In 1623 John Playford Bookseller was born.
Pepy's Diary. 13 Feb 1660. Monday. To my office till noon, thence home to dinner, my mouth being very bad of the cancer and my left leg beginning to be sore again. After dinner to see Mrs. Jem, and in the way met with Catan on foot in the street and talked with her a little, so home and took my wife to my father's (age 59). In my way I went to Playford's (age 37), and for two books that I had and 6s. 6d. to boot I had my great book of songs which he sells always for 4s. At my father's (age 59) I staid a while, while my mother sent her maid Bess to Cheapside for some herbs to make a water for my mouth. Then I went to see Mr. Cumberland (age 28), and after a little stay with him I returned, and took my wife home, where after supper to bed. This day Monk (age 51) was invited to White Hall to dinner by my Lords; not seeming willing, he would not come. I went to Mr. Fage from my father's (age 59), who had been this afternoon with Monk (age 51), who do promise to live and die with the City, and for the honour of the City; and indeed the City is very open-handed to the soldiers, that they are most of them drunk all day, and have money given them. He did give me something for my mouth which I did use this night.
Pepy's Diary. 17 Nov 1660. In the morning to Whitehall, where I inquired at the Privy Seal Office for a form for a nobleman to make one his Chaplain. But I understanding that there is not any, I did draw up one, and so to my Lord's, and there I did give him it to sign for Mr. Turner to be his first Chaplain. I did likewise get my Lord to sign my last sea accounts, so that I am even to this day when I have received the balance of Mr. Creed. I dined with my Lady and my Lady Pickering (age 34), where her son John dined with us, who do continue a fool as he ever was since I knew him. His mother would fain marry him to get a portion for his sister Betty but he will not hear of it. Hither came Major Hart this noon, who tells me that the Regiment is now disbanded, and that there is some money coming to me for it. I took him to my Lord to Mr. Crew's (age 62), and from thence with Mr. Shepley and Mr. Moore to the Devil Tavern [Map], and there we drank. So home and wrote letters by the post. Then to my lyra viall1, and to bed.
Note 1. The lyre viol is a viol with extra open bass strings, holding the same relation to the viol as the theorbo does to the lute. A volume entitled "Musick's Recreation on the Lyra Viol", was printed by John Playford (age 37) in 1650.
Pepy's Diary. 25 May 1661. All the morning at home about business. At noon to the Temple [Map], where I staid and looked over a book or two at Playford's (age 38), and then to the Theatre [Map], where I saw a piece of "The Silent Woman", which pleased me.
Pepy's Diary. 22 Nov 1662. Thence to the office, where I sat all the morning, then dined; Mr. Moore with me, at home, my wife busy putting her furniture in order. Then he and I out, and he home and I to my cozen Roger Pepys (age 45) to advise about treating with my uncle Thomas, and thence called at the Wardrobe on Mr. Moore again, and so home, and after doing much business at my office I went home and caused a new fashion knocker to be put on my door, and did other things to the putting my house in order, and getting my outward door painted, and the arch. This day I bought the book of country dances against my wife's woman Gosnell comes, who dances finely; and there meeting Mr. Playford (age 39) he did give me his Latin songs of Mr. Deering's, which he lately printed. This day Mr. Moore told me that for certain the Queen-Mother (age 52) is married to my Lord St. Albans (age 57), and he is like to be made Lord Treasurer (age 55). Newes that Sir J. Lawson (age 47) hath made up a peace now with Tunis and Tripoli, as well as Argiers, by which he will come home very highly honoured.
Pepy's Diary. 08 May 1663. Thence to the Temple [Map], and there sat till one o'clock reading at Playford's (age 40) in Dr. Usher's 'Body of Divinity' his discourse of the Scripture, which is as much, I believe, as is anywhere said by any man, but yet there is room to cavill, if a man would use no faith to the tradition of the Church in which he is born, which I think to be as good an argument as most is brought for many things, and it may be for that among others.
Pepy's Diary. 23 Nov 1666. At the Temple [Map] I called at Playford's (age 43), and there find that his new impression of his ketches1 are not yet out, the fire having hindered it, but his man tells me that it will be a very fine piece, many things new being added to it.
Note 1. John Hilton's "Catch that catch can, or a Choice Collection of Catches, Rounds and Canons for 3 or 4 voyces", was first published by Playford in 1651 or 1652. The book was republished "with large additions by John Playford (age 43)" in 1658. The edition referred to in the text was published in 1667 with a second title of "The Musical Companion". The book was republished in 1672-73.
Pepy's Diary. 22 Mar 1667. So home to dinner, where my wife having dressed herself in a silly dress of a blue petticoat uppermost, and a white satin waistcoat and whitehood, though I think she did it because her gown is gone to the tailor's, did, together with my being hungry, which always makes me peevish, make me angry, but when my belly was full were friends again, and dined and then by water down to Greenwich, Kent [Map] and thence walked to Woolwich, Kent [Map], all the way reading Playford's (age 44) "Introduction to Musique", wherein are some things very pretty.
Pepy's Diary. 15 Apr 1667. Thence I to my new bookseller's, and there bought "Hooker's Polity", the new edition, and "Dugdale's History of the Inns of Court", of which there was but a few saved out of the fire, and Playford's (age 44) new Catch-book, that hath a great many new fooleries in it. Then home, a little at the office, and then to supper and to bed, mightily pleased with the new play.
Pepy's Diary. 18 Apr 1667. So home, and to the office a little and then home, where I find Goodgroome, and he and I did sing several things over, and tried two or three grace parts in Playford's (age 44) new book, my wife pleasing me in singing her part of the things she knew, which is a comfort to my very heart. So he being gone we to supper and to bed.
Pepy's Diary. 17 Sep 1667. And by and by away by coach and met with Sir H. Cholmly (age 35), and with him to the Temple [Map], and there in Playford's (age 44) shop did give him some of my Exchequer orders and took his receipts, and so parted and home, and there to my business hard at the office, and then home, my wife being at Mrs. Turner's (age 44), who and her husband come home with her, and here staid and talked and staid late, and then went away and we to bed. But that which vexed me much this evening is that Captain Cocke (age 50) and Sir W. Batten (age 66) did come to me, and sat, and drank a bottle of wine, and told me how Sir W. Pen (age 46) hath got an order for the "Flying Greyhound" for himself, which is so false a thing, and the part of a knave, as nothing almost can be more. This vexed me; but I resolve to bring it before the Duke, and try a pull for it.
In 1686 John Playford Bookseller (age 63) died.