Diary, November 1666 | Page 4

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. NOVEMBER 1666
November 1st. Up, and was presented by Burton, one of our smith's
wives, with a very noble cake, which I presently resolved to have my
wife go with to-day, and some wine, and house-warme my Betty
Michell, which she readily resolved to do. So I to the office and sat all
the morning, where little to do but answer people about want of money;
so that there is little service done the King by us, and great disquiet to
ourselves; I am sure there is to me very much, for I do not enjoy myself
as I would and should do in my employment if my pains could do the
King better service, and with the peace that we used to do it. At noon to
dinner, and from dinner my wife and my brother, and W. Hewer and
Barker away to Betty Michell's, to Shadwell, and I to my office, where
I took in Mrs. Bagwell and did what I would with her, and so she went
away, and I all the afternoon till almost night there, and then, my wife
being come back, I took her and set her at her brother's, who is very
sicke, and I to White Hall, and there all alone a pretty while with Sir W.
Coventry at his chamber. I find him very melancholy under the same
considerations of the King's service that I am. He confesses with me he
expects all will be undone, and all ruined; he complains and sees
perfectly what I with grief do, and said it first himself to me that all
discipline is lost in the fleete, no order nor no command, and concurs
with me that it is necessary we do again and again represent all things
more and more plainly to the Duke of York, for a guard to ourselves
hereafter when things shall come to be worse. He says the House goes
on slowly in finding of money, and that the discontented party do say
they have not done with us, for they will have a further bout with us as
to our accounts, and they are exceedingly well instructed where to hit
us. I left him with a thousand sad reflections upon the times, and the
state of the King's matters, and so away, and took up my wife and home,
where a little at the office, and then home to supper, and talk with my
wife (with whom I have much comfort) and my brother, and so to bed.

2nd. Up betimes, and with Sir W. Batten to Woolwich, where first we
went on board the Ruby, French prize, the only ship of war we have
taken from any of our enemies this year. It seems a very good ship, but
with galleries quite round the sterne to walk in as a balcone, which will
be taken down. She had also about forty good brass guns, but will make
little amends to our loss in The Prince. Thence to the Ropeyarde and
the other yards to do several businesses, he and I also did buy some
apples and pork; by the same token the butcher commended it as the
best in England for cloath and colour. And for his beef, says he, "Look
how fat it is; the lean appears only here and there a speck, like
beauty-spots." Having done at Woolwich, we to Deptford (it being very
cold upon the water), and there did also a little more business, and so
home, I reading all the why to make end of the "Bondman" (which the
oftener I read the more I like), and begun "The Duchesse of Malfy;"
which seems a good play. At home to dinner, and there come Mr.
Pierce, surgeon, to see me, and after I had eat something, he and I and
my wife by coach to Westminster, she set us down at White Hall, and
she to her brother's. I up into the House, and among other things
walked a good while with the Serjeant Trumpet, who tells me, as I
wished, that the King's Italian here is about setting three parts for
trumpets, and shall teach some to sound them, and believes they will be
admirable musique. I also walked with Sir Stephen Fox an houre, and
good discourse of publique business with him, who seems very much
satisfied with my discourse, and desired more of my acquaintance.
Then