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. MAY 1668

May 1st, 1668. Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy. Thento Westminster Hall, and there met Sir W. Pen, who labours to have hisanswer to his impeachment, and sent down from the Lords' House, read bythe House of Commons; but they are so busy on other matters, that hecannot, and thereby will, as he believes, by design, be prevented fromgoing to sea this year. Here met my cozen Thomas Pepys of Deptford, andtook some turns with him; who is mightily troubled for this Act now passedagainst Conventicles, and in few words, and sober, do lament the conditionwe are in, by a negligent Prince and a mad Parliament. Thence I by coachto the Temple, and there set him down, and then to Sir G. Carteret's todine, but he not being at home, I back again to the New Exchange a little,and thence back again to Hercules Pillars, and there dined all alone, andthen to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Surprizall;" and adisorder in the pit by its raining in, from the cupola at top, it being avery foul day, and cold, so as there are few I believe go to the Parkto-day, if any. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there I understand howthe Houses of Commons and Lords are like to disagree very much, about thebusiness of the East India Company and one Skinner; to the latter of whichthe Lords have awarded L5000 from the former, for some wrong done himheretofore; and the former appealing to the Commons, the Lords vote theirpetition a libell; and so there is like to follow very hot work. Thenceby water, not being able to get a coach, nor boat but a sculler, and thatwith company, is being so foul a day, to the Old Swan, and so home, andthere spent the evening, making Balty read to me, and so to supper and tobed.

2nd. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon with Lord Brounckerin his coach as far as the Temple, and there 'light and to HerculesPillars, and there dined, and thence to the Duke of York's playhouse, at alittle past twelve, to get a good place in the pit, against the new play,and there setting a poor man to keep my place, I out, and spent an hour atMartin's, my bookseller's, and so back again, where I find the house quitefull. But I had my place, and by and by the King comes and the Duke ofYork; and then the play begins, called "The Sullen Lovers; or, TheImpertinents," having many good humours in it, but the play tedious, andno design at all in it. But a little boy, for a farce, do dancePolichinelli, the best that ever anything was done in the world, by allmen's report: most pleased with that, beyond anything in the world, andmuch beyond all the play. Thence to the King's house to see Knepp, butthe play done; and so I took a hackney alone, and to the park, and therespent the evening, and to the lodge, and drank new milk. And so home tothe Office, ended my letters, and, to spare my eyes, home, and played onmy pipes, and so to bed.

3rd (Lord's day). Up, and to

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