Diary, Oct/Nov 1664 | 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. OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 1664
October 1st. Up and at the office both forenoon and afternoon very
busy, and with great pleasure in being so. This morning Mrs. Lane
(now Martin) like a foolish woman, came to the Horseshoe hard by,
and sent for me while I was: at the office; to come to speak with her by
a note sealed up, I know to get me to do something for her husband, but
I sent her an answer that I would see her at Westminster, and so I did
not go, and she went away, poor soul. At night home to supper, weary,
and my eyes sore with writing and reading, and to bed. We go now on
with great vigour in preparing against the Dutch, who, they say, will
now fall upon us without doubt upon this high newes come of our
beating them so, wholly in Guinny.

2nd (Lord's day). My wife not being well to go to church I walked with
my boy through the City, putting in at several churches, among others
at Bishopsgate, and there saw the picture usually put before the King's
book, put up in the church, but very ill painted, though it were a pretty
piece to set up in a church. I intended to have seen the Quakers, who,
they say, do meet every Lord's day at the Mouth--[Tavern. D.W.]-- at
Bishopsgate; but I could see none stirring, nor was it fit to aske for the
place, so I walked over Moorefields, and thence to Clerkenwell church,
and there, as I wished, sat next pew to the fair Butler, who indeed is a
most perfect beauty still; and one I do very much admire myself for my
choice of her for a beauty, she having the best lower part of her face
that ever I saw all days of my life. After church I walked to my Lady
Sandwich's, through my Lord Southampton's new buildings in the
fields behind Gray's Inn; and, indeed, they are a very great and a noble
work. So I dined with my Lady, and the same innocent discourse that
we used to have, only after dinner, being alone, she asked me my
opinion about Creed, whether he would have a wife or no, and what he

was worth, and proposed Mrs. Wright for him, which, she says, she
heard he was once inquiring after. She desired I would take a good time
and manner of proposing it, and I said I would, though I believed he
would love nothing but money, and much was not to be expected there,
she said. So away back to Clerkenwell Church, thinking to have got
sight of la belle Boteler again, but failed, and so after church walked all
over the fields home, and there my wife was angry with me for not
coming home, and for gadding abroad to look after beauties, she told
me plainly, so I made all peace, and to supper. This evening came Mrs.
Lane (now Martin) with her husband to desire my helpe about a place
for him. It seems poor Mr. Daniel is dead of the Victualling Office, a
place too good for this puppy to follow him in. But I did give him the
best words I could, and so after drinking a glasse of wine sent them
going, but with great kindnesse. Go to supper, prayers, and to bed.

3rd. Up with Sir J. Minnes, by coach, to St. James's; and there all the
newes now of very hot preparations for the Dutch: and being with the
Duke, he told us he was resolved to make a tripp himself, and that Sir
W. Pen should go in the same ship with him. Which honour, God
forgive me! I could grudge him, for his knavery and dissimulation,
though I do not envy much the having the same place myself. Talke
also of great haste in the getting out another fleete, and building some
ships; and now it is likely we have put one another by each other's
dalliance past a retreate. Thence with our heads full of business we
broke up, and I to my barber's, and there only saw Jane and stroked her
under the chin, and away to the Exchange, and there long about several
businesses, hoping to get money by them, and thence home to dinner
and there found Hawly. But meeting Bagwell's wife