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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.
JUNE
1667
June 1st. Up; and there comes to me Mr. Commander, whom I employ about
hiring of some ground behind the office, for the building of me a stable
and coach-house: for I do find it necessary for me, both in respect to
honour and the profit of it also, my expense in hackney-coaches being now
so great, to keep a coach, and therefore will do it. Having given him
some instructions about it, I to the office, where we sat all the
morning; where we have news that our peace with Spayne, as to trade, is
wholly concluded, and we are to furnish him with some men for Flanders
against the French. How that will agree with the French, I know not; but
they say that he also hath liberty, to get what men he pleases out of
England. But for the Spaniard, I hear that my Lord Castlehaven is
raising a regiment of 4000 men, which he is to command there; and several
young gentlemen are going over in commands with him: and they say the
Duke of Monmouth is going over only as a traveller, not to engage on
either side, but only to see the campagne, which will be becoming him
much more than to live whoreing and rogueing, as he now do. After dinner
to the office, where, after a little nap, I fell to business, and did
very much with infinite joy to myself, as it always is to me when I have
dispatched much business, and therefore it troubles me to see how hard it
is for me to settle to it sometimes when my mind is upon pleasure. So
home late to supper and to bed.
2nd (Lord's day). Up betimes, and down to my chamber without trimming
myself, or putting on clean linen, thinking only to keep to my chamber
and do business to-day, but when I come there I find that without being
shaved I am not fully awake, nor ready to settle to business, and so was
fain to go up again and dress myself, which I did, and so down to my
chamber, and fell roundly to business, and did to my satisfaction by
dinner go far in the drawing up a state of my accounts of Tangier for the
new Lords Commissioners. So to dinner, and then to my business again all
the afternoon close, when Creed come to visit me, but I did put him off,
and to my business, till anon I did make an end, and wrote it fair with a
letter to the Lords to accompany my accounts, which I think will be so
much satisfaction and so soon done (their order for my doing it being
dated but May 30) as they will not find from any hand else. Being weary
and almost blind with writing and reading so much to-day, I took boat at
the Old Swan, and there up the river all alone as high as Putney almost,
and then back again, all the way reading, and finishing Mr. Boyle's book
of Colours, which is so chymical, that I can understand but little of it,
but understand enough to see that he is a most excellent man. So back
and home, and there to supper, and so to bed.
3rd. Up, and by coach to St. James's, and with Sir W. Coventry a great
while talking about several businesses, but especially about accounts,
and how backward our Treasurer is in giving them satisfaction, and the
truth is I do doubt he cannot do better, but it is strange to say that
being conscious of our doing little at this day, nor for some time past
in our office for want of money, I do hang my head to him, and cannot be
so free with him as I used to be, nor can be free with him, though of all
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