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 & DECEMBER
                                  1662

November 1st. Up and after a little while with my workmen I went to myoffice, and then to our sitting all the morning. At noon with Mr. Creede,whom I found at my house, to the Trinity House, to a great dinner there,by invitacion, and much company. It seems one Captain Evans makes hisElder Brother's dinner to-day. Among other discourses one Mr. Oudant,secretary to the late Princesse of Orange, did discourse of theconvenience as to keeping the highways from being deep, by their horses,in Holland (and Flanders where the ground is as miry as ours is), going intheir carts and, waggons as ours in coaches, wishing the same here as anexpedient to make the ways better, and I think there is something in it,where there is breadth enough. Thence to my office, sent for to meet Mr.Leigh again; from Sir H. Bennet. And he and I, with Wade and hisintelligencer and labourers, to the Tower cellars, to make one tryallmore; where we staid two or three hours digging, and dug a great deal allunder the arches, as it was now most confidently directed, and soseriously, and upon pretended good grounds, that I myself did truly expectto speed; but we missed of all: and so we went away the second time likefools. And to our office, whither, a coach being come, Mr. Leigh goeshome to Whitehall; and I by appointment to the Dolphin Tavern, to meetWade and the other, Captn. Evett, who now do tell me plainly, that he thatdo put him upon this is one that had it from Barkestead's own mouth, andwas advised with by him, just before the King's coming in, how to get itout, and had all the signs told him how and where it lay, and had alwaysbeen the great confident of Barkestead even to the trusting him with hislife and all he had. So that he did much convince me that there is goodground for what we go about. But I fear it may be that he did find someconveyance of it away, without the help of this man, before he died. Buthe is resolved to go to the party once more, and then to determine what weshall do further. So we parted, and I to my office, where after sendingaway my letters to the post I do hear that Sir J. Minnes is resolved toturn part of our entry into a room and to divide the back yard between SirW. Pen and him, which though I do not see how it will annoy me muchparticularly, yet it do trouble me a little for fear it should, but I donot see how it can well unless in his desiring my coming to my backstairs, but for that I shall do as well as himself or Sir W. Pen, who ismost concerned to look after it.

2nd (Lord's day). Lay long with pleasure talking with my wife, in whom Inever had greater content, blessed be God! than now, she continuing withthe same care and thrift and innocence, so long as I keep her fromoccasions of being otherwise, as ever she was in her life, and keeps thehouse as well. To church, where Mr. Mills, after he had read the service,and shifted himself as he did the last day, preached a very ordinaryse

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