Produced by David Widger
(Unabridged)
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS. JULY 1667
July 1st. Up betimes, about 9 o'clock, waked by a damned noise between asow gelder and a cow and a dog, nobody after we were up being able to tellus what it was. After being ready we took coach, and, being very sleepy,droused most part of the way to Gravesend, and there 'light, and down tothe new batterys, which are like to be very fine, and there did hear aplain fellow cry out upon the folly of the King's officers above, to spendso much money in works at Woolwich and Deptford, and sinking of good shipsloaden with goods, when, if half the charge had been laid out here, itwould have secured all that, and this place too, before now. And I thinkit is not only true in this, but that the best of the actions of us allare so silly, that the meanest people begin to see through them, andcontemn them. Besides, says he, they spoil the river by it. Then informedourselves where we might have some creame, and they guided us to one GoodyBest's, a little out of the towne towards London road, and thither we wentwith the coach, and find it a mighty clean, plain house, and had a dish ofvery good creame to our liking, and so away presently very merry, and fellto reading of the several Advices to a Painter, which made us good sport,and indeed are very witty, and Creed did also repeat to me some of thesubstance of letters of old Burleigh in Queen Elizabeth's time, which hehath of late read in the printed Cabbala, which is a very fine style atthis day and fit to be imitated. With this, and talking and laughing atthe folly of our masters in the management of things at this day, we gothome by noon, where all well, and then to dinner, and after dinner both ofus laid down upon the couch and chairs and to sleep, which I did for anhour or two, and then to the office, where I am sorry to hear that Sir J.Minnes is likely to die this night, or to-morrow, I forgot to set downthat we met this morning upon the road with Mrs. Williams going down to myLord Bruncker; we bowed without speaking one to another, but I am ashamedat the folly of the man to have her down at this serious busy time, whenthe town and country is full of people and full of censure, and againsthim particularly. At Sir W. Batten's my Lady tells me that she hears forcertain that my Lord's maid of his lodging here do give out that Mrs.Williams hath been fain of late to sell her best clothes and jewels to geta little money upon, which is a sad condition. Thence to the office, anddid write to my Lord Bruncker to give me a little satisfaction about thecertainty of the chain's being broke, which I begin to doubt, and the morefrom Sir W. Pen's discourse. It is worth while to read my letter to himentered in my letter book. Home in the evening to supper, and so prettybetimes, about 10 o'clock, to bed, and slept well. This day letters arecome that my sister is very ill.
2nd. Up, and put on my new silke camelott suit, made of my cloak, andsuit now made into