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.
                             FEBRUARY & MARCH
                                1668-1669

February 1st. Up, and by water from the Tower to White Hall, the firsttime that I have gone to that end of the town by water, for two or threemonths, I think, since I kept a coach, which God send propitious to me;but it is a very great convenience. I went to a Committee of Tangier, butit did not meet, and so I meeting Mr. Povy, he and I away to Dancre's, tospeak something touching the pictures I am getting him to make for me.And thence he carried me to Mr. Streeter's, the famous history-painterover the way, whom I have often heard of, but did never see him before;and there I found him, and Dr. Wren, and several Virtuosos, looking uponthe paintings which he is making for the new Theatre at Oxford: and,indeed, they look as if they would be very fine, and the rest think betterthan those of Rubens in the Banqueting-house at White Hall, but I do notso fully think so. But they will certainly be very noble; and I ammightily pleased to have the fortune to see this man and his work, whichis very famous; and he a very civil little man, and lame, but lives veryhandsomely. So thence to my Lord Bellassis, and met him within: mybusiness only to see a chimney-piece of Dancre's doing, in distemper, withegg to keep off the glaring of the light, which I must have done for myroom: and indeed it is pretty, but, I must confess, I do think it is notaltogether so beautiful as the oyle pictures; but I will have some of one,and some of another. Thence set him down at Little Turnstile, and so Ihome, and there eat a little dinner, and away with my wife by coach to theKing's playhouse, thinking to have seen "The Heyresse," first acted onSaturday last; but when we come thither, we find no play there; Kinaston,that did act a part therein, in abuse to Sir Charles Sedley, being lastnight exceedingly beaten with sticks, by two or three that assaulted him,so as he is mightily bruised, and forced to keep his bed. So we to theDuke of York's playhouse, and there saw "She Would if She Could," and sohome and to my office to business, and then to supper and to bed. Thisday, going to the play, The. Turner met us, and carried us to her mother,at my Lady Mordaunt's; and I did carry both mother and daughter with us tothe Duke of York's playhouse, at next door.

2nd. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, and home to dinner atnoon, where I find Mr. Sheres; and there made a short dinner, and carriedhim with us to the King's playhouse, where "The Heyresse,"not-withstanding Kinaston's being beaten, is acted; and they say the Kingis very angry with Sir Charles Sedley for his being beaten, but he do denyit. But his part is done by Beeston, who is fain to read it out of a bookall the while, and thereby spoils the part, and almost the play, it beingone of the best parts in it; and though the design is, in the firstconception of it, pretty good, yet it is but an indifferent play, wrote,they say, by my Lord Newcastle. But it was pleas

...