the diary of samuel pepys-第143章
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ereabouts till I did truly lose myself。 No news yet of our Gottenburgh fleet; which makes us have some fears; it being of mighty concernment to have our supply of masts safe。 I met with Mr。 Cade to…night; my stationer; and he tells me that he hears for certain; that the Queene…Mother is about and hath near finished a peace with France; which as a Presbyterian he do not like; but seems to fear it will be a means to introduce Popery。
26th。 To the Duke's house to a play。 It was indifferently done; Gosnell not singing; but a new wench that sings naughtily。
27th。 Up; and called up by the King's trumpets; which cost me 10s。 By coach to the King's playhouse; and there saw 〃The Scornful Lady〃 well acted; Doll Common doing Abigail most excellently; and Knipp the widow very well; (and will be an excellent actor; I think。) In other parts the play not so well done as need be by the old actors。 This day a house or two was blown up with powder in the Minorys; and several people spoiled; and manye dug out from under the rubbish。
28th。 I to my Lord Crewe's; where I find and hear the news how my Lord's brother; Mr。 Nathaniel Crewe; hath an estate of 6 or 700l。 per annum left him by the death of as old acquaintance of his; but not akin to him at all。 And this man is dead without will; but had above ten years since made over his estate to this Mr。 Crewe; to him and his heirs for ever; and given Mr。 Crewe the keeping of the deeds in his own hand all this time; by which; if he would; he might have taken present possession of the estate; for he knew what they were。 This is as great an action of confident friendship as this latter age; I believe; can show。 From hence to the Duke's house; and there saw 〃Macbeth〃 most excellently acted; and a most excellent play for variety。 I had sent for my wife to meet me there; who did come: so I did not go to White Hall; and got my Lord Bellasses to get me into the playhouse; and there; after all staying above an hour for the players (the King and all waiting; which was absurd;) saw 〃Henry the Fifth〃 well done by the Duke's people; and in most excellent habit; all new vests; being put on but this night。 But I sat so high and far off that I missed most of the words; and sat with a wind coming into my back and neck; which did much trouble me。 The play continued till twelve at night; and then up; and a most horrid cold night it was; and frosty; and moonshine。
29th。 Called up with news from Sir W。 Batten that Hogg hath brought in two prizes more: and so I thither; and hear the particulars; which are good; one of them; if prize; being worth 4000l。: for which God be thanked! Then to the office; and have the news brought us of Captain Robinson's coming with his fleet from Gottenburgh: dispersed; though; by foul weather。 But he hath light of five Dutch men…of…war; and taken three; whereof one is sunk; which is very good news to close up the year with; and most of our merchant…men already heard of to be safely come home; though after long lookings for; and now to several ports as they could make them。
30th (Lord's day)。 To church。 Here was a collection for the sexton; But it come into my head why we should be more bold in making the collection while the psalm is singing; than in the sermon or prayer。
31st。 To my accounts; wherein at last I find them clear and right; but to my great discontent do find that my gettings this year have been 573l。 less than my last: it being this year in all but 2986l。; whereas; the last; I got 3560l。 And then again my spendings this year have exceeded my spendings the last; by 644l。: my whole spendings last year being but 509l。; whereas this year it appears I have spent 1154l。 which is a sum not fit to be said that ever I should spend in one year; before I am master of a better estate than I am。 Yet; blessed be God! and I pray God make me thankful for it; I do find myself worth in money; all good; above 6200l。: which is above 1800l。 more than I was the last year。 Thus ends this year of publick wonder and mischief to this nation。 Publick matters in a most sad condition; seamen discouraged for want of pay; and are become not to be governed: nor; as matters are now; can any fleet go out next year。 Our enemies; French and Dutch; great; and grow more by our poverty。 The Parliament backward in raising; because jealous of the spending of the money; the City less and less likely to be built again; every body settling elsewhere; and nobody encouraged to trade。 A sad; vicious; negligent Court; and all sober men there fearful of the ruin of the whole kingdom this next year; from which; good God deliver us! One thing I reckon remarkable in my own condition is; that I am come to abound in good plate; so as at all entertainments to be served wholly with silver plates; having two dozen and a half。
JANUARY 2; 1666…7。 My wife up; and with Mrs。 Pen to walk in the fields to frost…bite themselves。 I find the Court full of great apprehensions of the French; who have certainly shipped landsmen; great numbers at Brest; and most of our people here guess his design for Ireland。 We have orders to send all the ships we can possible to the Downes; every day bringing us news of new mutinies among the seamen; so that our condition is like to be very miserable。 Mr。 George Montagu tells me of the King displeasing the House of Commons by evading their Bill for examining Accounts; and putting it into a Commission; though therein he hath left out Coventry and 'A blank in the MS。'; and named all the rest the Parliament named; and all country Lords; not one Courtier: this do not please them。 He finds the enmity almost over for my Lord Sandwich。 Up to the Painted Chamber; and there heard a conference between the House of Lords and Commons about the Wine Patent; which I was exceeding glad to be at; because of my hearing exceeding good discourses; but especially from the Commons; among others Mr。 Swinfen; and a young man; one Sir Thomas Meres: 'Knight; M。P。 for Lincoln; made a Commissioner of the Admiralty 1679。' and do outdo the Lords infinitely。 Alone to the King's house; and there saw 〃The Custome of the Country;〃 'A tragi…comedy; by Beaumont and Fletcher。' the second time of its being acted; wherein Knipp does the Widow well; but of all the plays that ever I did see; the worst; having neither plot; language; nor any thing in the earth that is acceptable; only Knipp sings a song admirably。
3rd。 This day; I hear; hath been a conference between the two Houses about the Bill for examining Accounts; wherein the House of Lords their proceedings in petitioning the King for doing it by Commission; are in great heat voted by the Commons; after the conference; unparliamentary。
4th。 Comes our company to dinner; my Lord Brouncker; Sir W。 Pen; his lady; and Peg; 'Their daughter。' and her servant; Mr。 Lowther ''Anthony Lowther; Esq。; of Marske; Co。 York; Ob。 1692。'。 At night to sup; and then to cards; and last of all to have a flaggon of ale and apples; drunk out of a wood cup; as a Christmas draught; which made all merry; and they full of admiration at my plate。 Mr。 Lowther a pretty gentleman; too good for Peg。 Sir W。 Pen was much troubled to hear the song I sung; 〃The New Droll;〃 it touching him home。
5th。 With my wife to the Duke's house; and there saw 〃Mustapha;〃 'A tragedy; by Roger Earl of Orrery。' a most excellent play。
6th。 Young Michell and I; it being an excellent frosty day; did walk out。 He showed me the baker's house in Pudding…lane; where the late great fire begun: and thence all along Thames…street; where I did view several places; and so up by London Wall by Blackfriars to Ludgate; and thence to Bridewell; which I find to have been heretofore an extraordinary good house; and a fine coming to it before the house by the bridge was built。
7th。 Lord Brouncker tells me that my Lady Denham is at last dead。 Some suspect her poisoned; but it will be best known when her body is opened to…day; she dying yesterday morning。 The Duke of York is troubled for her; but hath declared he will never have another public mistress again; which I shall be glad of; and would the King would do the like。 He tells me how the Parliament is grown so jealous of the King