rein. Dined at home, and after dinner
to Westminster Hall, where I met with Billing the quaker at Mrs.
Michell's shop, who is still of the former opinion he was of against the
clergymen of all sorts, and a cunning fellow I find him to be. Home, and
there I had news that Sir W. Pen is resolved to ride to Sir W. Batten's
country house to-morrow, and would have me go with him, so I sat up
late, getting together my things to ride in, and was fain to cut an old
pair of boots to make leathers for those I was to wear. This month I
conclude with my mind very heavy for the loss of the leads, as also for
the greatness of my late expenses, insomuch that I do not think that I
have above L150 clear money in the world, but I have, I believe, got
a great deal of good household stuff: I hear to-day that the Queen is
landed at Dover, and will be here on Friday next, November 2nd. My wife
has been so ill of late of her old pain that I have not known her this
fortnight almost, which is a pain to me.

NOVEMBER 1660

November 1st. This morning Sir W. Pen and I were mounted early, and had
very merry discourse all the way, he being very good company. We came
to Sir W. Batten's, where he lives like a prince, and we were made very
welcome. Among other things he showed us my Lady's closet, where was
great store of rarities; as also a chair, which he calls King Harry's
chair, where he that sits down is catched with two irons, that come
round about him, which makes good sport. Here dined with us two or
three more country gentle men; among the rest Mr. Christmas, my old
school-fellow, with whom I had much talk. He did remember that I was a
great Roundhead when I was a boy, and I was much afraid that he would
have remembered the words that I said the day the King was beheaded
(that, were I to preach upon him, my text should be "The memory of the
wicked shall rot"); but I found afterwards that he did go away from
school before that time.

[Pepys might well be anxious on this point, for in October of this
year Phieas Pett, assistant master shipwright at Chatham, was
dismissed from his post for having when a Child spoken
disrespectfully of the King. See ante, August 23rd.]

He did make us good sport in imitating Mr. Case, Ash, and Nye, the
ministers, which he did very well, but a deadly drinker he is, and grown
exceeding fat. From his house to an ale-house near the church, where we
sat and drank and were merry, and so we