173 and there are several such references to remissness in keeping the diary up day by day. there were such ominous words as these: | hindering me of late to put it down daily; but "I have, therefore, published the whole I have done it now very true and particularly, of the diary, with the exception of such and hereafter will, I hope, be able to fall into parts as I thought would be tedious to the my old way of doing it daily; reader or that are unfit for publication." "It would have been tedious to the reader if I had copied from the diary the account of his daily work at the office." The fact is that, roughly speaking, about Pepys was in the habit of writing his a fifth of the whole still remains un-confidences in shorthand; and if this had printed; but this evil is about to be rem- not been so it is probable that the interestedied, and a new edition, to be issued ing character of the diary would have shortly, will contain the whole of these been discovered long before it was. The passages. They are not of special value publication of Evelyn's diary drew the as telling much which was unknown be- attention of the master of Magdalene fore, but all have the true Pepysian flavor, College to the treasure that was under his which is so pleasing to his many admir- care. He submitted the manuscript to ers, and it is difficult to understand why his kinsman Lord Grenville, who as forthey were left out. Much has been said eign minister had become acquainted with respecting the passages which are unfit many ciphers. Lord Grenville supplied for publication; but editors have been un- the clue which was worked out by John necessarily squeamish in this particular, Smith, then an undergraduate, but afterand, although some passages cannot pos- wards rector of Baldock, Herts. It is a sibly be printed, these would fill but a few most singular circumstance that in the pages in all. Pepysian library there rested a little volIn the present article an attempt will be ume which might have settled the quesmade to give readers some idea of what is tion long before, if any one had taken the still in store for them when the whole trouble to look into it. This volume condiary is printed, by quoting only from tains an account of Charles the Second's those passages that have hitherto re- escape after the battle of Worcester, taken mained in manuscript. All will then be down in shorthand from the king's dictain a position to judge as to the absurdity tion by Pepys, and written out by himself of the method hitherto adopted of leaving in longhand. Pepys was an enthusiastic out whatever an editor may consider to be student of shorthand, and collected a very uninteresting. In the Pepysian Library valuable series of books on the subject, at Magdalene College, Cambridge, are six which are still preserved in his library. small volumes bound in brown calf, which Through life he practised the art, and contain the whole of the diary, entered up used it in drafting his public and private daily for nearly ten years with such re-letters. It was at one time supposed that markable neatness and cleanliness that they have all the appearance of having been written at one time, or copied out with great care. They thus form a striking contrast to the contemporary diary of Thomas Rugge, the manuscript of which is now in the British Museum. The latter is rough and untidy, and very much like the journal of an ordinary man. Pepys's, on the contrary, is the work of a man who paid as much attention to the medium of communication as to the communication itself, and was in all his actions a model of neatness. We have said that the entries were made daily, and so they were as a rule, but there were exceptions. On the 16th of October, 1665, Pepys wrote: — Late at the office entering my journal for eight days past, the greatness of my business • It may be remarked that Mr. Mynors Bright made a complete transcript of the diary, although he did not print the whole. the system which he adopted was that of Rich, but it is now proved that the earlier one of Thomas Shelton was the favored system. The late Mr. John E. Bailey, who was a great authority on the subject of shorthand, drew attention to Shelton's work entitled "Tachygraphy" (1645), which was stated to be approved by both universities. It met with such favor at Cambridge that at least four graduates celebrated its value in laudatory verse. One of these wrote as follows: What! write as fast as speak? what man can doe it? What! hand as swift as tongue? persuade me Unlikely tale! Tush, tush, it cannot be, This thou canst doe, this (Shelton) thou hast Thy nimbler pen hath many tongues out-run. ever, liable to mislead, and it is necessary to guard the reader against taking the language too literally. The passing whim was put into words, and a little irritation at the conduct of a friend caused a character to be set down which did not really represent correctly the writer's permanent opinion. We know from other sources that this was so in many cases. Pepys was not content with the secrecy The very sincerity of the writer is, howof shorthand, and when he wished particularly to conceal anything he was about to write he used the French, Latin, Greek, or even Spanish languages. Then he changed his plan and put in dummy let ters. It is impossible to believe that the idea ever entered the writer's head that the world would read his confessions. He wrote them in secret, and was sorry for his indiscretion when he unguardedly told Sir William Coventry that he kept a diary. Doubtless he was throughout his life delighted to be able to refresh his memory with the record of what he had done in the past, and he was unable at any time to make up his mind to destroy it. It is not likely that the man who bought "L'Escholle des Filles " in plain binding, with the resolution of burning it after reading, so "that it may not stand in the list of books, nor among them to disgrace them if it should be found," could have realized with equanimity the publication of that which would disgrace him far more and give the lie to the "respectability," to gain the credit of which he suffered so much. The diary contains the unique discovery of the character of one who, though of great ability, was in many respects a commonplace man. On this very account it is a psychological study of the greatest interest to all human beings. Never before was man so thoroughly honest in writing about himself, as the late Mr. Lowell said when unveiling the monument set up in St. Olave's Church, Hart Street, on the 18th of March, 1884. Montaigne is conscious that we are looking over his shoulder, and Rousseau secretive in comparison with him. The very fact of that sincerity of the author with himself argued a certain greatness of character." 66 All readers of the diary know how much it was to its author from those pathetic words at its close: And so I betake myself to that course, which is almost as much as to see myself go into my grave; for which, and all the discomforts that will accompany my being blind, the good God prepare me. That the diary was closed in 1669 is a still greater loss to us. What a food of light would not its continuation have thrown upon the history of our country! The whole period covered by the diary was Pepys's learning time. When he became secretary to the Admiralty he had power, and acted; and it is a grievous deprivation to us that we have no diary to refer to for that period. In these pages we see the growth of the man. The diarist had a universal desire for knowledge, and in his desire to learn he had no fear of asking questions. Thus we find him constantly dining with his clerks and getting information from them. On one occasion (the 3rd of April, 1668) he writes: So to the office, where all the morning to despatch business, and so home to dinner with my clerks, whose company is of great pleasure to me for their good discourse in anything of the navy I have a mind to talk of. He entered his office ignorant of the simplest facts, and he left it the Nestor of the navy, acknowledged even by his enemies to know more than any living man. His name is still held in honor at the Admiralty, and the Earl of Northbrook, when first lord of the Admiralty, expressed his regret that he was prevented from assisting at the ceremony of unveiling Pepys's monument, as he wished to give his testimony to the merits of Pepys as an Admiralty official, and he sent Mr. Lowell a copy of the following paper found in the office as containing a fair statement of the diarist's merits: Pepys was, without exception, the greatest and most useful minister that ever filled the same situation in England, the acts and registers of the Admiralty proving this beyond contradiction. The principal rules and establishments in present use in these offices are and most of the officers serving therein since well known to have been of his introducing, the Restoration of his bringing up. He was a most studious promoter and strenuous asserter of order and discipline. Sobriety, diligence, capacity, loyalty, and subjection to command were essentials required in all whom he advanced. Where any of these were found wanting no interest or authority was capable of moving him in favor of the highest pretender. Discharging his duty to his prince perfect integrity, he feared no one, courted no and country with a religious application and one, and neglected his own fortune. Pepys changed from a Puritan (though probably never a strict one) to become in the end an associate of non-jurors; but the change was quite natural and gradual, and we see how it came about. At the execution of Charles the First (when he was sixteen years old) he made the unfortunate remark that were he to preach upon the event of the day he should select as his text the verse, "The memory of the wicked shall rot." In 1660 he was apprehensive that an old schoolfellow, one Mr. Christmas, might remember this, but to his relief he found that that gentleman had left school before the incident occurred. He had reason for his fear, as men's careers had been blighted by quite as small a matter, as he very well knew. Force of circumstances made him a High Churchman, and he left his employments a servant of the dethroned King James. All we know of Pepys from the outside does him honor, and he appeared to have walked through life with stately step until the pages of the diary came to enlighten us as to the thoughts and hidden actions of the man. Forever the dignity was gone, but the man became known to us as no other man in history can possibly be known, and in spite of all his faults we have taken him to our hearts. When we are about to judge him harshly we cannot but stop to conjecture how much of the dignity of the majority of wise and good men would fade away if they were put under the same searching scrutiny as to motive and actions as Pepys delighted to subject himself to. It is just as necessary to correct our ideas of the Pepys of the diary by the Pepys of history as it is to turn the Pepys of history into a living man by comparing him with the Pepys of the diary. One of the greatest evils caused by the publication of these confessions is the assumption by the mass of readers that Pepys was a man to be treated with To my office again, and then abroad to look for calicoes for flags, and hope to get a small matter by my pains therein, and yet save the king a great deal of money. This was a period of very general bribery, and Pepys was fairly free from the evil habits of his time; but he sometimes got into trouble, and after the Dutch war of 1668 he, with Sir William Penn, Sir Richard Ford, and others, was charged with taking possession of a prize vessel to which they had no right. There is much tell me how Tatnell told him that this day one Up, and Captain Perryman came to me to How is to charge me before the Commissioner of Prizes to the value of 8,000l. in prizes, which I was troubled to hear, so fearful I am, though I know that there is not a penny to be laid to my charge that I dare not own, or that I have not owned under my hand; but upon recollection it signifies nothing to me, and so I value it not, being sure that I can have nothing in the world to my hurt known from the business. Though he certainly had some pickings during his career, which we should not now consider to have been honestly got, he had little to fear from an investigation into his affairs, and when he died the crown owed him 28,000/., not a penny of which was ever paid. The ruling principle of Pepys's life was order; we see it in the diary, we see it in the fruits of his official life, but it is brought home to us more particularly in his library at Magdalene College. All his books are in good condition; the catalogues are well kept; and all his manuscript lists and notes are models of neatness. In that quiet room where his books are religiously guarded one feels an intimate communion with his spirit. On the 17th of March, 1667-68, he wrote: So to my bookseller's, and there looked for Lord Arlington and Lord Blaney so much Montaigne's "Essays," which I hear by my commended, and intend to buy it, but did not now. 66 In the printed edition we are told that L'Escholle des Pepys intended to burn Filles," but not that he actually did so. He really wrote much more on this subject. On one Sunday morning, the 9th of February, 1667-68, he was up, and at my chamber all the morning and the office doing business, and also reading a little of "L'Escholle des Filles," which is a mighty lewd book, but yet not amiss for a sober man once to read over to inform himself in the villany of the world. Later on in the day he went to his chamber again, where I did read through "L'Escholle de Filles," a lewd book, but which do me no And after I had done it I burned it, that it wrong once to read for information sake. might not be among my books to my shame, and so at night to supper and to bed. There is little more in the diary about such books, and if he read others he must have destroyed them as well as this, for the contents of the library is strictly "proper" now. One of the latest entries refers to the catalogue of his books. May 24, 1669.-Thence home, and giving order for some business, and setting my brother to making a catalogue of my books. Pepys was a great admirer of women, and his dealings with them were not carried on with much attention to morality. This has always been known from the pas sages which have been printed; but there is much more that has not yet seen the light. The strange feature in his character is that, in spite of his real love for his wife, he seems never to have realized that he was injuring her until she made this plain, and he only repented when he was found out. The two were constantly quarrelling, but the quarrels seem mostly to have been got up in order that the principals might have the pleasure of a reconciliation. This, however, was not always the case. An affair on the 8th of October, 1664, was more serious. Lay pretty while with some discontent abed, even to the having bad words with my wife, and blows too, about the ill serving up of our victuals yesterday; but all ended in love, and so I arose. The quarrel on the 19th of December was still more serious. Going to bed betimes last night we waked betimes, and from our people being forced to take the key to go out to light a candle I was very angry, and began to find fault with my wife for not commanding her servants as she ought. Thereupon she giving me some cross answer, I did strike her over her left eye such a blow as the poor wretch did cry out, and was in great pain; but yet her spirit was such as to endeavor to bite and scratch me. But I crying with her made her leave crying and search for butter and parsley, and friends presently one with another; and I up, vexed at my heart to think what I had done, for she was forced to lay a poultice or something to her eye all day, and is black, and the people of the house observed it. He gone, I close to my papers and to get all in order, and to perform my vow to finish my journal and other things before I kiss any woman more or drink any wine, which I must be forced to do to-morrow if I go to Greenwich, as I am invited by Mr. Boreman to hear Mrs. Knipp sing, and I would be glad to go, so as we may be merry. He was very intimate with one Bagwell's wife, and with Betty Howlett, who had married young Michell. On the 21st of June, 1666, he is friendly with the husband in order to know more of the wife. He writes: October 27, 1668. - In the morning up, but my mind troubled for the poor girl, with whom I could not get opportunity to speak; but my mind mightily full of sorrow for her. To the office, where all the morning, and to dinner with my people, and to the office all the afternoon, and so at night home, and there busy to get some things ready against tomorrow's meeting of Tangier, and that being done, and my clerks gone, my wife did towards bed-time begin to be in a mighty rage from some new matter that she had got in her head, and did most part of the night in bed rant at me in most high terms of threats of publishing my shame, and when I offered to rise would Pepys grudged his wife new clothes, have rose too, and caused a candle to be lit to and so marked was this that Lady Sand burn by her all night in the chimney while wich had to speak to him on the subject, she ranted, while I, that knew myself to have and after my lady's lecture he straightway given some grounds for it, did make it my went and bought some lace for his wife. business to appease her all I could possibly, One year he found, on casting up his ac- and by good words and fair promises did make counts, that he had spent 55. on his own her very quiet, and so rested all night and clothes, and only 127. on those of his wife. rose with perfect good peace, being heartily It is well known that he was constantly sion it, but was forced to be silent about the afflicted for this folly of mine that did occamaking vows to reform in certain partic-girl, which I have no mind to part with, but ulars. but one of the most amusing of much less that the poor girl should be undone these vows was made on the 14th of Janu- by my folly. So up with mighty kindness ary, 1665-66. from my wife, and a thorough peace, and being up did by a note advise the girl what I had done and would, which note I was in pain for till she told me she had burned it. relate to the revived interest in music and the theatre in the early days of the Restoration. Pepys tells us of the setting up of organs, of the composers that were in Vogue, and of the famous instrumentalists and singers of his time. He was a thor On the 10th of the following month there were more upbraidings, and Mrs. Pepys complained of her husband's treat ment of her "and ill-usage from the be-ough and accomplished musician, and the ginning." She vaunted her own virtue number of instruments mentioned by him is remarkable, and shows how much more the many temptations she hath refused out of general a liberal musical education was in faithfulness to me, whereof several she was his day than now. Chance acquaintances particular in, and especially from my Lord were able to strike up four and five part Sandwich by the solicitations of Captain Fer- songs in excellent time and tune. The rer, and then afterward the courtship of my instruments mentioned in the diary are Lord Hinchingbroke, even to the trouble of his the lute, viol, theorbo, violin, guitar, citlady; all which I did acknowledge and was troubled for, and wept, and at last pretty good tern, bandore, recorder, flageolet, triangle, friends again; and so I to my office and there trumpet marine, virginals, spinet, harpsilate, and so home to supper with her, and so chord, and dulcimer. to bed, where after half an hour's slumber she wakes me, and cries out that she should never sleep more, and so kept raving till past midnight, that made me cry and weep heartily all the while for her, and troubled for what she reproached me with as before, and at last with new vows, and particularly that I would myself bid the girl begone and show my dislike to her, which I shall endeavor to perform, but with much trouble; and so thus appeasing her, we sleep as well as we could till morning. Pepys's wife was always doubtful of him, and as she had before made him promise not to see or speak to the beautiful Mrs. Pierce or Mrs. Knipp, so now she made him promise not to see Deb, but he broke his promise. It will be remembered that Mrs. Pepys was not best pleased when her husband took more pains in teaching her maid Mercer to sing than he did with herself. This was not always so, for Mrs. Pepys's performances on the flageolet were apparently highly appreciated by the diarist. We read : September 11, 1667. I to bed, being mightily pleased with my wife's playing so well upon the flageolet, and I am resolved that she shall learn to play upon some instrument, for though her ear be bad yet I see she will attain anything to be done by her hand. On the following day Mrs. Pepys's ear must have improved. After the play we home, and then I to the office and despatched my business, and then home, and mightily pleased with my wife's playing on the flageolet, she taking out any it, which pleases me mightily. tune almost at first sight and keeping time to What would the various ladies of Pepys's acquaintance have thought had they known that their friend was writing down an account of all the passages be tween them? It is a curious fate that they should pass through their own times with a fair reputation and lose their good name John Downes, the prompter of Sir Wilamong the readers of two centuries after.liam Davenant's House, in his "Roscius What Pepys's character was after the closing of the diary we can never tell, and it must ever remain a doubt whether he reformed. In his last words he says, "Now my amours are past," but we can never be quite sure as to the stability of his resolutions. The gross immorality of the court most certainly influenced the tone of the general society of the country, but there are indications in the early portions of the diary, written before Charles the Second was restored to the throne, which show that there was a very general laxity of manners among those who were neither Puritans nor Cavaliers. This laxity, however, certainly increased after the Restoration. Anglicanus," gives very little information respecting the plays acted in the first two years after the Restoration, and for that period the diary is almost our only authority. It requires, however, some considerable knowledge of the history of the stage to get out the necessary information from Pepys's descriptions, as he is somewhat indefinite in these matters, and takes very much for granted. He describes plays, for instance, as acted at the Cockpit, but he does not distinguish between the two Cockpits, the public theatre in Drury Lane and the court theatre in St. James's Park, which formed part of Whitehall Palace. We can generally see which is meant (if there is no other distinction to guide us) by noting that the performances at the court theatre were in the evening, |