Quotations from Diary of Samuel Pepys Part 3

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, MAR/APR 1964/65 [sp40g10.txt]

Castlemayne is sicke again, people think, slipping her filly Desired me that I would baste his coate Did put evil thoughts in me, but proceeded no further France, which is accounted the best place for bread How Povy overdoes every thing in commending it Never could man say worse himself nor have worse said Wanton as ever she was, with much I made myself merry and away

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, MAY/JUN 1665 [sp41g10.txt]

A vineyard, the first that ever I did see All the towne almost going out of towne (Plague panic) Buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and chaw Consult my pillow upon that and every great thing of my life Convenience of periwiggs is so great Dying this last week of the plague 112, from 43 the week before Hear that the plague is come into the City Houses marked with a red cross upon the doors My old folly and childishnesse hangs upon me still Plague claimed 68,596 victims (in 1665) Pride of some persons and vice of most was but a sad story The coachman that carried [us] cannot know me again Though neither of us care 2d. one for another Which may teach me how I make others wait

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, JULY 1665 [sp42g10.txt]

About two o'clock, too late and too soon to go home to bed And all to dinner and sat down to the King saving myself Baseness and looseness of the Court Being able to do little business (but the less the better) Contracted for her as if he had been buying a horse Did bear with it, and very pleasant all the while Doubtfull whether her daughter will like of it or no Endeavouring to strike tallys for money for Tangier For, for her part, she should not be buried in the commons Had what pleasure almost I would with her Hath a good heart to bear, or a cunning one to conceal his evil I have promised, but know not when I shall perform I kissed the bride in bed, and so the curtaines drawne Less he finds of difference between them and other men Lord! in the dullest insipid manner that ever lover did Nan at Moreclacke, very much pleased and merry with her Not had the confidence to take his lady once by the hand Out of my purse I dare not for fear of a precedent Plague, forty last night, the bell always going Pretty to see the young pretty ladies dressed like men So to bed, to be up betimes by the helpe of a larum watch This absence makes us a little strange instead of more fond What silly discourse we had by the way as to love-matters

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, AUGUST 1665 [sp43g10.txt]

A fair salute on horseback, in Rochester streets, of the lady Bagwell's wife waited at the door, and went with me to my office Because I would not be over sure of any thing Being the first Wednesday of the month Bottle of strong water; whereof now and then a sip did me good Copper to the value of L5,000 Disease making us more cruel to one another than if we are doggs Every body is at a great losse and n.o.body can tell Every body's looks, and discourse in the street is of death First thing of that nature I did ever give her (L10 ring) For my quiet would not enquire into it Give the other notice of the future state, if there was any His wife and three children died, all, I think, in a day How sad a sight it is to see the streets empty of people I met a dead corps of the plague, in the narrow ally In our graves (as Shakespeere resembles it) we could dream King is not at present in purse to do King shall not be able to whip a cat Not liking that it should lie long undone, for fear of death Ordered in the yarde six or eight bargemen to be whipped Pest coaches and put her into it to carry her to a pest house Quakers and others that will not have any bell ring for them Resolving not to be bribed to dispatch business Two shops in three, if not more, generally shut up Well enough pleased this morning with their night's lodging

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, SEPTEMBER 1665 [sp44g10.txt]

And feeling for a chamber-pott, there was none Discourse of Mr. Evelyn touching all manner of learning Fell to sleep as if angry King himself minding nothing but his ease Not to be censured if their necessities drive them to bad Ordered him L2000, and he paid me my quantum out of it Sicke men that are recovered, they lying before our office doors Told us he had not been in a bed in the whole seven years

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, OCTOBER 1665 [sp45g10.txt]

A conceited man, but of no Logique in his head at all Best poem that ever was wrote (Siege of Rhodes) French have taken two and sunk one of our merchant-men Hath sent me masters that do observe that I take pains How little heed is had to the prisoners and sicke and wounded How unhppily a man may fall into a necessity of bribing people Lechery will never leave him Money I have not, nor can get Mr. Evelyn's translating and sending me as a present Poor seamen that lie starving in the streets Saying me to be the fittest man in England Searchers with their rods in their hands

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, NOV/DEC 1665 [sp46g10.txt]

A most conceited fellow and not over much in him A pretty man, I would be content to break a commandment with him Among many lazy people that the diligent man becomes necessary Delight to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition Great many silly stories they tell of their sport His enemies have done him as much good as he could wish How little merit do prevail in the world, but only favour I am a foole to be troubled at it, since I cannot helpe it L10,000 to the Prince, and half-a-crowne to my Lord of Sandwich Left him with some Commanders at the table taking tobacco One whom a great belly becomes as well as ever I saw any Pleases them mightily, and me not at all See how a good dinner and feasting reconciles everybody The boy is well, and offers to be searched

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, 1665 N.S. COMPLETE [sp47g10.txt]

A fair salute on horseback, in Rochester streets, of the lady A most conceited fellow and not over much in him A conceited man, but of no Logique in his head at all A vineyard, the first that ever I did see A pretty man, I would be content to break a commandment with him About two o'clock, too late and too soon to go home to bed Accounts I never did see, or hope again to see in my days All the towne almost going out of towne (Plague panic) Among many lazy people that the diligent man becomes necessary And feeling for a chamber-pott, there was none And all to dinner and sat down to the King saving myself At a loss whether it will be better for me to have him die Bagwell's wife waited at the door, and went with me to my office Baseness and looseness of the Court Because I would not be over sure of any thing Being able to do little business (but the less the better) Being the first Wednesday of the month Best poem that ever was wrote (Siege of Rhodes) Bottle of strong water; whereof now and then a sip did me good Buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and chaw By his many words and no understanding, confound himself Castlemayne is sicke again, people think, slipping her filly Church, where a most insipid young c.o.xcomb preached Clean myself with warm water; my wife will have me Consult my pillow upon that and every great thing of my life Contracted for her as if he had been buying a horse Convenience of periwiggs is so great Copper to the value of L5,000 Costs me 12d. a kiss after the first Delight to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition Desired me that I would baste his coate Did bear with it, and very pleasant all the while Did put evil thoughts in me, but proceeded no further Discourse of Mr. Evelyn touching all manner of learning Disease making us more cruel to one another than if we are doggs Doubtfull whether her daughter will like of it or no Dying this last week of the plague 112, from 43 the week before Endeavouring to strike tallys for money for Tangier Every body is at a great losse and n.o.body can tell Every body's looks, and discourse in the street is of death Fell to sleep as if angry Find that now and then a little difference do no hurte First thing of that nature I did ever give her (L10 ring) For my quiet would not enquire into it For, for her part, she should not be buried in the commons France, which is accounted the best place for bread French have taken two and sunk one of our merchant-men Give the other notice of the future state, if there was any Going with her woman to a hot-house to bathe herself Good discourse and counsel from him, which I hope I shall take Great many silly stories they tell of their sport Great thaw it is not for a man to walk the streets Had what pleasure almost I would with her Hath sent me masters that do observe that I take pains Hath a good heart to bear, or a cunning one to conceal his evil Hear that the plague is come into the City Heard noises over their head upon the leads His wife and three children died, all, I think, in a day His disease was the pox and that he must be fluxed (Rupert) His enemies have done him as much good as he could wish Houses marked with a red cross upon the doors How sad a sight it is to see the streets empty of people How little merit do prevail in the world, but only favour How little heed is had to the prisoners and sicke and wounded How Povy overdoes every thing in commending it How unhppily a man may fall into a necessity of bribing people I kissed the bride in bed, and so the curtaines drawne I have promised, but know not when I shall perform I know not how their fortunes may agree I met a dead corps of the plague, in the narrow ally I am a foole to be troubled at it, since I cannot helpe it If the exportations exceed importations In our graves (as Shakespeere resembles it) we could dream It is a strange thing how fancy works King shall not be able to whip a cat King himself minding nothing but his ease King is not at present in purse to do L10,000 to the Prince, and half-a-crowne to my Lord of Sandwich Law against it signifies nothing in the world Law and severity were used against drunkennesse Lechery will never leave him Left him with some Commanders at the table taking tobacco Less he finds of difference between them and other men Lord! in the dullest insipid manner that ever lover did Luxury and looseness of the times Money I have not, nor can get Mr. Evelyn's translating and sending me as a present Must be forced to confess it to my wife, which troubles me My wife after her bathing lying alone in another bed My old folly and childishnesse hangs upon me still Nan at Moreclacke, very much pleased and merry with her Never could man say worse himself nor have worse said No man is wise at all times Not had the confidence to take his lady once by the hand Not liking that it should lie long undone, for fear of death Not to be censured if their necessities drive them to bad Offer to give me a piece to receive of me 20 One whom a great belly becomes as well as ever I saw any Ordered him L2000, and he paid me my quantum out of it Ordered in the yarde six or eight bargemen to be whipped Out of my purse I dare not for fear of a precedent Pest coaches and put her into it to carry her to a pest house Plague claimed 68,596 victims (in 1665) Plague, forty last night, the bell always going Pleases them mightily, and me not at all Poor seamen that lie starving in the streets Pretends to a resolution of being hereafter very clean Pretty to see the young pretty ladies dressed like men Pride of some persons and vice of most was but a sad story Quakers and others that will not have any bell ring for them Resolving not to be bribed to dispatch business Sat an hour or two talking and discoursing . . . .

Saying me to be the fittest man in England Searchers with their rods in their hands See how a good dinner and feasting reconciles everybody Sicke men that are recovered, they lying before our office doors So to bed, to be up betimes by the helpe of a larum watch So great a trouble is fear The coachman that carried [us] cannot know me again The boy is well, and offers to be searched This absence makes us a little strange instead of more fond Those bred in the North among the colliers are good for labour Though neither of us care 2d. one for another Tied our men back to back, and thrown them all into the sea Told us he had not been in a bed in the whole seven years Too much of it will make her know her force too much Two shops in three, if not more, generally shut up Up, leaving my wife in bed, being sick of her months Wanton as ever she was, with much I made myself merry and away Well enough pleased this morning with their night's lodging What silly discourse we had by the way as to love-matters When she least shews it hath her wit at work Where money is free, there is great plenty Which may teach me how I make others wait Who is the most, and promises the least, of any man Wife that brings me nothing almost (besides a comely person)

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, JAN/FEB 1965/66 [sp48g10.txt]

After a harsh word or two my wife and I good friends By and by met at her chamber, and there did what I would Did drink of the College beer, which is very good Got her upon my knee (the coach being full) and played with her Lady d.u.c.h.esse the veryest s.l.u.t and drudge Last act of friends.h.i.+p in telling me of my faults also Scotch song of "Barbary Allen"

Tooth-ake made him no company, and spoilt ours Wherewith to give every body something for their pains Who must except against every thing and remedy nothing

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, MAR/APR 1665/66 [SP#49][sp49g10.txt]4164

Ashamed at myself for this losse of time Begun to write idle and from the purpose Counterfeit mirthe and pleasure with them, but had but little Driven down again with a stinke by Sir W. Pen's shying of a pot Great newes of the Swedes declaring for us against the Dutch He has been inconvenienced by being too free in discourse Ma.s.s, and some of their musique, which is not so contemptible Reading over my dear "Faber fortunae," of my Lord Bacon's Thence to Mrs. Martin's, and did what I would with her Through want of money and good conduct Too late for them to enjoy it with any pleasure Tooke my wife well dressed into the Hall to see and be seen

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, MAY/JUN 1666 [sp50g10.txt]

A cat will be a cat still And if ever I fall on it again, I deserve to be undone Apprehension of the King of France's invading us As very a gossip speaking of her neighbours as any body Baited at Islington, and so late home about 11 at night Called at a little ale-house, and had an eele pye Checking her last night in the coach in her long stories Foretelling the draught of water of a s.h.i.+p before she be launche Great deale of t.i.ttle tattle discourse to little purpose He is such innocent company Here I first saw oranges grow I do not value her, or mind her as I ought I to bed even by daylight Long petticoat dragging under their men's coats Mightily pleased with myself for the business that I have done Mightily vexed at my being abroad with these women Never fought with worse officers in his life Not being well pleased with her over free and loose company Now very big, and within a fortnight of lying down Out also to and fro, to see and be seen Providing against a foule day to get as much money into my hands Rejoiced over head and ears in this good newes Requisite I be prepared against the man's friends.h.i.+p Sang till about twelve at night, with mighty pleasure Send up and down for a nurse to take the girle home Shy of any warr hereafter, or to prepare better for it So back again home to supper and to bed with great pleasure So home and to supper with beans and bacon and to bed That I may look as a man minding business There did what I would with her There did what 'je voudrais avec' her . . . .

Think that we are beaten in every respect This is the use we make of our fathers Took him home the money, and, though much to my grief Unless my too-much addiction to pleasure undo me What itching desire I did endeavour to see Bagwell's wife Young man play the foole upon the doctrine of purgatory

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, JULY 1666 [sp51g10.txt]

Better the musique, the more sicke it makes him Contempt of the ceremoniousnesse of the King of Spayne Listening to no reasoning for it, be it good or bad Many women now-a-days of mean sort in the streets, but no men Milke, which I drank to take away, my heartburne No money to do it with, nor anybody to trust us without it Rather hear a cat mew, than the best musique in the world Says, of all places, if there be h.e.l.l, it is here So to bed in some little discontent, but no words from me The gentlemen captains will undo us To bed, after was.h.i.+ng my legs and feet with warm water Venison-pasty that we have for supper to-night to the cook's With a shower of hail as big as walnuts World sees now the use of them for shelter of men (fore-castles)

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, AUG/SEP 1666 [sp52g10.txt]

About my new closet, for my mind is full of nothing but that About the nature of sounds All the innocent pleasure in the world Angry, and so continued till bed, and did not sleep friends Beare-garden Being examined at Allgate, whether we were husbands and wives Did dig another, and put our wine in it; and I my Parmazan cheese Do bury still of the plague seven or eight in a day Durst not ask any body how it was with us Evelyn, who cries out against it, and calls it b.i.t.c.hering Fire grow; and, as it grew darker, appeared more and more Good sport of the bull's tossing of the dogs Great fire they saw in the City Horrid malicious b.l.o.o.d.y flame I never did observe so much of myself in my life No manner of means used to quench the fire Not permit her begin to do so, lest worse should follow Offered to stop the fire near his house for such a reward Pain to ride in a coach with them, for fear of being seen Plot in it, and that the French had done it Put up with too much care, that I have forgot where they are Removing goods from one burned house to another Sad sight it was: the whole City almost on fire Staying out late, and painting in the absence of her husband There did 'tout ce que je voudrais avec' her This unhappinesse of ours do give them heart Ye pulling down of houses, in ye way of ye fire

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, OCTOBER 1666 [sp53g10.txt]

Being there, and seeming to do something, while we do not Bill against importing Irish cattle Bringing over one discontented man, you raise up three But how many years I cannot tell; but my wife says ten But pretty! how I took another pretty woman for her Catholiques are everywhere and bold Did tumble them all the afternoon as I pleased Discoursing upon the sad condition of the times Exceeding kind to me, more than usual, which makes me afeard Fas.h.i.+on, the King says; he will never change I did what I would, and might have done anything else King be desired to put all Catholiques out of employment King hath lost his power, by submitting himself to this way So home to supper, and to bed, it being my wedding night The very rum man must have L200 Time spending, and no money to set anything in hand