Pepys Diary.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 134, 8 June 1931, Page 6

Pepys Diary.

December 18th, 1662. Up and to the office; Mr Coventry and I alone sat till two o-clock, and then he inviting himself to my house to dinner, of which I was proud; but my dinner being a legg of mutton and two capons, they were not done enough, which did vex me, but we made shift to please him, I think. But I was, when he was gone, very angry with my wife and people. December 23rd, 1662. Find that my ordinary housekeeping comes to £7 a month, which is a great deal. December 25th (Christmas Day), 1&62. Up pretty early, leaving my wife not well in bed, and with my boy walked, it being a most brave cold and dry frosty morning,

and had a pleasant walk to White Hall, where I intended to have received the Communion with the family, but I came a little too late. So I walked up into the house and spent my time looking over pictures, particularly the ships in King Henry the VlHth’s Voyage to Bullen; marking the great difference between their build then and now. B3' and by down to the chappell again where Bishopp Morley preached upon the song of the Angels, “ Glory to God on high, on earth peace, and good will towards men.” The sermon done, a good anthem followed, with vialls, and then the King came down to receive the Sacrament. But I staid not. Dined by my wife’s bed-side with great content, having a mess of brave plum-porridge and a roasted pullet for dinner, and I sent for a mince-pie abroad, my wife not being well to make any herself yet.