Pepy's Diary. 09 Jul 1663. Dined at home, and Mr. Moore in the afternoon comes to me and concluded not to go. Sir W. Batten (age 62) and I sat a little this afternoon at the office, and thence I by water to Deptford, and there mustered the Yard, purposely, God forgive me, to find out Bagwell (age 26), a carpenter, whose [his wife] wife is a pretty woman, that I might have some occasion of knowing him and forcing her to come to the office again, which I did so luckily that going thence he and his wife did of themselves meet me in the way to thank me for my old kindness, but I spoke little to her, but shall give occasion for her coming to me. Her husband went along with me to show me Sir W. Pen's (age 42) lodging, which I knew before, but only to have a time of speaking to him and sounding him. So left and I went in to Sir W. Pen (age 42), who continues ill, and worse, I think, than before. He tells me my Baroness Castlemaine (age 22) was at Court, for all this talk this week, which I am glad to hear; but it seems the King (age 33) is stranger than ordinary to her.

Pepy's Diary. 17 Jul 1663. Thence coming home I was saluted by Bagwell (age 26) and his [his wife] wife (the woman I have a kindness for), and they would have me into their little house, which I was willing enough to, and did salute his wife. They had got wine for me, and I perceive live prettily, and I believe the woman a virtuous modest woman. Her husband walked through to Redriffe [Map] with me, telling me things that I asked of in the yard, and so by water home, it being likely to rain again to-night, which God forbid. To supper and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 07 Aug 1663. By and by he went away and I staid walking up and down, discoursing with the officers of the yard of several things, and so walked back again, and on my way young Bagwell (age 26) and his [his wife] wife waylayd me to desire my favour about getting him a better ship, which I shall pretend to be willing to do for them, but my mind is to know his wife a little better. They being parted I went with Cadbury the mast maker to view a parcel of good masts which I think it were good to buy, and resolve to speak to the board about it.

Pepy's Diary. 20 Oct 1664. Then I to my office, where I took in with me [his wife] Bagwell's wife, and there I caressed her, and find her every day more and more coming with good words and promises of getting her husband (age 27) a place, which I will do.

Pepy's Diary. 20 Dec 1664. After dinner I found occasion of sending him abroad, and then alone 'avec elle je tentais a faire ce que je voudrais et contre sa force je le faisais biens que passe a mon contentment¹'.

Note 1. TT. I attempted to do what I wished with her, against her resistance, and I did it well, much to my content.

Pepy's Diary. 20 Dec 1664. Up and walked to Deptford, Kent [Map], where after doing something at the yard I walked, without being observed, with Bagwell (age 27) home to his house, and there was very kindly used, and the poor people did get a dinner for me in their fashion, of which I also eat very well.

Pepy's Diary. 20 Feb 1665. Thence to the office, and there found [his wife] Bagwell's wife, whom I directed to go home, and I would do her business, which was to write a letter to my Lord Sandwich (age 39) for her husband's (age 28) advance into a better ship as there should be occasion. Which I did, and by and by did go down by water to Deptford, Kent [Map], and then down further, and so landed at the lower end of the town, and it being dark 'entrer en la maison de la femme de Bagwell (age 28) [entered into Bagwell's wife's house]', and there had 'sa compagnie [her company]', though with a great deal of difficulty, 'neanmoins en fin j'avais ma volont d'elle [nevertheless in the end I had my way with her]', and being sated therewith, I walked home to Redriffe [Map], it being now near nine o'clock, and there I did drink some strong waters and eat some bread and cheese, and so home. Where at my office my wife comes and tells me that she hath hired a chamber mayde, one of the prettiest maydes that ever she saw in her life, and that she is really jealous of me for her, but hath ventured to hire her from month to month, but I think she means merrily.

Pepy's Diary. 01 Jul 1666. After dinner to the office again, where busy, and then down to Deptford, Kent [Map] to the yard, thinking to have seen [his wife] Bagwell's wife, whose husband (age 29) is gone yesterday back to the fleete, but I did not see her, so missed what I went for, and so back to the Tower several times, about the business of the pressed men, and late at it till twelve at night, shipping of them. But, Lord! how some poor women did cry; and in my life I never did see such natural expression of passion as I did here in some women's bewailing themselves, and running to every parcel of men that were brought, one after another, to look for their husbands, and wept over every vessel that went off, thinking they might be there, and looking after the ship as far as ever they could by moone-light, that it grieved me to the heart to hear them. Besides, to see poor patient labouring men and housekeepers, leaving poor wives and families, taking up on a sudden by strangers, was very hard, and that without press-money, but forced against all law to be gone. It is a great tyranny. Having done this I to the Lieutenant of the Tower (age 51) and bade him good night, and so away home and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 02 Jul 1666. Thence weary of losing so much time I to the office, and thence presently down to Deptford, Kent [Map]; but to see what a consternation there is upon the water by reason of this great press, that nothing is able to get a waterman to appear almost. Here I meant to have spoke with Bagwell's (age 29) mother, but her face was sore, and so I did not, but returned and upon the water found one of the vessels loaden with the Bridewell [Map] birds in a great mutiny, and they would not sail, not they; but with good words, and cajoling the ringleader into the Tower (where, when he was come, he was clapped up in the hole), they were got very quietly; but I think it is much if they do not run the vessel on ground. But away they went, and I to the Lieutenant of the Tower (age 51), and having talked with him a little, then home to supper very late and to bed weary.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Jul 1666. At Woolwich, Kent [Map] saw Mr. Shelden, it being late, and there eat and drank, being kindly used by him and Bab, and so by water to Deptford, Kent [Map], it being 10 o'clock before I got to Deptford, Kent [Map], and dark, and there to Bagwell's (age 29), and, having staid there a while, away home, and after supper to bed. The Duke of Yorke (age 32) said this day that by the letters from the Generals they would sail with the Fleete this day or to-morrow.