25th (Christmas day). In the morning very much pleased to see my house once more clear of workmen and to be clean, and indeed it is so, far better than it was that I do not repent of my trouble that I have been at. In the morning to church, where Mr. Mills made a very good sermon. After that home to dinner, where my wife and I and my brother Tom (who this morning came to see my wife’s new mantle put on, which do please me very well), to a good shoulder of mutton and a chicken. After dinner to church again, my wife and I, where we had a dull sermon of a stranger, which made me sleep, and so home, and I, before and after supper, to my lute and Fuller’s History, at which I staid all alone in my chamber till 12 at night, and so to bed.
26th. In the morning to Alderman Backwell’s for the candlesticks for Mr. Coventry, but they being not done I went away, and so by coach to Mr. Crew’s, and there took some money of Mr. Moore’s for my Lord, and so to my Lord’s, where I found Sir Thomas Bond (whom I never saw before) with a message from the Queen about vessells for the carrying over of her goods, and so with him to Mr. Coventry, and thence to the office (being soundly washed going through the bridge) to Sir Wm. Batten and Pen (the last of whom took physic to-day), and so I went up to his chamber, and there having made an end of the business I returned to White Hall by water, and dined with my Lady Sandwich, who at table did tell me how much fault was laid upon Dr. Frazer and the rest of the Doctors, for the death of the Princess! My Lord did dine this day with Sir Henry Wright, in order to his going to sea with the Queen. Thence to my father Bowyer’s where I met my wife, and with her home by water.
27th. In the morning to Alderman Backwell’s again, where I found the candlesticks done, and went along with him in his coach to my Lord’s and left the candlesticks with Mr. Shepley. I staid in the garden talking much with my Lord, who do show me much of his love and do communicate his mind in most things to me, which is my great content. Home and with my wife to Sir W. Batten’s to dinner, where much and good company. My wife not very well went home, I staid late there seeing them play at cards, and so home to bed. This afternoon there came in a strange lord to Sir William Batten’s by a mistake and enters discourse with him, so that we could not be rid of him till Sir Arn. Breames and Mr. Bens and Sir W. Pen fell a-drinking to him till he was drunk, and so sent him away. About the middle of the night I was very ill—I think with eating and drinking too much—and so I was forced to call the maid, who pleased my wife and I in her running up and down so innocently in her smock, and vomited in the bason, and so to sleep, and in the morning was pretty well, only got cold, and so had pain.... as I used to have.
28th. Office day. There all the morning. Dined at home alone with my wife, and so staid within all the afternoon and evening; at my lute, with great pleasure, and so to bed with great content.
29th. Within all the morning. Several people to speak with me; Mr. Shepley for L100; Mr. Kennard and Warren, the merchant, about deals for my Lord. Captain Robert Blake lately come from the Straights about some Florence Wine for my Lord, and with him I went to Sir W. Pen, who offering me a barrel of oysters I took them both home to my house (having by chance a good piece of roast beef at the fire for dinner), and there they dined with me, and sat talking all the afternoon-good company. Thence to Alderman Backwell’s and took a brave state-plate and cupp in lieu of the candlesticks that I had the other day and carried them by coach to my Lord’s and left them there. And so back to my father’s and saw my mother, and so to my uncle Fenner’s, whither my father came to me, and there we talked and drank, and so away; I home with my father, he telling me what bad wives both my cozen Joyces make to their husbands, which I much wondered at. After talking of my sister’s coming to me next week, I went home and to bed.
30th (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, and being up, I went with Will to my Lord’s, calling in at many churches in my way. There I found Mr. Shepley, in his Venetian cap, taking physique in his chamber, and with him I sat till dinner. My Lord dined abroad and my Lady in her chamber, so Mr. Hetly, Child and I dined together, and after dinner Mr. Child and I spent some time at the lute, and so promising to prick me some lessons to my theorbo he went away to see Henry Laws, who lies very sick. I to the Abby and walked there, seeing the great confusion of people that come there to hear the organs. So home, calling in at my father’s, but staid not, my father and mother being both forth. At home I fell a-reading of Fuller’s Church History till it was late, and so to bed.
31st. At the office all the morning and after that home, and not staying to dine I went out, and in Paul’s Church-yard I bought the play of “Henry the Fourth,” and so went to the new Theatre (only calling at Mr. Crew’s and eat a bit with the people there at dinner) and saw it acted; but my expectation being too great, it did not please me, as otherwise I believe it would; and my having a book, I believe did spoil it a little. That being done I went to my Lord’s, where I found him private at cards with my Lord Lauderdale and some persons of honour. So Mr. Shepley and I over to Harper’s, and there drank a pot or two, and so parted. My boy taking a cat home with him from my Lord’s, which Sarah had given him for my wife, we being much troubled with mice. At Whitehall inquiring for a coach, there was a Frenchman with one eye that was going my way, so he and I hired the coach between us and he set me down in Fenchurch Street. Strange how the fellow, without asking, did tell me all what he was, and how he had ran away from his father and come into England to serve the King, and now going back again. Home and to bed.
ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS FOR 1960 N.S. PEPY’S DIARY
A very fine dinner
A good handsome wench I kissed, the first that I have seen
Among all the beauties there, my wife was thought the greatest
An exceeding pretty lass, and right for the sport
An offer of L500 for a Baronet’s dignity
And in all this not so much as one
Asleep, while the wench sat mending my breeches by my bedside
Barkley swearing that he and others had lain with her often
Bought for the love of the binding three books
Boy up to-night for his sister to teach him to put me to bed
But we were friends again as we are always
But I think I am not bound to discover myself
Cavaliers have now the upper hand clear of the Presbyterians
Confusion of years in the case of the months of January (etc.)
Court attendance infinite tedious
Cure of the King’s evil, which he do deny altogether
Diana did not come according to our agreement
Did not like that Clergy should meddle with matters of state
Dined with my wife on pease porridge and nothing else
Dined upon six of my pigeons, which my wife has resolved to kill
Do press for new oaths to be put upon men
Drink at a bottle beer house in the Strand
Drinking of the King’s health upon their knees in the streets
Duke of York and Mrs. Palmer did talk to one another very wanton
Else he is a blockhead, and not fitt for that imployment
Fashionable and black spots
Finding my wife’s clothes lie carelessly laid up
First time I had given her leave to wear a black patch
First time that ever I heard the organs in a cathedral
Five pieces of gold for to do him a small piece of service
Fixed that the year should commence in January instead of March
Formerly say that the King was a bastard and his mother a whore
Gave him his morning draft
Gentlewomen did hold up their heads to be kissed by the King
God help him, he wants bread.
Had no more manners than to invite me and to let me pay
Hand i’ the cap
Hanging jack to roast birds on
Have her come not as a sister in any respect, but as a servant
Have not known her this fortnight almost, which is a pain to me
He and I lay in one press bed, there being two more
He is, I perceive, wholly sceptical, as well as I
He that must do the business, or at least that can hinder it
He was fain to lie in the priest’s hole a good while
He did very well, but a deadly drinker he is
He made the great speech of his life, and spoke for three hours
He knew nothing about the navy
Hired her to procure this poor soul for him
How the Presbyterians would be angry if they durst
I fear is not so good as she should be
I never designed to be a witness against any man
I was demanded L100, for the fee of the office at 6d. a pound
I took a broom and basted her till she cried extremely
I pray God to make me able to pay for it.
I was angry with her, which I was troubled for
I went to the cook’s and got a good joint of meat
I was exceeding free in dallying with her, and she not unfree
I was a great Roundhead when I was a boy
If it should come in print my name maybe at it
Ill all this day by reason of the last night’s debauch
In discourse he seems to be wise and say little
In comes Mr. North very sea-sick from shore
In perpetual trouble and vexation that need it least
Inoffensive vanity of a man who loved to see himself in the glass
It not being handsome for our servants to sit so equal with us
John Pickering on board, like an ass, with his feathers
King do tire all his people that are about him with early rising
King’s Proclamation against drinking, swearing, and debauchery
Kiss my Parliament, instead of “Kiss my [rump]”
Kissed them myself very often with a great deal of mirth
L100 worth of plate for my Lord to give Secretary Nicholas
Learned the multiplication table for the first time in 1661
Learnt a pretty trick to try whether a woman be a maid or no
Long cloaks being now quite out
Made to drink, that they might know him not to be a Roundhead
Montaigne is conscious that we are looking over his shoulder
Most of my time in looking upon Mrs. Butler
Mottoes inscribed on rings was of Roman origin
Much troubled with thoughts how to get money
My luck to meet with a sort of drolling workmen on all occasions
My new silk suit, the first that ever I wore in my life
My wife and I had some high words
My wife was very unwilling to let me go forth
My wife was making of her tarts and larding of her pullets
My Lord, who took physic to-day and was in his chamber
Nothing in it approaching that single page in St. Simon
Offer me L500 if I would desist from the Clerk of the Acts place
Petition against hackney coaches
Playing the fool with the lass of the house
Posies for Rings, Handkerchers and Gloves
Presbyterians against the House of Lords
Protestants as to the Church of Rome are wholly fanatiques
Put to a great loss how I should get money to make up my cash
Resolve to have the doing of it himself, or else to hinder it
Sceptic in all things of religion
She had six children by the King
Show many the strangest emotions to shift off his drink
Sit up till 2 o’clock that she may call the wench up to wash
Smoke jack consists of a wind-wheel fixed in the chimney
So we went to bed and lay all night in a quarrel
So I took occasion to go up and to bed in a pet
Some merry talk with a plain bold maid of the house
Strange thing how I am already courted by the people
Strange how civil and tractable he was to me
The present Irish pronunciation of English
The rest did give more, and did believe that I did so too
The ceremonies did not please me, they do so overdo them
There being ten hanged, drawn, and quartered
This afternoon I showed my Lord my accounts, which he passed
This day I began to put on buckles to my shoes
Thus it was my chance to see the King beheaded at White Hall
To see the bride put to bed
To the Swan and drank our morning draft
To see Major-general Harrison hanged, drawn; and quartered
Upon the leads gazing upon Diana
We cannot tell what to do for want of her (the maid)
Wedding for which the posy ring was required
Went to bed with my head not well by my too much drinking to-day
Where I find the worst very good
Which I did give him some hope of, though I never intend it
Woman that they have a fancy to, to make her husband a cuckold