PepysβDiary 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.
parted, mightily pleased with the account he did give him of the fight, and the successe it ended with, of the Princeβs coming, though it seems the Duke did give way again and again. The King did give order for care to be had of Mr. Daniel and his companion; and so we parted from him, and then met the Duke [of York], and gave him the same account: and so broke up, and I left them going to the surgeonβs and I myself by water to the βChange, and to several people did give account of the business. So home about four oβclock to dinner, and was followed by several people to be told the news, and good news it is. God send we may hear a good issue of this dayβs business! After I had eat something I walked to Gresham College, where I heard my Lord Bruncker was, and there got a promise of the receipt of the fine varnish, which I shall be glad to have. Thence back with Mr. Hooke to my house and there lent some of my tables of naval matters, the names of rigging and the timbers about a ship, in order to Dr. Wilkinsβ book coming out about the Universal Language.2844 Thence, he being gone, to the Crown, behind the βChange, and there supped at the club with my Lord Bruncker, Sir G. Ent, and others of Gresham College; and all our discourse is of this fight at sea, and all are doubtful of the successe, and conclude all had been lost if the Prince had not come in, they having chased us the greatest part of Saturday and Sunday. Thence with my Lord Bruncker and Creed by coach to Whitehall, where fresh letters are come from Harwich, where the Gloucester, Captain Clerke,2845 is come in, and says that on Sunday night upon coming in of the Prince, the Duke did fly; but all this day they have been fighting; therefore they did face again, to be sure. Captain Bacon2846 of The Bristoll is killed. They cry up Jenings2847 of The Ruby, and Saunders2848 of The Sweepstakes. They condemn mightily Sir Thomas Teddiman for a coward, but with what reason time must show. Having heard all this Creed and I walked into the Park till 9 or 10 at night, it being fine moonshine, discoursing of the unhappinesse of our fleet, what it would have been if the Prince had not come in, how much the Duke hath failed of what he was so presumptuous of, how little we deserve of God Almighty to give us better fortune, how much this excuses all that was imputed to my Lord Sandwich, and how much more he is a man fit to be trusted with all those matters than those that now command, who act by nor with any advice, but rashly and without any order. How bad we are at intelligence that should give the Prince no sooner notice of anything but let him come to Dover without notice of any fight, or where the fleet were, or anything else, nor give the Duke any notice that he might depend upon the Princeβs reserve; and lastly, of how good use all may be to checke our pride and presumption in adventuring upon hazards upon unequal force against a people that can fight, it seems now, as well as we, and that will not be discouraged by any losses, but that they will rise again. Thence by water home, and to supper (my father, wife, and sister having been at Islington today at Pittβs) and to bed.
5th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, expecting every houre more news of the fleet and the issue of yesterdayβs fight, but nothing come. At noon, though I should have dined with my Lord Mayor2849 and Aldermen at an entertainment of Commissioner Taylorβs, yet it being a time of expectation of the successe of the fleet, I did not go, but dined at home, and after dinner by water down to Deptford (and Woolwich, where I had not been since I lodged there, and methinks the place has grown natural to me), and thence down to Longreach, calling on all the ships in the way, seeing their condition for sayling, and what they want. Home about 11 of the clock, and so eat a bit and to bed, having received no manner of news this day, but of The Rainbowβs being put in from the fleet, maimed as the other ships are, and some say that Sir W. Clerke is dead of his leg being cut off.
6th. Up betimes, and vexed with my people for having a key taken out of the chamber doors and nobody knew where it was, as also with my boy for not being ready as soon as I, though I called him, whereupon I boxed him soundly, and then to my business at the office and on the Victualling Office, and thence by water to St. Jamesβs, whither he [the Duke of York] is now gone, it being a monthly fast-day for the plague. There we all met, and did our business as usual with the Duke, and among other things had Captain Cockeβs proposal of East country goods read, brought by my Lord Bruncker, which I make use of as a monkey do the catβs foot. Sir W. Coventry did much oppose it, and itβs likely it will not do; so away goes my hopes of Β£500. Thence after the Duke into the Park, walking through to Whitehall, and there everybody listening for guns, but none heard, and every creature is now overjoyed and concludes upon very good grounds that the Dutch are beaten because we have heard no guns nor no news of our fleet. By and by walking
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