give
me information, of Wm, How's having bought eight bags of precious
stones, taken from about the Dutch Vice-Admirall's neck ; of which
there were eight dyamonds which cost him four thousand pounds sterling,
in India ; and hoped to have made twelve thousand pounds here for them.
So, I on board ; where Sir Edmund Pooly carried me down into the hold
of the India ship, and there did show me the greatest wealth lie in
confusion that a man can see in the world,—pepper scattered through
every chink, you trod upon it; and in cloves and nutmegs I walked above
the knees ; whole rooms full. And silk in bales, and boxes of
copper-plate, one of which I saw opened."
On
July 31st, 1665, Pepys " ended this month with the greatest joy that
ever I did any in my life." It was the occasion of Mr. Philip
Carteret's marriage to Miss Jemima Mountagu: "though we drove (again
from Hinchingbroke) hard with six horses we met them coming from
church, which troubled us; but that trouble was soon over, hearing it
was well done ; they both being in their old cloaths ; my Lord Crew
giving her away, there being three coach fulls of them. The young lady
mighty sad, which troubled me ; but yet I think it was only her
gravity, in a little greater degree than usual.—At night to supper, and
so to talk ; and, (which methought was the most extraordinary thing,)
all of us to prayers, as usual, and the young bride, and bridegroom
too; and so, after prayers, soberly to bed ; only I got into the
bridegroom's chamber while he undressed himself ; and there was very
merry, till he was called to the bride's chamber ; and into bed they
went. I kissed the bride in bed; and so the curtaines drawne with the
greatest gravity that could
