Diary, July 1667 | Page 4

F.S.A.

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS. JULY 1667
July 1st. Up betimes, about 9 o'clock, waked by a damned noise
between a sow gelder and a cow and a dog, nobody after we were up
being able to tell us what it was. After being ready we took coach, and,
being very sleepy, droused most part of the way to Gravesend, and

there 'light, and down to the new batterys, which are like to be very fine,
and there did hear a plain fellow cry out upon the folly of the King's
officers above, to spend so much money in works at Woolwich and
Deptford, and sinking of good ships loaden with goods, when, if half
the charge had been laid out here, it would have secured all that, and
this place too, before now. And I think it is not only true in this, but
that the best of the actions of us all are so silly, that the meanest people
begin to see through them, and contemn them. Besides, says he, they
spoil the river by it. Then informed ourselves where we might have
some creame, and they guided us to one Goody Best's, a little out of the
towne towards London road, and thither we went with the coach, and
find it a mighty clean, plain house, and had a dish of very good creame
to our liking, and so away presently very merry, and fell to reading of
the several Advices to a Painter, which made us good sport, and indeed
are very witty, and Creed did also repeat to me some of the substance
of letters of old Burleigh in Queen Elizabeth's time, which he hath of
late read in the printed Cabbala, which is a very fine style at this day
and fit to be imitated. With this, and talking and laughing at the folly of
our masters in the management of things at this day, we got home by
noon, where all well, and then to dinner, and after dinner both of us laid
down upon the couch and chairs and to sleep, which I did for an hour or
two, and then to the office, where I am sorry to hear that Sir J. Minnes
is likely to die this night, or to-morrow, I forgot to set down that we
met this morning upon the road with Mrs. Williams going down to my
Lord Bruncker; we bowed without speaking one to another, but I am
ashamed at the folly of the man to have her down at this serious busy
time, when the town and country is full of people and full of censure,
and against him particularly. At Sir W. Batten's my Lady tells me that
she hears for certain that my Lord's maid of his lodging here do give
out that Mrs. Williams hath been fain of late to sell her best clothes and
jewels to get a little money upon, which is a sad condition. Thence to
the office, and did write to my Lord Bruncker to give me a little
satisfaction about the certainty of the chain's being broke, which I begin
to doubt, and the more from Sir W. Pen's discourse. It is worth while to
read my letter to him entered in my letter book. Home in the evening to
supper, and so pretty betimes, about 10 o'clock, to bed, and slept well.
This day letters are come that my sister is very ill.

2nd. Up, and put on my new silke camelott suit, made of my cloak, and
suit now made into a vest. So to the office, where W. Pen and myself,
and Sir T. Harvy met, the first time we have had a meeting since the
coming of the Dutch upon this coast. Our only business (for we have
little else to do, nobody being willing to trust us for anything) was to
speak with the owners of six merchantmen which we have been taking
up this fortnight, and are yet in no readiness, they not fitting their ships
without money advanced to them, we owing them for what their ships
have earned the last year. So every thing stands still for money, while
we want money to pay for some of the most necessary things that we
promised ready money for in the height of our wants, as grapnells, &c.
At noon home to dinner, and after dinner my wife and Jane (mighty
fine the girle) to go to see Jane's old mistress, who was to see her, and
did see my wife the other day, and it is pleasant to hear with what
kindness her old mistress speaks of this girle, and how she would still
have her, and how the wench cried when she told her that she must
come to her