edited by J. Potter Br iscoe;, F.RH.S. Edinburgh : T. & A. Constable, (late) Printers to Her Majesty SANTA U. CM? r>TT-POENIA' . Co:,. : LiBRAi INTRODUCTION !HE famous diarist, Samuel Pepys, was born on Februar\' 23, 1632-3, and died May 26, 1703, having lived during an eventful jjeriod in English history, in which he i)layed a not unimpor- tant part. The place of his birth was either Brampton in Huntingdonshire, or London : autliorities do not agree on this point. His father, John Pepys, was descended from an old Cambridgeshire family, and carried on the business of a tailor in London. Samuel was one of a family of eleven children. His mother died in 1667, and his father in 1680. As a child, Samuel was boarded out at Hackney and Kingsland. He was educated at Huntingdon, and at St. Paul's School, London. Young Pepys entered Trinity Hall, Cambridge, on June 21, 1650, and early in the following 3-ear became a sizar at Magda- lene College of the same University. He took his B.A. degree in 1653 and his I\I.A. vi LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY seven years later. In the interval between taking liis degrees, Pepys married — Decem- ber 1, 1655— a pretty Huguenot girl of fifteen summers, named Elizabeth St. Michel. Shortly after this event, Pepys devoted himself to the business of Sir Edward Montagu, his father's first cousin, who was frequently out of town ; and in June 1659 proceeded with his patron on the expedition to the Sound. He subsequently became a clerk to Sir George Downing, one of the tellers of the Exchequer. The Diary was begun on January 1, 1659, when Pepys, his wife, and a maid lived in Axe Yard, Westminster, upon a salary of fifty pounds a year. During the same month Pepys, now about twenty-seven years of age, was appointed a Clerk of the Council. In the following March he became secretary to Sir Edward Montagu, who had now assumed command of the fleet which brought Charles the Second to this country. As a reward for his services, Pepj's was made Clerk of the Acts of the Navy, with a seat on the Nav}' Board, and a salary of £350 a year, less an allowance of £100 per annum to his prede- cessor in the office until the decease of that ' worthy, honest man,' about five years later. Acting in this capacity, Pepys resided in official chambers, now demolished, situated between Seething Lane and Crutched Friars. Pepys was ' mightily pleased ' at his appoint- INTRODUCTION Vll ment as a Justice of the Peace at Michaelmas 1660, although he was ' wholly ignorant ' of the duties required of him as a magistrate. Pepvs continued to advance in official and social position. During 1661-2 he became a younger brother of the Trinity House, and was given a position on the Tangier Commis- sion. He was regarded as 'the life of the Navy Office.' In 1663-4, Pejiys was ap- pointed assistant to ' The Corporation of the Royal Fishing ' ; and a year later became treasurer of the Tangier Commission. Later in the same year, Pepys accepted the posi- tion of Surveyor-General of the Victualling Office. The Diary reveals the characteristics and occupations of Pepys about the periods of the Plague and Fire. Pepys abl}- defended the officials of the Navy, and was regarded by the Solicitor- General as the best speaker in the country. He was now 'the most important of the naval officials.' Owing to failing eyesight, he abandoned the keeping of his Diary, a fact which is regretted. He made a trip to France and Holland, shortly after which his wife died —on November 10, 1669. Less than three years after, Pepys became ' Secretary for the Affairs of the Navy'; and on Novem- ber 4, 1673, was elected M.P. He became blaster of the Trinity House in 1676, and in Viii LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY 1677 Master of the Cloth workers' Company. Two years later — in 1679 — Pepys was elected member for Harwich. Pepys and Sir Anthony Deane were com- mitted to the Tower, under the Speaker's warrant of May 22, 1679, on a false charge of furnishing information to the French Government respecting the English navy, and were honourably discharged, after great expenditure of money, on February 12, 1679-80. In the meantime he had lost his office. Pepys recorded the story of the escape of Charles from "Worcester from the lips of that king when at Newmarket. His star was soon in the ascendant. He received the appointment of Secretary to the Admiralty, at a salar}' of £500 a year, under Charles the Second, who acted as Lord High Admiral. After being an F.R.S. for about twenty years, Pepys became the President of the Royal Society in November 1684, and was re-elected at the close of his year's tenure of office. At the coronation of James the Second, Pejiys was jiresent in his capacity' of a Baron of the Cinque Ports ; and was again appointed ' First Master of the Trinity House ' in 1685. In Maj' of this year he was re-elected member for Harwich. In 1689, Pepys was again charged Avith giving information to the French, and com- mitted to the Gate House ; but shortly after- I K T R O D U C T I O N IX wards was permitted to return to his home, on the ground of bad health. Pepys now returned to Clapham, where he died May 26, 1703, and was buried at St. Olave's, Hart Street, London. Both his fortune and his library of 3000 volumes were bequeathed to his nephew, John Jack- son, who was the son of his sister Paulina. On the decease of Jackson the library was handed over to Magdalene College, Cam- bridge. Fifty volumes of his mss. are in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, and other mss. are in jirivate haiids. The manuscript of the Diary was housed at Magdalene until 1825. It consists of six volumes of shorthand — the system of Thomas Skelton — and is closely written. Portions were published in 1825, under the editorship of Lord Braybrooke. These por- tions were deciphered by Lord Grenville and an undergraduate named John Smith. The Braybrooke edition of the Diarij has been frequently reprinted, but was superseded by the edition of i\Ir. Mynors Bright. The most complete edition is that of Mr. Henry B. "Wheatley, F.S.A., the well-known and painstaking antiquarian writer. It was not until 1884 that a suitable monu- ment was erected in St. Olave's Church to the memory of the great diarist. This was designed b}' Sir Arthur Blomfield. At the ceremony of unveiling, an able address was X LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY delivered by the Hon. J. Russell Lowell, the distinguished man of letters, at that time holding the position of Minister for the United States at the Court of St. James's. The characteristics of the famous diarist were so well set forth hy Lord Jeffrey in The Edinlmrgh Review, that no apology is tendered for reproducing his words here : — 'Pepys seems to have been possessed of the most extraordinary activity, and the most indiscriminating, insatiable, and mis- cellaneous curiosity that ever prompted the researches, or supplied the pen, of a daily chronicler. He finds time to go to every play, to every execution, to every procession, fire, concert, row, trial, review, city feast, or picture gallery that he can hear of. Nay, there seems scarcely to have been a school examination, a wedding, christening, charity sermon, bull-baiting, philosophical meeting, or private merry-making in his neighbour- hood at which he is not sure to make his ai)pearance, and mindful to record all the particulars. He is the first to hear all the Court scandal and all the public news — to observe the changes of fashion and the downfall of parties — to jnck up family gossip and to detail philosophical intelli- gence — to criticise every new house or car- riage that is built — every new book or new beauty that appears — every measure the king adopts and every mistress he discards.' INTRODUCTION XI A more thorough insight into the char- acter of Pepys than that placed on record by Jeffrey is " the estimate formed by Mr. Osmund Aiiy, editor of The Lauderdale Letters, in the Eiic>idoj)cedia Britannica. He writes : — ' The importance of Pepys' Diary, historicalh' speaking, may be summed up by saying that without it the history of the Court of Charles the Second could not have been written. . . . Utterly destitute of imagination or political knowledge, Pepys could only record the sights and gossip that were evident to all. It is because he did record these, without hesitation or concealment, that from his Diar;i we can understand the brillianc}' and wickedness of the Court, as well as the social state and daily life of the bourgeois class. Viewed in another light, it is unique as the record of a mind formed of inconsistencies. . . . Probity in word and integrity in office, along with self-confessed mendacity and fraud ; modesty, with in- ordinate self-conceit ; independence of mind, with the vulgarest striving after and exulta- tion at the marks of respect which he receives as he rises in the world, and at little advantages gained over others ; high- mindedness, with sordid spite ; dignity, with buffooner}' ; strong common-sense, with great superstition ; kindness, with brutality ; the eager pursuit of money, with liberality in spending it, —such are a few of the more xii LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY obvious contrasts. He gained his reputation by fair means, and yet was willing enough to lie in order to increase it ; he practised extreme respectability of deportment before the world, while he worshipped the most abandoned of Charles's mistresses, and now and again gave loose rein to his own very indifferent morals ; and he combined with courage amid difficulties and devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death, a personal poltroonery to which few men would care to confess. The best tribute to him as a man is that in his later years Evelyn be- came his firm and intimate friend, and that he died amid universal respect.' In this Bibelot an attempt has been made, for the first time, to bring together under specific subject-headings some of the many interesting phases of public and private life which are scattered throughout the Diarp. These are arranged in chrono- logical order, and the date is given at the foot of each excerpt. It is hoped and believed that this little publication will lead its readers to make a closer acquaintance Avitli the Diary than hitherto. J. P. B. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION, ..... I. OBSKRVAKCES, .... Christenings. Christmas Eve. King's Evil. Marriage. Maundy Thurs- day. Good Friday. May Dew. St. Thomas's Day. Valentines. II. DRES.S, .... Baize. Breeches. Buckles. But tons. Camlet. Caps. Cassock Cloaks. Coats. Doublets. Em broidery. Ermine. Feathers. Hair dressings. Hats. Hoods. Jackan apes. Lace. Mourning. Patches Periwigs. Petticoats. Ribbons. Sac Sarcenet. Shoes. Silk. Silver lace Skirts. Stockings. Surplice. Swords Tabby dressand suit. Trains. Tunics Velvet. Vest. Waist-clothes. III. SPORTS AND PASTIMES, Bowling. Boxing. Bull-baiting. Cock-fighting. Dancing. Duelling. Fencing. Fishing in Winter. Foot- racing. Handicap. Hunting. Nine- pins. Pall-mall. Skating. Tennis. xiii PAGE V 29 XIV LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARV PAGE IV. DUELLING, ..... 44 Montagu — Cholmely. Jermyn — Rawlins. Protected byarraour. Fled. Bellasses— Porter. Dead of the duel ! Buckingham — Shrewsbury. Sir \V. Coventry challenges the Duke of Buckingham — committed to the Tower, and subsequently released. V. PLAYS AND PLAYERS, . . . 5 1 Loyal Subject. Kinaston, a boy actor. Lincoln's Inn. Beggars' Bush. Moone. Womenon the stage. Argalus and Parthenia. Change- ling. vSalsbury Court Theatre. Queen's Mask. Whitefriars' Theatre. The Bondman. Betterton the actor. Love's Mistress. Red Bull. All's Lost by Lust. Sir William Davenant's Opera. Siege of Rhodes. Claracilla. The Wits. Jovial Creiu. Bartholomew Fair. Rhodes. Adventures 0/ Five Hours. Col. Tuke, play-writer. Hamlet. Covtmittee. Harris, the actor. Rival theatres. Iftdian Queen. Tom Killigrew. Rival Ladies. Henry V., by Lord Orrery. Orrery's Mustapha. Nell Gwjmne. Othello. Love in a Tub. Custom of the Coun- try. Every Man itt his Humour. English Princess, or Richard III. Miss Davis, dancer. Lady New- castle's Humorous Lovers. Howard's Change of Crowns. Silent Wotnan. Etc. etc. etc. CONTENTS XV PAGE VI. XELL GWYNNE, . . . . 8l 'Pretty, witty Nell." Eiiglisk Mon- sieur. Humorous Lieutenant. ' A most pretty woman.' Dryden's Maiden Queen. English Princess, or Richard 11 1 . Nell dances in boy's clothes. ' Pretty Nelly.' hidian Emperor. Flora's Figarys. ' Nell cursed.' TheSurprisal. MadCouple. Wildgoose Chase. Sir Robert How- ard. Duke o/Lervia. Island Prin- cess. ' The jade Nell ... a bold, merry slut.' vir. MUSIC, ..... 88 The Blind Beggar. The ' Arched Viall.' The Nature of Sounds. M. Grebus, Master of the King's Music. Organ at Westminster. ' A Recorder.' An Italian Company before Royalty. I'lII. BOOKS AND BOOKSELLERS, . . 96 Buxlorfs /fed re w Grammar. Hook- er's Ecclesiastical Polity. Selden. Grotius. Butler's Hjcdibras. Dug- dale's History oj Paul's. Stow's London. Gesner. History 0/ Trent. Shakespeare. Jonson. Beaumont. Fuller's JVorthies. Cabbala. Delices de Hollande. Rush worth. Iter Boreale. Evelyn. Dryden. Nostra- damus. Booker s Almanack. Pepys' Catalogue. Book-plates, Hobbs's Leviathan. Nott, bookbinder. Li/e 0/ Julius Ceesar. Des Cartes' .Music. XVI LEAVES FROM PEPYS DIARY PAGE EX. THE CLERGY AXD RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. .... 103 Clergy and their Lands. Calamy. Drunkenness. ' A poor, dry sermon.' 'An indifferent sermon." Conduct in Church. Bishop Hackett. ' Brave musique. " The King and the Lord's Supper. Presbyterian Ministers. Con- duct of the Clergy". A Bishop's ' poor sermon.' Poverty of Cle^g^^nen. Captain Cooke and his Singing Boys. St. George's Chapel at Windsor. The King and the Clergj". A 'dull, old- fashioned' Anthem. X. a:s historic fair, . . .118 An old custom re\-ived. Wrestling. Hunting. Shooting. A challenger. The play of Bartholomeiv Fa\-re. A puppet-play. Stage play. Rope- dancing. An intelligent mare. A dancing mare. XJ. COROSATIOX FESTIMTLES, . . 121 XII. THE PLAGXTE OF LOXDON". . . I27 XXLI. GREAT FIRE OF LOXDOX, . . I35 LEAVES FROM PEPYS' DIARY OBSERVANCES Christenings. Christmas Eve. King's Evil, Marriage. Maundy Thursday. Good Friday. May Dew. St. Thoma.s's Day. Valentines. CHRISTENINGS OSE early, and put six spoons and a jjorringer of silver in my pocket to give away to- da}- ... to dinner at Sir "William Batten's ; and then, walk in the fine gardens, we went Browne's, where Sir W. Pen and I were godfathers, and Mrs. Jordan and Ship- man godmothers to her boy. And there, before and after the christening, we were with the woman above in her chamber ; but whether we carried ourselves well or ill, I A after a to Mrs, 2 LEAVES rR0 3I PEPYs' DIARY know not ; but I was directed by young Mrs. Batten. One passage of a lady that eate wafers with her dog did a little dis- please me. I did give the midwife 10s. and the nurse 5s. and the maid of the house 2s. But for as much I expected to give the name to the childe, but did not (it being called John), I forbore then to give my plate. j\Iay 29, 1661. DINED at home, and then with mj- wife to the Wardrobe, where my Ladj-'s child was christened (my Lord Crewe and his Lady, and my Lady Montagu, my Lord's mother-in-law, were the witnesses), and named Katherine (the Queen elect's name) ; but to my and all our trouble, the Parson of the parish christened her, and did not sign the child with the sign of the cross. After that was done, we had a very fine banquet. September 3, 1661. TO m}" Lord Crewe's. M}' Lord not being come home, I met and staid below with Captn. Ferrers, who was come to wait upon my Lady Jemimah to St. James's, she being one of the four ladies that hold up the mantle at the christening this afternoon of the Duke's child (a boy). Jttly 22, 1663. O B S E R ^" A X C E .S 3 TO Lovett's house, where I stood god- father. But it was prett}', that, being a Protestant, a man stood bj' and was my proxy to answer for me. A priest christened it, and the boy's name is Samuel. The ceremonies many, and some foolish. The priest in a gentleman's dress, more than m}- own : but is a Cai)uchin, one of the Queen- mother's i^riests. He did give my jiroxy and the woman proxy (my Ladj' Bills, absent, had a proxy also) good advice to bring up the child, and at the end that he ought never to marr\- the child nor the god- mother, nor the godmother the child or the godfather : but, which is strange, they say the mother of the child and the godfather may marry. By and b}- the Lady Bills come in, a well-bred but crooked woman. The poor people of the house had good wine, and a good cake ; and she a pretty woman in her lying-in dress. It cost me near 40s. the whole christening: to midwife 20s., nurse 10s., maid 2s. Gd., and the coach 5s. October i8, i666. CHRISTMAS EVE B lY coach to St. James's, it being about six at night ; my design being to see the ceremonys, this night being the eve of Christmas, at the Queene's chaijcl. I got in ahnost up to the rail, ami with a great deal 4 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIAKY of patience staid from nine at night to two in the morning in a very great crowd : and there expected but found nothing extra- ordinar}', there being nothing but a high masse. The Queene was there, and some high ladies. All being done, I was sorry for my coming, and missing of what I expected ; which was, to have had a child born and dressed there, and a great deal of do : but we broke up, and nothing like it done. And there I left people receiving the Sacrament : and the Queene gone, and ladies ; only my Lady Castlemaine, who looked prettily in her night-clothes. And so took my coach, which waited; and drank some burnt wine at the Rose Tavern door while the constables came, and two or three bell- men went by, it being a fine light moonshine morning : and so home round the City. December 24, 1667. king's evil TO my Lord's lodgings, where Tom Guy come to me, and there staid to see the King touch people for the King's evil. But he did not come at all, it rayned so ; and the poor people were forced to stand all the morning in the rain in the garden. After- ward he touched them in the banquetting- house. Tune 23, 1660. OBSERVANCES 5 T WEXT to the Banquet-house, and there ■*■ saw the King heale, the first time that ever I saw him do it ; which he did with great- gravity, and it seemed to me to be an ugly office and a simple one. April 13, 1661. MARRIAGE 'T^ O Sir W. Batten* s to dinner, he having -*■ a couple of servants married to-day ; and so there was a great number of mer- chants, and others of good quality on purpose after dinner to make an offering, which, Avhen dinner was done, we did, and I did give ten shillings and no more, though I believe most of the rest did give more, and did believe that I did so too. November 15, 1660. MAUNDY THURSDAY "]\ /r Y wife had been to-day at White Hall ^^ ^ to the Maundy, it being Maundy Thursday ; but the King did not wash the poor people's feet himself, but the Bishop o London did it for him. April i„ 1667. GOOD FRIDAY T T being Good Friday, our dinner was onh- -■- sugar-sopps and fish ; the only time that we have liad a Lenten dinner all this Lent. A/>ril 17, 1663. 6 LEAVES FROM PEPYS DIARY MAY-DEW MY wife awa}' down with Jane and W. Hewer to "Woolwich, in order to a little aj're and to lie there to-night, and so to gather May-dew to-morrow morning, which Mrs. Turner hath taught her is the only thing in the world to wash her face with ; and I am contented with it. I by water to Fox-hall, and there walked in Spring-garden. A great deal of compau}-, and the weather and garden pleasant : and it is very pleasaiit and cheap going thither, for a man may go to spend what he will, or nothing, all as one. But to hear the nightin- gale and other birds, and hear fiddles and there a harp, and here a Jew's trump, and here laughing, and there fine peojDle walking, is mighty divertising. Alay 28, 1667. ST. Thomas's day THEY told me that this is St. Thomas's, and that by an old cixstome, this day the Exchequer men had formerly, and do intend this night to have a supper ; which if I could I promised to come to, but did not. To my Lady's, and dined with her. December 21, 1660. VALENTINES MY wife to Sir "\V. Batten's, and there sat a while ; he having yesterday sent my wife half-a-dozen pair of gloves, OBSERVANCES and a pair of silk stockings and garters, for her Valentines. February 22, 1660-1. 'T^HIS evening nxy wife did with great -■- pleasure show me her stock of Jewells, encreased by the ring she hath made lately as my Valentine's gift this 3'ear, a Turky stone set with diamonds : and with this, and what she had, she reckons that she hath above £150 worth of Jewells of one kind or other ; and I am glad of it, for it is fit the wretch should have something to content herself with. February 23, 1667-8. II DRESS Baize. Breeches. Buckles. Buttons. Camlet. Caps. Cassock. Cloaks. Coats. Doublets. Embroidery. Ermine. Feathers. Hair-dressings. Hats. Hoods. Jackanapes. Lace. Mourning. Patches. Periwigs. Petticoats. Ribbons. Sac. Sarcenet. Shoes. Silk. Silver lace. Skirts. Stock- ings. Surplice. Swords. Tabbj' dress and suit. Trains. Tunics. Velvet. Vest. Waist-clothes. I ROSE, put on my suit with great skirts, having not lately worn any other clothes but them. January i, 1659-60. 'T^O church in the afternoon to Mr. Her- ^ ring, where a laz}- poor sermon. This (lay I began to put on buckles to my shoes. January 22, 1659-60. 8 DRESS 9 AFTER all this I went home on foot to lay up my money, and change my stockings and shoes. I this day left off my great skirt suit, and put on my white suit with silver lace coat. February 2, 1659-60. /COMMISSIONER RETT was now come ^^-^ to take care to get all things ready for the King on board. My Lord in his best suit, this the first day, in expectation to wait upon the King. ]Mr. Edw. Pickering coming from the King brought word that the King would not put my Lord to the trouble of coming to him, but that he would come to the shoi-e to look upon the fleet to- day, which we expected, and had our guns ready to fire, and our scarlet waist-cloathes out and silk pendants, but he did not come. This evening came Mr. John Pickering on board, like an asse, with his feathers and new suit that he had made at the Hague. ]\Iy Lord ver^- angr}- for his staying on shore, bidding me a little before to send for him, telling me that he was afraid that for his father's sake he might have some mischief done him, unless he used the General's name. This afternoon Mr. Edw. Pickering told me in what a sad, poor condition for clothes and money the King was, and all his attendants, when lie came to him first from my Lord, their clothes not being worth forty lO LEAVES FROM P E P Y S ' DIARY shillings the best of them. And how over- joyed the King Avas when Sir J. Greenville brought him some money; so joyful, that he called the Princess Royal and Duke of York to look upon it as it la}' in the port- manteau before it was taken out. May i6, 1660. UP, and made myself as fine as I could, with the linning stockings on and wide canons that I bought the other day at Hague. Extraordinary press of noble com- pany, and great mirth all the day. There dined with me in my cabbin (that is, the carpenter's) . . . May 24, 1660. THIS morning come home my fine Cam- lett cloak, with gold buttons, and a silk suit, which cost me much money, and I pra}' God to make me able to paj' for it. In the afternoon to the Abbey, where a good sermon by a stranger, but no Common Prayer yet. J illy I, 1660. 'T~^HIS morning my brother Tom brought ^ me my jackanapes coat with silver buttons. It rained this morning, which makes us fear that the glory of this day will be lost ; the King and Parliament being to be entertained by the City to-day with great pomp. July 5, 1660. DRESS II 'T^HIS day I put on my new silk suit, the J- first that ever I wore in my life. Home, and called my wife, and took her to Clodins's to a great wedding of Nan Hartlib to Mynheer Roder, which was kept at Goring House with very great state, cost, and noble company. But among all the beauties there, my wife was thought the greatest. July lo, 1660. UP early, the first day that I put on my black camlett coat with silver buttons. July 13, 1660. TO the Privy Seale, and thence to my Lord's, where Mr. Pin the taylor, and I agreed upon making me a velvet coat. A^igust 14, 1660. THIS night "W. Hewer brought me home from j\Ir. Pirn's my velvet coat and cap, the first that ever I had. August 25, 1660. CALLED at my father's going home, and bespoke mourning for myself, for the death of the Duke of Gloucester. .September \s^ 1G60. 12 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY THENCE to "White Hall garden, where I saw the King in purple mourning for his brother. Septe7nher i6, 1660. I BOUGHT a pair of short black stockings, to wear over a pair of silk ones for mourning ; and I met with The. Turner and Joyce, buying of things to go into mourning too for the Duke, which is now the mode of all the ladies in towne. This day Mr. Edw. Pickering is come from my Lord, and says that he left him well in Holland, and that he will be here within three or four days. September 22, 1660 TO White Hall on foot, calling at my father's to change my long black cloake for a short one (long cloakes being now quite out) ; but he being gone to church, I could not get one. October 7, 1660= I DINED with my Lord and Lady; he was very merry, and did talk very high how he would have a French cooke, and a master of his horse, and his lady and child to wear black patches. October 20, 1660. DRESS 13 A FTER dinner to Westminster, where I -^~^ went to my Lord's, and, having spoken with him, I went to the Abbej', where the first time that ever I lieard the organs in a cathedral. My wife seemed very pretty to-day, it being the first time I had given her leave to weare a black patch. November i„ 1660. 'T^HE Princesse Henrietta is very pretty, -*- but much below my expectation ; and her dressing of herself with her haire frized short up to her eares, did make her seem so much the less to me. But my wife standing near her with two or three black patches on, and well dressed, did seem to me much handsomer than she. November 2-2, 1660. nPHE King's going from the Tower to -*■ "White Hall. Up early and made mj'self as fine as I could, and put on xny velvet coat, the first day that I put it on, though made half a 3'ear ago. And being read}', Sir "VV. Batten, my Lady, and his two daughters and his son and wife, and Sir AV. Pen and his son and I, went to ]Mr. Young's, the flagmaker, in Corne-hill; and there we had a good room to ourselves, with wine and good cake, and saw the show very well. In which it is impossible to relate the glory of this day, expressed in the clothes of them that rid, and their horses 14 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY and liorses-clothes. Among others, my Lord Sandwich's embroidery and diamonds were not ordinarj' among them. The Knights of the Bath was a brave sight of itself ; and their Esquires, among which BIr. Armiger was an Esquire to one of the Knights. Remarquable were the two men that represent the two Dukes of Xormand}" and Aquitane. The Bishops come next after Barons, which is the higher place ; which makes me think that the next Parliament they will be called to the House of Lords. M}' Lord Monk rode bare after the King, and led in his hand a spare horse, as being Master of the Horse. The King, in a most rich embroidered suit and cloak, looked most noble. Wadlow the vintner, at the Devil, in Fleet-street, did lead a fine comimnj^ of soldiers, all young comely men, in white doublets. There followed the Vice-Chamberlain, Sir G. Carteret, a Comj^any of men all like Turkes ; but I know not yet what they are for. The streets all gravelled, and the houses himg with carpets before them, made brave show, and the ladies out of the windows. So glorious was the show with gold and silver, that we were not able to look at it, our eyes at last being so much overcome. Both the King and the Duke of York took notice of us, as they saw us at the window. In the evening, by water to AVhite Hall to my Lord's, and there I spoke with my Lord. DRESS 15 He talked with me about his suit, which was made in France, and cost him £200, and very rich it is with embroidery. April -22, 1661. T X my black silk suit (the first day I have -'• jnit it on this year) to my Lord Ma3'or's by coach, with a great deal of honourable comjDany, and great entertainment. May 23, 1 66 1. T AM forced to go to "Worcester House, -*• where severall Lords are met in Council this afternoon. And while I am waiting there, in comes the King in a jjlain common riding- suit and velvet cap, in which he seemed a verv ordinary man to one that had not known him. August 19, 1661. 'T^HIS day I put on mj- half cloth black -■- stockings and my new coate of the fashion, which pleases me well, and with my beaver I was (after office was done) ready to go to my Lord Mayor's feast, as we are all invited ; but the Sir "Williams were both loth to go, because of the crowd, and so none of us went. This Lord Mayor, it seems, brings up again the custom of Lord IMayors going the day of their instalment to Paul's, and walking round about the Crosse, and offering something at the altar. October 29, 1661. l6 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY 73 Y and by comes La Belle Pierce to see -'--' my wife, and to bring her a pair of peruques of hair, as the fashion now is for ladies to Avear ; which are pretty, and are of my wife's own hair, or else I should not endure them. March 24, 1662. '\"\ riTH my wife, by coach, to the New ^ * Exchange, to buj- her some things ; where we saw some new-fashion pettycoats of sarcenett, with a black broad lace printed round the bottom and before, very handsome, and my wife had a mind to one of them. April 15, 1662. IN the afternoon to "White Hall ; and there walked an houre or two in the Parke, where I saw the King now out of mourning, in a suit laced with gold and silver, which it is said was out of fashion. Thence to the Wardrobe ; and there consulted with the ladies about going to Hampton Court to- morrow. May II, 1662. I TRIED on my riding cloth suit with close knees, the first that ever I had, and I think they will be very convenient. Jii7ie 12, 1662. DRESS 17 TDUT on my first new lace-band; and so -*- neat it is, that I am resolved my great expence shall be lace- bands, and it will set off any thing else the more. October 19, 1662. OUT on my new Scallop, which is ver}- -*- fine. To chiuch, and there saw the first time Mr. Mills in a surplice ; but it seemed absurd for him to pull it over his eares in the reading-pew, after he had done, before all the chiirch, to go up to the pulpitt, to preach without it. October 26, 1662. pUT on a black cloth suit, with white -^ lyniugs under all, as the fashion is to wear, to appear under the breeches. May 10, 1663. TT EARING that the King and Queene -*■ -^ are rode abroad with the Ladies of Honour to the Parke, and seeing a great crowd of gallants staying here to see their return, I also staid walking up and down. By and \)y the King and Queene, who looked in this dress (a white laced waistcoate and a crimson short pettycoate, and her hair dressed a la ntijUyencr) might}' prettj- ; and B l8 LEAVES FROM PEPYS DIARY the King rode hand in hand with her. Here was also my Lady Castlemaine rode among the rest of the ladies ; but the King took, methought, no notice of her ; nor when she light, did any bod}- press (as she seemed to expect, and staid for it) to take her down, but was taken down by her own gentlemen. She looked mighty out of humour, and had a yellow plume in her hat (which all took notice of), and yet is very handsome, but very melancholy : nor did any body speak to her, or she so much as smile or speak to any bod}^. I followed them up into White Hall, and into the Queene's presence, where all the ladies walked, talking and fiddling with their hats and feathers, and changing and trying one another's by one another's heads, and laughing. But it was the finest sight to me, considering their great beautj-s, and dress, that ever I did see in all my life. But, above all, Mrs. Stewart in this dresse, with her hat cocked and a red plume, with her sweet eye, little Roman nose, and excellent taille, is now the greatest beauty I ever saw, I think, in my life ; and, if ever woman can, do exceed my Lady Castlemaine, at least in this dress : nor do I wonder if the King changes, Avhich I verily believe is the reason of liis coldness to my Lady Castlemaine. /u/y 13, 1663. DRESS 19 AFTER dinner I put on iny new camclott suit ; the best that ever I wore in my life, the suit costing me above £24. In this I went with Creed to Gohlsmiths' Hall, to the burial of Sir Thomas Yiner ; which Hall, and Haberdashers' also, was so full of people, that we were fain for ease and coolness to go forth to rater Xoster Row, to choose a silk to make me a plain ordinary suit. June I, 1665. TO Hampton Court, where I saw the King and Queene set out towards Salisbury, and after them the Duke and Duchesse, whose hands I did kiss. And it was the first time I did ever, or did see any body else, kiss her hand, and it was a most fine white and fat hand. But it was pretty to see the young prettv ladies dressed like men, in velvet coats, caps with ribbands, and with laced bands, just like men. Onl}- the Duchesse herself it did not become. July 27, 1665. UP ; and very betimes by six o'clock at Deptford, and there find Sir G. Carteret, and my Lady ready to go : I being in my new coloured silk suit, and coat trimmed with gold buttons and gold broad lace rouml my hands, very rich and fine. July 3T, 1665. I 20 LEAVES FROM P E P Y S ' DIARY TIP; and put on my coloured silk suit ^ very fine, and m}^ new periwigg, bought a good while since, bvit durst not wear, because the plague was in "NYestmin- ster when I bought it; and it is a wonder what will be the fashion after the plague is done, as to periwiggs, for nobody will dare to biiy any haire, for fear of the infection, that it had been cut off the heads of people dead of the plague. September 3, 1665. THIS morning, hearing that the Queene grows worse again, I sent to stop the making of my velvet cloak, till I see whether she lives or dies. October 22, 1663. TO my great sorrow find myself £43 worse than I was the last month, which was then £760 and now it is but £717. But it hath chiefly arisen from my layings- out in clothes for myself and wife ; viz. for her about £12 and for myself £55, or there- abouts : having- made myself a velvet cloak, two new cloth skirts, black, plain both ; a new shag gown, trimmed with gold buttons and twist, with a new hat, and silk tops for my legs, and many other things, being resolved, henceforward to go like myself. And also two perriwiggs, one whereof costs DRESS 21 ine £3 and the other 40s. I have worn neither yet, but will begin next week, God willing. October 30, 1663. 'a* I HEARD the Duke say that he was going to wear a perriwigg ; and they say the King also will. I never till this daj' observed that the King is mighty gray. November 2, 1663. TO church, where I found that my coming in a perriwigg did not prove so strange as I was afraid it would, for I thought that all the church would presently have cast their eyes all upon me. November?), 1663. TO the Duke, where, when we come into his closet, he told us that Mr. Pepys was so altered with his new perriwigg that he did not know him. November 9, 1663. npHIS morning I put on my best black ^ cloth suit, trimmed with scarlett rib- bon, very neat, with my cloak lined with velvett, and a new beaver, which altogether is ver}- noble, with my black silk knit canons I bought a month ago. November 29, 1663. 22 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY I DID give my wife's brother 10s. and a coat that I had by me, a close-bodied, light-coloured cloth coat, with a gold edge- ing in each seam, that was the lace of my wife's best pettycoat that she had when I married her. He is going into Holland to seek his fortmie. February lo, 1663-4. TO White Hall, to the Duke : where, he first put on a periwigg to-day: but methought his hair cut short in order thereto did look very prettily of itself, before he put on his periwigg. February 15, 1663-4. THENCE with him to the Park, and there met the Queene coming from Chapell, with her Maids of Honour, all in silver-lace gowns again ; which is new to me, and that which I did not think would have been brought up again. June 24, 1664. PUT on my new shaggy purple gown with gold buttons and loop lace. November 11, 1664. WITH Sir J. Minnes to St. James's, and there did our business with the Duke. Great preparations for his speedy return to sea. I saw him try on his buff coat and hat- DRESS 23 piece covered with black velvet. It troubles me more to think of his venture, than of any thing else in the whole warr. March 6, 1664-5. THIS day my wife begun to wear light- coloured locks, quite white almost, which, though it makes her look very pretty, 3'et not being natural, vexes me, that I will not have her wear them. March 13, 1664-5. TO church, it being "Whit-sunday ; my wife very fine in a new yellow bird's- eye hood, as the fashion is now. May 14, 1665. UP ; and put on a new black cloth suit to an old coat that I make to be in mourning at Court, where they are all, for the King of Spain. I to the Park. February 11, 1665-6. A 1 /'ALKIXG in the galleries at White Hall, * * I find the Ladies of Honour dressed in their riding garbs, with coats and doublets with deep skirts, just for all the world like mine, and buttoned their douVjlets up the breast, with perriwigs and with hats ; so that, only for a long petticoat dragging under their men's coats, nobody could take them for women in an\- point whatever ; which was an odde sight, and a sight did not 24 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY please me. It was Mrs. '^^"ells and another fine lady that I saw thus. June II, 1666. MY wife tells me she hath bought a gown of 15s. i3er j'ard ; the same, before her face, my Lady Castlemaine this day bought also. September 26, 1666. -'a^ THE King hath yesterday in Council declared his resolution of setting a fashion for clothes, which he will never alter. It will be a vest, I know not well how; but it is to teach the nobility thrift, and will do good. October 8, 1666. THIS day the King begins to i)ut on his vest, and I did see several ^Dersons oi the House of Lords and Commons too, great courtiers, who are in it ; being a long cas- socke close to the body, of black cloth, and pinked with white silk under it, and a coat over it, and the legs ruffled with black riband like a pigeon's leg: and upon the whole I wish the King may keep it, for it is a very fine and handsome garment. Lady Carteret tells me ladies are to go into a new fashion shortly, and that is, to wear short coats, above their ancles ; which she and I do not like ; but conclude this long trayne to be mighty graceful. October 15, 1666. DRESS 25 'T^O Mrs. Pierce's, where she was makiDg ■^ herself might}' fine to go to a great ball to-night at Court, being the Queene's birth-day ; so the ladies for this one da}- wear laces, but are to put them off again to-morrow. October 25, 1666, nPHE King and Lords themselves wear -*- but a cloak of Colchester bayze, and the ladies mantles in cold Aveather of white flannell. Fehrtiary 24, 1666-7. 'T^ O a periwigg-maker's and there bought -* two })eriwiggs, miglit}* fine indeed ; too fine, I thought, for me ; but he per- suaded me, and I did buy them for £4 10s. the two. March 29, 1667. "]\ /T ET my Lad}' Newcastle going with her ^^^ coaches and footmen all in velvet: herself (whom I never saw before), as I have heard her often described (for all the town- talk is now-a-days of her extravagancies), with her velvet-caj), her hair about her ears ; many black patches, because of jjimples about her mouth ; uaked-irecked, without any thing about it, and a black just-au-corps. She seemed to mc a very comely woman : but I hope to see more of her on IMay-day. April 26, 1667. 26 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY u P, and put on m}^ new tunique of vel- vett ; which is very plain, but good. October 20, 1667. TO "White Hall, where I saw the Duchesse of York (in a fine dress of second mourning for her mother, being black edged with ermin) go to make her first visit to the Queene since the Duke of York's being sick ; and by and by she being returned, the Queene came and visited her. December 8, 1667. THIS day I got a little rent in my new fine camlett cloak with the latch of Sir G. Carteret's door ; but it is darned up at my tailor's, that it will be no great blemish to it ; but it troubled me. December 30, 1667. MY wife extraordinary fine to-day in her flower tabby suit, bought a year and more ago, before my mother's death put her into mourning, and so not worn till this day : and every body in love with it ; and indeed she is very fine and handsome in it. Ma7-ch 26, 1668. THIS day in the afternoon, stepping with the Duke of York into St. James's Park, it rained ; and I was forced to lend DRESS 27 the Duke of York my cloak, which he wore through the Park. April 6, 1668. UP, and put on my new stuff -suit, with a shoulder-belt according to the new fashion, and the hands of my vest and tuuique laced with silk-lace of the colour of my suit : and so very handsome to church. May 17, 1668. TIP, and put on a new summer black ^ bombazin suit ; and being come now to an agreement with my barber to keep my perriwig in good order at 20s. a-year, I am like to go very spruce, more than I used to do. May 30, 1668. 'T^O St. James's: and by and by comes -*- Monsieur Colbert the French Ambas- sador, to make his first visit to the Duke of York, and then to the Duchesse. And I saw it : a silly piece of ceremony, he saying onlj* a few formal words. A comel}' man, and in a black suit and cloak of silk ; which is a strange fashion now it hath been so long left off. August 21, 1668. "]\ /r Y wife this day put on first her French ■^^ ^ gown, called a Sac, which becomes her very well. March 2, 1668-9. 28 LEAVES FROM PEPVs' DIARY AND SO to other places, amoBg others, to my tailor's; and then to the belt- maker's, where my belt cost me 5.5s. of the colour of my new suit. ... So to the cutler's, and there did give Tom, who was with me all day, a sword cost me 12s. and a belt of my owne ; and sent my own silver- hilt sword agilding against to-morrow. April 30, 1669. UP betimes. My wife extraordinary' fine with her flowered tabby gown that she made two 3'ears ago, noAv laced exceeding- pretty ; and indeed was fine all over. And might}' earnest to go, though the day was very lowering ; and she would have me put on my fine suit, which I did. And so anon we went alone through the town witli our new liveries of serge, and the horses' manes and tails tied with red ribbons, and the standards thus gilt with varnish, and all clean, and green reines, that people did mightily look upon us ; and the truth is, I did not see any coach more prett_y, though more gay, than ours all the day. May I, 1669. Ill SPORTS AND PASTIMES Bowling. Boxing. Bull-baiting. Cock- fighting. Dancing. Duelling. Fencing. Fishing in Winter. Foot-racing. Handi- cap. Hunting. Nine-pins. Pall-mall. Skat- ing. Tennis. BOWLS at bowles. P early, and bated at Peters- field, in the room which the King lay in lately at his being here. Here very merry, and played with our wives May I, i66i. 1"*HIS afternoon I went to "Westminster. . . . Thence to . . . the Bowling-ally (where lords and ladies are now at bowles), in brave condition. Jtdy 26, 1662. 2i) 30 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY BOXING A BROAD, and stopped at Bear-garden -^~^ stairs, there to see a i^rize fought. But the house so full there was no getting in there, so forced to go through an alehouse into the pit, where the bears are baited ; and upon a stool did see them fight, which they did very furiously, a butcher and a water- man. The former had the better all along till by and by the latter dropped his sAvord out of his hand, and the butcher, whether not seeing his sword dropped I know not, but did give him a cut over the wrist, so as he was disabled to fight any longer. But, Lord ! to see how in a minute the whole stage was full of watermen to revenge the foul play, and the butchers to defend their fellow, though most blamed him; and there they all fell to it, to knocking down and cutting many on each side. It was pleasant to see, but that I stood in the pit, and feared that in the tumult I might get some hurt. At last the battle broke up, and so I away. May 27, 1667. 'T^O the Bear-garden, where now the yard -*• was full of people, and those most of them seamen, striving by force to get in. I got into the common jMt ; and there, Avith my cloak about my face, I stood and saw the prize fought, till one of them, a shoemaker. SPORTS AXD PASTIMES 3I was SO cut in both his wrists that he could not fight an}' longer, and then thej- broke off : his enemy was a butcher. The sport very good, and various humours to be seen among the rabble that is there. Septetnber 9, 1667. T) Y water to the Bear-garden, and there -*-' happened to sit by Sir Fretcheville Mollis, who is still full of his vain-glorious and prophane talk. Here we saw a prize fought between a soldier and a country- fellow, one "Warrel, who promised the least in his looks, and performed the most of valour in his boldness and evenness of mind, and smiles in all he did, that ever I saw; and we were all both deceived and infinitely taken with him. He did soundly beat the soldier, and cut him over the head. Thence back to White Hall, mightily pleased all of us with this sight, and particularly this fellow, as a most extraordinary man for his temper and evenness in fighting. April 12, T669. BULL-BAITIXG A FTER dinner with my wife and Mercer ■^~^ to the Beare-garden ; where I have not been, I think, of many years, and saw some good sport of the bull's tossing of the dogs : one into the very boxes. But it is a very rude and nasty pleasure. AVe had a 32 LEAVES F R O 31 P E P Y S ' DIARY great many hectors in the same box with ns (and one very fine went into the pit, and played his dog for a wager, which was a strange sport for a gentleman), where the}' drank wine, and drank Mercer's health first ; which I pledged with my hat off. "We supped at home, and very merry. And then about nine o'clock to Mrs. Mercer's gate, where the fire and boys expected us, and her son had provided abundance of serpents and rockets ; and there mighty merry (my Lady Pen and Pegg going thither with us, and Nan Wright), till about twelve at night, flinging our fireworks, and burning one another and the people over the way. And at last our businesses being most spent, we into Mrs. Mercer's, and there mighty merry. Thanksgiving Day, Aug. 14, 1666. CARDS MY Lord, the Captain, and I supped in mj' Lord's chamber, where I did perceive that he did begin to show me much more respect than ever he did yet. After supper, my Lord sent for me, intending to have me play at cards with him, but I not knowing cribbage, Ave fell into discourse of many things, and the ship rolled so much that I was not able to stand, and so he bid me go to bed. May 15, 1660. DRESS 17 TDUT on my first uew lace-band; and so ^ neat it is, that I am resolved my great expence shall be lace- bands, and it will set off any thing else the more. October 19, 1662. P >UT on my new Scallop, which is very fine. To church, and there saw the first time Mr. Mills in a suri^lice ; but it seemed absurd for him to pull it over his eares in the reading-pew, after he had done, before all the church, to go up to the pulpitt, to preach without it. October 26, 1662. pUT on a black cloth suit, with white •^ lynings under all, as the fashion is to wear, to appear under the breeches. May 10, 1663. IT EARING that the King and Queene -*■ ^ are rode abroad with the Ladies of Honour to the Parke, and seeing a great crowd of gallants staying here to see their return, I also staid walking up and down. By and hy the King and Quoenc, who looked in this dress (a white laced waistcoate and a crimson short pettycoate, and her hair dressed a la ntylvjencc) mighty pretty ; and B l8 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY the King rode hand in hand with her. Here was also my Lady Castlemaine rode among the rest of the ladies ; but the King took, methought, no notice of her ; nor when she light, did any body press (as she seemed to expect, and staid for it) to take her down, but was taken down by her own gentlemen. She looked mighty out of humour, and had a yellow plume in her hat (which all took notice of), and j-et is very handsome, but very melancholy : nor did any body speak to her, or she so much as smile or speak to any body. I followed them up into White Hall, and into the Queene's presence, where all the ladies walked, talking and fiddling with their hats and feathers, and changing and trying one another's by one another's heads, and laughing. But it was the finest sight to me, considering their great beautys, and dress, that ever I did see in all my life. But, above all, Mrs. Stewart in this dresse, with her hat cocked and a red j^lume, with her sweet eye, little Roman nose, and excellent taille, is now the greatest beauty I ever saw, I think, in my life ; and, if ever woman can, do exceed my Lady Castlemaine, at least in this dress : nor do I wonder if the King changes, Avhich I verily believe is the reason of his coldness to my Lady Castlemaine. /7t/^ 13, 1663. DRESS 19 A FTER dinner I put ou iny uew camelott -^~^ suit ; the best that evez- 1 wore in my life, the suit costing me above £24. In this I went with Creed to Goklsraiths' Hall, to the burial of Sir Thomas Viner ; which Hall, and Haberdashei's' also, was so full of people, that we were fain for ease and coolness to go forth to Pater Noster Row, to choose a silk to make me a plain ordinary suit. June I, 1665. 'T^O Hampton Court, where I saw the -^ King and Queene set out towards Salisbur\^, and after them the Duke and Duchesse, whose hands I did kiss. And it was the first time I did ever, or did see any body else, kiss her hand, and it was a most fine white and fat hand. But it was pretty to see the young prett\- ladies dressed like men, in velvet coats, caps with ribbands, and with laced bands, just like men. Only the Duchesse herself it did not become. July 27, 1665. UP ; and ver}' betimes by six o'clock at Deptford, and there find Sir G. Carteret, and my Lady read}- to go : I being in my new coloured silk suit, and coat trimmed with gold buttons and gold broad lace round my hands, very rich and fine. July 31, 1665. 20 LEASES FROM PEPYs' DIARY TIP; and put on mj- coloured silk suit ^ very fine, and my new periwigg, bought a good while since, but durst not Avear, because the plague was in Westmin- ster when I bought it ; and it is a wonder Avhat will be the fashion after the plague is done, as to periwiggs, for nobody will dare to buy any haire, for fear of the infection, that it had been cut off the heads of people dead of the plague. Sepiembcr 3, 1665. THIS morning, hearing that the Queene grows worse again, I sent to stop the making of my velvet cloak, till I see whether she lives or dies. October 22, 1663. TO my great sorrow find myself £43 worse than I was the last month, which was then £760 and now it is but £717. But it hath chiefly arisen from my layings- out in clothes for myself and wife ; viz. for her about £12 and for myself £55, or there- abouts : having made myself a velvet cloak, two new cloth skirts, black, plain both ; a new shag gown, trimmed with gold buttons and twist, with a new hat, and silk tops for my legs, and many other tilings, being resolved, henceforward to go like myself. And also two perriwiggs, one whereof costs DRESS 21 me £3 and the other 40s. I have worn neither yet, but will begin next week, God willinjr. October 30, 1663. *o* I HEARD the Duke say that he was going to wear a perriwigg ; and they say the King also will, I never till this day observed that the King is mighty gray. November 2, 1663. ' I "O church, where I found that my coming -*- in a jjerriwigg did not prove so strange as I was afraid it would, for I thought that all the church would presently have cast their eyes all upon me. November 8, 1663. TO the Duke, where, when we come into his closet, he told us that ]\Ir. Pepys was so altered with his new perriwigg that he did not know him. Noz'einber 9, 1663. ' I "'HIS morning I put on my best black -'- cloth suit, trimmed with scarlett rib- bon, very neat, with my cloak lined with velvett, and a new beaver, which altogether is very noble, with my black silk knit canons I bought a month ago. Xoveviber 29, 1663. 22 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY I DID give my wife's brother 10s. and a coat that I had by me, a close-bodied, light-coloured cloth coat, with a gold edge- ing in each seam, that was the lace of my wife's best pettycoat that she had when I married her. He is going into Holland to seek his fortune. February lo, 1663-4. TO AYhite Hall, to the Duke : where he first put on a periwigg to-day : but methought his hair cut short in order thereto did look very prettily of itself, before he put on his periAvigg. February 15, 1663-4. THENCE with him to the Park, and there met the Queene coming from Chapell, with her Maids of Honour, all in silver-lace gowns again ; which is new to me, and that which I did not think woidd have been brought up again. June 24, 1664. PUT on my new shaggy purple gown with gold buttons and loop lace. November 11, 1664. WITH Sir J. Minnes to St. James's, and there did our business with the Duke. Great preparations for his speedy return to sea. I saw him try on his buff coat and hat- DRESS 23 piece covered with black velvet. It troubles me more to think of his venture, than of any thing else in the whole warr. March 6, 1664-5. ' I ^HIS day my wife begun to wear light- -'- coloured locks, quite white almost, which, though it makes her look very pretty, yet not being natural, vexes me, that I will not have her wear them. March 13, 1664-5. nn church, it being "Whit-sunday ; my -'- wife very fine in a new yellow bird's- eye hood, as the fashion is now. May 14, 1665. UP ; and put on a new black cloth suit to an old coat that I make to be in mourning at Court, where they are all, for the King of Spain. I to the Park. Febriiary 11, 1665-6. Vy ALKING in the galleries at White Hall, * • I find the Ladies of Honour dressed in their riding garbs, with coats and doublets with deep skirts, just for all the world like mine, and buttoned their doublets up the breast, with perriwigs and with hats ; so that, only for a long petticoat dragging under their men's coats, nobody could take them for women in any jjoint whatever ; which was an odde sight, and a sight did not 24 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY please me. It was Mrs. Wells and another fine lady that I saw thus. Jjijie II, 1666. M Y wife tells me she hath bought a gown of 15s. per yard ; the same, before her face, my Lady Castlemaine this day bought also. September 26, 1666. THE King hath yesterday in Comicil declared his resolution of setting a fashion for clothes, which he will never alter. It will be a vest, I know not well how ; but it is to teach the nobility thrift, and will do good. October 8, 1666. nPHIS day the King begins to jiut on his •*• vest, and T did see several persons of the House of Lords and Commons too, great courtiers, who are in it ; being a long cas- socke close to the body, of black cloth, and pinked with white silk under it, and a coat over it, and the legs ruffled with black riband like a pigeon's leg : and ujion the whole I wish the King maj' keep it, for it is a very fine and handsome garment. Lady Carteret tells me ladies are to go into a new fashion shortly, and that is, to wear short coats, above their ancles ; which she and I do not like ; b\it conclude this long trayne to be mighty graceful. October 15, 1666. DRESS 25 'T^O Mrs. Pierce's, where she was making -■■ herself miglit}' fine to go to a great ball to-night at Court, being the Queene's birth-dav ; so the ladies for this one day wear laces, but are to put them off again to-morrow. October 25, 1666. 'T^HE King and Lords themselves wear -*- but a cloak of Colchester ba\-ze, and the ladies mantles in cold weather of white flannell. February 24, 1666-7. T^O a periwigg-maker's and there bought -* tAvo periwiggs, mighty fine indeed; too fine, I thought, for me; but he per- suaded me, and I did buy them for £4 10s. the two. March 29, 1667. A /T ET my Lady Newcastle going with her -'-'-•- coaches and footmen all in velvet: herself (whom I never saw before), as I have heard her often described (for all the town- talk is now-a-daAs of her extravagancies), with her velvet-cap, her hair about her ears ; many black ]jatches, because of pimples about her mouth ; naked-neckod, without any thing about it, and a black ju.st-au-corps. She seemed to me a very comely woman : but I hope to see more of her on May-da}-. April 26, 1667. 26 LEAVES FEOM PEPYs' DIARY UP, and put on iri}^ new tunique of vel- vett ; which is very plain, but good. October 20, 1667. TO White Hall, where I saw the Duchesse of York (in a fine dress of second mourning for her mother, being black edged with ermin) go to make her first visit to the Queene since the Duke of York's being sick ; and by and by she being returned, the Queene came and visited her. Decetnber 8, 1667. THIS day I got a little rent in my new fine camlett cloak with the latch of Sir G. Carteret's door ; but it is darned up at my tailor's, that it will be no great blemish to it ; but it troubled me. December 30, 1667. MY wife extraordinar}' fine to-day in her flower tabby suit, bought a year and more ago, before my mother's death put her into mourning, and so not worn till this day : and every body in love with it ; and indeed she is ver}' fine and handsome in it. March 26, 1668. THIS day in the afternoon, stepping with the Duke of York into St. James's Park, it rained ; and I was forced to lend DRESS 27 the Duke of York my cloak, which he wore through the Park. April 6, 1668. TIP, and put on mj new stuff-suit, with a ^ shoulder-belt according to the new fashion, and the hands of my vest and tunique laced with silk-lace of the colour of my suit : and so very handsome to church. May 17, 1668. T T P, and put on a new summer black ^ bombazin suit ; and being come now to an agreement with vay barber to keep my perriwig in good order at 20s. a-year, I am like to go very spruce, more than I used to do. May 30, 1668. ''JP O St. James's : and by and by comes -*- Monsieur Colbert the French Ambas- sador, to make his first visit to the Duke of York, and then to the Duchesse. And I saw it : a sill}- piece of ceremony, he saving only a few formal words. A comely man, and in a black suit and cloak of silk ; which is a strange fashion now it hath been so long left off. Augtisi 21, 1668. "]\ /r Y wife this day put on first her French -'-'-*- gown, called a Sac, which becomes her very well. iMarch 2, 1668-9. 28 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY A ND so to other places, among others, to -^^~^ my tailor's ; and then to the belt- maker's, where my belt cost me 55s. of the colour of my new suit. ... So to the cutler's, and there did give Tom, who was with me all day, a sword cost me l2s. and a belt of m}^ owne ; and sent my own silver- hilt sword agilding against to-morrow. April 30, 1669. TIP betimes. My wife extraordinary fine ^^ with her flowered tabby gown that she made two years ago, now laced exceeding prettj" ; and indeed was fine all over. And mighty earnest to go, though the day was very lowering ; and she would have me put on my fine suit, which I did. And so anon we went alone through the town with our new liveries of serge, and the horses' manes and tails tied with red ribbons, and the standards thus gilt with varnish, and all clean, and green reines, that people did mightily look upon us ; and the truth is, I did not see any coach more pretty, though more gaj-, than ours all the da}'. May I, 1669. Ill SPORTS AND PASTIMES Bowling. Boxing. Bull-baiting. Cock- fighting. Dancing. Duelling. Fencing. Fishing in Winter. Foot-racing. Handi- cap. Hunting. Xine-pins. Pall-mall. Skat- ing. Tennis. BOWLS at bowles. P early, and bated at Peters- field, in the room which the King lay in lateh' at his being here. Here ver}- merry, and played with our wives J/ay I, 1661. ni^HIS afternoon I went to "Westminster. -*• ... Thence to . . . the Bowling-all}- (where lords and ladies are now at bowles), in brave condition. ////y 26, 1662. 21) 3° LEAVES FROBI PEPYs' DIARY BOXING A BROAD, and stojiped at Bear-garden -^~*- stairs, there to see a prize fought. But the house so full there was no getting in there, so forced to go through an alehouse into the pit, where the bears are baited ; and upon a stool did see them fight, which they did very furiously, a butcher and a water- man. The former had the better all along till by and by the latter droi3ped his sword out of his hand, and the butcher, whether not seeing his sword dropped I know not, but did give him a cut over the wrist, so as he was disabled to fight any longer. But, Lord ! to see how in a minute the whole stage was full of watermen to revenge the foul play, and the butchers to defend their fellow, though most blamed him; and there they all fell to it, to knocking down and cutting many on each side. It was pleasant to see, but that I stood in the pit, and feared that in the tumult I might get some hurt. At last the battle broke up, and so I away. 3[ay 27, 1667. 'T^O the Bear-garden, where now the yard -'- was full of people, and those most of them seamen, striving by force to get in, I got into the common pit ; and there, with my cloak about my face, I stood and saw the prize fought, till one of them, a shoemaker. SPORTS AND PASTIMES 31 •was SO cut in both his wrists that he could not fight any longer, and then they broke off : his enemy was a butcher. The sport very good, and various humours to be seen among the rabble that is there. SepteiJtber 9, 1667. '"D Y water to the Bear-garden, and there ^ happened to sit by Sir Fretcheville Hollis, who is still full of his vain-glorious and prophane talk. Here we saw a prize fought between a soldier and a country- fellow, one Warrel, who promised the least in his looks, and performed the most of valour in his boldness and evenness of mind, and smiles in all he did, that ever I saw ; and we were all both deceived and infinitely taken with him. He did soundly beat the soldier, and cut him over the head. Thence back to 'White Hall, mightily pleased all of us with this sight, and particularly this fellow, as a most extraordinary man for his temper and evenness in fighting. April 12, 1669. BULL-BAITING A FTER dinner with my wife and ^Mercer -^~~^ to the Beare-garden ; where I have not been, I think, of many years, and saw some good sport of the bull's tossing of the dogs : one into the very boxes. But it is a very rude and nasty ])leasure. "\^'e had a 32 LEAVES FROM P E P Y S ' DIARY great many hectors in the same box with iis (and one very fine went into the jjit, and played his dog for a wager, which was a strange sjjort for a gentleman), where they drank wine, and drank Mercer's health first ; which I pledged with my hat off. "We supped at home, and very merry. And then about nine o'clock to Mrs. Mercer's gate, where the fire and boys exj)ected us, and her son had provided abundance of serpents and rockets ; and there mighty merry (my Lady Pen and Pegg going thither with us, and Nan Wright), till about twelve at night, flinging our fireworks, and burning one another and the people over the way. And at last our businesses being most spent, we into Mrs. Mercer's, and there mighty meriy. Thanksgiving Day, A^ig. 14, 1666. CARDS 1\ /r Y Lord, the Captain, and I supped in -^ * -*- my Lord's chamber, where I did perceive that he did begin to show me much more respect than ever he did yet. After supper, my Lord sent for me, intending to have me play at cards with him, but I not knowing cribbage, we fell into discourse of man}' things, and the ship rolled so much that I was not able to stand, and so he bid me go to bed. Alay 15; 1660. SPORTS AND PASTIMES 33 COCK-FIGHTING 'T* O Shoe Lane to see a cocke-fighting at a -*- new pit there, a siDot I was never at in my life : but Lord ! to see the strange variety of peojile, from Parliament-man (by ]iame "Wildes, that was Deputy Governor of the Tower when Robinson was Lord Mayor) to the poorest 'prentices, bakers, brewers, butchers, draymen, and what not; and all these fellows one with another cursing and betting. I soon had enough of it. It is strange to see how people of this poor rank, that look as if they had not bread to put in their mouths, shall bet three or four pounds at a time, and lose it, and yet bet as much the next battle, so that one of them will lose £10 or £20 at a meeting. December 21, 1663. DAXCING jyr R. POVY and I to ^Vhite Hall ; he ■'■*'*■ taking me thither on purpose to carry me into the ball this night before the King. He brought me first to the Duke's chamber, where I saw him and the Duchesse at supper ; and thence into the room where the ball was to be, crammed with fine ladies, the greatest of the Court. By and by comes the King and Queene, the Duke and Duchesse, and all the great ones : and after seating them- selves, the King takes out the Duchesse of 34 LEAVES FROM PEPYS DIARY York; and the Duke, the Duchesse of Buckingham; the Duke of Monmouth, my Lady Castlemaine ; and so other lords other ladies : and they danced the Brantie. After that, the King led a lady a single Coranto ; and then the rest of the lords, one after another, other ladies: very noble it was, and great pleasure to see. Then to country dances ; the King leading the first, which he called for; which was, says he, 'Cuckolds all awry,' the old dance of England. Of the ladies that danced, the Duke of Blonmouth's mistress, and my Lady Castlemaine, and a daiighter of Sir Harry de Yicke's were the best. The manner was, when the King dances, all the ladies in the room, and the Queene herself, stand up: and indeed he dances rarely, and much better than the Duke of York. Having staid here as long as I thought fit, to my infinite content, it being the greatest pleasure I could wish now to see at Court, I went home, leaving them dancing. December 31, 1002. UPSTAIRS we went, and then fell into dancing (W. Batelier dancing well), and dressing him and I and one Mr. Banister (who with my wife come over also with us) like women ; and Mercer put on a suit of Tom's, like a boy, and mighty mirth we had, and Mercer danced a jigg ; and Nan ^Vright SPORTS AND PASTIMES 35 and my wife and Pegg Pen put on perriwigs. Thus we spent till three or four in the morning, mighty merry ; and then parted, and to bed. August 14, 1666. npO Mrs. Pierce's, where I find her as fine -*- as possible, and Mr. Pierce going to the ball at night at Court, it being the Queene's birthday. I also to the ball, and with much ado got up to the loft, where with much trouble I could see very well. Anon the house grew full, and the candles light, and the King and Queene and all the ladies sat : and it was, indeed, a glorious sight to see Mrs. Stewart in black and white lace, and her head and shoulders dressed with diamonds, and the like many great ladies more (only the Queene none) ; and the King in his rich vest of some rich silk and silver trimming, as the Duke of York and all the dancers were, some of cloth of silver, and others of other sorts, exceeding rich. Pre- sently after the King was come in, he took the Queene, and about fourteen more couple there was, and begun the Pransles. As man}' of the men as I can remember \)ve- sently, were, the King, Duke of York, Prince Rupert, Duke of ^Monmouth, Duke of Buckingham, Lord Douglas, Mr. Hamilton, Colonell Russell, Mr. Griffith, Lord Ossory. Lord Rochester ; and of the ladies, the 36 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY Queene, Duchesse of York, Mrs. Stewart, Duchesse of Monmouth, Lady Essex Howard, Mrs. Temple, Swedes Embassadresse, Lad.v Arlington, Lord George Barkeley's daughter, and many others I remember not; but all most excellently dressed in rich petticoats and gowns, and dyamonds and pearls. After the Bransles, then to a Corant, and now and then a French dance ; but that so rare that the Corants grew tiresome, that I wished it done. Only Mrs. Stewart danced mighty finely, and many French dances, specially one the King called the New Dance, which was very pretty. But upon the whole matter, the business of the dancing of itself was not extraordinary pleasing. But the clothes and sight of the persons were indeed very pleasing, and worth my coming, being never likely to see more gallantry while I live, if I should come tAventy times. Above twelve at night it broke up. My Lady Castlemaine (without whom all is nothing) being there very rich, though not dancing. November 15, 1666. FENCING WALKED to the New Theatre, which, since the King's players are gone to the Royal one, is this day begun to be employed by the fencers to play prizes at. And here I come and saw the first prize I SPORTS AND PASTIMES 37 ever saw in my life : and it was between one Mathews, who did beat at all weapons, and one AVestwicke, who was soundl}- cut several times both in the head and legs, 'that he was all over blood : and other deadly blows they did give and take in very good earnest, till Westwicke was in a sad pickle. They fought at eight weapons, three boutes at each weapon. This being upon a private quarrel, they did it in good earnest ; and I felt one of the swords, and found it to be very little, if at all blunter on the edge, than the common swords are. Strange to see what a deal of money is flung to them both upon the stage between every boute. /une I, 1663. FISHING IN WINTER A T the Coffee-house I went and sat by Mr. Harrington, and some East country merchants, and talking of the country above Quinsborough, and thereabouts, he told us himself that for fish, none there the i)oorest body will buy a dead fish, but must be alive, unless it be in the winter; and then they told us the manner of jjutting their nets into the water. Through holes made in the thick ice, they will spread a net of half a mile long ; and he hath known a hundred and thirty and a hundred and seventy barrels of fish taken at one draught. And then the people come with sledges upon the ice, with snow 38 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY at the bottome, and lay the fish in and cover them with snow, and so carry them to market. And he hath seen when the said fish have been frozen in the sledge, so as he hath taken a fish and broke a-pieces, so hard it hath been ; and yet the same fishes taken out of the snow, and brought into a hot room, will be alive and leap up and down. Swal- lows are often brought up in their nets out of the mudd from under water, hanging together to some twigg or other, dead in ropes, and brought to the fire will come to life. Fowl killed in December (Alderman Barker said) he did buy, and putting into the box under his sledge, did forget to take them out to eate till Aprill next, and they then were found there, and were through the frost as sweet and fresh and eat as well as at first killed. Young beares appear there; their flesh sold in market as ordin- arily as beef here, and is excellent sweet meat. They tell us that beares there do never hurt any body, but fly away from you, unless 3'ou pursue and set upon them ; but wolves do much mischief. Mr. Harrington told us how they do to get so much honey as they send abroad. They make hollow a great fir-tree, leaving only a small slitt down straight in one place, and this they close up again, only leave a little hole, and there the bees go in and fill the bodys of those trees as full of wax and honey as they can hold ; SPORTS AXD PASTIMES 39 and the inhabitants at times go and open the slit, and take what the}- please without killing the bees, and so let them live there still and make more. Decejnber n, 1663. FOOT-RACING VXTITH Mr. Moore and Creed to Hide- * * parke by coach, and saw a fine foot- race three times round the Park, between an Irishman and Crow, that was once my Lord Claypoole's footman. August 10, 1660. ' HANDYCAPP ' 'T'O the Miter taverne in "Wood-streete -*- (a house of the greatest note in London), where I met ^Y. Symons, and D. Scobell, and their -nives, Mr, Samford Luellin, Chetwind, one Mr, Yivion, and Mr. AVhite, formerly chaplain to the Lady Protectresse (and still so, and one they say that is likely to get my Lady Francesse for his wife). Here some of us fell to handy- capp, a sport that I never knew before. September 18, 1660. HUNTING n^O Grayes-Inn walks, and there staid a •^ good while; where I met with Ned Pickering, who told me what a great match of hmitiug of a stagg the King had yesterday ; T 40 LEAVES FROM P E P Y S DIARY and how the King tired all their horses, and come home with not above two or three able to keep pace with him. Atigust II, 1661. 'HE great entertainment and sport of the Duke of Corland, and the princes thereabouts, is hunting ; which is not with dogs as we, but he appoints such a day, and summonses all the country-people as to a campagnia ; and by several companies gives every one their circuit, and they agree upon a place where the toyle is to be set ; and so making fires every company as they go, they drive all the wild beasts, whether bears, wolves, foxes, swine, and stags, and roes, into the toyle ; and there the great men have their stands in such and such places, and shoot at what they have a mind to, and that is their hunting. They are not very populous there, by reason that people marry women seldom till they are towards or above thirty ; and men thirty or forty, or more oftentimes, years old. Against a public hunting the Duke sends that no wolves be killed by the people ; and whatever harm they do, the Duke makes it good to the person that suffers it : as Mr. Harrington instanced in a house where he lodged, where a wolfe broke into a hog-stye, and bit three or four great pieces off of the back of the hog, before the house could come to help it ; and the man of the SPORTS AND PASTIMES 4I house told him that there were three or four wolves thereabouts that did them great hurt ; but it was no matter, for the Duke was to make it good to him, otherwise he would kill them. December n, 1663. XINE-PINS TN the evening for the first time, extra- -'■ ordinary good sport among the seamen, after my Lord had done playing at nine-i^ins. April i-ij, 1660. n^ HEX into the Great Garden up to the -*- Banqueting House ; and there by rnj- Lord's glass we drew in the species very pretty. Afterwards to nine-jjins. Creed and I playing against my Lord and Cooke. May 27, 1663. PALL MALL 'T^O St. James's Park, where I saw the ■^ Duke of York playing at Pelemele, the first time that ever I saw the sport. Then to the Dolphin to Sir '\V. Batten, and Pen, and other companj- ; among others Mr. Delabar ; where strange how these men, who at other times are all wise men, do now, in their drink, betwitt and reiiroach one another with their former conditions, and their actions as in public concerns, till I Avaa ashamed to see it. A/>ril 2, 1661. 42 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY A FTERAVAEDS to St. James's Park, -^~~^ seeing people play at Pell Mell ; where it pleased me mightily to hear a gallant, lately come from France, sware at one of his companions for suffering his man (a spruce blade) to be so saucy as to strike a ball while his master was playing on the Mall. January 4, 1663-4. SKATING n^O my Lord Sandwich's, to Mr. Moore; -■- and then over the Parke (where I first in my life, it being a great frost, did see people sliding with their skeates, which is a very pretty art). December i, 1662. 'T^ O the Duke, and followed him into the -'- Parke, where, though the ice was broken and dangerous, yet he would go slide upon his scates, which I did not like, but he slides very well. December 15, 1662. TENNIS VyALKING through White Hall, I heard * ^ the King was gone to jilay at Tennis, so I down to the New Tennis Court, and saw him and Sir Arthur Slingsby jjlay against my Lord of Suffolke and my Lord Chester- field. The King beat three, and lost two sets, they all, and he particularly inlaying well, I thought. December 28, 1663. SPORTS AND PASTIMES 43 T AVEXT to see a great match at tennis, -■■ between Prince Rupert and one Captain Cooke against Bali. 3Iay and the elder Chichi}' ; where the King was, and Court ; and it seems thej' are the best pla^-ers at' tennis in the nation. But this puts me in mind of what I observed in the morning, that the King playing at tennis had a steele- yard carried to him ; and I was told it was to weigh him after he had done i)la3-ing; and at noon Mr. Ashburnham told me that it is only the King's curiosity, which he usually hath of weighing himself before and after his play, to see how much he loses in weight by playing; and this day he lost 4Mbs. September 2, 1667. IV DUELLING Montagu — Cholmely. Jermyn — Rawlins. Protected by armour. Fled. Bellasses — Porter. Dead of the duel ! Buckingham — Shrewsbury. Sir W. Coventry challenges the Duke of Buckingham — committed to the Tower, and subsequently released. )B.. PIERCE, the chjrurgeon, told me how Mr. Edward Montagu hath lately had a duell with Mr. Cholmely, that is first gentlemau-usher to the Queene, and was a messenger to her from the King of Portugall, and is a fine gentleman ; but had received man}- affronts from Mr. Montagu, and some unkindness from my Lord, upon his score (for which I am sorry). He proved too hard for Montagu, and drove him so far backward that he fell into a ditch, and dropt his sword, but with honour would take no advantage over him ; but did give him his life : and the world says 44 DUELLING 45 'My. Montagu did carry himself very poorly in the business, and hath lost his honour for ever with all people in it. August 6, 1662. A T the office ; and Mr. Coventry did tell -^~^ us of the duell between Mr. Jermyn, nephew to my Lord St. Alban's, and Colonel Giles Rawlins, the latter of whom is killed, and the first mortally wounded, as it is thought. They fought against Captain Thomas Howard, m}' Lord Carlisle's brother, and another unknown ; who, they say, had armor on that they could not be hurt, so that one of their swords went up to the hilt against it. They had horses read}-, and are fled. But what is most strange, Howard sent one challenge before, but they could not meet till 3'esterday at the old Pall Mall at St. James's, and he would not to the last tell Jermyn what the quarrel was ; nor do any body know. The Court is much concerned in this fray, and I am glad of it; hoping that it will cause some good laws against it. August 19, 1662. CREED did tell us the story of the duell last night, in Covent-garden, between "Sir H. Bellasses and Tom Porter. It is worth remembering the silliness of the quarrel, and is a kind of emblem of the general complexion of this whole kingdom 46 LEAVES FROX PEPYs' DIARY at present. They two dined yesterday at Sir Robert Carr's where it seems people to drink high, all that come. It haj^pened that these two, the greatest friends in the world, were talking together : and Sir H. Bellasses talked a little louder than ordinary to Tom Porter, giving of him some advice. Some of the companj' standing by said, ' "What ! are they quarrelling, that they talk so high ? ' Sir H. Bellasses hearing it, said, ' No ! ' says he : 'I would have j-ou know I never qiuirrel, but I strike ; and take that as a rule of mine ! ' — ' How ? ' says Tom - Porter, ' strike ! I would I could see the man in England that durst give me a blow ! ' with that Sir H. Bellasses did give him a box of the eare ; and so they were going to fight there, but were hindered. And by and by Tom Porter went out, and meeting Dryden the poet, told him of the business, and that he was resolved to fight Sir H. Bellasses presently ; for he knew, if he did not, they should be friends to-morrow, and then the blow would rest upon him ; which he would prevent, and desired Drvden to let him have his boy to bring him notice which way Sir H. Bellasses goes. By and by he is informed that Sir H. Bellasses's coach was coming : so Tom Porter went down out of the Coffee-house where he stayed for the tidings, and stopped the coach, and bade Sir H. Bellasses come out. DUELLING 47 'AVhy,' says H. Bellasses, '3'ou will not hurt me coming out — will jou ? ' ' No, ' says Tom Porter. So out he Avent, and both drew : and H. Bellasses having drawn and flung away his scabbard, Tom Porter asked him whether he was ready ? The other answering him he was, they fell to fight, some of their acquaintance by. They wounded one another, and H. Bellasses so much that it is feared he will die : and finding himself severely wounded, he called to Tom Porter, and kissed him and bade him shift for himself ; ' for,' says he, ' Tom, thou hast hurt me ; but I will make shift to stand upon my legs till thou mayest with- draw, and the world not take notice of you, for I would not have thee troubled for what thou hast done.' And so whether he did fly or no I cannot tell ; but Tom Porter showed H. Bellasses that he was wounded too : and they are both ill, but H. Bellasses to fear of life. And this is a fine example ; and H. Bellasses a Parliament-man too, and both of them extraordinary friends ! July 29, 1667, C IR HENRY BELLASSES is dead of the •^ duell he fought about ten days ago with Tom Porter; and it is pretty to see how the world talk of them as a couple of fools that killed one another out of love, August 8, 1667. 48 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY MUCH discourse of the duell yesterday between the Duke of Buckingham, Hohnes, and one Jenkins, on one side, and my Lord of Shrewsbury, Sir John Talbot, and one Bernard Howard, on the other side : and all about my Lady Shrewsbury, who is at this time, and hath for a great while been, a mistress to the Duke of Buckingham. And so her husband challenged him, and they met yesterday in a close near Barne-Elmes and there fought : and my Lord Shrewsbury is run through the body, from the right breast through the shoulder ; and Sir John Talbot all along up one of his amies ; and Jenkins killed upon the place, and the rest all in a little measure wounded. This will make the world think that the King hath good counsellors about him, when the Duke of Buckingham, the greatest man about him, is a fellow of no more sobriety than to fight about a mistress. January 18, 1667-8. L ORD SHREWSBURY is likely to do well. January 19, 1667-8. THEPvE is a pardon passed to the Duke of Buckingham, my Lord of Shrews- bury and the rest, for the late duell and murder. February 5, 1667-8. D r E L L i >' G 49 A FTER dinner I to the Tower, where I -^~^ find Sir "W. Coventr}' with abundance of company with him ; and after sitting awhile and hearing some merry discourse, and, among others, of Mr. Brouncker's being this day summoned to Sir "William Morton, one of the Judges, to give in security for his good behaviour upon his words the other day to Sir John Morton, a Parliament-man, at "White Hall, who had heretofore si^oke very highly against Brouncker in the House, I away, and to Aldgate. March 5, 166S-9. MIGHTILY pleased with the news Ijrought me to-night that the King and Duke of York are come back this after- noon, and no sooner come but a warrant was sent to the Tower for the releasing Sir "W. Coventry : which do put me in some hopes that there may be in this absence some accommodation made between the Duke of York and the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Arlington. March 20, 1668-q. TO "White Hall, in a scull ; where to the Duke of York's dressing-room, and there met Harry Saville, and do understand that Sir "W. Coventry is come to his house last night. I understand by Mr. "Wren that his friends having by Secretar}- Trevor and 56 LEAVES FROM P E P Y S DIARY my Lord Keeper applied to the King iipon his first coming home, and a promise made that he shovild be discharged this day, my Lord Arlington did anticipate them by send- ing a warrant presently for his discharge; which looks a little like kindness, or a desire of it; which God send ! though I fear the contrary. However, my heart is glad that he is out. March 21, 1668-9. IT" f V PLAYS AND PLAYERS ' Loj-al Subject.' Kinaston, a boy actor. Lincoln's Inn. 'Beggars' Bush.' Moone. Women on the stage. * Argalus and Par- thenia.' 'Changeling.' Salsbury Court Theatre. 'Queen's Mask.' Whitefriars' Theatre. 'The Bondman.' Betterton the actor. 'Love's Mistress.' Red Bull. 'All's Lost by Lust.' Sir William Davenant's Opera. 'Siege of Rhodes.' ' Claracilla. ' 'The Wits.' 'Jovial Crew.' 'Bartholomew- Fair.' 'Rhodes.' 'Adventures of Five Hours.' Col. Tuke, pJay-writer. 'Hamlet.' 'Committee.' Harris, the actor. Rival theatres. 'Indian Queen.' Tom Killigrew. 'Rival Ladies.' 'Henry v.,' by Lord Or- rery. Orrery's ' Mustapha.' Nell Gwj-nne. 'Othello.' 'Love in a Tub.' 'Custom of the Country.' 'Every ^lan in his Humour.' ' English Princess, or Richard III.' Miss Davis, dancer. Lady Newcastle's ' Humorous Lo\ers.' Howard's 'Change of Crowns.' '.Silent Woman.' Lord Orrery's 'Black Prince.' 'Catiline.' 'School of Compliments.' 'Henry iv.' 'Wildgoose 51 52 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY Chase.' Sir C. Sedley's ' Wandering Ladies." 'Duke of Lorane.' 'Indian Emperor.' Sir R. Howard's ' Duke of Lerma.' ' Alble- manazar.' Jonson's ' Alchymist.' 'Virgin INIartyr.' Beck Marshall. 'Discontented Colonel.' 'Impertinents.' Haynes, the dancer. 'Sea Voyage.' Sedley's ' Mulberry Garden.' ' Philaster.' Shirley's ' Hyde Park.' Lacy's ' M. Ragout.' 'Guardian.' 'Cutter of Coleman Street.' 'Usurper.' ' Unfortunate Lovers.' ' Catiline's Con- spiracy.' 'Heiress.' 'Moor of Venice.' ' Island Princess.' ' Royal Shepherdess.' ' Faithful Shepherdess.' ' Lady's Trial.' ■APTAIN FERRERS took me and Creed to the Cockpitt pla}^ the first that I have had time to see since my coming from sea, 'The Loyall Sub- ject,' wliere one Kinaston, a boy, acted the Duke's sister, but made the loveliest lady that ever I saw in my life. Atigust 1 8, 1660. MR. SHEPLEY and I to the new play- house near Lincoln's - Inn - Fields (which was formerly Gibbon's tennis-court), where the play of 'Beggars' Bush' was newly begun; and so we went in and saw it well acted : and here I saw the first time one Moone, who is said to be the best actor in the world, lately come over with the King, PLAYS A X D PLAYERS 53 and indeed it is the finest play-house, I believe, that ever was in England. November 20, 1660. TO the Theatre, where was acted ' Beg- gars' Bush,' it being very well done; and here the first time that ever I saw women come upon the stage. January 3, 1660-1. TO the theatre, and there sat in the pitt among the company of fine ladys, &c. ; and the house was exceeding full, to see ' Argalus and Parthenia,' the first time that it hath been acted : and indeed it is good, though wronged by my over great expecta- tions, as all things else are. Jajinary 31, 1660-1. 'T* O the Play-house, and there saw ' The ^ Changeling,' the first time it hath been acted these twenty- years, and it takes exceedingl}-. Besides, I see the gallants do begin to be tyred with the vanity and i^ride of the theatre actors, who are indeed grown very proud and rich. February 23, 1660-1. 'T^O AVhite-fryars, and saw 'The Bond- -'- man ' acted ; an excellent play and well done. But above all that ever 1 saw, Beterton do the Bondman the best. March i, 1660-1. 54 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY AFTER dinner I went to the theatre, where I found so few people (which is strange, and the reason I do not know) that I went out again, and so to Salsbury Court, where the house as full as could be ; and it seems it was a new play, 'The Queen's Maske,' wherein there are some good humours : among others, a good jeer to the old story of the Siege of Troy, making it to be a common country tale. But above all it was strange to see so little a boy as that was to act Cupid, which is one of the greatest parts in it. March 2, 1660-1. AFTER dinner I went to the theatre, and there saw 'Love's Mistress' done by them, which I do not like in some things as well as their acting in Salsbury Court. MarcJi II, 1661. TO the Red Bull (where I had not been since plays come up again) up to the tireing-room, where strange the confusion and disorder that there is among them in fitting themselves, especially here, where the clothes are very poore, and the actors but common fellows. At last into the pitt, where I think there was not above ten more than myself, and not one hundred in the whole house. And the play, which is called 'All's lost by Lust,' poorly done; and with so much disorder, among others, in the PLAYS AXD TLATERS 55 musique-room the boy that Avas to sing a song, not singing it right, his master fell about his eares and beat him so, that it put the whole house in an ui^rore, March 23, 1661. VA/'EXT to Sir William Davenant's Opera ; this being the fourth daj- that it hath begun, and the first that I have seen it. To-day was acted the second i>art of 'The Siege of Rhodes.' We staid a very great while for the King and Queen of Bohemia. And by the breaking of a board over our heads, we had a great deal of dust fell into the ladies' necks and the men's haire, which made good sport. The King being come, the scene opened ; which indeed is very fine aiid magnificent, and well acted, all but the Eunuche, who was so much out that he was hissed off the stage. July 2, 1661. T WENT to the theatre, and there I saw ' Claracilla ' (the first time I ever saw it), well acted. But strange to see this house,' that used to be so thronged, now empty since the Opera begun ; and so will continue for a while, I believe. Jtily 4, 1661. nrO the Opera, which begins again to-day -■- with 'The Witts,' never acted yet with scenes; and the King and Duke and Duchesse 56 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DiAR-Jf were there (who dined to-day with Sir H. Finch, reader at the Temple, in great state) ; and indeed it is a most excellent play, and admirable scenes. August 15, 1661. MY wife and I to the theatre, and there saw 'The Joviall Crew,' where the King, Duke and Duchesse, and Madame Palmer, were ; and my wife, to her great content, had a fnll sight of them all the while. August 27, 1661. HAYING appointed the young ladies at the Wardrobe to go with them to the play to-day, my wife and I took them to the theatre, where we seated ourselves close by the King, and Duke of York, and Madame Palmer, which was great content; and, indeed, I can never enough admire her beauty. And here was ' Bartholomew Fay re, ' with the puppet-showe, acted to day, which had not been these forty years, (it being so satyricall against puritanism, they durst not till now, which is strange they should already dare to do it, and the King do coun- tenance it, ) but I do never a whit like it the better for the puppets, but rather the worse. Thence home with the ladies, it being, by reason of our staying a great while for the King's coming, and the length of the play, near nine o'clock before it was done. September 7, 1661. PLAYS A y D PLAYERS 57 T ^ /"ITH nij wife to the Oi^era, where we ^ * saw ' The Boudman,' which of old we both did so doate on, and do still ; though to both our thinking not so well acted hei'e, (having too great expectations) as formerly at Salisbury-court. But for Beterton, he is called by us both the best actor in the world. November 4, 1661. A 1 HTH my wife to the Duke's Theatre, * * and saw the second part of ' Rhodes,' done with the new Roxalana ; which do it rather better in all respects for person, voice, and judgment, than the first Roxalana. December 1"], 1662. TO the Cockpitt, where we saw 'Clara- cilia, ' a poor pla}', done by the King's house ; but neither the King nor Queene were there, but onl}- the Duke and Duchesse. January 5, 1662-3. TWINED at home; and there being the -*-^ famous new play acted the first time to-da}', which is called 'The Adventures of Five Hours,' at the Duke's house, being, they saj', made or translated b}- Colonel Tuke, I did long to see it ; and so we went ; and though early, were forced to .^^it, almost out of sight, at the end of one of the lower formes, so full was the house. And the play, in one word, is the best, for the variety 58 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY and the most excellent continuance of the plot to the very end, that ever I saw, or think ever shall. January 5, 1662-3. T) Y water to the Ro^-al Theatre ; but that ■^ was so full the}- told us we could have 110 room. And so to the Duke's house ; and there saw 'Hamlett' done, giving us fresh reason never to think enough of Betterton. Who should we see come upon the stage but Gosnell, my wife's maid ? but neither spoke, ■danced, nor sung ; Avhich I was sorry for. May 28, 1663. 'T^O the Royal Theatre ; and there saw -*• 'The Committee,' a merry but indif- ferent play, only Lacey's part, an Irish footman, is bej'ond imagination. Here I saw my Lord Falconbridge, and his Lady, my Lady Mary Cromwell, Avho looks as well as I have known her, and well clad : but when the House began to fill she put on her vizard, and so kept it on all the pla}' ; which of late is become a great fashion among the ladies, which hides their whole face. So to the Exchange, to buy things with xny wife ; among others, a vizard for herself. June 12, 1663. ^liyOTTEN tells me the reason of Harris's * '' going from Sir AVm. Davenant's house is, that he grew very proud and PLAYS AND PLAYERS 59 demanded £20 for himself extraordinarj-, more than Betterton or any body else, upon every new play, and £10 upon every revive which A\-ith other things Sir VT. Davenant would not give him, and so he swore he would never act there more, in expectation of being received in the other House ; but the King will not suffer it, upon Sir W. Davenant's desire that he would not, for then he might shut up house, and that is true. He tells me that his going is at present a great loss to the House, and that he feats he hath a stipend from the other House privately. He tells me that the fellow grew very i^roud of late, the King and every body else crying him up so high, and that above Betterton he being a more ayery man, as he is indeed. But yet Betterton, he says, they all say do act some parts that none but himself can do. /ufy 22, 1663. /"^ALLIXG at 'SVotton's, my shoemaker's, ^^-^ to-day, he tells me that Sir H. Wright is dying; and that Harris is come to the Duke's house again ; and of a rare play to be acted this week of Sir William Davenant's. The story of Henry the Eighth with all his wives. Dcccvibey 10, 1663. 'T^O the King's Theatre, and there saw ^ 'The Indian Queen' acted; which indeed is a most pleasant show, and bevond 6o LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARV my expectation ; the play good, but spoiled with the ryme which breaks the sense. But above my expectation most, the eldest Marshall did do her part most excellently well as I ever heard woman in mj' life ; but her voice is not so sweet as lanthe's ; but, however, we come home mightih' contented. February i, 1663-4. TO the King's pla^'-house, and there saw ' Bartholomew Fayre ' ; which do still please me ; and is, as it is acted, the best comedy in the world, I believe. I chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew, who tells me that he is setting up a nurserj- ; that is, is going to build a house in Moorefields, wherein he will have common plays acted. But four operas it shall have in the j^ear, to act six weeks at a time : where we shall have the best scenes and machines, the best musique, and everj'thing as magnificent as is in Christendome ; and to that end hath sent for voices and painters and other persons from Italy. August 2, 1664. TO a play at the King's house, ' The Rivall Ladys,' a ver}^ innocent and most prett}' witty play. I was much jileased with it, and it being given me, I look uj^on PLAYS A X D PLAYERS 6l it as no breach of 1113- oath. Here we hear that Cluu, one of their best actors, was, the last night, going out of towne (after he had acted the 'Alchj-mist,' wherein was one of his best parts that he acts) to his country- house, set upon and murdered; one of the rogues taken, an Irish fellow. It seems most cruelly butchered and bound. The house will have a great miss of him. August 4, 1664. T^O the new jjlay, at the Duke's house, -■- of ' Henry the Fifth ' ; a most noble play, writ by my Lord Orrery, wherein Betterton, Harris, and lanthe's parts most incomjmrably wrote and done, and the whole play the most full of height and raptures of wit and sense, that ever I heard; having but one incongruity, that King Harry promises to plead for Tudor to their Mis- tress, Princesse Katherine of France, more than when it comes to it he seems to do; and Tudor refused by her with some kind of indignity, not with a difficulty and honour that it ought to have been done in to him. August 13, 1664. nrO a play at the Duke's, of my Lord ^ Orrery's, called 'Mustapha,' which being not good, made Betterton's part and lanthe's but ordinary too. All the pleasure of the play was, tlie King and my Lady 62 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY Castlemaine were there ; and pretty witty Nell, at the King's house, and the younger Marshall sat next us ; which pleased me mightily. April 3, 1665. npO Deptford by water, reading ' Othello, -■- Moore of Venice,' which I ever here- tofore esteemed a mighty good play, but having so lately read ' The Adventures of Five Houres,' it seems a mean thing. August 20, 1666. nn O White Hall, and into the new play- -'- house there, the first time I ever was there, and the first play I have seen since before the great plag-ue. By and by Mr. Pierce comes, bringing my wife and his, and Knij^p, By and by the King and Queen, Duke and Duchesse, and all the great ladies of the Court ; which, indeed, was a fine sight. But the play, being 'Love in a Tub,' a silly play, and though done by the Duke's people, 3'et having neither Beterton nor his wife, and the whole thing done ill, and being ill also, I had no manner of jjleasure in the play. Besides, the House, though very fine, yet bad for the voice, for hearing. The sight of the ladies indeed, Avas exceeding noble ; and above all, m\' Lady Castlemaine. The play done by ten o'clock. October 29, 1666. PLAYS AND PLAYERS 63 A LOXE to the King's house, and there -^^*- saw 'The Custome of the Country,' the second time of its being acted, wherein Knipp does the AVidow well ; but of all the plays that ever I did see, the worst, having neither plot, language, nor any thing in the earth that is acceptable; only Knipp sings a song admirably. Jaywary 2, 1666-7 ° O EAD a piece of a play, ' Every Man in -^^ his Humour,' wherein is the greatest propriety of speech that ever I read in my life ; and so to bed. February g, 1666-7. n^O Devonshire House, to a burial of a -■■ kinsman of Sir R. Viner's ; and there I received a ring. To the Duke's playhouse, and saw ' The English Princesse, or Richard the Third'; a most sad, melancholy play, and pretty good, but nothing eminent in it, as some tragedy s are ; only little Miss Davis did dance a jigg after the end of the plav, and there telling the next day's play, so that it come in by force only to j^lease the com- })any to see her dance in boy's clothes ; and the truth is, there is no comparison between Nell's dancing the other day at the King's house in boy's clothes and this, this being infinitely beyond the other. This day was reckoned by all people the coldest day tliat ever was remembered in England ; and God knows, coals at a very great price. March 7, 1666-7. 64 LEA.VES FROM PEPYs' DIARY TO see the silly play of my Lady New- castle's, called 'The Humourous Lovers ' ; the most silly thing that ever came upon a stage. I was sick to see it, but yet would not but have seen it, that I might the better understand her, March 30, 1667. TO the King's house by chance, where a new play : so full as I never saw it ; I forced to stand all the while close to the very door till I took cold, and many people went away for want of room. The King and Queene and Duke of York and Duchesse there, and all the Court, and Sir W. Coventry. The play called ' The Change of Crownes ' ; a play of Ned Howard's, the best that I ever saw at that house, being a great play and serious ; only Lacy did act the country-gentleman come up to Court, who do abuse the Court with all the imaginable wit and plainness about selling of places, and doing every thing for money. The play took very much. Carried my wife to see the new play I saw yesterday ; but there, contrary to expectation, I find 'The Silent AYoman.' April 15, 1667. KNIPP tells me the King was so angrj' at the liberty taken by Lacy's part to abuse him to his face, that he commanded they should act no more, till Moone went PLAYS AND PLAYERS 65 and got leave for them to act again, but not this play. The King mighty angry ; and it was bitter indeed, but very fine and witty. I never was more taken with a play than I am with this 'Silent Woman,' as old as it is, and as often as I have seen it. There is more wit in it than goes to ten new plays. Pierce told us the story how in good earnest the King is offended with the Duke of Rich- mond's marrying, and Mrs. Stewart's sending the King his jewels again. As she tells it. It is the noblest romance and example of a brave lady that ever I read in my life. April 16, 1667. jV/r ET Mr. Rolt, who tells me the reason of no play to-day at the King's house. That Lacy had been committed to the porter's lodge for his acting his part in the late new play, and being thence released to come to the King's house, he there met with Ned Howard, the poet of the play, who congratulated his release ; upon which Lacy cursed him as that it was the fault of his nonsensical play that was the cause of his ill usage. Mr. Howard did give him some reply : to which Lacy answered him, that he was more a fool than a poet ; upon which Howard did give him a blow on the face with his glove ; on which Lacy, having a cane in his hand, did give him a blow over the pate. Here Rolt and others that discoursed of it in 66 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY the pit this afternoon, did wonder that Howard did not run him through, he being too mean a fellow to fight with. But Howard did not do any thing but complain to the King of it ; so the whole house is silenced, and the gentry seem to rejoice much at it, the house being become too insolent. April ^o, 1667. TO the Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw ' Mustapha ' ; which the more I see the more I like ; and is a most admirable poem and bravely acted ; only both Betterton and Harris could not contain from laughing in the midst of a most serious part, from the ridiculous mistake of one of the men upon the stage ; which I did not like. September 4, 1667. FULL of my desire of seeing my Lord Orrery's new play this afternoon at the King's house, 'The Black Prince,' the first time it is acted ; where though we came by two o'clock, yet there was no room in the pit, but were forced to go into one of the upper boxes, at 4s, a piece, which is the first time I ever sat in a box in my life. And in the same box came by and by behind me, my Lord Barkeley and his lady ; but I did not turn my face to them to be known, so that I was excused from giving them my seat. And this pleasure I had, P L A Y .S AND PLAYERS 67 that from this place the scenes do ai)pear veiy fine indeed, and much better than in the pit. The house infinite full, and the King and Duke of York there. The whole house was mightily pleased all along till the reading of a letter, which was so long and so unnecessary that they frequently began to laugh, and to hiss twenty times, that had it not been for the King's being there, they had certainly hissed it off the stage. October 19, 1667. T MET Harris the player, and talked of •^ ' Catiline,' which is to be suddenly acted at the King's house ; and there all agree that it cannot be well done at that hoiise, there not being good actors enough : and Burt acts Cicero, which they all conclude he will not be able to do well. The King gives them £500 for robes, there being, as they say, to be sixteen scarlet robes. December 11, 1667. TO the Nursery; but the house' did not act to-day ; and so I to the other two playhouses into the pit to gaze up and down : and there did by this means for nothing see an act in ' The Schoole of Comi)liments ' at the Duke of York's house, and ' Henry the Fourth' at the King's house ; but not liking either of the plays, I took my coach again, and home. January 7, 1667-8. 68 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY TO the King's house, to see ' The Wild- goose Cliase.' In this play I met with nothing extraordinary at all, but very dull inventions and designs. Knipp came and sat by us, and her talk pleased me a little, she tells me how Miss Davis is for certain going away from the Duke's house, the King being in love with her ; and a house is taken for her, and furnishing ; and she hath a ring given her already worth £600 : that the King did send several times for Nell}^ and she was with him ; and I am sorry for it, and can hope for no good to the State from having a Prince so devoted to his pleasure. She told me also of a play shortly coming upon the stage of Sir Charles Sedley's, which, she thinks, will be called ' The Wandering Ladys,' a comedy that she thinks will be most pleasant ; and also another play, called 'The Duke of Lorane': besides 'Catiline,' which she thinks, for want of the clothes which the King promised them, will not be acted for a good while. January ii, 1667-8. THENCE by coach to Mrs. Pierce's, where my wife is ; and there they fell to discourse of the last night's work at Court, where the ladies and Duke of Mon- mouth and others acted ' The Indian Emperour ' ; wherein they told me these things most remarkable : That not anj- PLAYS AND PLAYERS 69 woman but the Ducliesse of Monmouth and Mrs. Cornwallis did any thing but like fools and stocks, but that these two did do most extraordinarilj- well : that not any man did any thing well but Captain Olrigran, who spoke and did well, but above all things did dance most incomparably, Janjiary 14, 1667-8. ■p\ INED, and by one o'clock to the King's ^—' house: a new play, 'The Duke of Lerma,' of Sir Robert Howard's: where the King and Court was; and Knipp and Xell spoke the prologue most excellently, especi- ally Knipp, who spoke beyond any creature I ever heard. The play designed to reproach our King with his mistresses, that I was troubled for it, and expected it should be interrupted ; but it ended all well, which salved all. February 20, 1667-8. 'T'O the Duke's playhouse, and there saw •*• ' Alblemanazar,' an old play, this the second time of acting. It is said to have lieen the ground of B. Jonson's ' Alchymist ' ; but, saving the ridiculousnesse of Angell's part, which is called Trinkilo, I do not see any thing extraordinary in it, but was indeed wary of it before it was ck)ne. The King here ; and indeed all of us pretty merry at the mimique tricks of Trinkilo. February 22, 1667-8. JO LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY WITH my wife to the King's house to see 'The Virgin Martj^r,' the first time it hath been acted a great while : and it is mighty pleasant ; not that the play is worth much, but it is finely acted by Beck Marshall. But that which did please me bej'ond any thing in the whole world, was the wind-musique when the angel comes down ; which is so sweet that it ravished me, and indeed, in a word, did wrap up my soul so that it made me really sick, just as I have formerly been when in love with my wife ; that neither then, nor all the evening going home, and at home, I was able to think of any thing, but remained all night transported, so as I could not believe that ever any musique hath that real command over the soul of a man as this did upon me ; and makes me resolved to practice wind- musique, and to make my wife do the like. February 27, 1667-8. A FTER dinner to the King's house, and -^~^ there saw part of ' The Discontented Colonell.' March 5, 1667-8. TO the King's playhouse, and there saw 'The English Monsieur' (sitting for privac}' sake in an upper box) : the play hath much mirth in it as to that particular humour. After the play done I down to Knipp, and did stay her undressing herself : !• L A Y S A X D PLAYERS 7I and there saw the several players, men and^ women, go by; and pretty to see how strange they are all, one to another, after' the i)lay is done. Here I hear Sir \V. Davenant is just now dead; and so who will succeed him in the mastership of the House is not yet known. April T, i663.- T UP and down to the Duke of York's ■*■ playhouse, there to see, wliich I did, Sir W. Davenant's corpse, carried out to- wards "Westminster, there to be buried. Here were many coaches and six horses, and many hacknies, that made it look^ methought, as if it were the buriall of a poor poet. He seemed to have many chil- dren, by five or six in the first mourning- coach, all boys. April c^, 1668. r^REED and I to the Duke of York's ^^ playhouse; and there coming late, up to the balcony-box, where we find my Lady Castlemaine and several great ladies ; and there we sat with them, and I saw 'The Impertinents ' once more, now three times, and the three only days it hath been acted. And to see the folly how the house do this day cry up the play more than yesterday ! and I for that reason like it, I find, the better too. By Sir Positive At-all, I understand is meant Sir Robert Howard. 72 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY My Lady pretty well pleased with it: but here I sat close to her fine womau, Willson, who indeed is very handsome, but, they say, with child by the King. I asked, and she told me this was the first time her Lady had ^een it, I having a mind to say something to Iher. One thing of familiarit}^ I observed in sny Lady Castlemaine : she called to one of ter women, another that sat by this, for a little patch off of her face, and put it into her mouth, and wetted it and so clapped it xipon her own by the side of her mouth, I guppose she feeling a pimple rising there. May 5, 1668. 'T^O the King's house ; where going in for -■- Knipp, the play being done, I did see Beck Marshall come dressed off the stage, and look might}^ fine and pretty, and noble : and also Nell in her boy's clothes, mighty pretty. But Lord ! their confidence, and how many men do hover about them as soon as they come off the stage, and how con- fident they are in their talk ! Here was also Haynes, the incomparable dancer of the King's house. AMay 7, 1668. *'y^0 the King's playhouse, and there saw -'- the best part of 'The Sea Voyage,' where Knipp did her part of sorrow very well. May 16, 1668. PLAYS AND PLAYERS 73 'T^O my Lord Bellasses, at his new house -■■ by my late Lord Treasurer's ; which indeed is mighty noble, and good pictures, indeed not one bad one in it. It being almost twelve o'clock, or little more, to the King's playhouse, where the doors were not then open; but presently they did open; and we in, and find many people already come in by private ways into the pit, it being the first day of Sir Charles Sedley's new play so long expected, 'The Mulbery Garden ' ; of whom, being so reputed a wit, all the world do expect great matters. I having sat here awhile and eat nothing to- day, did slip out, getting a boy to ke^) my place ; and to the Rose Tavern, and there got half a breast of mutton off of the spit, and dined all alone. And so to the play again ; where the King and Queene by and by come, and all the Court ; and the house infinitely full. But the play, when it come, though there was here and there a pretty saying, and that not very many neither, yet the whole of the play had nothing extra- ordinary in it aU, neither of language nor design; insomuch that the King I did not see laugh nor pleased from the beginning to the end, nor the comi^any ; insomuch that I have not been less pleased at a new plav in my life, I think. May 18, 1668. 74 LEAVES FBOM PEPYs' DIARY 'T*0 the King's playhouse, and there saw -*• ' Philaster ' ; where it is pretty to see hoAV I could remember almost all along, ever since I was a boy, Arethusa, the part which I was to have acted at Sir Robert Cooke's ; and it was very pleasant to me, but more to think what a ridiculous thing it would have been for me to have acted a beautiful woman. May 30, 1668. T_T ERE comes Harris, and first told us -*- -*• how Betterton is come again upon the stage : whereupon my wife and company to the house to see ' Henry the Fifth ' ; while I to attend the Duke of York at the Com- mittee of the Navy at the Council. July 6, 1668. 'T^O the King's Playhouse to see an old J- play of Shirly's, ^called ' Hide Parke ' ; the first da}^ acted ; where horses are brought upon the stage : but it is but a very moderate play, only an excellent epilogue spoke by Beck Marshall. July II, 1668. np O the King's house, to see the first day -■- of Lacy's 'Monsieur Ragou,' now new acted. The King and Court all there, and mighty merry: a farce. The month ends mighty sadly with me, my eyes being now PLAYS A X D PLAYERS 75 past all use almost ; and I am mighty hot upon trying the late printed experiment of paper tubes. July 31, i663. 'yO the Duke of York's playhouse, and -■■ there saw ' The Guardian ' ; formerly the same, I find, that was called ' Cutter of Coleman-street ' ; a silly play. August 5, 1668. A BROAD Avith my wife, the first time -^^- tliat ever I rode in my own coach, which do make my heart rejoice and praise God, and pray him to bless it to me and continue it. So she and I to the King's playhouse, and there saw ' The Usurpei" : a pretty good play in all but what is designed to resemble Cromwell and Hugh Peters, which is mighty silly. The plav done, we to White Hall. December 2, 1668. A T noon home to dinner, and then abroad -^ ^ again Avith my wife to the Duke of York's playhouse, and saw 'The Unfor- tunate Lovers ' : a mean play I think, but some parts very good, and excellently acted. AVe sat under the boxes, and saw the fine ladies ; among others, my Lady Kerneguy, who is most devilishly painted. And so home, it being mighty pleasure to go alone with my poor wife in a coach of our own to 76 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY a pla}^ and makes us appear mighty great, I think, in the world ; at least, greater than ever I could, or my friends for me, have once expected; or, I think, than ever any of my family ever yet lived in my memory, but my cosen Pepys in Salisbury Court, Decetnber 3, 1668. "j\ /r Y wife and I by Hackney to the King's ^^^ playhouse, and there, the pit being full, sat in the box above, and saw ' Catiline's Conspiracy,' yesterday being the first day: a play of much good sense and words to read, but that do appear the worst upon the stage, I mean the least diverting, that ever I saw any, though most fine in clothes ; and a fine scene of the Senate and of a fight as ever I saw in my life. We sat next to Betty Hall, that did belong to this house, a mighty jjretty wench. December 19, 1668. 'T^O the Duke of York's playhouse, and J- there saw 'The Five Hours' Adven- ture,' which hath not been acted a good while before, but once, and is a most ex- cellent play I must confess. Januaiy 27, 1668-9. nnO dinner at noon, where I find Mr. -^ Sheres ; and there made a short dinner, and carried him with us to the King's playhouse, where 'The Heyresse,' PLAYS AND PLAYERS J J notwithstanding Kinaston's being beaten, is acted : and they say the King is very angry with Sir Charles Sedley for his being beaten, but he do den\- it. But his part is done by lieeston, who is fain to read it out of a book all the while, and thereb}- spoils the part, and almost the play, it being one of the best parts in it : and though the design is in the first conception of it prettj' good, j-et it is but an indifferent plaj' ; wrote, the}' say, by m}- Lord Newcastle. But it was pleasant to see Beeston come in with others, supposing it to be dark, and yet he is forced to read his part by the light of the candles : and this I observing to a gentleman that sat by me, he was mightily pleased therewith, and spread it up and down. But that that pleased me most in the play, is the first song that Knipp sings (she singing three or four) ; and indeed it was very finely sung, so as to make the whole house clap her. February 2, 1668-9. TO the King's i)layhouse, and there in an upper box (where come in Colonell Poynton and Doll Stacey, who is very fine, and by her wedditig-ring I suppose he hath married her at last), did see ' The IVIoor of Venice ' : but ill acted in most parts, Moone (which did a little surprize me) not acting lago's part b}- much so well as Clun used to do : nor another Hart's, which was Cassio's ; 78 LEAVES FROX PEPYs' DIARY nor indeed Burt doing the Moor's so well as I once thought he did. February 6, 1668-9. TO the King's playhouse, and there saw 'The Island Princesse,' which I like mighty well as an excellent play : and here we find Kinaston to be well enough to act again; which he do ver}^ well, after his beating bj- Sir Charles Sedley's appoint- ment. February g, i668-g. TO the plaisterer's, and there saw the figure of my face taken from the mould ; and it is most admirablj" like, and I will have another made before I take it away. At the 'Change I did at my book- seller's shop accidentally fall into talk with Sir Samuel Tuke about trees and Mr. Evelyn's garden ; and I do find him, I think, a little conceited, but a man of very fine discourse as any I ever heard almost ; which I was might}' glad of. In Suffolk-street lives Moll Davies ; and we did see her coach come for her to her door, a mighty pretty fine coach. To "White Hall ; and there, by means of Mr. Cooling, did get into the play, the only one we have seen this winter : it was" ' The Five Hours' Adventure ' : but I sat so far I could not hear well, nor was there any pretty woman that I did see but my wife, who sat in my Lady Fox's pew PLAVS AXD PLAYERS 79 witli her. The house very full; and late before done, so that it was past eleven before we got home. February 15, 1668-9. J N the evening to ^Vhite Hall, and there ^ did without much trouble get into the pla^-house, finding a good place among the Ladies of Honour, and all of us sitting in the pit ; and then by and by came the King and Queene, and they began ' Bartholomew" fair.' But I like no play here so well as at the common playhouse; besides that, my eyes being very ill since last Sunday and this day se'nnight, I was in mighty jiain to defend myself now from the light of the candles. After the play done, we met with W. Batelier and AV. Hewer and Talbot Pepys, and they followed us in a hackney- coach : and we all stopped at Hercules' Pillars ; and there I did give them the best supper I could, and pretty merry; and so home between eleven and twelve at night. February 22, 1668-9. 'T^O the Duke of York's house, and there before one, but the house infinite full ; where by and by the King and Court come, it being a new 2>lay, or an old one new vamped by Shadwell, called 'The Royall Shepherdesse ' ; but the silliest for worrls and design, and every thing, that ever I saw in my whole life, there being nothing in the 8o LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY world pleasing in it but a good martiall dance of pikemen, where Harris and another do handle their pikes in a dance to admira- tion ; but never less satisfied with a play in my life. February 25, 1668-9. 'T^O the King's playhouse, and saw 'The -*- Faithfull Shepherdesse.' But, Lord ! what an empty house, there not being, as I could tell the people, so manj^ as to make up above £10 in the whole house ! But I plainly discern the musick is the better, by how much the house the emptier. February 26, 1668-9. TO the Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw an old play, the first time acted these f ort}^ years, called ' The Lady's Tryall,' acted only by the young people of the house ; but the house very full. March 3, i668-g. TO the Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw 'The Impertinents,' a play which pleases me well still ; but it is with great trouble that I now see a play because of my eyes, the light of the candles making it very troublesome to me. After the play to Creed's. April x^, 1669. VI NELL GWYXXE 'Pretty, witty Nell." English Monsieur. Humorous Lieutenant. ' A most pretty woman." Dryden's Maiden Queen. Euglish Princess, or Richard III. Xell dances in boy's clothes. 'Pretty Nelly.' Indian Em- Peror. Flora! s Figarys. 'Nell cursed.' The Surprisal. Mad Couple. IVildgoose Chase. Sir Robert Howard. Duke of Lerma. Island Princess. ' The jade Nell ... a bold, merry slut.' ' ) a play at the Duke's, of my Lord Onery'.s, called 'Mus- tapha,' which being not good, made Betertou's jjart and lauthe's but ordinary too. AH the pleasure of the play was, the King and my Lady Castlemaine were there ; and pretty witty Xell, at the King's house, and the younger Marshall sat next us; which pleased me mightily. April 2, 1665. 82 LEAVES FEOM PEPYS DIARY TO the King's play -house, and there did see a good part of 'The English Monsieur,' which is a mighty pretty play, very witty and pleasant. And the women do very well ; but above all, little Nelly. December B, 1666. TO the King's house, and there saw ' The numerous Lieutenant ' : a silly play, I think ; only the Spirit in it that grows very tall and then sinks again to nothing, having two heads breeding ujjon one, and then Knipp's singing, did please us. Here in a box above we sj^ied Mrs. Pierce ; and going out they called us, and so we staid for them ; and Knipp took us all in, and brought to us Nell}-, a most pretty woman, ^who acted the great part Coelia to-da}^ very fine, and did it pretty well : I kissed her, and so did my wife ; and a mighty pretty- soul she is. January 23, 1666-7. AFTER dinner with my wife to the King's house to see 'The Mayden Queene,' a new play of Dryden's, mightily commended for the regularity of it, and the strain and wit : and the truth is, there is a comical part done by Nell, which is Flori- mell, that I never can hope ever to see the like done again by m.an or woman. The King and Duke of York were at the play. NELL O W Y >• X E 83 But SO great performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in the world before as Xell do this, both as a mad girle, then most and best of all when she comes in like a young gallant ; and hath the motions and carriage of a spark the most that ever I saw anj- man have. It makes me, I confess, admu-e her. March 2, 1666-7. 'T^O Devonshire House, to a burial of a -■- kinsman of Sir R. Viner's ; and there I received a ring. To the Duke's playhouse, and saw ' The English Princesse, or Richard the Third ' ; a most sad, melancholy pla}', and pretty good, but nothing eminent in it, as some tragedys are ; only little Miss Davis did dance a jigg after the end of the pla^^ and there telling the next day's play, so that it eome in b}- force only to please the company to see her dance in boy's clothes ; and the truth is, there is no comparison between Nell's dancing the other day at the King's house in boy's clothes and this, this being infinitely beyond the other. This day was reckoned by all people the coldest day that ever was remembered in England ; and, God knows, coals at a very great price. March 7, 1666-7. '^^0 the King's playhouse; and by and ■^ by comes Mr. Lowther and liis wife and mine, and into a box forsooth, neither 84 LEAVES FflOM PEPYS DIARY of them being- dressed, which I was ahuost ashamed of. Sir W. Pen and I in the pit, and here saw ' The Mayden Queene ' again ; which indeed the more I see the more I like, and is an excellent play, and so done by Nell her m.erry i^art, as cannot be better done in nature. March 25, 1666-7. TO Westminster ; in the way meeting many milk-maids with their garlands upon their pails, dancing with a fiddler before them ; and saw pretty Nelly standing at her lodgings' door in Drury-lane in her smock sleeves and bodice, looking upon one ; she seemed a mighty pretty creature. May I, 1667. MR. PIERCE tells us what troubles me, that my Lord Buckhurst hath got Nell awa}' from the King's house, and gives her £100 a-year, so as she hath sent her parts to the house, and will act no more. July 13, 1667. TO Epsum, by eight o'clock, to the well ; where much company. And to the towne to the King's Head ; and hear that my Lord Buckhurst and Nelly are lodged at the next house, and Sir Charles Sedle}" Avith them : and keep a merrj- house. Poor girl ! I pity her ; but more the loss of her at the King's house. July 14, 1667. XELL <;WYXXE 85 A^ITH my Lord Brouncker and his * * toistress to the King's plaj-house, and there saw ' The Indian Emjierour ' : where I find Nell come again, which I am glad of : but was most infiniteh- displeased with her being put to act the Emperour's daughter which is a great and serious jmrt, which she does most basely. Atto^ust 22, 1667. OIR \V. PEN and I had a great deal of ^ discourse with Mall; who tells us that Xell is already left by Lord Buckhurst, and that he makes sport of her, and swears she hath had all she could get of him ; and Hart her great admirer now hates her ; and that she is very poor, and hath lost my Lady Castlemaine, who was her great friend also : but she is come to the playhouse, but is neglected by them all. Au£ust 26, 1667. T^O the King's house ; and there going in -■■ met with Knipp, and she took us up into the tireing-rooms ; and to the women's shift, where Nell was dressing herself, and was all unready, and is very pretty, prettier than I thought. And into the scene-room, and there sat down, and she gave us fruit : and here I read the questions to Knipp, while she answered me, through all her 86 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY part of 'Flora's Figarys,' which was acted to-daj'. But, Lord ! to see how they were both painted, would make a man mad, and did make me loath them ; and what base company of men comes among them, and how lewdly they talk ! And how poor the men are in clothes, and yet what a show they make on the stage by candle-light, is very observable. But to see how Nell cursed, for having so few people in the pit, was strange ; the other house carrying awa}- all the people at the new play, and is said now-a-days to have generally most company, as being better players. By and b}^ into the pit, and there saw the play, which is pretty good. October 5, 1667. 1\ /TRS. PIERCE tells me that the two -'-*-'- Marshalls at the King's house are Stephen Marshall's the great Presbyterian's daughters : and that Nelly and Beck Marshall falling out the other day, the latter called the other my Lord Buckhurst's mistress. Nell answered her, 'I was but one man's mistress, though I was brought up in a brothel to fill strong water to the gentleman ; and you are a mistress to three or four, though a Presbyter's praying daughter ! ' October 26, 1667. NELL (i WYNNE 87 \\T ITH my wife to the King's playhouse, * ^ and there saw ' The Surprizall ' ; which did not jjlease me to-day, the actors not pleasing me ; and especially Nell's acting of a serious part, which she spoils. December 26, 1667. 'T^O the King's house, and there saw -*- ' The Mad Couple ' ; which is but an ordinary play; but only Nell's and Hart's mad parts are most excellent done, but esjiecially her's : which makes it a miracle to me to think how ill she do any serious part, as the other day, just like a fool or changeling ; and, in a mad part, do beyond all imitation almost. It pleased us mightily to see the natural affection of a poor woman, the mother of one of the children brought on the stage : the child crying, she by force got upon the stage, and took up her child and carried it away off of the stage from Hart. December 28, 1667. \Sce (dm ' Plays and Players.'] VII MUSIC The Blind Beggar. The 'Arched Viall." The Nature of Sounds. M. Grebus, Master of the King's ^Nlusic. Organ at Westminster. * A Recorder.' An Italian Company before Royalty. 3 Sir "VV. Rider's to dinner. A fine merry walk with the ladies alone after dinner in the garden : the greatest quantity of straAvberrys I ever saw, and good. This very house was built by the blind beggar of Bednall Green, so much talked of and sang in ballads ; but they say it was only some of the outhouses of it. June 26, 1663. 08 MUSI C 89 n^O the Musique-meeting at the Post- -*■ office, where I was ouce before. And thither anon come all the Gresham College, and a great deal of noble company : and the new instrument was brought called the Arched Viall, where being tuned with lute- strings, and plaj-ed on with kees like an organ, a piece of parchment is alwavs kept moving; and the strings, which by the kees are pressed down upon it, are grated in imitation of a bow, by the parchment ; and so it is intended to resemble several vyalls played on with one bow, but so baselj- and so harshly, that it will never do. But after three hours' stay it could not be fixed in tune : and so they were fain to go to some other musique of instruments. October 5, 1664. "QISCOURSED with Mr. Hooke about the nature of sounds, and he did make me understand the nature of musicall sounds made by strings, mighty prettily; and told me that having come to a certain number of vibrations proper to make any tone, he is able to tell how manv strokes a fly makes with her wings (those flies that hum in their flying) by the note that it answers to in musique, during their flying. That, I suppose, is a little too much refined ; but his discourse in general of sound was' mighty fine. August Z, ^^66. 90 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY 'T^ the Duke's house to a play. It was -■- indifferently clone. Gosnell not sing- ing, but a new wench that sings naughtily. December 26, 1666. "1 1 riTH my Lord Brouncker b}" coach to » ' his house, there to hear some Italian musique : and here we met Tom Killigrew, Sir Robert Murraj', and the Italian Signor Baptista, who hath proposed a play in Italian for the Opera, which T. Killigrew do intend to have up ; and here he did sing one of the acts. He himself is the poet as well as the musician ; which is very much, and did sing the whole from the words without an}" musique prickt, and played all along upon a harpsicon most admirably, and the composition most excellent. The words I did not understand, and so know not how they are fitted, but believe very well, and all in the recitativo very fine. But I jjerceive there is a proper accent in every countrj-'s discourse, and that do reach in their setting of notes to words, which, there- fore, cannot be natural to any body else but them ; so that I am not so much smitten with it as it may be I should be if I were acquainted with their accent. But the whole comiDOsition is certainly most excellent ; and the poetr\-, T. Killigrew and Sir R, Murray, who understood the words, did say most excellent. I confess I was mightily pleased MUSIC 91 with the musique. He pretends not to voice, though it be good, but not excellent. This done, T. Killigrew and I to talk: and he tells me how the audience at his house is not above half so much as it used to be before the late fire. That Knipp is like to make the best actor that ever come upon the stage, she understanding so well: that they are going to give her £30 a-3-ear more. That the stage is now by his pains a thousand times better and more glorious than ever heretofore. Now wax-candles, and many of them ; then not above 3 lbs. of tallow : now all things civil, no rudeness any where; then, as in a bear-garden : then two or three fiddlers, now nine or ten of the best : then nothing but rushes upon the ground, and every thing else mean ; now all otherwise : then the Queene seldom and the King never would come; now, not the King only for state, but all civil people do think they may come as well as any. He tells me that he liath gone several times (eight or ten times, he tells me) hence to Rome, to hear good musique ; so much he loves it, though he never did sing or play a note. That he hath ever endeavoured in the late King's time and in this to introduce good musique, but he never could do it, there never having been any musique here better than ballads. And says 'Hermitt poore ' and 'Chiny Chese' was all the musique we had; and yet no 92 LEAVES FROM PEPYS DIARY ordinarj' fiddlers get so much money as ours do here, which speaks our rudeness still. That he hath gathered our Italians from several Courts in Christendome, to come to make a concert for the King, which he do give £200 a-jear a-piqce to ; but badlv paid, and do come in the room of keeping four ridiculous Gundilows, he having got the King to put them awaj^ and lay out money this way. And indeed I do commend him for it ; for I think it is a very noble undertaking. He do intend to have some times of the year these operas to be performed at the two present theatres, since he is defeated in what he intended in Moorefields on purpose for it. And he tells me plainly that the City audience was as good as the Court ; but now they are most gone, Baptista tells me' that Giacomo Charissimi is still alive at Rome, who was master to Yinuecotio, Avho is one of the Italians that the King hath here, and the chief composer of them. Mj' great wonder is, liow this man do to keep in memory so perfectly the musique of the whole act, both for the voice and the instrument too. I confess I do admire it: but in recitative the sense much helps him, for there is but one proper way of discoursing and giving the accents. Having done our discourse, we all took coaches (my Lord's and T. Killigrew's) and to Mrs. Knipp's chamber, where this Italian is to teach her >i u s I c 93 to sing her part. And so we all thither, and there she did sing an Italian song or two very fine, while he pla\-ed the bass npon a harpsicon there ; and exceedinglj^ taken I am with her singing, and believe she will do miracles at that and acting. Febrtiary 12, 1666-7. n^O AVhite Hall ; and there in the Boarded -■- Galler}- did hear the musick with which the King is presented this night by ^Monsieur Grebus, the Master of his Musick : both instrumental (I think twenty -four vio- lins) and vocall: an English song upon Peace. But, God forgive me ! I never was so little pleased with a concert of music in my life. The manner of setting of words and repeating them out of order, and that with a number of voices, makes me sick, the whole design of vocall musick being lost by it. Here was a great press of people ; but I did not see many pleased with it, only the instrumental musick he had brought by practice to i)lay very just. October i, 1667. T^O White Hall; and there got into the -*- theatre room, and there heard botli the vocaH and iustrumentall musick. Here was the King and (^)ueene, and some of the ladies; among whom none more jolly than my Lady 94 LEAVES FROar PEPYs' DIARY Buckingham, her Lord being once more a great man. November 16, 1667. lyr EETING Dr. Gibbons, he and I to see -'-'-*- an organ at the Dean of Westminster's lodgings at the Abby, the Bishop of Roches- ter's ; where he lives like a great prelate, his lodgings being verj- good ; though at present under great disgrace at Court, being put by his Clerk of the Closet's place. I saw his lady, of whom the Tcrrce. Filius of Oxford was once so merry ; and two children, where- of one a very pretty little boy, like him, so fat and black. Here I saw the organ ; but it is too big for my house, and the fashion do not please me enough ; and therefore I will not have it. To the Nursery, where none of us ever were before ; where the house is better and the musique better than we looked for, and the acting not much worse, because I expected as bad as could be: and I was not much mistaken, for it was so. February 24, 1667-8. 'T^O Drumbleby's, and there did talk a •^ great deal about pipes ; and did buy a recorder, which I do intend to learn to play on, the sound of it being, of all sounds in the world, most pleasing to me. April 8, 1668. MUSIC 95 CO I to White Hall, and there all the »^ evening on the Queene's side ; and it being a most summer-like day, and a fine warm evening, the Italians came in a barge under the leads before the Queene's drawing- room ; and so the Queene and ladies went out and heard them for almost an hour : and the singing was indeed very good together ; but yet there was but one voice tliat alone did appear considerable, and that was Signior Joanni. September 28, i663. l^See also ' The Clergy and Religious "Worship,'] VIII BOOKS AND BOOKSELLERS Buxtorfs Hebrezv Grajiimar. Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity. Selden. Grotius. Butler's Hudibras. Dugdale's History of Pauls. ?>X.o\\s London. Gesner. History of Trent. Shakespeare. Jonson. Beaumont. Fuller's Worthies. Cabbala. Delices de Hollande. Rushworth. Iter Boreale. Evelyn. Dryden. Nostradamus. Booker's Alma- nack. Pepys' Catalogue. Book - plates. Hobbs's Leviathan. Nott, bookbinder. Life of Julius C(esar. Des Cartes' Music. out this afternoon 95 CALLED at Paul's Churchyard, where I bought Buxtorfs He- brew Grammar; and read a declaration of the gentlemen of Northampton which came 'January 25, 1659-60. BOOKS AXD BOOKSELLERS 97 MR. CHETAVIND fell commending of Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, as the best book, and the onl}" one that made him a Christian, which puts me upon the buying of it, wliich I will do shortly. June 29, 1661. 'T^O White Hall, and there hear that my ^ Lord General Monk continues very ill ; and then to walk in St. James's Park, and saw a great variety of fowle which I never saw before. At night fell to read in Hooker's Ecclesiastical Politii, which Mr. ]\Ioore did give me last "Wednesday' very handsomely bound ; and which I shall read with great pains and love for his sake. Ajigtist iS, 1661. I AM now full of study about writing something about our making of strangers strike to us at sea ; and so am altogether reading Selden and Grotius, and such other authors to that purjjose. December 15, 1661, P early ; and after reading a little in icero, to my office. June 18, 1662. U''c TO the "Wardrobe. Hither come Mr. Battersby ; and we falling into dis- 30urse of a new book of drollery in use, »lled Hudehras, I would needs go find it , 98 L E A \- E S FROM P E P Y S ' DIARY out, and met with it at the Temple : cost me 2s. 6d. But when I come to read it, it is so silly an abvise of the Presbyter Knight going to the warrs, that I am ashamed of it ; and b}' and by meeting at Mr. Townsend's at dinner, I sold it to him for 18d. December 26, 1662. AND so to a bookseller's in the Strand, and there bought Hudibras again, it being certainly some ill humour to be so against that which all the world cries up to be the example of wit ; for which I am resolved once more to read him, and see whether I can find it or no. Fch7-uary 6, 1662-3. TO church, and so home to my wife ; and with her read Iter Boreale, a poem made first at the King's coming home ; but I never read it before, and now like it pretty well, but not so as it was cried up. August 23, 1663. TO Paul's Church Yard, and there looked upon the second part of Hudibras, which I buy not, but borrow to read, to see if it be as good as the first, which the world cried so mightily iip, though it hath not a good liking in me, tliough I had tried but twice or three times reading to bring mj'self to think it witty. November 28, 1663. BOOKS AXD BOOKSELLERS 99 'T'O St. Paul's Church Yard, to my book- ■^ seller's, and could not tell whether to lay out my money for books of pleasure, as plays, which my nature was most earnest in ; but at last, after seeing Chaucer, Dugdale's History of PauVs, Stow's London, Gesner, History of Trent, besides Shakespeare' Jonson, and Beaumont's plays, I at last chose Dr. Fuller's Worthys, the Cahhala or Collections of Letters of State, and a little book, Delices de Hollande, with another little book or two, all of good use or serious pleasure; and Hudihras, both jmrts, the book now in greatest fashion for drollery, though I cannot, I confess, see enough where the wit lies. My mind being thus settled I went by link home, and so to my office' and to read in Rushworth ; and so home to supper and to bed. Deconl^er lo, 1663. "n BAD a book of Mr. Evelyn's translating and sending me as a present, about directions for gathering a Library ; but the book is above my reach, but his epistle to my Lord Chancellor is a very fine piece. October^, 1665. J AM very well pleased this night with reading a poem I brought home with me last night from AVestminster Hall, of Dryden's, upon the present war ; a very good P°^"^- February 2, i666°7. lOO LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY TO Sir G. Carteret's to dinner . . . where very good company. Among other discourse, we talked much of Nostradamus, his prophecy of these times, and the burning of the City of London, some of whose verses are put into Boolccrs Almanack. F^eln-tiary 3, 1666-7. HOME, and to my chamber, and there finished my Catalogue of my books with my own hand. February 4, 1666-7. T' * O my bookseller, INIartin, and there did receive my book I expected of China, a most excellent book with rare cuts; and there fell into discourse with him about the burning of Paul's when the City was burned, his house being in the church-yaj-d. And he tells me that it took fire first upon the end of a board that among others was laid upon the roof instead of lead, the lead being broke off, and thence down lower and lower : but that the burning of the goods under St. Fayth's arose from the goods taking fire in the church -yard, and so got into St. Fayth's church ; and that they first took fire from the Draper's side, by some timber of the houses that were burned falling into the church. He says that one warehouse of books was saved under Taul's ; and there were several dogs found burned among the BOOKS AXD BOOKSELLERS lOl goods in the church-yard, and but one man, which was an old man, that said he would go and save a blanket which he had in the church, and being weak the fire overcame him. He says that most of the booksellers do design to fall a-building again the next year ; but that the Bishop of London do use them most basely, worse than any other land- lords, and says he will be paid to this day the rent, or else he will not come to treat with them for the time to come ; and will not, on that condition either, promise them in any thing how he will use them ; and the Parlia- ment sitting, he claims his privilege, and will not be cited before the Lord Chief Justice, as others are there to be forced to a. fair dealing. January 14, 1667-S. "\1^ENT to my plate-maker's, and there spent an hour about contriving my little plates for my books of the King's four Yards. July 21, i663. n^ O my bookseller's for Hobbs's Leviathan, -*- which is now mightily called for : and what was heretofore sold for 8s. I now give 24s. at the second hand, and is sold for 30s., it being a book the Bishops will not let be printed again. September 3, 1668, SANTA BAxw_.Ax:A COLLL^.. ^.^xiAlH 102 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY CHRISTMAS day. To dinner alone with my Avife, who, poor wretch ! sat un- dressed all day till ten at night, altering and lacing of a noble petticoat ; while I by her making the bo}' read to me the Life of Julius Ccesar, and Des Cartes' Book of Musick. DeceJtiber 25, 1668. W HEWER carried me to Notts, the • famous bookbinder that bound for my Lord Chancellor's library : and here I did take occasion for curiosity to bespeak a book to be bound, only that I might have one of his binding. March 12, 1668-9. IX THE CLEKGY AXD RELIGIOUS AVORSHIP Clergy and their Lands. Calamy. Drunken- ness. ' A poor, dry sermon. ' 'An indifferent sermon,' Conduct in Church. Bp. Hackett. ' Brave musique.' The King and the Lord s Supper. Presbyterian Ministers. Conduct of the Clergy. A Bishop's ' poor sermon.' Poverty of Clergymen. Captain Cooke and his Singing Boys. St. George's Chapel at Windsor. The King and the Clergj-. A 'dull, old-fashioned ' Anthem. >T Court I find that all things grow high. The old clergy talk as being sure of their lands again, and laugh at the Presbytery; and it is believed that the sales of the King's and the Bishops' lands will never be confirmed by Parliament, there being nothing now in any man's power to hinder them and the King from doino- 103 ° I04 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY wliat they had a mind, but everybody will- ing to submit to any thing. May 21, 1660. n^O my Lord, and with him to "White -*- Hall Chapel, where Mr. Calamj' preached, and made a good sermon upon these words, 'To whom much is given, of him much is required.' He was very officious with his three reverences to the King, as others do. After sermon a brave anthem of Captain Cooke's, which he himself sung, and **««. IJang was well pleased with it. My Lord ^^r "^^ambeiliii's. dmedatmyLoru.^ • -•.< la. j^gQ, Aug.,. 1MET Mr. Crewe and dined with him, where there dined one Mr. Hickeman, an Oxford man, who spoke very much against the height of the now old clergy, for putting out many of the religious fellows of Colleges, and inveighing against them for their being drunk. August 21, 1660. I HEARD Dr. Spurstow preach before the King a poor dry sermon ; but a very good anthem of Captn. Cooke's afterwards. October 7, 1660. TO White Hall chappell, where one Dr. Crofts made an indifferent sermon, and after it an anthem, ill sung, which C L E E O V A X D "WORSHIP I05 made the King laiigh. Here I first did see- the Princesse Royall since she came into England. Here I also observed, how the- Duke of York and Mrs. Palmer did talk to one another very wantonly through the hangings that parts the King's closet and the closet where the ladies sit. October 14, 1660. T) Y water to AVhite Hall, and there to ^-^ chapel in my pew belonging to me as Gierke of the Privy Seale ; and there I heard a most excellent sermon of Dr. Hacket, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, \v^\\ these words : ' He that drinketh this water shall never thirst.' AVe had an excellent ftutjiem, m\\% by Captn. Cooke and another,. Hravc mu«ique. And then the King, anti -,^ offered, and took the sacra- come down ai. . , , ,, , . , a sight verv well ment upon his knees ; , , ,• . n • Kt^ T ^ " chapol ag9jn ;; worth seeing. After dinner to \., Z and there had another good an.. ^ Captn. Cooke's. May 18, 1662 (Whit Sunday). IAVENT to Paul's Church Yard to my bookseller's ; and there I hear that next Sunday will be the last of a great many Presbyterian ministers in towne, who, I hear, will give up all. I pray God the issue- may be good, for the discontent is great. My mind well pleased with a letter that I found at home from Mr. Coventry, expressing his I06 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY satisfaction in a letter I writ last night, and sent him this morning, to be corrected bj- him in order to its sending doAvn to all the Yards as a charge to them. August 15, 1662. ^HIS being the last Sunday that the -*- Presbyterians are to preach, unless they read the new Common Prayer and renounce the Covenant, I had a mind to hear Dr. Bates's farewell sermon; and walked to St. Dmistan's, where, it not being seven o'clock yet, the doors were not open; and so I walked an hour in the Temple-garden. At eight o'clock I went, and crowded in at a back door among others, the church being half -full almost before any doors were open publicly ; and so got into the gallery, beside the pulpit, and heard very well. His text was, 'Now the God of Peace ' ; the last Hebrews, and the 20th verse : he making a very good sermon, and very little reflections in it to any thing of the times. August 17, 1662. 'T^O the French Church at the Savoy, and ^ there they have the Common Prayer Book read in French, and, which I never saw before, the minister do preach with his hat off, I suppose in further conformity with our Church. September 28, 1662. CLERGY AND WORSHIP lOJ "pi^'BLICK matters in an ill condition of -'- discontent against the height and vanit}' of the Court, and their bad pay- ments : but that which troubles most, is the Clergy, which will never content the City, which is not to be reconciled to Bishopps : but more the pity that differences must still be. November 30, 1662. T)Y and by down to the chapel again, -L* where Bis^hop jNIorley preached upon the song of the Angels, 'Glory to God on high, on earth peace, and good will towards men.' Methought he made but a poor sermon, l)ut long, and reprehending the common jollity of the Court for the true joy that shall and ought to be on these da3-s. Particularized concerning their excess in playes and gaming, saying that he whose office it is to keep the gamesters in order and within bounds, serves but for a second rather in a duell, meaning the groome-porter. Upon which it was worth observing how far the\- are come from taking the reprehensions of a bishop seriously, that they all laugh in the chapel when he reflected on their ill actions and courses. He did much press us to joy in these publick days of joy, and to hospitality. But one that stood by whispered in my eare that tlie ]iishop do not spend one groate to the poor himself. The sermon I08 LEAVES FRO 51 PEPYs' DIARY clone, a good anthem followed with vialls, and the King came down to receive the Sacrament. Christmas Day, 1662. lyr R. BLACKBUENE and I fell to talk ^^ ^ of many things, wherein he was very open to me: first, in that of religion, he makes it greater matter of prudence for the King and Council to suffer liberty of con- science ; and imputes the loss of Himgary to the Turke from the Emperor's denying them this liberty of their religion. He says that many pious ministers of the word of God, some thousands of them, do now beg their bread : and told me how highly the present clergy carry themselves every where so as that they are hated and laughed at by every body ; among other things, for their excom- munications, which they send upon the least occasions almost that can be. And I am convinced in my judgement, not only from his discourse, but my thoughts in general, that the present clergy will never heartily go down with the generality of the commons of England .; they have been so used to liberty and freedom, and they are so acquainted with the pride and debauchery of the present clergy. He did give me many stories of the affronts which the plerffy receive in all places of England from the gentry and ordinary persons of the parish.^ He do tell me what the City thlnksj of CLERGY AND WORSHIP IO9 General Monk, as of a most perfidious man that hath betra\-ed ever}- body, and the King also ; who, as he thinks, and his party, and so I have heard other good friends of the King say, it might have been better for the King to have had his hands a little bound for the jjresent, than be forced to bring such a crew of poor people about him, and be liable to satisfy the demands of every one of them. He told me that to his know- ledge (being present at every meeting at the Treaty at the Isle of Wight), that the old King did confess himself over-ruled and con- vinced in his judgement against the Bishoi^iis, and would have suffered and did agree to exclude the service out of the churches, nay, his own chapell ; and that he did always saj^ that this he did not by force, for that he would never abate one inch bj^any vyolence; but what he did was out of his reason and judgement. He tells me that the King by name, with all his dignities, is prajed for by them that they call Fanatiques, as heartily and powerfully as in any of the other churches that are thought better : and that, let the King think what he will, it is them that must helj) him in the day of warr. Novevtber 9, 1663. A T chapel I had room in the Privy Scale -^~^ pew with other gentlemen, and there heard Dr. Killigrew preach. The anthem no LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY was good after sermon, being the fifty-first psalme, made for five voices by one of Captn. Cooke's boys, a pretty boy. 'And they say there are four or five of them that can do as much. And here I first perceived that the King is a little musicall, and kept good time with his hand all along the anthem. November 22, 1663. q^ HENCE to Lord Sandwich's, where I find J- him within with Captain Cooke and his boys, Dr. Childe, Mr. Madge, and Mallard, playing and singing over my Lord's anthem which he hath made to sing in the King's Chapel: my Lord took me into the with- drawing room to hear it, and indeed it sounds very pretty, and is a good thing, I believe to be made by him, and they all commend it. December IT., 1663. /^ALLED up about five in the morning, ^^ and my Lord up, and took leave, a little after six, very kindly of me and the whole company. So took coach and to Windsor, to the Garter, and thither sent for Dr. Childe : who come to us, and carried us to St. George's Cliapel, and there placed us among the Knight's stalls ; (and pretty the observation, that no man, but a woman may sit in a Knight's place, where any brass- plates are set), and hither come cushions to CLERGY AND WORSHIP IH US, and a youiig singing-boy to bring us a coi)}^ of the anthem to be sung. And here, for our sakes, had this anthem and the great service sung extraordinary, only to entertain us. It is a noble place indeed, and a good Quire of voices. Great bowing by all the people, the poor Knights in particularly, to the ALter. After i^rayers, we to see the plate of the chapel, and the robes of Knights^ and a man to show us the banners of the several Knights in being, Avhich hang up over the stalls. February 26, 1665-6. VyALKED into the Park to the Queen's * * chapel, and there heard a good deal of their mass, and some of their musique, which is not so contemptible, I think, as our people would make it, it pleasing me very well ; and, indeed, better than the anthem I heard afterwards at AVhite Hall, at my coming back. I staid till the King went down to receive the Sacrament, and stood in his closet with a great many others, and there saw him receive it, which I did never see the manner of before. April 11, 1666. ]\/j" R. HOLLIER dined with my wife and ^^^- me. ]\ruch discourse about the bad state of the Church, and how the Clergy are come to be men of no worth in the world; and, as the world do now generally discourse' 112 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY they must be reformed : and I believe the Hierarchy will in a little time be shaken, Avhether they will or no; the King being offended with them and set upon it, as I hear, F-ebruary i6, 1667-8. n^ HEN to White Hall Thence to the -■- chapel, it being St. Peter's day, and did hear an anthem of Silas Taylor's making ; a dull, old-fashioned thing of six and seven parts, that nobody could understand : and the Duke of York, when he came out, told me that he was a better storekeeper than anthem-maker, and that was bad enough too. June 29, 1668. 'T^HE great talk of the towne is the J- strange election that the City of London made yesterday for Parliament- men; viz. Fowke, Love, Jones, and . . ., men that, so far from being episcopall, are thought to be Anabaptists ; and chosen with a great deal of zeale, in spite of the other part}' that thought themselves so strong, calling out in the Hall, ' No Bishops ! no Lord Bishops ! ' It do make people to fear it may come to worse, by being an examj^le to the country to do the same. And indeed the Bishops are so high, that very few do love them. March 20, 1660-1. CLERGY AXD WORSHIP II3 'T^HIS day, I hear, the Parliament have ordered a bill to be brought in for restoring the Bishops to the House of Lords ; which they had not done so soon but to spite Mr. Prin, who is every day so bitter against them in his discourse in the House. ^'^y 30, 1 66 1. WEDNESDAY, a day kept between a fast and a feast, the Bishops not bejng ready enough to keep the fast for foule weather before fair weather come; and so they were forced to keep it between both. June 12, 1 66 1. QOMIXG home to-night, I met with AVill. Swan, who do talk as high for the Fanatiques as ever he did in his life • and do pity my Lord Sandwich and me that we should be given up to the wickedness of the world ; and that a fall is coming upon us all; for he finds that he and his company are the true spirit of the nation, and the greater part of the nation too, who will have liberty of conscience in s})ite of this 'Act of Uniformity,' or they will die ; and if they may not preach abroad, thev will preacli in tJieir own -houses. He told me that certainly Sir H. Vane must be gone to Heaven, for he died as much a martyr and saint as ever man .lid ; and that the King hath lost more H 114 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY by that man's death, than he will get again a good while. At all which I know not what to think ; but, I confess, I do think that the Bishops will never be able to carry it so high as they do. June 22, 1662. THIS I take to be as bad a juncture as ever I observed. The King and his new Queene minding their pleasures at Hampton Court. All people discontented ; some that the King do not gratify them enough ; and the others, Fanatiques of all sorts, that the King do take away their liberty of conscience ; and the height of the Bishops, who I fear will ruin all again. They do much cry uj^ the manner of Sir H. Vane's death, and he deserves it. June 1662. TO my Lord Crewe's, and dined with him and his brother, I know not his name. Where very good discourse. . . . By aiid by come in the great Mr. Swinfen, the Pai'lia- ment-man, who, among other discourse of the rise and fall of familys, told us of Bishop Bridgeman (father of Sir Orlando) Avho lately hath bought a seat anciently of the Levers, and then the Ashtons ; and so he hath in his great hall window (having repaired and beautified the house) caused four great places to be left for coates of armes. In one he hath put the Levers, with CLERGY AND WORSHIP 115 this motto, ' Olim.' In another the Ashtons, with this, 'Heri.' In the next his own, with til is, 'Hodie.' In the fourtli nothing but this motto, 'Cras nescio cujus.' The towne I hear is full of discontents, and all know of the King's new bastard by Mrs. Hasle- rigge, and as far as I can hear will never be contented with Episcopacy, they are so cruelly set for Presbytery, and the Bishops carry themselves so high, that they are never likely to gain anything upon them. Xovciiibcr 12, 1662. QTRANGE to hear how my Lord Ashley, »^ by my Lord ]]ristoi"s means (he being brought over to the Catholi(iue party against the Bishops, whom he hates to the death, and publicly rails against them ; not that he is become a Catholique, but merely opposes the Bishoi)s ; and yet, for aught I hear, the Bishop of London keeps as great with the King as ever), is got into favour, so much that, being a man of great business and yet of pleasure, and drolling too, he, it is thought, will be made Lord Treasurer upon the death or removal of the good old man. ... In Scotland, it seems, for all the newsbooks tell us every week that they are all so quiet, and every thing in the Church settled, the old woman like to have killed, the other day, the Bisho]) of Galloway, and not half the Churches of the whole kingdom conform. May 15, 166: ■'^« Il6 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY 'T*0 White Hall, and there to chapel; -*- where it was most infinite to hear Dr. Critton. The Doctor preached upon the thirty-first of Jerem}-, and the twent}-- first and twent^'-second verses, about a woman compassing a man ; meaning the Virgin conceiving and bearing our Saviour. It was the worst sermon I ever heard him make, I must confess ; and yet it was good, and in two places very bitter, advising the King to do as the Emperor Severus did, to hang up a Presbyter John (a short coat and a long gowne interchangeably) in all the Courts of England. But the story of Severus was pretty, that he hanged up forty senators before the Senate-house, and then made a speech presently to the Senate in praise of his own lenit}' ; and then decreed that never any senator after that time should suffer in the same manner without consent of the Senate ; which lie compared to the proceed- ing of the Long Parliament against my Lord Strafford. He said the greatest part of the lay magistrates in England were Puritans, and would not do justice ; and the Bishops' powers were so taken away and lessened, that they could not exercise the power they ought. He told the King and the ladies, plainly speaking of death and of the skulls and bones of dead men and women, how there is no difference ; that nobody could tell that of the great Marius or Alexander CLERGY A >' D WORSHIP UJ from a p^'oneer ; nov, for all the pains the ladies take with their faces, he that shonld look in a charnel-house could not distinguish which was Cleopatra's, or fair Rosamond's, or Jane Shore's. Jl/arc/i 25, 1663-4. T FIND by him that the Bishops must -*- certainly fall, and their hierarchy ; these people have got so much ground upon the King and kingdom as is not to be got again from them : and the Bishops do well deserve it. But it is all the talk, I find, that Dr. "Wilkins, my friend, Bishop of Chester, shall be removed to "Winchester and be Lord Treasurer. Though this be foolish talk, yet I do gather that he is a mighty rising man, as being a Latitudin- arian, and the Duke of Buckingham his great friend. Marc/i 16, 1668-9. X AN HISTORIC FAIR An old custom revived. Wrestling. Hunt- ing. Shooting. A challenger. The play of 'Bartholomew Fayre.' A puppet-play Stage play. Rope-dancing, mare. A dancing mare. An intelligent I HIS noon going to the Ex- change, I met a fine fellow with trumpets before him in Leadenhall - street, and upon enquiry I find that he is the clerke of the City Market ; and three or four men carried each of them an arrow of a pound weight in their hands. It seems this Lord Mayor begins again an old custome, that upon the three first days of Bartholomew Fayre, the first, there is a match of wrest- ling, which was done, and the Lord Mayor there and the Aldermen in Moorefields yesterday : second day, shooting : and to- morrow hunting. And this officer of course lis AX HISTORIC FAIR II9 is to perform this ceremony of riding through the city, I think to proclaim or challenge any to shoot. It seems the people of the faire cry out upon it as a great hindrance to them. Aji^^jist 25, 1663. 'THO the King's play-house, and there saw -^ ' Bartholomew Fa3're ' ; which do still please me ; and is, as it is acted, the best comedy in the world, I believe. August 2, 1664. T TO Bartholomew faj're to walk up and -*■ down ; and there among other things find m}- Lady Castlemaine at a puppet-play ('Patient Grizell'), and the street full of people expecting her coming out. Ai(gust 30, 1667. SO I out, and met my wife in a coach, and stopped her going thither to meet me ; and took her and Mercer and Deb. to Bartholomew fair, and there did see a ridiculous, obscene little stage-])lay, called ' j\Iarry Audrey ' ; a foolish thing, but seen by ever}^ body : and so to Jacob Hall's dancing on the ropes ; a thing worth seeing, and mightily followed. August 29, 1668. *" I " O the fair, and there saw several sights ; -^ among others, the mare that tells money and man}- things to admiration. September i, 1668. I20 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY TO the fair to see the play 'Bartholomew- fair,' with puppets. And it is an excellent play ! the more I see it, the more I love the wit of it ; only the business of abus- ing the Puritans begins to grow stale and of no use, they being the people that at last will be found the wisest. September 4, 1668. WITH my Lord Brouncker (who was this day in unusual manner merry, I believe with drink), J. Minnes, and W. Pen to Bartholomew-fair; and there saw the dancing mare again (which to-daj' I find to act much worse than the other day, she for- getting many things, which her master beat her for, and was mightily vexed), and then the dancing of the ropes, and also the little stage-play, which is very ridiculous. September 7, 1668. XI COROXATIOX FESTIVITIES ]>OUT four I rose and got to the Abbey, where I followed Sir J. Denham, the Surveyor, with some company that he was leading in. And with much ado, by the favour of Mr. Cooper, his man, did get up into a great scaffold across the North end of the Abbey, where with a great deal of patience I sat from past four till eleven before the King come in. And a great pleasure it was to see the Abbey raised in the middle, all covered with red, and a throne (that is a chaire) and footstoole on the top of it ; and all the officers of all kind-s so much as the very fidlers, in red vests. At last comes in the Dean and Prebends of Westminster, with the Bishops (many of them in cloth of gold copes), and after them the Nobility, all in their Parliament robes, which was a most magnificent sight. Then 121 122 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY the Duke and the King with a scepter (carried b}- my Lord Sandwich) and sword and wand before him, and the crowne too. The King in his robes, bare-headed, which was very fine. And after all had placed them- selves, there was a sermon and the service ; and then in the Quire at the high altar, the King passed through all the ceremonies of the Coronation, which to my great grief I and most in the Abbey could not see. The crowne being put upon his head, a great shout begun, and he come forth to the throne, and there jmssed through more ceremonies : as taking tlie oath, and having things read to him by the Bishopp ; and his lords (who put on their caps as soon as the King put on his crowne) and bishops come, and kneeled before him. And three times the King at Armes went to the three open places on the scaffold, and proclaimed, that if any one could show any reason why Charles Stewart should not be King of England, that now he should come and speak. And a Generall Pardon also was read by the Lord Chancellor, and meddalls flung up and down by my Lord Cornwallis, of silver, but I could not come by any. But so great a noise that I could make but little of the musique : and, indeed, it was lost to every body. I went out a little while before the King had done all his ceremonies, and went round the Abbey to Westminster Hall, all the way within rayles, COROXATIOX FESTIVITIES I23 and 10,000 people with tlie ground covered with blue cloth ; and scaffolds all the way. Into the Hall I got, where it was very fine with hangings and scaffolds one npon another full of brave ladies ; and my wife in one little one, on the right hand. Here I staid walking up and down, and at last upon one of the side stalls I stood and saw the King come in with all the persons (but the soldiers) that were yesterdaj' in the cavalcade ; and a most jileasant sight it was to see them in their several robes. And the King come in with his crowne on, and his sceptre in his hand, under a canopy borne up by six silver staves, carried by Barons of the Cinque Ports, and little bells at every end. And after a long time, he got up to the farther end, and all set themselves down at their several tables ; and that was also a brave sight : and the King's first course carried up by the Knights of the Bath. And many fine ceremonies there was of the Heralds leading up people before him, and bowing ; and my Lord of Albemarle's going to the kitchin and eating a bit of the first dish that was to go to the King's table. But, above all, was these three Lords, Northumberland, and Suffolke, and the Duke of Ormond, coming before the courses on horseback, and stay- ing so all dinner-time, and at last bringing up (Dymock) the King's Chami)ion, all in armour on horseback, with his speare and 124 LEAVES FROM PEPYs' DIARY targett carried before him. And a herald proclaims 'That if aii}^ dare deny Charles Stewart to be lawful King of England, here was a Chami^ion that would fight with him ' ; and with these words, the Champion flings down his gauntlet, and all this he do three times in his going up towards the King's table. To which when he is come, the King drinks to him, and then sends him the cup which is of gold, and he drinks it off, and then rides back again with the cup in his hand. I went from table to table to see the Bishops and all others at their dinner, and was infinitely pleased with it. And at the Lords' table, I met with "William Howe, and he sjioke to my Lord for me, and he did give him four rabbits and a pullet, and so Mr. Creed and I got Mr. Min shell to give us some bread, and so we at a stall eat it, as every body else did what they could get. I took a great deal of pleasure to go up and down, and look u^jon the ladies, and to hear the musique of all sorts, but above all, the 24 violins. About six at night they had dined, and I went up to my wife. And strange it is to think, that these two days have held up fair till now that all is done, and the King gone out of the Hall ; and then it fell a-raining and thundering and lighten- ing as I have not seen it do for some j-ears : which people did take great notice of ; God's blessing of the work of these two days, which CORONATION FESTIVITIES I25 is a foolery to take too much notice of such things. I observed little disorder in all this, only the King's footmen had got hold of the canopy, and would keep it from the Barons of the Cinque Ports, which they endeavoured to force from them again, but could not do it till my Lord Duke of Albemarle caused it to 1)6 put into Sir R. P\-e's hand till to-morrow to be decided. At Mr. Bowj-or's; a great deal of company, some I knew, others I di