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 & APRIL 1661-1662

March 1st. This morning I paid Sir W. Batten L40, which I have owed himthis half year, having borrowed it of him. Then to the office all themorning, so dined at home, and after dinner comes my uncle Thomas, withwhom I had some high words of difference, but ended quietly, though I fearI shall do no good by fair means upon him. Thence my wife and I by coach,first to see my little picture that is a drawing, and thence to the Opera,and there saw "Romeo and Juliet," the first time it was ever acted; but itis a play of itself the worst that ever I heard in my life, and the worstacted that ever I saw these people do, and I am resolved to go no more tosee the first time of acting, for they were all of them out more or less.Thence home, and after supper and wrote by the post, I settled to what Ihad long intended, to cast up my accounts with myself, and after muchpains to do it and great fear, I do find that I am 1500 in moneybeforehand in the world, which I was afraid I was not, but I find that Ihad spent above L250 this last half year, which troubles me much, but byGod's blessing I am resolved to take up, having furnished myself with allthings for a great while, and to-morrow to think upon some rules andobligations upon myself to walk by. So with my mind eased of a great dealof trouble, though with no great content to find myself above L100 worsenow than I was half a year ago, I went to bed.

2nd (Lord's day). With my mind much eased talking long in bed with mywife about our frugall life for the time to come, proposing to her what Icould and would do if I were worth L2,000, that is, be a knight, and keepmy coach, which pleased her,

[Lord Braybrooke wrote, "This reminds me of a story of my father's, when he was of Merton College, and heard Bowen the porter wish that he had L100 a-year, to enable him to keep a couple of hunters and a pack of foxhounds."]

and so I do hope we shall hereafter live to save something, for I amresolved to keep myself by rules from expenses. To church in the morning:none in the pew but myself. So home to dinner, and after dinner came SirWilliam and talked with me till church time, and then to church, where atour going out I was at a loss by Sir W. Pen's putting me upon it whetherto take my wife or Mrs. Martha (who alone was there), and I began to takemy wife, but he jogged me, and so I took Martha, and led her down beforehim and my wife. So set her at home, and Sir William and my wife and I towalk in the garden, and anon hearing that Sir G. Carteret had sent to seewhether we were at home or no, Sir William and I went to his house, wherewe waited a good while, they being at prayers, and by and by we went up tohim; there the business was about hastening the East India ships, aboutwhich we are to meet to-morrow in the afternoon. So h

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