Samuel Pepys
@samuelpepys.bsky.social
The diaries of Samuel Pepys in real time, 1660-69. Currently posting 1663. Run by @philgyford.bsky.social.
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Support at https://ko-fi.com/pepysdiary
Into Wood Street, and there bought a fine table for my dining-room, cost me 50s.; and while we were buying it, there was a scare-fire in an ally over against us, but they quenched it.
January 6, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Into Wood Street, and there bought a fine table for my dining-room, cost me 50s.; and while we were buying it, there was a scare-fire in an ally over against us, but they quenched it.
To the Cockpitt, where we saw “Claracilla,” a poor play, done by the King’s house; but to my very little content, they not acting in any degree like the Duke’s people.
January 5, 2026 at 4:47 PM
To the Cockpitt, where we saw “Claracilla,” a poor play, done by the King’s house; but to my very little content, they not acting in any degree like the Duke’s people.
To White Hall, where the Duke and the Commissioners for Tangier met, but did not do much: my Lord Sandwich not being in town, nobody making it their business.
January 5, 2026 at 2:40 PM
To White Hall, where the Duke and the Commissioners for Tangier met, but did not do much: my Lord Sandwich not being in town, nobody making it their business.
I took Sir W. Batten and Captain Allen into the wine cellar to my tenant (as I call him, Serjeant Dalton), and there drank a great deal of variety of wines, more than I have drunk at one time, or shall again a great while, when I come to return to my oaths.
January 5, 2026 at 11:28 AM
I took Sir W. Batten and Captain Allen into the wine cellar to my tenant (as I call him, Serjeant Dalton), and there drank a great deal of variety of wines, more than I have drunk at one time, or shall again a great while, when I come to return to my oaths.
Up and to the Duke, who himself told me that Sir J. Lawson was come home to Portsmouth from the Streights, who is now come with great renown among all men, and, I perceive, mightily esteemed at Court by all.
January 5, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Up and to the Duke, who himself told me that Sir J. Lawson was come home to Portsmouth from the Streights, who is now come with great renown among all men, and, I perceive, mightily esteemed at Court by all.
So to Mr. Hunt’s, and there was most prettily and kindly entertained by him and her, who are two as good people as I hardly know any, and so neat and kind one to another. Here we staid late, and so to my Lord’s to bed.
January 4, 2026 at 10:15 PM
So to Mr. Hunt’s, and there was most prettily and kindly entertained by him and her, who are two as good people as I hardly know any, and so neat and kind one to another. Here we staid late, and so to my Lord’s to bed.
Up and to church, where a lazy sermon, and so home to dinner to a good piece of powdered beef, but a little too salt.
January 4, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Up and to church, where a lazy sermon, and so home to dinner to a good piece of powdered beef, but a little too salt.
To the office all the morning, and dined alone with my wife at noon, and then to my office all the afternoon till night, putting business in order with great content in my mind.
January 3, 2026 at 6:22 PM
To the office all the morning, and dined alone with my wife at noon, and then to my office all the afternoon till night, putting business in order with great content in my mind.
I to see Sir W. Pen, who is fallen sick again. I staid a while talking with him, and so to my office, practising some arithmetique, and so home to supper and bed, having sat up late talking to my poor wife with great content.
January 2, 2026 at 10:08 PM
I to see Sir W. Pen, who is fallen sick again. I staid a while talking with him, and so to my office, practising some arithmetique, and so home to supper and bed, having sat up late talking to my poor wife with great content.
To the Treasury office, where Sir W. Batten was paying off tickets, but so simply and arbitrarily, upon a dull pretence of doing right to the King, though to the wrong of poor people, that I was weary of it.
January 2, 2026 at 3:09 PM
To the Treasury office, where Sir W. Batten was paying off tickets, but so simply and arbitrarily, upon a dull pretence of doing right to the King, though to the wrong of poor people, that I was weary of it.
Lay long in bed, and so up and to the office, where all the morning alone doing something or another.
January 2, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Lay long in bed, and so up and to the office, where all the morning alone doing something or another.
Took coach, and to the Duke’s House, where we saw “The Villaine” again; and the more I see it, the more I am offended at my first undervaluing the play, it being very good and pleasant, and yet a true and allowable tragedy.
January 1, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Took coach, and to the Duke’s House, where we saw “The Villaine” again; and the more I see it, the more I am offended at my first undervaluing the play, it being very good and pleasant, and yet a true and allowable tragedy.
I find that there is nothing almost but bawdry at Court from top to bottom. How much of this is true, God knows, but it is common talk.
January 1, 2026 at 1:40 PM
I find that there is nothing almost but bawdry at Court from top to bottom. How much of this is true, God knows, but it is common talk.
Mrs. Sarah tells us how the King sups at least four or five times every week with my Lady Castlemaine; and most often stays till the morning with her, and goes home through the garden all alone privately, and that so as the very centrys take notice of it and speak of it.
January 1, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Mrs. Sarah tells us how the King sups at least four or five times every week with my Lady Castlemaine; and most often stays till the morning with her, and goes home through the garden all alone privately, and that so as the very centrys take notice of it and speak of it.
I spent a little time walking among the courtiers, which I perceive I shall be able to do with great confidence, being now beginning to be pretty well known among them.
January 1, 2026 at 10:40 AM
I spent a little time walking among the courtiers, which I perceive I shall be able to do with great confidence, being now beginning to be pretty well known among them.
Lay with my wife at my Lord’s lodgings, where I have been these two nights, with great pleasure talking, then I rose and to White Hall.
January 1, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Lay with my wife at my Lord’s lodgings, where I have been these two nights, with great pleasure talking, then I rose and to White Hall.
Mr. Povy and, I to White Hall; he carrying me into the hall this night before the King. All the way he talking very ingenuously, and I find him a fine gentleman, and one that loves to live nobly and neatly, as I perceive by his discourse of his house, pictures, and horses.
December 31, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Mr. Povy and, I to White Hall; he carrying me into the hall this night before the King. All the way he talking very ingenuously, and I find him a fine gentleman, and one that loves to live nobly and neatly, as I perceive by his discourse of his house, pictures, and horses.
To Mr. Bland’s, the merchant, to eat a dish of anchovies, and drink wine and syder, and very merry, but above all things pleased to hear Mrs. Bland talk like a merchant in her husband’s business very well, and it seems she do understand it and perform a great deal.
December 31, 2025 at 4:22 PM
To Mr. Bland’s, the merchant, to eat a dish of anchovies, and drink wine and syder, and very merry, but above all things pleased to hear Mrs. Bland talk like a merchant in her husband’s business very well, and it seems she do understand it and perform a great deal.
To my wife, and at noon took her to Mrs. Pierces by invitacion to dinner, where there came Dr. Clerke and his wife and sister and Mr. Knight, chief chyrurgeon to the King and his wife.
December 31, 2025 at 12:31 PM
To my wife, and at noon took her to Mrs. Pierces by invitacion to dinner, where there came Dr. Clerke and his wife and sister and Mr. Knight, chief chyrurgeon to the King and his wife.
Thence to White Hall, where I carried my wife to see the Queen in her presence-chamber; and the maydes of honour and the young Duke of Monmouth playing at cards. Some of them, and but a few, were very pretty; though all well dressed in velvet gowns.
December 30, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Thence to White Hall, where I carried my wife to see the Queen in her presence-chamber; and the maydes of honour and the young Duke of Monmouth playing at cards. Some of them, and but a few, were very pretty; though all well dressed in velvet gowns.
Visited Mrs. Ferrer, and staid talking with her a good while, there being a little, proud, ugly, talking lady there, that was much crying up the Queen-Mother’s Court at Somerset House above our own Queen’s.
December 30, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Visited Mrs. Ferrer, and staid talking with her a good while, there being a little, proud, ugly, talking lady there, that was much crying up the Queen-Mother’s Court at Somerset House above our own Queen’s.
Calling in at Mr. Rawlinson’s, where he stopped me to dine with him and two East India officers of ships. I had good discourse, particularly of the people at the Cape of Good Hope, of whom they of their own knowledge do tell me these one or two things.
December 30, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Calling in at Mr. Rawlinson’s, where he stopped me to dine with him and two East India officers of ships. I had good discourse, particularly of the people at the Cape of Good Hope, of whom they of their own knowledge do tell me these one or two things.
Up and to the office, whither Sir W. Pen came, the first time that he has come downstairs since his late great sickness of the gout.
December 30, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Up and to the office, whither Sir W. Pen came, the first time that he has come downstairs since his late great sickness of the gout.
In great pain that my wife hath never a winter gown, being almost ashamed of it, that she should be seen in a taffeta one; when all the world wears moyre.
December 29, 2025 at 9:02 PM
In great pain that my wife hath never a winter gown, being almost ashamed of it, that she should be seen in a taffeta one; when all the world wears moyre.
I have almost found out a young gentlewoman for my turn, to wait on my wife, of good family and that can sing.
December 29, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I have almost found out a young gentlewoman for my turn, to wait on my wife, of good family and that can sing.