SAMUEL PEPYS

Summary

Samuel Pepys, the subject of this brief memoir, was born A.D. 1632: he was educated at St. Paul's School, which he quitted about the year 1650, and was entered as a Sizar of Trinity College; but he transferred his name to the boards of Magdalene College on commencing his residence in the University. In the year 1660 he took his degree of M. A. by proxy: this privilege was granted at the instance of Dr. Fairbrother; and being then very rarely allowed “did”, says he, “somewhat please me, though I remember my cousin Roger Pepys was the other day persuading me from it.” He was well connected, although his father followed the trade of a tailor. His cousin, above alluded to, was the person of greatest local importance at Cottenham; and there was a family connexion with the famous Hobson, the carrier. Amongst his immediate relations he numbered Sir Edward Montagu, afterwards Earl of Sandwich, to whose patronage his advancement may in a great measure be attributed. On January 1st, 1659-60, he commenced his Diary, the early part of which details many little indications of that progressive change of public feeling which preceded the Restoration. His joining with Matthew Locke and Henry Purcell in a Canon, composed by the former, the words of which were “Domine salvum fac Regem;” and his drinking to the health of the King in the cellar of Audley End, are soon followed by the notice of the people of Deal setting “the King's flags upon one of their May-poles, and drinking his health upon their knees in the streets, and firing the guns, which the soldiers of the Castle threatened, but dared not oppose.“