THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M. A. F. R. S. 

 CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY

 TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M. A. LATE FELLOW AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE

 (Unabridged)

 WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES

 EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY

 HENRY B. WHEATLEY F. S. A. 

 DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS. 

 1668 N. S. 

 JANUARY 1667-1668

January 1st. Up, and all the morning in my chamber making up someaccounts against this beginning of the new year, and so about noon abroadwith my wife, who was to dine with W. Hewer and Willet at Mrs. Pierces, but I had no mind to be with them, for I do clearly find that my wife istroubled at my friendship with her and Knepp, and so dined with my LordCrew, with whom was Mr. Browne, Clerk of the House of Lords, and Mr. JohnCrew. Here was mighty good discourse, as there is always: and among otherthings my Lord Crew did turn to a place in the Life of Sir Philip Sidney, wrote by Sir Fulke Greville, which do foretell the present condition ofthis nation, in relation to the Dutch, to the very degree of a prophecy;and is so remarkable that I am resolved to buy one of them, it being, quite throughout, a good discourse. Here they did talk much of thepresent cheapness of corne, even to a miracle; so as their farmers can payno rent, but do fling up their lands; and would pay in corne: but, which Idid observe to my Lord, and he liked well of it, our gentry are grown soignorant in every thing of good husbandry, that they know not how tobestow this corne: which, did they understand but a little trade, theywould be able to joyne together, and know what markets there are abroad, and send it thither, and thereby ease their tenants and be able to paythemselves. They did talk much of the disgrace the Archbishop is fallenunder with the King, and the rest of the Bishops also. Thence I afterdinner to the Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw "Sir MartinMar-all;" which I have seen so often, and yet am mightily pleased with it, and think it mighty witty, and the fullest of proper matter for mirth thatever was writ; and I do clearly see that they do improve in their actingof it. Here a mighty company of citizens, 'prentices, and others; and itmakes me observe, that when I begun first to be able to bestow a play onmyself, I do not remember that I saw so many by half of the ordinary'prentices and mean people in the pit at 2s. 6d. A-piece as now; I goingfor several years no higher than the 12d. And then the 18d. Places, though, I strained hard to go in then when I did: so much the vanity andprodigality of the age is to be observed in this particular. Thence I toWhite Hall, and there walked up and down the house a while, and do hearnothing of anything done further in this business of the change ofPrivy-counsellors: only I hear that Sir G. Savile, one of the ParliamentCommittee of nine, for examining the Accounts, is by the King made a Lord, the Lord Halifax; which, I believe, will displease the Parliament. By andby I met with Mr. Brisband; and having it in my mind this Christmas to (dowhat I never can remember that I did) go to see the manner of the gamingat the Groome-Porter's, I having in my coming from the playhouse steppedinto the two Temple-halls, and there saw the dirty 'prentices and idlepeople playing; wherein I was mistaken, in thinking to have seen gentlemenof quality playing there, as I think it was when I was a little child, that one of my father's servants, John Bassum, I think, carried me in hisarms thither. I did tell Brisband of it, and he did lead me thither, where, after staying an hour, they begun to play at about eight at night, where to see how differently one man took his losing from another, onecursing and swearing, and another only muttering and grumbling to himself, a third without any apparent discontent at all: to see how the dice willrun good luck in one hand, for half an hour together, and another have nogood luck at all: to see how easily here, where they play nothing butguinnys, a L100 is won or lost: to see two or three gentlemen come inthere drunk, and putting their stock of gold together, one 22 pieces, thesecond 4, and the third 5 pieces; and these to play one with another, andforget how much each of them brought, but he that brought the 22 thinksthat he brought no more than the rest: to see the different humours ofgamesters to change their luck, when it is bad, how ceremonious they areas to call for new dice, to shift their places, to alter their manner ofthrowing, and that with great industry, as if there was anything in it: tosee how some old gamesters, that have no money now to spend as formerly, do come and sit and look on, as among others, Sir Lewis Dives, who washere, and hath been a great gamester in his time: to hear their cursingand damning to no purpose, as one man being to throw a seven if he could, and, failing to do it after a great many throws, cried he would be damnedif ever he flung seven more while he lived, his despair of throwing itbeing so great, while others did it as their luck served almost everythrow: to see how persons of the best quality do here sit down, and playwith people of any, though meaner; and to see how people in ordinaryclothes shall come hither, and play away 100, or 2 or 300 guinnys, withoutany kind of difficulty: and lastly, to see the formality of thegroome-porter, who is their judge of all disputes in play and all quarrelsthat may arise therein, and how his under-officers are there to observetrue play at each table, and to give new dice, is a consideration I nevercould have thought had been in the world, had I not now seen it. Andmighty glad I am that I did see it, and it may be will find anotherevening, before Christmas be over, to see it again, when I may stay later, for their heat of play begins not till about eleven or twelve o'clock;which did give me another pretty observation of a man, that did win mightyfast when I was there. I think he won L100 at single pieces in a littletime. While all the rest envied him his good fortune, he cursed it, saying, "A pox on it, that it should come so early upon me, for thisfortune two hours hence would be worth something to me, but then, God damnme, I shall have no such luck. " This kind of prophane, mad entertainmentthey give themselves. And so I, having enough for once, refusing toventure, though Brisband pressed me hard, and tempted me with saying thatno man was ever known to lose the first time, the devil being too cunningto discourage a gamester; and he offered me also to lend me ten pieces toventure; but I did refuse, and so went away, and took coach and home about9 or to at night, where not finding my wife come home, I took the samecoach again, and leaving my watch behind me for fear of robbing, I did goback and to Mrs. Pierces, thinking they might not have broken up yet, butthere I find my wife newly gone, and not going out of my coach spoke onlyto Mr. Pierce in his nightgown in the street, and so away back again home, and there to supper with my wife and to talk about their dancing anddoings at Mrs. Pierces to-day, and so to bed. 

2nd. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes by coach to White Hall, and thereattended the King and the Duke of York in the Duke of York's lodgings, with the rest of the Officers and many of the Commanders of the fleete, and some of our master shipwrights, to discourse the business of havingthe topmasts of ships made to lower abaft of the mainmast; a business Iunderstand not, and so can give no good account; but I do see that by howmuch greater the Council, and the number of Counsellors is, the moreconfused the issue is of their councils; so that little was said to thepurpose regularly, and but little use was made of it, they coming to avery broken conclusion upon it, to make trial in a ship or two. From thisthey fell to other talk about the fleete's fighting this late war, and howthe King's ships have been shattered; though the King said that the worldwould not have it that about ten or twenty ships in any fight did do anyservice, and that this hath been told so to him himself, by ignorantpeople. The Prince, who was there, was mightily surprised at it, andseemed troubled: but the King told him that it was only discourse of theworld. But Mr. Wren whispered me in the eare, and said that the Duke ofAlbemarle had put it into his Narrative for the House, that not abovetwenty-five ships fought in the engagement wherein he was, but that he wasadvised to leave it out; but this he did write from sea, I am sure, orwords to that effect: and did displease many commanders, among others, Captain Batts, who the Duke of York said was a very stout man, all theworld knew; and that another was brought into his ship that had beenturned out of his place when he was a boatswain, not long before, forbeing a drunkard. This the Prince took notice of, and would have beenangry, I think, but they let their discourse fall: but the Duke of Yorkwas earnest in it. And the Prince said to me, standing by me, "God damnme, if they will turn out every man that will be drunk, they must turn outall the commanders in the fleete. What is the matter if he be drunk, sowhen he comes to fight he do his work? At least, let him be punished forhis drunkenness, and not put out of his command presently. " This he spoke, very much concerned for this idle fellow, one Greene. After this the Kingbegan to tell stories of the cowardice of the Spaniards in Flanders, whenhe was there, at the siege of Mardike and Dunkirke; which was very pretty, though he tells them but meanly. This being done I to Westminster Hall, and there staid a little: and then home, and by the way did find withdifficulty the Life of Sir Philip Sidney (the book I mentioned yesterday). And the bookseller told me that he had sold four, within this week or two, which is more than ever he sold in all his life of them; and he could notimagine what should be the reason of it: but I suppose it is from the samereason of people's observing of this part therein, touching hisprophesying our present condition here in England in relation to theDutch, which is very remarkable. So home to dinner, where Balty's wife iscome to town; she come last night and lay at my house, but being weary wasgone to bed before I come home, and so I saw her not before. After dinnerI took my wife and her girl out to the New Exchange, and there my wifebought herself a lace for a handkercher, which I do give her, of about L3, for a new year's gift, and I did buy also a lace for a band for myself, and so home, and there to the office busy late, and so home to my chamber, where busy on some accounts, and then to supper and to bed. This day mywife shows me a locket of dyamonds worth about L40, which W. Hewer dopress her to accept, and hath done for a good while, out of his gratitudefor my kindness and hers to him. But I do not like that she shouldreceive it, it not being honourable for me to do it; and so do desire herto force him to take it back again, he leaving it against her willyesterday with her. And she did this evening force him to take it back, at which she says he is troubled; but, however, it becomes me more torefuse it, than to let her accept of it. And so I am well pleased withher returning it him. It is generally believed that France isendeavouring a firmer league with us than the former, in order to hisgoing on with his business against Spayne the next year; which I am, andso everybody else is, I think, very glad of, for all our fear is, of hisinvading us. This day, at White Hall, I overheard Sir W. Coventry proposeto the King his ordering of some particular thing in the Wardrobe, whichwas of no great value; but yet, as much as it was, it was of profit to theKing and saving to his purse. The King answered to it with greatindifferency, as a thing that it was no great matter whether it was doneor no. Sir W. Coventry answered: "I see your Majesty do not remember theold English proverb, 'He that will not stoop for a pin, will never beworth a pound. '" And so they parted, the King bidding him do as he would;which, methought, was an answer not like a King that did intend ever to dowell. 

3rd. At the office all the morning with Mr. Willson and my clerks, consulting again about a new contract with the Victualler of the Navy, andat noon home to dinner, and then to the office again, where busy all theafternoon preparing something for the Council about Tangier this evening. So about five o'clock away with it to the Council, and there do find thatthe Council hath altered its times of sitting to the mornings, and so Ilost my labour, and back again by coach presently round by the city wall, it being dark, and so home, and there to the office, where till midnightwith Mr. Willson and my people to go through with the Victualler'scontract and the considerations about the new one, and so home to supperand to bed, thinking my time very well spent. 

4th. Up, and there to the office, where we sat all the morning; at noonhome to dinner, where my clerks and Mr. Clerke the sollicitor with me, anddinner being done I to the office again, where all the afternoon till latebusy, and then home with my mind pleased at the pleasure of despatching mybusiness, and so to supper and to bed, my thoughts full, how to order ourdesign of having some dancing at our house on Monday next, beingTwelfth-day. It seems worth remembering that this day I did hear my LordAnglesey at the table, speaking touching this new Act for Accounts, saythat the House of Lords did pass it because it was a senseless, impracticable, ineffectual, and foolish Act; and that my Lord Ashly havingshown this that it was so to the House of Lords, the Duke of Buckinghamdid stand up and told the Lords that they were beholden to my Lord Ashly, that having first commended them for a most grave and honourable assembly, he thought it fit for the House to pass this Act for Accounts because itwas a foolish and simple Act: and it seems it was passed with but a few inthe House, when it was intended to have met in a grand Committee upon it. And it seems that in itself it is not to be practiced till after thissession of Parliament, by the very words of the Act, which nobodyregarded, and therefore cannot come in force yet, unless the next meetingthey do make a new Act for the bringing it into force sooner; which is astrange omission. But I perceive my Lord Anglesey do make a merelaughing-stock of this Act, as a thing that can do nothing considerable, for all its great noise. 

5th (Lord's day). Up, and being ready, and disappointed of a coach, itbreaking a wheel just as it was coming for me, I walked as far as theTemple, it being dirty, and as I went out of my doors my cozen AnthonyJoyce met me, and so walked part of the way with me, and it was to seewhat I would do upon what his wife a little while since did desire, whichwas to supply him L350 to enable him to go to build his house again. I(who in my nature am mighty unready to answer no to anything, and therebywonder that I have suffered no more in my life by my easiness in that kindthan I have) answered him that I would do it, and so I will, he offeringme good security, and so it being left for me to consider the manner ofdoing it we parted. Taking coach as I said before at the Temple, I toCharing Cross, and there went into Unthanke's to have my shoes wiped, dirty with walking, and so to White Hall, where I visited theVice-Chamberlain, who tells me, and so I find by others, that the businessof putting out of some of the Privy-council is over, the King being atlast advised to forbear it; for whereas he did design it to make room forsome of the House of Commons that are against him, thereby to gratifythem, it is believed that it will but so much the more fret the rest thatare not provided for, and raise a new stock of enemies by them that aredispleased, and so all they think is over: and it goes for a pretty sayingof my Lord Anglesey's up and down the Court, that he should lately say toone of them that are the great promoters of this putting him and othersout of the Council, "Well, " says he, "and what are we to look for when weare outed? Will all things be set right in the nation?" The other saidthat he did believe that many things would be mended: "But, " says my Lord, "will you and the rest of you be contented to be hanged, if you do notredeem all our misfortunes and set all right, if the power be put intoyour hands?" The other answered, "No, I would not undertake that:"--"Why, then, " says my Lord, "I and the rest of us that you are labouring to putout, will be contented to be hanged, if we do not recover all that ispast, if the King will put the power into our hands, and adhere wholly toour advice;" which saying as it was severe, so generally people have solittle opinion of those that are likely to be uppermost that they domightily commend my Lord Anglesey for this saying. From theVice-Chamberlain up and down the house till Chapel done, and then didspeak with several that I had a mind to, and so intending to go home, myLady Carteret saw and called me out of her window, and so would have mehome with her to Lincoln's Inn Fields to dinner, and there we met with myLord Brereton, and several other strangers, to dine there; and I find hima very sober and serious, able man, and was in discourse too hard for theBishop of Chester, who dined there; and who, above all books lately wrote, commending the matter and style of a late book, called "The Causes of theDecay of Piety, " I do resolve at his great commendation to buy it. Heredined also Sir Philip Howard, a Barkeshire Howard, whom I did once hearswear publickly and loud in the matted gallery that he had not been at awench in so long a time. He did take occasion to tell me at the tablethat I have got great ground in the Parliament, by my ready answers to allthat was asked me there about the business of Chatham, and they wouldnever let me be out of employment, of which I made little; but was glad tohear him, as well as others, say it. And he did say also, relating toCommissioner Pett, that he did not think that he was guilty of anythinglike a fault, that he was either able or concerned to amend, but only thenot carrying up of the ships higher, he meant; but he said, three or fourmiles lower down, to Rochester Bridge, which is a strange piece ofignorance in a Member of Parliament at such a time as this, and after somany examinations in the house of this business; and did boldly declarethat he did think the fault to lie in my Lord Middleton, who had the powerof the place, to secure the boats that were made ready by Pett, and to doanything that he thought fit, and was much, though not altogether in theright, for Spragg, that commanded the river, ought rather to be chargedwith the want of the boats and the placing of them. After dinner, my LordBrereton very gentilely went to the organ, and played a verse veryhandsomely. Thence after dinner away with Sir G. Carteret to White Hall, setting down my Lord Brereton at my Lord Brouncker's, and there up anddown the house, and on the Queen's side, to see the ladies, and there sawthe Duchesse of York, whom few pay the respect they used, I think, to her;but she bears all out, with a very great deal of greatness; that is thetruth of it. And so, it growing night, I away home by coach, and thereset my wife to read, and then comes Pelling, and he and I to sing alittle, and then sup and so to bed. 

6th. Up, leaving my wife to get her ready, and the maids to get a supperready against night for our company; and I by coach to White Hall, andthere up and down the house, and among others met with Mr. Pierce, by whomI find, as I was afeard from the folly of my wife, that he understood thathe and his wife was to dine at my house to-day, whereas it was to sup; andtherefore I, having done my business at court, did go home to dinner, andthere find Mr. Harris, by the like mistake, come to dine with me. However, we did get a pretty dinner ready for him; and there he and I todiscourse of many things, and I do find him a very excellent person, suchas in my whole [acquaintances] I do not know another better qualified forconverse, whether in things of his own trade, or of other kinds, a man ofgreat understanding and observation, and very agreeable in the manner ofhis discourse, and civil as far as is possible. I was mightily pleasedwith his company; and after dinner did take coach with him, and my wifeand girl, to go to a play, and to carry him thither to his own house. ButI 'light by the way to return home, thinking to have spoke with Mrs. Bagwell, who I did see to-day in our entry, come from Harwich, whom I havenot seen these twelve months, I think, and more, and voudrai avoir hazeralcun with her, sed she was gone, and so I took coach and away to my wifeat the Duke of York's house, in the pit, and so left her; and to Mrs. Pierce, and took her and her cozen Corbet, Knepp and little James, andbrought them to the Duke's house; and, the house being full, was forced tocarry them to a box, which did cost me 20s. , besides oranges, whichtroubled me, though their company did please me. Thence, after the play, stayed till Harris was undressed, there being acted "The Tempest, " and sohe withall, all by coach, home, where we find my house with good fires andcandles ready, and our Office the like, and the two Mercers, and BettyTurner, Pendleton, and W. Batelier. And so with much pleasure we into thehouse, and there fell to dancing, having extraordinary Musick, twoviollins, and a base viollin, and theorbo, four hands, the Duke ofBuckingham's musique, the best in towne, sent me by Greeting, and there weset in to dancing. By and by to my house, to a very good supper, andmighty merry, and good musick playing; and after supper to dancing andsinging till about twelve at night; and then we had a good sack posset forthem, and an excellent cake, cost me near 20s. , of our Jane's making, which was cut into twenty pieces, there being by this time so many of ourcompany, by the coming in of young Goodyer and some others of ourneighbours, young men that could dance, hearing of our dancing; and anoncomes in Mrs. Turner, the mother, and brings with her Mrs. Hollworthy, which pleased me mightily. And so to dancing again, and singing, withextraordinary great pleasure, till about two in the morning, and thenbroke up; and Mrs. Pierce and her family, and Harris and Knepp by coachhome, as late as it was. And they gone, I took Mrs. Turner and Hollworthyhome to my house, and there gave wine and sweetmeats; but I find Mrs. Hollworthy but a mean woman, I think, for understanding, only a littleconceited, and proud, and talking, but nothing extraordinary in person, ordiscourse, or understanding. However, I was mightily pleased with herbeing there, I having long longed for to know her, and they being gone, Ipaid the fiddlers L3 among the four, and so away to bed, weary andmightily pleased, and have the happiness to reflect upon it as I dosometimes on other things, as going to a play or the like, to be thegreatest real comfort that I am to expect in the world, and that it isthat that we do really labour in the hopes of; and so I do really enjoymyself, and understand that if I do not do it now I shall not hereafter, it may be, be able to pay for it, or have health to take pleasure in it, and so fill myself with vain expectation of pleasure and go without it. 

7th. Up, weary, about 9 o'clock, and then out by coach to White Hall toattend the Lords of the Treasury about Tangier with Sir Stephen Fox, andhaving done with them I away back again home by coach time enough todispatch some business, and after dinner with Sir W. Pen's coach (he beinggone before with Sir D. Gawden) to White Hall to wait on the Duke of York, but I finding him not there, nor the Duke of York within, I away by coachto the Nursery, where I never was yet, and there to meet my wife andMercer and Willet as they promised; but the house did not act to-day; andso I was at a loss for them, and therefore to the other two playhousesinto the pit, to gaze up and down, to look for them, and there did by thismeans, for nothing, see an act in "The Schoole of Compliments" at the Dukeof York's house, and "Henry the Fourth" at the King's house; but, notfinding them, nor liking either of the plays, I took my coach again, andhome, and there to my office to do business, and by and by they come home, and had been at the King's House, and saw me, but I could [not] see them, and there I walked with them in the garden awhile, and to sing with Mercerthere a little, and so home with her, and taught her a little of my "It isdecreed, " which I have a mind to have her learn to sing, and she will doit well, and so after supper she went away, and we to bed, and there madeamends by sleep for what I wanted last night. 

8th. Up, and it being dirty, I by coach (which I was forced to go to thecharge for) to White Hall, and there did deliver the Duke of York amemorial for the Council about the case of Tangiers want of money; and Iwas called in there and my paper was read. I did not think fit to saymuch, but left them to make what use they pleased of my paper; and so wentout and waited without all the morning, and at noon hear that there issomething ordered towards our help, and so I away by coach home, taking upMr. Prin at the Court-gate, it raining, and setting him down at theTemple: and by the way did ask him about the manner of holding ofParliaments, and whether the number of Knights and Burgesses were alwaysthe same? And he says that the latter were not; but that, for aught hecan find, they were sent up at the discretion, at first, of the Sheriffes, to whom the writs are sent, to send up generally the Burgesses andcitizens of their county: and he do find that heretofore theParliament-men being paid by the country, several burroughs havecomplained of the Sheriffes putting them to the charge of sending upBurgesses; which is a very extraordinary thing to me, that knew not this, but thought that the number had been known, and always the same. Thencehome to the office, and so with my Lord Brouncker and his mistress, Williams, to Captain Cocke's to dinner, where was Temple and Mr. Porter, and a very good dinner, and merry. Thence with Lord Brouncker to WhiteHall to the Commissioners of the Treasury at their sending for us todiscourse about the paying of tickets, and so away, and I by coach to the'Change, and there took up my wife and Mercer and the girl by agreement, and so home, and there with Mercer to teach her more of "It is decreed, "and to sing other songs and talk all the evening, and so after supper I toeven my journall since Saturday last, and so to bed. Yesterday Mr. Gibson, upon his discovering by my discourse to him that I had awillingness, or rather desire, to have him stay with me, than go, as hedesigned, on Sir W. Warren's account, to sea, he resolved to let go thedesign and wait his fortune with me, though I laboured hard to make himunderstand the uncertainty of my condition or service, but however he willhazard it, which I take mighty kindly of him, though troubled lest he maycome to be a loser by it, but it will not be for want of my telling himwhat he was to think on and expect. However, I am well pleased with it, with regard to myself, who find him mighty understanding and acquaintedwith all things in the Navy, that I should, if I continue in the Navy, make great use of him. 

9th. Up, and to the office, having first been visited by my cozen AnthonyJoyce about the L350 which he desires me to lend him, and which I have amind enough to do, but would have it in my power to call it out again in alittle time, and so do take a little further time to consider it. So tothe office, where all the morning busy, and so home at noon to dinner withmy people, where Mr. Hollier come and dined with me, and it is stillmighty pleasant to hear him talk of Rome and the Pope, with what heartyzeal and hatred he talks against him. After dinner to the office again, where busy till night, very busy, and among other things wrote to myfather about lending Anthony Joyce the money he desires; and I declarethat I would do it as part of Pall's portion, and that Pall should havethe use of the money till she be married, but I do propose to him to thinkof Mr. Cumberland rather than this Jackson that he is upon; and I confessI have a mighty mind to have a relation so able a man, and honest, and soold an acquaintance as Mr. Cumberland. I shall hear his answer by thenext [post]. At night home and to cards with my wife and girle, and tosupper late, and so to bed. 

10th. Up, and with Sir Denis Gawden, who called me, to White Hall, andthere to wait on the Duke of York with the rest of my brethren, which wedid a little in the King's Greenroom, while the King was in Council: andin this room we found my Lord Bristoll walking alone; which, wondering at, while the Council was sitting, I was answered that, as being a Catholique, he could not be of the Council, which I did not consider before. Afterbroke up and walked a turn or two with Lord Brouncker talking about thetimes, and he tells me that he thinks, and so do every body else, that thegreat business of putting out some of the Council to make room for some ofthe Parliament men to gratify and wheedle them is over, thinking that itmight do more hurt than good, and not obtain much upon the Parliamenteither. This morning there was a Persian in that country dress, with aturban, waiting to kiss the King's hand in the Vane-room, against he comeout: it was a comely man as to features, and his dress, methinks, verycomely. Thence in Sir W. Pen's coach alone (he going with Sir D. Gawden)to my new bookseller's, Martin's; and there did meet with Fournier, [George Fournier, a Jesuit, born at Caen in 1569, was the author of several nautical works. His chief one, "L'Hydrographie, " was published at Paris in folio in 1663. A second edition appeared in 1667. ]

the Frenchman, that hath wrote of the Sea and Navigation, and I could notbut buy him, and also bespoke an excellent book, which I met with there, of China. The truth is, I have bought a great many books lately to agreat value; but I think to buy no more till Christmas next, and thosethat I have will so fill my two presses that I must be forced to give awaysome to make room for them, it being my design to have no more at any timefor my proper library than to fill them. Thence home and to the Exchange, there to do a little business, where I find everybody concerned whether weshall have out a fleete this next year or no, they talking of a peaceconcluded between France and Spayne, so that the King of France will havenothing to do with his army unless he comes to us; but I do not see in theworld how we shall be able to set out a fleete for want of money to buystores and pay men, for neither of which we shall be any more trusted. Sohome to dinner, and then with my wife and Deb. To the King's house, to see"Aglaura, " which hath been always mightily cried up; and so I went withmighty expectation, but do find nothing extraordinary in it at all, andbut hardly good in any degree. So home, and thither comes to us W. Batelier and sat with us all the evening, and to cards and supper, passingthe evening pretty pleasantly, and so late at night parted, and so to bed. I find him mightily troubled at the Lords Commissioners of the Treasuryopposing him in the business he hath a patent for about the business ofImpost on wine, but I do see that the Lords have reason for it, it being amatter wherein money might be saved to his Majesty, and I am satisfiedthat they do let nothing pass that may save money, and so God bless them!So he being gone we to bed. This day I received a letter from my father, and another from my cozen Roger Pepys, who have had a view of Jackson'sevidences of his estate, and do mightily like of the man, and hiscondition and estate, and do advise me to accept of the match for mysister, and to finish it as soon as I can; and he do it so as, I confess, I am contented to have it done, and so give her her portion; and so Ishall be eased of one care how to provide for her, and do in many respectsthink that it may be a match proper enough to have her married there, andto one that may look after my concernments if my father should die and Icontinue where I am, and there[fore] I am well pleased with it, and so tobed. 

11th. Lay some time, talking with my wife in bed about Pall's business, and she do conclude to have her married here, and to be merry at it; andto have W. Hewer, and Batelier, and Mercer, and Willet bridemen andbridemaids, and to be very merry; and so I am glad of it, and do resolveto let it be done as soon as I can. So up, and to the office, where allthe morning busy, and thence home to dinner, and from dinner with Mercer, who dined with us, and wife and Deb. To the King's house, there to see"The Wild-goose Chase, " which I never saw, but have long longed to see it, being a famous play, but as it was yesterday I do find that where I expectmost I find least satisfaction, for in this play I met with nothingextraordinary at all, but very dull inventions and designs. Knepp come andsat by us, and her talk pleased me a little, she telling me how Mis Davisis for certain going away from the Duke's house, the King being in lovewith her; and a house is taken for her, and furnishing; and she hath aring given her already worth L600: that the King did send several timesfor Nelly, and she was with him, but what he did she knows not; this was agood while ago, and she says that the King first spoiled Mrs. Weaver, which is very mean, methinks, in a prince, and I am sorry for it, and canhope for no good to the State from having a Prince so devoted to hispleasure. She told me also of a play shortly coming upon the stage, ofSir Charles Sidly's, which, she thinks, will be called "The WanderingLadys, " a comedy that, she thinks, will be most pleasant; and also anotherplay, called "The Duke of Lerma;" besides "Catelin, " which she thinks, forwant of the clothes which the King promised them, will not be acted for agood while. Thence home, and there to the office and did some business, and so with my wife for half an hour walking in the moonlight, and itbeing cold, frosty weather, walking in the garden, and then home tosupper, and so by the fireside to have my head combed, as I do now oftendo, by Deb. , whom I love should be fiddling about me, and so to bed. 

12th (Lord's day). Up, and to dress myself, and then called into mywife's chamber, and there she without any occasion fell to discourse of myfather's coming to live with us when my sister marries. This, she beingafeard of declaring an absolute hatred to him since his falling out withher about Coleman's being with her, she declares against his cominghither, which I not presently agreeing to, she declared, if he come, shewould not live with me, but would shame me all over the city and court, which I made slight of, and so we fell very foul; and I do find she dokeep very bad remembrances of my former unkindness to her, and do mightilycomplain of her want of money and liberty, which I will rather hear andbear the complaint of than grant the contrary, and so we had very hot worka great while: but at last I did declare as I intend, that my father shallnot come, and that he do not desire and intend it; and so we parted withpretty good quiet, and so away, and being ready went to church, wherefirst I saw Alderman Backewell and his lady come to our church, theyliving in Mark Lane; and I could find in my heart to invite her to sitwith us, she being a fine lady. I come in while they were singing the19th Psalm, while the sexton was gathering to his box, to which I did give5s. , and so after sermon home, my wife, Deb. , and I all alone and verykind, full of good discourses, and after dinner I to my chamber, orderingmy Tangier accounts to give to the Auditor in a day or two, which shouldhave been long ago with him. At them to my great content all theafternoon till supper, and after supper with my wife, W. Hewer and Deb. Pretty merry till 12 at night, and then to bed. 

13th. Up, and Mr. Gibbs comes to me, and I give him instructions aboutthe writing fair my Tangier accounts against to-morrow. So I abroad withSir W. Pen to White Hall, and there did with the rest attend the Duke ofYork, where nothing extraordinary; only I perceive there is nothing yetdeclared for the next, year, what fleete shall be abroad. Thence homewardby coach and stopped at Martin's, my bookseller, where I saw the Frenchbook which I did think to have had for my wife to translate, called"L'escholle des filles, "

 ["L'Escole des Filles, " by Helot, was burnt at the foot of the gallows in 1672, and the author himself was burnt in effigy. ]

but when I come to look in it, it is the most bawdy, lewd book that ever Isaw, rather worse than "Putana errante, " so that I was ashamed of readingin it, and so away home, and there to the 'Change to discourse with Sir H. Cholmly, and so home to dinner, and in the evening, having done somebusiness, I with my wife and girl out, and left them at Unthanke's, whileI to White Hall to the Treasury Chamber for an order for Tangier, and soback, took up my wife, and home, and there busy about my Tangier accountsagainst tomorrow, which I do get ready in good condition, and so withgreat content to bed. 

14th. At the office all the morning, and at noon home to dinner, andafter dinner with Mr. Clerke and Gibson to the Temple (my wife and girlegoing further by coach), and there at the Auditor's did begin theexamining my Tangier accounts, and did make a great entry into it and withgreat satisfaction, and I am glad I am so far eased. So appointinganother day for further part of my accounts, I with Gibson to mybookseller, Martin, and there did receive my book I expected of China, amost excellent book with rare cuts; and there fell into discourse with himabout the burning of Paul's when the City was burned; his house being inthe church-yard. And he tells me that it took fire first upon the end ofa board that, among others, was laid upon the roof instead of lead, thelead being broke off, and thence down lower and lower: but that theburning of the goods under St. Fayth's arose from the goods taking fire inthe church-yard, and so got into St. Fayth's Church; and that they firsttook fire from the Draper's side, by some timber of the houses that wereburned falling into the church. He says that one warehouse of books wassaved under Paul's; and he says that there were several dogs found burnedamong the goods in the church-yard, and but one man, which was an old man, that said he would go and save a blanket which he had in the church, and, being a weak old man, the fire overcome him, and was burned. He says thatmost of the booksellers do design to fall a-building again the next year;but he says that the Bishop of London do use them most basely, worse thanany other landlords, and says he will be paid to this day the rent, orelse he will not come to treat with them for the time to come; and willnot, on that condition either, promise them any thing how he will usethem; and, the Parliament sitting, he claims his privilege, and will notbe cited before the Lord Chief justice, as others are there, to be forcedto a fair dealing. Thence by coach to Mrs. Pierce's, where my wife andDeb. Is; and there they fell to discourse of the last night's work atCourt, where the ladies and Duke of Monmouth and others acted "The IndianEmperour;" wherein they told me these things most remark able: that notany woman but the Duchesse of Monmouth and Mrs. Cornwallis did any thingbut like fools and stocks, but that these two did do most extraordinarywell: that not any man did any thing well but Captain O'Bryan, who spokeand did well, but, above all things, did dance most incomparably. That shedid sit near the players of the Duke's house; among the rest, Mis Davis, who is the most impertinent slut, she says, in the world; and the more, now the King do show her countenance; and is reckoned his mistress, evento the scorne of the whole world; the King gazing on her, and my LadyCastlemayne being melancholy and out of humour, all the play, not smilingonce. The King, it seems, hath given her a ring of L700, which she shewsto every body, and owns that the King did give it her; and he hathfurnished a house for her in Suffolke Street most richly, which is a mostinfinite shame. It seems she is a bastard of Colonell Howard, my LordBerkshire, and that he do pimp to her for the King, and hath got her forhim; but Pierce says that she is a most homely jade as ever she saw, though she dances beyond any thing in the world. She tells me that theDuchesse of Richmond do not yet come to the Court, nor hath seen the King, nor will not, nor do he own his desire of seeing her; but hath used meansto get her to Court, but they do not take. Thence home, and there I to mychamber, having a great many books brought me home from my bookbinder's, and so I to the new setting of my books against the next year, which costsme more trouble than I expected, and at it till two o'clock in themorning, and then to bed, the business not being yet done to my mind. This evening come Mr. Mills and his wife to see and sit and talk with us, which they did till 9 o'clock at night, and then parted, and I to mybooks. 

15th. Up, and to the Office, where all the morning. At noon home todinner, and then to the Office again, where we met about some business ofD. Gawden's till candle-light; and then, as late as it was, I down toRedriffe, and so walked by moonlight to Deptford, where I have not been agreat while, and my business I did there was only to walk up and downabove la casa of Bagwell, but could not see her, it being my intent tohave spent a little time con her, she being newly come from her husband;but I did lose my labour, and so walked back again, but with pleasure bythe walk, and I had the sport to see two boys swear, and stamp, and fret, for not being able to get their horse over a stile and ditch, one of themswearing and cursing most bitterly; and I would fain, in revenge, havepersuaded him to have drove his horse through the ditch, by which Ibelieve he would have stuck there. But the horse would not be drove, andso they were forced to go back again, and so I walked away homeward, andthere reading all the evening, and so to bed. This afternoon my LordAnglesey tells us that it is voted in Council to have a fleete of 50 shipsout; but it is only a disguise for the Parliament to get some money by;but it will not take, I believe, and if it did, I do not think it will besuch as he will get any of, nor such as will enable us to set out such afleete. 

16th. Up, after talking with my wife with pleasure, about her learning onthe flageolet a month or two again this winter, and all the rest of theyear her painting, which I do love, and so to the office, where sat allthe morning, and here Lord Anglesey tells us again that a fleete is to beset out; and that it is generally, he hears, said, that it is but aSpanish rhodomontado; and that he saying so just now to the Duke ofAlbemarle, who come to town last night, after the thing was ordered, hetold him a story of two seamen: one wished all the guns of the ship werehis, and that they were silver; and says the other, "You are a fool, for, if you can have it for wishing, why do you not wish them gold?"--"So, "says he, "if a rhodomontado will do any good, why do you not say 100ships?" And it is true; for the Dutch and French are said to make suchpreparations as 50 sail will do no good. At noon home to dinner with mygang of clerks, in whose society I am mightily pleased, and mightily withMr. Gibson's talking;

 [Richard Gibson, so frequently noticed by Pepys, was a clerk in the Navy Office. His collection of papers relating to the navy of England A. D. 1650-1702, compiled, as he states, from the Admiralty books in the Navy Office, are in the British Museum. --B. ]

he telling me so many good stories relating to the warr and practices ofcommanders, which I will find a time to recollect; and he will be anadmirable help to my writing a history of the Navy, if ever I do. So tothe office, where busy all the afternoon and evening, and then home. Mywork this night with my clerks till midnight at the office was to examinemy list of ships I am making for myself and their dimensions, and to seehow it agrees or differs from other lists, and I do find so great adifference between them all that I am at a loss which to take, andtherefore think mine to be as much depended upon as any I can make out ofthem all. So little care there has been to this day to know or keep anyhistory of the Navy. 

17th. Up, and by coach to White Hall to attend the Council there, andhere I met first by Mr. Castle the shipwright, whom I met there, and thenfrom the whole house the discourse of the duell yesterday between the Dukeof Buckingham, Holmes, and one Jenkins, on one side, and my Lord ofShrewsbury, Sir John Talbot, and one Bernard Howard, on the other side:and all about my Lady Shrewsbury, [Anna Maria, daughter of Robert Brudenel, second Earl of Cardigan. Walpole says she held the Duke of Buckingham's horse, in the habit of a page, while he was fighting the duel with her husband. She married, secondly, George Rodney Bridges, son of Sir Thomas Bridges of Keynsham, Somerset, Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles IL, and died April 20th, 1702. A portrait of the Countess of Shrewsbury, as Minerva, by Lely. ]

who is a whore, and is at this time, and hath for a great while been, awhore to the Duke of Buckingham. And so her husband challenged him, andthey met yesterday in a close near Barne-Elmes, and there fought: and myLord Shrewsbury is run through the body, from the right breast through theshoulder: and Sir John Talbot all along up one of his armes; and Jenkinskilled upon the place, and the rest all, in a little measure, wounded. This will make the world think that the King hath good councillors abouthim, when the Duke of Buckingham, the greatest man about him, is a fellowof no more sobriety than to fight about a whore. And this may prove a verybad accident to the Duke of Buckingham, but that my Lady Castlemayne dorule all at this time as much as ever she did, and she will, it isbelieved, keep all matters well with the Duke of Buckingham: though thisis a time that the King will be very backward, I suppose, to appear insuch a business. And it is pretty to hear how the King had some notice ofthis challenge a week or two ago, and did give it to my Lord Generall toconfine the Duke, or take security that he should not do any such thing asfight: and the Generall trusted to the King that he, sending for him, would do it, and the King trusted to the Generall; and so, between both, as everything else of the greatest moment do, do fall between two stools. The whole House full of nothing but the talk of this business; and it issaid that my Lord Shrewsbury's case is to be feared, that he may die too;and that may make it much the worse for the Duke of Buckingham: and Ishall not be much sorry for it, that we may have some sober man come inhis room to assist in the Government. Here I waited till the Councilrose, and talked the while, with Creed, who tells me of Mr. HarryHoward's' giving the Royal Society a piece of ground next to his house, tobuild a College on, which is a most generous act. And he tells me he is avery fine person, and understands and speaks well; and no rigid Papistneither, but one that would not have a Protestant servant leave hisreligion, which he was going to do, thinking to recommend himself to hismaster by it; saying that he had rather have an honest Protestant than aknavish Catholique. I was not called into the Council; and, therefore, home, first informing myself that my Lord Hinchingbroke hath been marriedthis week to my Lord Burlington's daughter; so that that great business isover; and I mighty glad of it, though I am not satisfied that I have not aFavour sent me, as I see Attorney Montagu and the Vice-Chamberlain have. But I am mighty glad that the thing is done. So home, and there alonewith my wife and Deb. To dinner, and after dinner comes Betty Turner, andI carried them to the New Exchange, and thence I to White Hall and did alittle business at the Treasury, and so called them there, and so home andto cards and supper, and her mother come and sat at cards with us tillpast 12 at night, and then broke up and to bed, after entering myjournall, which made it one before I went to bed. 

18th. At the office all the morning busy sitting. At noon home todinner, where Betty Turner dined with us, and after dinner carried mywife, her and Deb. To the 'Change, where they bought some things, while Ibought "The Mayden Queene, " a play newly printed, which I like at theKing's house so well, of Mr. Dryden's, which he himself, in his preface, seems to brag of, and indeed is a good play. So home again, and I late atthe office and did much business, and then home to supper and to bed. 

19th (Lord's day). My wife the last night very ill of those, and waked meearly, and hereupon I up and to church, where a dull sermon by ourlecturer, and so home to dinner in my wife's chamber, which she is alittle better. Then after dinner with Captain Perryman down to Redriffe, and so walked to Deptford, where I sent for Mr. Shish out of the Church toadvise about my vessel, "The Maybolt, " and I do resolve to sell, presently, for any thing rather than keep her longer, having already lostL100 in her value, which I was once offered and refused, and the ship leftwithout any body to look to her, which vexes me. Thence Perryman and Iback again, talking of the great miscarriages in the Navy, and among theprincipal that of having gentlemen commanders. I shall hereafter make useof his and others' help to reckon up and put down in writing what is fitto be mended in the Navy after all our sad experience therein. So home, and there sat with my wife all the evening, and Mr. Pelting awhile talkingwith us, who tells me that my Lord Shrewsbury is likely to do well, afterhis great wound in the late dwell. He gone, comes W. Hewer and suppedwith me, and so to talk of things, and he tells me that Mr. Jessop is madeSecretary to the Commissions of Parliament for Accounts, and I am glad, and it is pretty to see that all the Cavalier party were not able to findthe Parliament nine Commissioners, or one Secretary, fit for the business. So he gone, I to read a little in my chamber, and so to bed. 

20th. Up, and all the morning at the office very busy, and at noon bycoach to Westminster, to the 'Chequer, about a warrant for Tangier money. In my way both coming and going I did stop at Drumbleby's, the pipe-maker, there to advise about the making of a flageolet to go low and soft; and hedo shew me a way which do do, and also a fashion of having two pipes ofthe same note fastened together, so as I can play on one, and then echo itupon the other, which is mighty pretty. So to my Lord Crew's to dinner, where we hear all the good news of our making a league now with Hollandagainst the French power coming over them, or us which is the first goodact that hath been done a great while, and done secretly, and with greatseeming wisdom; and is certainly good for us at this time, while we are inno condition to resist the French, if they should come over hither; andthen a little time of peace will give us time to lay up something, whichthese Commissioners of the Treasury are doing; and the world do begin tosee that they will do the King's work for him, if he will let them. Heredined Mr. Case, the minister, who, Lord! do talk just as I remember heused to preach, and did tell a pretty story of a religious lady, Queen ofNavarre;

 [Marguerite de Valois, Queen of Navarre, sister of Francis I. Of France. The "pretty story" was doubtless from her "Heptameron, " a work imitating in title and matter the "Decameron" of Boccaccio. She is said to be the heroine of some of the adventures. It is fair to add that she wrote also the "Miroir dune Ame Pecheresse, " translated into English by Queen Elizabeth, the title of whose book was "A Godly Medytacyon of the Christian Soules, " published by John Bale in 1548. --B. ]

and my Lord also told a good story of Mr. Newman, the Minister in NewEngland, who wrote the Concordance, of his foretelling his death andpreaching a funeral sermon, and did at last bid the angels do theiroffice, and died. It seems there is great presumption that there will bea Toleration granted: so that the Presbyterians do hold up their heads;but they will hardly trust the King or the Parliament what to yield them, though most of the sober party be for some kind of allowance to be giventhem. Thence and home, and then to the 'Change in the evening, and thereMr. Cade told me how my Lord Gerard is likely to meet with trouble, thenext sitting of Parliament, about [Carr] being set in the pillory; and Iam glad of it; and it is mighty acceptable to the world to hear, that, among other reductions, the King do reduce his Guards, which do pleasemightily. So to my bookbinder's with my boy, and there did stay late tosee two or three things done that I had a mind to see done, and amongothers my Tangier papers of accounts, and so home to supper and to bed. 

21st. Up, and while at the office comes news from Kate Joyce that if Iwould see her husband alive, I must come presently. So, after the officewas up, I to him, and W. Hewer with me, and find him in his sick bed (Inever was at their house, this Inne, before) very sensible in discourseand thankful for my kindness to him, and his breath rattled in histhroate, and they did lay pigeons to his feet while I was in the house, and all despair of him, and with good reason. But the story is that itseems on Thursday last he went sober and quiet out of doors in the morningto Islington, and behind one of the inns, the White Lion, did flinghimself into a pond, was spied by a poor woman and got out by some peoplebinding up hay in a barn there, and set on his head and got to life, andknown by a woman coming that way; and so his wife and friends sent for. He confessed his doing the thing, being led by the Devil; and do declarehis reason to be, his trouble that he found in having forgot to serve Godas he ought, since he come to this new employment: and I believe that, andthe sense of his great loss by the fire, did bring him to it, and soeverybody concludes. He stayed there all that night, and come home bycoach next morning, and there grew sick, and worse and worse to this day. I stayed awhile among the friends that were there, and they being now infear that the goods and estate would be seized on, though he lived allthis while, because of his endeavouring to drown himself, my cozen didendeavour to remove what she could of plate out of the house, and desiredme to take my flagons; which I was glad of, and did take them away with mein great fear all the way of being seized; though there was no reason forit, he not being dead, but yet so fearful I was. So home, and there eatmy dinner, and busy all the afternoon, and troubled at this business. Inthe evening with Sir D. Gawden, to Guild Hall, to advise with theTowne-Clerke about the practice of the City and nation in this case: andhe thinks that it cannot be found self-murder; but if it be, it will fall, all the estate, to the King. So we parted, and I to my cozens again;where I no sooner come but news was brought down from his chamber that hewas departed. So, at their entreaty, I presently took coach to WhiteHall, and there find Sir W. Coventry; and he carried me to the King, theDuke of York being with him, and there told my story which I had told him:

 [This was not the only time that Pepys took trouble to save the estate of a friend who had committed suicide. In the "Caveat Book" in the Record Office, p. 42 of the volume for 1677, is the following entry: "That no grant pass of the Estate of Francis Gurney of Maldon in Essex, who drowned himself in his own well on Tuesday night ye 12th of this instant August, at the desire of Samuel Pepys, Esquire, August 20, 1677. "]

and the King, without more ado, granted that, if it was found, the estateshould be to the widow and children. I presently to each Secretary'soffice, and there left caveats, and so away back again to my cozens, leaving a chimney on fire at White Hall, in the King's closet; but nodanger. And so, when I come thither, I find her all in sorrow, but sheand the rest mightily pleased with my doing this for them; and, indeed, itwas a very great courtesy, for people are looking out for the estate, andthe coroner will be sent to, and a jury called to examine his death. Thisbeing well done to my and their great joy, I home, and there to my office, and so to supper and to bed. 

22nd. Up, mightily busy all the morning at the office. At noon with LordBrouncker to Sir D. Gawden's, at the Victualling-Office, to dinner, whereI have not dined since he was Sheriff: He expected us; and a good dinner, and much good company; and a fine house, and especially two rooms, veryfine, he hath built there. His lady a good lady; but my Lord led himselfand me to a great absurdity in kissing all the ladies, but the finest ofall the company, leaving her out, I know not how; and I was loath to doit, since he omitted it. Here little Chaplin dined, who is like to beSheriff the next year; and a pretty humoured little man he is. I met herewith Mr. Talents, the younger, of Magdalene College, Chaplain here to theSheriff; which I was glad to see, though not much acquainted with him. This day come the first demand from the Commissioners of Accounts to us, and it contains more than we shall ever be able to answer while we live, and I do foresee we shall be put to much trouble and some shame, at leastsome of us. Thence stole away after dinner to my cozen Kate's, and therefind the Crowner's jury sitting, but they could not end it, but put offthe business to Shrove Tuesday next, and so do give way to the burying ofhim, and that is all; but they all incline to find it a natural death, though there are mighty busy people to have it go otherwise, thinking toget his estate, but are mistaken. Thence, after sitting with her andcompany a while, comforting her: though I can find she can, as all otherwomen, cry, and yet talk of other things all in a breath. So home, andthereto cards with my wife, Deb. , and Betty Turner, and Batelier, andafter supper late to sing. But, Lord! how did I please myself to makeBetty Turner sing, to see what a beast she is as to singing, not knowinghow to sing one note in tune; but, only for the experiment, I would notfor 40s. Hear her sing a tune: worse than my wife a thousand times, sothat it do a little reconcile me to her. So late to bed. 

23rd. At the Office all the morning; and at noon find the Bishop ofLincolne come to dine with us; and after him comes Mr. Brisband; and theremighty good company. But the Bishop a very extraordinary good-naturedman, and one that is mightily pleased, as well as I am, that I live sonear Bugden, the seat of his bishopricke, where he is like to reside: and, indeed, I am glad of it. In discourse, we think ourselves safe for thisyear, by this league with Holland, which pleases every body, and, theysay, vexes France; insomuch that D'Estrades; the French Embassador inHolland, when he heard it, told the States that he would have them notforget that his master is at the head of 100, 000 men, and is but 28 yearsold; which was a great speech. The Bishop tells me he thinks that thegreat business of Toleration will not, notwithstanding this talk, becarried this Parliament; nor for the King's taking away the Deans' andChapters' lands to supply his wants, they signifying little to him, if hehad them, for his present service. He gone, I mightily pleased with hiskindness, I to the office, where busy till night, and then to Mrs. Turner's, where my wife, and Deb. , and I, and Batelier spent the night, and supped, and played at cards, and very merry, and so I home to bed. She is either a very prodigal woman, or richer than she would be thought, by her buying of the best things, and laying out much money innew-fashioned pewter; and, among other things, a new-fashioned case for apair of snuffers, which is very pretty; but I could never have guessedwhat it was for, had I not seen the snuffers in it. 

24th. Up before day to my Tangier accounts, and then out and to aCommittee of Tangier, where little done but discourse about reduction ofthe charge of the garrison, and thence to Westminster about orders at theExchequer, and at the Swan I drank, and there met with a pretty ingeniousyoung Doctor of physic, by chance, and talked with him, and so home todinner, and after dinner carried my wife to the Temple, and thence she toa play, and I to St. Andrew's church, in Holburne, at the 'Quest House, where the company meets to the burial of my cozen Joyce; and here I staidwith a very great rabble of four or five hundred people of mean condition, and I staid in the room with the kindred till ready to go to church, wherethere is to be a sermon of Dr. Stillingfleete, and thence they carried himto St. Sepulchre's. But it being late, and, indeed, not having a blackcloak to lead her [Kate Joyce] with, or follow the corps, I away, and saw, indeed, a very great press of people follow the corps. I to the King'splayhouse, to fetch my wife, and there saw the best part of "The MaydenQueene, " which, the more I see, the more I love, and think one of the bestplays I ever saw, and is certainly the best acted of any thing ever theHouse did, and particularly Becke Marshall, to admiration. Found my wifeand Deb. , and saw many fine ladies, and sat by Colonell Reames, whounderstands and loves a play as well as I, and I love him for it. And sothence home; and, after being at the Office, I home to supper, and to bed, my eyes being very bad again with overworking with them. 

25th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning, and then at noonto the 'Change with Mr. Hater, and there he and I to a tavern to meetCaptain Minors, which we did, and dined; and there happened to be Mr. Prichard, a ropemaker of his acquaintance, and whom I know also, and didonce mistake for a fiddler, which sung well, and I asked him for such asong that I had heard him sing, and after dinner did fall to discourseabout the business of the old contract between the King and the East IndiaCompany for the ships of the King that went thither, and about this didbeat my brains all the afternoon, and then home and made an end of theaccounts to my great content, and so late home tired and my eyes sore, tosupper and to bed. 

26th (Lord's day). Up, and with my wife to Church, and at noon home todinner. No strangers there; and all the afternoon and evening very latedoing serious business of my Tangier accounts, and examining my East Indiaaccounts, with Mr. Poynter, whom I employed all this day, to transcribe itfair; and so to supper, W. Hewer with us, and so the girl to comb my headtill I slept, and then to bed. 

27th. It being weather like the beginning of a frost and the ground dry, I walked as far as the Temple, and there took coach and to White Hall, butthe Committee not being met I to Westminster, and there I do hear of theletter that is in the pamphlet this day of the King of France, declaringhis design to go on against Flanders, and the grounds of it, which do setus mightily at rest. So to White Hall, and there a committee of Tangier, but little done there, only I did get two or three little jobs done to theperfecting two or three papers about my Tangier accounts. Here Mr. Povydo tell me how he is like to lose his L400 a-year pension of the Duke ofYork, which he took in consideration of his place which was taken fromhim. He tells me the Duchesse is a devil against him, and do now comelike Queen Elizabeth, and sits with the Duke of York's Council, and seeswhat they do; and she crosses out this man's wages and prices, as she seesfit, for saving money; but yet, he tells me, she reserves L5000 a-year forher own spending; and my Lady Peterborough, by and by, tells me that theDuchesse do lay up, mightily, jewells. Thence to my Lady Peterborough's, she desiring to speak with me. She loves to be taken dressing herself, asI always find her; and there, after a little talk, to please her, abouther husband's pension, which I do not think he will ever get again, I awaythence home, and all the afternoon mighty busy at the office, and late, preparing a letter to the Commissioners of Accounts, our first letter tothem, and so home to supper, where Betty Turner was (whose brother Frankdid set out toward the East Indies this day, his father and mother gonedown with him to Gravesend), and there was her little brother Moses, whomI examined, and he is a pretty good scholar for a child, and so aftersupper to talk and laugh, and to bed. 

28th. Up, and to the office, and there with W. Griffin talking aboutgetting the place to build a coach-house, or to hire one, which I now doresolve to have, and do now declare it; for it is plainly for my benefitfor saving money. By and by the office sat, and there we concluded on ourletter to the Commissioners of Accounts and to the several officers ofours about the work they are to do to answer their late great demands. Atnoon home to dinner, and after dinner set my wife and girl down at theExchange, and I to White Hall; and, by and by, the Duke of York comes, andwe had a little meeting, Anglesey, W. Pen, and I there, and none else:and, among other things, did discourse of the want of discipline in thefleete, which the Duke' of York confessed, and yet said that he, while hewas there, did keep it in a good measure, but that it was now lost when hewas absent; but he will endeavour to have it again. That he did tell thePrince and Duke of Albemarle they would lose all order by making such andsuch men commanders, which they would, because they were stout men: hetold them that it was a reproach to the nation, as if there were no sobermen among us, that were stout, to be had. That they did put out some menfor cowards that the Duke of York had put in, but little before, for stoutmen; and would now, were he to go to sea again, entertain them in his owndivision, to choose: and did put in an idle fellow, Greene, who was hardlythought fit for a boatswain by him: they did put him from being alieutenant to a captain's place of a second-rate ship; as idle a drunkenfellow, he said, as any was in the fleete. That he will now desire theKing to let him be what he is, that is, Admirall; and he will put in nonebut those that he hath great reason to think well of; and particularlysays, that; though he likes Colonell Legg well, yet his son that was, heknows not how, made a captain after he had been but one voyage at sea, heshould go to sea another apprenticeship, before ever he gives him acommand. We did tell him of the many defects and disorders among thecaptains, and I prayed we might do it in writing to him, which he liked;and I am glad of an opportunity of doing it. Thence away, and took upwife and girl, and home, and to the office, busy late, and so to supperand to bed. My wife this day hears from her father and mother: they arein France, at Paris; he, poor good man! I think he is, gives her goodcounsel still, which I always observed of him, and thankful for my smallcharities to him. I could be willing to do something for them, were Isure not to bring them over again hither. Coming home, my wife and I wentand saw Kate Joyce, who is still in mighty sorrow, and the more fromsomething that Dr. Stillingfleete should simply say in his sermon, of herhusband's manner of dying, as killing himself. 

29th. Up betimes, and by coach to Sir W. Coventry, whom I found in hischamber, and there stayed an hour and talked with him about several thingsof the Navy, and our want of money, which they indeed do supply us with alittle, but in no degree likely to enable us to go on with the King'sservice. He is at a stand where to have more, and is in mighty pain forit, declaring that he believes there never was a kingdom so governed asthis was in the time of the late Chancellor and the Treasurer, nobodyminding or understanding any thing how things went or what the King had inhis Treasury, or was to have, nothing in the world of it minded. He tellsme that there are still people desirous to overthrow him; he resolving tostick at nothing nor no person that stands in his way against bringing theKing out of debt, be it to retrench any man's place or profit, and that hecares not, for rather than be employed under the King, and have the Kingcontinue in this condition of indigence, he desires to be put out fromamong them, thinking it no honour to be a minister in such a government. He tells me he hath no friends in the whole Court but my Lord Keeper andSir John Duncomb. He tells me they have reduced the charges of Irelandabove L70, 000 a-year, and thereby cut off good profits from my LordLieutenant; which will make a new enemy, but he cares not. He tells methat Townsend, of the Wardrobe, is the eeriest knave and bufflehead thatever he saw in his life, and wonders how my Lord Sandwich come to trustsuch a fellow, and that now Reames and--------are put in to be overseersthere, and do great things, and have already saved a great deal of moneyin the King's liverys, and buy linnen so cheap, that he will have them buythe next cloth he hath, for shirts. But then this is with ready money, which answers all. He do not approve of my letter I drew and the officesigned yesterday to the Commissioners of Accounts, saying that it is alittle too submissive, and grants a little too much and too soon our badmanagements, though we lay on want of money, yet that it will be timeenough to plead it when they object it. Which was the opinion of my LordAnglesey also; so I was ready to alter it, and did so presently, goingfrom him home, and there transcribed it fresh as he would have it, and gotit signed, and to White Hall presently and shewed it him, and so home, andthere to dinner, and after dinner all the afternoon and till 12 o'clock atnight with Mr. Gibson at home upon my Tangier accounts, and did end themfit to be given the last of them to the Auditor to-morrow, to my greatcontent. This evening come Betty Turner and the two Mercers, and W. Batelier, and they had fiddlers, and danced, and kept a quarter, --[A termfor making a noise or disturbance. ]--which pleased me, though it disturbedme; but I could not be with them at all. Mr. Gibson lay at my house allnight, it was so late. 

30th. Up, it being fast day for the King's death, and so I and Mr. Gibsonby water to the Temple, and there all the morning with Auditor Wood, and Idid deliver in the whole of my accounts and run them over in three hourswith full satisfaction, and so with great content thence, he and I, andour clerks, and Mr. Clerke, the solicitor, to a little ordinary inHercules-pillars Ally--the Crowne, a poor, sorry place, where a fellow, intwelve years, hath gained an estate of, as he says, L600 a-year, which isvery strange, and there dined, and had a good dinner, and very gooddiscourse between them, old men belonging to the law, and here I firstheard that my cozen Pepys, of Salisbury Court, was Marshal to my LordCooke when he was Lord Chief justice; which beginning of his I did notknow to be so low: but so it was, it seems. After dinner I home, callingat my bookbinder's, but he not within. When come home, I find Kate Joycehath been there, with sad news that her house stands not in the King'sliberty, but the Dean of Paul's; and so, if her estate be forfeited, itwill not be in the King's power to do her any good. So I took coach andto her, and there found her in trouble, as I cannot blame her. But I dobelieve this arises from somebody that hath a mind to fright her into acomposition for her estate, which I advise her against; and, indeed, I dodesire heartily to be able to do her service, she being, methinks, a pieceof care I ought to take upon me, for our fathers' and friends' sake, shebeing left alone, and no friend so near as me, or so able to help her. After having given her my advice, I home, and there to my office and didbusiness, and hear how the Committee for Accounts are mighty active andlikely to examine every thing, but let them do their worst I am to bebefore them with our contract books to-morrow. So home from the office, to supper, and to bed. 

31st. Up; and by coach, with W. Griffin with me, and our Contract-books, to Durham Yard, to the Commissioners for Accounts; the first time I everwas there; and staid awhile before I was admitted to them. I did observea great many people attending about complaints of seamen concerningtickets, and, among others, Mr. Carcasse, and Mr. Martin, my purser. And Iobserve a fellow, one Collins, is there, who is employed by theseCommissioners particularly to hold an office in Bishopsgate Street, orsomewhere thereabouts, to receive complaints of all people about tickets:and I believe he will have work enough. Presently I was called in, whereI found the whole number of Commissioners, and was there received withgreat respect and kindness; and did give them great satisfaction, makingit my endeavour to inform them what it was they were to expect from me, and what was the duty of other people; this being my only way to preservemyself, after all my pains and trouble. They did ask many questions, anddemanded other books of me, which I did give them very ready andacceptable answers to; and, upon the whole, I observe they do go abouttheir business like men resolved to go through with it, and in a very goodmethod; like men of understanding. They have Mr. Jessop, their secretary:and it is pretty to see that they are fain to find out an old-fashionedman of Cromwell's to do their business for them, as well as the Parliamentto pitch upon such, for the most part, in the list of people that werebrought into the House, for Commissioners. I went away, with giving andreceiving great satisfaction; and so away to White Hall to theCommissioners of the Treasury; where, waiting some time, I there met withColonel Birch; and he and I fell into discourse; and I did give him thanksfor his kindness to me in the Parliament-house, both before my face andbehind my back. He told me that he knew me to be a man of the old way fortaking pains, and did always endeavour to do me right, and prevent anything that was moved that might tend to my injury; which I was obliged tohim for, and thanked him. Thence to talk of other things, and the want ofmoney and he told me of the general want of money in the country; thatland sold for nothing, and the many pennyworths he knows of lands andhouses upon them, with good titles in his country, at 16 years' purchase:"and, " says he, "though I am in debt, yet I have a mind to one thing, andthat is a Bishop's lease;" but said, "I will yet choose such a leasebefore any other, yes, " says he, plainly, "because I know they cannotstand, and then it will fall into the King's hands, and I in possessionshall have an advantage by it. " "And, " says he, "I know they must fall, and they are now near it, taking all the ways they can to undo themselves, and showing us the way;" and thereupon told the a story of the presentquarrel between the Bishop and Deane of Coventry and Lichfield; the formerof which did excommunicate the latter, and caused his excommunication tobe read in the Church while he was there; and, after it was read, theDeane made the service be gone through with, though himself, anexcommunicate, was present, which is contrary to the Canon, and said hewould justify the quire therein against the Bishop; and so they are at lawin the Arches about it; which is a very pretty story. He tells me thatthe King is for Toleration, though the Bishops be against it: and that hedo not doubt but it will be carried in Parliament; but that he fears somewill stand for the tolerating of Papists with the rest; and that he knowsnot what to say, but rather thinks that the sober party will be withoutit, rather than have it upon those terms; and I do believe so. Here webroke off, and I home to dinner, and after dinner set down my wife andDeb. At the 'Change, and I to make a visit to Mr. Godolphin

 [William Godolphin, descended from a younger branch of that family, which was afterwards ennobled in the person of Sidney, Earl Godolphin, Lord Treasurer. William Godolphin was of Christ Church, Oxford, and graduated M. A. , January 14th, 1660-61. He was afterwards secretary to Sir H. Bennet (Lord Arlington), and M. P. For Camelford. He was a great favourite at Court, and was knighted on August 28th, 1668. In the spring of 1669 he returned to Spain as Envoy Extraordinary, and in 1671 he became Ambassador. On July 11th, 1696, he died at Madrid, having been for some years a Roman Catholic. ]

at his lodgings, who is lately come from Spain from my Lord Sandwich, anddid, the other day, meeting me in White Hall, compliment me mightily, andso I did offer him this visit, but missed him, and so back and took up mywife and set her at Mrs. Turner's, and I to my bookbinder's, and there, till late at night, binding up my second part of my Tangier accounts, andI all the while observing his working, and his manner of gilding of bookswith great pleasure, and so home, and there busy late, and then to bed. This day Griffin did, in discourse in the coach, put me in the head of thelittle house by our garden, where old goodman Taylor puts his brooms anddirt, to make me a stable of, which I shall improve, so as, I think, to beable to get me a stable without much charge, which do please me mightily. He did also in discourse tell me that it is observed, and is true, in thelate fire of London, that the fire burned just as many Parish-Churches asthere were hours from the beginning to the end of the fire; and, next, that there were just as many Churches left standing as there were tavernsleft standing in the rest of the City that was not burned, being, I thinkhe told me, thirteen in all of each: which is pretty to observe. 

 ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

 And they did lay pigeons to his feet As all other women, cry, and yet talk of other things Carry them to a box, which did cost me 20s. , besides oranges Declared, if he come, she would not live with me Fear that the goods and estate would be seized (after suicide) Fears some will stand for the tolerating of Papists Greater number of Counsellors is, the more confused the issue He that will not stoop for a pin, will never be worth a pound In my nature am mighty unready to answer no to anything It may be, be able to pay for it, or have health Lady Castlemayne do rule all at this time as much as ever No man was ever known to lose the first time She loves to be taken dressing herself, as I always find her The devil being too cunning to discourage a gamester The manner of the gaming This kind of prophane, mad entertainment they give themselves Turn out every man that will be drunk, they must turn out all Where I expect most I find least satisfaction