Diary, Jan/Feb 1663/64 | Page 8

thirty years
old, a thing I could not have believed. Thence leading her to the Hall, I
took coach and called my wife and her mayd, and so to the New
Exchange, where we bought several things of our pretty Mrs. Dorothy
Stacy, a pretty woman, and has the modestest look that ever I saw in
my life and manner of speech. Thence called at Tom's and saw him
pretty well again, but has not been currant. So homeward, and called at

Ludgate, at Ashwell's uncle's, but she was not within, to have spoke to
her to have come to dress my wife at the time my Lord dines here. So
straight home, calling for Walsingham's Manuals at my bookseller's to
read but not to buy, recommended for a pretty book by Sir W. Warren,
whose warrant however I do not much take till I do read it. So home to
supper and to bed, my wife not being very well since she came home,
being troubled with a fainting fit, which she never yet had before since
she was my wife.

10th (Lord's day). Lay in bed with my wife till 10 or 11 o'clock, having
been very sleepy all night. So up, and my brother Tom being come to
see me, we to dinner, he telling me how Mrs. Turner found herself
discontented with her late bad journey, and not well taken by them in
the country, they not desiring her coming down, nor the burials of Mr.
Edward Pepys's corps there. After dinner I to the office, where all the
afternoon, and at night my wife and I to my uncle Wight's, and there eat
some of their swan pie, which was good, and I invited them to my
house to eat a roasted swan on Tuesday next, which after I was come
home did make a quarrels between my wife and I, because she had
appointed a wish to-morrow. But, however, we were friends again
quickly. So to bed. All our discourse to-night was Mr. Tryan's late
being robbed; and that Collonell Turner (a mad, swearing, confident
fellow, well known by all, and by me), one much indebted to this man
for his very livelihood, was the man that either did or plotted it; and the
money and things are found in his hand, and he and his wife now in
Newgate for it; of which we are all glad, so very a known rogue he was.

11th. Waked this morning by 4 o'clock by my wife to call the mayds to
their wash, and what through my sleeping so long last night and
vexation for the lazy sluts lying so long again and their great wash,
neither my wife nor I could sleep one winke after that time till day, and
then I rose and by coach (taking Captain Grove with me and three
bottles of Tent, which I sent to Mrs. Lane by my promise on Saturday
night last) to White Hall, and there with the rest of our company to the
Duke and did our business, and thence to the Tennis Court till noon,
and there saw several great matches played, and so by invitation to St.
James's; where, at Mr. Coventry's chamber, I dined with my Lord

Barkeley, Sir G. Carteret, Sir Edward Turner, Sir Ellis Layton, and one
Mr. Seymour, a fine gentleman; were admirable good discourse of all
sorts, pleasant and serious. Thence after dinner to White Hall, where
the Duke being busy at the Guinny business, the Duke of Albemarle,
Sir W. Rider, Povy, Sir J. Lawson and I to the Duke of Albemarle's
lodgings, and there did some business, and so to the Court again, and I
to the Duke of York's lodgings, where the Guinny company are
choosing their assistants for the next year by ballotting. Thence by
coach with Sir J. Robinson, Lieutenant of the Tower, he set me down at
Cornhill, but, Lord! the simple discourse that all the way we had, he
magnifying his great undertakings and cares that have been upon him
for these last two years, and how he commanded the city to the content
of all parties, when the loggerhead knows nothing almost that is sense.
Thence to the Coffee- house, whither comes Sir W. Petty and Captain
Grant, and we fell in talke (besides a young gentleman, I suppose a
merchant, his name Mr. Hill, that has travelled and I perceive is a
master in most sorts of musique and other things) of musique; the
universal character; art of memory; Granger's counterfeiting of hands
and other most excellent discourses to my great content, having not
been in so good company a great while, and had I time I should covet
the acquaintance of that Mr. Hill. This morning I stood