Micrologus; Pepys Show

83-06 PEPYS SHOW

"Music is the thing of the world that I love most."

So wrote the most famous diarist in English history, Samuel Pepys, who was born 350 years ago in 1633. Throughout the 1660s Pepys kept a journal of his activities, which included an astonishing number and variety of musical pursuits. This was the first decade of the "restoration," the return of a Stuart king after the austerity of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. The new king, Charles II, was openly pleasure-seeking and set an example in that for the middle class. Pepys begins the diary as a young married man of modest means who, however, is soon named to the newly created position of Clerk of the Acts of the Navy, a post which enables him not only to rebuild the neglected English Navy, but also to move among the rich and powerful, to acquire a comfortable fortune of his own, and, happily for us, to pursue the love of his life—music. Well, one of the loves of his life anyway:

March 9. To Sir William Batten's and there Mrs. Knipp coming, we did spend the evening together very merry she and I singing, and, God forgive me, I do still see that my nature is not to be quite conquered but will esteem pleasure above all things, though yet in the middle of it, it is reluctance after my business which is neglected by my following my pleasure. However, music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business is.

[MUSIC]

Sept. 1. Up betimes at my lodging and to my office and among my workmen, and then with Sir William Batten and Sir William Penn by coach to St. James’s … but when we come, we found the Duke going out by coach with his Duchess and he told us he was to go abroad with the Queen today; so we went and stayed a little at Mr. Coventry's chamber, and I to my Lord Sandwich's … And so Mr. Paget being there, we played over some things of Mathew Locke's that we used to play at sea, that pleased us well, it being the first music I have heard In a great while, so much has my business of late taken me off from all my former delights.

[MUSIC]

Nov. 22. This day I bought the book of Country Dances against my wife's woman Gosnell comes, who dances finely and there meeting Mr. Playford, he did give me his Latin songs of Mr. Deerings, which he lately printed.

[MUSIC]

Oct. 30. Up, and to my office about business. At noon to dinner and after some discourse of music. Mr. Hill and I to the office awhile, and he to get Coleman, if he can, against night. By and by, I back home again and there find him returned with Mr. Coleman and Mr. Laneare, with whom we had excellent company and good singing till midnight, and a good supper I did give them, but Coleman's voice is quite spoiled. and when he begins to drink he is excellent company, but afterwards troublesome and impertinent. Laneare sings in a melancholy method very well, and a sober man he seems to be.

[MUSIC]

July 22. To Church and then straight home by water and there find, as I expected, Mr. Hill and … and one slovenly and ugly fellow, Signor Pedro, who sings Italian songs to the theorbo, most neatly, and they spent the whole evening in singing the best piece of music counted of all hands in the world, made by Signor Carissimi, the famous master in Rome. Fine it was indeed, and too fine for me to judge of. They then spoke to Pedro to meet us every week and I fear it will become a trouble to me if once we come to bid professionals to meet us, especially idle masters.

[MUSIC]

May 4. By and by, the Dancing Master Pembleton came, whom standing by seeing him instructing my wife he would needs have me try the steps of a Courante. And what with his desire and my wife's importunity, I did begin and then was obliged to give him entry money—ten shillings—and am became his scholar. The truth is I think it a thing very useful for gentlemen and sometimes I may have occasion to use it and though it cost me what I am heartily sorry it should, besides that I must, by my oath, give half as much more to the poor. So. though it be against my stomach, yet I will try it for a little while. If I see it cause of any great inconvenience or charge, I will fling it off. After I had begun with half the steps of a courante. which I think I shall learn well enough, he went away and we to dinner.

July 27. To Westminster, where at Mr. Montague's chamber I heard a Frenchman play. a friend of M. Ashar’s, upon the guitar, most extreme well, though at the best methinks it is but a bauble.

[MUSIC]

Feb. 28. Up and there comes to me Drumbleby with a flageolet and brings me one Thomas Greeting, the master, to teach my wife. She was not ready to begin today, but do tomorrow.

Mar. 1. Being returned home, I find Greeting, the flageolet master come and teaching my wife, and I do think my wife will take pleasure in it and it will be easy for her and pleasant.

[MUSIC]

Nov. 15. Thence I away home, calling at my mercer's and tailor's and there find as I expected Mr. Caesar and little Pelham Humphreys, lately returned from France, and is an absolute Monsieur, as full of form and confidence and vanity, and disparages everything and everybody's skill but his own. The truth is everybody says he is very able, but to hear how he laughs at all the King's Music here, that they cannot keep time in our town, nor understand anything. The King's Master of Music, how he understands nothing nor can play on any instrument, and so cannot compose, and that he will give him a lift out of his place, and that he and the King are mighty great. I had a good dinner for them as of venison and some fowl, and after dinner we did play, he on the theorbo, Mr. Caesar on his French lute and I on the viol, but made but mean music nor did I see that this Frenchman did so much wonders on the theorbo, but without question he is a good musician; but his vanity do offend me.

[MUSIC]

Feb. 27. To the King's house to see The Virgin Martyr, the first time it hath been acted a great while, and it is mighty pleasant. Not that the play is worth much. but it is finely acted by Becky Marshall. But that which did please me beyond anything in the whole world was the wind music when the angel comes down, which is so sweet that it ravished me and indeed, in a word, did wrap up my soul so that it made me really sick—just as I have been formerly when in love with my wife—that neither then nor all the evening going home was I able to think of anything, but remained all night transported, so as I could not ever believe that any music hath that real command over the soul of a man as this did upon me, and makes me resolve to practice wind music and to make my wife do the like.

Apr. 8. I to Drumbleby's and there to talk a great deal about pipes and to buy a recorder which I do intend to learn to play upon, the sound of it being, of all sounds in the world, most pleasing to me.

[MUSIC]

Feb. 8. I to visit my Lord Sandwich, and there while my Lord was dressing himself did see a young Spaniard, that he hath brought over with him, dance, which he is admired for as the best dancer in Spain, and indeed he do with mighty mastery. But I do not like his dancing as the English, though my Lord commends it mightily, but I will have him to my house and show it my wife.

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Nov. 7. Up and at the office hard all morning and at noon resolved with Sir William Penn to go and see The Tempest, an old play of Shakespeare’s, acted, I hear, the first day; and forced to sit in a side balcony over against the music room at the Duke's house, the house mighty full, the King and Court there. And the most innocent play that ever I saw, and a curious piece of music in an echo of half sentences, the echo repeating the former half while the man goes on to the latter, which is mighty pretty.

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March 26. To see the new play called The Man is the Master, and afterwards by agreement we all of us to the Blue Balls, hard by, and anon comes Manuel and his wife, and Knapp and Harris, who bring with him Mr. Bannister, the great Master of Music, and after much difficulty in getting of music, we to dancing and them to supper of some French dishes, which yet did not please me, and then to dance and sing and mighty merry we were until about eleven or twelve at night with mighty great content in all my company, and I did as I love to do, enjoy myself in my pleasure as being the height of what we take pains for and can hope for in this world, and therefore to be enjoyed while we are young and capable of these joys.