1

tell it her. Up and down my Lord St. Albans his new building and markethouse, looking to and again into every place building. I this afternoon made a visit to my Lady Carteret, whom I understood newly come to town; and she took it mighty kindly, but I see her face and heart are dejected from the condition her husband's matters stand in. But I hope they will do all well enough; and I do comfort her as much as I can, for she is a noble lady.

2nd. Walking with Mr. Gauden in Westminster Hall, to talk of his son Benjamin; and I propounded a match for him, and at last named my sister, which he embraces heartily; and, full of it, did go with him to London to the 'Change; and there with Sir W. Warren, who very wisely did show me that my matching my sister with Mr. Gauden would undo me in all my places, everybody suspecting me in all I do; and I shall neither be able to serve him, nor free myself from imputation of being of his faction, while I am placed for his severest check. I was convinced that it would be for neither of our interests to make this alliance. To Westminster Hall, where I purposely took my wife well-dressed into the Hall to see and be seen; and, among others, met Howlet's daughter, who is newly married, and is she I call wife, and one I love mightily.

4th. Home, and, being washing-day, dined upon cold meat.

5th. At Viner's was shown the silver plates, made for Captain Cocke to present to my Lord Brouncker; and I chose a dozen of the same weight to be bespoke for myself, which he told me yesterday he would give me. The plague is, to our great grief, increased nine this week, though decreased a few in the total. And this increase runs through many parishes, which makes us much fear the next year.

6th. Up mighty betimes upon my wife's going this day towards Brampton. I could not go, but W. Hewer hath leave from me to go the whole day's journey with her. Met by agreement with Sir Stephen Fox and Mr. Ashburnham, and discoursed the business of our Excise tallies; the former being Treasurer of the Guards, and the

1 Jermyn Street and St. Albans Market, afterwards known as St. James's Market.

other Cofferer of the King's household. This day great news of the Swedes' declaring for us against the Dutch, and, so far as that, I believe it.

7th. To Hales's, and there find Mrs. Pierce. She had done sitting the first time, and indeed her face is mighty like at first dash. About ten of the clock, W. Hewer comes to me to tell me that he left my wife well this morning at Bugden, which was great riding, and brings me a letter from her.

8th. (Lord's day.) To the Duke of York, where we all met to hear the debate between Sir Thomas Allen and Mr. Wayth; the former complaining of the latter's ill usage of him at the late pay of his ship; but a very sorry poor occasion he had for it. The Duke did determine it with great judgement, chiding both, but encouraging Wayth to continue to be a check to all captains in anything to the King's right. And, indeed, I never did see the Duke do anything more in order, nor with more judgement than he did pass the verdict in this business. The Court full this morning of the news of Tom Cheffin's death, the King's closet-keeper. He was as well last night as ever, playing at tables in the house, and not very ill this morning at six o'clock, yet dead before seven; they think, of an imposthume in his breast. But it looks fearfully among people nowadays, the plague, as we hear, increasing everywhere again. To the Chapel, but could not get in to hear well. But I had the pleasure, once in my life, to see an Archbishop (this was of York) in a pulpit. Then at a loss how to get home to dinner, having promised to carry Mrs. Hunt thither. At last got my Lord Hinchingbroke's coach, he staying at Court; and so took her up to Axe Yard, and home and dined; and good discourse of the old matters of the Protector and his family, she having a relation to them. The Protector lives in France: spends about £500 per annum. To St. James's Chapel, thinking to have heard a Jesuit preach, but came too late.

3

18th. To Mr. Lilly's, the painter's; and there saw the heads, some finished, and all begun, of the Flagmen in the late great fight with the Duke of York against the Dutch. The Duke of York hath them done to hang in his chamber," and very finely they are done indeed. Here are the Prince's, Sir G. Ascue's, Sir Thomas Teddiman's, Sir Christopher Mings's, Sir Joseph Jordan's, Sir William Barkeley's, Sir Thomas Allen's, and Captain Harman's, as also the Duke of Albemarle's; and will be my Lord Sandwich's, Sir W. Pen's, and Sir Jeremy Smith's. I was very well satisfied with this sight, and other good pictures hanging in the house. To the Exchange, and there did see great plenty of fine prints; but did buy only a print of an old pillar in Rome made for a Naval triumph, which, for the antiquity of the shape of the ships, I buy and keep.

21st. I down to walk in the garden at Whitehall, it being a mighty hot and pleasant day; and there was the King, who, among others, talked to us a little; and, among other pretty things, he swore merrily that he believed the ketch that Sir W. Batten bought the last year at Colchester was of his own getting, it was so thick to its length. Another pleasant thing he said of Christopher Pett, commending him that he will not alter his moulds upon any man's advice; as,' says he, Commissioner Taylor, I fear, do of his new London, that he makes it differ, in hopes of mending the old London, built by him.' 'For,' says he, he finds that God hath put him into the right, and so will keep in it while he is in.' And,' says the King, 'I am sure it must be God put him in, for no art of his own ever could have done it'; for it seems he cannot give a good account of what he do as an artist. Thence with my Lord Brouncker in his coach to Hyde Park, the first time I have been there this year. There the King was; but I was sorry to see my Lady Castlemaine, for the mourning forcing all the ladies to go in black, with their hair plain, and without spots, I find her to be a much more ordinary woman than ever I durst have thought she was; and, indeed, is not so pretty as Mrs. Stewart.

·

1 Admirals. 2 Now at Greenwich. * Pepys omits Sir John Lawson. 4 Of his ships.

22nd. (Lord's day.) Up, and put on my new black coat, long down to my knees. To Whitehall, where all in deep mourning for the Queen's mother. To the Queen's Chapel at St. James's, and there saw a little maid baptized; many parts and words whereof are the same with that of our Liturgy, and little that is more ceremonious than ours. To Worcester House,1 and there stayed and saw the Council up. Back to the Cockpit, and there took my leave of the Duke of Albemarle, who is going tomorrow to sea. He seems mightily pleased with me, which I am glad of; but I do find infinitely my concernment in being careful to appear to the King and Duke to continue my care of his business, and to be found diligent as I used to be. Sat a great while with Will Joyce, who came to see me the first time since the plague, and find him the same impertinent prating coxcomb that ever he was.

23rd. To Whitehall, where I had the opportunity to take leave of the Prince, and again of the Duke of Albemarle; and saw them kiss the King's hand and the Duke's; and much content, indeed, there seems to be in all people at their going to sea, and they promise themselves much good from them. This morning the House of Parliament do meet, only to adjourn again till winter. The plague, I hear, increases in the town much, and exceedingly in the country everywhere. Bonfires in the street, for being St. George's day, and the King's Coronation, and the day of the Prince and Duke's going to sea.

24th. Comes Mr. Bland to me, the first time since his coming from Tangier; and tells me, in short, how all things are out of order there, and like to be; and the place never likely to come to anything while the soldiers govern all, and do not encourage trade.

25th. I to the office, where Mr. Prin came to meet about the Chest business ; 2 and, till company came, did discourse with me a good while in the garden about the laws of England, telling me the many faults in them; and, among others, their obscurity through multitude of long statutes, which he is about to abstract out of all of a sort; and, as he lives, and Parliaments come, get them put into laws, and the other 2 At Chatham.

1 See p. 41.

statutes repealed, and then it will be a short work to know the law. Having supped upon the leads, to bed. The plague, blessed be God! is decreased sixteen this week.

28th. My wife to her father's, to carry him some ruling work, which I have advised her to let him do.. It will get him some money. She was also to look after a necklace of pearl, which she is mighty busy about, I being contented to lay out £80 in one for her. Balty took leave of us, going to sea, and upon very good terms, to be Muster-Master of a squadron, which will be worth £100 this year to him, besides keeping him the benefit of his pay in the Guards.

29th. (Lord's day.) To church, where Mr. Mills, a lazy sermon upon the Devil's having no right to anything in this world. To Mr. Evelyn's, where I walked in his garden till he came from church, with great pleasure reading Ridly's Discourse, all my way going and coming, upon the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law.2 He being come home, he and I walked together in the garden with mighty pleasure, he being a very ingenious man; and the more I know him, the more I love him. Weary to bed, after having my hair of my head cut shorter, even close to my skull, for coolness, it being mighty hot weather.

30th. I after dinner to even all my accounts of this month; and, bless God! I find myself, notwithstanding great expenses of late, viz., £80 now to pay for a necklace, near £40 for a set of chairs and couch, near £40 for my three pictures -yet I do gather, and am worth £5200. My wife comes home by and by, and hath pitched upon a necklace with three rows, which is a very good one, and £80 is the price. So ends this month with great layings-out. Good health and gettings, and advanced well in the whole of my estate, for which God make me thankful!

May 1666

May 1st. At noon my cousin Thomas Pepys did come to me, to consult about

1 Paper to be ruled for accounts.

2 A View of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law (1607), by Sir Thomas Ridley (1550-1629), Master in Chancery, and Chancellor of Winchester.

the business of his being a Justice of the Peace, which he is much against; and, among other reasons, tells me, as a confidant, that he is not free to exercise punishment according to the Act against Quakers and other people, for religion. Nor do he understand Latin, and so is not capable of the place as formerly, now all warrants do run in Latin. Nor he in Kent, though he be of Deptford parish, his house standing in Surrey. However, I did bring him to incline towards it, if he be pressed to take it. I do think it may be some repute to me to have my kinsman in Commission there, specially if he behave himself to content in the country. To Redriffe, reading a new French book my Lord Brouncker did give me to-day, L'Histoire amoureuse des Gaules, being a pretty libel against the amours of the Court of France. My wife tells me the ill news that our Susan is sick, and gone to bed, with great pain in her head and back, which troubles us all.

2nd. With Captain Cocke to my office, to consult about serving him in getting him some money, he being already tired of his slavery to my Lord Brouncker, and the charge it costs him, and gets no manner of courtesy from him for it.

3rd. Up, and to send up and down for a nurse to take the girl home, and would have given anything. I offered to the only one that we could get 20s. per week, and we to find clothes, and bedding, and physic, and would have given 30s., as demanded, but desired an hour or two's time. Sent for the girl's mother; she came, and undertakes to get her daughter a lodging and nurse at next door to her, though she dare not for the parish's sake, whose sexton her husband is, to have her into her own house.

4th. To Mr. Hales, to see what he had done to Mrs. Pierce's picture, and whatever he pretends, I do not think it will ever be so good a picture as my wife's. Thence home to dinner, and had a great fray with my wife about Browne's coming to teach her to paint, and sitting with me at table, which I will not yield to. I do thoroughly believe she means no hurt in it; but very angry we were, and I resolved all 1 Hatcham, near New Cross.

2 Ry Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy (16181693). 3 Susan.

into my having my will done, without disputing, be the reason what it will; and so I will have it. This evening, being weary of my late idle courses, I bound myself to very strict rules till Whitsunday

next.

5th. It being a fine moonshine, my wife and Mercer came into the garden, and, my business being done, we sang till about twelve at night, with mighty pleasure to ourselves and neighbours, by their casements opening.

8th. Comes Mr. Downing, the anchorsmith, who had given me 50 pieces in gold the last month to speak for him to Sir W. Coventry, for his being smith at Deptford; but, after I had got it granted to him, he finds himself not fit to go on with it, so lets it fall. I therefore in honour and conscience took him home and forced him to take the money again, and glad to have given him so much cause to speak well of me.

9th. To Whitehall, and heard the Duke commend Deane's ship the Rupert before the Defiance, built by Castle, in hearing of Sir W. Batten, which pleased me mightily. To Pierce's, where I find Knipp. Thence with them to Cornhill, to call and choose a chimneypiece for Pierce's closet. My wife mightily vexed at my being abroad with these women; and, when they were gone, called them I know not what, which vexed me, having been so innocent with them.

10th. Going out towards Hackney by coach for the air, the silly coachman carries us to Shoreditch, which was so pleasant a piece of simplicity in him and us, that made us mighty merry.

11th. To the 'Change, to speak with Captain Cocke, among other things, about the getting of the silver plates of him, which he promises to do; but in discourse he tells me that I should beware of my fellow-officers; and by name told me that my Lord Brouncker should say in his hearing, before Sir W. Batten, of me, that he could undo the man, if he would; wherein I think he is a fool; but, however, it is requisite I be prepared against the man's friendship. Thence home to dinner alone, my wife being abroad. After dinner to the setting some things in order in my 1 See April 5 (p. 377).

dining-room; and by and by comes my wife home, and Mrs. Pierce with her, so I lost most of this afternoon with them, and in the evening abroad with them-our long tour by coach, to Hackney, so to Kingsland, and then to Islington, there entertaining them by candlelight very well, and so home with her, set her down, and so home, and to bed.

12th. I find my wife troubled at my checking her last night in the coach, in her long stories out of Grand Cyrus,1 which she would tell, though nothing to the purpose, nor in any good manner. This she took unkindly, and I think I was to blame indeed; but she do find with reason, that, in the company of Pierce, Knipp, or other women that I love, I do not value her, or mind her as I ought. However, very good friends by and by. Met Sir G. Downing on Whitehall bridge, and there walked half an hour, talking of the success of the late new Act; and indeed, it is very much, that that hath stood really in the room of £800,0002 now since Christmas, being itself but £1,250,000. And so I do really take it to be a very considerable thing done by him; for the beginning, end, and every part of it is to be imputed to him. This day came home again my little girl Susan, her sickness proving an ague, and she had a fit soon almost as she came home. The fleet is not yet gone from the Nore. The plague increases in many places, and is 53 this week with us.

13th. (Lord's day.) To Westminster, and into St. Margett's Church, where I heard a young man play the fool upon the doctrine of Purgatory.

14th. To the Exchequer, and there met Sir G. Downing, and my Lord of Oxford coming by, also took him, and showed him his whole method of keeping his books, and everything of it, which indeed is very pretty. In the evening out with my wife and my aunt Wight, to take the air, and happened to have a pleasant race between our hackney-coach and a gentleman's.

15th. I to my Lord Crewe's, who is 1 Artamène ou le Grand Cyrus (1649 et seq.), by Mlle. de Scudéry.

2 There appears to be some error in these figures. [B.] 3 St. Margaret's.