Diary, March 1663/64 | 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. MARCH 1663-1664
March 1st. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at
noon to the 'Change, and after much business and meeting my uncle
Wight, who told me how Mr. Maes had like to have been trapanned
yesterday, but was forced to run for it; so with Creed and Mr. Hunt
home to dinner, and after a good and pleasant dinner, Mr. Hunt parted,
and I took Mr. Creed and my wife and down to Deptford, it being most
pleasant weather, and there till night discoursing with the officers there
about several things, and so walked home by moonshine, it being
mighty pleasant, and so home, and I to my office, where late about
getting myself a thorough understanding in the business of masts, and
so home to bed, my left eye being mightily troubled with rheum.
2nd. Up, my eye mightily out of order with the rheum that is fallen
down into it, however, I by coach endeavoured to have waited on my
Lord Sandwich, but meeting him in Chancery Lane going towards the
City I stopped and so fairly walked home again, calling at St. Paul's
Churchyarde, and there looked upon a pretty burlesque poem, called
"Scarronides, or Virgile Travesty;" extraordinary good. At home to the
office till dinner, and after dinner my wife cut my hair short, which is
growne pretty long again, and then to the office, and there till 9 at night
doing business. This afternoon we had a good present of tongues and
bacon from Mr. Shales, of Portsmouth. So at night home to supper, and,
being troubled with my eye, to bed. This morning Mr. Burgby, one of
the writing clerks belonging to the Council, was with me about
business, a knowing man, he complains how most of the Lords of the
Council do look after themselves and their own ends, and none the
publique, unless Sir Edward Nicholas. Sir G. Carteret is diligent, but all
for his own ends and profit. My Lord Privy Scale, a destroyer of every
body's business, and do no good at all to the publique. The Archbishop
of Canterbury speaks very little, nor do much, being now come to the
highest pitch that he can expect. He tells me, he believes that things

will go very high against the Chancellor by Digby, and that bad things
will be proved. Talks much of his neglecting the King; and making the
King to trot every day to him, when he is well enough to go to visit his
cozen Chief-Justice Hide, but not to the Council or King. He
commends my Lord of Ormond mightily in Ireland; but cries out
cruelly of Sir G. Lane for his corruption; and that he hath done my
Lord great dishonour by selling of places here, which are now all taken
away, and the poor wretches ready to starve. That nobody almost
understands or judges of business better than the King, if he would not
be guilty of his father's fault to be doubtfull of himself, and easily be
removed from his own opinion. That my Lord Lauderdale is never from
the King's care nor council, and that he is a most cunning fellow. Upon
the whole, that he finds things go very bad every where; and even in the
Council nobody minds the publique.

3rd. Up pretty early and so to the office, where we sat all the morning
making a very great contract with Sir W. Warren for provisions for the
yeare coming, and so home to dinner, and there was W. Howe come to
dine with me, and before dinner he and I walked in the garden, and we
did discourse together, he assuring me of what he told me the other day
of my Lord's speaking so highly in my commendation to my Lord
Peterborough and Povy, which speaks my Lord having yet a good
opinion of me, and also how well my Lord and Lady both are pleased
with their children's being at my father's, and when the bigger ladies
were there a little while ago, at which I am very glad. After dinner he
went away, I having discoursed with him about his own proceedings in
his studies, and I observe him to be very considerate and to mind his
book in order to preferring himself by my Lord's favour to something,
and I hope to the outing