HKB
16 passages · search this phrase →
Often appears with: crime and punishment · diplomacy and embassies · assemblies, councils, and senates · religious persecution and toleration · contracts, oaths, and obligation · censorship and the press · naval warfare and sea power · house of commons · faction, party, and civil strife · treaties, truces, and peacemaking · theatre and performance · political legitimacy and consent
Usually: record or table (12) · curiosity (9) · detachment (8) · skepticism (6) · indignation (4) · reflection (3) · betrayal (3) · injustice endured (3) · the fall of the great (2) · the test or trial (2)
“They being all together, was such a sight as I never could almost have happened to see with so much ease and leisure.” Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys · observation
“The young Queene answered, "You lye;" which was the first English word that I ever heard her say: which made the King good sport; and he would have made her say in English, "Confess and be hanged.” Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys · wit
“So that God knows in what a sad condition I should be if I were truly in debt: and therefore ought to bless God that I have no such real reason.” Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys · observation
“At night to my office, and did business; and there come to me Mr. Wade and Evett, who have been again with their prime intelligencer, a woman, I perceive... we resolved to set upon it once more;” Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys · observation
“thing for a man of any condition at Court to carry himself even, and without contracting envy or envyers; and that much discretion and dissimulation is necessary to do it.” Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys · precept
“I believe not less than one thousand people in the streets.” Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys · observation
“nobody at this day taking care of anything, nor hath any body to call him to account for it.” Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys · insight
“He told me that the Court is in a way to ruin all for their pleasures; and says that he himself hath once taken the liberty to tell the King the necessity of having at least a show of religion in the Government, and sobriety” Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys · insight
“I perceive all the world is against the Duke of Buckingham's acting thus high, and do prophecy nothing but ruin from it.” Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys · observation
“But he do well observe that the church lands cannot certainly come to much, if the King shall be persuaded to take them, they being leased out for long leases.” Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys · insight
Pepys discusses political and religious discontent in 1662, attends court visits at Queen-Mother’s and the Queen’s presence chamber, sees Lady Castlemaine and the king’s bastard Monmouth, and records Admiralty business and news about a knighted acquaintance.
and honoured there. I this day heard that Mr. Martin Noell is knighted by the King, which I much wonder at; but yet he is certainly a very useful man. 7th. Home with Mr. Fox and his lady; and there dined with them. Most of our discourse was what ministers are flung out that will not conform: and the care of the Bishop of London that we are here supplied with very good men. Meeting Mr. Pierce, the chyrurgeon, he t…
Pepys notes political talk in Parliament, then focuses on meetings around Whitehall and the Duke’s household: hunting plans, court scandals (Castlemaine pregnant; Chesterfield’s love affair), and a renewed search in the Tower cellar.
away, without the help of this man, before he died. But he is resolved to go to the party once more, and then to determine what we shall do further. 3rd. To White Hall, to the Duke's; but found him gone a-hunting. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, from whom I receive every day more and more signs of his confidence and esteem of me. Here I met with Pierce the chyrurgeon, who tells me that my Lady Castlemaine is with chil…
Pepys records parliamentary “Act of Indemnity” and debates over indulgence to Papists, while he meets Mr. Coventry and the Duke, attends a play, observes court favorites, and worries about possible arrest for debt.
and instead of bringing great comfort from thence, (but I expected no better from him,) he tells me that the Duke and Mr. Coventry make no great matter of it. 23rd. Up by times; and not daring to go by land, did (Griffin going along with me for fear,) slip to White Hall by water; where to Mr. Coventry, and, as we used to do, to the Duke; the other of my fellows being come. But we did nothing of our business, the D…
Pepys records court and parliamentary talk after the Act of Indemnity, worrying about envy at court and suspecting tensions between the King and the Duke of York amid debates over loyalty and appointments.
thing for a man of any condition at Court to carry himself even, and without contracting envy or envyers; and that much discretion and dissimulation is necessary to do it. MAY 4, 1663. To St. James's; where Mr. Coventry, Sir W. Pen and I staid for the Duke's coming in, but not coming, we walked to White Hall; and meeting the King, we followed him into the Parke, where Mr. Coventry and he talking of building a new y…
Pepys notes the House of Commons’ acts against employing people from the late civil troubles, fears he may be affected, and describes Parliament-men debating Scottish news and possible rebellion.
Church; which will be fatal to a great many, and makes me doubt lest I myself, with all my innocence during the late times, should be brought in, being employed in the Exchequer; but, I hope, God will provide for me. 10th. Put on a black cloth suit, with white lynings under all, as the fashion is to wear, to appear under the breeches. I walked to St. James's, and was there at masse, and was forced in the croud to …
Samuel Pepys stands in a balcony to watch people in the street, then converses with Mr. Coventry about Sir G. Carteret, Jersey’s provisioning, and court politics involving the Chancellor.
streets full of people. I stood in Mr. --'s balcone. They dine all at my Lord Mayor's; but what he do for victualls, or room for them, I know not. 24th. To St.James's,and there an hour's private discourse with Mr. Coventry; he speaking of Sir G. Carteret slightly, and diminishing of his services for the King in Jersey; that he was well rewarded, and had good lands and rents, and other profits from the King, all the…
Pepys notes a new practice of dropping an import of “indemnity” at Holehaven, then attends book buying and theatre, hears Dutch portraits mock the King, and records court movements on St Andrew’s Day.
import of the word, though in the general acceptation it signifies now the thing, not the time spent in doing it) in Holehaven, a thing never done by us before. 28th. To Paul's Church Yard, and there looked upon the second part of Hudibras, which I buy not, but borrow to read, to see if it be as good as the first, which the world cried so mightily up, though it hath not a good liking in me, though I had tried but t…
Pepys records political and naval tensions after an indemnity act, talks court and public business with Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry, sends money to the fleet, and notes crowding and hardships of pressed prisoners.
talk very rationally to me, insomuch that I took more pleasure this night in hearing him discourse, than I ever did in my life in any thing that he said. 6th. I believe not less than one thousand people in the streets. But it is a pretty thing to observe that both there and every where else, a man shall see many women now-a-days of mean sort in the streets, but no men; men being so afraid of the press. I dined wit…
Pepys records Commons action on an Act of Indemnity and voices fear that only pardoning loyalists will save Charles II, then describes Coventry’s connections, news of failed Dutch-fire-ship actions, and Court vice amid news of peace.
of the Government; and I pray God they may be permitted to do it, for nothing else, I fear, will save the King and kingdom than the doing it betimes. 27th. To the office, where I hear that Sir John Coventry [Nephew to Sir William and Henry Coventry; created K.B. at Charles II.'s coronation, and M.P. for Weymouth in several Parliaments. The outrage committed on his person by Sir Thomas Sandys, O'Bryan, and others, …
Pepys reports Chatham-related business is going well in the House and notes Laurence Hyde’s Roman-style remark about prosecuting Lord Chancellor Clarendon if only one charge were true.
instrumentall musick. Here was the King and Queene, and some of the ladies; among whom none more jolly than my Lady Buckingham, her Lord being once more a great man. 19th. I was told this day that Lory Hide, [Laurence Hyde, Master of the Robes, afterwards created Earl of Rochester.] second son of my Lord Chancellor, did some time since in the House say, that if he thought his father was guilty but of one of the th…
Pepys records Commons and Lords debates over the Act of Indemnity, especially the case of “Carr” and the disgrace of Lord Gerard, including the pillory ordered without reopening evidence he says was cleared in court.
plain fellow for my sister; though I shall, I see, have no pleasure nor content in him, as if he had been a man of reading and parts, like Cumberland. 8th. The great talk is of Carr's coming off in all his trials, to the disgrace of my Lord Gerard to that degree, and the ripping up of so many notorious rogueries and cheats of my Lord's, that my Lord, it is thought, will be ruined: and above all do show the madness…
Pepys records tense parliamentary conflict over the East India Company, involving the Lords and Commons at Westminster, and notes theatre visits, including performances of The Impertinents and gossip about Sir Robert Howard.
for some wrong done him heretofore; and the former appealing to the Commons, the Lords vote their petition a libell; and so there is like to follow very hot work. 3rd. To church, where I saw Sir A. Rickard, though he be under the Black Rod, by order of the Lords' House, upon the quarrel between the East India Company and Skinner; which is like to come to a very great heat between the two Houses. To Old-street, to …
Pepys notes political unrest in London, travels by water home with pleasure, consults Whitehall officials about state offices, visits a new play at court, and tries paper-tube experiments for his failing eyes.
not men, and almost force the women; which troubled me, to see the confidence of the vice of the age: and so we away by water with much pleasure home. 30th. To White Hall. There met with Mr. May, who was giving directions about making a close way for people to go dry from the gate up into the House, to prevent their going through the galleries; which will be very good. I staid and talked with him about the state …
Pepys describes a House of Commons act of indemnity-related politics, and then attends a Cabinet meeting where Algerines violate peace by seizing Spaniards from an English ship with the Duke of York’s pass.
prints of Nantueil's and others, which W. Batelier hath at my desire brought me out of France, of the King's and Colbert's and others, most excellent, to my great content. 26th. To the office, and then to White Hall, leaving my wife at Unthanke's; and I to the Secretary's chamber, where I was by particular order this day summonsed to attend, as I find Sir D. Gauden also was. And here was the King and the Cabinet m…
On Lord’s day, Pepys visits the Tower and Whitehall, hears of peace talks with Algiers, worries about the Duke of Buckingham’s aggressive actions, and learns the Council plans to send six ships to the Straits.
his being weary of the Treasury, and of the folly, ambition, and desire of popularity of Sir Thomas Clifford; and yet the rudeness of his tongue and passions, when angry. 7th (Lord's day). To the Tower to see Sir W. Coventry, who had H. Jermin and a great many more with him, and more while I was there came in: so that I do hear that there was not less than sixty coaches there yesterday and the other day; which I he…
Pepys records Commons debate around an Act of Indemnity, then describes the King’s birthday celebrations at Whitehall (Whitsunday events, church music) and social outings to Hyde Park, ending with concern over his failing eyesight and changing how he keeps his diary.
respected therein: and so without further discourse we parted upon very good terms of respect, and with few words, but my mind not fully satisfied about the monies they mean. 29th. The King's birth-day. To White Hall, where all very gay; and particularly the Prince of Tuscany very fine, and is the first day of his appearing out of mourning since he came. I heard the Bishop of Peterborough [Joseph Henshaw. Ob. 16…