Diaryof Samuel Pepys. 
November
1664

November 1st.  Up and to the office, where busy all the morning, at noon (my wife being invited to my Lady Sandwich’s) all alone dined at home upon a good goose with Mr. Wayth, discussing of business.  Thence I to the Committee of the Fishery, and there we sat with several good discourses and some bad and simple ones, and with great disorder, and yet by the men of businesse of the towne.  But my report in the business of the collections is mightily commended and will get me some reputation, and indeed is the only thing looks like a thing well done since we sat.  Then with Mr. Parham to the tavern, but I drank no wine, only he did give me another barrel of oysters, and he brought one Major Greene, an able fishmonger, and good discourse to my information.  So home and late at business at my office.  Then to supper and to bed.

2nd.  Up betimes, and down with Mr. Castle to Redriffe, and there walked to Deptford to view a parcel of brave knees—­[Knees of timber]—­of his, which indeed are very good, and so back again home, I seeming very friendly to him, though I know him to be a rogue, and one that hates me with his heart.  Home and to dinner, and so to my office all the afternoon, where in some pain in my backe, which troubled me, but I think it comes only with stooping, and from no other matter.  At night to Nellson’s, and up and down about business, and so home to my office, then home to supper and to bed.

3rd.  Up and to the office, where strange to see how Sir W. Pen is flocked to by people of all sorts against his going to sea.  At the office did much business, among other an end of that that has troubled me long, the business of the bewpers and flags.  At noon to the ’Change, and thence by appointment was met with Bagwell’s wife, and she followed me into Moorfields, and there into a drinking house, and all alone eat and drank together.  I did there caress her, but though I did make some offer did not receive any compliance from her in what was bad, but very modestly she denied me, which I was glad to see and shall value her the better for it, and I hope never tempt her to any evil more.  Thence back to the town, and we parted and I home, and then at the office late, where Sir W. Pen came to take his leave of me, being to-morrow, which is very sudden to us, to go on board to lie on board, but I think will come ashore again before the ship, the Charles,

["The Royal Charles” was the Duke of York’s ship, and Sir William Penn, who hoisted his flag in the “Royal James” on November 8th, shifted to the “Royal Charles” on November 30th.  The duke gave Penn the command of the fleet immediately under himself.  On Penn’s monument he is styled “Great Captain Commander under His Royal Highness” (Penn’s “Memorials of Sir William Penn,” vol. ii., p. 296).]

can go away.  So home to supper and to bed.  This night Sir W. Batten did, among other things, tell me strange newes, which troubles me, that my Lord Sandwich will be sent Governor to Tangier, which, in some respects, indeed, I should be glad of, for the good of the place and the safety of his person; but I think his honour will suffer, and, it may be, his interest fail by his distance.