31st.  To White Hall, where my Lord and the principal officers met, and had a great discourse about raising of money for the Navy, which is in very sad condition, and money must be raised for it.  Mr. Blackburne, Dr. Clerke, and I to the Quaker’s and dined there.  I back to the Admiralty, and there was doing things in order to the calculating of the debts of the Navy and other business, all the afternoon.  At night I went to the Privy Seal, where I found Mr. Crofts and Mathews making up all their things to leave the office tomorrow, to those that come to wait the next month.  I took them to the Sun Tavern and there made them drink, and discoursed concerning the office, and what I was to expect tomorrow about Baron, who pretends to the next month.  Late home by coach so far as Ludgate with Mr. Mathews, and thence home on foot with W. Hewer with me, and so to bed.

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     A good handsome wench I kissed, the first that I have seen
     Among all the beauties there, my wife was thought the greatest
     An offer of L500 for a Baronet’s dignity
     Court attendance infinite tedious
     Did not like that Clergy should meddle with matters of state
     Dined upon six of my pigeons, which my wife has resolved to kill
     Five pieces of gold for to do him a small piece of service
     God help him, he wants bread. 
     Had no more manners than to invite me and to let me pay
     How the Presbyterians would be angry if they durst
     I pray God to make me able to pay for it. 
     I went to the cook’s and got a good joint of meat
     King’s Proclamation against drinking, swearing, and debauchery
     L100 worth of plate for my Lord to give Secretary Nicholas
     Most of my time in looking upon Mrs. Butler
     My new silk suit, the first that ever I wore in my life
     Offer me L500 if I would desist from the Clerk of the Acts place
     Sceptic in all things of religion
     She had six children by the King
     Strange how civil and tractable he was to me
     The ceremonies did not please me, they do so overdo them
     This afternoon I showed my Lord my accounts, which he passed
     To see the bride put to bed
     We cannot tell what to do for want of her (the maid)
     Where I find the worst very good
     Which I did give him some hope of, though I never intend it
     Woman that they have a fancy to, to make her husband a cuckold

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