Pepy's Diary. 03 Feb 1665. Up, and walked with my boy (whom, because of my wife's making him idle, I dare not leave at home) walked first to Salsbury Court, there to excuse my not being at home at dinner to [his wife] Mrs. Turner (age 42), who I perceive is vexed, because I do not serve her in something against the great feasting for her husband's (age 52) Reading¹ in helping her to some good penn'eths, but I care not. She was dressing herself by the fire in her chamber, and there took occasion to show me her leg, which indeed is the finest I ever saw, and she not a little proud of it.

Note 1. On his appointment as Reader in Law.

Pepy's Diary. 03 Mar 1665. Thence to see [his wife] Mrs. Turner (age 42), who takes it mighty ill I did not come to dine with the Reader, her husband (age 52), which, she says, was the greatest feast that ever was yet kept by a Reader, and I believe it was well. But I am glad I did not go, which confirms her in an opinion that I am growne proud.

Pepy's Diary. 11 Dec 1666. After dinner my wife and I by coach to St. Clement's Church [Map], to [his wife] Mrs. Turner's (age 43) lodgings, hard by, to take our leaves of her. She is returning into the North to her children, where, I perceive, her husband (age 53) hath clearly got the mastery of her, and she is likely to spend her days there, which for her sake I am a little sorry for, though for his it is but fit she should live where he hath a mind. Here were several people come to see and take leave of her, she going to-morrow: among others, my Lady Mordant (age 28), which was [his daughter] Betty Turner (age 13), a most homely widow, but young, and pretty rich, and good natured.

Pepy's Diary. 26 Jan 1667. At noon home to dinner, and after dinner to the office again, and there all the afternoon, and at night poor [his wife] Mrs. Turner (age 44) come and walked in the garden for my advice about her husband (age 54) and her relating to my Lord Bruncker's (age 47) late proceedings with them. I do give her the best I can, but yet can lay aside some ends of my own in what advice I do give her. So she being gone I to make an end of my letters, and so home to supper and to bed, Balty (age 27) lodging here with my brother, he being newly returned from mustering in the river.

Pepy's Diary. 01 Aug 1667. At noon my wife and I dined at Sir W. Pen's (age 46), only with [his wife] Mrs. Turner (age 44) and her husband (age 54), on a damned venison pasty, that stunk like a devil. However, I did not know it till dinner was done. We had nothing but only this, and a leg of mutton, and a pullet or two. Mrs. Markham was here, with her great belly. I was very merry, and after dinner, upon a motion of the women, I was got to go to the play with them-the first I have seen since before the Dutch coming upon our coast, and so to the King's house, to see "The Custome of the Country". The house mighty empty-more than ever I saw it-and an ill play. After the play, we into the house, and spoke with Knipp, who went abroad with us by coach to the Neat Houses in the way to Chelsy; and there, in a box in a tree, we sat and sang, and talked and eat; my wife out of humour, as she always is, when this woman is by. So, after it was dark, we home. Set Knepp down at home, who told us the story how Nell is gone from the King's house, and is kept by my Lord Buckhurst (age 24).

Pepy's Diary. 18 Aug 1667. Walk back home and to our own church, where a dull sermon and our church empty of the best sort of people, they being at their country houses, and so home, and there dined with me Mr. Turner and his daughter [his daughter] Betty (age 14)¹. Her mother should, but they were invited to Sir J. Minnes (age 68), where she dined and the others here with me. Betty is grown a fine lady as to carriage and discourse. I and my wife are mightily pleased with her. We had a good haunch of venison, powdered and boiled, and a good dinner and merry.

Note 1. Betty Turner (age 14), who is frequently mentioned after this date, appears to have been a daughter of Serjeant John Turner (age 54) and his wife [his wife] Jane (age 44), and younger sister of [his daughter] Theophila Turner (age 15) (see January 4th, 6th, 1668-69).

Pepy's Diary. 27 Jan 1668. Thence to my Lady Peterborough's (age 46), she desiring to speak with me. She loves to be taken dressing herself, as I always find her; and there, after a little talk, to please her, about her husband's (age 46) pension, which I do not think he will ever get again, I away thence home, and all the afternoon mighty busy at the office, and late, preparing a letter to the Commissioners of Accounts, our first letter to them, and so home to supper, where [his daughter] Betty Turner (age 15) was (whose brother Frank did set out toward the East Indies this day, his father (age 55) and [his wife] mother (age 45) gone down with him to Gravesend, Kent [Map]), and there was her little brother Moses, whom I examined, and he is a pretty good scholar for a child, and so after supper to talk and laugh, and to bed.