Diary, May/Jun 1666 | Page 4

an 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. MAY & JUNE 1666
May 1st. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon, my cozen
Thomas Pepys did come to me, to consult about the business of his
being a justice of the Peace, which he is much against; and among other
reasons, tells me, as a confidant, that he is not free to exercise
punishment according to the Act against Quakers and other people, for
religion. Nor do he understand Latin, and so is not capable of the place
as formerly, now all warrants do run in Latin. Nor is he in Kent, though
he be of Deptford parish, his house standing in Surry. However, I did
bring him to incline towards it, if he be pressed to take it. I do think it
may be some repute to me to have my kinsman in Commission there,
specially if he behave himself to content in the country. He gone and
my wife gone abroad, I out also to and fro, to see and be seen, among
others to find out in Thames Streete where Betty Howlett is come to
live, being married to Mrs. Michell's son; which I did about the Old
Swan, but did not think fit to go thither or see them. Thence by water to
Redriffe, reading a new French book my Lord Bruncker did give me
to-day, "L'Histoire Amoureuse des Gaules,"
[This book, which has frequently been reprinted, was written by Roger
de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy, for the amusement of his mistress,
Madame de Montglas, and consists of sketches of the chief ladies of the
court, in which he libelled friends and foes alike. These circulated in
manuscript, and were printed at Liege in 1665. Louis XIV. was so
much annoyed with the book that he sent the author to the Bastille for
over a year.]
being a pretty libel against the amours of the Court of France. I walked
up and down Deptford yarde, where I had not been since I come from
living at Greenwich, which is some months. There I met with Mr.
Castle, and was forced against my will to have his company back with
me. So we walked and drank at Halfway house and so to his house,
where I drank a cupp of syder, and so home, where I find Mr. Norbury

newly come to town to see us. After he gone my wife tells me the ill
newes that our Susan is sicke and gone to bed, with great pain in her
head and back, which troubles us all. However we to bed expecting
what to-morrow would produce. She hath we conceive wrought a little
too much, having neither maid nor girle to help her.

2nd. Up and find the girle better, which we are glad of, and with Sir W.
Batten to White Hall by coach. There attended the Duke as usual.
Thence with Captain Cocke, whom I met there, to London, to my office,
to consult about serving him in getting him some money, he being
already tired of his slavery to my Lord Bruncker, and the charge it costs
him, and gets no manner of courtesy from him for it. He gone I home to
dinner, find the girle yet better, so no fear of being forced to send her
out of doors as we intended. After dinner. I by water to White Hall to a
Committee for Tangier upon Mr. Yeabsly's business, which I got
referred to a Committee to examine. Thence among other stops went to
my ruler's house, and there staid a great while with Nan idling away the
afternoon with pleasure. By and by home, so to my office a little, and
then home to supper with my wife, the girle being pretty well again,
and then to bed.

3rd. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon home, and contrary
to my expectation find my little girle Su worse than she was, which
troubled me, and the more to see my wife minding her paynting and not
thinking of her house business, this being the first day of her beginning
the second time to paynt. This together made me froward that I was
angry with my wife, and would not have Browne to think to dine at my
table with me always, being desirous to have my house to myself
without a stranger and a mechanique to be