30th.  Up and to White Hall, to the Duke of Albemarle, who I find at Secretary Bennet’s, there being now no other great Statesman, I think, but my Lord Chancellor, in towne.  I received several commands from them; among others, to provide some bread and cheese for the garrison at Guernsey, which they promised to see me paid for.  So to the ’Change, and home to dinner.  In the afternoon I down to Woolwich and after me my wife and Mercer, whom I led to Mr. Sheldon’s to see his house, and I find it a very pretty place for them to be at.  So I back again, walking both forward and backward, and left my wife to come by water.  I straight to White Hall, late, to Secretary Bennet’s to give him an account of the business I received from him to-day, and there staid weary and sleepy till past 12 at night.  Then writ my mind to him, and so back by water and in the dark and against tide shot the bridge, groping with their pole for the way, which troubled me before I got through.  So home, about one or two o’clock in the morning, my family at a great losse what was become of me.  To supper, and to bed.  Thus this book of two years ends.  Myself and family in good health, consisting of myself and wife, Mercer, her woman, Mary, Alice, and Susan our maids, and Tom my boy.  In a sickly time of the plague growing on.  Having upon my hands the troublesome care of the Treasury of Tangier, with great sums drawn upon me, and nothing to pay them with:  also the business of the office great.  Consideration of removing my wife to Woolwich; she lately busy in learning to paint, with great pleasure and successe.  All other things well; especially a new interest I am making, by a match in hand between the eldest son of Sir G. Carteret, and my Lady Jemimah Montage.  The Duke of Yorke gone down to the fleete, but all suppose not with intent to stay there, as it is not fit, all men conceive, he should.

     ETEXT editor’s bookmarks: 

     A vineyard, the first that ever I did see
     All the towne almost going out of towne (Plague panic)
     Buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and chaw
     Consult my pillow upon that and every great thing of my life
     Convenience of periwiggs is so great
     Dying this last week of the plague 112, from 43 the week before
     Hear that the plague is come into the City
     Houses marked with a red cross upon the doors
     My old folly and childishnesse hangs upon me still
     Plague claimed 68,596 victims (in 1665)
     Pride of some persons and vice of most was but a sad story
     The coachman that carried [us] cannot know me again
     Though neither of us care 2d. one for another
     Which may teach me how I make others wait

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