The diary of Samuel Pepys; Chapter one

The diary of Samuel peeps and historical entertainment produced by Radio Station KC You are FM of the University of Missouri at Kansas City. By 16 59 with Oliver Cromwell dead England was in a state of near Anarky and the forces that made way for the restoration of Charles second were gathering momentum. It was during this time of uncertainty that Samuel peeps a short plump young man alone a clerk at the Exchequer began to keep a diary in which he was to write faithfully for nine years. The diary contains a million and a quarter words about politics and fashion court gossip and entertainments domestic crises and travel. He described the coronation of Charles Second the plague and the Great Fire of London in his long career he reorganized the administration of the Admiralty which ultimately enabled England to become an empire. And he was the true father of the civil service. But it is his diary. A delightful intimate human document that keeps the name of Samuel.

Alive. The diary of Samuel peeps chapter one. In which Sam at age 26 makes his first entries in his diary of his fear that he may be forced into an unstable employment. Of his attendance at a party at a family dinner. And of some exciting events in the streets of London. 66th blessed be God at the end of the last year I was in very good health without any sense of my own pain but upon taking of coke I lived in X yard having my wife and seven Jayden and no other in the family than us three. The condition of the state was thus the rump off to being just a little old lamb but it was late to return to sit again. The new common consul

of the city do speak very high with their desires and the hopes and expectations of all. My own private condition very handsome and the steamed rich. But indeed very poor besides my goods of my house and my office which at present is somewhat uncertain. Mr. Downing master of my office. Great talk that many places have declared for a free parliament and it's believed that they will be forced to fill up the house with the old members from the hole I called at home. My wife she was to go to her father's and Mr. Moore and I and another gentleman went out and drank a cup of ale together in the Newmarket and then I eat some bread and cheese for my dinner. 3rd January to Whitehall I met with the Clark and Quartermaster of my Lord Montagu's troop and Mr Jenkins showed me two bills of exchange for money to perceive upon my Lord Montacute was in my pay

fifty I knew where I dined with Mr. Shepley stewarded hitching broke at my lord Montagu's lodgings upon his turkey pie. And so to my office again where the excise money was brought and some of it told to soldiers till it was dark. Then I went home. My wife and I it being a great frost went to Mrs. James in expectation to each a sec posset. But Mr. Edward not coming. It was put off and I left my wife playing at cards with her and went myself to Mr. Fayed to consult concerning my nose. Who told me it was nothing but Mr. phage and I had to discourse concerning business and he told me it is true. The city had not time enough to do much but they are resolved to shake off the soldiers and that unless there be a free parliament chosen he did believe that Harf the

Common Council will not levy any money by order of this parliament. 6th January. This morning Mr. Shepley and I did eat our breakfast at Mrs. Harper's. My brother John being with me upon a cold turkey pie and the groups at my office where we paid money to the soldiers till one o'clock and I took my wife to my cousin Thomas peeps and found them just sat down to dinner which was very good. Only the venison pasty was palpable mutton which was not answered. 8th January Lord's day in the morning we went to Mr. Gunning where a good sermon went and he showed the life of Christ and told as good authority for us to believe that Christ did follow his father's trade and was a carpenter till 30 years of age. 13th January.

To my office and met with Mr. Fagan took him to the swan to Mrs. Jim and found her up unmarried as it did not prove the smallpox but the swine box. So I played a game or two at cards with her. Sixteenth January in the morning I went up to Mr. Cruz who did talk to me concerning things of state from tends to my office where nothing to do but Mr. Downing came and found me all alone and did mention to me his going back into Holland. And did ask me whether I would go or no but gave me little encouragement but did me consider of it. I confess I was at a great loss all the day after to think myself how to carry this business. I stayed up till the bell man came by with his bell just under my window as I was writing of this very large and crowded past one of the clock in the cold frosty windy morning.

17th January at Harper's Jack Price told me among other things how much the Protector is altered though he would seem to bear out his trouble very well yet he is scarce able to talk sense with the man and how he will say that. Who should a man trust if he made not trust to a brother and an uncle. 19th January this morning I was sent for to Mr. Downing and at his bedside he told me that he had a kindness for me and that he thought that he had done me well and that was that he had got me to be one of the clerks of the Consul at which I was a little stumbled and could not tell what to do whether to thank him or no. But by and by I did but not very heartily for I feared that his doing of it was only to ease himself of the salary which he gives me.

Mr. Moore and I went to the French ordinary where Mr. Downing this day feasted serrata has a rig and a great many more of the parliament and did say to put him in mind of me. Here he gave me a note to go and invite some other members to dinner to morrow. So I went to Whitehall and did stay with the rest of the clocks of the Consul and they do tell me that my name was mentioned last night but that nothing was done in it. 20th January at Westminster Hall where Mrs. Lane and the rest of the maids had their white scarves all having been at the burial of a young bookseller in the whole 22nd January Lord's day to church in the afternoon to Mr Herring where the lazy poor sermon this day I began to put buckles on my shoes. 23rd January. This day the Parliament sat late and

resolved of the declaration to be printed for the people's satisfaction promising them a great many good things in the garden of Whitehall going through to the stone gallery I fell in a ditch it's being very dark. 24th January I took my wife to Mr. Pierce's she in her way being exceedingly troubled with a pair of new patterns and I vexed to go so slow at being late. We found Mrs. Kerrick very fine and one Mr. Lucy called one another. Husband and wife and after dinner a great deal of Mads. There was pulling off of Mrs. bride's and miss to bridegrooms ribbons and a great deal of fooling among them that I and my wife did not like Mr. Lucy and several other gentlemen coming in off to dinner swearing and singing as if they were mad. Only he singing very handsomely. Twenty fifth January.

I called it. Paul's Churchyard where I bought books towards Hebrew grammar to Mr. Cruise about a picture to be sent into the country for my Lord Montague. 26 January home from my office to my lord's lodgings where my wife had got ready a very fine dinner a dish of marrow bones and a leg of mutton. Lorna veal a dish of flour three pullets and a dozen of lox all in a dish. A great tart. A neat addition and Jovis a dish of prawns and cheese. My company was my father my uncle friend and his two sons Mr Pearce and all their wives and my brother Tom. Twenty eighth January I went to Mr Downing who told me that he was resolved to be gone for Holland this morning. He took a very civil leave of

me beyond my expectations for I was afraid that he would have told me something of removing me from my office. But he did not but that he would do me any service that lay in his power. So I went down and sent a porter to my house for my best for Cap. But he coming too late with it I didn't present it to him. Twenty ninth January casting up my accounts I do find myself to be worth £40 and more which I did not think. But I'm afraid I forgot something. 30th January 16 60 this morning. Before I was up I fell a singing of my song great Go didn't just on the execution of Charles the First and put myself thereby in mind that this was the fateful day. Now 10 years since his Majesty died I took my twelve pounds ten shillings due to me for my last quarter's salary thirty first January

to Westminster Hall thence to Mrs. Jim. When I found her maid in bed in a fit of the egg you and Mrs. jam among the people below at work and by and by she came up to Mary and as if they had given her that which I was troubled but said nothing. After a game of cards I went home. I just said in that holy clock of the Consul had a mind that I would get to be talk at the Council. I suppose that he might have the greatest salary. But I think it's not safe yet to change this for the public employment. Second February to my office where I found all the officers of the regiments in town waiting to receive money that their soldiers might go out of town by water to London Bridge to mystic out through a grocer and receive £60 from an Old Montague. After I had received the money we went homewards but over against Somerset House hearing the noise of guns

we had landed and found the Strand full of soldiers. So I took my money and I went to Mrs. JOHNSON. But Lord Montague seamstresses and giving her my money to lay up doning and I went upstairs to a window and looked out and saw the forked face of the horse and beat them back and stood bawling and calling in the streets for a free parliament and money. By and by a drum was heard to be to march coming towards them and they all got ready again and faced them and they proved to be of the same mind with them. And so they made a great deal of joy to see one another. After all this I went home on foot to lay up my money and change my stockings and shoes. I had this day left off my great skirt suit and put on my white suit with silver lace coat. In Chapter 2 of the diary of Samuel peeps Sam's wife runs a foot race and

chooses her valentine. Sam sees many bonfires in the streets. And has some good singing with Mr personal. The diary of Samuel peeps was edited by Gloria Scott read by James Hawes produced by Radio Station Casey you are FM of the University of Missouri at Kansas City and made available to this station by a national educational radio. This is the national educational radio network.