Diary, Oct/Nov 1664 | Page 6

was once before. And
thither anon come all the Gresham College, and a great deal of noble
company: and the new instrument was brought called the Arched Viall,
["There seems to be a curious fate reigning over the instruments which
have the word 'arch' prefixed to their name. They have no vitality, and
somehow or other come to grief. Even the famous archlute, which was
still a living thing in the time of Handel, has now disappeared from the
concert room and joined Mr. Pepys's 'Arched Viall' in the limbo of
things forgotten . . . . Mr. Pepys's verdict that it would never do . . . has
been fully confirmed by the event, as his predictions usually were,
being indeed always founded on calm judgment and close
observation."--B. (Hueffer's Italian and other Studies, 1883, p. 263).]
where being tuned with lute-strings, and played on with kees like an
organ, a piece of parchment is always kept moving; and the strings,
which by the kees are pressed down upon it, are grated in imitation of a
bow, by the parchment; and so it is intended to resemble several vyalls
played on with one bow, but so basely and harshly, that it will never do.
But after three hours' stay it could not be fixed in tune; and so they
were fain to go to some other musique of instruments, which I am
grown quite out of love with, and so I, after some good discourse with
Mr. Spong, Hill, Grant, and Dr. Whistler, and others by turns, I home to
my office and there late, and so home, where I understand my wife has

spoke to Jane and ended matters of difference between her and her, and
she stays with us, which I am glad of; for her fault is nothing but
sleepiness and forgetfulness, otherwise a good-natured, quiet,
well-meaning, honest servant, and one that will do as she is bid, so one
called upon her and will see her do it. This morning, by three o'clock,
the Prince --[Rupert]-- and King, and Duke with him, went down the
River, and the Prince under sail the next tide after, and so is gone from
the Hope. God give him better successe than he used to have! This day
Mr. Bland went away hence towards his voyage to Tangier. This day
also I had a letter from an unknown hand that tells me that Jacke
Angier, he believes, is dead at Lisbon, for he left him there ill.

6th. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning, among other
things about this of the flags and my bringing in of callicos to oppose
Young and Whistler. At noon by promise Mr. Pierce and his wife and
Madam Clerke and her niece came and dined with me to a rare chine of
beefe and spent the afternoon very pleasantly all the afternoon, and
then to my office in the evening, they being gone, and late at business,
and then home to supper and to bed, my mind coming to itself in
following of my business.

7th. Lay pretty while with some discontent abed, even to the having
bad words with my wife, and blows too, about the ill-serving up of our
victuals yesterday; but all ended in love, and so I rose and to my office
busy all the morning. At noon dined at home, and then to my office
again, and then abroad to look after callicos for flags, and hope to get a
small matter by my pains therein and yet save the King a great deal of
money, and so home to my office, and there came Mr. Cocker, and
brought me a globe of glasse, and a frame of oyled paper, as I desired,
to show me the manner of his gaining light to grave by, and to lessen
the glaringnesse of it at pleasure by an oyled paper. This I bought of
him, giving him a crowne for it; and so, well satisfied, he went away,
and I to my business again, and so home to supper, prayers, and to bed.

8th. All the morning at the office, and after dinner abroad, and among
other things contracted with one Mr. Bridges, at the White Bear on
Cornhill, for 100 pieces of Callico to make flaggs; and as I know I shall

save the King money, so I hope to get a little for my pains and venture
of my own money myself. Late in the evening doing business, and then
comes Captain Tayler, and he and I till 12 o'clock at night arguing
about the freight of his ship Eagle, hired formerly by me to Tangier,
and at last we made an end, and I hope to get a little money, some small