Diary, May/Jun 1666 | Page 8

("Letters to Mrs. Carter"). No wonder that Pepys sat on thorns, when
his wife began to recite "Le Grand Cyrus" in the coach, "and trembled
at the impending tale."--B.]--[One is reminded of the 21st centuries'
bookstores full of "Romantic novels"--the modern era did not invent
trashy literature. D.W.]
This she took unkindly, and I think I was to blame indeed; but she do
find with reason, that in the company of Pierce, Knipp, or other women
that I love, I do not value her, or mind her as I ought. However very
good friends by and by, and to dinner, and after dinner up to the putting
our dining room in order, which will be clean again anon, but not as it
is to be because of the pictures which are not come home. To the office
and did much business, in the evening to Westminster and White Hall
about business and among other things met Sir G. Downing on White
Hall bridge, and there walked half an hour, talking of the success of the
late new Act; and indeed it is very much, that that hath stood really in
the room of L800,000 now since Christmas, being itself but L1,250,000.
And so I do really take it to be a very considerable thing done by him;
for the beginning, end, and every part of it, is to be imputed to him. So
home by water, and there hard till 12 at night at work finishing the
great letter to the Duke of Yorke against to-morrow morning, and so
home to bed. This day come home again my little girle Susan, her
sicknesse proving an ague, and she had a fit soon almost as she come
home. The fleete is not yet gone from the Nore. The plague encreases
in many places, and is 53 this week with us.

13th (Lord's day). Up, and walked to White Hall, where we all met to
present a letter to the Duke of Yorke, complaining solemnly of the
want of money, and that being done, I to and again up and down
Westminster, thinking to have spent a little time with Sarah at the Swan,
or Mrs. Martin, but was disappointed in both, so walked the greatest
part of the way home, where comes Mr. Symons, my old acquaintance,
to dine with me, and I made myself as good company as I could to him,
but he was mighty impertinent methought too yet, and thereby I see the
difference between myself now and what it was heretofore, when I
reckoned him a very brave fellow. After dinner he and I walked
together as far as Cheapside, and I quite through to Westminster again,

and fell by chance into St. Margett's' Church, where I heard a young
man play the foole upon the doctrine of purgatory. At this church I
spied Betty Howlett, who indeed is mighty pretty, and struck me
mightily. After church time, standing in the Church yarde, she spied me,
so I went to her, her father and mother and husband being with her.
They desired and I agreed to go home with Mr. Michell, and there had
the opportunity to have saluted two or three times Betty and make an
acquaintance which they are pleased with, though not so much as I am
or they think I am. I staid here an houre or more chatting with them in a
little sorry garden of theirs by the Bowling Alley, and so left them and I
by water home, and there was in great pain in mind lest Sir W. Pen,
who is going down to the Fleete, should come to me or send for me to
be informed in the state of things, and particularly the Victualling, that
by my pains he might seem wise. So after spending an houre with my
wife pleasantly in her closett, I to bed even by daylight.

14th. Comes betimes a letter from Sir W. Coventry, that he and Sir G.
Carteret are ordered presently down to the Fleete. I up and saw Sir W.
Pen gone also after them, and so I finding it a leisure day fell to making
cleane my closett in my office, which I did to my content and set up my
Platts again, being much taken also with Griffin's mayde, that did
cleane it, being a pretty mayde. I left her at it, and toward Westminster
myself with my wife by coach and meeting took up Mr. Lovett the
varnisher with us, who is a pleasant speaking and humoured man, so
my wife much taken with him, and a good deale of worke I believe I
shall procure him. I left my wife at the New Exchange and myself to
the Exchequer, to looke after my Tangier