Samuel Pepys

This day my tryangle, which was put in tune yesterday, did please me very well, Ashwell playing upon it pretty well.

Wrote my letters by the post and so before 9 home, which is rare with me of late, I staying longer, but with multitude of business my head akes, and so I can stay no longer.

The House of Commons have been very high against the Papists, being incensed by the stir which they make for their having an Indulgence; which is a great folly in them to be so hot upon at this time, when they see how averse already the House have showed themselves from it.

Up beimes, and about eight o’clock by coach with four horses, with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten, to Woolwich, a pleasant day.

I do find that I shall meet with nothing to oppose my growing great in the office but Sir W. Pen, who is now well again, and comes into the office very brisk.

I went to see my Lord Sandwich, who I found very ill, and by his cold being several nights hindered from sleep, he is hardly able to open his eyes, and is very weak and sad upon it, which troubled me much.

In the Hall I do hear that the Catholiques are in great hopes for all this, and do set hard upon the King to get Indulgence.

Rose this morning early, only to try with intention to begin my last summer’s course in rising betimes.

To my office, there collecting an alphabet for my Navy Manuscript, which, after a short dinner, I returned to and by night perfected to my great content.

Home to supper and to bed, the sooner having taken some cold yesterday upon the water, which brings me my usual pain.

Roger Pepys tells me, that for certain the King is for all this very highly incensed at the Parliament’s late opposing the Indulgence; which I am sorry for, and fear it will breed great discontent.

By promise, Mrs. Turner and her daughter, and Mrs. Morrice, came along with Roger Pepys to dinner.

So to my office, and then home to supper and to bed.

Home where I found my poor wife all alone at work, and the house foul, it being washing day, which troubled me, because that tomorrow I must be forced to have friends at dinner.

To the Ropeyard, and saw a trial between Riga hemp and a sort of Indian grass, which is pretty strong, but no comparison between it and the other for strength, and it is doubtful whether it will take tarre or no.

Up early and by water with Commissioner Pett to Deptford, and there took the Jemmy yacht (that the King and the Lords virtuosos built the other day) down to Woolwich, where we discoursed of several matters both there and at the Ropeyard.

We all to bed, without prayers, it being washing day tomorrow.

I walked home, whithe came Will. Joyce, whom I have not seen here a great while, nor desire it a great while again, he is so impertinent a coxcomb, and yet good natured, and mightily concerned for my brother’s late folly in his late wooing at the charge to no purpose.

To my Lord Sandwich, who continues with a great cold, locked up.

My wife had a great mind to choose Valentines against tomorrow, I Mrs. Clerke, or Pierce, she Mr. Hunt or Captain Ferrers, but I would not because of getting charge both to me for mine and to them for her, which did not please her.

Mr. Bland sitting with me, talking of my Lord Windsor’s being come home from Jamaica, unlooked-for; which makes us think that these young Lords are not fit to do any service abroad.

I to the Temple to discourse with my cozen Roger Pepys about my law business, and so back again, it being a monstrous thaw after the long great frost, so that there is no passing but by coach in the streets, and hardly that.

Our maid Susan is very ill, and so the whole trouble of the house lies upon our maid Mary, who do it very contentedly and mighty well, but I am sorry she is forced to it.

Mr. Cole, our timber merchant, sent me five couple of ducks.

Then came an old man from Mr. Povy, to give me some advice about his experience in the stone, which I am beholden to him for, and was well pleased with it, his chief remedy being Castle soap in a posset.

Came my wife’s brother and brought Mary Ashwell with him, whom we find a very likely person to please us, both for person, discourse, and other qualitys.

My wife read Sir H. Vane’s tryall to me, which she began last night, and I find it a very excellent thing, worth reading, and him to have been a very wise man.

My wife and I dined on a pullet and I eat heartily, having eat nothing since Sunday but water gruel and posset drink, but must needs say that our new maid Mary has played her part very well in her readiness and discretion in attending me, of which I am very glad.

Sir W. Warren came himself to the door and left a letter and box for me, and went his way.