Produced by David Widger

THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M.A. F.R.S.

CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY

TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE FELLOW AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE

(Unabridged)

WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES

EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY

HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.

                          DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
                                 MARCH
                               1663-1664

March 1st. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and atnoon to the 'Change, and after much business and meeting my uncle Wight,who told me how Mr. Maes had like to have been trapanned yesterday, butwas forced to run for it; so with Creed and Mr. Hunt home to dinner, andafter a good and pleasant dinner, Mr. Hunt parted, and I took Mr. Creedand my wife and down to Deptford, it being most pleasant weather, andthere till night discoursing with the officers there about several things,and so walked home by moonshine, it being mighty pleasant, and so home,and I to my office, where late about getting myself a thoroughunderstanding in the business of masts, and so home to bed, my left eyebeing mightily troubled with rheum.

2nd. Up, my eye mightily out of order with the rheum that is fallen downinto it, however, I by coach endeavoured to have waited on my LordSandwich, but meeting him in Chancery Lane going towards the City Istopped and so fairly walked home again, calling at St. Paul'sChurchyarde, and there looked upon a pretty burlesque poem, called"Scarronides, or Virgile Travesty;" extraordinary good. At home to theoffice till dinner, and after dinner my wife cut my hair short, which isgrowne pretty long again, and then to the office, and there till 9 atnight doing business. This afternoon we had a good present of tongues andbacon from Mr. Shales, of Portsmouth. So at night home to supper, and,being troubled with my eye, to bed. This morning Mr. Burgby, one of thewriting clerks belonging to the Council, was with me about business, aknowing man, he complains how most of the Lords of the Council do lookafter themselves and their own ends, and none the publique, unless SirEdward Nicholas. Sir G. Carteret is diligent, but all for his own endsand profit. My Lord Privy Scale, a destroyer of every body's business,and do no good at all to the publique. The Archbishop of Canterburyspeaks very little, nor do much, being now come to the highest pitch thathe can expect. He tells me, he believes that things will go very highagainst the Chancellor by Digby, and that bad things will be proved. Talksmuch of his neglecting the King; and making the King to trot every day tohim, when he is well enough to go to visit his cozen Chief-Justice Hide,but not to the Council or King. He commends my Lord of Ormond mightily inIreland; but cries out cruelly of Sir G. Lane for his corruption; and thathe hath done my Lord great dishonour by selling of places here, which arenow all taken away, and the poor wretches ready to starve. That nobodyalmost understands or judges of business better than the King, if he wouldnot be guilty of his father's fault to be doubtfull of himself, and easilybe removed from his own opinion. That my Lord Lauderdale is never fromthe King's care nor council, and that he is a most cunning fellow. Uponthe whole, that he finds things go very bad every where; and even in theCouncil nobody minds

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