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Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 61: January 1667-68 cover

Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 61: January 1667-68

Chapter 2: ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
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About This Book

A sequence of daily entries from 1667–1668 records a civil servant's routines, household life, and keen observations of politics, naval matters, and London society. It blends precise notes on official duties and meetings with vivid accounts of theatre-going, gambling, dining, and gossip; commentary on agricultural and economic conditions; and reactions to court decisions and naval administration. Names, places, and incidents are noted with practical detail, conveying contemporaneous atmosphere, social hierarchies, and the interplay between private concerns and public events.

[William Godolphin, descended from a younger branch of that family, which was afterwards ennobled in the person of Sidney, Earl Godolphin, Lord Treasurer. William Godolphin was of Christ Church, Oxford, and graduated M.A., January 14th, 1660-61. He was afterwards secretary to Sir H. Bennet (Lord Arlington), and M.P. for Camelford. He was a great favourite at Court, and was knighted on August 28th, 1668. In the spring of 1669 he returned to Spain as Envoy Extraordinary, and in 1671 he became Ambassador. On July 11th, 1696, he died at Madrid, having been for some years a Roman Catholic.]

at his lodgings, who is lately come from Spain from my Lord Sandwich, and did, the other day, meeting me in White Hall, compliment me mightily, and so I did offer him this visit, but missed him, and so back and took up my wife and set her at Mrs. Turner's, and I to my bookbinder's, and there, till late at night, binding up my second part of my Tangier accounts, and I all the while observing his working, and his manner of gilding of books with great pleasure, and so home, and there busy late, and then to bed. This day Griffin did, in discourse in the coach, put me in the head of the little house by our garden, where old goodman Taylor puts his brooms and dirt, to make me a stable of, which I shall improve, so as, I think, to be able to get me a stable without much charge, which do please me mightily. He did also in discourse tell me that it is observed, and is true, in the late fire of London, that the fire burned just as many Parish-Churches as there were hours from the beginning to the end of the fire; and, next, that there were just as many Churches left standing as there were taverns left standing in the rest of the City that was not burned, being, I think he told me, thirteen in all of each: which is pretty to observe.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

     And they did lay pigeons to his feet
     As all other women, cry, and yet talk of other things
     Carry them to a box, which did cost me 20s., besides oranges
     Declared, if he come, she would not live with me
     Fear that the goods and estate would be seized (after suicide)
     Fears some will stand for the tolerating of Papists
     Greater number of Counsellors is, the more confused the issue
     He that will not stoop for a pin, will never be worth a pound
     In my nature am mighty unready to answer no to anything
     It may be, be able to pay for it, or have health
     Lady Castlemayne do rule all at this time as much as ever
     No man was ever known to lose the first time
     She loves to be taken dressing herself, as I always find her
     The devil being too cunning to discourage a gamester
     The manner of the gaming
     This kind of prophane, mad entertainment they give themselves
     Turn out every man that will be drunk, they must turn out all
     Where I expect most I find least satisfaction