Diary, Aug/Sep 1666 | Page 4

Samuel Pepys
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. AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 1666
August 1st. Up betimes to the settling of my last month's accounts, and
I bless God I find them very clear, and that I am worth L5700, the most
that ever my book did yet make out. So prepared to attend the Duke of
Yorke as usual, but Sir W. Pen, just as I was going out, comes home
from Sheernesse, and held me in discourse about publique business, till
I come by coach too late to St. James's, and there find that every thing
stood still, and nothing done for want of me. Thence walked over the
Parke with Sir W. Coventry, who I clearly see is not thoroughly pleased
with the late management of the fight, nor with any thing that the
Generalls do; only is glad to hear that De Ruyter is out of favour, and
that this fight hath cost them 5,000 men, as they themselves do report.
And it is a strange thing, as he observes, how now and then the
slaughter runs on one hand; there being 5,000 killed on theirs, and not
above 400 or 500 killed and wounded on ours, and as many
flag-officers on theirs as ordinary captains in ours; there being Everson,
and the Admiral and Vice- Admiral of Freezeland on theirs, and
Seamour, Martin, and -----, on ours. I left him going to Chappell, it
being the common fast day, and the Duke of York at Chappell. And I to
Mrs. Martin's, but she abroad, so I sauntered to or again to the Abbey,
and then to the parish church, fearfull of being seen to do so, and so
after the parish church was ended, I to the Swan and there dined upon a
rabbit, and after dinner to Mrs. Martin's, and there find Mrs. Burroughs,
and by and by comes a pretty widow, one Mrs. Eastwood, and one Mrs.
Fenton, a maid; and here merry kissing and looking on their breasts,
and all the innocent pleasure in the world. But, Lord! to see the
dissembling of this widow, how upon the singing of a certain jigg by
Doll, Mrs. Martin's sister, she seemed to be sick and fainted and God
knows what, because the jigg, which her husband (who died this last
sickness) loved. But by and by I made her as merry as is possible, and
towzed and tumbled her as I pleased, and then carried her and her sober

pretty kinswoman Mrs. Fenton home to their lodgings in the new
market of my Lord Treasurer's, and there left them. Mightily pleased
with this afternoon's mirth, but in great pain to ride in a coach with
them, for fear of being seen. So home, and there much pleased with my
wife's drawing today in her pictures, and so to supper and to bed very
pleasant.

2nd. [Up] and to the office, where we sat, and in discourse at the table
with Sir W. Batten, I was obliged to tell him it was an untruth, which
did displease him mightily, and parted at noon very angry with me. At
home find Lovett, who brought me some papers varnished, and showed
me my crucifix, which will be very fine when done. He dined with me
and Balty's wife, who is in great pain for her husband, not hearing of
him since the fight; but I understand he was not in it, going hence too
late, and I am glad of it. Thence to the office, and thither comes to me
Creed, and he and I walked a good while, and then to the victualling
office together, and there with Mr. Gawden I did much business, and so
away with Creed again, and by coach to see my Lord Bruncker, who it
seems was not well yesterday, but being come thither, I find his coach
ready to carry him abroad, but Tom, his footman, whatever the matter
was, was lothe to desire me to come in, but I walked a great while in
the Piatza till I was going away, but by and by my Lord himself comes
down and coldly received me. So I soon parted, having enough for my
over officious folly in troubling myself to visit him, and I am apt to
think that he was fearfull that my coming was out of design to see how
he spent his time [rather] than to enquire after his health. So
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