June 1st. Having taken our leaves
of Sir W. Batten and my Lady, who are gone this morning
to keep their Whitsuntide, Sir W. Pen and I and Mr.
Gauden by water to Woolwich, and there went from ship
to ship to give order for and take notice of their
forwardness to go forth, and then to Deptford and
did the like, having dined at Woolwich with Captain
Poole at the tavern there. From Deptford we walked
to Redriffe, calling at the half-way house, and there
come into a room where there was infinite of new cakes
placed that are made against Whitsuntide, and there
we were very merry. By water home, and there
did businesses of the office. Among others got
my Lord’s imprest of L1000 and Mr. Creed’s
of L10,000 against this voyage their bills signed.
Having wrote letters into the country and read some
things I went to bed.
2nd (Whitsunday). The barber
having done with me, I went to church, and there heard
a good sermon of Mr. Mills, fit for the day. Then
home to dinner, and then to church again, and going
home I found Greatorex (whom I expected today at dinner)
come to see me, and so he and I in my chamber drinking
of wine and eating of anchovies an hour or two, discoursing
of many things in mathematics, and among others he
showed me how it comes to pass the strength that levers
have, and he showed me that what is got as to matter
of strength is lost by them as to matter of time.
It rained very hard, as it hath done of late so much
that we begin to doubt a famine, and so he was forced
to stay longer than I desired. At night after
prayers to bed.
3rd. To the Wardrobe, where discoursing
with my Lord, he did instruct me as to the business
of the Wardrobe, in case, in his absence, Mr. Townsend
should die, and told me that he do intend to joyne
me and Mr. Moore with him as to the business, now
he is going to sea, and spoke to me many other things,
as to one that he do put the greatest confidence in,
of which I am proud. Here I had a good occasion
to tell him (what I have had long in my mind) that,
since it has pleased God to bless me with something,
I am desirous to lay out something for my father, and
so have pitched upon Mr. Young’s place in the
Wardrobe, which I desired he would give order in his
absence, if the place should fall that I might have
the refusal. Which my Lord did freely promise
me, at which I was very glad, he saying that he would
do that at the least. So I saw my Lord into the
barge going to Whitehall, and I and Mr. Creed home
to my house, whither my father and my cozen Scott
came to dine with me, and so we dined together very
well, and before we had done in comes my father Bowyer
and my mother and four daughters, and a young gentleman
and his sister, their friends, and there staid all
the afternoon, which cost me great store of wine,
and were very merry. By and by I am called to
the office, and there staid a little. So home
again, and took Mr. Creed and left them, and so he
and I to the Towre, to speak for some ammunition for
ships for my Lord; and so he and I, with much pleasure,
walked quite round the Towre, which I never did before.
So home, and after a walk with my wife upon the leads,
I and she went to bed. This morning I and Dr.
Peirce went over to the Beare at the Bridge foot, thinking
to have met my Lord Hinchinbroke and his brother setting
forth for France; but they being not come we went
over to the Wardrobe, and there found that my Lord
Abbot Montagu being not at Paris, my Lord hath a mind
to have them stay a little longer before they go.
4th. The Comptroller came this
morning to get me to go see a house or two near our
office, which he would take for himself or Mr. Turner,
and then he would have me have Mr. Turner’s
lodgings and himself mine and Mr. Davis’s.
But the houses did not like us, and so that design
at present is stopped. Then he and I by water
to the bridge, and then walked over the Bank-side
till we came to the Temple, and so I went over and
to my father’s, where I met with my cozen J.
Holcroft, and took him and my father and my brother
Tom to the Bear tavern and gave them wine, my cozen
being to go into the country again to-morrow.
From thence to my Lord Crew’s to dinner with
him, and had very good discourse about having of young
noblemen and gentlemen to think of going to sea, as
being as honourable service as the land war.
And among other things he told us how, in Queen Elizabeth’s
time, one young nobleman would wait with a trencher
at the back of another till he came to age himself.
And witnessed in my young Lord of Kent, that then
was, who waited upon my Lord Bedford at table, when
a letter came to my Lord Bedford that the Earldom
of Kent was fallen to his servant, the young Lord;
and so he rose from table, and made him sit down in
his place, and took a lower for himself, for so he
was by place to sit. From thence to the Theatre
and saw “Harry the 4th,” a good play.
That done I went over the water and walked over the
fields to Southwark, and so home and to my lute.
At night to bed.
5th. This morning did give my
wife L4 to lay out upon lace and other things for
herself. I to Wardrobe and so to Whitehall and
Westminster, where I dined with my Lord and Ned Dickering
alone at his lodgings. After dinner to the office,
where we sat and did business, and Sir W. Pen and
I went home with Sir R. Slingsby to bowls in his ally,
and there had good sport, and afterwards went in and
drank and talked. So home Sir William and I,
and it being very hot weather I took my flageolette
and played upon the leads in the garden, where Sir
W. Pen came out in his shirt into his leads, and there
we staid talking and singing, and drinking great drafts
of claret, and eating botargo
["Botarga. The roe of the
mullet pressed flat and dried; that of commerce,
however, is from the tunny, a large fish of passage
which is common in the Mediterranean. The
best kind comes from Tunis.” Smyth’s
Sailor’s Word-Book. Botargo was chiefly
used to promote drinking by causing thirst, and
Rabelais makes Gargantua eat it.]
and bread and butter till 12 at night,
it being moonshine; and so to bed, very near fuddled.
6th. My head hath aked all night,
and all this morning, with my last night’s debauch.
Called up this morning by Lieutenant Lambert, who is
now made Captain of the Norwich, and he and I went
down by water to Greenwich, in our way observing and
discoursing upon the things of a ship, he telling
me all I asked him, which was of good use to me.
There we went and eat and drank and heard musique
at the Globe, and saw the simple motion that is there
of a woman with a rod in her hand keeping time to
the musique while it plays, which is simple, methinks.
Back again by water, calling at Captain Lambert’s
house, which is very handsome and neat, and a fine
prospect at top. So to the office, where we sat
a little, and then the Captain and I again to Bridewell
to Mr. Holland’s, where his wife also, a plain
dowdy, and his mother was. Here I paid Mrs. Holland
the money due from me to her husband. Here came
two young gentlewomen to see Mr. Holland, and one
of them could play pretty well upon the viallin, but,
good God! how these ignorant people did cry her up
for it! We were very merry. I staid and supped
there, and so home and to bed. The weather very
hot, this night I left off my wastecoat.
7th. To my Lord’s at Whitehall,
but not finding him I went to the Wardrobe and there
dined with my Lady, and was very kindly treated by
her. After dinner to the office, and there till
late at night. So home, and to Sir William Batten’s,
who is come this day from Chatham with my Lady, who
is and has been much troubled with the toothache.
Here I staid till late, and so home and to bed.
8th. To Whitehall to my Lord,
who did tell me that he would have me go to Mr. Townsend,
whom he had ordered to discover to me the whole mystery
of the Wardrobe, and none else but me, and that he
will make me deputy with him for fear that he should
die in my Lord’s absence, of which I was glad.
Then to the Cook’s with Mr. Shepley and Mr. Creed,
and dined together, and then I went to the Theatre
and there saw Bartholomew Faire, the first time it
was acted now a-days. It is a most admirable
play and well acted, but too much prophane and abusive.
From thence, meeting Mr. Creed at the door, he and
I went to the tobacco shop under Temple Bar gate,
and there went up to the top of the house and there
sat drinking Lambeth ale a good while. Then away
home, and in my way called upon Mr. Rawlinson (my
uncle Wight being out of town), for his advice to
answer a letter of my uncle Robert, wherein he do offer
me a purchase to lay some money upon, that joynes
upon some of his own lands, and plainly telling me
that the reason of his advice is the convenience that
it will give me as to his estate, of which I am exceeding
glad, and am advised to give up wholly the disposal
of my money to him, let him do what he will with it,
which I shall do. So home and to bed.
9th (Lord’s day). This
day my wife put on her black silk gown, which is now
laced all over with black gimp lace, as the fashion
is, in which she is very pretty. She and I walked
to my Lady’s at the Wardrobe, and there dined
and was exceeding much made of. After dinner I
left my wife there, and I walked to Whitehall, and
then went to Mr. Pierce’s and sat with his wife
a good while (who continues very pretty) till he came,
and then he and I, and Mr. Symons (dancing master),
that goes to sea with my Lord, to the Swan tavern,
and there drank, and so again to White Hall, and there
met with Dean Fuller, and walked a great while with
him; among other things discoursed of the liberty
the Bishop (by name the of Galloway) takes to admit
into orders any body that will; among others, Roundtree,
a simple mechanique that was a person [parson?] formerly
in the fleet. He told me he would complain of
it. By and by we went and got a sculler, and
landing him at Worcester House, I and W. Howe, who
came to us at Whitehall, went to the Wardrobe, where
I met with Mr. Townsend, who is very willing he says
to communicate anything for my Lord’s advantage
to me as to his business. I went up to Jane Shore’s
towre, and there W. Howe and I sang, and so took my
wife and walked home, and so to bed. After I
came home a messenger came from my Lord to bid me come
to him tomorrow morning.
10th. Early to my Lord’s,
who privately told me how the King had made him Embassador
in the bringing over the Queen.
[Katherine of Braganza, daughter of
John iv. of Portugal, born 1638, married
to Charles ii., May 21st, 1662. After the
death of the king she lived for some time at
Somerset House, and then returned to Portugal,
of which country she became Regent in 1704 on the
retirement of her brother Don Pedro. She
died December 31st, 1705.]
That he is to go to Algier, &c., to
settle the business, and to put the fleet in order
there; and so to come back to Lisbone with three ships,
and there to meet the fleet that is to follow him.
He sent for me, to tell me that he do intrust me with
the seeing of all things done in his absence as to
this great preparation, as I shall receive orders from
my Lord Chancellor and Mr. Edward Montagu. At
all which my heart is above measure glad; for my Lord’s
honour, and some profit to myself, I hope. By
and by, out with Mr. Shepley Walden, Parliament-man
for Huntingdon, Rolt, Mackworth, and Alderman Backwell,
to a house hard by, to drink Lambeth ale. So
I back to the Wardrobe, and there found my Lord going
to Trinity House, this being the solemn day of choosing
Master, and my Lord is chosen, so he dines there to-day.
I staid and dined with my Lady; but after we were
set, comes in some persons of condition, and so the
children and I rose and dined by ourselves, all the
children and I, and were very merry and they mighty
fond of me. Then to the office, and there sat
awhile. So home and at night to bed, where we
lay in Sir R. Slingsby’s lodgings in the dining
room there in one green bed, my house being now in
its last work of painting and whiting.
11th. At the office this morning,
Sir G. Carteret with us; and we agreed upon a letter
to the Duke of York, to tell him the sad condition
of this office for want of money; how men are not
able to serve us more without some money; and that
now the credit of the office is brought so low, that
none will sell us any thing without our personal security
given for the same. All the afternoon abroad
about several businesses, and at night home and to
bed.
12th. Wednesday, a day kept between
a fast and a feast, the Bishops not being ready enough
to keep the fast for foul weather before fair weather
came; and so they were forced to keep it between both.
[A Form of Prayer was published to
be used in London on the 12th, and in the country
on the 19th of June, being the special days appointed
for a general fast to be kept in the respective places
for averting those sicknesses and diseases, that
dearth and scarcity, which justly may be feared
from the late immoderate rain and waters: for
a thanksgiving also for the blessed change of weather;
and the begging the continuance of it to us for
our comfort: And likewise for beseeching
a Blessing upon the High Court of Parliament now assembled:
Set forth by his Majesty’s authority. A
sermon was preached before the Commons by Thomas
Greenfield, preacher of Lincoln’s Inn.
The Lords taxed themselves for the poor an
earl, 30s., a baron, 20s. Those absent
from prayers were to pay a forfeit. B.]
I to Whitehall, and there with Captain
Rolt and Ferrers we went to Lambeth to drink our morning
draft, where at the Three Mariners, a place noted
for their ale, we went and staid awhile very merry,
and so away. And wanting a boat, we found Captain
Bun going down the river, and so we went into his
boat having a lady with him, and he landed them at
Westminster and me at the Bridge. At home all
day with my workmen, and doing several things, among
others writing the letter resolved of yesterday to
the Duke. Then to White Hall, where I met my Lord,
who told me he must have L300 laid out in cloth, to
give in Barbary, as presents among the Turks.
At which occasion of getting something I was very glad.
Home to supper, and then to Sir R. Slingsby, who with
his brother and I went to my Lord’s at the Wardrobe,
and there staid a great while, but he being now taking
his leave of his friends staid out late, and so they
went away. Anon came my Lord in, and I staid with
him a good while, and then to bed with Mr. Moore in
his chamber.
13th. I went up and down to Alderman
Backwell’s, but his servants not being up, I
went home and put on my gray cloth suit and faced white
coat, made of one of my wife’s pettycoates, the
first time I have had it on, and so in a riding garb
back again and spoke with Mr. Shaw at the Alderman’s,
who offers me L300 if my Lord pleases to buy this cloth
with, which pleased me well. So to the Wardrobe
and got my Lord to order Mr. Creed to imprest so much
upon me to be paid by Alderman Backwell. So with
my Lord to Whitehall by water, and he having taken
leave of the King, comes to us at his lodgings and
from thence goes to the garden stairs and there takes
barge, and at the stairs was met by Sir R. Slingsby,
who there took his leave of my Lord, and I heard my
Lord thank him for his kindness to me, which Sir Robert
answered much to my advantage. I went down with
my Lord in the barge to Deptford, and there went on
board the Dutch yacht and staid there a good while,
W. Howe not being come with my Lord’s things,
which made my Lord very angry. By and by he comes
and so we set sayle, and anon went to dinner, my Lord
and we very merry; and after dinner I went down below
and there sang, and took leave of W. Howe, Captain
Rolt, and the rest of my friends, then went up and
took leave of my Lord, who give me his hand and parted
with great respect. So went and Captain Ferrers
with me into our wherry, and my Lord did give five
guns, all they had charged, which was the greatest
respect my Lord could do me, and of which I was not
a little proud. So with a sad and merry heart
I left them sailing pleasantly from Erith, hoping
to be in the Downs tomorrow early. We toward London
in our boat. Pulled off our stockings and bathed
our legs a great while in the river, which I had not
done some years before. By and by we come to Greenwich,
and thinking to have gone on the King’s yacht,
the King was in her, so we passed by, and at Woolwich
went on shore, in the company of Captain Poole of
Jamaica and young Mr. Kennersley, and many others,
and so to the tavern where we drank a great deal both
wine and beer. So we parted hence and went home
with Mr. Falconer, who did give us cherrys and good
wine. So to boat, and young Poole took us on board
the Charity and gave us wine there, with which I had
full enough, and so to our wherry again, and there
fell asleep till I came almost to the Tower, and there
the Captain and I parted, and I home and with wine
enough in my head, went to bed.
14th. To Whitehall to my Lord’s,
where I found Mr. Edward Montagu and his family come
to lie during my Lord’s absence. I sent
to my house by my Lord’s order his shipp [Qy.
glass omitted after shipp.] and triangle
virginall. So to my father’s, and did give
him order about the buying of this cloth to send to
my Lord. But I could not stay with him myself,
for having got a great cold by my playing the fool
in the water yesterday I was in great pain, and so
went home by coach to bed, and went not to the office
at all, and by keeping myself warm, I broke wind and
so came to some ease. Rose and eat some supper,
and so to bed again.
15th. My father came and drank
his morning draft with me, and sat with me till I
was ready, and so he and I about the business of the
cloth. By and by I left him and went and dined
with my Lady, who, now my Lord is gone, is come to
her poor housekeeping again. Then to my father’s,
who tells me what he has done, and we resolved upon
two pieces of scarlet, two of purple, and two of black,
and L50 in linen. I home, taking L300 with me
home from Alderman Backwell’s. After writing
to my Lord to let him know what I had done I was going
to bed, but there coming the purser of the King’s
yacht for victualls presently, for the Duke of York
is to go down to-morrow, I got him to promise stowage
for these things there, and so I went to bed, bidding
Will go and fetch the things from the carrier’s
hither, which about 12 o’clock were brought to
my house and laid there all night.
16th (Lord’s day). But
no purser coming in the morning for them, and I hear
that the Duke went last night, and so I am at a great
loss what to do; and so this day (though the Lord’s
day) staid at home, sending Will up and down to know
what to do. Sometimes thinking to continue my
resolution of sending by the carrier to be at Deal
on Wednesday next, sometimes to send them by sea by
a vessel on purpose, but am not yet come to a resolution,
but am at a very great loss and trouble in mind what
in the world to do herein. The afternoon (while
Will was abroad) I spent in reading “The Spanish
Gypsey,” a play not very good, though commended
much. At night resolved to hire a Margate Hoy,
who would go away to-morrow morning, which I did,
and sent the things all by him, and put them on board
about 12 this night, hoping to have them as the wind
now serves in the Downs to-morrow night. To-bed
with some quiet of mind, having sent the things away.
17th. Visited this morning by
my old friend Mr. Ch. Carter, who staid
and went to Westminster with me, and there we parted,
and I to the Wardrobe and dined with my Lady.
So home to my painters, who are now about painting
my stairs. So to the office, and at night we all
went to Sir W. Pen’s, and there sat and drank
till 11 at night, and so home and to bed.
18th. All this morning at home
vexing about the delay of my painters, and about four
in the afternoon my wife and I by water to Captain
Lambert’s, where we took great pleasure in their
turret-garden, and seeing the fine needle-works of
his wife, the best I ever saw in my life, and afterwards
had a very handsome treat and good musique that
she made upon the harpsicon, and with a great deal
of pleasure staid till 8 at night, and so home again,
there being a little pretty witty child that is kept
in their house that would not let us go without her,
and so fell a-crying by the water-side. So home,
where I met Jack Cole, who staid with me a good while,
and is still of the old good humour that we were of
at school together, and I am very glad to see him.
He gone, I went to bed.
19th. All the morning almost
at home, seeing my stairs finished by the painters,
which pleases me well. So with Mr. Moore to Westminster
Hall, it being term, and then by water to the Wardrobe,
where very merry, and so home to the office all the
afternoon, and at night to the Exchange to my uncle
Wight about my intention of purchasing at Brampton.
So back again home and at night to bed. Thanks
be to God I am very well again of my late pain, and
to-morrow hope to be out of my pain of dirt and trouble
in my house, of which I am now become very weary.
One thing I must observe here while I think of it,
that I am now become the most negligent man in the
world as to matters of news, insomuch that, now-a-days,
I neither can tell any, nor ask any of others.
20th. At home the greatest part
of the day to see my workmen make an end, which this
night they did to my great content.
21st. This morning going to my
father’s I met him, and so he and I went and
drank our morning draft at the Samson in Paul’s
Churchyard, and eat some gammon of bacon, &c., and
then parted, having bought some green Say [A
woollen cloth. “Saye clothe serge.” Palsgrave.] for
curtains in my parler. Home, and so to the
Exchequer, where I met with my uncle Wight, and home
with him to dinner, where among others (my aunt being
out of town), Mr. Norbury and I did discourse of his
wife’s house and land at Brampton, which I find
too much for me to buy. Home, and in the afternoon
to the office, and much pleased at night to see my
house begin to be clean after all the dirt.
22nd. Abroad all the morning
about several businesses. At noon went and dined
with my Lord Crew, where very much made of by him and
his lady. Then to the Theatre, “The Alchymist,” [Comedy
by Ben Jonson, first printed in 1612.] which
is a most incomparable play. And that being done
I met with little Luellin and Blirton, who took me
to a friend’s of theirs in Lincoln’s Inn
fields, one Mr. Hodges, where we drank great store
of Rhenish wine and were very merry. So I went
home, where I found my house now very clean, which
was great content to me.
23rd (Lord’s day). In the
morning to church, and my wife not being well, I went
with Sir W. Batten home to dinner, my Lady being out
of town, where there was Sir W. Pen, Captain Allen
and his daughter Rebecca, and Mr. Hempson and his
wife. After dinner to church all of us and had
a very good sermon of a stranger, and so I and the
young company to walk first to Graye’s Inn Walks,
where great store of gallants, but above all the ladies
that I there saw, or ever did see, Mrs. Frances Butler
(Monsieur L’Impertinent’s sister) is the
greatest beauty. Then we went to Islington, where
at the great house I entertained them as well as I
could, and so home with them, and so to my own home
and to bed. Pall, who went this day to a child’s
christening of Kate Joyce’s, staid out all night
at my father’s, she not being well.
24th (Midsummer-day). We kept
this a holiday, and so went not to the office at all.
All the morning at home. At noon my father came
to see my house now it is done, which is now very
neat. He and I and Dr. Williams (who is come
to see my wife, whose soare belly is now grown dangerous
as she thinks) to the ordinary over against the Exchange,
where we dined and had great wrangling with the master
of the house when the reckoning was brought to us,
he setting down exceeding high every thing. I
home again and to Sir W. Batten’s, and there
sat a good while. So home.
25th. Up this morning to put
my papers in order that are come from my Lord’s,
so that now I have nothing there remaining that is
mine, which I have had till now. This morning
came Mr. Goodgroome
[Theodore Goodgroome,
Pepys’s singing-master. He was probably
related to John Goodgroome,
a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, who is
also referred to in
the Diary.]
to me (recommended by Mr. Mage), with
whom I agreed presently to give him 20s. entrance,
which I then did, and 20s. a month more to teach me
to sing, and so we began, and I hope I have come to
something in it. His first song is “La
cruda la bella.” He gone my brother
Tom comes, with whom I made even with my father and
the two drapers for the cloths I sent to sea lately.
At home all day, in the afternoon came Captain Allen
and his daughter Rebecca and Mr. Hempson, and by and
by both Sir Williams, who sat with me till it was
late, and I had a very gallant collation for them.
At night to bed.
26th. To Westminster about several
businesses, then to dine with my Lady at the Wardrobe,
taking Dean Fuller along with me; then home, where
I heard my father had been to find me about special
business; so I took coach and went to him, and found
by a letter to him from my aunt that my uncle Robert
is taken with a dizziness in his head, so that they
desire my father to come down to look after his business,
by which we guess that he is very ill, and so my father
do think to go to-morrow. And so God’s
will be done. Back by water to the office, there
till night, and so home to my musique and then
to bed.
27th. To my father’s, and
with him to Mr. Starling’s to drink our morning
draft, and there I told him how I would have him speak
to my uncle Robert, when he comes thither, concerning
my buying of land, that I could pay ready money L600
and the rest by L150 per annum, to make up as much
as will buy L50 per annum, which I do, though I not
worth above L500 ready money, that he may think me
to be a greater saver than I am. Here I took
my leave of my father, who is going this morning to
my uncle upon my aunt’s letter this week that
he is not well and so needs my father’s help.
At noon home, and then with my Lady Batten, Mrs. Rebecca
Allen, Mrs. Thompson, &c., two coaches of us, we went
and saw “Bartholomew Fayre” acted very
well, and so home again and staid at Sir W. Batten’s
late, and so home to bed. This day Mr. Holden
sent me a bever, which cost me L4 5s.
[Whilst a hat (see January 28th, 1660-61,
ante) cost only 35s. See also Lord Sandwich’s
vexation at his beaver being stolen, and a hat only
left in lieu of it, April 30th, 1661, ante; and April
19th and 26th, 1662, Post. B.]
28th. At home all the morning
practising to sing, which is now my great trade, and
at noon to my Lady and dined with her. So back
and to the office, and there sat till 7 at night,
and then Sir W. Pen and I in his coach went to Moorefields,
and there walked, and stood and saw the wrestling,
which I never saw so much of before, between the north
and west countrymen. So home, and this night
had our bed set up in our room that we called the
Nursery, where we lay, and I am very much pleased
with the room.
29th. By a letter from the Duke
complaining of the delay of the ships that are to
be got ready, Sir Williams both and I went to Deptford
and there examined into the delays, and were satisfyed.
So back again home and staid till the afternoon, and
then I walked to the Bell at the Maypole in the Strand,
and thither came to me by appointment Mr. Chetwind,
Gregory, and Hartlibb, so many of our old club, and
Mr. Kipps, where we staid and drank and talked with
much pleasure till it was late, and so I walked home
and to bed. Mr. Chetwind by chewing of tobacco
is become very fat and sallow, whereas he was consumptive,
and in our discourse he fell commending of “Hooker’s
Ecclesiastical Polity,” as the best book, and
the only one that made him a Christian, which puts
me upon the buying of it, which I will do shortly.
30th (Lord’s day). To church,
where we observe the trade of briefs is come now up
to so constant a course every Sunday, that we resolve
to give no more to them.
[It appears, from an old Ms. account-book
of the collections in the church of St. Olave,
Hart Street, beginning in 1642, still extant, that
the money gathered on the 30th June, 1661, “for
several inhabitants of the parish of St. Dunstan
in the West towards their losse by fire,”
amounted to “xxs. viiid.” Pepys might
complain of the trade in briefs, as similar contributions
had been levied fourteen weeks successively,
previous to the one in question at St. Olave’s
church. Briefs were abolished in 1828. B.]
A good sermon, and then home to dinner,
my wife and I all alone. After dinner Sir Williams
both and I by water to Whitehall, where having walked
up and down, at last we met with the Duke of York,
according to an order sent us yesterday from him,
to give him an account where the fault lay in the
not sending out of the ships, which we find to be only
the wind hath been against them, and so they could
not get out of the river. Hence I to Graye’s
Inn Walk, all alone, and with great pleasure seeing
the fine ladies walk there. Myself humming to
myself (which now-a-days is my constant practice since
I begun to learn to sing) the trillo, and found
by use that it do come upon me. Home very weary
and to bed, finding my wife not sick, but yet out
of order, that I fear she will come to be sick.
This day the Portuguese Embassador came to White Hall
to take leave of the King; he being now going to end
all with the Queen, and to send her over. The
weather now very fair and pleasant, but very hot.
My father gone to Brampton to see my uncle Robert,
not knowing whether to find him dead or alive.
Myself lately under a great expense of money upon
myself in clothes and other things, but I hope to make
it up this summer by my having to do in getting things
ready to send with the next fleet to the Queen.
Myself in good health, but mighty
apt to take cold, so that this hot weather I am fain
to wear a cloth before my belly.