The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, December 1664
#37 in our series by Pepys; Translator: Mynors Bright, Editor: Wheatley
Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check
the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!!!!
Please take a look at the important information in this header.
We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an
electronic path open for the next readers.
Please do not remove this.
This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book.
Do not change or edit it without written permission. The words
are carefully chosen to provide users with the information they
need about what they can legally do with the texts.
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
*****These Etexts Are Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and
further information is included below, including for donations.
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3)
organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541
Title: Diary of Samuel Pepys, December 1664
Author: Samuel Pepys, Translator: Mynors Bright, Editor: Wheatley
Release Date: June, 2003 [Etext #4152]
[Yes, we are about one year ahead of schedule]
[The actual date this file first posted = 11/09/01]
Edition: 10
Language: English
The Project Gutenberg Etext of Diary of Samuel Pepys, December 1664
*******This file should be named sp37g10.txt or sp37g10.zip********
Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, sp37g11.txt
VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, sp37g10a.txt
This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions,
all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a
copyright notice is included. Therefore, we usually do NOT keep any
of these books in compliance with any particular paper edition.
We are now trying to release all our books one year in advance
of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing.
Please be encouraged to send us error messages even years after
the official publication date.
Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til
midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement.
The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at
Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A
preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment
and editing by those who wish to do so.
Most people start at our sites at:
http://gutenberg.net
http://promo.net/pg
Those of you who want to download any Etext before announcement
can surf to them as follows, and just download by date; this is
also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the
indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an
announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter.
http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03
or
ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03
Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90
Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want,
as it appears in our Newsletters.
Information about Project Gutenberg (one page)
We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The
time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours
to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright
searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This
projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value
per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2
million dollars per hour this year as we release fifty new Etext
files per month, or 500 more Etexts in 2000 for a total of 3000+
If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total
should reach over 300 billion Etexts given away by year's end.
The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext
Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion]
This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers,
which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users.
At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third
of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 4,000 Etexts unless we
manage to get some real funding.
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created
to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium.
We need your donations more than ever!
As of 10/28/01 contributions are only being solicited from people in:
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan,
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,
New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
We have filed in about 45 states now, but these are the only ones
that have responded.
As the requirements for other states are met,
additions to this list will be made and fund raising
will begin in the additional states. Please feel
free to ask to check the status of your state.
In answer to various questions we have received on this:
We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork
to legally request donations in all 50 states. If
your state is not listed and you would like to know
if we have added it since the list you have, just ask.
While we cannot solicit donations from people in
states where we are not yet registered, we know
of no prohibition against accepting donations
from donors in these states who approach us with
an offer to donate.
International donations are accepted,
but we don't know ANYTHING about how
to make them tax-deductible, or
even if they CAN be made deductible,
and don't have the staff to handle it
even if there are ways.
All donations should be made to:
Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
PMB 113
1739 University Ave.
Oxford, MS 38655-4109
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3)
organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541,
and has been approved as a 501(c)(3) organization by the US Internal
Revenue Service (IRS). Donations are tax-deductible to the maximum
extent permitted by law. As the requirements for other states are met,
additions to this list will be made and fund raising will begin in the
additional states.
We need your donations more than ever!
You can get up to date donation information at:
http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html
***
If you can't reach Project Gutenberg,
you can always email directly to:
Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com>
hart@pobox.com forwards to hart@prairienet.org and archive.org
if your mail bounces from archive.org, I will still see it, if
it bounces from prairienet.org, better resend later on. . . .
Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message.
We would prefer to send you information by email.
***
Example command-line FTP session:
ftp ftp.ibiblio.org
login: anonymous
password: your@login
cd pub/docs/books/gutenberg
cd etext90 through etext99 or etext00 through etext02, etc.
dir [to see files]
get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files]
GET GUTINDEX.?? [to get a year's listing of books, e.g., GUTINDEX.99]
GET GUTINDEX.ALL [to get a listing of ALL books]
**The Legal Small Print**
(Three Pages)
***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START***
Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers.
They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with
your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from
someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our
fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement
disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how
you may distribute copies of this etext if you want to.
*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT
By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept
this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive
a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by
sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person
you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical
medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request.
ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS
This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etexts,
is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart
through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project").
Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright
on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and
distribute it in the United States without permission and
without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth
below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext
under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark.
Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market
any commercial products without permission.
To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable
efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain
works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any
medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other
things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or
corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged
disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer
codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.
LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES
But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below,
[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may
receive this etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims
all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including
legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR
UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE
OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of
receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any)
you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that
time to the person you received it from. If you received it
on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and
such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement
copy. If you received it electronically, such person may
choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to
receive it electronically.
THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER
WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS
TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or
the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the
above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you
may have other legal rights.
INDEMNITY
You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation,
and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated
with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including
legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the
following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this etext,
[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the etext,
or [3] any Defect.
DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm"
You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by
disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this
"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg,
or:
[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this
requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the
etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however,
if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable
binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form,
including any form resulting from conversion by word
processing or hypertext software, but only so long as
*EITHER*:
[*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and
does *not* contain characters other than those
intended by the author of the work, although tilde
(~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may
be used to convey punctuation intended by the
author, and additional characters may be used to
indicate hypertext links; OR
[*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at
no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent
form by the program that displays the etext (as is
the case, for instance, with most word processors);
OR
[*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at
no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the
etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC
or other equivalent proprietary form).
[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this
"Small Print!" statement.
[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the
gross profits you derive calculated using the method you
already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you
don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are
payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation"
the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were
legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent
periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to
let us know your plans and to work out the details.
WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO?
Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of
public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed
in machine readable form.
The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time,
public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses.
Money should be paid to the:
"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or
software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at:
hart@pobox.com
[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart
and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.]
[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales
of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or
software or any other related product without express permission.]
*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END*
This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the
file for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making an
entire meal of them. D.W.]
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.
DECEMBER
1664
December 1st. Up betimes and to White Hall to a Committee of Tangier,
and so straight home and hard to my business at my office till noon, then
to dinner, and so to my office, and by and by we sat all the afternoon,
then to my office again till past one in the morning, and so home to
supper and to bed.
2nd. Lay long in bed. Then up and to the office, where busy all the
morning. At home dined. After dinner with my wife and Mercer to the
Duke's House, and there saw "The Rivalls," which I had seen before; but
the play not good, nor anything but the good actings of Betterton and his
wife and Harris. Thence homeward, and the coach broke with us in
Lincoln's Inn Fields, and so walked to Fleete Streete, and there took
coach and home, and to my office, whither by and by comes Captain Cocke,
and then Sir W. Batten, and we all to Sir J. Minnes, and I did give them
a barrel of oysters I had given to me, and so there sat and talked, where
good discourse of the late troubles, they knowing things, all of them,
very well; and Cocke, from the King's own mouth, being then entrusted
himself much, do know particularly that the King's credulity to
Cromwell's promises, private to him, against the advice of his friends
and the certain discovery of the practices and discourses of Cromwell in
council (by Major Huntington)
[According to Clarendon the officer here alluded to was a major in
Cromwell's own regiment of horse, and employed by him to treat with
Charles I. whilst at Hampton Court; but being convinced of the
insincerity of the proceeding, communicated his suspicions to that
monarch, and immediately gave up his commission. We hear no more of
Huntington till the Restoration, when his name occurs with those of
many other officers, who tendered their services to the king. His
reasons for laying down his commission are printed in Thurloe's
"State Papers" and Maseres's "Tracts."--B.]
did take away his life and nothing else. Then to some loose atheisticall
discourse of Cocke's, when he was almost drunk, and then about 11 o'clock
broke up, and I to my office, to fit up an account for Povy, wherein I
hope to get something. At it till almost two o'clock, then to supper and
to bed.
3rd. Up, and at the office all the morning, and at noon to Mr. Cutler's,
and there dined with Sir W. Rider and him, and thence Sir W. Rider and I
by coach to White Hall to a Committee of the Fishery; there only to hear
Sir Edward Ford's proposal about farthings, wherein, O God! to see almost
every body interested for him; only my Lord Annesly, who is a grave,
serious man. My Lord Barkeley was there, but is the most hot, fiery man
in discourse, without any cause, that ever I saw, even to breach of
civility to my Lord Anglesey, in his discourse opposing to my Lord's. At
last, though without much satisfaction to me, it was voted that it should
be requested of the King, and that Sir Edward Ford's proposal is the best
yet made. Thence by coach home. The Duke of Yorke being expected
to-night with great joy from Portsmouth, after his having been abroad at
sea three or four days with the fleete; and the Dutch are all drawn into
their harbours. But it seems like a victory: and a matter of some
reputation to us it is, and blemish to them; but in no degree like what
it is esteemed at, the weather requiring them to do so. Home and at my
office late, and then to supper and to bed.
4th (Lord's day). Lay long in bed, and then up and to my office, there
to dispatch a business in order to the getting something out of the
Tangier business, wherein I have an opportunity to get myself paid upon
the score of freight. I hope a good sum. At noon home to dinner, and
then in the afternoon to church. So home, and by and by comes Mr. Hill
and Andrews, and sung together long and with great content. Then to
supper and broke up. Pretty discourse, very pleasant and ingenious, and
so to my office a little, and then home (after prayers) to bed. This day
I hear the Duke of Yorke is come to towne, though expected last night, as
I observed, but by what hindrance stopped I can't tell.
5th. Up, and to White Hall with Sir J. Minnes; and there, among an
infinite crowd of great persons, did kiss the Duke's hand; but had no
time to discourse. Thence up and down the gallery, and got my Lord of
Albemarle's hand to my bill for Povy, but afterwards was asked some
scurvy questions by Povy about my demands, which troubled [me], but will
do no great hurt I think. Thence vexed home, and there by appointment
comes my cozen Roger Pepys and Mrs. Turner, and dined with me, and very
merry we were. They staid all the afternoon till night, and then after I
had discoursed an hour with Sir W. Warren plainly declaring my resolution
to desert him if he goes on to join with Castle, who and his family I,
for great provocation, love not, which he takes with some trouble, but
will concur in everything with me, he says. Now I am loth, I confess, to
lose him, he having been the best friend I have had ever in this office.
So he being gone, we all, it being night, in Madam Turner's coach to her
house, there to see, as she tells us, how fat Mrs. The. is grown, and so
I find her, but not as I expected, but mightily pleased I am to hear the
mother commend her daughter Betty that she is like to be a great beauty,
and she sets much by her. Thence I to White Hall, and there saw Mr.
Coventry come to towne, and, with all my heart, am glad to see him, but
could have no talke with him, he being but just come. Thence back and
took up my wife, and home, where a while, and then home to supper and to
bed.
5th. Up, and in Sir W. Batten's coach to White Hall, but the Duke being
gone forth, I to Westminster Hall, and there spent much time till towards
noon to and fro with people. So by and by Mrs. Lane comes and plucks me
by the cloak to speak to me, and I was fain to go to her shop, and
pretending to buy some bands made her go home, and by and by followed
her, and there did what I would with her, and so after many discourses
and her intreating me to do something for her husband, which I promised
to do, and buying a little band of her, which I intend to keep to, I took
leave, there coming a couple of footboys to her with a coach to fetch her
abroad I know not to whom. She is great with child, and she says I must
be godfather, but I do not intend it. Thence by coach to the Old
Exchange, and there hear that the Dutch are fitting their ships out
again, which puts us to new discourse, and to alter our thoughts of the
Dutch, as to their want of courage or force. Thence by appointment to
the White Horse Taverne in Lumbard Streete, and there dined with my Lord
Rutherford, Povy, Mr. Gauden, Creed, and others, and very merry, and
after dinner among other things Povy and I withdrew, and I plainly told
him that I was concerned in profit, but very justly, in this business of
the Bill that I have been these two or three days about, and he consents
to it, and it shall be paid. He tells me how he believes, and in part
knows, Creed to be worth L10,000; nay, that now and then he [Povy] hath
three or L4,000 in his hands, for which he gives the interest that the
King gives, which is ten per cent., and that Creed do come and demand it
every three months the interest to be paid him, which Povy looks upon as
a cunning and mean tricke of him; but for all that, he will do and is
very rich. Thence to the office, where we sat and where Mr. Coventry
came the first time after his return from sea, which I was glad of. So
after office to my office, and then home to supper, and to my office
again, and then late home to bed.
7th. Lay long, then up, and among others Bagwell's wife coming to speak
with me put new thoughts of folly into me which I am troubled at. Thence
after doing business at my office, I by coach to my Lady Sandwich's, and
there dined with her, and found all well and merry. Thence to White
Hall, and we waited on the Duke, who looks better than he did, methinks,
before his voyage; and, I think, a little more stern than he used to do.
Thence to the Temple to my cozen Roger Pepys, thinking to have met the
Doctor to have discoursed our business, but he came not, so I home, and
there by agreement came my Lord Rutherford, Povy, Gauden, Creed, Alderman
Backewell, about Tangier business of accounts between Rutherford and
Gauden. Here they were with me an hour or more, then after drinking
away, and Povy and Creed staid and eat with me; but I was sorry I had no
better cheer for Povy; for the foole may be useful, and is a cunning
fellow in his way, which is a strange one, and that, that I meet not in
any other man, nor can describe in him. They late with me, and when gone
my boy and I to musique, and then to bed.
8th. Up, and to my office, where all the morning busy. At noon dined at
home, and then to the office, where we sat all the afternoon. In the
evening comes my aunt and uncle Wight, Mrs. Norbury, and her daughter,
and after them Mr. Norbury, where no great pleasure, my aunt being out of
humour in her fine clothes, and it raining hard. Besides, I was a little
too bold with her about her doating on Dr. Venner. Anon they went away,
and I till past 12 at night at my office, and then home to bed.
9th. Up betimes and walked to Mr. Povy's, and there, not without some
few troublesome questions of his, I got a note, and went and received
L117 5s. of Alderman Viner upon my pretended freight of the "William" for
Tangier, which overbears me on one side with joy and on the other to
think of my condition if I shall be called into examination about it,
and (though in strictness it is due) not be able to give a good account
of it. Home with it, and there comes Captain Taylor to me, and he and I
did set even the business of the ship Union lately gone for Tangier,
wherein I hope to get L50 more, for all which the Lord be praised. At
noon home to dinner, Mr. Hunt and his wife with us, and very pleasant.
Then in the afternoon I carried them home by coach, and I to Westminster
Hall, and thence to Gervas's, and there find I cannot prevail with Jane
to go forth with me, but though I took a good occasion of going to the
Trumpet she declined coming, which vexed me. 'Je avait grande envie
envers elle, avec vrai amour et passion'. Thence home and to my office
till one in the morning, setting to rights in writing this day's two
accounts of Povy and Taylor, and then quietly to bed. This day I had
several letters from several places, of our bringing in great numbers of
Dutch ships.
10th. Lay long, at which I am ashamed, because of so many people
observing it that know not how late I sit up, and for fear of Sir W.
Batten's speaking of it to others, he having staid for me a good while.
At the office all the morning, where comes my Lord Brunkard with his
patent in his hand, and delivered it to Sir J. Minnes and myself, we
alone being there all the day, and at noon I in his coach with him to the
'Change, where he set me down; a modest civil person he seems to be, but
wholly ignorant in the business of the Navy as possible, but I hope to
make a friend of him, being a worthy man. Thence after hearing the great
newes of so many Dutchmen being brought in to Portsmouth and elsewhere,
which it is expected will either put them upon present revenge or
despair, I with Sir W. Rider and Cutler to dinner all alone to the Great
James, where good discourse, and, I hope, occasion of getting something
hereafter. After dinner to White Hall to the Fishery, where the Duke was
with us. So home, and late at my office, writing many letters, then home
to supper and to bed. Yesterday come home, and this night I visited Sir
W. Pen, who dissembles great respect and love to me, but I understand him
very well. Major Holmes is come from Guinny, and is now at Plymouth with
great wealth, they say.
11th (Lord's day). Up and to church alone in the morning. Dined at
home, mighty pleasantly. In the afternoon I to the French church, where
much pleased with the three sisters of the parson, very handsome,
especially in their noses, and sing prettily. I heard a good sermon of
the old man, touching duty to parents. Here was Sir Samuel Morland and
his lady very fine, with two footmen in new liverys (the church taking
much notice of them), and going into their coach after sermon with great
gazeing. So I home, and my cozen, Mary Pepys's husband, comes after me,
and told me that out of the money he received some months since he did
receive 18d. too much, and did now come and give it me, which was very
pretty. So home, and there found Mr. Andrews and his lady, a well-bred
and a tolerable pretty woman, and by and by Mr. Hill and to singing, and
then to supper, then to sing again, and so good night. To prayers and
tonight [bed]. It is a little strange how these Psalms of Ravenscroft
after 2 or 3 times singing prove but the same again, though good. No
diversity appearing at all almost.
12th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten by coach to White Hall, where all of us
with the Duke; Mr. Coventry privately did tell me the reason of his
advice against our pretences to the Prize Office (in his letter from
Portsmouth), because he knew that the King and the Duke had resolved to
put in some Parliament men that have deserved well, and that would needs
be obliged, by putting them in. Thence homeward, called at my
bookseller's and bespoke some books against the year's out, and then to
the 'Change, and so home to dinner, and then to the office, where my Lord
Brunkard comes and reads over part of our Instructions in the Navy--and I
expounded it to him, so he is become my disciple. He gone, comes Cutler
to tell us that the King of France hath forbid any canvass to be carried
out of his kingdom, and I to examine went with him to the East India
house to see a letter, but came too late. So home again, and there late
till 12 at night at my office, and then home to supper and to bed. This
day (to see how things are ordered in the world), I had a command from
the Earle of Sandwich, at Portsmouth, not to be forward with Mr. Cholmly
and Sir J. Lawson about the Mole at Tangier, because that what I do
therein will (because of his friendship to me known) redound against him,
as if I had done it upon his score. So I wrote to my Lord my mistake,
and am contented to promise never to pursue it more, which goes against
my mind with all my heart.
13th. Lay long in bed, then up, and many people to speak with me. Then
to my office, and dined at noon at home, then to the office again, where
we sat all the afternoon, and then home at night to a little supper, and
so after my office again at 12 at night home to bed.
14th. Up, and after a while at the office, I abroad in several places,
among others to my bookseller's, and there spoke for several books
against New Year's day, I resolving to lay out about L7 or L8, God having
given me some profit extraordinary of late; and bespoke also some plate,
spoons, and forks. I pray God keep me from too great expenses, though
these will still be pretty good money. Then to the 'Change, and I home
to dinner, where Creed and Mr. Caesar, my boy's lute master, who plays
indeed mighty finely, and after dinner I abroad, parting from Creed, and
away to and fro, laying out or preparing for laying out more money, but I
hope and resolve not to exceed therein, and to-night spoke for some fruit
for the country for my father against Christmas, and where should I do
it, but at the pretty woman's, that used to stand at the doore in
Fanchurch Streete, I having a mind to know her. So home, and late at my
office, evening reckonings with Shergoll, hoping to get money by the
business, and so away home to supper and to bed, not being very well
through my taking cold of late, and so troubled with some wind.
15th. Called up very betimes by Mr. Cholmly, and with him a good while
about some of his Tangier accounts; and, discoursing of the condition of
Tangier, he did give me the whole account of the differences between
Fitzgerald and Norwood, which were very high on both sides, but most
imperious and base on Fitzgerald's, and yet through my Lord FitzHarding's
means, the Duke of York is led rather to blame Norwood and to speake that
he should be called home, than be sensible of the other. He is a
creature of FitzHarding's, as a fellow that may be done with what he
will, and, himself certainly pretending to be Generall of the King's
armies, when Monk dyeth, desires to have as few great or wise men in
employment as he can now, but such as he can put in and keep under, which
he do this coxcomb Fitzgerald. It seems, of all mankind there is no man
so led by another as the Duke is by Lord Muskerry and this FitzHarding.
insomuch, as when the King would have him to be Privy-Purse, the Duke
wept, and said, "But, Sir, I must have your promise, if you will have my
dear Charles from me, that if ever you have occasion for an army again, I
may have him with me; believing him to be the best commander of an army
in the world." But Mr. Cholmly thinks, as all other men I meet with do,
that he is a very ordinary fellow. It is strange how the Duke also do
love naturally, and affect the Irish above the English. He, of the
company he carried with him to sea, took above two-thirds Irish and
French. He tells me the King do hate my Lord Chancellor; and that they,
that is the King and my Lord FitzHarding, do laugh at him for a dull
fellow; and in all this business of the Dutch war do nothing by his
advice, hardly consulting him. Only he is a good minister in other
respects, and the King cannot be without him; but, above all, being the
Duke's father-in-law, he is kept in; otherwise FitzHarding were able to
fling down two of him. This, all the wise and grave lords see, and
cannot help it; but yield to it. But he bemoans what the end of it may
be, the King being ruled by these men, as he hath been all along since
his coming; to the razing all the strong-holds in Scotland, and giving
liberty to the Irish in Ireland, whom Cromwell had settled all in one
corner; who are now able, and it is feared everyday a massacre again
among them. He being gone I abroad to the carrier's, to see some things
sent away to my father against Christmas, and thence to Moorfields, and
there up and down to several houses to drink to look for a place 'pour
rencontrer la femme de je sais quoi' against next Monday, but could meet
none. So to the Coffeehouse, where great talke of the Comet seen in
several places; and among our men at sea, and by my Lord Sandwich, to
whom I intend to write about it to-night. Thence home to dinner, and
then to the office, where all the afternoon, and in the evening home to
supper, and then to the office late, and so to bed. This night I begun
to burn wax candles in my closett at the office, to try the charge, and
to see whether the smoke offends like that of tallow candles.
16th. Up, and by water to Deptford, thinking to have met 'la femme de'
Bagwell, but failed, and having done some business at the yard, I back
again, it being a fine fresh morning to walk. Back again, Mr. Wayth
walking with me to Half-Way House talking about Mr. Castle's fine knees
lately delivered in. In which I am well informed that they are not as
they should be to make them knees, and I hope shall make good use of it
to the King's service. Thence home, and having dressed myself, to the
'Change, and thence home to dinner, and so abroad by coach with my wife,
and bought a looking glasse by the Old Exchange, which costs me L5 5s.
and 6s. for the hooks. A very fair glasse. So toward my cozen Scott's,
but meeting my Lady Sandwich's coach, my wife turned back to follow them,
thinking they might, as they did, go to visit her, and I 'light and to
Mrs. Harman, and there staid and talked in her shop with her, and much
pleased I am with her. We talked about Anthony Joyce's giving over trade
and that he intends to live in lodgings, which is a very mad, foolish
thing. She tells me she hears and believes it is because he, being now
begun to be called on offices, resolves not to take the new oathe, he
having formerly taken the Covenant or Engagement, but I think he do very
simply and will endeavour for his wife's sake to advise him therein.
Thence to my cozen Scott's, and there met my cozen Roger Pepys, and Mrs.
Turner, and The. and Joyce, and prated all the while, and so with the
"corps" to church and heard a very fine sermon of the Parson of the
parish, and so homeward with them in their coach, but finding it too late
to go home with me, I took another coach and so home, and after a while
at my office, home to supper and to bed.
17th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon I to
the 'Change, and there, among others, had my first meeting with Mr.
L'Estrange, who hath endeavoured several times to speak with me. It is
to get, now and then, some newes of me, which I shall, as I see cause,
give him. He is a man of fine conversation, I think, but I am sure most
courtly and full of compliments. Thence home to dinner, and then come
the looking-glass man to set up the looking-glass I bought yesterday, in
my dining-room, and very handsome it is. So abroad by coach to White
Hall, and there to the Committee of Tangier, and then the Fishing. Mr.
Povy did in discourse give me a rub about my late bill for money that I
did get of him, which vexed me and stuck in my mind all this evening,
though I know very well how to cleare myself at the worst. So home and
to my office, where late, and then home to bed. Mighty talke there is of
this Comet that is seen a'nights; and the King and Queene did sit up last
night to see it, and did, it seems. And to-night I thought to have done
so too; but it is cloudy, and so no stars appear. But I will endeavour
it. Mr. Gray did tell me to-night, for certain, that the Dutch, as high
as they seem, do begin to buckle; and that one man in this Kingdom did
tell the King that he is offered L40,000 to make a peace, and others have
been offered money also. It seems the taking of their Bourdeaux fleete
thus, arose from a printed Gazette of the Dutch's boasting of fighting,
and having beaten the English: in confidence whereof (it coming to
Bourdeaux), all the fleete comes out, and so falls into our hands.
18th (Lord's day). To church, where, God forgive me! I spent most of my
time in looking [on] my new Morena--[a brunette]-- at the other side of
the church, an acquaintance of Pegg Pen's. So home to dinner, and then
to my chamber to read Ben Johnson's Cataline, a very excellent piece, and
so to church again, and thence we met at the office to hire ships, being
in great haste and having sent for several masters of ships to come to
us. Then home, and there Mr. Andrews and Hill come and we sung finely,
and by and by Mr. Fuller, the Parson, and supped with me, he and a friend
of his, but my musique friends would not stay supper. At and after
supper Mr. Fuller and I told many storys of apparitions and delusions
thereby, and I out with my storys of Tom Mallard. He gone, I a little to
my office, and then to prayers and to bed.
19th. Going to bed betimes last night we waked betimes, and from our
people's being forced to take the key to go out to light a candle, I was
very angry and begun to find fault with my wife for not commanding her
servants as she ought. Thereupon she giving me some cross answer I did
strike her over her left eye such a blow as the poor wretch did cry out
and was in great pain, but yet her spirit was such as to endeavour to
bite and scratch me. But I coying--[stroking or caressing]-- with her
made her leave crying, and sent for butter and parsley, and friends
presently one with another, and I up, vexed at my heart to think what I
had done, for she was forced to lay a poultice or something to her eye
all day, and is black, and the people of the house observed it. But I
was forced to rise, and up and with Sir J. Minnes to White Hall, and
there we waited on the Duke. And among other things Mr. Coventry took
occasion to vindicate himself before the Duke and us, being all there,
about the choosing of Taylor for Harwich. Upon which the Duke did clear
him, and did tell us that he did expect, that, after he had named a man,
none of us shall then oppose or find fault with the man; but if we had
anything to say, we ought to say it before he had chose him. Sir G.
Carteret thought himself concerned, and endeavoured to clear himself: and
by and by Sir W. Batten did speak, knowing himself guilty, and did
confess, that being pressed by the Council he did say what he did, that
he was accounted a fanatique; but did not know that at that time he had
been appointed by his Royal Highness. To which the Duke [replied] that
it was impossible but he must know that he had appointed him; and so it
did appear that the Duke did mean all this while Sir W. Batten. So by
and by we parted, and Mr. Coventry did privately tell me that he did this
day take this occasion to mention the business to give the Duke an
opportunity of speaking his mind to Sir W. Batten in this business, of
which I was heartily glad. Thence home, and not finding Bagwell's wife
as I expected, I to the 'Change and there walked up and down, and then
home, and she being come I bid her go and stay at Mooregate for me, and
after going up to my wife (whose eye is very bad, but she is in very good
temper to me), and after dinner I to the place and walked round the
fields again and again, but not finding her I to the 'Change, and there
found her waiting for me and took her away, and to an alehouse, and there
I made much of her, and then away thence and to another and endeavoured
to caress her, but 'elle ne voulait pas', which did vex me, but I think
it was chiefly not having a good easy place to do it upon. So we broke
up and parted and I to the office, where we sat hiring of ships an hour
or two, and then to my office, and thence (with Captain Taylor home to my
house) to give him instructions and some notice of what to his great
satisfaction had happened to-day. Which I do because I hope his coming
into this office will a little cross Sir W. Batten and may do me good.
He gone, I to supper with my wife, very pleasant, and then a little to my
office and to bed. My mind, God forgive me, too much running upon what I
can 'ferais avec la femme de Bagwell demain', having promised to go to
Deptford and 'a aller a sa maison avec son mari' when I come thither.
20th. Up and walked to Deptford, where after doing something at the yard
I walked, without being observed, with Bagwell home to his house, and
there was very kindly used, and the poor people did get a dinner for me
in their fashion, of which I also eat very well. After dinner I found
occasion of sending him abroad, and then alone 'avec elle je tentais a
faire ce que je voudrais et contre sa force je le faisais biens que passe
a mon contentment'. By and by he coming back again I took leave and
walked home, and then there to dinner, where Dr. Fayrebrother come to see
me and Luellin. We dined, and I to the office, leaving them, where we
sat all the afternoon, and I late at the office. To supper and to the
office again very late, then home to bed.
21st. Up, and after evening reckonings to this day with Mr. Bridges, the
linnen draper, for callicos, I out to Doctors' Commons, where by
agreement my cozen Roger and I did meet my cozen Dr. Tom Pepys, and there
a great many and some high words on both sides, but I must confess I was
troubled; first, to find my cozen Roger such a simple but well-meaning
man as he is; next to think that my father, out of folly and vain glory,
should now and then (as by their words I gather) be speaking how he had
set up his son Tom with his goods and house, and now these words are
brought against him--I fear to the depriving him of all the profit the
poor man intended to make of the lease of his house and sale of his owne
goods. I intend to make a quiet end if I can with the Doctor, being a
very foul-tounged fool and of great inconvenience to be at difference
with such a one that will make the base noise about it that he will.
Thence, very much vexed to find myself so much troubled about other men's
matters, I to Mrs. Turner's, in Salsbury Court, and with her a little,
and carried her, the porter staying for me, our eagle, which she desired
the other day, and we were glad to be rid of her, she fouling our house
of office mightily. They are much pleased with her. And thence I home
and after dinner to the office, where Sir W. Rider and Cutler come, and
in dispute I very high with them against their demands, I hope to no hurt
to myself, for I was very plain with them to the best of my reason. So
they gone I home to supper, then to the office again and so home to bed.
My Lord Sandwich this day writes me word that he hath seen (at
Portsmouth) the Comet, and says it is the most extraordinary thing that
ever he saw.
22nd. Up and betimes to my office, and then out to several places, among
others to Holborne to have spoke with one Mr. Underwood about some
English hemp, he lies against Gray's Inn. Thereabouts I to a barber's
shop to have my hair cut, and there met with a copy of verses, mightily
commended by some gentlemen there, of my Lord Mordaunt's, in excuse of
his going to sea this late expedition, with the Duke of Yorke. But,
Lord! they are but sorry things; only a Lord made them. Thence to the
'Change; and there, among the merchants, I hear fully the news of our
being beaten to dirt at Guinny, by De Ruyter with his fleete. The
particulars, as much as by Sir G. Carteret afterwards I heard, I have
said in a letter to my Lord Sandwich this day at Portsmouth; it being
most wholly to the utter ruine of our Royall Company, and reproach and
shame to the whole nation, as well as justification to them in their
doing wrong to no man as to his private [property], only takeing whatever
is found to belong to the Company, and nothing else. Dined at the
Dolphin, Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, and I, with Sir
W. Boreman and Sir Theophilus Biddulph and others, Commissioners of the
Sewers, about our place below to lay masts in. But coming a little too
soon, I out again, and tooke boat down to Redriffe; and just in time
within two minutes, and saw the new vessel of Sir William Petty's
launched, the King and Duke being there.
[Pepys was wrong as to the name of Sir William Petty's new
doublekeeled boat. On February 13th, 1664-65, he gives the correct
title, which was "The Experiment."]
It swims and looks finely, and I believe will do well. The name I think
is Twilight, but I do not know certainly. Coming away back immediately
to dinner, where a great deal of good discourse, and Sir G. Carteret's
discourse of this Guinny business, with great displeasure at the losse of
our honour there, and do now confess that the trade brought all these
troubles upon us between the Dutch and us. Thence to the office and
there sat late, then I to my office and there till 12 at night, and so
home to bed weary.
23rd. Up and to my office, then come by appointment cozen Tom Trice to
me, and I paid him the L20 remaining due to him upon the bond of L100
given him by agreement November, 1663, to end the difference between us
about my aunt's, his mother's, money. And here, being willing to know
the worst, I told him, "I hope now there is nothing remaining between you
and I of future dispute." "No," says he, "nothing at all that I know of,
but only a small matter of about 20 or 30s. that my father Pepys received
for me of rent due to me in the country, which I will in a day or two
bring you an account of," and so we parted. Dined at home upon a good
turkey which Mr. Sheply sent us, then to the office all the afternoon,
Mr. Cutler and others coming to me about business. I hear that the Dutch
have prepared a fleete to go the backway to the Streights, where without
doubt they will master our fleete. This put to that of Guinny makes me
fear them mightily, and certainly they are a most wise people, and
careful of their business. The King of France, they say, do declare
himself obliged to defend them, and lays claim by his Embassador to the
wines we have taken from the Dutch Bourdeaux men, and more, it is doubted
whether the Swede will be our friend or no. Pray God deliver us out of
these troubles! This day Sir W. Batten sent and afterwards spoke to me,
to have me and my wife come and dine with them on Monday next: which is a
mighty condescension in them, and for some great reason I am sure, or
else it pleases God by my late care of business to make me more
considerable even with them than I am sure they would willingly owne me
to be. God make me thankfull and carefull to preserve myself so, for I
am sure they hate me and it is hope or fear that makes them flatter me.
It being a bright night, which it has not been a great while, I purpose
to endeavour to be called in the morning to see the Comet, though I fear
we shall not see it, because it rises in the east but 16 degrees, and
then the houses will hinder us.
24th. Having sat up all night to past two o'clock this morning, our
porter, being appointed, comes and tells us that the bellman tells him
that the star is seen upon Tower Hill; so I, that had been all night
setting in order all my old papers in my chamber, did leave off all, and
my boy and I to Tower Hill, it being a most fine, bright moonshine night,
and a great frost; but no Comet to be seen. So after running once round
the Hill, I and Tom, we home and then to bed. Rose about 9 o'clock and
then to the office, where sitting all the morning. At noon to the
'Change, to the Coffee-house; and there heard Sir Richard Ford tell the
whole story of our defeat at Guinny. Wherein our men are guilty of the
most horrid cowardice and perfidiousness, as he says and tells it, that
ever Englishmen were. Captain Raynolds, that was the only commander of
any of the King's ships there, was shot at by De Ruyter, with a bloody
flag flying. He, instead of opposing (which, indeed, had been to no
purpose, but only to maintain honour), did poorly go on board himself, to
ask what De Ruyter would have; and so yielded to whatever Ruyter would
desire. The King and Duke are highly vexed at it, it seems, and the
business deserves it. Thence home to dinner, and then abroad to buy some
things, and among others to my bookseller's, and there saw several books
I spoke for, which are finely bound and good books to my great content.
So home and to my office, where late. This evening I being informed did
look and saw the Comet, which is now, whether worn away or no I know not,
but appears not with a tail, but only is larger and duller than any other
star, and is come to rise betimes, and to make a great arch, and is gone
quite to a new place in the heavens than it was before: but I hope in a
clearer night something more will be seen. So home to bed.
25th (Lord's day and Christmas day). Up (my wife's eye being ill still
of the blow I did in a passion give her on Monday last) to church alone,
where Mr. Mills, a good sermon. To dinner at home, where very pleasant
with my wife and family. After dinner I to Sir W. Batten's, and there
received so much good usage (as I have of late done) from him and my
Lady, obliging me and my wife, according to promise, to come and dine
with them to-morrow with our neighbours, that I was in pain all the day,
and night too after, to know how to order the business of my wife's not
going, and by discourse receive fresh instances of Sir J. Minnes's folly
in complaining to Sir G. Carteret of Sir W. Batten and me for some family
offences, such as my having of a stopcock to keepe the water from them,
which vexes me, but it would more but that Sir G. Carteret knows him very
well. Thence to the French church, but coming too late I returned and to
Mr. Rawlinson's church, where I heard a good sermon of one that I
remember was at Paul's with me, his name Maggett; and very great store of
fine women there is in this church, more than I know anywhere else about
us. So home and to my chamber, looking over and setting in order my
papers and books, and so to supper, and then to prayers and to bed.
26th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, and there with the rest did
our usual business before the Duke, and then with Sir W. Batten back and
to his house, where I by sicknesse excused my wife's coming to them
to-day. Thence I to the Coffeehouse, where much good discourse, and all
the opinion now is that the Dutch will avoid fighting with us at home,
but do all the hurte they can to us abroad; which it may be they may for
a while, but that, I think, cannot support them long. Thence to Sir W.
Batten's, where Mr. Coventry and all our families here, women and all,
and Sir R. Ford and his, and a great feast and good discourse and merry,
there all the afternoon and evening till late, only stepped in to see my
wife, then to my office to enter my day's work, and so home to bed, where
my people and wife innocently at cards very merry, and I to bed, leaving
them to their sport and blindman's buff.
27th. My people came to bed, after their sporting, at four o'clock in
the morning; I up at seven, and to Deptford and Woolwich in a gally; the
Duke calling to me out of the barge in which the King was with him going
down the river, to know whither I was going. I told him to Woolwich, but
was troubled afterward I should say no farther, being in a gally, lest he
think me too profuse in my journeys. Did several businesses, and then
back again by two o'clock to Sir J. Minnes's to dinner by appointment,
where all yesterday's company but Mr. Coventry, who could not come. Here
merry, and after an hour's chat I down to the office, where busy late,
and then home to supper and to bed. The Comet appeared again to-night,
but duskishly. I went to bed, leaving my wife and all her folks, and
Will also, too, come to make Christmas gambolls to-night.
28th. I waked in the morning about 6 o'clock and my wife not come to
bed; I lacked a pot, but there was none, and bitter cold, so was forced
to rise and piss in the chimney, and to bed again. Slept a little
longer, and then hear my people coming up, and so I rose, and my wife to
bed at eight o'clock in the morning, which vexed me a little, but I
believe there was no hurt in it all, but only mirthe, therefore took no
notice. I abroad with Sir W. Batten to the Council Chamber, where all of
us to discourse about the way of measuring ships and the freight fit to
give for them by the tun, where it was strange methought to hear so poor
discourses among the Lords themselves, and most of all to see how a
little empty matter delivered gravely by Sir W. Pen was taken mighty
well, though nothing in the earth to the purpose. But clothes,
I perceive more and more every day, is a great matter. Thence home
with Sir W. Batten by coach, and I home to dinner, finding my wife still
in bed. After dinner abroad, and among other things visited my Lady
Sandwich, and was there, with her and the young ladies, playing at cards
till night. Then home and to my office late, then home to bed, leaving
my wife and people up to more sports, but without any great satisfaction
to myself therein.
29th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. Then whereas
I should have gone and dined with Sir W. Pen (and the rest of the
officers at his house), I pretended to dine with my Lady Sandwich and so
home, where I dined well, and began to wipe and clean my books in my
chamber in order to the settling of my papers and things there
thoroughly, and then to the office, where all the afternoon sitting, and
in the evening home to supper, and then to my work again.
30th. Lay very long in bed with my wife, it being very cold, and my wife
very full of a resolution to keepe within doors, not so much as to go to
church or see my Lady Sandwich before Easter next, which I am willing
enough to, though I seem the contrary. This and other talke kept me a-
bed till almost 10 a'clock. Then up and made an end of looking over all
my papers and books and taking everything out of my chamber to have all
made clean. At noon dined, and after dinner forth to several places to
pay away money, to clear myself in all the world, and, among others, paid
my bookseller L6 for books I had from him this day, and the silversmith
L22 18s. for spoons, forks, and sugar box, and being well pleased with
seeing my business done to my mind as to my meeting with people and
having my books ready for me, I home and to my office, and there did
business late, and then home to supper, prayers, and to bed.
31st. At the office all the morning, and after dinner there again,
dispatched first my letters, and then to my accounts, not of the month
but of the whole yeare also, and was at it till past twelve at night, it
being bitter cold; but yet I was well satisfied with my worke, and, above
all, to find myself, by the great blessing of God, worth L1349, by which,
as I have spent very largely, so I have laid up above L500 this yeare
above what I was worth this day twelvemonth. The Lord make me for ever
thankful to his holy name for it! Thence home to eat a little and so to
bed. Soon as ever the clock struck one, I kissed my wife in the kitchen
by the fireside, wishing her a merry new yeare, observing that I believe
I was the first proper wisher of it this year, for I did it as soon as
ever the clock struck one.
So ends the old yeare, I bless God, with great joy to me, not only from
my having made so good a yeare of profit, as having spent L420 and laid
up L540 and upwards; but I bless God I never have been in so good plight
as to my health in so very cold weather as this is, nor indeed in any hot
weather, these ten years, as I am at this day, and have been these four
or five months. But I am at a great losse to know whether it be my
hare's foote, or taking every morning of a pill of turpentine, or my
having left off the wearing of a gowne. My family is, my wife, in good
health, and happy with her; her woman Mercer, a pretty, modest, quiett
mayde; her chambermayde Besse, her cook mayde Jane, the little girl
Susan, and my boy, which I have had about half a yeare, Tom Edwards,
which I took from the King's chappell, and a pretty and loving quiett
family I have as any man in England. My credit in the world and my
office grows daily, and I am in good esteeme with everybody, I think.
My troubles of my uncle's estate pretty well over; but it comes to be but
of little profit to us, my father being much supported by my purse. But
great vexations remain upon my father and me from my brother Tom's death
and ill condition, both to our disgrace and discontent, though no great
reason for either. Publique matters are all in a hurry about a Dutch
warr. Our preparations great; our provocations against them great; and,
after all our presumption, we are now afeard as much of them, as we
lately contemned them. Every thing else in the State quiett, blessed be
God! My Lord Sandwich at sea with the fleete at Portsmouth; sending some
about to cruise for taking of ships, which we have done to a great
number. This Christmas I judged it fit to look over all my papers and
books; and to tear all that I found either boyish or not to be worth
keeping, or fit to be seen, if it should please God to take me away
suddenly. Among others, I found these two or three notes, which I
thought fit to keep.
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
Irish in Ireland, whom Cromwell had settled all in one corner
Tear all that I found either boyish or not to be worth keeping
End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, v36
by Samuel Pepys, Unabridged, transcribed by Bright, edited by Wheatley