Produced by David Widger

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

(Unabridged)

WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES

EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY

HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.

                          DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
                                NOVEMBER
                                  1666

November 1st. Up, and was presented by Burton, one of our smith's wives,with a very noble cake, which I presently resolved to have my wife go withto-day, and some wine, and house-warme my Betty Michell, which she readilyresolved to do. So I to the office and sat all the morning, where littleto do but answer people about want of money; so that there is littleservice done the King by us, and great disquiet to ourselves; I am surethere is to me very much, for I do not enjoy myself as I would and shoulddo in my employment if my pains could do the King better service, and withthe peace that we used to do it. At noon to dinner, and from dinner mywife and my brother, and W. Hewer and Barker away to Betty Michell's, toShadwell, and I to my office, where I took in Mrs. Bagwell and did what Iwould with her, and so she went away, and I all the afternoon till almostnight there, and then, my wife being come back, I took her and set her ather brother's, who is very sicke, and I to White Hall, and there all alonea pretty while with Sir W. Coventry at his chamber. I find him verymelancholy under the same considerations of the King's service that I am.He confesses with me he expects all will be undone, and all ruined; hecomplains and sees perfectly what I with grief do, and said it firsthimself to me that all discipline is lost in the fleete, no order nor nocommand, and concurs with me that it is necessary we do again and againrepresent all things more and more plainly to the Duke of York, for aguard to ourselves hereafter when things shall come to be worse. He saysthe House goes on slowly in finding of money, and that the discontentedparty do say they have not done with us, for they will have a further boutwith us as to our accounts, and they are exceedingly well instructed whereto hit us. I left him with a thousand sad reflections upon the times, andthe state of the King's matters, and so away, and took up my wife andhome, where a little at the office, and then home to supper, and talk withmy wife (with whom I have much comfort) and my brother, and so to bed.

2nd. Up betimes, and with Sir W. Batten to Woolwich, where first we wenton board the Ruby, French prize, the only ship of war we have taken fromany of our enemies this year. It seems a very good ship, but withgalleries quite round the sterne to walk in as a balcone, which will betaken down. She had also about forty good brass guns, but will makelittle amends to our loss in The Prince. Thence to the Ropeyarde and theother yards to do several businesses, he and I also did buy some applesand pork; by the same token the butcher commended it as the best inEngland for cloath and colour. And for his beef, says he, "Look how fatit is; the lean appears only here and there a speck, like beauty-spots."Having done at Woolwich, we to Deptford (it being very cold upon thewater), and there did also a little more business, and so home, I readingall the why to make end of the

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