Biography of Daniel Saville 1609-1694

Around 1609 Daniel Saville was born.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Nov 1661. To Westminster with my wife (she to her father's), and about 10 o'clock back again home, and there I to the office a little, and thence by coach with Commissioner Pett (age 51) to Cheapside to one Savill (age 52), a painter, who I intend shall do my picture and my wife's.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Nov 1661. This morning our maid Dorothy and my wife parted, which though she be a wench for her tongue not to be borne with, yet I was loth to part with her, but I took my leave kindly of her and went out to Savill's (age 52), the painter, and there sat the first time for my face with him; thence to dinner with my Lady; and so after an hour or two's talk in divinity with my Lady, Captain Ferrers and Mr. Moore and I to the Theatre [Map], and there saw "Hamlet" very well done, and so I home, and found that my wife had been with my aunt Wight and Ferrers to wait on my Lady to-day this afternoon, and there danced and were very merry, and my Lady very fond as she is always of my wife. So to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 02 Dec 1661. To Savill (age 52) the painter's, but he not being well I could do nothing there, and so I returned home, and in my way met Mr. Moore and took him with me home; where we staid and talked all the morning, and he dined with me, and after dinner went away to the Privy Seal, this being our first day this month.

Pepy's Diary. 03 Dec 1661. To the Paynter's (age 52) and sat and had more of my picture done; but it do not please me, for I fear it will not be like me.

Pepy's Diary. 04 Dec 1661. To the Temple [Map], and thence to Mr. Phillips and got my copy of Sturtlow lands. So back to the 3 Tuns at Charing Cross, and there met the two Sir Williams and Col. Treswell and Mr. Falconer, and dined there at Sir W. Pen's (age 40) cost, and after dinner by water to Cheapside to the painter's (age 52), and there found my wife, and having sat a little she and I by coach to the Opera and Theatre, but coming too late to both, and myself being a little out of tune we returned, and I settled to read in "Mare Clausum" till bedtime, and so to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 05 Dec 1661. This morning I went early to the Paynter's (age 52) and there sat for my picture the fourth time, but it do not yet please me, which do much trouble me.

Pepy's Diary. 13 Dec 1661. At home all the morning, being by the cold weather, which for these two days has been frost, in some pain in my bladder. Dined at home and then with my wife to the Paynter's (age 52), and there she sat the first time to be drawn, while I all the while stood looking on a pretty lady's picture, whose face did please me extremely. At last, he having done, I found that the dead colour of my wife is good, above what I expected, which pleased me exceedingly.

Pepy's Diary. 17 Dec 1661. Up and to the Paynter's (age 52) to see how he went forward in our picture. So back again to dinner at home, and then was sent for to the Privy Seal (age 55), whither I was forced to go and stay so long and late that I was much vexed. At last we got all done, and then made haste to the office, where they were sat, and there we sat late, and so home to supper and to Selden, "Mare Clausum", and so to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 19 Dec 1661. So after the Paynter (age 52) had done I did like the picture pretty well, and my wife and I went by coach home, but in the way I took occasion to fall out with my wife very highly about her ribbands being ill matched and of two colours, and to very high words, so that, like a passionate fool, I did call her whore, for which I was afterwards sorry. But I set her down at home, and went myself by appointment to the Dolphin, where Sir W. Warren did give us all a good dinner, and that being done, to the office, and there sat late, and so home.

Pepy's Diary. 19 Dec 1661. This morning my wife dressed herself fine to go to the christening of Mrs. Hunt's child, and so she and I in the way in the morning went to the Paynter's (age 52), and there she sat till noon, and I all the while looking over great variety of good prints which he had, and by and by comes my boy to tell us that Mrs. Hunt has been at our house to tell us that the christening is not till Saturday next.

Pepy's Diary. 31 Dec 1661. My wife and I this morning to the Paynter's (age 52), and there she sat the last time, and I stood by and did tell him some little things to do, that now her picture I think will please me very well; and after her, her little black dogg sat in her lap; and was drawn, which made us very merry; so home to dinner, and so to the office; and there late finishing our estimate of the debts of the Navy to this day; and it come to near £374,000.

Pepy's Diary. 06 Jan 1662. Whitsunday. This morning I sent my lute to the Paynter's (age 53), and there I staid with him all the morning to see him paint the neck of my lute in my picture, which I was not pleased with after it was done.

Pepy's Diary. 16 Jan 1662. Towards Cheapside; and in Paul's Churchyard saw the funeral of my Lord Cornwallis (deceased), late Steward of the King's House, a bold profane talking man, go by, and thence I to the Paynter's (age 53), and there paid him £6 for the two pictures, and 36s. for the two frames. From thence home, and Mr. Holliard (age 53) and my brother Tom (age 28) dined with me, and he did give me good advice about my health.

Pepy's Diary. 24 Jan 1662. Thence to my painter's (age 53), and there I saw our pictures in the frames, which please me well.

Pepy's Diary. 28 Jan 1662. This morning (after my musique practice with Mr. Berkenshaw) with my wife to the Paynter's (age 53), where we staid very late to have her picture mended, which at last is come to be very like her, and I think well done; but the Paynter (age 53), though a very honest man, I found to be very silly as to matter of skill in shadows, for we were long in discourse, till I was almost angry to hear him talk so simply. So home to dinner and then to the office, and so home for all night.

Pepy's Diary. 01 Feb 1662. Thence with Mr. Pett (age 51) to the Paynter's (age 53); and he likes our pictures very well, and so do I. Thence he and I to the Countess of Sandwich, to lead him to her to kiss her hands: and dined with her, and told her the news (which Sir W. Pen (age 40) told me to-day) that express is come from my Lord with letters, that by a great storm and tempest the mole of Argier is broken down, and many of their ships sunk into the mole. So that God Almighty hath now ended that unlucky business for us; which is very good news.

Pepy's Diary. 07 Feb 1662. Thence to the Paynter's (age 53), and am well pleased with our pictures.

Pepy's Diary. 20 Feb 1662. And thence to the Wardrobe with my Lady's, and there could not stay dinner, but went by promise to Mr. Savill's (age 53), and there sat the first time for my picture in little, which pleaseth me well. So to the office till night and then home.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Feb 1662. And thence to buy a pair of stands and a hanging shelf for my wife's chamber, and so home, and thither came Mr. Savill (age 53) with the pictures, and we hung them up in our dining-room. It comes now to appear very handsome with all my pictures.

Pepy's Diary. 24 Feb 1662. Thence to the Paynter's (age 53), and set again for my picture in little, and thence over the water to Southwark, Surrey [Map] to Mr. Berkenshaw's house, and there sat with him all the afternoon, he showing me his great card of the body of musique, which he cries up for a rare thing, and I do believe it cost much pains, but is not so useful as he would have it. Then we sat down and set "Nulla, nulla sit formido", and he has set it very finely.

Pepy's Diary. 28 Feb 1662. Thence I by water to the Painter's (age 53), and there sat again for my face in little, and thence home to dinner, and so at home all the afternoon.

Pepy's Diary. 05 Mar 1662. In the morning to the Painter's (age 53) about my little picture. Thence to Tom's about business, and so to the pewterer's, to buy a poore's-box to put my forfeits in, upon breach of my late vows.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Apr 1662. Being weary last night I lay very long in bed to-day, talking with my wife, and persuaded her to go to Brampton, and take Sarah with her, next week, to cure her ague by change of ayre, and we agreed all things therein. We rose, and at noon dined, and then we to the Paynter's (age 53), and there sat the last time for my little picture, which I hope will please me.

Pepy's Diary. 03 May 1662. Thence, at the goldsmith's, took my picture in little, [Miniature by Savill (age 53)] which is now done, home with me, and pleases me exceedingly and my wife. So to supper and to bed, it being exceeding hot.

Pepy's Diary. 11 Jun 1662. So home and to supper. This evening Savill (age 53) the Paynter came and did varnish over my wife's picture and mine, and I paid him for my little picture £3, and so am clear with him.

Pepy's Diary. 15 Feb 1666. At noon to Starky's, a great cooke in Austin Friars, invited by Colonell Atkins, and a good dinner for Colonell Norwood (age 52) and his friends, among others Sir Edward Spragg (age 46) and others, but ill attendance. Before dined, called on by my wife in a coach, and so I took leave, and then with her and Knipp and Mercer (Mr. Hunt newly come out of the country being there also come to see us) to Mr. Hales (age 66), the Paynter's (age 57), having set down Mr. Hunt by the way. Here Mr. Hales' (age 66) begun my wife in the posture we saw one of my Lady Peters, like a St. Katharine1. While he painted, Knipp, and Mercer, and I, sang; and by and by comes Mrs. Pierce, with my name in her bosom for her Valentine, which will cost me money. But strange how like his very first dead colouring is, that it did me good to see it, and pleases me mightily, and I believe will be a noble picture.

Note 1. It was the fashion at this time to be painted as St. Catherine, in compliment to the Queen (age 27).

Pepy's Diary. 19 Feb 1666. So home. I find my wife gone out to Hales, her Paynter's (age 57), and I after a little dinner do follow her, and there do find him at worke, and with great content I do see it will be a very brave picture. Left her there, and I to my Lord Treasurer's (age 58), where Sir G. Carteret (age 56) and Sir J. Minnes (age 66) met me, and before my Lord Treasurer (age 58) and Duke of Albemarle (age 57) the state of our Navy debts were laid open, being very great, and their want of money to answer them openly professed, there being but £1,500,000 to answer a certaine expense and debt of £2,300,000.

In 1694 Daniel Saville (age 85) died.