



Produced by David Widger





                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.
                           AUGUST & SEPTEMBER
                                 1660

August 1st.  Up very early, and by water to Whitehall to my Lord's, and
there up to my Lord's lodging (Win. Howe being now ill of the gout at Mr.
Pierce's), and there talked with him about the affairs of the Navy, and
how I was now to wait today at the Privy Seal.  Commissioner Pett went
with me, whom I desired to make my excuse at the office for my absence
this day.  Hence to the Privy Seal Office, where I got (by Mr. Mathews'
means) possession of the books and table, but with some expectation of
Baron's bringing of a warrant from the King to have this month.  Nothing
done this morning, Baron having spoke to Mr. Woodson and Groome (clerks to
Mr. Trumbull of the Signet) to keep all work in their hands till the
afternoon, at which time he expected to have his warrant from the King for
this month.--[The clerks of the Privy Seal took the duty of attendance for
a month by turns.]--I took at noon Mr. Harper to the Leg in King Street,
and did give him his dinner, who did still advise me much to act wholly
myself at the Privy Seal, but I told him that I could not, because I had
other business to take up my time.  In the afternoon at, the office again,
where we had many things to sign; and I went to the Council Chamber, and
there got my Lord to sign the first bill, and the rest all myself; but
received no money today.  After I had signed all, I went with Dick Scobell
and Luellin to drink at a bottle beer house in the Strand, and after
staying there a while (had sent W. Hewer home before), I took boat and
homewards went, and in Fish Street bought a Lobster, and as I had bought
it I met with Winter and Mr. Delabarr, and there with a piece of sturgeon
of theirs we went to the Sun Tavern in the street and ate them.  Late home
and to bed.

2d.  To Westminster by water with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen (our
servants in another boat) to the Admiralty; and from thence I went to my
Lord's to fetch him thither, where we stayed in the morning about ordering
of money for the victuailers, and advising how to get a sum of money to
carry on the business of the Navy.  From thence dined with Mr. Blackburne
at his house with his friends (his wife being in the country and just upon
her return to London), where we were very well treated and merry.  From
thence W. Hewer and I to the office of Privy Seal, where I stayed all the
afternoon, and received about L40 for yesterday and to-day, at which my
heart rejoiced for God's blessing to me, to give me this advantage by
chance, there being of this L40 about L10 due to me for this day's work.
So great is the present profit of this office, above what it was in the
King's time; there being the last month about 300 bills; whereas in the
late King's time it was much to have 40.  With my money home by coach, it,
being the first time that I could get home before our gates were shut
since I came to the Navy office.  When I came home I found my wife not
very well of her old pain.. . .  which she had when we were married
first.  I went and cast up the expense that I laid out upon my former
house (because there are so many that are desirous of it, and I am, in my
mind, loth to let it go out of my hands, for fear of a turn).  I find my
layings-out to come to about L20, which with my fine will come to about
L22 to him that shall hire my house of me.--[Pepys wished to let his house
in Axe Yard now that he had apartments at the Navy Office.]--To bed.

3rd.  Up betimes this morning, and after the barber had done with me, then
to the office, where I and Sir William Pen only did meet and despatch
business.  At noon my wife and I by coach to Dr. Clerke's to dinner: I was
very much taken with his lady, a comely, proper woman, though not
handsome; but a woman of the best language I ever heard.  Here dined Mrs.
Pierce and her husband.  After dinner I took leave to go to Westminster,
where I was at the Privy Seal Office all day, signing things and taking
money, so that I could not do as I had intended, that is to return to them
and go to the Red Bull Playhouse,

     [This well-known theatre was situated in St. John's Street on the
     site of Red Bull Yard.  Pepys went there on March 23rd, 1661, when
     he expressed a very poor opinion of the place.  T. Carew, in some
     commendatory lines on Sir William.  Davenant's play, "The just
     Italian," 1630, abuses both audiences and actors:--

              "There are the men in crowded heaps that throng
               To that adulterate stage, where not a tongue
               Of th' untun'd kennel can a line repeat
               Of serious sense."

     There is a token of this house (see "Boyne's Trade Tokens," ed.
     Williamson, vol. i., 1889, p. 725).]

but I took coach and went to see whether it was done so or no, and I found
it done.  So I returned to Dr. Clerke's, where I found them and my wife,
and by and by took leave and went away home.

4th.  To White Hall, where I found my Lord gone with the King by water to
dine at the Tower with Sir J. Robinson,' Lieutenant.  I found my Lady
Jemimah--[Lady Jemima Montage, daughter of Lord Sandwich, previously
described as Mrs. Jem.]--at my Lord's, with whom I staid and dined, all
alone; after dinner to the Privy Seal Office, where I did business.  So to
a Committee of Parliament (Sir Hen[eage] Finch, Chairman), to give them an
answer to an order of theirs, "that we could not give them any account of
the Accounts of the Navy in the years 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, as they desire."
After that I went and bespoke some linen of Betty Lane in the Hall, and
after that to the Trumpet, where I sat and talked with her, &c.  At night,
it being very rainy, and it thundering and lightning exceedingly, I took
coach at the Trumpet door, taking Monsieur L'Impertinent along with me as
far as the Savoy, where he said he went to lie with Cary Dillon,

     [Colonel Cary Dillon, a friend of the Butlers, who courted the fair
     Frances; but the engagement was subsequently broken off, see
     December 31 st, 1661.]

and is still upon the mind of going (he and his whole family) to Ireland.
Having set him down I made haste home, and in the courtyard, it being very
dark, I heard a man inquire for my house, and having asked his business,
he told me that my man William (who went this morning--out of town to meet
his aunt Blackburne) was come home not very well to his mother, and so
could not come home to-night.  At which I was very sorry. I found my wife
still in pain.  To bed, having not time to write letters, and indeed
having so many to write to all places that I have no heart to go about
them.  Mrs. Shaw did die yesterday and her husband so sick that he is not
like to live.

5th.  Lord's day.  My wife being much in pain, I went this morning to Dr.
Williams (who had cured her once before of this business), in Holborn, and
he did give me an ointment which I sent home by my boy, and a plaister
which I took with me to Westminster (having called and seen my mother in
the morning as I went to the doctor), where I dined with Mr. Sheply (my
Lord dining at Kensington).  After dinner to St. Margaret's, where the
first time I ever heard Common Prayer in that Church.  I sat with Mr. Hill
in his pew; Mr. Hill that married in Axe Yard and that was aboard us in
the Hope.  Church done I went and Mr. Sheply to see W. Howe at Mr.
Pierces, where I staid singing of songs and psalms an hour or two, and
were