Diary, Sep/Oct 1661 | Page 8

him again, and
he and I walking through Lincoln's Fields observed at the Opera a new
play, "Twelfth Night"
[Pepys seldom liked any play of Shakespeare's, and he sadly blundered
when he supposed "Twelfth Night" was a new play.]
was acted there, and the King there; so I, against my own mind and
resolution, could not forbear to go in, which did make the play seem a

burthen to me, and I took no pleasure at all in it; and so after it was
done went home with my mind troubled for my going thither, after my
swearing to my wife that I would never go to a play without her. So
that what with this and things going so cross to me as to matters of my
uncle's estate, makes me very much troubled in my mind, and so to bed.
My wife was with her brother to see his mistress today, and says she is
young, rich, and handsome, but not likely for him to get.

12th. Though it was an office day, yet I was forced to go to the Privy
Seal, at which I was all the morning, and from thence to my Lady's to
dinner at the Wardrobe; and in my way upon the Thames, I saw the
King's new pleasure-boat that is come now for the King to take
pleasure in above bridge; and also two Gundaloes
["Two long boats that were made in Venice, called gondolas, were by
the Duke of Venice (Dominico Contareni) presented to His Majesty; ,
and the attending watermen, being four, were in very rich clothes,
crimson satin; very big were their breeches and doublets; they wore
also very large shirts of the same satin, very richly laced." --Rugge's
Diurnal.--B.]
that are lately brought, which are very rich and fine. After dinner I went
into my Lady's chamber where I found her up now out of her childbed,
which I was glad to see, and after an hour's talk with her I took leave
and to Tom Trice again, and sat talking and drinking with him about
our business a great while. I do find I am likely to be forced to pay
interest for the L200. By and by in comes my uncle Thomas, and as he
was always a close cunning fellow, so he carries himself to me, and
says nothing of what his endeavours are, though to my trouble I know
that he is about recovering of Gravely, but neither I nor he began any
discourse of the business. From thence to Dr. Williams (at the little
blind alehouse in Shoe Lane, at the Gridiron, a place I am ashamed to
be seen to go into), and there with some bland counsel of his we
discuss our matters, but I find men of so different minds that by my
troth I know not what to trust to. It being late I took leave, and by link
home and called at Sir W. Batten's, and there hear that Sir W. Pen do
take our jest of the tankard very ill, which Pam sorry for.

13th. This morning I was sent for by my uncle Fenner to come and
advise about the buriall of my aunt, the butcher, who died yesterday;
and from thence to the Anchor, by Doctor's Commons, and there Dr.
Williams and I did write a letter for my purpose to Mr. Sedgewick, of
Cambridge, about Gravely business, and after that I left him and an
attorney with him and went to the Wardrobe, where I found my wife,
and thence she and I to the water to spend the afternoon in pleasure;
and so we went to old George's, and there eat as much as we would of a
hot shoulder of mutton, and so to boat again and home. So to bed, my
mind very full of business and trouble.

14th. At the office all the morning, at noon to the Change, and then
home again. To dinner, where my uncle Fenner by appointment came
and dined with me, thinking to go together to my aunt Kite's that is
dead; but before we had dined comes Sir R. Slingsby and his lady, and
a great deal of company, to take my wife and I out by barge to shew
them the King's and Duke's yachts. So I was forced to leave my uncle
and brother Tom at dinner and go forth with them, and we had great
pleasure, seeing all four yachts, viz., these two and the two Dutch ones.
And so home again, and after writing letters by post, to bed.

15th (Lord's day). To my aunt Kite's in the morning to help my uncle
Fenner to put things in order against anon for the buriall, and at noon
home again;