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.
                                DECEMBER
                                  1666

December 1st. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. Athome to dinner, and then abroad walking to the Old Swan, and in my way Idid see a cellar in Tower Streete in a very fresh fire, the late greatwinds having blown it up.

[The fire continued burning in some cellars of the ruins of the city for four months, though it rained in the month of October ten days without ceasing (Rugge's "Diurnal").—B.]

It seemed to be only of log-wood, that Hath kept the fire all this whilein it. Going further, I met my late Lord Mayor Bludworth, under whom theCity was burned, and went with him by water to White Hall. But, Lord! thesilly talk that this fellow had, only how ready he would be to part withall his estate in these difficult times to advance the King's service, andcomplaining that now, as every body did lately in the fire, every bodyendeavours to save himself, and let the whole perish: but a very weak manhe seems to be. I left him at White Hall, he giving 6d. towards the boat,and I to Westminster Hall, where I was again defeated in my expectation ofBurroughs. However, I was not much sorry for it, but by coach home, inthe evening, calling at Faythorne's, buying three of my Lady Castlemayne'sheads, printed this day, which indeed is, as to the head, I think, a veryfine picture, and like her. I did this afternoon get Mrs. Michell to letme only have a sight of a pamphlet lately printed, but suppressed and muchcalled after, called "The Catholique's Apology;" lamenting the severity ofthe Parliament against them, and comparing it with the lenity of otherprinces to Protestants; giving old and late instances of their loyalty totheir princes, whatever is objected against them; and excusing theirdisquiets in Queen Elizabeth's time, for that it was impossible for themto think her a lawfull Queen, if Queen Mary, who had been owned as such,were so; one being the daughter of the true, and the other of a falsewife: and that of the Gunpowder Treason, by saying that it was only thepractice of some of us, if not the King, to trepan some of their religioninto it, it never being defended by the generality of their Church, norindeed known by them; and ends with a large Catalogue, in red letters, ofthe Catholiques which have lost their lives in the quarrel of the lateKing and this. The thing is very well writ indeed. So home to myletters, and then to my supper and to bed.

2nd (Lord's day). Up, and to church, and after church home to dinner,where I met Betty Michell and her husband, very merry at dinner, and afterdinner, having borrowed Sir W. Pen's coach, we to Westminster, they twoand my wife and I to Mr. Martin's, where find the company almost all cometo the christening of Mrs. Martin's child, a girl. A great deal of goodplain company. After sitting long, till the church was done, the Parsoncomes, and then we to christen

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