Pepy's Diary. 21 Mar 1663. Up betimes and to my office, where busy all the morning, and at noon, after a very little dinner, to it again, and by and by, by appointment, our full board met, and Sir Philip Warwick (age 53) and Sir Robert Long (age 63) came from my Lord Treasurer (age 56) to speak with us about the state of the debts of the Navy; and how to settle it, so as to begin upon the new foundation of £200,000 per annum, which the King (age 32) is now resolved not to exceed.

Pepy's Diary. 11 Aug 1663. Thence to the Temple [Map] and by water to Westminster; and there Morrice and I went to Sir R. Long's (age 63) to have fetched a niece of his, but she was not within, and so we went to boat again and then down to the bridge, and there tried to find a sister of Mrs. Morrice's, but she was not within neither, and so we went through bridge, and I carried them on board the King's pleasure-boat, all the way reading in a book of Receipts of making fine meats and sweetmeats, among others to make my own sweet water, which made us good sport.

Pepy's Diary. 03 May 1665. Thence to my Lord Ashly (age 43) to a Committee of Tangier for my Lord Rutherford's accounts, and that done we to my Lord Treasurer's (age 58), where I did receive my Lord's warrant to Sir R. Long (age 65) for drawing a warrant for my striking of tallys.

Pepy's Diary. 05 May 1665. Up betimes, and by water to Westminster, there to speak the first time with Sir Robert Long (age 65), to give him my Privy Seal and my Lord Treasurer's (age 58) order for Tangier Tallys; he received me kindly enough.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Nov 1665. After dinner a great deal alone with Sir G. Carteret (age 55), who tells me that my Lord hath received still worse and worse usage from some base people about the Court. But the King (age 35) is very kind, and the Duke do not appear the contrary; and my Chancellor (age 56) swore to him "by--I will not forsake my Lord of Sandwich (age 40)". Our next discourse is upon this Act for money, about which Sir G. Carteret (age 55) comes to see what money can be got upon it. But none can be got, which pleases him the thoughts of, for, if the Exchequer should succeede in this, his office would faile. But I am apt to think at this time of hurry and plague and want of trade, no money will be got upon a new way which few understand. We walked, Cocke (age 48) and I, through the Parke with him, and so we being to meet the Vice-Chamberlayne to-morrow at Nonsuch [Map], to treat with Sir Robert Long (age 65) about the same business, I into London, it being dark night, by a hackney coach; the first I have durst to go in many a day, and with great pain now for fear. But it being unsafe to go by water in the dark and frosty cold, and unable being weary with my morning walke to go on foot, this was my only way. Few people yet in the streets, nor shops open, here and there twenty in a place almost; though not above five or sixe o'clock at night.

Pepy's Diary. 28 Nov 1665. Up before day, and Cocke (age 48) and I took a hackney coach appointed with four horses to take us up, and so carried us over London Bridge [Map]. But there, thinking of some business, I did 'light at the foot of the bridge, and by helpe of a candle at a stall, where some payers were at work, I wrote a letter to Mr. Hater, and never knew so great an instance of the usefulness of carrying pen and ink and wax about one: so we, the way being very bad, to Nonsuch [Map], and thence to Sir Robert Longs (age 65) house; a fine place, and dinner time ere we got thither; but we had breakfasted a little at Mr. Gawden's, he being out of towne though, and there borrowed Dr. Taylor's (age 52) sermons, and is a most excellent booke and worth my buying, where had a very good dinner, and curiously dressed, and here a couple of ladies, kinswomen of his, not handsome though, but rich, that knew me by report of The. Turner (age 13), and mighty merry we were.

Pepy's Diary. 28 Nov 1665. After dinner to talk of our business, the Act of Parliament, where in short I see Sir R. Long (age 65) mighty fierce in the great good qualities of it. But in that and many other things he was stiff in, I think without much judgement, or the judgement I expected from him, and already they have evaded the necessity of bringing people into the Exchequer with their bills to be paid there. Sir G. Carteret (age 55) is titched [fretful, tetchy] at this, yet resolves with me to make the best use we can of this Act for the King (age 35), but all our care, we think, will not render it as it should be. He did again here alone discourse with me about my Lord, and is himself strongly for my Lord's not going to sea, which I am glad to hear and did confirm him in it. He tells me too that he talked last night with the Duke of Albemarle (age 56) about my Lord Sandwich (age 40), by the by making him sensible that it is his interest to preserve his old friends, which he confessed he had reason to do, for he knows that ill offices were doing of him, and that he honoured my Lord Sandwich (age 40) with all his heart.

Pepy's Diary. 19 Mar 1666. Thence to Sir Robert Long's (age 66), absent. About much the same business, but have not the satisfaction we would have there neither. So Sir W. Coventry (age 38) parted, and my Lord and I to Mrs. Williams's, and there I saw her closett, where indeed a great many fine things there are, but the woman I hate. Here we dined, and Sir J. Minnes (age 67) come to us, and after dinner we walked to the King's play-house, all in dirt, they being altering of the stage to make it wider. But God knows when they will begin to act again; but my business here was to see the inside of the stage and all the tiring-rooms and machines; and, indeed, it was a sight worthy seeing. But to see their clothes, and the various sorts, and what a mixture of things there was; here a wooden-leg, there a ruff, here a hobbyhorse, there a crown, would make a man split himself to see with laughing; and particularly Lacy's (age 51) wardrobe, and Shotrell's. But then again, to think how fine they show on the stage by candle-light, and how poor things they are to look now too near hand, is not pleasant at all. The machines are fine, and the paintings very pretty.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Mar 1666. Thence with Lord Bruncker (age 46) to Sir Robert Long (age 66), whom we found in his closett, and after some discourse of business he fell to discourse at large and pleasant, and among other things told us of the plenty of partridges in France, where he says the King of France (age 27) and his company killed with their guns, in the plain de Versailles, 300 and odd partridges at one bout.

Pepy's Diary. 30 May 1666. So after some discourse with him, I by water to Westminster, and there drew a draught of an order for my Lord Treasurer (age 59) to sign for my having some little tallys made me in lieu of two great ones, of £2000 each, to enable me to pay small sums therewith. I shewed it to Sir R. Long (age 66) and had his approbation, and so to Sir Ph. Warwicke's (age 56), and did give it him to get signed. So home to my office, and there did business.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Mar 1667. Up, and to the Old Swan [Map], where drank at Michell's, but not seeing her whom I love I by water to White Hall, and there acquainted Sir G. Carteret (age 57) betimes what I had to say this day before the Duke of York (age 33) in the business of Carcasse, which he likes well of, being a great enemy to him, and then I being too early here to go to Sir W. Coventry's (age 39) chamber, having nothing to say to him, and being able to give him but a bad account of the business of the office (which is a shame to me, and that which I shall rue if I do not recover), to the Exchequer about getting a certificate of Mr. Lanyon's entered at Sir R. Longs (age 67) office, and strange it is to see what horrid delays there are at this day in the business of money, there being nothing yet come from my Lord Treasurer (age 59) to set the business of money in action since the Parliament broke off, notwithstanding the greatness and number of the King's occasions for it.

Pepy's Diary. 08 May 1667. Up pretty betimes and out of doors, and in Fen Church street [Map] met Mr. Lovett going with a picture to me, but I could not stand to discourse or see it, but on to the next Hackney coach and so to Sir W. Coventry (age 39), where he and I alone a while discoursing of some businesses of the office, and then up to the Duke of York (age 33) to his chamber with my fellow brethren who are come, and so did our usual weekly business, which was but little to-day, and I was glad that the business of Carcasse was not mentioned because our report was not ready, but I am resolved it shall against the next coming to the Duke of York (age 33). Here was discourse about a way of paying our old creditors which did please me, there being hopes of getting them comprehended within the 11 months Tax, and this did give occasion for Sir G. Carteret's (age 57) and my going to Sir Robert Long (age 67) to discourse it, who do agree that now the King's Council do say that they may be included in the Act, which do make me very glad, not so much for the sake of the poor men as for the King (age 36), for it would have been a ruin to him and his service not to have had a way to have paid the debt. There parted with Sir G. Carteret (age 57) and into Westminster Hall [Map], where I met with Sir H. Cholmly (age 34), and he and I to Sir Ph. Warwicke's (age 57) to speak a little about our Tangier business, but to little purpose, my Lord Treasurer (age 60) being so ill that no business can be done.

Pepy's Diary. 12 Dec 1667. Rose before day, and took coach, by daylight, and to Westminster to Sir G. Downing's (age 42), and there met Sir Stephen Fox (age 40), and thence he and I to Sir Robert Longs (age 67) to discourse the business of our orders for money, he for the guards, and I for Tangier, and were a little angry in our concerns, one against the other, but yet parted good friends, and I think I got ground by it.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Feb 1668. At noon by coach towards Westminster, and met my Lord Brouncker (age 48), and W. Pen, and Sir T. Harvey, in King's Street, coming away from the Parliament House; and so I to them, and to the French ordinary, at the Blue Bells, in Lincolne's Inn Fields, and there dined and talked. And, among other things, they tell me how the House this day is still as backward for giving any money as ever, and do declare they will first have an account of the disposals of the last Poll-bill, and eleven months' tax: and it is pretty odde that the very first sum mentioned in the account brought in by Sir Robert Long (age 68), of the disposal of the Poll-bill money, is £5000 to my Lord Arlington (age 50) for intelligence; which was mighty unseasonable, so soon after they had so much cried out against his want of intelligence. The King (age 37) do also own but £250,000, or thereabouts, yet paid on the Poll-bill, and that he hath charged £350,000 upon it. This makes them mad; for that the former Poll-bill, that was so much less in its extent than the last, which took in all sexes and qualities, did come to £350,000. Upon the whole, I perceive they are like to do nothing in this matter to please the King (age 37), or relieve the State, be the case never so pressing; and, therefore, it is thought by a great many that the King (age 37) cannot be worse if he should dissolve them: but there is nobody dares advise it, nor do he consider any thing himself.

Pepy's Diary. 09 Sep 1668. Thence to Westminster, to Sir R. Longs (age 68) Office: and, going, met Mr. George Montagu (age 46), who talked and complimented me mightily; and long discourse I had with him, who, for news, tells me for certain that Trevor do come to be Secretary at Michaelmas, and that Morrice (age 65) goes out, and he believes, without any compensation. He tells me that now Buckingham (age 40) does rule all; and the other day, in the King's journey he is now on, at Bagshot, and that way, he caused Prince Rupert's (age 48) horses to be turned out of an inne, and caused his own to be kept there, which the Prince complained of to the King (age 38), and the Duke of York (age 34) seconded the complaint; but the King (age 38) did over-rule it for Buckingham (age 40), by which there are high displeasures among them; and Buckingham and Arlington (age 50) rule all.

Pepy's Diary. 07 Dec 1668. Thence to a Committee of Tangier, and so with W. Hewer (age 26) to Westminster to Sir R. Longs (age 68) office, and so to the Temple [Map], but did nothing, the Auditor not being within, and so home to dinner, and after dinner out again with my wife to the Temple [Map], and up and down to do a little business, and back again, and so to my office, and did a little business, and so home, and W. Hewer (age 26) with me, to read and talk, and so to supper, and then to bed in mighty good humour. This afternoon, passing through Queen's Street, I saw pass by our coach on foot Deb., which, God forgive me, did put me into some new thoughts of her, and for her, but durst not shew them, and I think my wife did not see her, but I did get my thoughts free of her soon as I could.

Before 13 Jul 1673 Jacob Huysmans (age 40). Portrait of Robert Long 1st Baronet (age 73).