Quotations from Diary of Samuel Pepys.

by David Widger.

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, PREFACE AND LIFE [sp02g10.txt]

Confusion of years in the case of the months of January (etc.) Else he is a blockhead, and not fitt for that imployment Fixed that the year should commence in January instead of March He knew nothing about the navy He made the great speech of his life, and spoke for three hours I never designed to be a witness against any man In perpetual trouble and vexation that need it least Inoffensive vanity of a man who loved to see himself in the gla.s.s Learned the multiplication table for the first time in 1661 Montaigne is conscious that we are looking over his shoulder Nothing in it approaching that single page in St. Simon The present Irish p.r.o.nunciation of English

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, JAN 1659/60 [sp03g10.txt]

A very fine dinner Gave him his morning draft Much troubled with thoughts how to get money My wife was making of her tarts and larding of her pullets My wife was very unwilling to let me go forth Put to a great loss how I should get money to make up my cash This day I began to put on buckles to my shoes

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, FEB 1659/60 [sp04g10.txt]

Dined with my wife on pease porridge and nothing else Do press for new oaths to be put upon men Hanging jack to roast birds on Kiss my Parliament, instead of "Kiss my [rump]"

Mottoes inscribed on rings was of Roman origin My wife and I had some high words Pet.i.tion against hackney coaches Playing the fool with the la.s.s of the house Posies for Rings, Handkerchers and Gloves Some merry talk with a plain bold maid of the house To the Swan and drank our morning draft Wedding for which the posy ring was required Went to bed with my head not well by my too much drinking to-day

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, MAR/APR 1659/60 [sp05g10.txt]

Cavaliers have now the upper hand clear of the Presbyterians Resolve to have the doing of it himself, or else to hinder it Strange thing how I am already courted by the people

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, MAY 1660 [sp06g10.txt]

An exceeding pretty la.s.s, and right for the sport And in all this not so much as one Bought for the love of the binding three books Drinking of the King's health upon their knees in the streets Fashionable and black spots He and I lay in one press bed, there being two more He is, I perceive, wholly sceptical, as well as I He that must do the business, or at least that can hinder it He was fain to lie in the priest's hole a good while If it should come in print my name maybe at it In comes Mr. North very sea-sick from sh.o.r.e John Pickering on board, like an a.s.s, with his feathers Made to drink, that they might know him not to be a Roundhead My Lord, who took physic to-day and was in his chamber Presbyterians against the House of Lords Protestants as to the Church of Rome are wholly fanatiques

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, JUN/JUL 1660 [sp07g10.txt]

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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 pa.s.sed 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

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, AUG/SEP 1660 [sp08g10.txt]

Boy up to-night for his sister to teach him to put me to bed Diana did not come according to our agreement Drink at a bottle beer house in the Strand Finding my wife's clothes lie carelessly laid up Formerly say that the King was a b.a.s.t.a.r.d and his mother a wh.o.r.e Hand i' the cap Hired her to procure this poor soul for him I fear is not so good as she should be I was angry with her, which I was troubled for I was exceeding free in dallying with her, and she not unfree Ill all this day by reason of the last night's debauch King do tire all his people that are about him with early rising Kissed them myself very often with a great deal of mirth My luck to meet with a sort of drolling workmen on all occasions Show many the strangest emotions to shift off his drink Upon the leads gazing upon Diana

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, OCT/NOV/DEC 1660 [sp09g10.txt]

Asleep, while the wench sat mending my breeches by my bedside Barkley swearing that he and others had lain with her often But I think I am not bound to discover myself But we were friends again as we are always Cure of the King's evil, which he do deny altogether Duke of York and Mrs. Palmer did talk to one another very wanton First time I had given her leave to wear a black patch First time that ever I heard the organs in a cathedral Gentlewomen did hold up their heads to be kissed by the King Have her come not as a sister in any respect, but as a servant Have not known her this fortnight almost, which is a pain to me He did very well, but a deadly drinker he is I took a broom and basted her till she cried extremely I was a great Roundhead when I was a boy I was demanded L100, for the fee of the office at 6d. a pound In discourse he seems to be wise and say little It not being handsome for our servants to sit so equal with us Learnt a pretty trick to try whether a woman be a maid or no Long cloaks being now quite out Sit up till 2 o'clock that she may call the wench up to wash Smoke jack consists of a wind-wheel fixed in the chimney So I took occasion to go up and to bed in a pet So we went to bed and lay all night in a quarrel The rest did give more, and did believe that I did so too There being ten hanged, drawn, and quartered Thus it was my chance to see the King beheaded at White Hall To see Major-general Harrison hanged, drawn; and quartered

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, 1660 N.S. COMPLETE [sp10g10.txt]

A very fine dinner A good handsome wench I kissed, the first that I have seen Among all the beauties there, my wife was thought the greatest An exceeding pretty la.s.s, and right for the sport An offer of L500 for a Baronet's dignity And in all this not so much as one Asleep, while the wench sat mending my breeches by my bedside Barkley swearing that he and others had lain with her often Bought for the love of the binding three books Boy up to-night for his sister to teach him to put me to bed But we were friends again as we are always But I think I am not bound to discover myself Cavaliers have now the upper hand clear of the Presbyterians Confusion of years in the case of the months of January (etc.) Court attendance infinite tedious Cure of the King's evil, which he do deny altogether Diana did not come according to our agreement Did not like that Clergy should meddle with matters of state Dined with my wife on pease porridge and nothing else Dined upon six of my pigeons, which my wife has resolved to kill Do press for new oaths to be put upon men Drink at a bottle beer house in the Strand Drinking of the King's health upon their knees in the streets Duke of York and Mrs. Palmer did talk to one another very wanton Else he is a blockhead, and not fitt for that imployment Fashionable and black spots Finding my wife's clothes lie carelessly laid up First time I had given her leave to wear a black patch First time that ever I heard the organs in a cathedral Five pieces of gold for to do him a small piece of service Fixed that the year should commence in January instead of March Formerly say that the King was a b.a.s.t.a.r.d and his mother a wh.o.r.e Gave him his morning draft Gentlewomen did hold up their heads to be kissed by the King G.o.d help him, he wants bread.

Had no more manners than to invite me and to let me pay Hand i' the cap Hanging jack to roast birds on Have her come not as a sister in any respect, but as a servant Have not known her this fortnight almost, which is a pain to me He and I lay in one press bed, there being two more He is, I perceive, wholly sceptical, as well as I He that must do the business, or at least that can hinder it He was fain to lie in the priest's hole a good while He did very well, but a deadly drinker he is He made the great speech of his life, and spoke for three hours He knew nothing about the navy Hired her to procure this poor soul for him How the Presbyterians would be angry if they durst I fear is not so good as she should be I never designed to be a witness against any man I was demanded L100, for the fee of the office at 6d. a pound I took a broom and basted her till she cried extremely I pray G.o.d to make me able to pay for it.

I was angry with her, which I was troubled for I went to the cook's and got a good joint of meat I was exceeding free in dallying with her, and she not unfree I was a great Roundhead when I was a boy If it should come in print my name maybe at it Ill all this day by reason of the last night's debauch In discourse he seems to be wise and say little In comes Mr. North very sea-sick from sh.o.r.e In perpetual trouble and vexation that need it least Inoffensive vanity of a man who loved to see himself in the gla.s.s It not being handsome for our servants to sit so equal with us John Pickering on board, like an a.s.s, with his feathers King do tire all his people that are about him with early rising King's Proclamation against drinking, swearing, and debauchery Kiss my Parliament, instead of "Kiss my [rump]"

Kissed them myself very often with a great deal of mirth L100 worth of plate for my Lord to give Secretary Nicholas Learned the multiplication table for the first time in 1661 Learnt a pretty trick to try whether a woman be a maid or no Long cloaks being now quite out Made to drink, that they might know him not to be a Roundhead Montaigne is conscious that we are looking over his shoulder Most of my time in looking upon Mrs. Butler Mottoes inscribed on rings was of Roman origin Much troubled with thoughts how to get money My luck to meet with a sort of drolling workmen on all occasions My new silk suit, the first that ever I wore in my life My wife and I had some high words My wife was very unwilling to let me go forth My wife was making of her tarts and larding of her pullets My Lord, who took physic to-day and was in his chamber Nothing in it approaching that single page in St. Simon Offer me L500 if I would desist from the Clerk of the Acts place Pet.i.tion against hackney coaches Playing the fool with the la.s.s of the house Posies for Rings, Handkerchers and Gloves Presbyterians against the House of Lords Protestants as to the Church of Rome are wholly fanatiques Put to a great loss how I should get money to make up my cash Resolve to have the doing of it himself, or else to hinder it Sceptic in all things of religion She had six children by the King Show many the strangest emotions to shift off his drink Sit up till 2 o'clock that she may call the wench up to wash Smoke jack consists of a wind-wheel fixed in the chimney So we went to bed and lay all night in a quarrel So I took occasion to go up and to bed in a pet Some merry talk with a plain bold maid of the house Strange thing how I am already courted by the people Strange how civil and tractable he was to me The present Irish p.r.o.nunciation of English The rest did give more, and did believe that I did so too The ceremonies did not please me, they do so overdo them There being ten hanged, drawn, and quartered This afternoon I showed my Lord my accounts, which he pa.s.sed This day I began to put on buckles to my shoes Thus it was my chance to see the King beheaded at White Hall To see the bride put to bed To the Swan and drank our morning draft To see Major-general Harrison hanged, drawn; and quartered Upon the leads gazing upon Diana We cannot tell what to do for want of her (the maid) Wedding for which the posy ring was required Went to bed with my head not well by my too much drinking to-day 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

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, JAN/FEB/MAR 1660/61 [sp11g10.txt]

A lady spit backward upon me by a mistake A most tedious, unreasonable, and impertinent sermon Comely black woman.--[The old expression for a brunette.]

Cruel custom of throwing at c.o.c.ks on Shrove Tuesday Day I first begun to go forth in my coat and sword Discontented that my wife do not go neater now she has two maids Fell to dancing, the first time that ever I did in my life Have been so long absent that I am ashamed to go I took occasion to be angry with him Justice of G.o.d in punishing men for the sins of their ancestors Lady Batten to give me a spoonful of honey for my cold My great expense at the Coronacion She hath got her teeth new done by La Roche That I might not seem to be afeared The monkey loose, which did anger me, and so I did strike her Was kissing my wife, which I did not like We are to go to law never to revenge, but only to repayre Who we found ill still, but he do make very much of it Wronged by my over great expectations

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, APR/MAY 1661 [sp12g10.txt]

A little while since a very likely man to live as any I knew Being sure never to see the like again in this world Believe that England and France were once the same continent Chocolate was introduced into England about the year 1652 Did trouble me very much to be at charge to no purpose Difference there will be between my father and mother about it Eat of the best cold meats that ever I eat on in all my life Foolery to take too much notice of such things Frogs and many insects do often fall from the sky, ready formed I could not forbear to love her exceedingly I had the opportunity of kissing Mrs. Rebecca very often I was as merry as I could counterfeit myself to be I went in and kissed them, demanding it as a fee due Jealousy of him and an ugly wench that lived there lately Lay with her to-night, which I have not done these eight(days) Made a lazy sermon, like a Presbyterian She would not let him come to bed to her out of jealousy So home and to bed, where my wife had not lain a great while The barber came to trim me and wash me Troubled to see my father so much decay of a suddain What people will do tomorrow What they all, through profit or fear, did promise Who seems so inquisitive when my, house will be made an end of

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, JUN/JUL/AUG 1661 [sp13g10.txt]

A great baboon, but so much like a man in most things A play not very good, though commended much Begun to smell, and so I caused it to be set forth (corpse) Bleeding behind by leeches will cure By chewing of tobacco is become very fat and sallow Cannot bring myself to mind my business Durst not take notice of her, her husband being there Faced white coat, made of one of my wife's pettycoates Family being all in mourning, doing him the greatest honour Fear I shall not be able to wipe my hands of him again Finding my wife not sick, but yet out of order Found him not so ill as I thought that he had been ill Found my brother John at eight o'clock in bed, which vexed me Good G.o.d! how these ignorant people did cry her up for it!

Greedy to see the will, but did not ask to see it till to-morrow His company ever wearys me I broke wind and so came to some ease I would fain have stolen a pretty dog that followed me Instructed by Shakespeare himself Lady Batten how she was such a man's wh.o.r.e Lately too much given to seeing of plays, and expense Lewdness and beggary of the Court Look askew upon my wife, because my wife do not buckle to them None will sell us any thing without our personal security given Quakers do still continue, and rather grow than lessen Sat before Mrs. Palmer, the King's mistress, and filled my eyes So the children and I rose and dined by ourselves Sorry in some respect, glad in my expectations in another respect The Alchymist,--Comedy by Ben Jonson The Lords taxed themselves for the poor--an earl, 1s.

This week made a vow to myself to drink no wine this week Those absent from prayers were to pay a forfeit To be so much in love of plays Woman with a rod in her hand keeping time to the musique