Diary, February 1666/67 | Page 4

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS. FEBRUARY 1666-1667
February 1st. Up, and to the office, where I was all the morning doing
business, at noon home to dinner, and after dinner down by water,

though it was a thick misty and rainy day, and walked to Deptford from
Redriffe, and there to Bagwell's by appointment, where the 'mulier etoit
within expecting me venir . . . . By and by 'su marido' come in, and
there without any notice taken by him we discoursed of our business of
getting him the new ship building by Mr. Deane, which I shall do for
him. Thence by and by after a little talk I to the yard, and spoke with
some of the officers, but staid but little, and the new clerk of the
'Chequer, Fownes, did walk to Redriffe back with me. I perceive he is a
very child, and is led by the nose by Cowly and his kinsman that was
his clerk, but I did make him understand his duty, and put both
understanding and spirit into him, so that I hope he will do well. [Much
surprised to hear this day at Deptford that Mrs. Batters is going already
to be married to him, that is now the Captain of her husband's ship. She
seemed the most passionate mourner in the world. But I believe it
cannot be true.]--(The passage between brackets is written in the
margin of the MS.)--Thence by water to Billingsgate; thence to the Old
Swan, and there took boat, it being now night, to Westminster Hall,
there to the Hall, and find Doll Lane, and 'con elle' I went to the Bell
Taverne, and 'ibi je' did do what I would 'con elle' as well as I could,
she 'sedendo sobre' thus far and making some little resistance. But all
with much content, and 'je tenai' much pleasure 'cum ista'. There parted,
and I by coach home, and to the office, where pretty late doing business,
and then home, and merry with my wife, and to supper. My brother and
I did play with the base, and I upon my viallin, which I have not seen
out of the case now I think these three years, or more, having lost the
key, and now forced to find an expedient to open it. Then to bed.

2nd. Up, and to the office. This day I hear that Prince Rupert is to be
trepanned. God give good issue to it. Sir W. Pen looks upon me, and I
on him, and speak about business together at the table well enough, but
no friendship or intimacy since our late difference about his closet, nor
do I desire to have any. At noon dined well, and my brother and I to
write over once more with my own hand my catalogue of books, while
he reads to me. After something of that done, and dined, I to the office,
where all the afternoon till night busy. At night, having done all my
office matters, I home, and my brother and I to go on with my
catalogue, and so to supper. Mrs. Turner come to me this night again to

condole her condition and the ill usage she receives from my Lord
Bruncker, which I could never have expected from him, and shall be a
good caution to me while I live. She gone, I to supper, and then to read
a little, and to bed. This night comes home my new silver snuffe-dish,
which I do give myself for my closet, which is all I purpose to bestow
in plate of myself, or shall need, many a day, if I can keep what I have.
So to bed. I am very well pleased this night with reading a poem I
brought home with me last night from Westminster Hall, of Dryden's'
upon the present war; a very good poem.

3rd (Lord's day). Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen to White
Hall, and there to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and there staid till he was
ready, talking, and among other things of the Prince's being trepanned,
which was in doing just as we passed through the Stone Gallery, we
asking at the door of his lodgings, and were told so. We are all full of
wishes for the good success; though I dare say but few do really
concern ourselves for him in our hearts. Up to the Duke of York, and
with him did our business we come about, and among other things
resolve upon a meeting at the office to-morrow morning, Sir W.
Coventry to be there to determine of all things necessary for the setting
of Sir W. Pen to work in his Victualling business. This did awake in me
some thoughts of