Diary, October 1666 | 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 1666
October 1st, 1666. Up, and all the morning at the office, getting the list
of all the ships and vessels employed since the war, for the Committee
of Parliament. At noon with it to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and there
dined with him and [Sir] W. Batten, and [Sir] W. Pen, and after dinner
examined it and find it will do us much right in the number of men
rising to near the expense we delivered to the Parliament. [Sir] W.
Coventry and I (the others going before the Committee) to Lord
Bruncker's for his hand, and find him simply mighty busy in a council
of the Queen's. He come out and took in the papers to sign, and sent
them mighty wisely out again. Sir W. Coventry away to the Committee,
and I to the Mercer's, and there took a bill of what I owe of late, which
comes to about L17. Thence to White Hall, and there did hear Betty
Michell was at this end of the towne, and so without breach of vowe
did stay to endeavour to meet with her and carry her home; but she did
not come, so I lost my whole afternoon. But pretty! how I took another
pretty woman for her, taking her a clap on the breech, thinking verily it
had been her. Staid till [Sir] W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen come out, and
so away home by water with them, and to the office to do some
business, and then home, and my wife do tell me that W. Hewer tells
her that Mercer hath no mind to come. So I was angry at it, and
resolved with her to have Falconbridge's girle, and I think it will be
better for us, and will please me better with singing. With this
resolution, to supper and to bed.

2nd. Up, and am sent for to Sir G. Carteret, and to him, and there he
tells me how our lists are referred to a Sub-committee to consider and
examine, and that I am ordered to be there this afternoon. So I away
thence to my new bookbinder to see my books gilding in the backs, and
then to White Hall to the House, and spoke to Sir W. Coventry, where

he told me I must attend the Committee in the afternoon, and received
some hints of more work to do. So I away to the 'Chequer, and thence
to an alehouse, and found Mr. Falconbridge, and agreed for his
kinswoman to come to me. He says she can dress my wife, and will do
anything we would have her to do, and is of a good spirit and mighty
cheerful. He is much pleased therewith, and so we shall be. So agreed
for her coming the next week. So away home, and eat a short dinner,
and then with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, and do give his boy my book
of papers to hold while he went into the Committee Chamber in the
Inner Court of Wards, and I walked without with Mr. Slingsby, of the
Tower, who was there, and who did in walking inform me mightily in
several things; among others, that the heightening or lowering of
money is only a cheat, and do good to some particular men, which, if I
can but remember how, I am now by him fully convinced of. Anon Sir
W. Pen went away, telling me that Sir W. Coventry that was within had
told him that the fleete is all come into the buoy of the Nore, and that
he must hasten down to them, and so went away, and I into the
Committee Chamber before the Committee sat, and there heard Birch
discourse highly and understandingly about the Navy business and a
proposal made heretofore to farm the Navy; but Sir W. Coventry did
abundantly answer him, and is a most excellent person. By and by the
Committee met, and I walked out, and anon they rose and called me in,
and appointed me to attend a Committee of them to-morrow at the
office to examine our lists. This put me into a mighty fear and trouble;
they doing it in a very ill humour, methought. So I away and called on
my Lord Bruncker to desire him to be there to-morrow, and so home,
having taken up my wife at Unthanke's, full