Pepy's Diary. 01 Jan 1664. Thence mightily dissatisfied back at night to my uncle Wight's (age 62), and supped with them, but against my stomach out of the offence the sight of my aunt's hands gives me, and ending supper with a mighty laugh, the greatest I have had these many months, at my uncle's being out in his grace after meat, we rose and broke up, and my wife and I home and to bed, being sleepy since last night.

Pepy's Diary. 01 Jan 1664. Thence to my uncle Wight's (age 62), where Dr. of---, among others, dined, and his wife, a seeming proud conceited woman, I know not what to make of her, but the Dr's. discourse did please me very well about the disease of the stone, above all things extolling Turpentine, which he told me how it may be taken in pills with great ease. There was brought to table a hot pie made of a swan I sent them yesterday, given me by Mr. Howe, but we did not eat any of it. But my wife and I rose from table, pretending business, and went to the Duke's house, the first play I have been at these six months, according to my last vowe, and here saw the so much cried-up play of "Henry the Eighth"; which, though I went with resolution to like it, is so simple a thing made up of a great many patches, that, besides the shows and processions in it, there is nothing in the world good or well done.

Pepy's Diary. 01 Jan 1664. Several others came to me about business, and then being to dine at my uncle Wight's (age 62) I went to the Coffee-house, sending my wife by Will, and there staid talking an hour with Coll. Middleton, and others, and among other things about a very rich widow (age 20), young and handsome, of one Sir Nicholas Gold's, a merchant, lately fallen, and of great courtiers that already look after her: her husband not dead a week yet. She is reckoned worth £80,000.

Pepy's Diary. 10 Jan 1664. After dinner I to the office, where all the afternoon, and at night my wife and I to my uncle Wight's (age 62), and there eat some of their swan pie, which was good, and I invited them to my house to eat a roasted swan on Tuesday next, which after I was come home did make a quarrels between my wife and I, because she had appointed a wish to-morrow. But, however, we were friends again quickly.

Pepy's Diary. 12 Jan 1664. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at noon to the 'Change [Map] awhile, and so home, getting things against dinner ready, and anon comes my uncle Wight (age 62) and my aunt, with their cozens Mary and Robert, and by chance my uncle Thomas Pepys. We had a good dinner, the chief dish a swan roasted, and that excellent meate. At, dinner and all day very merry.

Pepy's Diary. 15 Jan 1664. Thence to the 'Change [Map], and there met my uncle Wight (age 62), who was very kind to me, and would have had me home with him, and so kind that I begin to wonder and think something of it of good to me.

Pepy's Diary. 15 Jan 1664. So home, and my wife tells me that my uncle Wight (age 62) hath been with her, and played at cards with her, and is mighty inquisitive to know whether she is with child or no, which makes me wonder what his meaning is, and after all my thoughts, I cannot think, unless it be in order to the making his will, that he might know how to do by me, and I would to God my wife had told him that she was.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Jan 1664. So home and found that Will had been with my wife. But, Lord! why should I think any evil of that; and yet I cannot forbear it. But upon enquiry, though I found no reason of doubtfulness, yet I could not bring my nature to any quiet or content in my wife all day and night, nor though I went with her to divert myself at my uncle Wight's (age 62), and there we played at cards till 12 at night and went home in a great shower of rain, it having not rained a great while before. Here was one Mr. Benson, a Dutchman, played and supped with us, that pretends to sing well, and I expected great matters but found nothing to be pleased with at all.

Pepy's Diary. 29 Jan 1664. So to my uncle Wight's (age 62), where late playing at cards, and so home.

Pepy's Diary. 04 Feb 1664. So home to the office, and by and by comes my wife home from the burial of Captain Grove's wife at Wapping (she telling me a story how her mayd Jane going into the boat did fall down and show her arse in the boat), and alone comes my uncle Wight (age 62) and Mr. Maes with the state of their case, which he told me very discreetly, and I believe is a very hard one, and so after drinking a bottle of ale or two they gone, and I a little more to the office, and so home to prayers and to bed. This evening I made an end of my letter to Creed about his pieces of eight, and sent it away to him. I pray God give good end to it to bring me some money, and that duly as from him.

Pepy's Diary. 12 Feb 1664. So Creed and I by boat to my house, and thence to coach with my wife and called at Alderman Backewell's (age 46) and there changed Mr. Falconer's state-cup, that he did give us the other day, for a fair tankard. The cup weighed with the fashion £5 16s., and another little cup that Joyce Norton did give us 17s., both £6 13s.; for which we had the tankard, which came to £6 10s., at 5s. 7d. per oz., and 3s. in money, and with great content away thence to my brother's, Creed going away there, and my brother bringing me the old silk standard that I lodged there long ago, and then back again home, and thence, hearing that my uncle Wight (age 62) had been at my house, I went to him to the Miter [Map], and there with him and Maes, Norbury, and Mr. Rawlinson (age 50) till late eating some pot venison (where the Crowne earthen pot pleased me mightily), and then homewards and met Mr. Barrow, so back with him to the Miter [Map] and sat talking about his business of his discontent in the yard, wherein sometimes he was very foolish and pettish, till 12 at night, and so went away, and I home and up to my wife a-bed, with my mind ill at ease whether I should think that I had by this made myself a bad end by missing the certainty of £100 which I proposed to myself so much, or a good one by easing myself of the uncertain good effect but the certain trouble and reflection which must have fallen on me if we had proceeded to a public dispute, ended besides embarking myself against my Lord, who (which I had forgot) had given him his hand for the value of the pieces of eight at his rates which were all false, which by the way I shall take heed to the giving of my Lord notice of it hereafter whenever he goes out again.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Feb 1664. All the afternoon at my office alone doing business, and then in the evening after a walk with my wife in the garden, she and I to my uncle Wight's (age 62) to supper, where Mr. Norbury, but my uncle out of tune, and after supper he seemed displeased mightily at my aunt's desiring [to] put off a copper kettle, which it seems with great study he had provided to boil meat in, and now she is put in the head that it is not wholesome, which vexed him, but we were very merry about it, and by and by home, and after prayers to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 16 Feb 1664. He being gone I to the office, where very busy till night, that my uncle Wight (age 62) and Mr. Maes came to me, and after discourse about Maes' business to supper very merry, but my mind upon my business, and so they being gone I to my Vyall a little, which I have not done some months, I think, before, and then a little to my office, at 11 at night, and so home and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 19 Feb 1664. By and by, the 'Change [Map] filling, I did many businesses, and about 2 o'clock went off with my uncle Wight (age 62) to his house, thence by appointment we took our wives (they by coach with Mr. Mawes) and we on foot to Mr. Jaggard, a salter, in Thames Street, for whom I did a courtesy among the poor victuallers, his wife, whom long ago I had seen, being daughter to old Day, my uncle Wight's (age 62) master, is a very plain woman, but pretty children they have. They live methought at first in but a plain way, but afterward I saw their dinner, all fish, brought in very neatly, but the company being but bad I had no great pleasure in it.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Feb 1664. He being gone I to my office again, and there made an end of my morning's work, and then, after reading my vows of course, home and back again with Mr. Maes and walked with him talking of his business in the garden, and he being gone my wife and I walked a turn or two also, and then my uncle Wight (age 62) fetching of us, she and I to his house to supper, and by the way calling on Sir G. Carteret (age 54) to desire his consent to my bringing Maes to him, which he agreed to.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Feb 1664. Thence, meeting Mr. Moore, and to the Exchange [Map] and there found my wife at pretty Doll's, and thence by coach set her at my uncle Wight's (age 62), to go with my aunt to market once more against Lent, and I to the Coffee-house, and thence to the 'Change [Map], my chief business being to enquire about the manner of other countries keeping of their masts wet or dry, and got good advice about it, and so home, and alone ate a bad, cold dinner, my people being at their washing all day, and so to the office and all the afternoon upon my letter to Mr. Coventry (age 36) about keeping of masts, and ended it very well at night and wrote it fair over.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Feb 1664. He being gone my wife came and told me how kind my uncle Wight (age 62) had been to her to-day, and that though she says that all his kindness comes from respect to her she discovers nothing but great civility from him, yet but what she says he otherwise will tell me, but to-day he told her plainly that had she a child it should be his heir, and that should I or she want he would be a good friend to us, and did give my wife instructions to consent to all his wife says at any time, she being a pettish woman, which argues a design I think he has of keeping us in with his wife in order to our good sure, and he declaring her jealous of him that so he dares not come to see my wife as otherwise he would do and will endeavour to do. It looks strange putting all together, but yet I am in hopes he means well.

Pepy's Diary. 26 Feb 1664. So rode home and there found my uncle Wight (age 62). 'Tis an odd thing as my wife tells me his caressing her and coming on purpose to give her visits, but I do not trouble myself for him at all, but hope the best and very good effects of it.

Pepy's Diary. 01 Mar 1664. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at noon to the 'Change [Map], and after much business and meeting my uncle Wight (age 62), who told me how Mr. Maes had like to have been trapanned yesterday, but was forced to run for it; so with Creed and Mr. Hunt home to dinner, and after a good and pleasant dinner, Mr. Hunt parted, and I took Mr. Creed and my wife and down to Deptford, Kent [Map], it being most pleasant weather, and there till night discoursing with the officers there about several things, and so walked home by moonshine, it being mighty pleasant, and so home, and I to my office, where late about getting myself a thorough understanding in the business of masts, and so home to bed, my left eye being mightily troubled with rheum.

Pepy's Diary. 04 Mar 1664. So home to dinner, and my uncle Wight (age 62) coming in he along with my wife and I by coach, and setting him down by the way going to Mr. Maes we two to my Lord Sandwich's (age 38) to visit my Lady, with whom I left my wife discoursing, and I to White Hall, and there being met by the Duke of Yorke (age 30), he called me to him and discoursed a pretty while with me about the new ship's dispatch building at Woolwich, Kent [Map], and talking of the charge did say that he finds always the best the most cheape, instancing in French guns, which in France you may buy for 4 pistoles, as good to look to as others of 16, but not the service. I never had so much discourse with the Duke (age 30) before, and till now did ever fear to meet him. He found me and Mr. Prin (age 64) together talking of the Chest money, which we are to blame not to look after.

Pepy's Diary. 04 Mar 1664. Thence to my Lord's, and took up my wife, whom my Lady hath received with her old good nature and kindnesse, and so homewards, and she home, I 'lighting by the way, and upon the 'Change [Map] met my uncle Wight (age 62) and told him my discourse this afternoon with Sir G. Carteret (age 54) in Maes' business, but much to his discomfort, and after a dish of coffee home, and at my office a good while with Sir W. Warren talking with great pleasure of many businesses, and then home to supper, my wife and I had a good fowle to supper, and then I to the office again and so home, my mind in great ease to think of our coming to so good a respect with my Lord again, and my Lady, and that my Lady do so much cry up my father's usage of her children, and the goodness of the ayre there, found in the young ladies' faces at their return thence, as she says, as also my being put into the commission of the Fishery¹, for which I must give my Lord thanks, and so home to bed, having a great cold in my head and throat tonight from my late cutting my hair so close to my head, but I hope it will be soon gone again.

Note 1. There had been recently established, under the Great Seal of England, a Corporation for the Royal Fishing, of which the Duke of York (age 30) was Governor, Lord Craven Deputy-Governor, and the Lord Mayor and Chamberlain of London, for the time being, Treasurers, in which body was vested the sole power of licensing lotteries ("The Newes", October 6th, 1664). The original charter (dated April 8th, 1664), incorporating James, Duke of York (age 30), and thirty-six assistants as Governor and Company of the Royal Fishing of Great Britain and Ireland, is among the State Papers. The duke was to be Governor till February 26th, 1665.

Pepy's Diary. 05 Mar 1664. We broke up and I to the 'Change [Map], where with several people and my uncle Wight (age 62) to drink a dish of coffee, and so home to dinner, and then to the office all the afternoon, my eye and my throat being very bad, and my cold increasing so as I could not speak almost at all at night. So at night home to supper, that is a posset, and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 06 Mar 1664. Lord's Day. Up, and my cold continuing in great extremity I could not go out to church, but sat all day (a little time at dinner excepted) in my closet at the office till night drawing up a second letter to Mr. Coventry (age 36) about the measure of masts to my great satisfaction, and so in the evening home, and my uncle (age 62) and [his wife] aunt Wight (age 45) came to us and supped with us, where pretty merry, but that my cold put me out of humour. At night with my cold, and my eye also sore still, to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 16 Mar 1664. Thence home and trimmed myself, and then to the 'Change [Map], and told my uncle Wight (age 62) of my brother's (deceased) death, and so by coach to my cozen Turner's and there dined very well, but my wife.... in great pain we were forced to rise in some disorder, and in Mrs. Turner's (age 41) coach carried her home and put her to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Mar 1664. Up, and spent the whole morning and afternoon at my office, only in the evening, my wife being at my [his wife] aunt Wight's (age 45), I went thither, calling at my own house, going out found the parlour curtains drawn, and inquiring the reason of it, they told me that their mistress had got Mrs. Buggin's fine little dog and our little bitch, which is proud at this time, and I am apt to think that she was helping him to line her, for going afterwards to my uncle Wight's (age 62), and supping there with her, where very merry with Mr. Woolly's drollery, and going home I found the little dog so little that of himself he could not reach our bitch, which I am sorry for, for it is the finest dog that ever I saw in my life, as if he were painted the colours are so finely mixed and shaded. God forgive me, it went against me to have my wife and servants look upon them while they endeavoured to do something....

Pepy's Diary. 26 Mar 1664. That being done Sir J. Minnes (age 65) and I sat all the morning, and then I to the 'Change [Map], and there got away by pretence of business with my uncle Wight (age 62) to put off Creed, whom I had invited to dinner, and so home, and there found Madam Turner (age 41), her daughter The., Joyce Norton, my father and Mr. Honywood, and by and by come my uncle Wight (age 62) and aunt. This being my solemn feast for my cutting of the stone, it being now, blessed be God! this day six years since the time; and I bless God I do in all respects find myself free from that disease or any signs of it, more than that upon the least cold I continue to have pain in making water, by gathering of wind and growing costive, till which be removed I am at no ease, but without that I am very well. One evil more I have, which is that upon the least squeeze almost my cods begin to swell and come to great pain, which is very strange and troublesome to me, though upon the speedy applying of a poultice it goes down again, and in two days I am well again. Dinner not being presently ready I spent some time myself and shewed them a map of Tangier left this morning at my house by Creed, cut by our order, the Commissioners, and drawn by Jonas Moore (age 47), which is very pleasant, and I purpose to have it finely set out and hung up. Mrs. Hunt coming to see my wife by chance dined here with us.

Pepy's Diary. 12 Apr 1664. Thence a little to the 'Change [Map], and thence took him to my uncle Wight's (age 62), where dined my father, poor melancholy man, that used to be as full of life as anybody, and also my aunt's brother, Mr. Sutton, a merchant in Flanders, a very sober, fine man, and Mr. Cole and his lady; but, Lord! how I used to adore that man's talke, and now methinks he is but an ordinary man, his son a pretty boy indeed, but his nose unhappily awry. Other good company and an indifferent, and but indifferent dinner for so much company, and after dinner got a coach, very dear, it being Easter time and very foul weather, to my Lord's, and there visited my Lady, and leaving my wife there I and W. Howe to Mr. Pagett's, and there heard some musique not very good, but only one Dr. Walgrave, an Englishman bred at Rome, who plays the best upon the lute that I ever heard man.

Pepy's Diary. 12 Apr 1664. Up, and after my wife had dressed herself very fine in her new laced gown, and very handsome indeed, W. Howe also coming to see us, I carried her by coach to my uncle Wight's (age 62) and set her down there, and W. Howe and I to the Coffee-house, where we sat talking about getting of him some place under my Lord of advantage if he should go to sea, and I would be glad to get him secretary and to out Creed if I can, for he is a crafty and false rogue.

Pepy's Diary. 17 Apr 1664. Home to dinner, and in the afternoon, after long consulting whether to go to Woolwich, Kent [Map] or no to see Mr. Falconer, but indeed to prevent my wife going to church, I did however go to church with her, where a young simple fellow did preach: I slept soundly all the sermon, and thence to Sir W. Pen's (age 42), my wife and I, there she talking with him and his daughter, and thence with my wife walked to my uncle Wight's (age 62) and there supped, where very merry, but I vexed to see what charges the vanity of my aunt puts her husband to among her friends and nothing at all among ours.

Pepy's Diary. 19 Apr 1664. At home dined, and all the afternoon at a Committee of the Chest, and at night comes my aunt and uncle Wight (age 62) and Nan Ferrers and supped merrily with me, my uncle coming in an hour after them almost foxed. Great pleasure by discourse with them, and so, they gone, late to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Apr 1664. But I perceive the Lords are ashamed of her, and so I away calling with my wife at a place or two to inquire after a couple of mayds recommended to us, but we found both of them bad. So set my wife at my uncle Wight's (age 62) and I home, and presently to the 'Change [Map], where I did some business, and thence to my uncle's and there dined very well, and so to the office, we sat all the afternoon, but no sooner sat but news comes my Lady Sandwich (age 39) was come to see us, so I went out, and running up (her friend however before me) I perceive by my dear Lady blushing that in my dining-room she was doing something upon the pott, which I also was ashamed of, and so fell to some discourse, but without pleasure through very pity to my Lady. She tells me, and I find true since, that the House this day have voted that the King (age 33) be desired to demand right for the wrong done us by the Dutch, and that they will stand by him with their lives fortunes: which is a very high vote, and more than I expected. What the issue will be, God knows!

Pepy's Diary. 03 May 1664. I in the evening to my uncle Wight's (age 62), and not finding them come home, they being gone to the Parke and the Mulberry garden, I went to the 'Change [Map], and there meeting with Mr. Hempson, whom Sir W. Batten (age 63) has lately turned out of his place, merely because of his coming to me when he came to town before he went to him, and there he told me many rogueries of Sir W. Batten (age 63), how he knows and is able to prove that Captain Cox of Chatham, Kent [Map] did give him £10 in gold to get him to certify for him at the King's coming in, and that Tom Newborne did make [the] poor men give him £3 to get Sir W. Batten (age 63) to cause them to be entered in the yard, and that Sir W. Batten (age 63) had oftentimes said: "by God, Tom, you shall get something and I will have some on't". His present clerk that is come in Norman's' room has given him something for his place; that they live high and (as Sir Francis Clerk's lady told his wife) do lack money as well as other people, and have bribes of a piece of sattin and cabinetts and other things from people that deal with him, and that hardly any body goes to see or hath anything done by Sir W. Batten (age 63) but it comes with a bribe, and that this is publickly true that his wife was a whore, and that he had libells flung within his doors for a cuckold as soon as he was married; that he received £100 in money and in other things to the value of £50 more of Hempson, and that he intends to give him back but £50; that he hath abused the Chest and hath now some £1000 by him of it.

Pepy's Diary. 03 May 1664. Thence to my uncle Wight's (age 62), and he not being at home I went with Mr. Norbury near hand to the Fleece, a mum house in Leadenhall, and there drunk mum and by and by broke up, it being about 11 o'clock at night, and so leaving them also at home, went home myself and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 11 May 1664. My uncle Wight (age 62) came to me to my office this afternoon to speak with me about Mr. Maes's business again, and from me went to my house to see my wife, and strange to think that my wife should by and by send for me after he was gone to tell me that he should begin discourse of her want of children and his also, and how he thought it would be best for him and her to have one between them, and he would give her £500 either in money or jewells beforehand, and make the child his heir. He commended her body, and discoursed that for all he knew the thing was lawful. She says she did give him a very warm answer, such as he did not excuse himself by saying that he said this in jest, but told her that since he saw what her mind was he would say no more to her of it, and desired her to make no words of it. It seemed he did say all this in a kind of counterfeit laugh, but by all words that passed, which I cannot now so well set down, it is plain to me that he was in good earnest, and that I fear all his kindness is but only his lust to her. What to think of it of a sudden I know not, but I think not to take notice yet of it to him till I have thought better of it. So with my mind and head a little troubled I received a letter from Mr. Coventry (age 36) about a mast for the Duke's yacht, which with other business makes me resolve to go betimes to Woolwich, Kent [Map] to-morrow.

Pepy's Diary. 15 May 1664. In the evening came Mr. Vernaty to see me and discourse about my Lord Peterborough's (age 42) business, and also my uncle Wight (age 62) and Norbury, but I took no notice nor showed any different countenance to my uncle Wight (age 62), or he to me, for all that he carried himself so basely to my wife the last week, but will take time to make my use of it. So, being exceeding hot, to bed, and slept well.

Pepy's Diary. 29 May 1664. Thence walked home and found my uncle Wight (age 62) and Mr. Rawlinson (age 50), who supped with me.

Pepy's Diary. 24 Jun 1664. At noon to my uncle Wight's (age 62), and there dined, my wife being there all the morning.

Pepy's Diary. 28 Jun 1664. To the office all the morning, at noon to dinner at home, then to my office till the evening, then out about several businesses and then by appointment to the 'Change [Map], and thence with my uncle Wight (age 62) to the Mum house, and there drinking, he do complain of his wife most cruel as the most troublesome woman in the world, and how she will have her will, saying she brought him a portion and God knows what. By which, with many instances more, I perceive they do live a sad life together.

Pepy's Diary. 17 Jul 1664. Walked home again, and there fell to read, and by and by comes my uncle Wight (age 62), Dr. Burnett, and another gentleman, and talked and drank, and the Doctor showed me the manner of eating, turpentine, which pleases me well, for it is with great ease. So they being gone, I to supper and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 07 Aug 1664. Thence parted with him, mightily pleased with his company, and away homeward, calling at Dan Rawlinson, and supped there with my uncle Wight (age 62), and then home and eat again for form sake with her, and then to prayers and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 28 Aug 1664. So he and I to walk to the 'Change [Map] a while, talking from one pleasant discourse to another, and so home, and thither came my uncle Wight (age 62) and aunt, and supped with us mighty merry. And Creed lay with us all night, and so to bed, very merry to think how Mr. Holliard (age 55) (who came in this evening to see me) makes nothing, but proving as a most clear thing that Rome is Antichrist.

Pepy's Diary. 11 Sep 1664. So I walked home contented with my speaking with her, and walked to my uncle Wight's (age 62), where they were all at supper, and among others comes fair Mrs. Margarett Wight, who indeed is very pretty. So after supper home to prayers and to bed. This afternoon, it seems, Sir J. Minnes (age 65) fell sicke at church, and going down the gallery stairs fell down dead, but came to himself again and is pretty well.

Pepy's Diary. 12 Sep 1664. Thence to my uncle Wight's (age 62), and there supped with my wife, having given them a brave barrel of oysters of Povy's (age 50) giving me.

Pepy's Diary. 09 Oct 1664. So home, and at my office a while busy, then to my uncle Wight's (age 62), whither it seems my wife went after sermon and there supped, but my aunt and uncle in a very ill humour one with another, but I made shift with much ado to keep them from scolding, and so after supper home and to bed without prayers, it being cold, and to-morrow washing day.

Pepy's Diary. 06 Nov 1664. At night, to supper with my uncle Wight (age 62), where very merry, and so home. To prayers and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Dec 1664. In the evening comes my aunt and uncle Wight (age 62), Mrs. Norbury (age 44), and her daughter, and after them Mr. Norbury, where no great pleasure, my aunt being out of humour in her fine clothes, and it raining hard. Besides, I was a little too bold with her about her doating on Dr. Venner. Anon they went away, and I till past 12 at night at my office, and then home to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 03 Feb 1665. Thence, being invited, to my uncle Wight's (age 63), where the Wights all dined; and, among the others, pretty Mrs. Margaret, who indeed is a very pretty lady; and though by my vowe it costs me 12d. a kiss after the first, yet I did adventure upon a couple.

Pepy's Diary. 17 Apr 1665. So home to supper and to bed. This day was left at my house a very neat silver watch, by one Briggs, a scrivener and sollicitor, at which I was angry with my wife for receiving, or, at least, for opening the box wherein it was, and so far witnessing our receipt of it, as to give the messenger 5s. for bringing it; but it can't be helped, and I will endeavour to do the man a kindnesse, he being a friend of my uncle Wight's (age 63).

Pepy's Diary. 21 Jun 1665. Home, and my uncle Wight (age 63) and aunt James dined with me, my mother being to go away to-morrow.

Pepy's Diary. 03 Oct 1665. Up, and to my great content visited betimes by Mr. Woolly, my uncle Wight's (age 63) cozen, who comes to see what work I have for him about these East India goods, and I do find that this fellow might have been of great use, and hereafter may be of very great use to me, in this trade of prize goods, and glad I am fully of his coming hither. While I dressed myself, and afterwards in walking to Greenwich, Kent [Map] we did discourse over all the business of the prize goods, and he puts me in hopes I may get some money in what I have done, but not so much as I expected, but that I may hereafter do more. We have laid a design of getting more, and are to talk again of it a few days hence.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Feb 1666. At noon comes my uncle Wight (age 64) to dinner, and brings with him Mrs. Wight, sad company to me, nor was I much pleased with it, only I must shew respect to my uncle.

Pepy's Diary. 27 May 1666. Thence home to dinner, whither come my uncle Wight (age 64), and aunt and uncle Norbury, and Mr. Shepley. A good dinner and very merry.

Pepy's Diary. 11 Nov 1666. By and by little Michell comes and takes away his wife home, and my wife and brother and I to my uncle Wight's (age 64), where my aunt is grown so ugly and their entertainment so bad that I am in pain to be there; nor will go thither again a good while, if sent for, for we were sent for to-night, we had not gone else. Wooly's wife, a silly woman, and not very handsome, but no spirit in her at all; and their discourse mean, and the fear of the troubles of the times hath made them not to bring their plate to town, since it was carried out upon the business of the fire, so that they drink in earth and a wooden can, which I do not like.

Pepy's Diary. 22 May 1667. Thence by coach to the Red Lyon, thinking to meet my father, but I come too soon, but my wife is gone out of town to meet him. I am in great pain, poor man, for him, lest he should come up in pain to town. So I staid not, but to the 'Change [Map], and there staid a little, where most of the newes is that the Swedes are likely to fall out with the Dutch, which we wish, but how true I know not. Here I met my uncle Wight (age 65), the second day he hath been abroad, having been sick these two months even to death, but having never sent to me even in the greatest of his danger. I do think my Aunt had no mind I should come, and so I never went to see him, but neither he took notice of it to me, nor I made any excuse for it to him, but past two or three How do you's, and so parted and so home, and by and by comes my poor father, much better than I expected, being at ease by fits, according as his truss sits, and at another time in as much pain. I am mighty glad to see him come well to town.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Aug 1668. Up, and I walked out, and met uncle Wight (age 66), whom I sent to last night, and Mr. Wight coming to see us, and I walked with them back to see my aunt at Katherine Hill, and there walked up and down the hill and places, about: but a dull place, but good ayre, and the house dull. But here I saw my aunt, after many days not seeing her-I think, a year or two; and she walked with me to see my wife. And here, at the Red Lyon, we all dined together, and mighty merry, and then parted: and we home to Fox Hall, where Fitzgerald and I 'light, and by water to White Hall, where the Duke of York (age 34) being abroad, I by coach and met my wife, who went round, and after doing at the office a little, and finding all well at home, I to bed. I hear that Colbert (age 43), the French Ambassador, is come, and hath been at Court incognito. When he hath his audience, I know not.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Oct 1668. Thence sent them home, and I to Arundel House [Map], where the first time we have met since the vacation, and not much company: but here much good discourse, and afterwards my Lord and others and I to the Devil tavern, and there eat and drank, and so late, with Mr. Colwell, home by coach; and at home took him with me, and there found my uncle Wight (age 66) and aunt, and Woolly and his wife, and there supped, and mighty merry. And anon they gone, and Mrs. Turner (age 45) staid, who was there also to talk of her husband's business; and the truth is, I was the less pleased to talk with her, for that she hath not yet owned, in any fit manner of thanks, my late and principal service to her husband about his place, which I alone ought to have the thanks for, if they know as much as I do; but let it go: if they do not own it, I shall have it in my hand to teach them to do it.

Pepy's Diary. 25 Nov 1668. Thence I by coach home, and there find my cozen Roger (age 51) come to dine with me, and to seal his mortgage for the £500 I lend him; but he and I first walked to the 'Change [Map], there to look for my uncle Wight (age 66), and get him to dinner with us.

Pepy's Diary. 01 Jan 1669. Up, and presented from Captain Beckford with a noble silver warming-pan, which I am doubtful whether to take or no. Up, and with W. Hewer (age 27) to the New Exchange, and then he and I to the cabinet-shops, to look out, and did agree, for a cabinet to give my wife for a New-year's gift; and I did buy one cost me £11, which is very pretty, of walnutt-tree, and will come home to-morrow. So back to the Old Exchange [Map], and there met my uncle Wight (age 67); and there walked, and met with the Houblons, and talked with them-gentlemen whom I honour mightily: and so to my uncle's, and met my wife; and there, with W. Hewer (age 27), we dined with our family, and had a very good dinner, and pretty merry and after dinner, my wife and I with our coach to the King's playhouse, and there in a box saw "The Mayden Queene". Knepp looked upon us, but I durst not shew her any countenance; and, as well as I could carry myself, I found my wife uneasy there, poor wretch! therefore, I shall avoid that house as much as I can. So back to my aunt's, and there supped and talked, and staid pretty late, it being dry and moonshine, and so walked home, and to bed in very good humour.

Pepy's Diary. 29 Jan 1669. Thence home by Hackney, calling Roger Pepys (age 51) at the Temple [Map] gate in the bookseller's shop, and to the Old Exchange [Map], where I staid a little to invite my uncle Wight (age 67), and so home, and there find my [his wife] aunt Wight (age 50) and her husband come presently, and so to dinner; and after dinner Roger, and I, and my wife, and aunt, to see Mr. Cole; but he nor his wife was within, but we looked upon his picture of Cleopatra, which I went principally to see, being so much commended by my wife and aunt; but I find it a base copy of a good originall, that vexed me to hear so much commended.