[Roger Pepys, son of Talbot Pepys of Impington, a barrister of the Middle Temple, M.P. for Cambridge, 1661-78, and Recorder of that town, 1660-88.  He married, for the third time, Parnell, daughter and heiress of John Duke, of Workingham, co.  Suffolk, and this was the wedding for which the posy ring was required.]

it being term time, we took him out of the Hall to Priors, the Rhenish wine-house, and there had a pint or two of wine and a dish of anchovies, and bespoke three or four dozen bottles of wine for him against his wedding.  After this done he went away, and left me order to call and pay for all that Mrs. Turner would have.  So we called for nothing more there, but went and bespoke a shoulder of mutton at Wilkinson’s to be roasted as well as it could be done, and sent a bottle of wine home to my house.  In the meantime she and I and Joyce went walking all over White Hall, whither General Monk was newly come, and we saw all his forces march by in very good plight and stout officers.  Thence to my house where we dined, but with a great deal of patience, for the mutton came in raw, and so we were fain to stay the stewing of it.  In the meantime we sat studying a Posy

[It is supposed that the fashion of having mottoes inscribed on rings was of Roman origin.  In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the posy was inscribed on the outside of the ring, and in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it was placed inside.  A small volume was published in 1674, entitled “Love’s Garland:  or Posies for Rings, Handkerchers and Gloves, and such pretty tokens that Lovers send their Loves.”]

for a ring for her which she is to have at Roger Pepys his wedding.  After dinner I left them and went to hear news, but only found that the Parliament House was most of them with Monk at White Hall, and that in his passing through the town he had many calls to him for a free Parliament, but little other welcome.  I saw in the Palace Yard how unwilling some of the old soldiers were yet to go out of town without their money, and swore if they had it not in three days, as they were promised, they would do them more mischief in the country than if they had staid here; and that is very likely, the country being all discontented.  The town and guards are already full of Monk’s soldiers.  I returned, and it growing dark I and they went to take a turn in the park, where Theoph. (who was sent for to us to dinner) outran my wife and another poor woman, that laid a pot of ale with me that she would outrun her.  After that I set them as far as Charing Cross, and there left them and my wife, and I went to see Mrs. Ann, who began very high about a flock bed I sent her, but I took her down.  Here I played at cards till 9 o’clock.  So home and to bed.