger Earl of Castlemaine
by Barbara" (Steinman's "Memoir of Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland,"
1871, p. 33). The child was afterwards called Charles Fitzroy, and was
created Duke of Southampton in 1674. He succeeded his mother in the dukedom
of Cleveland in 1709, and died 1730.] which he would have, and
had done by a priest: and, some days after, she had it again christened
by a minister; the King, and Lord of Oxford, and Duchesse of Suffolk,
being witnesses: and christened with a proviso, that it had not already
been christened. Since that she left her Lord, carrying away every thing
in the house; so much as every dish, and cloth, and servant but the porter.
He is gone discontented into France, they say, to enter a monastery; and
now she is coming back again to her house in Kingstreet. But I hear that
the Queen did prick her out of the list presented her by the King;
["By the King's command Lord Clarendon, much against his inclination,
had twice visited his royal mistress with a view of inducing her, by persuasions
which he could not justify, to give way to the King's determination to
have Lady Castlemaine of her household . . . . Lord Clarendon has given
a full account of all that transpired between himself, the King and the
Queen, on this very unpleasant business desiring that she might have that
favour done her, or that he would send her from whence she come: and that
the King was angry and the Queen discontented a whole day and night upon
it; but that the King hath promised to have nothing to do with her hereafter.
But I cannot believe that the King can fling her off so, he loving her
too well: and so I writ this night to my Lady to be my opinion; she calling
her my lady, and the lady I admire. Here I find that my Lord hath lost
the garden to his lodgings, and that it is turning into a tennis-court.
Hence by water to the Wardrobe to see how all do there, and so home to
supper and to bed.
27th (Lord's day). At church
alone in the pew in the morning. In the afternoon by water I carried my
wife to Westminster, where she went to take leave of her father,
[Mrs. Pepys's father was Alexander Marchant, Sieur de St. Michel, a scion
of a good family in Anjou. Having turned Huguenot at the age of twenty-one,
his father disinherited him, and he was left penniless. He came over in
the retinue of Henrietta Maria, on her marriage with Charles I., as one
of her Majesty's gentlemen carvers, but the Queen dismissed him on finding
out he was a Protestant and did not go to mass. He described himself as
being captain and major of English troops in Italy and Flanders.--Wheatley's
Pepys and the World he lived in, pp. 6, 250. He was full of schemes; see
September 22nd, 1663, for account of his patent for curing smoky chimneys.]
and I to walk in the Park, which is now every day more and more pleasant,
by the new works upon it. Here meeting with Laud Crispe, I took him to
the farther end, and sat under a tree in a corner, and there sung some
songs, he singing well, but no skill, and so would sing false sometimes.
Then took leave of him, and found my wife at my Lord's lodging, and so
took her home by water, and to supper in Sir W. Pen's balcony, and Mrs.
Keene with us, and then came my wife's brother, and then broke up, and
to bed.
28th. Up early, and by
six o'clock, after my wife was ready, I walked with her to the George,
at Holborn Conduit, where the coach stood ready to carry her and her maid
to Bugden, but that not being ready, my brother Tom staid with them to
see them gone, and so I took a troubled though willing goodbye, because
of the bad condition of my house to have a family in it. So I took leave
of her and walked to the waterside, and there took boat for the Tower;
hearing that the Queen-Mother is come this morning already as high as
Woolwich: and that my Lord Sandwich was with her; at which my heart was
glad, and I sent the waterman, though yet not very certain of it, to my
wife to carry news thereof to my Lady. So to my office all the morning
abstracting the Duke's instructions in the margin thereof. So home all
alone to dinner, and then to the office again, and in the evening Cooper
comes, and he being gone, to my chamber a little troubled and melancholy,
to my lute late, and so to bed, Will lying there at my feet, and the wench
in my house in Will's bed.
29th. Early up, and brought
all my money, which is near L300, out of my house into this chamber; and
so to the office, and there we sat all the morning, Sir George Carteret
and Mr. Coventry being come from sea. This morning among other things
I broached the business of our being abused about flags, which I know
doth trouble Sir W. Batten, but I care not. At noon being invited I went
with Sir George and Mr. Coventry to Sir W. Batten's to dinner, and there
merry, and very friendly to Sir Wm. and he to me, and complies much with
me, but I know he envies me, and I do not value him. To the office again,
and in the evening walked to Deptford (Cooper with me talking of mathematiques),
to send a fellow to prison for cutting of buoy ropes, and to see the difference
between the flags sent in now-a-days, and I find the old ones, which were
much cheaper, to be wholly as good. So I took one of a sort with me, and
Mr. Wayth accompanying of me a good way, talking of the faults of the
Navy, I walked to Redriffe back, and so home by water, and after having
done, late, at the office, I went to my chamber and to bed.
30th. Up early, and to
my office, where Cooper came to me and begun his lecture upon the body
of a ship, which my having of a modell in the office is of great use to
me, and very pleasant and useful it is. Then by water to White Hall, and
there waited upon my Lord Sandwich; and joyed him, at his lodgings, of
his safe coming home after all his danger, which he confesses to be very
great. And his people do tell me how bravely my Lord did carry himself,
while my Lord Crofts did cry; and I perceive it is all the town talk how
poorly he carried himself. But the best was of one Mr. Rawlins, a courtier,
that was with my Lord; and in the greatest danger cried, "God damn
me, my Lord, I won't give you three-pence for your place now." But
all ends in the honour of the pleasure-boats; which, had they not been
very good boats, they could never have endured the sea as they did. Thence
with Captain Fletcher, of the Gage, in his ship's boat with 8 oars (but
every ordinary oars outrowed us) to Woolwich, expecting to find Sir W.
Batten there upon his survey, but he is not come, and so we got a dish
of steaks at the White Hart, while his clarkes and others were feasting
of it in the best room of the house, and after dinner playing at shuffleboard,
[The game of shovelboard was played by two players
(each provided with five coins) on a smooth heavy table. On the table
were marked with chalk a series of lines, and the play was to strike the
coin on the edge of the table with the hand so that it rested between
these lines. Shakespeare uses the expression "shove-groat shilling,"
as does Ben Jonson. These shillings were usually smooth and worn for the
convenience of playing. Strutt says ("Sports and Pastimes"),
"I have seen a shovel-board table at a low public house in Benjamin
Street, near Clerkenwell Green, which is about three feet in breadth and
thirty-nine feet two inches in length, and said to be the longest at this
time in London."] and when at last they heard I was there,
they went about their survey. But God help the King! what surveys, shall
be taken after this manner! I after dinner about my business to the Rope-yard,
and there staid till night, repeating several trialls of the strength,
wayte, waste, and other things of hemp, by which I have furnished myself
enough to finish my intended business of stating the goodness of all sorts
of hemp. At night home by boat with Sir W. Warren, who I landed by the
way, and so being come home to bed.
31st. Up early and among
my workmen, I ordering my rooms above, which will please me very well.
So to my office, and there we sat all the morning, where I begin more
and more to grow considerable there. At noon Mr. Coventry and I by his
coach to the Exchange together; and in Lumbard- street met Captain Browne
of the Rosebush: at which he was cruel angry: and did threaten to go to-day
to the Duke at Hampton Court, and get him turned out because he was not
sailed. But at the Exchange we resolved of eating a bit together, which
we did at the Ship behind the Exchange, and so took boat to Billingsgate,
and went down on board the Rosebush at Woolwich, and found all things
out of order, but after frightening the officers there, we left them to
make more haste, and so on shore to the yard, and did the same to the
officers of the yard, that the ship was not dispatched. Here we found
Sir W. Batten going about his survey, but so poorly and unlike a survey
of the Navy, that I am ashamed of it, and so is Mr. Coventry. We found
fault with many things, and among others the measure of some timber now
serving in which Mr. Day the assistant told us of, and so by water home
again, all the way talking of the office business and other very pleasant
discourse, and much proud I am of getting thus far into his books, which
I think I am very much in. So home late, and it being the last day of
the month, I did make up my accounts before I went to bed, and found myself
worth about L650, for which the Lord God be praised, and so to bed. I
drank but two glasses of wine this day, and yet it makes my head ake all
night, and indisposed me all the next day, of which I am glad. I am now
in town only with my man Will and Jane, and because my house is in building,
I do lie at Sir W. Pen's house, he being gone to Ireland. My wife, her
maid and boy gone to Brampton. I am very well entered into the business
and esteem of the office, and do ply it close, and find benefit by it.
August
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