Samuel Pepys at Rochester Castle

The celebrated diarist Samuel Pepys died on this day in 1703. Pepys, as his diary often makes plain, was an accomplished sexual predator. Here's an excerpt from his diary for 2 October 1665, when he paid a visit to Rochester Castle in Kent. Pertinent information: the great tower at Rochester Castle is the tallest of its type in Britain, rising 125ft tall.

 

I did there walk to visit the old Castle ruines... and there going up I did upon the stairs overtake three pretty maids or women, and took them up with me, and did besarlas muchas vezes et tocar leur mains [kiss their faces and touch their hands] and necks, to my great pleasure: but Lord, to see what a dreadful thing it is to look down praecipices, for it did fright me mightily, and hinder me from much pleasure which I would have made to myself in the company of these three if it had not been for that.’