Diary, December 1666 | Page 4

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. DECEMBER 1666
December 1st. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At
home to dinner, and then abroad walking to the Old Swan, and in my
way I did see a cellar in Tower Streete in a very fresh fire, the late great
winds having blown it up.
[The fire continued burning in some cellars of the ruins of the city for
four months, though it rained in the month of October ten days without
ceasing (Rugge's "Diurnal").--B.]
It seemed to be only of log-wood, that Hath kept the fire all this while
in it. Going further, I met my late Lord Mayor Bludworth, under whom
the City was burned, and went with him by water to White Hall. But,
Lord! the silly talk that this fellow had, only how ready he would be to
part with all his estate in these difficult times to advance the King's
service, and complaining that now, as every body did lately in the fire,
every body endeavours to save himself, and let the whole perish: but a
very weak man he seems to be. I left him at White Hall, he giving 6d.
towards the boat, and I to Westminster Hall, where I was again
defeated in my expectation of Burroughs. However, I was not much
sorry for it, but by coach home, in the evening, calling at Faythorne's,
buying three of my Lady Castlemayne's heads, printed this day, which
indeed is, as to the head, I think, a very fine picture, and like her. I did
this afternoon get Mrs. Michell to let me only have a sight of a
pamphlet lately printed, but suppressed and much called after, called
"The Catholique's Apology;" lamenting the severity of the Parliament
against them, and comparing it with the lenity of other princes to
Protestants; giving old and late instances of their loyalty to their princes,
whatever is objected against them; and excusing their disquiets in
Queen Elizabeth's time, for that it was impossible for them to think her
a lawfull Queen, if Queen Mary, who had been owned as such, were so;
one being the daughter of the true, and the other of a false wife: and
that of the Gunpowder Treason, by saying that it was only the practice

of some of us, if not the King, to trepan some of their religion into it, it
never being defended by the generality of their Church, nor indeed
known by them; and ends with a large Catalogue, in red letters, of the
Catholiques which have lost their lives in the quarrel of the late King
and this. The thing is very well writ indeed. So home to my letters, and
then to my supper and to bed.

2nd (Lord's day). Up, and to church, and after church home to dinner,
where I met Betty Michell and her husband, very merry at dinner, and
after dinner, having borrowed Sir W. Pen's coach, we to Westminster,
they two and my wife and I to Mr. Martin's, where find the company
almost all come to the christening of Mrs. Martin's child, a girl. A great
deal of good plain company. After sitting long, till the church was done,
the Parson comes, and then we to christen the child. I was Godfather,
and Mrs. Holder (her husband, a good man, I know well), and a pretty
lady, that waits, it seems, on my Lady Bath, at White Hall, her name,
Mrs. Noble, were Godmothers. After the christening comes in the wine
and the sweetmeats, and then to prate and tattle, and then very good
company they were, and I among them. Here was old Mrs. Michell and
Howlett, and several married women of the Hall, whom I knew mayds.
Here was also Mrs. Burroughs and Mrs. Bales, the young widow,
whom I led home, and having staid till the moon was up, I took my
pretty gossip to White Hall with us, and I saw her in her lodging, and
then my owne company again took coach, and no sooner in the coach
but something broke, that we were fain there to stay till a smith could
be fetched, which was above an hour, and then it costing me 6s. to
mend. Away round by the wall and Cow Lane,
[Cow Lane, West Smithfield (now named King Street), was famous for
its coachmakers.]
for fear it should break again; and