The Diary by Samuel Pepys (children's ebooks online TXT) π
Description
Pepysβ Diary is an incredibly frank decade-long snapshot of the life of an up and coming naval administrator in mid-17th century London. In it he describes everything from battles against the Dutch and the intrigues of court, down to the plays he saw, his marital infidelities, and the quality of the meat provided for his supper. His observations have proved invaluable in establishing an accurate record of the daily life of the people of London of that period.
Pepys eventually stopped writing his diary due to progressively worse eyesight, a condition he feared. He did consider employing an amanuensis to transcribe future entries for him, but worried that the content he wanted written would be too personal. Luckily for Pepys, his eyesight difficulties never progressed to blindness and he was able to go on to become both a Member of Parliament and the President of the Royal Society.
After Pepysβ death he left his large library of books and manuscripts first to his nephew, which was then passed on to Magdalene College, Cambridge, where it survives to this day. The diary, originally written in a shorthand, was included in this trove and was eventually deciphered in the early 19th century, and published by Lord Baybrooke in 1825. This early release censored large amounts of the text, and it was only in the 1970s that an uncensored version was published. Presented here is the 1893 edition, which restores the majority of the originally censored content but omits βa few passages which cannot possibly be printed.β The rich collection of endnotes serve to further illustrate the lives of the people Pepys meets and the state of Englandβs internal politics and international relations at the time.
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- Author: Samuel Pepys
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10th (Lordβs day). Took physique all day, and, God forgive me, did spend it in reading of some little French romances. At night my wife and I did please ourselves talking of our going into France, which I hope to effect this summer. At noon one came to ask for Mrs. Hunt that was here yesterday, and it seems is not come home yet, which makes us afraid of her. At night to bed.
11th. At the office all the morning. Dined at home, and then to the Exchequer, and took Mr. Warren with me to Mr. Kennard, the master joiner, at Whitehall, who was at a tavern, and there he and I to him, and agreed about getting some of my Lordβs deals on board tomorrow. Then with young Mr. Reeve home to his house, who did there show me many pretty pleasures in perspectives,930 that I have not seen before, and I did buy a little glass of him cost me 5s. And so to Mr. Crewβs, and with Mr. Moore to see how my father and mother did, and so with him to Mr. Adam Chardβs931 (the first time I ever was at his house since he was married) to drink, then we parted, and I home to my study, and set some papers and money in order, and so to bed.
12th. To my Lordβs, and there with him all the morning, and then (he going out to dinner) I and Mr. Pickering, Creed, and Captain Ferrers to the Leg in the Palace to dinner, where strange Pickeringβs impertinences. Thence the two others and I after a great dispute whither to go, we went by water to Salsbury Court932 playhouse, where not liking to sit, we went out again, and by coach to the Theatre, and there saw The Scornfull Lady,933 now done by a woman,934 which makes the play appear much better than ever it did to me. Then Creed and I (the other being lost in the crowd) to drink a cup of ale at Temple Bar, and there we parted, and I (seeing my father and mother by the way) went home.
13th. At the office all the morning; dined at home, and poor Mr. Wood with me, who after dinner would have borrowed money of me, but I would lend none. Then to Whitehall by coach with Sir W. Penn, where we did very little business, and so back to Mr. Rawlinsonβs, where I took him and gave him a cup of wine, he having formerly known Mr. Rawlinson, and here I met my uncle Wight, and he drank with us, and with him to Sir W. Battenβs, whither I sent for my wife, and we chose Valentines935 against tomorrow. My wife chose me, which did much please me; my Lady Batten Sir W. Penn, etc. Here we sat late, and so home to bed, having got my Lady Batten to give me a spoonful of honey for my cold.
14th (Valentineβs day). Up early and to Sir W. Battenβs, but would not go in till I asked whether they that opened the door was a man or a woman, and Mingo, who was there, answered a woman, which, with his tone, made me laugh; so up I went and took Mrs. Martha936 for my Valentine (which I do only for complacency), and Sir W. Batten he go in the same manner to my wife, and so we were very merry. About 10 oβclock we, with a great deal of company, went down by our barge to Deptford, and there only went to see how forward Mr. Pettβs yacht is; and so all into the barge again, and so to Woolwich, on board the Rose-Bush, Captain Brownβs937 ship, that is brother-in-law to Sir W. Batten, where we had a very fine dinner, dressed on shore, and great mirth and all things successfull; the first time I ever carried my wife a-ship-board, as also my boy Wayneman, who hath all this day been called young Pepys, as Sir W. Pennβs boy young Penn. So home by barge again; good weather, but pretty cold. I to my study, and began to make up my accounts for my Lord, which I intend to end tomorrow. To bed. The talk of the town now is, who the King is like to have for his Queen: and whether Lent shall be kept with the strictness of the Kingβs proclamation;938 which it is thought cannot be, because of the poor, who cannot buy fish. And also the great preparation for the Kingβs crowning is now much thought upon and talked of.
15th. At the office all the morning, and in the afternoon at making up my accounts for my Lord tomorrow; and that being done I found myself to be clear (as I think) Β£350 in the world, besides my goods in my house and all things paid for.
16th. To my Lord in the morning, who looked over my accounts and agreed to them. I did also get him to sign a bill (which do make my heart merry) for Β£60 to me, in consideration of my work extraordinary at sea this last voyage, which I hope to
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