31st.  Singing-master came to me this morning; then to the office all the morning.  In the afternoon I went to the Theatre, and there I saw “The Tamer Tamed” well done.  And then home, and prepared to go to Walthamstow to-morrow.  This night I was forced to borrow L40 of Sir W. Batten.

Diaryof Samuel Pepys. 
August
1661

August 1st.  This morning Sir Williams both, and my wife and I and Mrs. Margarett Pen (this first time that I have seen her since she came from Ireland) went by coach to Walthamstow, a-gossiping to Mrs. Browne, where I did give her six silver spoons—­[But not the porringer of silver.  See May 29th, 1661.—­M.  B]—­for her boy.  Here we had a venison pasty, brought hot from London, and were very merry.  Only I hear how nurse’s husband has spoken strangely of my Lady Batten how she was such a man’s whore, who indeed is known to leave her her estate, which we would fain have reconciled to-day, but could not and indeed I do believe that the story is true.  Back again at night home.

2d.  At the office all the morning.  At noon Dr. Thos.  Pepys dined with me, and after dinner my brother Tom came to me and then I made myself ready to get a-horseback for Cambridge.  So I set out and rode to Ware, this night, in the way having much discourse with a fellmonger,—­[A dealer in hides.]—­a Quaker, who told me what a wicked man he had been all his life-time till within this two years.  Here I lay, and

3rd.  Got up early the next morning and got to Barkway, where I staid and drank, and there met with a letter-carrier of Cambridge, with whom I rode all the way to Cambridge, my horse being tired, and myself very wet with rain.  I went to the Castle Hill, where the judges were at the Assizes; and I staid till Roger Pepys rose and went with him, and dined with his brother, the Doctor, and Claxton at Trinity Hall.  Then parted, and I went to the Rose, and there with Mr. Pechell, Sanchy, and others, sat and drank till night and were very merry, only they tell me how high the old doctors are in the University over those they found there, though a great deal better scholars than themselves; for which I am very sorry, and, above all, Dr. Gunning.  At night I took horse, and rode with Roger Pepys and his two brothers to Impington, and there with great respect was led up by them to the best chamber in the house, and there slept.

4th (Lord’s day).  Got up, and by and by walked into the orchard with my cozen Roger, and there plucked some fruit, and then discoursed at large about the business I came for, that is, about my uncle’s will, in which he did give me good satisfaction, but tells me I shall meet with a great deal of trouble in it.  However, in all things he told me what I am to expect and what to do.  To church, and had a good plain sermon, and my uncle Talbot went with us and at our coming in the country-people all rose with so much reverence; and when the parson begins,