Diary, Sep/Oct 1661 | Page 5

pies,
and had been abroad and bought things for herself, and tells that she
met at the Change with my young ladies of the Wardrobe and there
helped them to buy things, and also with Mr. Somerset, who did give
her a bracelet of rings, which did a little trouble me, though I know
there is no hurt yet in it, but only for fear of further acquaintance. So to
bed. This night I sent another letter to Sir W. Pen to offer him the
return of his tankard upon his leaving of 30s. at a place where it should
be brought. The issue of which I am to expect.

3rd. This day some of us Commissioners went down to Deptford to pay
off some ships, but I could not go, but staid at home all the morning
setting papers to rights, and this morning Mr. Howell, our turner, sent
me two things to file papers on very handsome. Dined at home, and
then with my wife to the Wardrobe, where my Lady's child was
christened (my Lord Crew and his Lady, and my Lady Montagu, my
Lord's mother-in-law, were the witnesses), and named Katherine
[Lady Katherine Montagu, youngest daughter of Lord Sandwich,
married, first, Nicholas Bacon, eldest son and heir of Sir Nicholas
Bacon, K.B., of Shrubland Hall, co. Suffolk; and, secondly, the Rev.
Balthazar Gardeman. She died January 15th, 1757, at ninety-six years,
four months.--B.]
(the Queen elect's name); but to my and all our trouble, the Parson of
the parish christened her, and did not sign the child with the sign of the
cross. After that was done, we had a very fine banquet, the best I ever
was at, and so (there being very little company) we by and by broke up,
and my wife and I to my mother, who I took a liberty to advise about
her getting things ready to go this week into the country to my father,
and she (being become now-a-days very simple) took it very ill, and we
had a great deal of noise and wrangling about it. So home by coach.

4th. In the morning to the Privy Seal to do some things of the last
month, my Lord Privy Seal having been some time out of town. Then
my wife came to me to Whitehall, and we went and walked a good
while in St. James's Park to see the brave alterations, and so to
Wilkinson's, the Cook's, to dinner, where we sent for Mrs. Sarah and
there dined and had oysters, the first I have eat this year, and were
pretty good. After dinner by agreement to visit Mrs. Symonds, but she
is abroad, which I wonder at, and so missing her my wife again to my
mother's (calling at Mrs. Pierce's, who we found brought to bed of a
girl last night) and there staid and drank, and she resolves to be going
to-morrow without fail. Many friends come in to take their leave of her,
but a great deal of stir I had again tonight about getting her to go to see
my Lady Sandwich before she goes, which she says she will do
tomorrow. So I home.

5th. To the Privy Seal this morning about business, in my way taking

leave of my mother, who goes to Brampton to-day. But doing my
business at the Privy Seal pretty soon, I took boat and went to my uncle
Fenner's, and there I found my mother and my wife and Pall (of whom
I had this morning at my own house taken leave, and given her 20s. and
good counsel how to carry herself to my father and mother), and so I
took them, it being late, to Beard's, where they were staid for, and so I
put them into the waggon, and saw them going presently, Pall crying
exceedingly. Then in with my wife, my aunt Bell and Charles Pepys,
whom we met there, and drank, and so to my uncle Fenner's to dinner
(in the way meeting a French footman with feathers, who was in quest
of my wife, and spoke with her privately, but I could not tell what it
was, only my wife promised to go to some place to-morrow morning,
which do trouble my mind how to know whither it was), where both his
sons and daughters were, and there we were merry and dined. After
dinner news was brought that my aunt Kite, the butcher's widow in
London, is sick ready to die and sends for my uncle and me to come to
take charge of things, and to be entrusted with the care of her daughter.
But I through want of time to undertake such a business, I was taken up
by Antony Joyce, which came at last