Diary, Apr/May 1661 | Page 4

before making
an entire meal of them. D.W.]

THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M.A. F.R.S.
CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY

TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN
THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY MAGDALENE COLLEGE
CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE
FELLOW AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE
(Unabridged)
WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES
EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY
HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS. APRIL & MAY 1661
April 1st, 1661. This day my waiting at the Privy Seal comes in
again.Up early among my workmen. So to the once, and went home to
dinner with Sir W. Batten, and after that to the Goat tavern by Charing
Cross to meet Dr. Castle, where he and I drank a pint of wine and
talked about Privy Seal business. Then to the Privy Seal Office and
there found Mr. Moore, but no business yet. Then to Whitefryars, and
there saw part of "Rule a wife and have a wife," which I never saw
before, but do not like it. So to my father, and there finding a discontent
between my father and mother about the maid (which my father likes
and my mother dislikes), I staid till 10 at night, persuading my mother
to understand herself, and that in some high words, which I was sorry
for, but she is grown, poor woman, very froward. So leaving them in
the same discontent I went away home, it being a brave moonshine, and
to bed.

2d. Among my workmen early and then along with my wife and Pall to
my Father's by coach there to have them lie a while till my house be
done. I found my mother alone weeping upon my last night's quarrel
and so left her, and took my wife to Charing Cross and there left her to
see her mother who is not well. So I into St. James's Park, where I saw
the Duke of York playing at Pelemele,
[The game was originally played in the road now styled Pall Mall, near
St. James's Square, but at the Restoration when sports came in fashion
again the street was so much built over, that it became necessary to find
another ground. The Mall in St. James's Park was then laid out for the
purpose.]

the first time that ever I saw the sport. Then to my Lord's, where I
dined with my Lady, and after we had dined in comes my Lord and
Ned Pickering hungry, and there was not a bit of meat left in the house,
the servants having eat up all, at which my Lord was very angry, and at
last got something dressed. Then to the Privy Seal, and signed some
things, and so to White-fryars and saw "The Little Thiefe," which is a
very merry and pretty play, and the little boy do very well. Then to my
Father's, where I found my mother and my wife in a very good mood,
and so left them and went home. Then to the Dolphin to Sir W. Batten,
and Pen, and other company; among others Mr. Delabar; where strange
how these men, who at other times are all wise men, do now, in their
drink, betwitt and reproach one another with their former conditions,
and their actions as in public concernments, till I was ashamed to see it.
But parted all friends at 12 at night after drinking a great deal of wine.
So home and alone to bed.

3rd. Up among my workmen, my head akeing all day from last night's
debauch. To the office all the morning, and at noon dined with Sir W.
Batten and Pen, who would needs have me drink two drafts of sack
to-day to cure me of last night's disease, which I thought strange but I
think find it true.
[The proverb, "A hair of the dog that bit you," which probably had
originally a literal meaning, has long been used to inculcate the advice
of the two Sir Williams.]
Then home with my workmen all the afternoon, at night into the garden
to play on my flageolette, it being moonshine, where I staid a good
while, and so home and to bed. This day I hear that the Dutch have sent
the King a great present of money, which we think will stop the match
with Portugal; and judge this to be the reason that our so great haste in
sending the two ships to the East Indys is also stayed.

4th. To my workmen, then to my Lord's, and there dined with Mr.
Shepley. After dinner I went in to my Lord and there we had a great
deal of musique, and then came my cozen Tom Pepys and there did
accept of the security which we gave him