Miscellaneous Pepys

Before we leave Pepys behind, here is a motley collection of short quotations that struck me as interesting. It’s curious, for instance, that Pepys often went to the coffeehouses of London yet seemed to be ignorant of tea. When did tea become the stereotypical English drink?

And afterwards I did send for a cup of tea (a China drink) of which I never had drank before, and went away. September 25, 1660

This morning Mr. Carew was hanged and quartered at Charing Cross, but his quarters, by a great favour, are not to be hanged up. October 15, 1660

Waking this morning out of my sleep on a sudden, I did with my elbow hit my wife a great blow over her face and nose, which waked her with pain, at which I was sorry, and to sleep again. January 1, 1662

Among other things, he [Captn. Minnes] and the other Captains that were with us tell me that negroes drowned look white and lose their blackness, which I never heard before. April 11, 1662

My wife and I to the puppet play in Covent Garden, which I saw the other day, and indeed it is very pleasant. Here among the fidlers I first saw a dulcimere played on with sticks knocking of the strings, and is very pretty. May 23, 1662

Up and to my Lord’s and thence to the Duke, and followed him into the Park, where, though the ice was broken and dangerous, yet he would go slide upon his scates, which I did not like, but he slides very well. December 15, 1662

Up, and fitted myself for my journey down to the fleete. So I on board my Lord Bruncker; and there he and Sir Edmund Pooly carried me down into the hold of the Indian shipp, and there did show me the greatest wealth lie in confusion that a man can see in the world. Pepper scattered through every chink, you trod upon it; and in cloves and nutmegs, I walked above the knees; whole rooms full. And silk in bales, and boxes of copper-plate, one of which I saw opened. November 16, 1665

All the morning at the office, and at noon my clerks dined with me, and there do hear from them how all the town is full of the talk of a meteor, or some fire, that did on Saturday last fly over the City at night, many clusters of people talking of it, and many people of the towns about the city did see it, and the world do make much discourse of it, their apprehensions being mighty full of the rest of the City to be burned, and the Papists to cut our throats. Which God prevent! May 21, 1668