Diary, Jan/Feb 1663/64 | Page 9

by the King
arguing with a pretty Quaker woman, that delivered to him a desire of
hers in writing. The King showed her Sir J. Minnes, as a man the fittest
for her quaking religion, saying that his beard was the stiffest thing
about him, and again merrily said, looking upon the length of her paper,
that if all she desired was of that length she might lose her desires; she
modestly saying nothing till he begun seriously to discourse with her,
arguing the truth of his spirit against hers; she replying still with these
words, "O King!" and thou'd him all along. The general talke of the
towne still is of Collonell Turner, about the robbery; who, it is thought,
will be hanged. I heard the Duke of York tell to-night, how letters are
come that fifteen are condemned for the late plot by the judges at York;
and, among others, Captain Oates, against whom it was proved that he
drew his sword at his going out, and flinging away the scabbard, said
that he would either return victor or be hanged. So home, where I found
the house full of the washing and my wife mighty angry about Will's
being here to-day talking with her mayds, which she overheard, idling

of their time, and he telling what a good mayd my old Jane was, and
that she would never have her like again. At which I was angry, and
after directing her to beat at least the little girl, I went to the office and
there reproved Will, who told me that he went thither by my wife's
order, she having commanded him to come thither on Monday morning.
Now God forgive me! how apt I am to be jealous of her as to this
fellow, and that she must needs take this time, when she knows I must
be gone out to the Duke, though methinks had she that mind she would
never think it discretion to tell me this story of him, to let me know that
he was there, much less to make me offended with him, to forbid him
coming again. But this cursed humour I cannot cool in myself by all the
reason I have, which God forgive me for, and convince me of the folly
of it, and the disquiet it brings me. So home, where, God be thanked,
when I came to speak to my wife my trouble of mind soon vanished,
and to bed. The house foul with the washing and quite out of order
against to-morrow's dinner.

12th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at noon to
the 'Change awhile, and so home, getting things against dinner ready,
and anon comes my uncle Wight and my aunt, with their cozens Mary
and Robert, and by chance my uncle Thomas Pepys. We had a good
dinner, the chief dish a swan roasted, and that excellent meate. At,
dinner and all day very merry. After dinner to cards, where till evening,
then to the office a little, and to cards again with them, and lost
half-a-crowne. They being gone, my wife did tell me how my uncle did
this day accost her alone, and spoke of his hoping she was with child,
and kissing her earnestly told her he should be very glad of it, and from
all circumstances methinks he do seem to have some intention of good
to us, which I shall endeavour to continue more than ever I did yet. So
to my office till late, and then home to bed, after being at prayers,
which is the first time after my late vowe to say prayers in my family
twice in every week.

13th. Up and to my office a little, and then abroad to many several
places about business, among others to the geometrical instrument
makers, and through Bedlam (calling by the way at an old bookseller's
and there fell into looking over Spanish books and pitched upon some,

till I thought of my oathe when I was going to agree for them, and so
with much ado got myself out of the shop glad at my heart and so away)
to the African House to look upon their book of contracts for several
commodities for my information in the prices we give in the Navy. So
to the Coffee [house] where extraordinary good discourse of Dr.
Whistler's' upon my question concerning the keeping of masts, he
arguing against keeping them dry, by showing the nature of corruption
in bodies and the several ways thereof. So to the 'Change, and thence
with Sir W. Rider to the Trinity House to dinner, and then home and to
my office till night, and then with Mr. Bland to Sir T. Viner's about