Chapter 1

Produced by David Widger

QUOTES AND IMAGES FROM THE DIARY OF PEPYS

THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS

By Samuel Pepys

20s. in money, and what wine she needed, for the burying him

A good handsome wench I kissed, the first that I have seen

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 pretty man, I would be content to break a commandment with him

A lady spit backward upon me by a mistake

A play not very good, though commended much

A cat will be a cat still

A book the Bishops will not let be printed again

A most tedious, unreasonable, and impertinent sermon

About two o'clock, too late and too soon to go home to bed

Academy was dissolved by order of the Pope

Act of Council passed, to put out all Papists in office

Advantage a man of the law hath over all other people

Afeard of being louzy

After taking leave of my wife, which we could hardly do kindly

After awhile I caressed her and parted seeming friends

After many protestings by degrees I did arrive at what I would

After oysters, at first course, a hash of rabbits, a lamb

After a harsh word or two my wife and I good friends

All ended in love

All made much worse in their report among people than they are

All the fleas came to him and not to me

All divided that were bred so long at school together

All may see how slippery places all courtiers stand in

All things to be managed with faction

All the towne almost going out of towne (Plague panic)

Ambassador--that he is an honest man sent to lie abroad

Among many lazy people that the diligent man becomes necessary

An exceeding pretty lass, and right for the sport

An offer of L500 for a Baronet's dignity

And for his beef, says he, "Look how fat it is"

And if ever I fall on it again, I deserve to be undone

And a deal of do of which I am weary

And they did lay pigeons to his feet

And there, did what I would with her

And so to sleep till the morning, but was bit cruelly

And so to bed and there entertained her with great content

And feeling for a chamber-pott, there was none

And with the great men in curing of their claps

And so by coach, though hard to get it, being rainy, home

Angry, and so continued till bed, and did not sleep friends

Aptness I have to be troubled at any thing that crosses me

Archbishop is a wencher, and known to be so

As much his friend as his interest will let him

As very a gossip speaking of her neighbours as any body

As all other women, cry, and yet talk of other things

As he called it, the King's seventeenth whore abroad

As all things else did not come up to my expectations

Asleep, while the wench sat mending my breeches by my bedside

At least 12 or 14,000 people in the street (to see the hanging)

At a loss whether it will be better for me to have him die

Badge of slavery upon the whole people (taxes)

Baker's house in Pudding Lane, where the late great fire begun

Baseness and looseness of the Court

Bath at the top of his house

Beare-garden

Because I would not be over sure of any thing

Before I sent my boy out with them, I beat him for a lie

Begun to smell, and so I caused it to be set forth (corpse)

Being there, and seeming to do something, while we do not

Being cleansed of lice this day by my wife

Being very poor and mean as to the bearing with trouble

Being taken with a Psalmbook or Testament

Below what people think these great people say and do

Best fence against the Parliament's present fury is delay

Better now than never

Bewailing the vanity and disorders of the age

Bite at the stone, and not at the hand that flings it

Bleeding behind by leeches will cure him

Bold to deliver what he thinks on every occasion

Book itself, and both it and them not worth a turd

Bookseller's, and there looked for Montaigne's Essays

Bottle of strong water; whereof now and then a sip did me good

Bought for the love of the binding three books

Bought Montaigne's Essays, in English

Bowling-ally (where lords and ladies are now at bowles)

Boy up to-night for his sister to teach him to put me to bed

Bring me a periwig, but it was full of nits

Bringing over one discontented man, you raise up three

Bristol milk (the sherry) in the vaults

Broken sort of people, that have not much to lose

Burned it, that it might not be among my books to my shame

Business of abusing the Puritans begins to grow stale

But a woful rude rabble there was, and such noises

But so fearful I am of discontenting my wife

But I think I am not bound to discover myself

But we were friends again as we are always

But this the world believes, and so let them

But if she will ruin herself, I cannot help it

But my wife vexed, which vexed me

Buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and chaw

Buying up of goods in case there should be war

Buying his place of my Lord Barkely

By his many words and no understanding, confound himself

By chewing of tobacco is become very fat and sallow

By and by met at her chamber, and there did what I would

By her wedding-ring, I suppose he hath married her at last

Called at a little ale-house, and had an eele pye

Came to bed to me, but all would not make me friends

Cannot bring myself to mind my business

Cannot be clean to go so many bodies together in the same water

Cast stones with his horne crooke

Castlemayne is sicke again, people think, slipping her filly

Catched cold yesterday by putting off my stockings

Catholiques are everywhere and bold

Cavaliers have now the upper hand clear of the Presbyterians

Charles Barkeley's greatness is only his being pimp to the King

Chocolate was introduced into England about the year 1652

Church, where a most insipid young coxcomb preached

City to be burned, and the Papists to cut our throats

Clap of the pox which he got about twelve years ago

Clean myself with warm water; my wife will have me

Comb my head clean, which I found so foul with powdering

Come to see them in bed together, on their wedding-night

Come to us out of bed in his furred mittens and furred cap

Comely black woman.--[The old expression for a brunette.]

Coming to lay out a great deal of money in clothes for my wife

Commons, where there is nothing done but by passion, and faction

Compliment from my aunt, which I take kindly as it is unusual

Confidence, and vanity, and disparages everything

Confusion of years in the case of the months of January (etc.)

Consult my pillow upon that and every great thing of my life

Content as to be at our own home, after being abroad awhile

Contracted for her as if he had been buying a horse

Convenience of periwiggs is so great

Could not saw above 4 inches of the stone in a day

Counterfeit mirthe and pleasure with them, but had but little

Court is in a way to ruin all for their pleasures

Court attendance infinite tedious

Craft and cunning concerning the buying and choosing of horses

Credit of this office hath received by this rogue's occasion

Cruel custom of throwing at cocks on Shrove Tuesday

Cure of the King's evil, which he do deny altogether

Dare not oppose it alone for making an enemy and do no good

Declared he will never have another public mistress again

Delight to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition

Deliver her from the hereditary curse of child-bearing

Desk fastened to one of the armes of his chayre

Did dig another, and put our wine in it; and I my Parmazan cheese

Did extremely beat him, and though it did trouble me to do it

Did so watch to see my wife put on drawers, which (she did)

Did take me up very prettily in one or two things that I said

Did much insist upon the sin of adultery

Did go to Shoe Lane to see a cocke-fighting at a new pit there

Did find none of them within, which I was glad of

Did tumble them all the afternoon as I pleased

Did trouble me very much to be at charge to no purpose

Did see the knaveries and tricks of jockeys

Did not like that Clergy should meddle with matters of state

Did put evil thoughts in me, but proceeded no further

Dined with my wife on pease porridge and nothing else

Dined upon six of my pigeons, which my wife has resolved to kill

Dined at home alone, a good calves head boiled and dumplings

Dinner, an ill and little mean one, with foul cloth and dishes

Discontented at the pride and luxury of the Court

Discontented that my wife do not go neater now she has two maids

Discourse of Mr. Evelyn touching all manner of learning

Discoursed much against a man's lying with his wife in Lent

Discoursing upon the sad condition of the times

Disease making us more cruel to one another than if we are doggs

Disorder in the pit by its raining in, from the cupola

Disquiet all night, telling of the clock till it was daylight

Do outdo the Lords infinitely (debates in the Commons)

Do look upon me as a remembrancer of his former vanity

Do bury still of the plague seven or eight in a day

Doe from Cobham, when the season comes, bucks season being past

Dog attending us, which made us all merry again

Dog, that would turn a sheep any way which

Doubtfull of himself, and easily be removed from his own opinion

Down to the Whey house and drank some and eat some curds

Dr. Calamy is this day sent to Newgate for preaching

Drink a dish of coffee

Driven down again with a stinke by Sir W. Pen's shying of a pot

Duke of York and Mrs. Palmer did talk to one another very wanton

Duodecimal arithmetique

Durst not take notice of her, her husband being there

Dying this last week of the plague 112, from 43 the week before

Eat some of the best cheese-cakes that ever I eat in my life

Eat of the best cold meats that ever I eat on in all my life

Eat a mouthful of pye at home to stay my stomach

Eat some butter and radishes

Enough existed to build a ship (Pieces of the true Cross)

Enquiring into the selling of places do trouble a great many

Erasmus "de scribendis epistolis"

Even to the having bad words with my wife, and blows too

Every man looking after himself, and his owne lust and luxury

Every small thing is enough now-a-days to bring a difference

Every body leads, and nobody follows

Every body is at a great losse and nobody can tell

Every body's looks, and discourse in the street is of death

Exceeding kind to me, more than usual, which makes me afeard

Exclaiming against men's wearing their hats on in the church

Excommunications, which they send upon the least occasions

Expectation of profit will have its force

Expected musique, the missing of which spoiled my dinner

Faced white coat, made of one of my wife's pettycoates

Familiarity with her other servants is it that spoils them all

Fanatiques do say that the end of the world is at hand

Fashionable and black spots

Fear all his kindness is but only his lust to her

Fear that the goods and estate would be seized (after suicide)

Fear it may do him no good, but me hurt

Fear I shall not be able to wipe my hands of him again

Fear she should prove honest and refuse and then tell my wife

Feared I might meet with some people that might know me

Fearful that I might not go far enough with my hat off

Fears some will stand for the tolerating of Papists

Fell to sleep as if angry

Fell a-crying for joy, being all maudlin and kissing one another

Fell to dancing, the first time that ever I did in my life

Fetch masts from New England

Feverish, and hath sent for Mr. Pierce to let him blood

Few in any age that do mind anything that is abstruse

Find that now and then a little difference do no hurte

Find it a base copy of a good originall, that vexed me

Find myself to over-value things when a child

Finding my wife not sick, but yet out of order

Finding my wife's clothes lie carelessly laid up

Fire grow; and, as it grew darker, appeared more and more

First time that ever I heard the organs in a cathedral

First their apes, that they may be afterwards their slaves

First thing of that nature I did ever give her (L10 ring)

First time I had given her leave to wear a black patch

Fixed that the year should commence in January instead of March

Fool's play with which all publick things are done

For my quiet would not enquire into it

For, for her part, she should not be buried in the commons

For a land-tax and against a general excise

For I will not be inward with him that is open to another

For I will be hanged before I seek to him, unless I see I need

Force a man to swear against himself

Forced to change gold, 8s. 7d.; servants and poor, 1s. 6d.

Forgetting many things, which her master beat her for

Formerly say that the King was a bastard and his mother a whore

Found my brother John at eight o'clock in bed, which vexed me

Found him a fool, as he ever was, or worse

Found him not so ill as I thought that he had been ill

Found in my head and body about twenty lice, little and great

Found to be with child, do never stir out of their beds

Found guilty, and likely will be hanged (for stealing spoons)

France, which is accounted the best place for bread

Frequent trouble in things we deserve best in

Frogs and many insects do often fall from the sky, ready formed

From some fault in the meat to complain of my maid's sluttery

Gadding abroad to look after beauties

Galileo's air thermometer, made before 1597

Gamester's life, which I see is very miserable, and poor

Gave him his morning draft

Generally with corruption, but most indeed with neglect

Gentlewomen did hold up their heads to be kissed by the King

Get his lady to trust herself with him into the tavern

Give the King of France Nova Scotia, which he do not like

Give her a Lobster and do so touse her and feel her all over

Give the other notice of the future state, if there was any

Glad to be at friendship with me, though we hate one another

Gladder to have just now received it (than a promise)

God knows that I do not find honesty enough in my own mind

God forgive me! what thoughts and wishes I had

God help him, he wants bread.

God forgive me! what a mind I had to her

God! what an age is this, and what a world is this

Going with her woman to a hot-house to bathe herself

Gold holds up its price still

Goldsmiths in supplying the King with money at dear rates

Good sport of the bull's tossing of the dogs

Good wine, and anchovies, and pickled oysters (for breakfast)

Good purpose of fitting ourselves for another war (A Peace)

Good writers are not admired by the present

Got her upon my knee (the coach being full) and played with her

Great thaw it is not for a man to walk the streets

Great newes of the Swedes declaring for us against the Dutch

Great deale of tittle tattle discourse to little purpose

Great many silly stories they tell of their sport

Greater number of Counsellors is, the more confused the issue

Greatest businesses are done so superficially

Had no more manners than to invite me and to let me pay

Had his hand cut off, and was hanged presently!

Had what pleasure almost I would with her

Had the umbles of it for dinner

Half a pint of Rhenish wine at the Still-yard, mixed with beer

Hanged with a silken halter

Hanging jack to roast birds on

Hard matter to settle to business after so much leisure

Hate in others, and more in myself, to be careless of keys

Hates to have any body mention what he had done the day before

Hath not a liberty of begging till he hath served three years

Hath a good heart to bear, or a cunning one to conceal his evil

Hath given her the pox, but I hope it is not so

Have not known her this fortnight almost, which is a pain to me

Have not any awe over them from the King's displeasure (Commons)

Have not much to lose, and therefore will venture all

Have been so long absent that I am ashamed to go

Having some experience, but greater conceit of it than is fit

He that will not stoop for a pin, will never be worth a pound

He made but a poor sermon, but long

He has been inconvenienced by being too free in discourse

He having made good promises, though I fear his performance

He hoped he should live to see her "ugly and willing"

He is too wise to be made a friend of

He was fain to lie in the priest's hole a good while

He was charged with making himself popular

He is, I perceive, wholly sceptical, as well as I

He is a man of no worth in the world but compliment

He is not a man fit to be told what one hears

Heard noises over their head upon the leads

Heeling her on one side to make her draw little water

Helping to slip their calfes when there is occasion

Her months upon her is gone to bed

Here I first saw oranges grow

Hired her to procure this poor soul for him

His enemies have done him as much good as he could wish

His readiness to speak spoilt all

His satisfaction is nothing worth, it being easily got

His company ever wearys me

Holes for me to see from my closet into the great office

Hopes to have had a bout with her before she had gone

Houses marked with a red cross upon the doors

How the Presbyterians would be angry if they durst

How highly the Presbyters do talk in the coffeehouses still

How little merit do prevail in the world, but only favour

How little heed is had to the prisoners and sicke and wounded

How unhappily a man may fall into a necessity of bribing people

How natural it is for us to slight people out of power

How little to be presumed of in our greatest undertakings

Hugged, it being cold now in the mornings . . . .

I took occasion to be angry with him

I could not forbear to love her exceedingly

I do not value her, or mind her as I ought

I did what I would, and might have done anything else

I have itched mightily these 6 or 7 days

I know not whether to be glad or sorry

I was as merry as I could counterfeit myself to be

I could have answered, but forbore

I have a good mind to have the maidenhead of this girl

I know not how in the world to abstain from reading

I fear that it must be as it can, and not as I would

I had six noble dishes for them, dressed by a man-cook

I find her painted, which makes me loathe her (cosmetics)

I did get her hand to me under my cloak

I perceive no passion in a woman can be lasting long

I having now seen a play every day this week

I was very angry, and resolve to beat him to-morrow

I know not yet what that is, and am ashamed to ask

I do not like his being angry and in debt both together to me

I will not by any over submission make myself cheap

I slept soundly all the sermon

I and she never were so heartily angry in our lives as to-day

I calling her beggar, and she me pricklouse, which vexed me

I love the treason I hate the traitor

I would not enquire into anything, but let her talk

I kissed the bride in bed, and so the curtaines drawne

I have promised, but know not when I shall perform

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

I was exceeding free in dallying with her, and she not unfree

I was a great Roundhead when I was a boy

I pray God to make me able to pay for it.

I took a broom and basted her till she cried extremely

I was demanded L100, for the fee of the office at 6d. a pound

I never designed to be a witness against any man

I fear is not so good as she should be

If the exportations exceed importations

If it should come in print my name maybe at it

Ill from my late cutting my hair so close to my head

Ill all this day by reason of the last night's debauch

Ill sign when we are once to come to study how to excuse

Ill humour to be so against that which all the world cries up

Ill-bred woman, would take exceptions at anything any body said

In my nature am mighty unready to answer no to anything

In men's clothes, and had the best legs that ever I saw

In our graves (as Shakespeere resembles it) we could dream

In discourse he seems to be wise and say little

In perpetual trouble and vexation that need it least

In comes Mr. North very sea-sick from shore

In a hackney and full of people, was ashamed to be seen

In my dining-room she was doing something upon the pott

Inconvenience that do attend the increase of a man's fortune

Inoffensive vanity of a man who loved to see himself in the glass

Instructed by Shakespeare himself

Irish in Ireland, whom Cromwell had settled all in one corner

It not being handsome for our servants to sit so equal with us

Justice of God in punishing men for the sins of their ancestors

Justice of proceeding not to condemn a man unheard

Keep at interest, which is a good, quiett, and easy profit

King is at the command of any woman like a slave

King shall not be able to whip a cat

King was gone to play at Tennis

King hath lost his power, by submitting himself to this way

King do resolve to declare the Duke of Monmouth legitimate

King himself minding nothing but his ease

King is not at present in purse to do

King is mighty kind to these his bastard children

King the necessity of having, at least, a show of religion

King be desired to put all Catholiques out of employment

King still do doat upon his women, even beyond all shame

King is offended with the Duke of Richmond's marrying

King of France did think other princes fit for nothing

King governed by his lust, and women, and rogues about him

King do tire all his people that are about him with early rising

King's service is undone, and those that trust him perish

King's Proclamation against drinking, swearing, and debauchery

Kingdom will fall back again to a commonwealth

Kiss my Parliament, instead of "Kiss my [rump]"

Know yourself to be secure, in being necessary to the office

L'escholle des filles, a lewd book

Lady Castlemayne is compounding with the King for a pension

Lady Duchesse the veryest slut and drudge

Lady Batten to give me a spoonful of honey for my cold

Lady Castlemaine is still as great with the King

Lady Castlemayne's nose out of joynt

Lady Castlemayne is now in a higher command over the King

Lady Castlemayne do rule all at this time as much as ever

Laissez nous affaire--Colbert

Last day of their doubtfulness touching her being with child

Last act of friendship in telling me of my faults also

Laughing and jeering at every thing that looks strange

Lay long caressing my wife and talking

Lay long in bed talking and pleasing myself with my wife

Lay chiding, and then pleased with my wife in bed

Lay with her to-night, which I have not done these eight (days)

Learned the multiplication table for the first time in 1661

Learnt a pretty trick to try whether a woman be a maid or no

Lechery will never leave him

Let me blood, about sixteen ounces, I being exceedingly full

Let her brew as she has baked

Lewdness and beggary of the Court

Liability of a husband to pay for goods supplied his wife

Liberty of speech in the House

Listening to no reasoning for it, be it good or bad

Little content most people have in the peace

Little children employed, every one to do something

Little worth of this world, to buy it with so much pain

Long cloaks being now quite out

Look askew upon my wife, because my wife do not buckle to them

Lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen

Lord! in the dullest insipid manner that ever lover did

Lust and wicked lives of the nuns heretofore in England

Luxury and looseness of the times

Lying a great while talking and sporting in bed with my wife

Made a lazy sermon, like a Presbyterian

Made to drink, that they might know him not to be a Roundhead

Made him admire my drawing a thing presently in shorthand

Magnifying the graces of the nobility and prelates

Make a man wonder at the good fortune of such a fool

Man cannot live without playing the knave and dissimulation Matters in Ireland are full of discontent

Meazles, we fear, or, at least, of a scarlett feavour

Methought very ill, or else I am grown worse to please

Milke, which I drank to take away, my heartburne