Diary, Nov/Dec 1661 | Page 4

before making
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. NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 1661
November 1st. I went this morning with Sir W. Pen by coach to
Westminster, and having done my business at Mr. Montagu's, I went
back to him at Whitehall, and from thence with him to the 3 Tun
Tavern, at Charing Cross, and there sent for up the maister of the
house's dinner, and dined very well upon it, and afterwards had him and
his fayre sister (who is very great with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen in
mirth) up to us, and looked over some medals that they shewed us of
theirs; and so went away to the Theatre, to "The Joviall Crew," and
from hence home, and at my house we were very merry till late, having
sent for his son, Mr. William Pen,
[The celebrated Quaker, and founder of Pennsylvania.]
lately come from Oxford. And after supper parted, and to bed.

2d. At the office all the morning; where Sir John Minnes, our new
comptroller, was fetched by Sir Wm. Pen and myself from Sir Wm.
Batten's, and led to his place in the office. The first time that he had
come hither, and he seems a good fair condition man, and one that I am
glad hath the office. After the office done, I to the Wardrobe, and there
dined, and in the afternoon had an hour or two's talk with my Lady with
great pleasure. And so with the two young ladies by coach to my house,
and gave them some entertainment, and so late at night sent them home
with Captain Ferrers by coach. This night my boy Wayneman, as I was
in my chamber, I overheard him let off some gunpowder; and hearing
my wife chide him below for it, and a noise made, I call him up, and
find that it was powder that he had put in his pocket, and a match
carelessly with it, thinking that it was out, and so the match did give

fire to the powder, and had burnt his side and his hand that he put into
his pocket to put out the fire. But upon examination, and finding him in
a lie about the time and place that he bought it, I did extremely beat
him, and though it did trouble me to do it, yet I thought it necessary to
do it. So to write by the post, and to bed.

3rd (Lord's day). This day I stirred not out, but took physique, and it
did work very well, and all the day as I was at leisure I did read in
Fuller's Holy Warr, which I have of late bought, and did try to make a
song in the praise of a liberall genius (as I take my own to be) to all
studies and pleasures, but it not proving to my mind I did reject it and
so proceeded not in it. At night my wife and I had a good supper by
ourselves of a pullet hashed, which pleased me much to see my
condition come to allow ourselves a dish like that, and so at night to
bed.

4th. In the morning, being very rainy, by coach with Sir W. Pen and my
wife to Whitehall, and sent her to Mrs. Bunt's, and he and I to Mr.
Coventry's about business, and so sent for her again, and all three home
again, only I to the Mitre (Mr. Rawlinson's), where Mr. Pierce, the
Purser, had got us a most brave chine of beef, and a dish of
marrowbones. Our company my uncle Wight, Captain Lambert, one
Captain Davies, and purser Barter, Mr. Rawlinson, and ourselves; and
very merry. After dinner I took coach, and called my wife at my
brother's, where I left her, and to the Opera, where we saw "The
Bondman," which of old we both did so doat on, and do still; though to
both our thinking not so well acted here (having too great expectations),
as formerly at Salisbury- court. But for Betterton he is called by us both
the best actor in the world. So home by coach, I lighting by the way at
my uncle Wight's and staid there a little, and so home after my wife,
and to bed.

5th. At the office all the morning. At noon comes my brother Tom and
Mr. Armiger to dine