The Diary of Samuel Pepys | Page 9

to the character of Samuel
Pepys:--"It may be affirmed of this Gentleman, that he was, without

exception, the greatest and most useful Minister that ever filled the
same situations in England; the Acts and Registers of the Admiralty
proving this fact beyond contradiction. The principal rules and
establishments in present use in those offices are well known to have
been of his introducing and most of the officers serving therein, since
the Restoration, of his bringing up. He was a most studious promoter
and strenuous assertor of order and discipline through all their
dependencies. Sobriety, diligence, capacity, loyalty, and subjection to
command, were essentials required in all whom he advanced. Where
any of these were found wanting, no interest or authority were capable
of moving him in favour of the highest pretender; the Royal command
only excepted, of which he was also very watchful, to prevent any
undue procurements. Discharging his duty to his Prince and Country
with a religious application and perfect integrity, he feared no one,
courted no one, neglected his own fortune. Besides this, he was a
person of universal worth, and in great estimation among the Literati,
for his unbounded reading, his sound judgment, his great elocution, his
mastery in method, his singular curiosity, and his uncommon
munificence towards the advancement of learning, arts, and industry, in
all degrees: to which were joined the severest morality of a philosopher,
and all the polite accomplishments of a gentleman, particularly those of
music, languages, conversation, and address. He assisted, as one of the
Barons of the Cinque Ports, at the Coronation of James II., and was a
standing Governor of all the principal houses of charity in and about
London, and sat at the head of many other honourable bodies, in divers
of which, as he deemed their constitution and methods deserving, he
left lasting monuments of his bounty and patronage."
*

PEPYS'S DIARY.
1659-60. Blessed be God, at the end of the last year I was in very good
health, without any sense of my old pain, but upon taking of cold. I
lived in Axe Yard, having my wife, and servant Jane, and no other in
family than us three.
The condition of the State was thus; viz. the Rump, after being
disturbed by my Lord Lambert, [Sufficiently known by his services as a
Major-General in the Parliament forces during the Civil War, and

condemned as a traitor after the Restoration; but reprieved and
banished to Guernsey, where he lived in confinement thirty years.] was
lately returned to sit again. The officers of the Army all forced to yield.
Lawson [Sir John Lawson, the son of a poor man at Hull, rose to the
rank of Admiral, and distinguished himself during the Protectorate; and,
though a republican in his heart, readily closed with the design of
restoring the King. He was mortally wounded in the sea fight in 1665.]
lies still in the river, and Monk is with his army in Scotland. [George
Monk, afterwards Duke of Albemarle.] Only my Lord Lambert is not
yet come into the Parliament, nor is it expected that he will without
being forced to it. The new Common Council of the City do speak very
high; and had sent to Monk their sword-bearer, to acquaint him with
their desires for a free and full Parliament, which is at present the
desires, and the hopes, and the expectations of all. Twenty-two of the
old secluded members having been at the House-door the last week to
demand entrance, but it was denied them; and it is believed that neither
they nor the people will be satisfied till the House be filled. My own
private condition very handsome, and esteemed rich, but indeed very
poor; besides my goods of my house, and my office, which at present is
somewhat certain. Mr. Downing master of my office. [George
Downing, son of Calibute Downing, D.D. and Rector of Hackney.
Wood calls him a sider with all times and changes; skilled in the
common cant, and a preacher occasionally. He was sent by Cromwell
to Holland as resident there. About the Restoration he espoused the
King's cause, and was knighted and elected M.P. for Morpeth in 1661.
afterwards, becoming Secretary to the Treasury and Commissioner of
Customs, he was in 1663 created a Baronet of East Hatley, in
Cambridgeshire.] [The office appears to have been in the Exchequer,
and connected with the pay of the army.]
JAN. 1, 1659-60 (Lord's day). This morning (we living lately in the
garret,) I rose, put on my suit with great skirts, having not lately worn
any other clothes but them. Went to Mr. Gunning's chapel [Peter
Gunning, afterwards Master of St. John's College, Cambridge, and
successively Bishop of Chichester and Ely: ob. 1684. He had continued
to read the liturgy