5th. A-bed late. In the morning my Lord went on shore with the Vice-Admiral a-fishing, and at dinner returned. In the afternoon I played at ninepins with my Lord, and when he went in again I got him to sign my accounts for L115, and so upon my private balance I find myself confirmed in my estimation that I am worth L100. In the evening in my cabin a great while getting the song without book, “Help, help Divinity, &c.” After supper my Lord called for the lieutenant’s cittern, and with two candlesticks with money in them for symballs, we made barber’s music,
[In the “Notices of Popular Histories,” printed for the Percy
Society, there is a curious woodcut representing the interior of a
barber’s shop, in which, according to the old custom, the person
waiting to be shaved is playing on the “ghittern” till his turn
arrives. Decker also mentions a “barber’s cittern,” for every
serving-man to play upon. This is no doubt “the barber’s music”
with which Lord Sandwich entertained himself.—B.]
with which my Lord was well pleased. So to bed.
6th. In the morning I had letters come, that told me among other things, that my Lord’s place of Clerk of the Signet was fallen to him, which he did most lovingly tell me that I should execute, in case he could not get a better employment for me at the end of the year. Because he thought that the Duke of York would command all, but he hoped that the Duke would not remove me but to my advantage.
I had a great deal of talk about my uncle Robert,
[Robert Pepys of Brampton, eldest son of Thomas Pepys the red, and
brother of Samuel’s father.]
and he told me that he could not tell how his mind stood as to his estate, but he would do all that lay in his power for me. After dinner came Mr. Gooke from London, who told me that my wife he left well at Huntsmore, though her health not altogether so constant as it used to be, which my heart is troubled for. Mr. Moore’s letters tell me that he thinks my Lord will be suddenly sent for up to London, and so I got myself in readiness to go.
My letters tell me, that Mr. Calamy
[Edmund Calamy, D.D., the celebrated Nonconformist divine, born
February, 1600, appointed Chaplain to Charles II., 1660. He refused
the bishopric of Lichfield which was offered to him. Died October
29th, 1666.]
had preached before the King in a surplice (this I heard afterwards to be false); that my Lord, Gen. Monk, and three more Lords, are made Commissioners for the Treasury;