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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More at https://www.pepysdiary.com
Daily emails at buttondown.com/pepysdiary
Support at https://ko-fi.com/pepysdiary
My wife and I dined on a pullet and I eat heartily, having eat nothing since Sunday but water gruel and posset drink, but must needs say that our new maid Mary has played her part very well in her readiness and discretion in attending me, of which I am very glad.
February 11, 2026 at 1:48 PM
My wife and I dined on a pullet and I eat heartily, having eat nothing since Sunday but water gruel and posset drink, but must needs say that our new maid Mary has played her part very well in her readiness and discretion in attending me, of which I am very glad.
Sir W. Warren came himself to the door and left a letter and box for me, and went his way.
February 10, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Sir W. Warren came himself to the door and left a letter and box for me, and went his way.
Captn. Ferrers telling me, among other Court passages, how about a month ago, at a ball at Court, a child was dropped by one of the ladies in dancing, but nobody knew who, it being taken up by somebody in their handkercher.
February 8, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Captn. Ferrers telling me, among other Court passages, how about a month ago, at a ball at Court, a child was dropped by one of the ladies in dancing, but nobody knew who, it being taken up by somebody in their handkercher.
Sir Thomas Willis and another stranger, and Creed and I, fell a-talking; they of the errours and corruption of the Navy, and great expence thereof, not knowing who I was, which at last I did undertake to confute, and disabuse them: and they took it very well.
February 8, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Sir Thomas Willis and another stranger, and Creed and I, fell a-talking; they of the errours and corruption of the Navy, and great expence thereof, not knowing who I was, which at last I did undertake to confute, and disabuse them: and they took it very well.
To chappell, where there preached little Dr. Duport, of Cambridge, upon Josiah’s words, — “But I and my house, we will serve the Lord.” But though a great scholler, he made the most flat dead sermon, that ever I heard, and very long beyond his hour, which made it worse.
February 8, 2026 at 10:07 AM
To chappell, where there preached little Dr. Duport, of Cambridge, upon Josiah’s words, — “But I and my house, we will serve the Lord.” But though a great scholler, he made the most flat dead sermon, that ever I heard, and very long beyond his hour, which made it worse.
To my writing of letters late, and making my Alphabet to my new Navy book very pretty.
February 7, 2026 at 8:44 PM
To my writing of letters late, and making my Alphabet to my new Navy book very pretty.
To my Lord Sandwich, there being a Committee to sit upon the contract for the Mole, which I dare say none of us that were there understood, but yet they agreed of things as Mr. Cholmely and Sir J. Lawson demanded, and so I left them to go on to agree, for I understood it not.
February 6, 2026 at 4:48 PM
To my Lord Sandwich, there being a Committee to sit upon the contract for the Mole, which I dare say none of us that were there understood, but yet they agreed of things as Mr. Cholmely and Sir J. Lawson demanded, and so I left them to go on to agree, for I understood it not.
And so to a bookseller’s in the Strand, and there bought Hudibras again, it being certainly some ill humour to be so against that which all the world cries up to be the example of wit; for which I am resolved once again to read him, and see whether I can find it or no.
February 6, 2026 at 11:55 AM
And so to a bookseller’s in the Strand, and there bought Hudibras again, it being certainly some ill humour to be so against that which all the world cries up to be the example of wit; for which I am resolved once again to read him, and see whether I can find it or no.
To Lincoln’s Inn Fields; and it being too soon to go to dinner, I walked up and down, and looked upon the outside of the new theatre, now a-building in Covent Garden, which will be very fine.
February 6, 2026 at 11:30 AM
To Lincoln’s Inn Fields; and it being too soon to go to dinner, I walked up and down, and looked upon the outside of the new theatre, now a-building in Covent Garden, which will be very fine.
Walked home, it being a very great frost still, and to my office, there late writing letters of office business, and so home to supper and to bed.
February 5, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Walked home, it being a very great frost still, and to my office, there late writing letters of office business, and so home to supper and to bed.
Home to dinner, and found it so well done, above what I did expect from my mayde Susan, now Jane is gone, that I did call her in and give her sixpence.
February 5, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Home to dinner, and found it so well done, above what I did expect from my mayde Susan, now Jane is gone, that I did call her in and give her sixpence.
To the office, where after doing some business I went home, where I found our new mayde Mary, that is come in Jane’s place.
February 4, 2026 at 8:07 PM
To the office, where after doing some business I went home, where I found our new mayde Mary, that is come in Jane’s place.
To Paul’s School, it being Apposition-day there. I heard some of their speeches, and they were just as schoolboys’ used to be, of the seven liberal sciences; but I think not so good as ours were in our time.
February 4, 2026 at 9:07 AM
To Paul’s School, it being Apposition-day there. I heard some of their speeches, and they were just as schoolboys’ used to be, of the seven liberal sciences; but I think not so good as ours were in our time.
Mr. Creed dined with me, and Mr. Ashwell, with whom after dinner I discoursed concerning his daughter coming to live with us.
February 3, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Mr. Creed dined with me, and Mr. Ashwell, with whom after dinner I discoursed concerning his daughter coming to live with us.
Home and there found Jane gone, for which my wife and I are very much troubled, and myself could hardly forbear shedding tears for fear the poor wench should come to any ill condition after her being so long with me.
February 2, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Home and there found Jane gone, for which my wife and I are very much troubled, and myself could hardly forbear shedding tears for fear the poor wench should come to any ill condition after her being so long with me.
Thence called at my brother’s, who is at church, at the buriall of young Cumberland, a lusty young man.
February 2, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Thence called at my brother’s, who is at church, at the buriall of young Cumberland, a lusty young man.
I to the Temple, where at my cozen Roger’s chamber I met Madam Turner, and after a little stay led her home and there left her, she and her daughter having been at the play today at the Temple, it being a revelling time with them.
February 2, 2026 at 2:30 PM
I to the Temple, where at my cozen Roger’s chamber I met Madam Turner, and after a little stay led her home and there left her, she and her daughter having been at the play today at the Temple, it being a revelling time with them.
Mr. Gawden and I did almost fall out, he defending himself in the readiness of his provision, when I know that the ships everywhere stay for them.
February 2, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Mr. Gawden and I did almost fall out, he defending himself in the readiness of his provision, when I know that the ships everywhere stay for them.
I went to my Lord’s: the King and Duke being gone to chappell, it being collar-day, it being Candlemas-day; where I staid with him a while, there being Jonas Moore talking about some mathematical businesses.
February 2, 2026 at 11:55 AM
I went to my Lord’s: the King and Duke being gone to chappell, it being collar-day, it being Candlemas-day; where I staid with him a while, there being Jonas Moore talking about some mathematical businesses.
I sent for Mr. Ashwell, and his wife came to me, and by discourse I perceive their daughter is very fit for my turn if my family may be as much for hers, but I doubt it will be to her loss to come to me for so small wages, but that will be considered of.
February 2, 2026 at 10:03 AM
I sent for Mr. Ashwell, and his wife came to me, and by discourse I perceive their daughter is very fit for my turn if my family may be as much for hers, but I doubt it will be to her loss to come to me for so small wages, but that will be considered of.
After paying Jane her wages, I went away, because I could hardly forbear weeping, and she cried, saying it was not her fault that she went away, and indeed it is hard to say what it is, but only her not desiring to stay that she do now go.
February 2, 2026 at 7:07 AM
After paying Jane her wages, I went away, because I could hardly forbear weeping, and she cried, saying it was not her fault that she went away, and indeed it is hard to say what it is, but only her not desiring to stay that she do now go.
Alone with my wife and Jane did fall to tell her what I did expect would become of her since, after so long being my servant, she had carried herself so as to make us be willing to put her away, and desired God to bless her.
February 1, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Alone with my wife and Jane did fall to tell her what I did expect would become of her since, after so long being my servant, she had carried herself so as to make us be willing to put her away, and desired God to bless her.
Creed and I walking in White Hall garden did see the King coming privately from my Lady Castlemaine’s; which is a poor thing for a Prince to do; and I expressed my sense of it to Creed in terms which I should not have done, but that I believe he is trusty in that point.
February 1, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Creed and I walking in White Hall garden did see the King coming privately from my Lady Castlemaine’s; which is a poor thing for a Prince to do; and I expressed my sense of it to Creed in terms which I should not have done, but that I believe he is trusty in that point.
Had a good dinner with my wife, with which I was pleased to see it neatly done, and this troubled me to think of parting with Jane, that is come to be a very good cook.
February 1, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Had a good dinner with my wife, with which I was pleased to see it neatly done, and this troubled me to think of parting with Jane, that is come to be a very good cook.
Wxamining my wife’s letter intended to my Lady, and another to Mademoiselle; they were so false spelt that I was ashamed of them, and took occasion to fall out with my wife, and so she wrote none, at which I was sorry because it was in answer to a letter of Madam about business.
January 31, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Wxamining my wife’s letter intended to my Lady, and another to Mademoiselle; they were so false spelt that I was ashamed of them, and took occasion to fall out with my wife, and so she wrote none, at which I was sorry because it was in answer to a letter of Madam about business.