Mr. Pepys : an introduction to the Diary together with a sketch of his later life / by J.R. Tanner.
- Joseph Robson Tanner
- Date:
- 1925
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Mr. Pepys : an introduction to the Diary together with a sketch of his later life / by J.R. Tanner. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![the hours were long they were not regular, as required by the routine of a modern office in days when good artificial light is always available. In the summer Pepys was often up at 4 in the morning ; but when the days began to shorten appreciably he rose at 5 and sat up later at night. In the winter he would lie in bed till 8, although occasionally v/e find such an entry as, “ up pretty early, that is by seven o’clock, it being not yet light before or then.” 1 By the end of March the earlier hours recommence ; 2 in April he is up by 5 ; on June 1 he begins “ again to rise betimes by 4 o’clock.” On special occasions, when he had to go to Deptford or Woolwich on navy business, he would get up before 3 and make an early start. If troublesome matters had to be dealt with, Pepys would often stay at the office until midnight, and occasionally till one, two, three, or even four in the morning ; but the entry for February 17, 1663-4, is exceptional. Pepys and Sir William Rider spend the evening over Mr. Wood’s contract for masts. Rider leaves at midnight, but Pepys stays on : [Hoping] “ to save the King some more money, and out of an impatience to breake up with my head full of confused confounded notions but nothing brought to a clear comprehension, I was resolved to sit up and did till 1 January 7, 1662-3. 2 “ Lay pretty long, that is till past six o’clock” (March 24, 1662-3).](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29825696_0046.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
