But, Lord! to see how they were both painted,
would make a man mad, and did make me loath them; and what base
company of men comes among them, and how lewdly they talk! And
how poor the men are in clothes, and yet what a show they make on
the stage by candle-light, is very observable. But to see how
Nell cursed, for having so few people in the pit, was strange;
the other house carrying away all the people at the new play, and
is said now-a-days to have generally most company, as being
better players. By and by into the pit, and there saw the play,
which is pretty good.
7th. I and my wife, and Willet, [Mrs. Pepys's maid.] set out in
a coach I have hired with four horses; and W. Hewer and Murford
rode by us on horse-back; and before night come to Bishop-
Stafford. [Stortford.] Took coach to Audly-End, and did go all
over the house and garden; and mighty merry we were. The house
indeed do appear very fine, but not so fine as it hath heretofore
to me; particularly the ceilings are not so good as I always took
them to be, being nothing so well wrought as my Lord Chancellor's
are; and though the figure of the house without be very
extraordinary good, yet the stayre-case is exceeding poor; and a
great many pictures, and not one good one in the house but one of
Harry the Eighth, done by Holben; and not one good suit of
hangings in all the house, but all most ancient things, such as I
would not give the hanging-upon in my house; and the other
furniture, beds and other things, accordingly.
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