Diary, December 1664 | Page 7

good sermon of the
old man, touching duty to parents. Here was Sir Samuel Morland and
his lady very fine, with two footmen in new liverys (the church taking
much notice of them), and going into their coach after sermon with
great gazeing. So I home, and my cozen, Mary Pepys's husband, comes
after me, and told me that out of the money he received some months
since he did receive 18d. too much, and did now come and give it me,
which was very pretty. So home, and there found Mr. Andrews and his
lady, a well-bred and a tolerable pretty woman, and by and by Mr. Hill
and to singing, and then to supper, then to sing again, and so good night.
To prayers and tonight [bed]. It is a little strange how these Psalms of
Ravenscroft after 2 or 3 times singing prove but the same again, though
good. No diversity appearing at all almost.

12th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten by coach to White Hall, where all of
us with the Duke; Mr. Coventry privately did tell me the reason of his
advice against our pretences to the Prize Office (in his letter from
Portsmouth), because he knew that the King and the Duke had resolved
to put in some Parliament men that have deserved well, and that would
needs be obliged, by putting them in. Thence homeward, called at my
bookseller's and bespoke some books against the year's out, and then to
the 'Change, and so home to dinner, and then to the office, where my
Lord Brunkard comes and reads over part of our Instructions in the
Navy--and I expounded it to him, so he is become my disciple. He gone,
comes Cutler to tell us that the King of France hath forbid any canvass
to be carried out of his kingdom, and I to examine went with him to the

East India house to see a letter, but came too late. So home again, and
there late till 12 at night at my office, and then home to supper and to
bed. This day (to see how things are ordered in the world), I had a
command from the Earle of Sandwich, at Portsmouth, not to be forward
with Mr. Cholmly and Sir J. Lawson about the Mole at Tangier,
because that what I do therein will (because of his friendship to me
known) redound against him, as if I had done it upon his score. So I
wrote to my Lord my mistake, and am contented to promise never to
pursue it more, which goes against my mind with all my heart.

13th. Lay long in bed, then up, and many people to speak with me.
Then to my office, and dined at noon at home, then to the office again,
where we sat all the afternoon, and then home at night to a little supper,
and so after my office again at 12 at night home to bed.

14th. Up, and after a while at the office, I abroad in several places,
among others to my bookseller's, and there spoke for several books
against New Year's day, I resolving to lay out about L7 or L8, God
having given me some profit extraordinary of late; and bespoke also
some plate, spoons, and forks. I pray God keep me from too great
expenses, though these will still be pretty good money. Then to the
'Change, and I home to dinner, where Creed and Mr. Caesar, my boy's
lute master, who plays indeed mighty finely, and after dinner I abroad,
parting from Creed, and away to and fro, laying out or preparing for
laying out more money, but I hope and resolve not to exceed therein,
and to-night spoke for some fruit for the country for my father against
Christmas, and where should I do it, but at the pretty woman's, that
used to stand at the doore in Fanchurch Streete, I having a mind to
know her. So home, and late at my office, evening reckonings with
Shergoll, hoping to get money by the business, and so away home to
supper and to bed, not being very well through my taking cold of late,
and so troubled with some wind.

15th. Called up very betimes by Mr. Cholmly, and with him a good
while about some of his Tangier accounts; and, discoursing of the
condition of Tangier, he did give me the whole account of the
differences between Fitzgerald and Norwood, which were very high on

both sides, but most imperious and base on Fitzgerald's, and yet
through my Lord FitzHarding's means, the Duke of York is led rather
to blame Norwood and to speake that he should be called home, than be
sensible of the other. He is