Diary, August 1667 | Page 4

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS. AUGUST 1667
August 1st. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon my wife and
I dined at Sir W. Pen's, only with Mrs. Turner and her husband, on a
damned venison pasty, that stunk like a devil. However, I did not know
it till dinner was done. We had nothing but only this, and a leg of

mutton, and a pullet or two. Mrs. Markham was here, with her great
belly. I was very merry, and after dinner, upon a motion of the women,
I was got to go to the play with them-the first I have seen since before
the Dutch coming upon our coast, and so to the King's house, to see
"The Custome of the Country." The house mighty empty--more than
ever I saw it--and an ill play. After the play, we into the house, and
spoke with Knipp, who went abroad with us by coach to the Neat
Houses in the way to Chelsy; and there, in a box in a tree, we sat and
sang, and talked and eat; my wife out of humour, as she always is,
when this woman is by. So, after it was dark, we home. Set Knepp
[Pepy's spells the name of this friend often with an 'i' but sometimes
with and 'e'. D.W.]down at home, who told us the story how Nell is
gone from the King's house, and is kept by my Lord Buckhurst. Then
we home, the gates of the City shut, it being so late: and at Newgate we
find them in trouble, some thieves having this night broke open prison.
So we through, and home; and our coachman was fain to drive hard
from two or three fellows, which he said were rogues, that he met at the
end of Blow-bladder Street, next Cheapside. So set Mrs. Turner home,
and then we home, and I to the Office a little; and so home and to bed,
my wife in an ill humour still.

2nd. Up, but before I rose my wife fell into angry discourse of my
kindness yesterday to Mrs. Knipp, and leading her, and sitting in the
coach hand in hand, and my arm about her middle, and in some bad
words reproached me with it. I was troubled, but having much business
in my head and desirous of peace rose and did not provoke her. So she
up and come to me and added more, and spoke basely of my father,
who I perceive did do something in the country, at her last being there,
that did not like her, but I would not enquire into anything, but let her
talk, and when ready away to the Office I went, where all the morning I
was, only Mr. Gawden come to me, and he and I home to my chamber,
and there reckoned, and there I received my profits for Tangier of him,
and L250 on my victualling score. He is a most noble-minded man as
ever I met with, and seems to own himself much obliged to me, which I
will labour to make him; for he is a good man also: we talked on many
good things relating to the King's service, and, in fine, I had much
matter of joy by this morning's work, receiving above L400 of him, on

one account or other; and a promise that, though I lay down my
victualling place, yet, as long as he continues victualler, I shall be the
better by him. To the office again, and there evened all our business
with Mr. Kinaston about Colonel Norwood's Bill of Exchange from
Tangier, and I am glad of it, for though he be a good man, yet his
importunity tries me. So home to dinner, where Mr. Hater with me and
W. Hewer, because of their being in the way after dinner, and so to the
office after dinner, where and with my Lord Bruneker at his lodgings
all the afternoon and evening making up our great account for the
Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, but not so as pleased me yet. So
at 12 at night home to supper and to bed, my wife being gone in an ill
humour to bed before me. This noon my wife comes to me alone, and
tells me she had those [?? D.W.]--upon her and bid me remember it. I
asked her why, and she said she had a reason. I do think by something
too she said to-day, that she took notice that I had not lain with her this
half-year, that she thinks that I have some doubt that she might be with
child by somebody else. Which God knows never entered into my head,
or whether my father observed any thing at Brampton with