Diary, Mar/Apr 1662/63 | Page 4

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. MARCH & APRIL 1662-1663
March 1st (Lord's day). Up and walked to White Hall, to the Chappell,
where preached one Dr. Lewes, said heretofore to have been a great
witt; but he read his sermon every word, and that so brokenly and so
low, that nobody could hear at any distance, nor I anything worth
hearing that sat near. But, which was strange, he forgot to make any
prayer before sermon, which all wonder at, but they impute it to his
forgetfulness. After sermon a very fine anthem; so I up into the house
among the courtiers, seeing the fine ladies, and, above all, my Lady
Castlemaine, who is above all, that only she I can observe for true
beauty. The King and Queen being set to dinner I went to Mr. Fox's,
and there dined with him. Much genteel company, and, among other
things, I hear for certain that peace is concluded between the King of
France and the Pope; and also I heard the reasons given by our
Parliament yesterday to the King why they dissent from him in matter
of Indulgence, which are very good quite through, and which I was
glad to hear. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who continues with a great
cold, locked up; and, being alone, we fell into discourse of my uncle
the Captain's death and estate, and I took the opportunity of telling my
Lord how matters stand, and read his will, and told him all, what a poor
estate he hath left, at all which he wonders strangely, which he may
well do. Thence after singing some new tunes with W. Howe I walked
home, whither came Will. Joyce, whom I have not seen here a great
while, nor desire it a great while again, he is so impertinent a coxcomb,
and yet good natured, and mightily concerned for my brother's late
folly in his late wooing at the charge to no purpose, nor could in any
probability a it. He gone, we all to bed, without prayers, it being
washing day to-morrow.

2nd. Up early and by water with Commissioner Pett to Deptford, and

there took the Jemmy yacht (that the King and the Lords virtuosos built
the other day) down to Woolwich, where we discoursed of several
matters both there and at the Ropeyard, and so to the yacht again, and
went down four or five miles with extraordinary pleasure, it being a
fine day, and a brave gale of wind, and had some oysters brought us
aboard newly taken, which were excellent, and ate with great pleasure.
There also coming into the river two Dutchmen, we sent a couple of
men on board and bought three Hollands cheeses, cost 4d. a piece,
excellent cheeses, whereof I had two and Commissioner Pett one. So
back again to Woolwich, and going aboard the Hulke to see the manner
of the iron bridles, which we are making of for to save cordage to put to
the chain, I did fall from the shipside into the ship (Kent), and had like
to have broke my left hand, but I only sprained some of my fingers,
which, when I came ashore I sent to Mrs. Ackworth for some balsam,
and put to my hand, and was pretty well within a little while after. We
dined at the White Hart with several officers with us, and after dinner
went and saw the Royal James brought down to the stern of the Docke
(the main business we came for), and then to the Ropeyard, and saw a
trial between Riga hemp and a sort of Indian grass, which is pretty
strong, but no comparison between it and the other for strength, and it
is doubtful whether it will take tarre or no. So to the yacht again, and
carried us almost to London, so by our oars home to the office, and
thence Mr. Pett and I to Mr. Grant's coffee-house, whither he and Sir J.
Cutler came to us and had much discourse, mixed discourse, and so
broke up, and so home where I found my poor wife all alone at work,
and the house foul, it being washing day, which troubled me, because
that tomorrow I must be forced to have friends at dinner. So to my
office, and then home to supper and to bed.

3rd (Shrove Tuesday). Up and walked to the Temple, and by promise