Pepy's Diary. 24 May 1660. Up, and made myself as fine as I could, with the Tinning stockings on and wide canons¹ that I bought the other day at Hague. Extraordinary press of noble company, and great mirth all the day. There dined with me in my cabin (that is, the carpenter's) Dr. Earle (age 59)² and Mr. Hollis (age 60)³, the King's (age 29) Chaplins, Dr. Scarborough⁴, Dr. Quarterman, and Dr. Clerke, Physicians, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Fox (age 33)⁵ (both very fine gentlemen), the King's (age 29) servants, where we had brave discourse. Walking upon the decks, where persons of honour all the afternoon, among others, Thomas Killigrew (a merry droll, but a gentleman of great esteem with the King), who told us many merry stories: one, how he wrote a letter three or four days ago to the Princess Royal, about a Queen Dowager of Judaea and Palestine, that was at the Hague incognita, that made love to the King, &c., which was Mr. Cary (a courtier's) wife that had been a nun, who are all married to Jesus. At supper the three Drs. of Physic again at my cabin; where I put Dr. Scarborough in mind of what I heard him say about the use of the eyes, which he owned, that children do, in every day's experience, look several ways with both their eyes, till custom teaches them otherwise. And that we do now see but with one eye, our eyes looking in parallel lines. After this discourse I was called to write a pass for my Lord Mandeville (age 26) to take up horses to London, which I wrote in the King's (age 29) name,-[This right of purveyance was abolished in Charles's reign.]-and carried it to him to sign, which was the first and only one that ever he signed in the ship Charles. To bed, coming in sight of land a little before night.

Note 1. Cannions, boot hose tops; an old-fashioned ornament for the legs. That is to say, a particular addition to breeches.

Note 2. John Earle (age 59), born about 1601; appointed in 1643 one of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, but his principles did not allow him to act. He accompanied Charles II when he was obliged to fly from England. Dean of Westminster at the Restoration, Bishop of Worcester, November 30th, 1662, and translated to Salisbury, September 28th, 1663. He was tender to the Nonconformists, and Baxter wrote of him, "O that they were all such!" Author of "Microcosmography". Died November 17th, 1665, and was buried in the chapel of Merton College, of which he had been a Fellow. Charles II had the highest esteem for him.

Note 3. Denzil Holles (age 60), second son of John, first Earl of Clare, born at Houghton, Notts, in 1597. He was one of the five members charged with high treason by Charles I in 1641. He was a Presbyterian, and one of the Commissioners sent by Parliament to wait on Charles II at the Hague. Sir William Lower, in his "Relation", 1660, writes: "All agreed that never person spake with more affection nor expressed himself in better terms than Mr. Denzil Hollis, who was orator for the Deputies of the Lower House, to whom those of London were joined". He was created Baron Holles on April 20th, 1661, on the occasion of the coronation of Charles II

Note 4. Charles Scarburgh, M.D., an eminent physician who suffered for the royal cause during the Civil Wars. He was born in London, and educated at St. Paul's School and Caius College, Cambridge. He was ejected from his fellowship at Caius, and withdrew to Oxford. He entered himself at Merton College, then presided over by Harvey, with whom he formed a lifelong friendship. He was knighted by Charles II in 1669, and attended the King in his last illness. He was also physician to James II and to William III., and died February 26th, 1693-4.

Note 5. Stephen Fox (age 33), born 1627, and said to have been a choir-boy in Salisbury Cathedral. He was the first person to announce the death of Cromwell to Charles II, and at the Restoration he was made Clerk of the Green Cloth, and afterwards Paymaster of the Forces. He was knighted in 1665. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Whittle of Lancashire. (See June 25th, 1660.) Fox died in 1716. His sons Stephen and Henry were created respectively Earl of Ilchester and Lord Holland.

Pepy's Diary. 26 Apr 1667. He told me the whole story of Mrs. Stewart's (age 19) going away from Court, he knowing her well; and believes her, up to her leaving the Court, to be as virtuous as any woman in the world: and told me, from a Lord that she told it to but yesterday, with her own mouth, and a sober man, that when the Duke of Richmond (age 28) did make love to her, she did ask the King (age 36), and he did the like also; and that the King (age 36) did not deny it, and [she] told this Lord that she was come to that pass as to resolve to have married any gentleman of £1500 a-year that would have had her in honour; for it was come to that pass, that she could not longer continue at Court without prostituting herself to the King (age 36)¹, whom she had so long kept off, though he had liberty more than any other had, or he ought to have, as to dalliance². She told this Lord that she had reflected upon the occasion she had given the world to think her a bad woman, and that she had no way but to marry and leave the Court, rather in this way of discontent than otherwise, that the world might see that she sought not any thing but her honour; and that she will never come to live at Court more than when she comes to town to come to kiss the Queene (age 57) her Mistress's hand: and hopes, though she hath little reason to hope, she can please her Lord so as to reclaim him, that they may yet live comfortably in the country on his estate. She told this Lord that all the jewells she ever had given her at Court, or any other presents, more than the King's allowance of £700 per annum out of the Privypurse for her clothes, were, at her first coming the King (age 36) did give her a necklace of pearl of about £1100 and afterwards, about seven months since, when the King (age 36) had hopes to have obtained some courtesy of her, the King (age 36) did give her some jewells, I have forgot what, and I think a pair of pendants. The Duke of York (age 33), being once her Valentine, did give her a jewell of about £800; and my Lord Mandeville (age 33), her Valentine this year, a ring of about £300; and the King of France (age 28) would have had her mother, who, he says, is one of the most cunning women in the world, to have let her stay in France, saying that he loved her not as a mistress, but as one that he could marry as well as any lady in France; and that, if she might stay, for the honour of his Court he would take care she should not repent. But her mother, by command of the Queen-Mother (age 57), thought rather to bring her into England; and the King of France (age 28) did give her a jewell: so that Mr. Evelyn (age 46) believes she may be worth in jewells about £6000, and that that is all that she hath in the world: and a worthy woman; and in this hath done as great an act of honour as ever was done by woman.

Note 1. Even at a much later time Mrs. GoDolphin well resolved "not to talk foolishly to men, more especially the King (age 36)",-"be sure never to talk to the King (age 36)" ("Life", by Evelyn). These expressions speak volumes as to Charles's character. B.

Note 2. Evelyn evidently believed the Duchess of Richmond to be innocent; and his testimony, coupled with her own declaration, ought to weigh down all the scandal which Pepys reports from other sources. B.