THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M. A. F. R. S. 

CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY

TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARYMAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M. A. LATE FELLOWAND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE

(Unabridged)

WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES

 1967

By Samuel Pepys

Edited With Additions By

Henry B. Wheatley F. S. A. 

 LONDON GEORGE BELL & SONS YORK ST. COVENT GARDEN CAMBRIDGE DEIGHTON BELL & CO. 

 1893

JANUARY 1666-1667

January 1st. Lay long, being a bitter, cold, frosty day, the frost beingnow grown old, and the Thames covered with ice. Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy. At noon to the 'Change a little, where Mr. James Houblon and I walked a good while speaking of our ill condition innot being able to set out a fleet (we doubt) this year, and the certainill effect that must bring, which is lamentable. Home to dinner, wherethe best powdered goose that ever I eat. Then to the office again, andto Sir W. Batten's to examine the Commission going down to Portsmouth toexamine witnesses about our prizes, of which God give a good issue!and then to the office again, where late, and so home, my eyes sore. Tosupper and to bed. 

2nd. Up, I, and walked to White Hall to attend the Duke of York, asusual. My wife up, and with Mrs. Pen to walk in the fields to frost-bitethemselves. I find the Court full of great apprehensions of the French, who have certainly shipped landsmen, great numbers, at Brest; and mostof our people here guess his design for Ireland. We have orders to sendall the ships we can possible to the Downes. God have mercy on us! forwe can send forth no ships without men, nor will men go without money, every day bringing us news of new mutinies among the seamen; so that ourcondition is like to be very miserable. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there met all the Houblons, who do laugh at this discourse of theFrench, and say they are verily of opinion it is nothing but to send totheir plantation in the West Indys, and that we at Court do blow up adesign of invading us, only to make the Parliament make more haste inthe money matters, and perhaps it may be so, but I do not believe wehave any such plot in our heads. After them, I, with several people, among others Mr. George Montagu, whom I have not seen long, he mightykind. He tells me all is like to go ill, the King displeasing the Houseof Commons by evading their Bill for examining Accounts, and putting itinto a Commission, though therein he hath left out Coventry and I andnamed all the rest the Parliament named, and all country Lords, notone Courtier: this do not please them. He tells me he finds theenmity almost over for my Lord Sandwich, and that now all is upon theVice-Chamberlain, who bears up well and stands upon his vindication, which he seems to like well, and the others do construe well also. Thence up to the Painted Chamber, and there heard a conference betweenthe House of Lords and Commons about the Wine Patent; which Iwas exceeding glad to be at, because of my hearing exceeding gooddiscourses, but especially from the Commons; among others, Mr. Swinfen, and a young man, one Sir Thomas Meres: and do outdo the Lordsinfinitely. So down to the Hall and to the Rose Taverne, while Doll Lanecome to me, and we did 'biber a good deal de vino, et je did give elletwelve soldis para comprare elle some gans' for a new anno's gift .... Thence to the Hall again, and with Sir W. Pen by coach to the Temple, and there 'light and eat a bit at an ordinary by, and then alone to theKing's House, and there saw "The Custome of the Country, " the secondtime of its being acted, wherein Knipp does the Widow well; but, of allthe plays that ever I did see, the worst-having neither plot, language, nor anything in the earth that is acceptable; only Knipp sings a littlesong admirably. But fully the worst play that ever I saw or I believeshall see. So away home, much displeased for the loss of so much time, and disobliging my wife by being there without her. So, by link, walked home, it being mighty cold but dry, yet bad walking because veryslippery with the frost and treading. Home and to my chamber to set downmy journal, and then to thinking upon establishing my vows against thenext year, and so to supper and to bed. 

3rd. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon byinvitation to dinner to Sir W. Pen's, where my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Batten, and his lady, myself, and wife, Sir J. Minnes, and Mr. Turnerand his wife. Indifferent merry, to which I contributed the most, buta mean dinner, and in a mean manner. In the evening a little to theoffice, and then to them, where I found them at cards, myself very illwith a cold (the frost continuing hard), so eat but little at supper, but very merry, and late home to bed, not much pleased with the mannerof our entertainment, though to myself more civil than to any. This day, I hear, hath been a conference between the two Houses about the Billfor examining Accounts, wherein the House of Lords their proceedings inpetitioning the King for doing it by Commission is, in great heat, voted by the Commons, after the conference, unparliamentary. The issuewhereof, God knows. 

4th. Up, and seeing things put in order for a dinner at my house to-day, I to the office awhile, and about noon home, and there saw all thingsin good order. Anon comes our company; my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Pen, his lady, and Pegg, and her servant, Mr. Lowther, my Lady Batten (Sir W. Batten being forced to dine at Sir K. Ford's, being invited), Mr. Turnerand his wife. Here I had good room for ten, and no more would my tablehave held well, had Sir J. Minnes, who was fallen lame, and his sister, and niece, and Sir W. Batten come, which was a great content to me to bewithout them. I did make them all gaze to see themselves served so noblyin plate, and a neat dinner, indeed, though but of seven dishes. Mightymerry I was and made them all, and they mightily pleased. My LordBruncker went away after dinner to the ticket-office, the rest staid, only my Lady Batten home, her ague-fit coming on her at table. The restmerry, and to cards, and then to sing and talk, and at night to sup, andthen to cards; and, last of all, to have a flaggon of ale and apples, drunk out of a wood cupp, [A mazer or drinking-bowl turned out of some kind of wood, by preference of maple, and especially the spotted or speckled variety called "bird's-eye maple" (see W. H. St. John Hope's paper, "On the English Mediaeval Drinking-bowls called Mazers, " "Archaeologia, " vol. 50, pp. 129, 93). ]

as a Christmas draught, made all merry; and they full of admiration atmy plate, particularly my flaggons (which, indeed, are noble), and solate home, all with great mirth and satisfaction to them, as I thought, and to myself to see all I have and do so much outdo for neatness andplenty anything done by any of them. They gone, I to bed, much pleased, and do observe Mr. Lowther to be a pretty gentleman, and, I think, toogood for Peg; and, by the way, Peg Pen seems mightily to be kind tome, and I believe by her father's advice, who is also himself so; but Ibelieve not a little troubled to see my plenty, and was much troubled tohear the song I sung, "The New Droll"--it touching him home. So to bed. 

5th. At the office all the morning, thinking at noon to have been takenhome, and my wife (according to appointment yesterday), by my LordBruncker, to dinner and then to a play, but he had forgot it, at which Iwas glad, being glad of avoyding the occasion of inviting him again, and being forced to invite his doxy, Mrs. Williams. So home, and took asmall snap of victuals, and away, with my wife, to the Duke's house, andthere saw "Mustapha, " a most excellent play for words and design as everI did see. I had seen it before but forgot it, so it was wholly newto me, which is the pleasure of my not committing these things to mymemory. Home, and a little to the office, and then to bed, where I laywith much pain in my head most of the night, and very unquiet, partly bymy drinking before I went out too great a draught of sack, and partly myeyes being still very sore. 

6th (Lord's day). Up pretty well in the morning, and then to church, where a dull doctor, a stranger, made a dull sermon. Then home, andBetty Michell and her husband come by invitation to dine with us, and, she I find the same as ever (which I was afraid of the contrary)... Herecome also Mr. Howe to dine with me, and we had a good dinner and goodmerry discourse with much pleasure, I enjoying myself mightily to havefriends at my table. After dinner young Michell and I, it being anexcellent frosty day to walk, did walk out, he showing me the baker'shouse in Pudding Lane, where the late great fire begun; and thenceall along Thames Street, where I did view several places, and so up byLondon Wall, by Blackfriars, to Ludgate; and thence to Bridewell, whichI find to have been heretofore an extraordinary good house, and a finecoming to it, before the house by the bridge was built; and so to lookabout St. Bride's church and my father's house, and so walked home, and there supped together, and then Michell and Betty home, and I to mycloset, there to read and agree upon my vows for next year, and so tobed and slept mighty well. 

7th. Lay long in bed. Then up and to the office, where busy all themorning. At noon (my wife being gone to Westminster) I with my LordBruncker by coach as far as the Temple, in the way he telling me that myLady Denham is at last dead. Some suspect her poisoned, but it willbe best known when her body is opened, which will be to-day, she dyingyesterday morning. The Duke of York is troubled for her; but hathdeclared he will never have another public mistress again; which I shallbe glad of, and would the King would do the like. He tells me how theParliament is grown so jealous of the King's being unfayre to them inthe business of the Bill for examining Accounts, Irish Bill, and thebusiness of the Papists, that they will not pass the business for moneytill they see themselves secure that those Bills will pass; which theydo observe the Court to keep off till all the Bills come together, thatthe King may accept what he pleases, and what he pleases to reject, which will undo all our business and the kingdom too. He tells me howMr. Henry Howard, of Norfolke, hath given our Royal Society all hisgrandfather's library: which noble gift they value at L1000; and givesthem accommodation to meet in at his house, Arundell House, they beingnow disturbed at Gresham College. Thence 'lighting at the Temple to theordinary hard by and eat a bit of meat, and then by coach to fetchmy wife from her brother's, and thence to the Duke's house, and saw"Macbeth, " which, though I saw it lately, yet appears a most excellentplay in all respects, but especially in divertisement, though it be adeep tragedy; which is a strange perfection in a tragedy, it being mostproper here, and suitable. So home, it being the last play now I am tosee till a fortnight hence, I being from the last night entered into myvowes for the year coming on. Here I met with the good newes of Hogg'sbringing in two prizes more to Plymouth, which if they prove but anypart of them, I hope, at least, we shall be no losers by them. So homefrom the office, to write over fair my vowes for this year, and thento supper, and to bed. In great peace of mind having now done it, andbrought myself into order again and a resolution of keeping it, andhaving entered my journall to this night, so to bed, my eyes failing mewith writing. 

8th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon hometo dinner, where my uncle Thomas with me to receive his quarterage. Hetells me his son Thomas is set up in Smithfield, where he hath a shop--Isuppose, a booth. Presently after dinner to the office, and there setclose to my business and did a great deal before night, and am resolvedto stand to it, having been a truant too long. At night to Sir W. Batten's to consider some things about our prizes, and then to othertalk, and among other things he tells me that he hears for certain thatSir W. Coventry hath resigned to the King his place of Commissioner ofthe Navy, the thing he bath often told me that he had a mind to do, butI am surprised to think that he hath done it, and am full of thoughtsall this evening after I heard it what may be the consequences of it tome. So home and to supper, and then saw the catalogue of my books, whichmy brother had wrote out, now perfectly alphabeticall, and so to bed. Sir Richard Ford did this evening at Sir W. Batten's tell us that uponopening the body of my Lady Denham it is said that they found a vesselabout her matrix which had never been broke by her husband, that causedall pains in her body. Which if true is excellent invention to clearboth the Duchesse from poison or the Duke from lying with her. 

9th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen in a hackney-coach toWhite Hall, the way being most horribly bad upon the breaking up of thefrost, so as not to be passed almost. There did our usual [business]with the Duke of York, and here I do hear, by my Lord Bruncker, that forcertain Sir W. Coventry hath resigned his place of Commissioner; which Ibelieve he hath done upon good grounds of security to himself, from allthe blame which must attend our office this next year; but I fear theKing will suffer by it. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there to theconference of the Houses about the word "Nuisance, "

 [In the "Bill against importing Cattle from Ireland and other parts beyond the Seas, " the Lords proposed to insert "Detriment and Mischief" in place of "Nuisance, " but the Commons stood to their word, and gained their way. The Lords finally consented that "Nuisance" should stand in the Bill. ]

which the Commons would have, and the Lords will not, in the Irish Bill. The Commons do it professedly to prevent the King's dispensing with it;which Sir Robert Howard and others did expressly repeat often: viz. , "the King nor any King ever could do any thing which was hurtful totheir people. " Now the Lords did argue, that it was an ill precedent, and that which will ever hereafter be used as a way of preventing theKing's dispensation with acts; and therefore rather advise to pass theBill without that word, and let it go, accompanied with a petition, tothe King, that he will not dispense with it; this being a more civil wayto the King. They answered well, that this do imply that the King shouldpass their Bill, and yet with design to dispense with it; which isto suppose the King guilty of abusing them. And more, they produceprecedents for it; namely, that against new buildings and about leather, wherein the word "Nuisance" is used to the purpose: and further, thatthey do not rob the King of any right he ever had, for he never had apower to do hurt to his people, nor would exercise it; and thereforethere is no danger, in the passing this Bill, of imposing on hisprerogative; and concluded, that they think they ought to do this, soas the people may really have the benefit of it when it is passed, fornever any people could expect so reasonably to be indulged somethingfrom a King, they having already given him so much money, and are likelyto give more. Thus they broke up, both adhering to their opinions; butthe Commons seemed much more full of judgment and reason than the Lords. Then the Commons made their Report to the Lords of their vote, thattheir Lordships' proceedings in the Bill for examining Accounts wereunparliamentary; they having, while a Bill was sent up to them from theCommons about the business, petitioned his Majesty that he would do thesame thing by his Commission. They did give their reasons: viz. , thatit had no precedent; that the King ought not to be informed of anythingpassing in the Houses till it comes to a Bill; that it will wholly breakoff all correspondence between the two Houses, and in the issue whollyinfringe the very use and being of Parliaments. Having left theirarguments with the Lords they all broke up, and I by coach to theordinary by the Temple, and there dined alone on a rabbit, and reada book I brought home from Mrs. Michell's, of the proceedings of theParliament in the 3rd and 4th year of the late King, a very good bookfor speeches and for arguments of law. Thence to Faythorne, and boughta head or two; one of them my Lord of Ormond's, the best I ever saw, and then to Arundell House, where first the Royall Society meet, bythe favour of Mr. Harry Howard, who was there, and has given us hisgrandfather's library, a noble gift, and a noble favour and undertakingit is for him to make his house the seat for this college. Here was anexperiment shown about improving the use of powder for creating of forcein winding up of springs and other uses of great worth. And here wasa great meeting of worthy noble persons; but my Lord Bruncker, whopretended to make a congratulatory speech upon their coming hither, andin thanks to Mr. Howard, do it in the worst manner in the world, beingthe worst speaker, so as I do wonder at his parts and the unhappiness ofhis speaking. Thence home by coach and to the office, and then home tosupper, Mercer and her sister there, and to cards, and then to bed. Mr. Cowling did this day in the House-lobby tell me of the many complaintsamong people against Mr. Townsend in the Wardrobe, and advises me tothink of my Lord Sandwich's concernment there under his care. He didalso tell me upon my demanding it, that he do believe there are somethings on foot for a peace between France and us, but that we shall befoiled in it. 

10th. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon home and, therebeing business to do in the afternoon, took my Lord Bruncker home withme, who dined with me. His discourse and mine about the bad performancesof the Controller's and Surveyor's places by the hands they are now in, and the shame to the service and loss the King suffers by it. Then afterdinner to the office, where we and some of the chief of the TrinityHouse met to examine the occasion of the loss of The Prince Royall, themaster and mates being examined, which I took and keep, and so broke up, and I to my letters by the post, and so home and to supper with my mindat pretty good ease, being entered upon minding my business, and soto bed. This noon Mrs. Burroughs come to me about business, whom I didbaiser.... 

11th. Up, being troubled at my being found abed a-days by all sortsof people, I having got a trick of sitting up later than I need, neversupping, or very seldom, before 12 at night. Then to the office, therebusy all the morning, and among other things comes Sir W. Warren andwalked with me awhile, whose discourse I love, he being a very wise manand full of good counsel, and his own practices for wisdom much to beobserved, and among other things he tells me how he is fallen in withmy Lord Bruncker, who has promised him most particular inward friendshipand yet not to appear at the board to do so, and he tells me how my LordBruncker should take notice of the two flaggons he saw at my house atdinner, at my late feast, and merrily, yet I know enviously, said, Icould not come honestly by them. This I am glad to hear, though vexedto see his ignoble soul, but I shall beware of him, and yet it is fithe should see I am no mean fellow, but can live in the world, and havesomething. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office with my peopleand very busy, and did dispatch to my great satisfaction abundance ofbusiness, and do resolve, by the grace of God, to stick to it till Ihave cleared my heart of most things wherein I am in arrear in publicand private matters. At night, home to supper and to bed. This day illnews of my father's being very ill of his old grief the rupture, whichtroubles me. 

12th. Up, still lying long in bed; then to the office, where sat verylong. Then home to dinner, and so to the office again, mighty busy, anddid to the joy of my soul dispatch much business, which do make my heartlight, and will enable me to recover all the ground I have lost (if Ihave by my late minding my pleasures lost any) and assert myself. Sohome to supper, and then to read a little in Moore's "Antidote againstAtheisme, " a pretty book, and so to bed. 

13th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, where young Lowther come to churchwith Sir W. Pen and his Lady and daughter, and my wife tells me thateither they are married or the match is quite perfected, which I am aptto believe, because all the peoples' eyes in the church were much fixedupon them. At noon sent for Mercer, who dined with us, and very merry, and so I, after dinner, walked to the Old Swan, thinking to have gota boat to White Hall, but could not, nor was there anybody at home atMichell's, where I thought to have sat with her.... So home, to church, a dull sermon, and then home at my chamber all the evening. So to supperand to bed. 

14th. Up, and to the office, where busy getting beforehand with mybusiness as fast as I can. At noon home to dinner, and presentlyafterward at my office again. I understand my father is pretty wellagain, blessed be God! and would have my Br[other] John comedown to himfor a little while. Busy till night, pleasing myself mightily to seewhat a deal of business goes off of a man's hands when he stays by it, and then, at night, before it was late (yet much business done) home tosupper, discourse with my wife, and to bed. Sir W. Batten tells me theLords do agree at last with the Commons about the word "Nuisance" in theIrish Bill, and do desire a good correspondence between the two Houses;and that the King do intend to prorogue them the last of this month. 

15th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning. Here my LordBruncker would have made me promise to go with him to a play thisafternoon, where Knipp acts Mrs. Weaver's great part in "The IndianEmperour, " and he says is coming on to be a great actor. But I am sofell to my business, that I, though against my inclination, will not go. At noon, dined with my wife and were pleasant, and then to theoffice, where I got Mrs. Burroughs 'sola cum ego, and did toucher sesmamailles'... She gone, I to my business and did much, and among otherthings to-night we were all mightily troubled how to prevent the sale ofa great deal of hemp, and timber-deals, and other good goods to-morrowat the candle by the Prize Office, where it will be sold for little, and we shall be found to want the same goods and buy at extraordinaryprices, and perhaps the very same goods now sold, which is a most horridevil and a shame. At night home to supper and to bed with my mind mightylight to see the fruits of my diligence in having my business go off myhand so merrily. 

16th. Up, and by coach to White Hall, and there to the Duke of York asusual. Here Sir W. Coventry come to me aside in the Duke's chamber, totell that he had not answered part of a late letter of mine, because'littera scripta manet'. About his leaving the office, he tells me, [itis] because he finds that his business at Court will not permit him toattend it; and then he confesses that he seldom of late could come fromit with satisfaction, and therefore would not take the King's money fornothing. I professed my sorrow for it, and prayed the continuance of hisfavour; which he promised. I do believe he hath [done] like a very wiseman in reference to himself; but I doubt it will prove ill for the King, and for the office. Prince Rupert, I hear to-day, is very ill; yesterdaygiven over, but better to-day. This day, before the Duke of York, thebusiness of the Muster-Masters was reported, and Balty found the best ofthe whole number, so as the Duke enquired who he was, and whether he wasa stranger by his two names, both strange, and offered that he and onemore, who hath done next best, should have not only their owne, but partof the others' salary, but that I having said he was my brother-in-law, he did stop, but they two are ordered their pay, which I am glad of, andsome of the rest will lose their pay, and others be laid by the heels. I was very glad of this being ended so well. I did also, this morning, move in a business wherein Mr. Hater hath concerned me, about getting aship, laden with salt from France, permitted to unload, coming in afterthe King's declaration was out, which I have hopes by some dexterityto get done. Then with the Duke of York to the King, to receive hiscommands for stopping the sale this day of some prize-goods at thePrize-Office, goods fit for the Navy; and received the King's commands, and carried them to the Lords' House, to my Lord Ashly, who was angrymuch thereat, and I am sorry it fell to me to carry the order, but Icannot help it. So, against his will, he signed a note I writ to theCommissioners of Prizes, which I carried and delivered to Kingdone, attheir new office in Aldersgate Streete. Thence a little to the Exchange, where it was hot that the Prince was dead, but I did rectify it. Sohome to dinner, and found Balty, told him the good news, and then afterdinner away, I presently to White Hall, and did give the Duke of York amemorial of the salt business, against the Council, and did wait allthe Council for answer, walking a good while with Sir Stephen Fox, who, among other things, told me his whole mystery in the business of theinterest he pays as Treasurer for the Army. They give him 12d. Perpound quite through the Army, with condition to be paid weekly. This heundertakes upon his own private credit, and to be paid by the King atthe end of every four months. If the King pay him not at the end of thefour months, then, for all the time he stays longer, my Lord Treasurer, by agreement, allows him eight per cent. Per annum for the forbearance. So that, in fine, he hath about twelve per cent. From the King and theArmy, for fifteen or sixteen months' interest; out of which he gainssoundly, his expense being about L130, 000 per annum; and hath no troublein it, compared, as I told him, to the trouble I must have to bring inan account of interest. I was, however, glad of being thus enlightened, and so away to the other council door, and there got in and hear a pieceof a cause, heard before the King, about a ship deserted by her fellows(who were bound mutually to defend each other), in their way toVirginy, and taken by the enemy, but it was but meanly pleaded. Then allwithdrew, and by and by the Council rose, and I spoke with the Duke ofYork, and he told me my business was done, which I found accordingly inSir Edward Walker's books. And so away, mightily satisfied, to ArundellHouse, and there heard a little good discourse, and so home, and thereto Sir W. Batten, where I heard the examinations in two of our prizes, which do make but little for us, so that I do begin to doubt theirproving prize, which troubled me. So home to supper with my wife, andafter supper my wife told me how she had moved to W. Hewer thebusiness of my sister for a wife to him, which he received with mightyacknowledgements, as she says, above anything; but says he hath nointention to alter his condition: so that I am in some measure sorry sheever moved it; but I hope he will think it only come from her. So aftersupper a little to the office, to enter my journall, and then home tobed. Talk there is of a letter to come from Holland, desiring a place oftreaty; but I do doubt it. This day I observe still, in many places, thesmoking remains of the late fire: the ways mighty bad and dirty. Thisnight Sir R. Ford told me how this day, at Christ Church Hospital, they have given a living over L200 per annum to Mr. Sanchy, my oldacquaintance, which I wonder at, he commending him mightily; but am gladof it. He tells me, too, how the famous Stillingfleete was a Bluecoatboy. The children at this day are provided for in the country by theHouse, which I am glad also to hear. 

17th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning sitting. At noon hometo dinner, and then to the office busy also till very late, my heartjoyed with the effects of my following my business, by easing my head ofcares, and so home to supper and to bed. 

18th. Up, and most of the morning finishing my entry of my journallduring the late fire out of loose papers into this book, which didplease me mightily when done, I, writing till my eyes were almost blindtherewith to make an end of it. Then all the rest of the morning, and, after a mouthful of dinner, all the afternoon in my closet till night, sorting all my papers, which have lain unsorted for all the time we wereat Greenwich during the plague, which did please me also, I drawingon to put my office into a good posture, though much is behind. Thismorning come Captain. Cocke to me, and tells me that the King comes tothe House this day to pass the poll Bill and the Irish Bill; he tells metoo that, though the Faction is very froward in the House, yet all willend well there. But he says that one had got a Bill ready to present inthe House against Sir W. Coventry, for selling of places, and says he iscertain of it, and how he was withheld from doing it. He says, that theVice-chamberlaine is now one of the greatest men in England again, andwas he that did prevail with the King to let the Irish Bill go withthe word "Nuisance. " He told me, that Sir G. Carteret's declaration ofgiving double to any man that will prove that any of his people havedemanded or taken any thing for forwarding the payment of the wages ofany man (of which he sent us a copy yesterday, which we approved of) isset up, among other places, upon the House of Lords' door. I do not knowhow wisely this is done. This morning, also, there come to the office aletter from the Duke of York, commanding our payment of no wages toany of the muster-masters of the fleete the last year, but only two, mybrother Balty, taking notice that he had taken pains therein, and oneWard, who, though he had not taken so much as the other, yet had donemore than the rest. This I was exceeding glad of for my own sake andhis. At night I, by appointment, home, where W. Batelier and his sisterMary, and the two Mercers, to play at cards and sup, and did cut ourgreat cake lately given us by Russell: a very good one. Here very merrylate. Sir W. Pen told me this night how the King did make them a verysharp speech in the House of Lords to-day, saying that he did expect tohave had more Bills;

 [On this day "An Act for raising Money by a Poll and otherwise towards the maintenance of the present War, " and "An Act prohibiting the Importation of Cattle from Ireland and other parts beyond the Sea, and Fish taken by Foreigners, " were passed. The king. Complained of the insufficient supply, and said, "'Tis high time for you to make good your promises, and 'tis high time for you to be in the country" ("Journals of the House of Lords, " vol xii. , p. 81). ]

that he purposes to prorogue them on Monday come se'nnight; that whereasthey have unjustly conceived some jealousys of his making a peace, hedeclares he knows of no such thing or treaty: and so left them. Butwith so little effect, that as soon as he come into the House, SirW. Coventry moved, that now the King hath declared his intention ofproroguing them, it would be loss of time to go on with the thing theywere upon, when they were called to the King, which was the calling overthe defaults of Members appearing in the House; for that, before anyperson could now come or be brought to town, the House would be up. Yetthe Faction did desire to delay time, and contend so as to come to adivision of the House; where, however, it was carried, by a few voices, that the debate should be laid by. But this shews that they are notpleased, or that they have not any awe over them from the King'sdispleasure. The company being gone, to bed. 

19th. Up, and at the office all the morning. Sir W. Batten tells me tomy wonder that at his coming to my Lord Ashly, yesterday morning, totell him what prize-goods he would have saved for the Navy, and notsold, according to the King's order on the 17th, he fell quite out withhim in high terms; and he says, too, that they did go on to the saleyesterday, even of the very hempe, and other things, at which I amastonished, and will never wonder at the ruine of the King's affairs, ifthis be suffered. At noon dined, and Mr. Pierce come to see me, he newlycome from keeping his Christmas in the country. So to the office, wherevery busy, but with great pleasure till late at night, and then home tosupper and to bed. 

20th (Lord's day). Up betimes and down to the Old Swan, there called onMichell and his wife, which in her night linen appeared as pretty almostas ever to my thinking I saw woman. Here I drank some burnt brandy. Theyshewed me their house, which, poor people, they have built, and is verypretty. I invited them to dine with me, and so away to White Hall to SirW. Coventry, with whom I have not been alone a good while, and very kindhe is, and tells me how the business is now ordered by order of councilfor my Lord Bruncker to assist Sir J. Minnes in all matters of accountsrelating to the Treasurer, and Sir W. Pen in all matters relating tothe victuallers' and pursers' accounts, which I am very glad of, andthe more for that I think it will not do me any hurt at all. Otherdiscourse, much especially about the heat the House was in yesterdayabout the ill management of the Navy, which I was sorry to hear; thoughI think they were well answered, both by Sir G. Carteret and [Sir] W. Coventry, as he informs me the substance of their speeches. Having donewith him, home mightily satisfied with my being with him, and cominghome I to church, and there, beyond expectation, find our seat, and allthe church crammed, by twice as many people as used to be: and to mygreat joy find Mr. Frampton in the pulpit; so to my great joy I hear himpreach, and I think the best sermon, for goodness and oratory, withoutaffectation or study, that ever I heard in my life. The truth is, hepreaches the most like an apostle that ever I heard man; and it wasmuch the best time that ever I spent in my life at church. His text, Ecclesiastes xi. , verse 8th--the words, "But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness, forthey shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. " He done, I home, andthere Michell and his wife, and we dined and mighty merry, I mightilytaken more and more with her. After dinner I with my brother away bywater to White Hall, and there walked in the Parke, and a little to myLord Chancellor's, where the King and Cabinet met, and there met Mr. Brisband, with whom good discourse, to White Hall towards night, andthere he did lend me "The Third Advice to a Paynter, " a bitter satyreupon the service of the Duke of Albemarle the last year. I took ithome with me, and will copy it, having the former, being also mightilypleased with it. So after reading it, I to Sir W. Pen to discourse alittle with him about the business of our prizes, and so home to supperand to bed. 

21st. Up betimes, and with, Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, [Sir] R. Ford, by coach to the Swede's Resident's in the Piatza, to discourse with himabout two of our prizes, wherein he puts in his concernment as for hiscountrymen. We had no satisfaction, nor did give him any, but I findhim a cunning fellow. He lives in one of the great houses there, butill-furnished; and come to us out of bed in his furred mittens andfurred cap. Thence to Exeter House to the Doctors Commons, and therewith our Proctors to Dr. Walker, who was not very well, but, however, did hear our matters, and after a dull seeming hearing of them read, did discourse most understandingly of them, as well as ever I heard man, telling us all our grounds of pretence to the prize would do no good, and made it appear but thus, and thus, it may be, but yet did give usbut little reason to expect it would prove, which troubled us, but Iwas mightily taken to hear his manner of discourse. Thence with them toWestminster Hall, they setting me down at White Hall, where I missed offinding Sir G. Carteret, up to the Lords' House, and there come mightyseasonably to hear the Solicitor about my Lord Buckingham's pretence tothe title of Lord Rosse. Mr. Atturny Montagu is also a good man, andso is old Sir P. Ball; but the Solicitor and Scroggs after him areexcellent men. Here spoke with my Lord Bellasses about getting somemoney for Tangier, which he doubts we shall not be able to do out of thePoll Bill, it being so strictly tied for the Navy. He tells me the Lordshave passed the Bill for the accounts with some little amendments. Sodown to the Hall, and thence with our company to Exeter House, and thendid the business I have said before, we doing nothing the first time ofgoing, it being too early. At home find Lovett, to whom I did give myLady Castlemayne's head to do. He is talking of going into Spayne to getmoney by his art, but I doubt he will do no good, he being a man of anunsettled head. Thence by water down to Deptford, the first time I havebeen by water a great while, and there did some little business andwalked home, and there come into my company three drunken seamen, butone especially, who told me such stories, calling me Captain, as made memighty merry, and they would leap and skip, and kiss what mayds they metall the way. I did at first give them money to drink, lest they shouldknow who I was, and so become troublesome to me. Parted at Redriffe, andthere home and to the office, where did much business, and then toSir W. Batten's, where [Sir] W. Pen, [Sir] R. Ford, and I to heara proposition [Sir] R. Ford was to acquaint us with from the SwedesEmbassador, in manner of saying, that for money he might be got to ourside and relinquish the trouble he may give us. Sir W. Pen did make along simple declaration of his resolution to give nothing to deceive anypoor man of what was his right by law, but ended in doing whatever anybody else would, and we did commission Sir R. Ford to give promise ofnot beyond L350 to him and his Secretary, in case they did not opposeus in the Phoenix (the net profits of which, as [Sir] R. Ford cast upbefore us, the Admiral's tenths, and ship's thirds, and other chargesall cleared, will amount to L3, 000) and that we did gain her. [Sir] R. Ford did pray for a curse upon his family, if he was privy to anythingmore than he told us (which I believe he is a knave in), yet we allconcluded him the most fit man for it and very honest, and so left itwholly to him to manage as he pleased. Thence to the office a littlewhile longer, and so home, where W. Hewer's mother was, and Mrs. Turner, our neighbour, and supped with us. His mother a well-favoured old littlewoman, and a good woman, I believe. After we had supped, and merry, weparted late, Mrs. Turner having staid behind to talk a little about herlodgings, which now my Lord Bruncker upon Sir W. Coventry's surrenderingdo claim, but I cannot think he will come to live in them so as to needto put them out. She gone, we to bed all. This night, at supper, comesfrom Sir W. Coventry the Order of Councill for my Lord Bruncker to doall the Comptroller's part relating to the Treasurer's accounts, and SirW. Pen, all relating to the Victualler's, and Sir J. Minnes to do therest. This, I hope, will do much better for the King than now, and, Ithink, will give neither of them ground to over-top me, as I feared theywould; which pleases me mightily. This evening, Mr. Wren and CaptainCocke called upon me at the office, and there told me how the House wasin better temper to-day, and hath passed the Bill for the remainder ofthe money, but not to be passed finally till they have done some otherthings which they will have passed with it; wherein they are very open, what their meaning is, which was but doubted before, for they do in allrespects doubt the King's pleasing them. 

22nd. Up, and there come to me Darnell the fiddler, one of the Duke'shouse, and brought me a set of lessons, all three parts, I heard themplay to the Duke of York after Christmas at his lodgings, and bid himget me them. I did give him a crowne for them, and did enquire afterthe musique of the "Siege of Rhodes, " which, he tells me, he can get me, which I am mighty glad of. So to the office, where among other thingsI read the Councill's order about my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Pen tobe assistants to the Comptroller, which quietly went down with Sir J. Minnes, poor man, seeming a little as if he would be thought to havedesired it, but yet apparently to his discontent; and, I fear, as theorder runs, it will hardly do much good. At noon to dinner, and therecomes a letter from Mrs. Pierce, telling me she will come and dine withus on Thursday next, with some of the players, Knipp, &c. , which I wasglad of, but my wife vexed, which vexed me; but I seemed merry, but knownot how to order the matter, whether they shall come or no. Afterdinner to the office, and there late doing much business, and so home tosupper, and to bed. 

23rd. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen to White Hall, and thereto the Duke of York, and did our usual business. Having done there, I toSt. James's, to see the organ Mrs. Turner told me of the other night, ofmy late Lord Aubigney's; and I took my Lord Bruncker with me, he beingacquainted with my present Lord Almoner, Mr. Howard, brother to the Dukeof Norfolke; so he and I thither and did see the organ, but I do notlike it, it being but a bauble, with a virginal! joining to it: so Ishall not meddle with it. Here we sat and talked with him a good while, and he seems a good-natured gentleman: here I observed the deske whichhe hath, [made] to remove, and is fastened to one of the armes of hischayre. I do also observe the counterfeit windows there was, in the formof doors with looking-glasses instead of windows, which makes the roomseem both bigger and lighter, I think; and I have some thoughts to havethe like in one of my rooms. He discoursed much of the goodness of themusique in Rome, but could not tell me how long musique had been in anyperfection in that church, which I would be glad to know. He speaks muchof the great buildings that this Pope, [Fabio Chigi, of Siena, succeeded Innocent X. In 1655 as Alexander VII. He died May, 1667, and was succeeded by Clement IX. ]

whom, in mirth to us, he calls Antichrist, hath done in his time. Havingdone with the discourse, we away, and my Lord and I walking into thePark back again, I did observe the new buildings: and my Lord, seeingI had a desire to see them, they being the place for the priests andfryers, he took me back to my Lord Almoner; and he took us quite throughthe whole house and chapel, and the new monastery, showing me mostexcellent pieces in wax-worke: a crucifix given by a Pope to Mary Queenof Scotts, where a piece of the Cross is;

 [Pieces of "the Cross" were formerly held in such veneration, and were so common, that it has been often said enough existed to build a ship. Most readers will remember the distinction which Sir W. Scott represents Louis XI. (with great appreciation of that monarch's character), as drawing between an oath taken on a false piece and one taken on a piece of the true cross. Sir Thomas More, a very devout believer in relics, says ("Works, " p. 119), that Luther wished, in a sermon of his, that he had in his hand all the pieces of the Holy Cross; and said that if he so had, he would throw them there as never sun should shine on them:--and for what worshipful reason would the wretch do such villainy to the cross of Christ? Because, as he saith, that there is so much gold now bestowed about the garnishing of the pieces of the Cross, that there is none left for poore folke. Is not this a high reason? As though all the gold that is now bestowed about the pieces of the Holy Cross would not have failed to have been given to poor men, if they had not been bestowed about the garnishing of the Cross! and as though there were nothing lost, but what is bestowed about Christ's Cross!" "Wolsey, says Cavendish, on his fall, gave to Norris, who brought him a ring of gold as a token of good will from Henry, "a little chaine of gold, made like a bottle chain, with a cross of gold, wherein was a piece of the Holy Cross, which he continually wore about his neck, next his body; and said, furthermore, 'Master Norris, I assure you, when I was in prosperity, although it seem but small in value, yet I would not gladly have departed with the same for a thousand pounds. '" Life, ed. 1852, p. 167. Evelyn mentions, "Diary, " November 17th, 1664, that he saw in one of the chapels in St. Peter's a crucifix with a piece of the true cross in it. Amongst the jewels of Mary Queen of Scots was a cross of gold, which had been pledged to Hume of Blackadder for L1000 (Chalmers's "Life, " vol. I. , p. 31 ). --B. ]

two bits set in the manner of a cross in the foot of the crucifix:several fine pictures, but especially very good prints of holy pictures. I saw the dortoire--[dormitory]--and the cells of the priests, andwe went into one; a very pretty little room, very clean, hung withpictures, set with books. The Priest was in his cell, with his hairclothes to his skin, bare-legged, with a sandal! only on, and his littlebed without sheets, and no feather bed; but yet, I thought, soft enough. His cord about his middle; but in so good company, living with ease, Ithought it a very good life. A pretty library they have. And I was inthe refectoire, where every man his napkin, knife, cup of earth, andbasin of the same; and a place for one to sit and read while the restare at meals. And into the kitchen I went, where a good neck of muttonat the fire, and other victuals boiling. I do not think they fared veryhard. Their windows all looking into a fine garden and the Park; andmighty pretty rooms all. I wished myself one of the Capuchins. Havingseen what we could here, and all with mighty pleasure, so away withthe Almoner in his coach, talking merrily about the difference in ourreligions, to White Hall, and there we left him. I in my Lord Bruncker'scoach, he carried me to the Savoy, and there we parted. I to the CastleTavern, where was and did come all our company, Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, [Sir] R. Ford, and our Counsel Sir Ellis Layton, Walt Walker, Dr. Budd, Mr. Holder, and several others, and here we had a bad dinnerof our preparing, and did discourse something of our business of ourprizes, which was the work of the day. I staid till dinner was over, andthere being no use of me I away after dinner without taking leave, andto the New Exchange, there to take up my wife and Mercer, and to TempleBar to the Ordinary, and had a dish of meat for them, they having notdined, and thence to the King's house, and there saw "The NumerousLieutenant, " a silly play, I think; only the Spirit in it that growsvery tall, and then sinks again to nothing, having two heads breedingupon one, and then Knipp's singing, did please us. Here, in a box above, we spied Mrs. Pierce; and, going out, they called us, and so we staidfor them; and Knipp took us all in, and brought to us Nelly; a mostpretty woman, who acted the great part of Coelia to-day very fine, and did it pretty well: I kissed her, and so did my wife; and a mightypretty soul she is. We also saw Mrs. Halls which is my little Roman-noseblack girl, that is mighty pretty: she is usually called Betty. Knippmade us stay in a box and see the dancing preparatory to to-morrow for"The Goblins, " a play of Suckling's, not acted these twenty-five years;which was pretty; and so away thence, pleased with this sight also, andspecially kissing of Nell. We away, Mr. Pierce and I, on foot to hishouse, the women by coach. In our way we find the Guards of horse inthe street, and hear the occasion to be news that the seamen are ina mutiny, which put me into a great fright; so away with my wife andMercer home preparing against to-morrow night to have Mrs. Pierce andKnipp and a great deal more company to dance; and, when I come home, hear of no disturbance there of the seamen, but that one of them, beingarrested to-day, others do go and rescue him. So to the office a little, and then home to supper, and to my chamber awhile, and then to bed. 

24th. Up, and to the office, full of thoughts how to order the businessof our merry meeting to-night. So to the office, where busy all themorning. [While we were sitting in the morning at the office, we werefrighted with news of fire at Sir W. Batten's by a chimney taking fire, and it put me into much fear and trouble, but with a great many handsand pains it was soon stopped. ] At noon home to dinner, and presently tothe office to despatch my business, and also we sat all the afternoon toexamine the loss of The Bredagh, which was done by as plain negligenceas ever ship was. We being rose, I entering my letters and getting theoffice swept and a good fire made and abundance of candles lighted, Ihome, where most of my company come of this end of the town-Mercer andher sister, Mr. Batelier and Pembleton (my Lady Pen, and Pegg, and Mr. Lowther, but did not stay long, and I believe it was by Sir W. Pen'sorder; for they had a great mind to have staid), and also Captain Rolt. And, anon, at about seven or eight o'clock, comes Mr. Harris, of theDuke's playhouse, and brings Mrs. Pierce with him, and also one dressedlike a country-mayde with a straw hat on; which, at first, I could nottell who it was, though I expected Knipp: but it was she coming off thestage just as she acted this day in "The Goblins;" a merry jade. Now myhouse is full, and four fiddlers that play well. Harris I first took tomy closet; and I find him a very curious and understanding person inall pictures and other things, and a man of fine conversation; and so isRolt. So away with all my company down to the office, and there fellto dancing, and continued at it an hour or two, there coming Mrs. AnneJones, a merchant's daughter hard by, who dances well, and all in mightygood humour, and danced with great pleasure; and then sung and thendanced, and then sung many things of three voices--both Harris and Roltsinging their parts excellently. Among other things, Harris sung hisIrish song--the strangest in itself, and the prettiest sung by him, thatever I heard. Then to supper in the office, a cold, good supper, andwondrous merry. Here was Mrs. Turner also, but the poor woman sadabout her lodgings, and Mrs. Markham: after supper to dancing again andsinging, and so continued till almost three in the morning, and then, with extraordinary pleasure, broke up only towards morning, Knipp fella little ill, and so my wife home with her to put her to bed, and wecontinued dancing and singing; and, among other things, our Mercerunexpectedly did happen to sing an Italian song I know not, of whichthey two sung the other two parts to, that did almost ravish me, andmade me in love with her more than ever with her singing. As late as itwas, yet Rolt and Harris would go home to-night, and walked it, thoughI had a bed for them; and it proved dark, and a misly night, and verywindy. The company being all gone to their homes, I up with Mrs. Pierceto Knipp, who was in bed; and we waked her, and there I handled herbreasts and did 'baiser la', and sing a song, lying by her on the bed, and then left my wife to see Mrs. Pierce in bed to her, in our bestchamber, and so to bed myself, my mind mightily satisfied with all thisevening's work, and thinking it to be one of the merriest enjoyment Imust look for in the world, and did content myself therefore with thethoughts of it, and so to bed; only the musique did not please me, theynot being contented with less than 30s. 

25th. Lay pretty long, then to the office, where Lord Bruncker and SirJ. Minnes and I did meet, and sat private all the morning about dividingthe Controller's work according to the late order of Council, betweenthem two and Sir W. Pen, and it troubled me to see the poor honest man, Sir J. Minnes, troubled at it, and yet the King's work cannot be donewithout it. It was at last friendlily ended, and so up and home todinner with my wife. This afternoon I saw the Poll Bill, now printed;wherein I do fear I shall be very deeply concerned, being to be taxedfor all my offices, and then for my money that I have, and my title, as well as my head. It is a very great tax; but yet I do think it is soperplexed, it will hardly ever be collected duly. The late inventionof Sir G. Downing's is continued of bringing all the money into theExchequer; and Sir G. Carteret's three pence is turned for all the moneyof this act into but a penny per pound, which I am sorry for. Afterdinner to the office again, where Lord Bruncker, [Sir] W. Batten, and[Sir] W. Pen and I met to talk again about the Controller's office, andthere [Sir] W. Pen would have a piece of the great office cut out tomake an office for him, which I opposed to the making him very angry, but I think I shall carry it against him, and then I care not. So alittle troubled at this fray, I away by coach with my wife, and lefther at the New Exchange, and I to my Lord Chancellor's, and then back, taking up my wife to my Lord Bellasses, and there spoke with Mr. Moone, who tells me that the peace between us and Spayne is, as he hears, concluded on, which I should be glad of, and so home, and after a littleat my office, home to finish my journall for yesterday and to-day, andthen a little supper and to bed. This day the House hath passed the Billfor the Assessment, which I am glad of; and also our little Bill, forgiving any one of us in the office the power of justice of peace, isdone as I would have it. 

26th. Up, and at the office. Sat all the morning, where among otherthings I did the first unkind [thing] that ever I did design to SirW. Warren, but I did it now to some purpose, to make him sensiblehow little any man's friendship shall avail him if he wants money. Iperceive he do nowadays court much my Lord Bruncker's favour, who neverdid any man much courtesy at the board, nor ever will be able, atleast so much as myself. Besides, my Lord would do him a kindness inconcurrence with me, but he would have the danger of the thing to bedone lie upon me, if there be any danger in it (in drawing up a letterto Sir W. Warren's advantage), which I do not like, nor will endure. Iwas, I confess, very angry, and will venture the loss of Sir W. Warren'skindnesses rather than he shall have any man's friendship in greateresteem than mine. At noon home to dinner, and after dinner to the officeagain, and there all the afternoon, and at night poor Mrs. Turnercome and walked in the garden for my advice about her husband and herrelating to my Lord Bruncker's late proceedings with them. I do give herthe best I can, but yet can lay aside some ends of my own in what adviceI do give her. So she being gone I to make an end of my letters, and sohome to supper and to bed, Balty lodging here with my brother, he beingnewly returned from mustering in the river. 

27th (Lord's day). Up betimes, and leaving my wife to go by coach tohear Mr. Frampton preach, which I had a mighty desire she should, I downto the Old Swan, and there to Michell and staid while he and she dressedthemselves, and here had a 'baiser' or two of her, whom I lovemightily; and then took them in a sculler (being by some means orother disappointed of my own boat) to White Hall, and so with them toWestminster, Sir W. Coventry, Bruncker and I all the morning togetherdiscoursing of the office business, and glad of the Controller'sbusiness being likely to be put into better order than formerly, and diddiscourse of many good things, but especially of having something doneto bringing the Surveyor's matters into order also. Thence I up tothe King's closet, and there heard a good Anthem, and discoursed withseveral people here about business, among others with Lord Bellasses, and so from one to another after sermon till the King had almost dined, and then home with Sir G. Carteret and dined with him, being mightilyashamed of my not having seen my Lady Jemimah so long, and my wife notat all yet since she come, but she shall soon do it. I thence to SirPhilip Warwicke, by appointment, to meet Lord Bellasses, and up to hischamber, but find him unwilling to discourse of business on Sundays; sodid not enlarge, but took leave, and went down and sat in a low room, reading Erasmus "de scribendis epistolis, " a very good book, especiallyone letter of advice to a courtier most true and good, which made meonce resolve to tear out the two leaves that it was writ in, but Iforebore it. By and by comes Lord Bellasses, and then he and I up againto Sir P. Warwicke and had much discourse of our Tangier business, butno hopes of getting any money. Thence I through the garden into thePark, and there met with Roger Pepys, and he and I to walk in the PellMell. I find by him that the House of Parliament continues full of illhumours, and he seems to dislike those that are troublesome more thanneeds, and do say how, in their late Poll Bill, which cost so much time, the yeomanry, and indeed two-thirds of the nation, are left out to betaxed, that there is not effectual provision enough made for collectingof the money; and then, that after a man his goods are distrainedand sold, and the overplus returned, I am to have ten days to make mycomplaints of being over-rated if there be cause, when my goods aresold, and that is too late. These things they are resolved to look intoagain, and mend them before they rise, which they expect at furtheston Thursday next. Here we met with Mr. May, and he and we to talk ofseveral things, of building, and such like matters; and so walked toWhite Hall, and there I skewed my cozen Roger the Duchesse of Yorksitting in state, while her own mother stands by her; he had a desire, and I shewed him my Lady Castlemayne, whom he approves to be veryhandsome, and wonders that she cannot be as good within as she is fairwithout. Her little black boy came by him; and, a dog being in his way, the little boy called to the dog: "Pox of this dog!"--"Now, " says he, blessing himself, "would I whip this child till the blood come, if itwere my child!" and I believe he would. But he do by no means like theliberty of the Court, and did come with expectation of finding themplaying at cards to-night, though Sunday; for such stories he is told, but how true I know not. 

 [There is little reason to doubt that it was such as Evelyn describes it at a later time. "I can never forget the inexpressible luxury and prophaneness, gaming, and all dissoluteness, and, as it were, total forgetfulness of God (it being Sunday evening) which this day se'nnight I was witness of; the King sitting and toying with his concubines, Portsmouth, Cleveland, Mazarin, &c. A French boy singing love songs in that glorious gallery, whilst about twenty of the great courtiers and other dissolute persons were at basset round a large table, a bank of at least L2, 000 in gold before them; upon which two gentlemen who were with me made reflexions with astonishment. Six days after was all in the dust. "--Diary, February, 1685. --B. ]

After walking up and down the Court with him, it being now dark and pastsix at night, I walked to the Swan in the Palace yard and there withmuch ado did get a waterman, and so I sent for the Michells, and theycome, and their father Howlett and his wife with them, and there wedrank, and so into the boat, poor Betty's head aching. We home by water, a fine moonshine and warm night, it having been also a very summer'sday for warmth. I did get her hand to me under my cloak.... So therewe parted at their house, and he walked almost home with me, and thenI home and to supper, and to read a little and to bed. My wife tellsme Mr. Frampton is gone to sea, and so she lost her labour to-day inthinking to hear him preach, which I am sorry for. 

28th. Up, and down to the Old Swan, and there drank at Michell's and sawBetty, and so took boat and to the Temple, and thence to my tailor's andother places about business in my way to Westminster, where I spent themorning at the Lords' House door, to hear the conference between thetwo Houses about my Lord Mordaunt, of which there was great expectation, many hundreds of people coming to hear it. But, when they come, theLords did insist upon my Lord Mordaunt's having leave to sit upon astool uncovered within their burr, and that he should have counsel, which the Commons would not suffer, but desired leave to report theirLordships' resolution to the House of Commons; and so parted for thisday, which troubled me, I having by this means lost the whole day. HereI hear from Mr. Hayes that Prince Rupert is very bad still, and so bad, that he do now yield to be trepanned. It seems, as Dr. Clerke also tellsme, it is a clap of the pox which he got about twelve years ago, andhath eaten to his head and come through his scull, so his scull must beopened, and there is great fear of him. Much work I find there is to doin the two Houses in a little time, and much difference there is betweenthe two Houses in many things to be reconciled; as in the Bill forexamining our accounts; Lord Mordaunt's Bill for building the City, andseveral others. A little before noon I went to the Swan and eat a bitof meat, thinking I should have had occasion to have stayed long at thehouse, but I did not, but so home by coach, calling at Broad Street andtaking the goldsmith home with me, and paid him L15 15s. For my silverstandish. He tells me gold holds up its price still, and did desire meto let him have what old 20s. Pieces I have, and he would give me 3s. 2d. Change for each. He gone, I to the office, where business allthe afternoon, and at night comes Mr. Gawden at my desire to me, andto-morrow I shall pay him some money, and shall see what present he willmake me, the hopes of which do make me to part with my money out of mychest, which I should not otherwise do, but lest this alteration inthe Controller's office should occasion my losing my concernment in theVictualling, and so he have no more need of me. He gone, I to the officeagain, having come thence home with him to talk, and so after a littlemore business I to supper. I then sent for Mercer, and began to teachher "It is decreed, " which will please me well, and so after supperand reading a little, and my wife's cutting off my hair short, whichis grown too long upon my crown of my head, I to bed. I met this day inWestminster Hall Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen, and the latter sinceour falling out the other day do look mighty reservedly upon me, andstill he shall do so for me, for I will be hanged before I seek to him, unless I see I need it. 

29th. Up to the office all the morning, where Sir W. Pen and I lookmuch askewe one upon another, though afterward business made us speakfriendly enough, but yet we hate one another. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office, where all the afternoon expecting Mr. Gawden tocome for some money I am to pay him, but he comes not, which makes methink he is considering whether it be necessary to make the present hehath promised, it being possible this alteration in the Controller'sduty may make my place in the Victualling unnecessary, so that I am alittle troubled at it. Busy till late at night at the office, and SirW. Batten come to me, and tells me that there is newes upon the Exchangeto-day, that my Lord Sandwich's coach and the French Embassador'sat Madrid, meeting and contending for the way, they shot my Lord'spostilion and another man dead; and that we have killed 25 of theirs, and that my Lord is well. How true this is I cannot tell, there beingno newes of it at all at Court, as I am told late by one come thence, sothat I hope it is not so. By and by comes Mrs. Turner to me, to make hercomplaint of her sad usage she receives from my Lord Bruncker, that hethinks much she hath not already got another house, though he himselfhath employed her night and day ever since his first mention of thematter, to make part of her house ready for him, as he ordered, andpromised she should stay till she had fitted herself; by which and whatdiscourse I do remember he had of the business before Sir W. Coventry onSunday last I perceive he is a rotten-hearted, false man as any else Iknow, even as Sir W. Pen himself, and, therefore, I must beware of himaccordingly, and I hope I shall. I did pity the woman with all myheart, and gave her the best council I could; and so, falling to otherdiscourse, I made her laugh and merry, as sad as she came to me; so thatI perceive no passion in a woman can be lasting long; and so partedand I home, and there teaching my girle Barker part of my song "It isdecreed, " which she will sing prettily, and so after supper to bed. 

30th. Fast-day for the King's death. I all the morning at my chambermaking up my month's accounts, which I did before dinner to my thoroughcontent, and find myself but a small gainer this month, having no mannerof profits, but just my salary, but, blessed be God! that I am able tosave out of that, living as I do. So to dinner, then to my chamber allthe afternoon, and in the evening my wife and I and Mercer and Barkerto little Michell's, walked, with some neats' tongues and cake and wine, and there sat with the little couple with great pleasure, and talked andeat and drank, and saw their little house, which is very pretty; andI much pleased therewith, and so walked home, about eight at night, itbeing a little moonshine and fair weather, and so into the garden, and, with Mercer, sang till my wife put me in mind of its being a fast day;and so I was sorry for it, and stopped, and home to cards awhile, andhad opportunity 'para baiser' Mercer several times, and so to bed. 

31st. Up, and to the office, where we met and sat all the morning. Atnoon home to dinner, and by and by Mr. Osborne comes from Mr. Gawden, and takes money and notes for L4000, and leaves me acknowledgment forL4000 and odd; implying as if D. Gawden would give the L800 between Povyand myself, but how he will divide it I know-not, till I speak with him, so that my content is not yet full in the business. In the evening steptout to Sir Robert Viner's to get the money ready upon my notes to D. Gawden, and there hear that Mr. Temple is very ill. I met on the 'Changewith Captain Cocke, who tells me that he hears new certainty of thebusiness of Madrid, how our Embassador and the French met, and saysthat two or three of my Lord's men, and twenty one of the French menare killed, but nothing at Court of it. He fears the next year's servicethrough the badness of our counsels at White Hall, but that if they werewise, and the King would mind his business, he might do what he wouldyet. The Parliament is not yet up, being finishing some bills. So homeand to the office, and late home to supper, and to talk with my wife, with pleasure, and to bed. I met this evening at Sir R. Viner's our Mr. Turner, who I find in a melancholy condition about his being removed outof his house, but I find him so silly and so false that I dare not tellhow to trust any advice to him, and therefore did speak only generallyto him, but I doubt his condition is very miserable, and do pity hisfamily. Thus the month ends: myself in very good health and content ofmind in my family. All our heads full in the office at this dividing ofthe Comptroller's duty, so that I am in some doubt how it may prove tointrench upon my benefits, but it cannot be much. The Parliament, uponbreaking up, having given the King money with much ado, and great heats, and neither side pleased, neither King nor them. The imperfection of thePoll Bill, which must be mended before they rise, there being severalhorrible oversights to the prejudice of the King, is a certain sign ofthe care anybody hath of the King's business. Prince Rupert very ill, and to be trepanned on Saturday next. Nobody knows who commands thefleete next year, or, indeed, whether we shall have a fleete or no. Great preparations in Holland and France, and the French have latelytaken Antego

 [Antigua, one of the West India Islands (Leeward Islands), discovered by Columbus in 1493, who is said to have named it after a church at Seville called Santa Maria la Antigua. It was first settled by a few English families in 1632, and in 1663 another settlement was made under Lord Willoughby, to whom the entire island was granted by Charles II. In 1666 it was invaded by a French force, which laid waste all the settlement. It was reconquered by the English, and formally restored to them by the treaty of Breda. ]

from us, which vexes us. I am in a little care through my at lastputting a great deal of money out of my hands again into the King's upontallies for Tangier, but the interest which I wholly lost while in mytrunk is a temptation while things look safe, as they do in some measurefor six months, I think, and I would venture but little longer. 

FEBRUARY 1666-1667

February 1st. Up, and to the office, where I was all the morning doingbusiness, at noon home to dinner, and after dinner down by water, though it was a thick misty and rainy day, and walked to Deptford fromRedriffe, and there to Bagwell's by appointment, where the 'mulier etoitwithin expecting me venir.... By and by 'su marido' come in, and therewithout any notice taken by him we discoursed of our business of gettinghim the new ship building by Mr. Deane, which I shall do for him. Thenceby and by after a little talk I to the yard, and spoke with some ofthe officers, but staid but little, and the new clerk of the 'Chequer, Fownes, did walk to Redriffe back with me. I perceive he is a verychild, and is led by the nose by Cowly and his kinsman that washis clerk, but I did make him understand his duty, and put bothunderstanding and spirit into him, so that I hope he will do well. [Much surprised to hear this day at Deptford that Mrs. Batters is goingalready to be married to him, that is now the Captain of her husband'sship. She seemed the most passionate mourner in the world. But I believeit cannot be true. ]--(The passage between brackets is written in themargin of the MS. )--Thence by water to Billingsgate; thence to the OldSwan, and there took boat, it being now night, to Westminster Hall, there to the Hall, and find Doll Lane, and 'con elle' I went to the BellTaverne, and 'ibi je' did do what I would 'con elle' as well as I could, she 'sedendo sobre' thus far and making some little resistance. Butall with much content, and 'je tenai' much pleasure 'cum ista'. Thereparted, and I by coach home, and to the office, where pretty late doingbusiness, and then home, and merry with my wife, and to supper. Mybrother and I did play with the base, and I upon my viallin, which Ihave not seen out of the case now I think these three years, or more, having lost the key, and now forced to find an expedient to open it. Then to bed. 

2nd. Up, and to the office. This day I hear that Prince Rupert is to betrepanned. God give good issue to it. Sir W. Pen looks upon me, and I onhim, and speak about business together at the table well enough, but nofriendship or intimacy since our late difference about his closet, nordo I desire to have any. At noon dined well, and my brother and I towrite over once more with my own hand my catalogue of books, while hereads to me. After something of that done, and dined, I to the office, where all the afternoon till night busy. At night, having done all myoffice matters, I home, and my brother and I to go on with my catalogue, and so to supper. Mrs. Turner come to me this night again to condole hercondition and the ill usage she receives from my Lord Bruncker, whichI could never have expected from him, and shall be a good caution to mewhile I live. She gone, I to supper, and then to read a little, and tobed. This night comes home my new silver snuffe-dish, which I do givemyself for my closet, which is all I purpose to bestow in plate ofmyself, or shall need, many a day, if I can keep what I have. So to bed. I am very well pleased this night with reading a poem I brought homewith me last night from Westminster Hall, of Dryden's' upon the presentwar; a very good poem. 

3rd (Lord's day). Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen to WhiteHall, and there to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and there staid tillhe was ready, talking, and among other things of the Prince's beingtrepanned, which was in doing just as we passed through the StoneGallery, we asking at the door of his lodgings, and were told so. We areall full of wishes for the good success; though I dare say but few doreally concern ourselves for him in our hearts. Up to the Duke of York, and with him did our business we come about, and among other thingsresolve upon a meeting at the office to-morrow morning, Sir W. Coventryto be there to determine of all things necessary for the setting of SirW. Pen to work in his Victualling business. This did awake in me somethoughts of what might in discourse fall out touching my imployment, anddid give me some apprehension of trouble. Having done here, and afterour laying our necessities for money open to the Duke of York, butnothing obtained concerning it, we parted, and I with others into theHouse, and there hear that the work is done to the Prince in a fewminutes without any pain at all to him, he not knowing when it was done. It was performed by Moulins. Having cut the outward table, as they call corrupted, so as it come out without any force; and their fear is, thatthe whole inside of his head is corrupted like that, which do yet makethem afeard of him; but no ill accident appeared in the doing of thething, but all with all imaginable success, as Sir Alexander Frazier didtell me himself, I asking him, who is very kind to me. I to the Chapel alittle, but hearing nothing did take a turn into the Park, and then backto Chapel and heard a very good Anthem to my heart's delight, and thento Sir G. Carteret's to dinner, and before dinner did walk with himalone a good while, and from him hear our case likely for all these actsto be bad for money, which troubles me, the year speeding so fast, andhe tells me that he believes the Duke of York will go to sea with thefleete, which I am sorry for in respect to his person, but yet there isno person in condition to command the fleete, now the Captains aregrown so great, but him, it being impossible for anybody else but him tocommand any order or discipline among them. He tells me there is nothingat all in the late discourse about my Lord Sandwich and the FrenchEmbassador meeting and contending for the way, which I wonder at, to seethe confidence of report without any ground. By and by to dinner, wherevery good company. Among other discourse, we talked much of Nostradamus

 [Michael Nostradamus, a physician and astrologer, born in the diocese of Avignon, 1503. Amongst other predictions, one was interpreted as foreshowing the singular death of Hen. II. Of France, by which his reputation was increased. ]

his prophecy of these times, and the burning of the City of London, someof whose verses are put into Booker's' Almanack this year; and Sir G. Carteret did tell a story, how at his death he did make the town swearthat he should never be dug up, or his tomb opened, after he was buried;but they did after sixty years do it, and upon his breast they found aplate of brasse, saying what a wicked and unfaithful people the peopleof that place were, who after so many vows should disturb and open himsuch a day and year and hour; which, if true, is very strange. Then wefell to talking of the burning of the City; and my Lady Carteret herselfdid tell us how abundance of pieces of burnt papers were cast by thewind as far as Cranborne; and among others she took up one, or hadone brought her to see, which was a little bit of paper that had beenprinted, whereon there remained no more nor less than these words: "Timeis, it is done. " After dinner I went and took a turn into the Park, andthen took boat and away home, and there to my chamber and to read, butdid receive some letters from Sir W. Coventry, touching the want ofvictuals to Kempthorne's' fleete going to the Streights and now in theDownes: which did trouble me, he saying that this disappointment mightprove fatal; and the more, because Sir W. Coventry do intend to come tothe office upon business to-morrow morning, and I shall not know whatanswer to give him. This did mightily trouble my mind; however, I fellto read a little in Hakewill's Apology, and did satisfy myself mightyfair in the truth of the saying that the world do not grow old at all, but is in as good condition in all respects as ever it was as to nature. I continued reading this book with great pleasure till supper, andthen to bed sooner than ordinary, for rising betimes in the morningto-morrow. So after reading my usual vows to bed, my mind full oftrouble against to-morrow, and did not sleep any good time of the nightfor thoughts of to-morrow morning's trouble. 

4th. I up, with my head troubled to think of the issue of this morning, so made ready and to the office, where Mr. Gawden comes, and he and Idiscoursed the business well, and thinks I shall get off well enough;but I do by Sir W. Coventry's silence conclude that he is not satisfiedin my management of my place and the charge it puts the King to, whichI confess I am not in present condition through my late laziness to giveany good answer to. But here do D. Gawden give me a good cordiall thismorning, by telling me that he do give me five of the eight hundredpounds on his account remaining in my hands to myself, for the serviceI do him in my victualling business, and L100 for my particular share ofthe profits of my Tangier imployment as Treasurer. This do begin tomake my heart glad, and I did dissemble it the better, so when Sir W. Coventry did come, and the rest met, I did appear unconcerned, and didgive him answer pretty satisfactory what he asked me; so that I did getoff this meeting without any ground lost, but rather a great deal gainedby interposing that which did belong to my duty to do, and neither [Sir]W. Coventry nor (Sir) W. Yen did oppose anything thereunto, which didmake my heart very glad. All the morning at this work, Sir W. Penmaking a great deal of do for the fitting him in his setting out in hisemployment, and I do yield to any trouble that he gives me without anycontradiction. Sir W. Coventry being gone, we at noon to dinner to SirW. Pen's, he inviting me and my wife, and there a pretty good dinner, intended indeed for Sir W. Coventry, but he would not stay. So here Iwas mighty merry and all our differences seemingly blown over, though heknows, if he be not a fool, that I love him not, and I do the like thathe hates me. Soon as dined, my wife and I out to the Duke's playhouse, and there saw "Heraclius, " an excellent play, to my extraordinarycontent; and the more from the house being very full, and great company;among others, Mrs. Steward, very fine, with her locks done up withpuffes, as my wife calls them: and several other great ladies had theirhair so, though I do not like it; but my wife do mightily--but it isonly because she sees it is the fashion. Here I saw my Lord Rochesterand his lady, Mrs. Mallet, who hath after all this ado married him; and, as I hear some say in the pit, it is a great act of charity, for he hathno estate. But it was pleasant to see how every body rose up when myLord John Butler, the Duke of Ormond's son, come into the pit towardsthe end of the play, who was a servant--[lover]--to Mrs. Mallet, and nowsmiled upon her, and she on him. I had sitting next to me a woman, thelikest my Lady Castlemayne that ever I saw anybody like another; but sheis a whore, I believe, for she is acquainted with every fine fellow, and called them by their name, Jacke, and Tom, and before the end of theplay frisked to another place. Mightily pleased with the play, we homeby coach, and there a little to the office, and then to my chamber, and there finished my Catalogue of my books with my own hand, and so tosupper and to bed, and had a good night's rest, the last night's beingtroublesome, but now my heart light and full of resolution of standingclose to my business. 

5th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing business, andthen home to dinner. Heard this morning that the Prince is much better, and hath good rest. All the talk is that my Lord Sandwich hath perfectedthe peace with Spayne, which is very good, if true. Sir H. Cholmly waswith me this morning, and told me of my Lord Bellasses's base dealingswith him by getting him to give him great gratuities to near L2000for his friendship in the business of the Mole, and hath been latelyunderhand endeavouring to bring another man into his place as Governor, so as to receive his money of Sir H. Cholmly for nothing. Dined at home, and after dinner come Mrs. Daniel and her sister and staid and talked alittle, and then I to the office, and after setting my things in orderat the office I abroad with my wife and little Betty Michell, and tookthem against my vowes, but I will make good my forfeit, to the King'shouse, to show them a play, "The Chances. " A good play I find it, andthe actors most good in it; and pretty to hear Knipp sing in the playvery properly, "All night I weepe;" and sung it admirably. Thewhole play pleases me well: and most of all, the sight of many fineladies--among others, my Lady Castlemayne and Mrs. Middleton: the latterof the two hath also a very excellent face and body, I think. Thenceby coach to the New Exchange, and there laid out money, and I did giveBetty Michell two pair of gloves and a dressing-box; and so home in thedark, over the ruins, with a link. I was troubled with my pain, havinggot a bruise on my right testicle, I know not how. But this I did makegood use of to make my wife shift sides with me, and I did come to sit'avec' Betty Michell, and there had her 'main', which 'elle' did give mevery frankly now, and did hazer whatever I 'voudrais avec la', which did'plaisir' me 'grandement', and so set her at home with my mind mightyglad of what I have prevailed for so far; and so home, and to theoffice, and did my business there, and then home to supper, and after toset some things right in my chamber, and so to bed. This morning, before I went to the office, there come to me Mr. Young and Whistler, flaggmakers, and with mighty earnestness did present me with, and pressme to take a box, wherein I could not guess there was less than L100 ingold: but I do wholly refuse it, and did not at last take it. The truthis, not thinking them safe men to receive such a gratuity from, norknowing any considerable courtesy that ever I did do them, but desirousto keep myself free from their reports, and to have it in my power tosay I had refused their offer. 

6th. Up, lying a little long in bed, and by water to White Hall, andthere find the Duke of York gone out, he being in haste to go to theParliament, and so all my Brethren were gone to the office too. So I toSir Ph. Warwicke's about my Tangier business, and then to WestminsterHall, and walked up and down, and hear that the Prince do still restwell by day and night, and out of pain; so as great hopes are conceivedof him: though I did meet Dr. Clerke and Mr. Pierce, and they do saythey believe he will not recover it, they supposing that his whole headwithin is eaten by this corruption, which appeared in this piece of theinner table. Up to the Parliament door, and there discoursed with RogerPepys, who goes out of town this week, the Parliament rising this weekalso. So down to the Hall and there spied Betty Michell, and so I sentfor burnt wine to Mrs. Michell's, and there did drink with the twomothers, and by that means with Betty, poor girle, whom I love with allmy heart. And God forgive me, it did make me stay longer and hover allthe morning up and down the Hall to 'busquer occasions para ambulare conelle. But ego ne pouvoir'. So home by water and to dinner, and then tothe office, where we sat upon Denis Gawden's accounts, and before nightI rose and by water to White Hall, to attend the Council; but they satnot to-day. So to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and find him within, andwith a letter from the Downes in his hands, telling the loss of the St. Patricke coming from Harwich in her way to Portsmouth; and would needschase two ships (she having the Malago fire-ship in company) whichfrom English colours put up Dutch, and he would clap on board theVice-Admirall; and after long dispute the Admirall comes on the otherside of him, and both together took him. Our fire-ship (Seely) notcoming in to fire all three, but come away, leaving her in theirpossession, and carried away by them: a ship built at Bristoll the lastyear, of fifty guns and upwards, and a most excellent good ship. Thismade him very melancholy. I to talk of our wants of money, but I do findthat he is not pleased with that discourse, but grieves to hear it, anddo seem to think that Sir G. Carteret do not mind the getting of moneywith the same good cheer that he did heretofore, nor do I think hehath the same reason. Thence to Westminster Hall, thinking to see BettyMichell, she staying there all night, and had hopes to get her outalone, but missed, and so away by coach home, and to Sir W. Batten's, totell him my bad news, and then to the office, and home to supper, whereMrs. Hewer was, and after supper and she gone, W. Hewer talking with mevery late of the ill manner of Sir G. Carteret's accounts being kept, and in what a sad condition he would be if either Fenn or Wayth shouldbreak or die, and am resolved to take some time to tell Sir G. Carteretor my Lady of it, I do love them so well and their family. So to bed, mypain pretty well gone. 

7th. Lay long with pleasure with my wife, and then up and to the office, where all the morning, and then home to dinner, and before dinner Iwent into my green dining room, and there talking with my brother uponmatters relating to his journey to Brampton to-morrow, and giving himgood counsel about spending the time when he shall stay in the countrywith my father, I looking another way heard him fall down, and turned myhead, and he was fallen down all along upon the ground dead, whichdid put me into a great fright; and, to see my brotherly love! I didpresently lift him up from the ground, he being as pale as death; and, being upon his legs, he did presently come to himself, and said he hadsomething come into his stomach very hot. He knew not what it was, norever had such a fit before. I never was so frighted but once, when mywife was ill at Ware upon the road, and I did continue trembling agood while and ready to weepe to see him, he continuing mighty paleall dinner and melancholy, that I was loth to let him take his journeytomorrow; but he began to be pretty well, and after dinner my wife andBarker fell to singing, which pleased me pretty well, my wife takingmighty pains and proud that she shall come to trill, and indeed I thinkshe will. So to the office, and there all the afternoon late doingbusiness, and then home, and find my brother pretty well. So to write aletter to my Lady Sandwich for him to carry, I having not writ to hera great while. Then to supper and so to bed. I did this night give him20s. For books, and as much for his pocket, and 15s. To carry him down, and so to bed. Poor fellow! he is so melancholy, and withal, my wifesays, harmless, that I begin to love him, and would be loth he shouldnot do well. 

8th. This morning my brother John come up to my bedside, and took hisleave of us, going this day to Brampton. My wife loves him mightilyas one that is pretty harmless, and I do begin to fancy him fromyesterday's accident, it troubling me to think I should be left withouta brother or sister, which is the first time that ever I had thoughtsof that kind in my life. He gone, I up, and to the office, where we satupon the Victuallers' accounts all the morning. At noon Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and myself to the Swan in Leadenhall Streetto dinner, where an exceedingly good dinner and good discourse. Sir W. Batten come this morning from the House, where the King hath proroguedthis Parliament to October next. I am glad they are up. The Bill forAccounts was not offered, the party being willing to let it fall;but the King did tell them he expected it. They are parted withgreat heartburnings, one party against the other. Pray God bring themhereafter together in better temper! It is said that the King do intendhimself in this interval to take away Lord Mordaunt's government, so asto do something to appease the House against they come together, and letthem see he will do that of his own accord which is fit, without theirforcing him; and that he will have his Commission for Accounts go onwhich will be good things. At dinner we talked much of Cromwell; allsaying he was a brave fellow, and did owe his crowne he got to himselfas much as any man that ever got one. Thence to the office, and therebegun the account which Sir W. Pen by his late employment hath examined, but begun to examine it in the old manner, a clerk to read the Pettywarrants, my Lord Bruncker upon very good ground did except against it, and would not suffer him to go on. This being Sir W. Pen's clerk he tookit in snuff, and so hot they grew upon it that my Lord Bruncker left theoffice. He gone (Sir) W. Pen ranted like a devil, saying that nothingbut ignorance could do this. I was pleased at heart all this while. Atlast moved to have Lord Bruncker desired to return, which he did, and Iread the petty warrants all the day till late at night, that I was veryweary, and troubled to have my private business of my office stopped toattend this, but mightily pleased at this falling out, and the truth is[Sir] W. Pen do make so much noise in this business of his, and do itso little and so ill, that I think the King will be little the better bychanging the hand. So up and to my office a little, but being at it allday I could not do much there. So home and to supper, to teach Barker tosing another piece of my song, and then to bed. 

9th. To the office, where we sat all the morning busy. At noon home todinner, and then to my office again, where also busy, very busy late, and then went home and read a piece of a play, "Every Man in hisHumour, "--[Ben Jonson's well-known play. ]--wherein is the greatestpropriety of speech that ever I read in my life: and so to bed. Thisnoon come my wife's watchmaker, and received L12 of me for her watch;but Captain Rolt coming to speak with me about a little business, he didjudge of the work to be very good work, and so I am well contented, andhe hath made very good, that I knew, to Sir W. Pen and Lady Batten. 

10th (Lord's day). Up and with my wife to church, where Mr. Mills madean unnecessary sermon upon Original Sin, neither understood by himselfnor the people. Home, where Michell and his wife, and also there comeMr. Carter, my old acquaintance of Magdalene College, who hath not beenhere of many years. He hath spent his time in the North with theBishop of Carlisle much. He is grown a very comely person, and of gooddiscourse, and one that I like very much. We had much talk of our oldacquaintance of the College, concerning their various fortunes; wherein, to my joy, I met not with any that have sped better than myself. Afterdinner he went away, and awhile after them Michell and his wife, whomI love mightily, and then I to my chamber there to my Tangier accounts, which I had let run a little behind hand, but did settle them very wellto my satisfaction, but it cost me sitting up till two in the morning, and the longer by reason that our neighbour, Mrs. Turner, poor woman, did come to take her leave of us, she being to quit her house to-morrowto my Lord Bruncker, who hath used her very unhandsomely. She is goingto lodgings, and do tell me very odde stories how Mrs. Williams doreceive the applications of people, and hath presents, and she is thehand that receives all, while my Lord Bruncker do the business, whichwill shortly come to be loud talk if she continues here, I do foresee, and bring my Lord no great credit. So having done all my business, tobed. 

11th. Up, and by water to the Temple, and thence to Sir Ph. Warwicke'sabout my Tangier warrant for tallies, and there met my Lord Bellassesand Creed, and discoursed about our business of money, but we aredefeated as to any hopes of getting [any] thing upon the Poll Bill, which I seem but not much troubled at, it not concerning me much. Thencewith Creed to Westminster Hall, and there up and down, and heard thatPrince Rupert is still better and better; and that he did tell Dr. Troutbecke expressly that my Lord Sandwich is ordered home. I hear, too, that Prince Rupert hath begged the having of all the stolen prize-goodswhich he can find, and that he is looking out anew after them, which atfirst troubled me; but I do see it cannot come to anything, but is doneby Hayes, or some of his little people about him. Here, among othernewes, I bought the King's speech at proroguing the House the other day, wherein are some words which cannot but import some prospect of a peace, which God send us! After walking a good while in the Hall, it beingTerm time, I home by water, calling at Michell's and giving him a fairoccasion to send his wife to the New Exchange to meet my wife and methis afternoon. So home to dinner, and after dinner by coach to LordBellasses, and with him to Povy's house, whom we find with Auditor Bealeand Vernatty about their accounts still, which is never likely to haveend. Our business was to speak with Vernatty, who is certainly a mostcunning knave as ever was born. Having done what we had to do there, myLord carried me and set me down at the New Exchange, where I staid atPottle's shop till Betty Michell come, which she did about five o'clock, and was surprised not to 'trouver my muger' I there; but I did make anexcuse good enough, and so I took 'elle' down, and over the water to thecabinet-maker's, and there bought a dressing-box for her for 20s. , butwould require an hour's time to make fit. This I was glad of, thinkingto have got 'elle' to enter to a 'casa de biber', but 'elle' would not, so I did not much press it, but suffered 'elle' to enter 'a la casa deuno de sus hermanos', and so I past my time walking up and down, andamong other places, to one Drumbleby, a maker of flageolets, the best intowne. He not within, my design to bespeak a pair of flageolets of thesame tune, ordered him to come to me in a day or two, and so I back tothe cabinet-maker's and there staid; and by and by Betty comes, andhere we staid in the shop and above seeing the workmen work, which waspretty, and some exceeding good work, and very pleasant to see them doit, till it was late quite dark, and the mistresse of the shop took usinto the kitchen and there talked and used us very prettily, and tookher for my wife, which I owned and her big belly, and there very merry, till my thing done, and then took coach and home ... But now comes ourtrouble, I did begin to fear that 'su marido' might go to my houseto 'enquire pour elle', and there, 'trouvant' my 'muger'--[wife inSpanish. ]--at home, would not only think himself, but give my 'femme'occasion to think strange things. This did trouble me mightily, sothough 'elle' would not seem to have me trouble myself about it, yet didagree to the stopping the coach at the streete's end, and 'je allois conelle' home, and there presently hear by him that he had newly sent 'sumayde' to my house to see for her mistresse. This do much perplex me, and I did go presently home Betty whispering me behind the 'tergo de hermari', that if I would say that we did come home by water, 'elle' couldmake up 'la cose well satis', and there in a sweat did walk in the entryante my door, thinking what I should say a my 'femme', and as God wouldhave it, while I was in this case (the worst in reference a my 'femme'that ever I was in in my life), a little woman comes stumbling to theentry steps in the dark; whom asking who she was, she enquired for myhouse. So knowing her voice, and telling her 'su donna' is come homeshe went away. But, Lord! in what a trouble was I, when she was gone, to recollect whether this was not the second time of her coming, but atlast concluding that she had not been here before, I did bless myselfin my good fortune in getting home before her, and do verily believe shehad loitered some time by the way, which was my great good fortune, andso I in a-doors and there find all well. So my heart full of joy, I tothe office awhile, and then home, and after supper and doing a littlebusiness in my chamber I to bed, after teaching Barker a little of mysong. 

12th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, with severalthings (among others) discoursed relating to our two new assistantcontrollers, but especially Sir W. Pen, who is mighty troublesome in it. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office again, and there did muchbusiness, and by and by comes Mr. Moore, who in discourse did almostconvince me that it is necessary for my Lord Sandwich to come home endtake his command at sea this year, for that a peace is like to be. Manyconsiderations he did give me hereupon, which were very good both inreference to the publick and his private condition. By and by with LordBruncker by coach to his house, there to hear some Italian musique: andhere we met Tom Killigrew, Sir Robert Murray, and the Italian SignorBaptista, who hath composed a play in Italian for the Opera, which T. Killigrew do intend to have up; and here he did sing one of the acts. Hehimself is the poet as well as the musician; which is very much, and didsing the whole from the words without any musique prickt, and playedall along upon a harpsicon most admirably, and the composition mostexcellent. The words I did not understand, and so know not how they arefitted, but believe very well, and all in the recitativo very fine. ButI perceive there is a proper accent in every country's discourse, andthat do reach in their setting of notes to words, which, therefore, cannot be natural to any body else but them; so that I am not so muchsmitten with it as, it may be, I should be, if I were acquainted withtheir accent. But the whole composition is certainly most excellent; andthe poetry, T. Killigrew and Sir R. Murray, who understood the words, did say was excellent. I confess I was mightily pleased with themusique. He pretends not to voice, though it be good, but not excellent. This done, T. Killigrew and I to talk: and he tells me how the audienceat his house is not above half so much as it used to be before the latefire. That Knipp is like to make the best actor that ever come upon thestage, she understanding so well: that they are going to give her L30a-year more. That the stage is now by his pains a thousand times betterand more glorious than ever heretofore. Now, wax-candles, and manyof them; then, not above 3 lbs. Of tallow: now, all things civil, no rudeness anywhere; then, as in a bear-garden then, two or threefiddlers; now, nine or ten of the best then, nothing but rushes uponthe ground, and every thing else mean; and now, all otherwise: then, theQueen seldom and the King never would come; now, not the King only forstate, but all civil people do think they may come as well as any. Hetells me that he hath gone several times, eight or ten times, he tellsme, hence to Rome to hear good musique; so much he loves it, though henever did sing or play a note. That he hath ever endeavoured in the lateKing's time, and in this, to introduce good musique, but he never coulddo it, there never having been any musique here better than ballads. Nay, says, "Hermitt poore" and "Chevy Chese"

 ["Like hermit poor in pensive place obscure" is found in "The Phoenix Nest, " 1593, and in Harl. MS. No. 6910, written soon after 1596. It was set to music by Alfonso Ferrabosco, and published in his "Ayres, " 1609. The song was a favourite with Izaak Walton, and is alluded to in "Hudibras" (Part I. , canto ii. , line 1169). See Rimbault's "Little Book of Songs and Ballads, " 1851, p. 98. Both versions of the famous ballad of "Chevy Chase" are printed in Percy's "Reliques. "]

was all the musique we had; and yet no ordinary fiddlers get so muchmoney as ours do here, which speaks our rudenesse still. That he hathgathered our Italians from several Courts in Christendome, to come tomake a concert for the King, which he do give L200 a-year a-piece to:but badly paid, and do come in the room of keeping four ridiculousgundilows, [The gondolas mentioned before, as sent by the Doge of Venice. See September 12th, 1661]

he having got, the King to put them away, and lay out money this way;and indeed I do commend him for it, for I think it is a very nobleundertaking. He do intend to have some times of the year these operas tobe performed at the two present theatres, since he is defeated in whathe intended in Moorefields on purpose for it; and he tells me plainlythat the City audience was as good as the Court, but now they are mostgone. Baptista tells me that Giacomo Charissimi is still alive at Rome, who was master to Vinnecotio, who is one of the Italians that the Kinghath here, and the chief composer of them. My great wonder is, how thisman do to keep in memory so perfectly the musique of the whole act, bothfor the voice and the instrument too. I confess I do admire it: but inrecitativo the sense much helps him, for there is but one proper way ofdiscoursing and giving the accents. Having done our discourse, we alltook coaches, my Lord's and T. Killigrew's, and to Mrs. Knipp's chamber, where this Italian is to teach her to sing her part. And so we allthither, and there she did sing an Italian song or two very fine, whilehe played the bass upon a harpsicon there; and exceedingly taken I amwith her singing, and believe that she will do miracles at that andacting. Her little girl is mighty pretty and witty. After being therean hour, and I mightily pleased with this evening's work, we all parted, and I took coach and home, where late at my office, and then hometo enter my last three days' Journall; and so to supper and to bed, troubled at nothing, but that these pleasures do hinder me in mybusiness, and the more by reason of our being to dine abroad to-morrow, and then Saturday next is appointed to meet again at my Lord Bruncker'slodgings, and there to have the whole quire of Italians; but then I doconsider that this is all the pleasure I live for in the world, and thegreatest I can ever expect in the best of my life, and one thing more, that by hearing this man to-night, and I think Captain Cooke to-morrow, and the quire of Italians on Saturday, I shall be truly able todistinguish which of them pleases me truly best, which I do much desireto know and have good reason and fresh occasion of judging. 

13th. Up, and by water to White Hall, where to the Duke of York, andthere did our usual business; but troubled to see that, at this time, after our declaring a debt to the Parliament of L900, 000, and nothingpaid since, but the debt increased, and now the fleete to set out; tohear that the King hath ordered but L35, 000 for the setting out of thefleete, out of the Poll Bill, to buy all provisions, when five timesas much had been little enough to have done any thing to purpose. Theyhave, indeed, ordered more for paying off of seamen and the Yardsto some time, but not enough for that neither. Another thing is, theacquainting the Duke of York with the case of Mr. Lanyon, our agentat Plymouth, who has trusted us to L8000 out of purse; we are not incondition, after so many promises, to obtain him a farthing, nor thougha message was carried by Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry to theCommissioners for Prizes, that he might have L3000 out of L20, 000 worthof prizes to be shortly sold there, that he might buy at the candle andpay for the goods out of bills, and all would [not] do any thing, butthat money must go all another way, while the King's service is undone, and those that trust him perish. These things grieve me to the heart. The Prince, I hear, is every day better and better. So away by waterhome, stopping at Michell's, where Mrs. Martin was, and I there drankwith them and whispered with Betty, who tells me all is well, but wasprevented in something she would have said, her 'marido venant' justthen, a news which did trouble me, and so drank and parted and home, andthere took up my wife by coach, and to Mrs. Pierce's, there to take herup, and with them to Dr. Clerke's, by invitation, where we have notbeen a great while, nor had any mind to go now, but that the Dr. , whomI love, would have us choose a day. Here was his wife, painted, and hersister Worshipp, a widow now and mighty pretty in her mourning. Here wasalso Mr. Pierce and Mr. Floyd, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners ofPrizes, and Captain Cooke, to dinner, an ill and little mean one, withfoul cloth and dishes, and everything poor. Discoursed most aboutplays and the Opera, where, among other vanities, Captain Cooke hadthe arrogance to say that he was fain to direct Sir W. Davenant in thebreaking of his verses into such and such lengths, according as wouldbe fit for musick, and how he used to swear at Davenant, and command himthat way, when W. Davenant would be angry, and find fault with thisor that note--but a vain coxcomb I perceive he is, though he sings andcomposes so well. But what I wondered at, Dr. Clerke did say that SirW. Davenant is no good judge of a dramatick poem, finding fault with hischoice of Henry the 5th, and others, for the stage, when I do think, and he confesses, "The Siege of Rhodes" as good as ever was writ. Afterdinner Captain Cooke and two of his boys to sing, but it was indeedboth in performance and composition most plainly below what I heard lastnight, which I could not have believed. Besides overlooking the wordswhich he sung, I find them not at all humoured as they ought to be, andas I believed he had done all he had sett. Though he himself do indeedsing in a manner as to voice and manner the best I ever heard yet, anda strange mastery he hath in making of extraordinary surprising closes, that are mighty pretty, but his bragging that he do understand tones andsounds as well as any man in the world, and better than Sir W. Davenantor any body else, I do not like by no means, but was sick of it and ofhim for it. He gone, Dr. Clerke fell to reading a new play, newly writ, of a friend's of his; but, by his discourse and confession afterwards, it was his own. Some things, but very few, moderately good; butinfinitely far from the conceit, wit, design, and language of very manyplays that I know; so that, but for compliment, I was quite tired withhearing it. It being done, and commending the play, but against myjudgment, only the prologue magnifying the happiness of our former poetswhen such sorry things did please the world as was then acted, was verygood. So set Mrs. Pierce at home, and away ourselves home, and thereto my office, and then my chamber till my eyes were sore at writing andmaking ready my letter and accounts for the Commissioners of Tangierto-morrow, which being done, to bed, hearing that there was a very greatdisorder this day at the Ticket Office, to the beating and bruising ofthe face of Carcasse very much. A foul evening this was to-night, andI mightily troubled to get a coach home; and, which is now my commonpractice, going over the ruins in the night, I rid with my sword drawnin the coach. 

14th. Up and to the office, where Carcasse comes with his plaisteredface, and called himself Sir W. Batten's martyr, which made W. Battenmad almost, and mighty quarrelling there was. We spent the morningalmost wholly upon considering some way of keeping the peace at theTicket Office; but it is plain that the care of that office is nobody'swork, and that is it that makes it stand in the ill condition it do. Atnoon home to dinner, and after dinner by coach to my Lord Chancellor's, and there a meeting: the Duke of York, Duke of Albemarle, and severalother Lords of the Commission of Tangier. And there I did present astate of my accounts, and managed them well; and my Lord Chancellor didsay, though he was, in other things, in an ill humour, that no man inEngland was of more method, nor made himself better understood thanmyself. But going, after the business of money was over, to otherbusinesses, of settling the garrison, he did fling out, and so did theDuke of York, two or three severe words touching my Lord Bellasses:that he would have no Governor come away from thence in less than threeyears; no, though his lady were with child. "And, " says the Duke ofYork, "there should be no Governor continue so, longer than threeyears. " "Nor, " says Lord Arlington, "when our rules are once set, and upon good judgment declared, no Governor should offer to alterthem. "--"We must correct the many things that are amiss there; for, "says the Lord Chancellor, "you must think we do hear of more thingsamisse than we are willing to speak before our friends' faces. " My LordBellasses would not take notice of their reflecting on him, and didwisely, but there were also many reflections on him. Thence away bycoach to Sir H. Cholmly and Fitzgerald and Creed, setting down the twolatter at the New Exchange. And Sir H. Cholmly and I to the Temple, andthere walked in the dark in the walks talking of newes; and he surprisesme with the certain newes that the King did last night in Councildeclare his being in treaty with the Dutch: that they had sent hima very civil letter, declaring that, if nobody but themselves wereconcerned, they would not dispute the place of treaty, but leave it tohis choice; but that, being obliged to satisfy therein a Prince of equalquality with himself, they must except any place in England or Spayne. And so the King hath chosen the Hague, and thither hath chose my LordHollis and Harry Coventry to go Embassadors to treat; which is so meana thing, as all the world will believe, that we do go to beg a peace ofthem, whatever we pretend. And it seems all our Court are mightily fora peace, taking this to be the time to make one, while the King hathmoney, that he may save something of what the Parliament hath givenhim to put him out of debt, so as he may need the help of no moreParliaments, as to the point of money: but our debt is so great, andexpence daily so encreased, that I believe little of the money willbe saved between this and the making of the peace up. But that whichtroubles me most is, that we have chosen a son of Secretary Morris, a boy never used to any business, to go Embassador [Secretary] to theEmbassy, which shows how, little we are sensible of the weight of thebusiness upon us. God therefore give a good end to it, for I doubt it, and yet do much more doubt the issue of our continuing the war, for weare in no wise fit for it, and yet it troubles me to think what Sir H. Cholmly says, that he believes they will not give us any reparation forwhat we have suffered by the war, nor put us into any better conditionthan what we were in before the war, for that will be shamefull forus. Thence parted with him and home through the dark over the ruinsby coach, with my sword drawn, to the office, where dispatched somebusiness; and so home to my chamber and to supper and to bed. Thismorning come up to my wife's bedside, I being up dressing myself, littleWill Mercer to be her Valentine; and brought her name writ upon bluepaper in gold letters, done by himself, very pretty; and we were bothwell pleased with it. But I am also this year my wife's Valentine, andit will cost me L5; but that I must have laid out if we had not beenValentines. So to bed. 

15th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes by coach to WhiteHall, where we attended upon the Duke of York to complain of thedisorders the other day among the seamen at the Pay at the TicketOffice, and that it arises from lack of money, and that we desire, unless better provided for with money, to have nothing more to do withthe payment of tickets, it being not our duty; and the Duke of York and[Sir] W. Coventry did agree to it, so that I hope we shall be rid ofthat trouble. This done, I moved for allowance for a house for Mr. Turner, and got it granted. Then away to Westminster Hall, and there tothe Exchequer about my tallies, and so back to White Hall, and so withLord Bellasses to the Excise Office, where met by Sir H. Cholmly toconsider about our business of money there, and that done, home and todinner, where I hear Pegg Pen is married this day privately; no friends, but two or three relations on his side and hers. Borrowed many things ofmy kitchen for dressing their dinner. So after dinner to the office, andthere busy and did much business, and late at it. Mrs. Turner come to meto hear how matters went; I told her of our getting rent for a house forher. She did give me account of this wedding to-day, its being privatebeing imputed to its being just before Lent, and so in vain to make newclothes till Easter, that they might see the fashions as they are liketo be this summer; which is reason good enough. Mrs. Turner tells me shehears [Sir W. Pen] gives L4500 or 4000 with her. They are gone to bed, so I wish them much sport, and home to supper and to bed. They own thetreaty for a peace publickly at Court, and the Commissioners providingthemselves to go over as soon as a passe comes for them. 

16th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. Among otherthings great heat we were all in on one side or other in the examiningwitnesses against Mr. Carcasse about his buying of tickets, and acunning knave I do believe he is, and will appear, though I havethought otherwise heretofore. At noon home to dinner, and there find Mr. Andrews, and Pierce and Hollyard, and they dined with us and merry, but we did rise soon for saving of my wife's seeing a new play thisafternoon, and so away by coach, and left her at Mrs. Pierces, myselfto the Excise Office about business, and thence to the Temple to walka little only, and then to Westminster to pass away time till anon, andhere I went to Mrs. Martin's to thank her for her oysters.... Thenceaway to my Lord Bruncker's, and there was Sir Robert Murray, whom Inever understood so well as now by this opportunity of discourse withhim, a most excellent man of reason and learning, and understands thedoctrine of musique, and everything else I could discourse of, veryfinely. Here come Mr. Hooke, Sir George Ent, Dr. Wren, and many others;and by and by the musique, that is to say, Signor Vincentio, who is themaster-composer, and six more, whereof two eunuches, so tall, that SirT. Harvey said well that he believes they do grow large by being geltas our oxen do, and one woman very well dressed and handsome enough, butwould not be kissed, as Mr. Killigrew, who brought the company in, did acquaint us. They sent two harpsicons before; and by and by, aftertuning them, they begun; and, I confess, very good musique they made;that is, the composition exceeding good, but yet not at all morepleasing to me than what I have heard in English by Mrs. Knipp, CaptainCooke, and others. Nor do I dote on the eunuches; they sing, indeed, pretty high, and have a mellow kind of sound, but yet I have been aswell satisfied with several women's voices and men also, as Crispe ofthe Wardrobe. The women sung well, but that which distinguishes all isthis, that in singing, the words are to be considered, and how they arefitted with notes, and then the common accent of the country is to beknown and understood by the hearer, or he will never be a good judge ofthe vocal musique of another country. So that I was not taken with thisat all, neither understanding the first, nor by practice reconciled tothe latter, so that their motions, and risings and fallings, though itmay be pleasing to an Italian, or one that understands the tongue, yetto me it did not, but do from my heart believe that I could set wordsin English, and make musique of them more agreeable to any Englishman'seare (the most judicious) than any Italian musique set for the voice, and performed before the same man, unless he be acquainted with theItalian accent of speech. The composition as to the musique part wasexceeding good, and their justness in keeping time by practice muchbefore any that we have, unless it be a good band of practised fiddlers. So away, here being Captain Cocke, who is stole away, leaving them atit, in his coach, and to Mrs. Pierce's, where I took up my wife, andthere I find Mrs. Pierce's little girl is my Valentine, she having drawnme; which I was not sorry for, it easing me of something more that Imust have given to others. But here I do first observe the fashion ofdrawing of mottos as well as names; so that Pierce, who drew my wife, did draw also a motto, and this girl drew another for me. What mine wasI have forgot; but my wife's was, "Most virtuous and most fair;" which, as it may be used, or an anagram made upon each name, might be verypretty. Thence with Cocke and my wife, set him at home, and then wehome. To the office, and there did a little business, troubled that Ihave so much been hindered by matters of pleasure from my business, butI shall recover it I hope in a little time. So home and to supper, notat all smitten with the musique to-night, which I did expect should havebeen so extraordinary, Tom Killigrew crying it up, and so all the world, above all things in the world, and so to bed. One wonder I observedto-day, that there was no musique in the morning to call up ournew-married people, which is very mean, methinks, and is as if they hadmarried like dog and bitch. 

17th (Lord's day). Up, and called at Michell's, and took him and hiswife and carried them to Westminster, I landing at White Hall, andhaving no pleasure in the way 'con elle'; and so to the Duke's, wherewe all met and had a hot encounter before the Duke of York about thebusiness of our payments at the Ticket Office, where we urged thatwe had nothing to do to be troubled with the pay, having examined thetickets. Besides, we are neglected, having not money sent us in time, but to see the baseness of my brethren, not a man almost put in a wordbut Sir W. Coventry, though at the office like very devils in thispoint. But I did plainly declare that, without money, no fleete could beexpected, and desired the Duke of York to take notice of it, and noticewas taken of it, but I doubt will do no good. But I desire to rememberit as a most prodigious thing that to this day my Lord Treasurer hathnot consulted counsel, which Sir W. Coventry and I and others do thinkis necessary, about the late Poll act, enough to put the same into suchorder as that any body dare lend money upon it, though we have fromthis office under our hands related the necessity thereof to the Duke ofYork, nor is like to be determined in, for ought I see, a good whilehad not Sir W. Coventry plainly said that he did believe it would be abetter work for the King than going to church this morning, to send forthe Atturney Generall to meet at the Lord Treasurer's this afternoon andto bring the thing to an issue, saying that himself, were he going tothe Sacrament, would not think he should offend God to leave it andgo to the ending this work, so much it is of moment to the King andKingdom. Hereupon the Duke of York said he would presently speak to theKing, and cause it to be done this afternoon. Having done here we brokeup; having done nothing almost though for all this, and by and by I metSir G. Carteret, and he is stark mad at what has passed this morning, and I believe is heartily vexed with me: I said little, but I am surethe King will suffer if some better care be not taken than he takes tolook after this business of money. So parted, and I by water home and todinner, W. Hewer with us, a good dinner and-very merry, my wife and I, and after dinner to my chamber, to fit some things against: the Councilanon, and that being done away to White Hall by water, and thence to myLord Chancellor's, where I met with, and had much pretty discourse with, one of the Progers's that knows me; and it was pretty to hear him tellme, of his own accord, as a matter of no shame, that in Spayne he hada pretty woman, his mistress, whom, when money grew scarce with him, hewas forced to leave, and afterwards heard how she and her husband livedwell, she being kept by an old fryer who used her as his whore; butthis, says he, is better than as our ministers do, who have wives thatlay up their estates, and do no good nor relieve any poor--no, not ourgreatest prelates, and I think he is in the right for my part. Staidtill the Council was up, and attended the King and Duke of York roundthe Park, and was asked several questions by both; but I was in pain, lest they should ask me what I could not answer; as the Duke of York didthe value of the hull of the St. Patrick lately lost, which I told him Icould not presently answer; though I might have easily furnished myselfto answer all those questions. They stood a good while to see theganders and geese tread one another in the water, the goose being allthe while kept for a great while: quite under water, which was new tome, but they did make mighty sport of it, saying (as the King did often)"Now you shall see a marriage, between this and that, " which did notplease me. They gone, by coach to my Lord Treasurer's, as the Duke ofYork told me, to settle the business of money for the navy, I walkedinto the Court to and again till night, and there met ColonellReames, and he and I walked together a great while complaining of theill-management of things, whereof he is as full as I am. We ran overmany persons and things, and see nothing done like men like to do wellwhile the King minds his pleasures so much. We did bemoan it that nobodywould or had authority enough with the King to tell him how all thingsgo to rack and will be lost. Then he and I parted, and I to Westminsterto the Swan, and there staid till Michell and his wife come. Old Michelland his wife come to see me, and there we drank and laughed a little, and then the young ones and I took boat, it being fine moonshine. I didto my trouble see all the way that 'elle' did get as close 'a su marido'as 'elle' could, and turn her 'mains' away 'quand je' did endeavour totake one.... So that I had no pleasure at all 'con elle ce' night. Whenwe landed I did take occasion to send him back a the bateau while Idid get a 'baiser' or two, and would have taken 'la' by 'la' hand, but 'elle' did turn away, and 'quand' I said shall I not 'toucher' toanswered 'ego' no love touching, in a slight mood. I seemed not to takenotice of it, but parted kindly; 'su marido' did alter with me almosta my case, and there we parted, and so I home troubled at this, but Ithink I shall make good use of it and mind my business more. At home, by appointment, comes Captain Cocke to me, to talk of State matters, andabout the peace; who told me that the whole business is managed betweenKevet, Burgomaster of Amsterdam, and my Lord Arlington, who hath, by theinterest of his wife there, some interest. We have proposed the Hague, but know not yet whether the Dutch will like it; or; if they do, whetherthe French will. We think we shall have the help of the informationof their affairs and state, and the helps of the Prince of Orange hisfaction; but above all, that De Witt, who hath all this while said hecannot get peace, his mouth will now be stopped, so that he will beforced to offer fit terms for fear of the people; and, lastly, if Franceor Spayne do not please us, we are in a way presently to clap up a peacewith the Dutch, and secure them. But we are also in treaty with France, as he says: but it must be to the excluding our alliance with the Kingof Spayne or House of Austria; which we do not know presently what willbe determined in. He tells me the Vice-Chamberlaine is so great with theKing, that, let the Duke of York, and Sir W. Coventry, and this office, do or say what they will, while the King lives, Sir G. Carteret willdo what he will; and advises me to be often with him, and eat and drinkwith him. ; and tells me that he doubts he is jealous of me, and wasmighty mad to-day at our discourse to him before the Duke of York. ButI did give him my reasons that the office is concerned to declare that, without money, the King's work cannot go on. From that discourse we ranto others, and among the others he assures me that Henry Bruncker is oneof the shrewdest fellows for parts in England, and a dangerous man; thatif ever the Parliament comes again Sir W. Coventry cannot stand, but inthis I believe him not; that, while we want money so much in the Navy, the Officers of the Ordnance have at this day L300, 000 good in tallys, which they can command money upon, got by their over-estimating theircharge in getting it reckoned as a fifth part of the expense of theNavy; that Harry Coventry, who is to go upon this treaty with LordHollis (who he confesses to be a very wise man) into Holland, is amighty quick, ready man, but not so weighty as he should be, he knowinghim so well in his drink as he do; that, unless the King do do somethingagainst my Lord Mordaunt and the Patent for the Canary Company, beforethe Parliament next meets, he do believe there will be a civil warbefore there will be any more money given, unless it may be at theirperfect disposal; and that all things are now ordered to the provokingof the Parliament against they come next, and the spending the King'smoney, so as to put him into a necessity of having it at the time it isprorogued for, or sooner. Having discoursed all this and much more, heaway, and I to supper and to read my vows, and to bed. My mind troubledabout Betty Michell, 'pour sa carriage' this night 'envers moy', but dohope it will put me upon doing my business. This evening, going to theQueen's side to see the ladies, I did find the Queene, the Duchesse ofYork, and another or two, at cards, with the room full of great ladiesand men; which I was amazed at to see on a Sunday, having not believedit; but, contrarily, flatly denied the same a little while since to mycozen Roger Pepys? I did this day, going by water, read the answer to"The Apology for Papists, " which did like me mightily, it being a thingas well writ as I think most things that ever I read in my life, andglad I am that I read it. 

18th. Up, and to my bookbinder's, and there mightily pleased to see somepapers of the account we did give the Parliament of the expense ofthe Navy sewed together, which I could not have conceived before howprettily it was done. Then by coach to the Exchequer about sometallies, and thence back again home, by the way meeting Mr. Weaver, ofHuntingdon, and did discourse our business of law together, which didease my mind, for I was afeard I have omitted doing what I in prudenceought to have done. So home and to dinner, and after dinner to theoffice, where je had Mrs. Burrows all sola a my closet, and did there'baiser and toucher ses mamelles'.... Thence away, and with my wife bycoach to the Duke of York's play-house, expecting a new play, and sostayed not no more than other people, but to the King's house, to "TheMayd's Tragedy;" but vexed all the while with two talking ladies andSir Charles Sedley; yet pleased to hear their discourse, he being astranger. And one of the ladies would, and did sit with her mask on, all the play, and, being exceeding witty as ever I heard woman, did talkmost pleasantly with him; but was, I believe, a virtuous woman, and ofquality. He would fain know who she was, but she would not tell; yetdid give him many pleasant hints of her knowledge of him, by that meanssetting his brains at work to find, out who she was, and did give himleave to use all means to find out who she was, but pulling off hermask. He was mighty witty, and she also making sport with him veryinoffensively, that a more pleasant 'rencontre' I never heard. But bythat means lost the pleasure of the play wholly, to which now and thenSir Charles Sedley's exceptions against both words and pronouncing werevery pretty. So home and to the office, did much business, then home, tosupper, and to bed. 

19th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing littlebusiness, our want of money being so infinite great. At noon home, andthere find old Mr. Michell and Howlett come to desire mine and my wife'scompany to dinner to their son's, and so away by coach with them, itbeing Betty's wedding-day a year, as also Shrove Tuesday. Here I mademyself mighty merry, the two old women being there also, and a mightypretty dinner we had in this little house, to my exceeding greatcontent, and my wife's, and my heart pleased to see Betty. But I havenot been so merry a very great while as with them, every thing pleasingme there as much as among so mean company I could be pleased. Afterdinner I fell to read the Acts about the building of the City again;

 [Burnet wrote ("History of his Own Time, " book ii. ): "An act passed in this session for rebuilding the city of London, which gave Lord Chief Justice Hale a great reputation, for it was drawn with so true a judgment, and so great foresight, that the whole city was raised out of its ashes without any suits of law. "]

and indeed the laws seem to be very good, and I pray God I may live tosee it built in that manner! Anon with much content home, walking withmy wife and her woman, and there to my office, where late doing muchbusiness, and then home to supper and to bed. This morning I hear thatour discourse of peace is all in the dirt; for the Dutch will not likeof the place, or at least the French will not agree to it; so that I dowonder what we shall do, for carry on the war we cannot. I long to hearthe truth of it to-morrow at Court. 

20th. Up, with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen by coach to White Hall, bythe way observing Sir W. Pen's carrying a favour to Sir W. Coventry, forhis daughter's wedding, and saying that there was others for us, when wewill fetch them, which vexed me, and I am resolved not to wear itwhen he orders me one. His wedding hath been so poorly kept, that I amashamed of it; for a fellow that makes such a flutter as he do. Whenwe come to the Duke of York here, I heard discourse how Harris of hisplay-house is sick, and everybody commends him, and, above allthings, for acting the Cardinall. Here they talk also how the King'sviallin, --[violin]-- Bannister, is mad that the King hath a Frenchmancome to be chief of some part of the King's musique, at which theDuke of York made great mirth. Then withdrew to his closett, all ourbusiness, lack of money and prospect of the effects of it, such as madeSir W. Coventry say publickly before us all, that he do heartily wishthat his Royal Highness had nothing to do in the Navy, whateverbecome of him; so much dishonour, he says, is likely to fall under themanagement of it. The Duke of York was angry, as much as he could be, orever I saw him, with Sir G. Carteret, for not paying the masters of someships on Monday last, according to his promise, and I do think Sir G. Carteret will make himself unhappy by not taking some course eitherto borrow more money or wholly lay aside his pretence to the chargeof raising money, when he hath nothing to do to trouble himself with. Thence to the Exchequer, and there find the people in readiness todispatch my tallies to-day, though Ash Wednesday. So I back by coach toLondon to Sir Robt. Viner's and there got L100, and come away with itand pay my fees round, and so away with the 'Chequer men to the Leg inKing Street, and there had wine for them; and here was one in companywith them, that was the man that got the vessel to carry over the Kingfrom Bredhemson, who hath a pension of 200 per annum, but ill paid, and the man is looking after getting of a prizeship to live by; but thetrouble is, that this poor man, who hath received no part of his moneythese four years, and is ready to starve almost, must yet pay to thePoll Bill for this pension. He told me several particulars of the King'scoming thither, which was mighty pleasant, and shews how mean a thinga king is, how subject to fall, and how like other men he is in hisafflictions. Thence with my tallies home, and a little dinner, andthen with my wife by coach to Lincoln's Inn Fields, sent her to herbrother's, and I with Lord Bellasses to the Lord Chancellor's. LordBellasses tells me how the King of France hath caused the stop to bemade to our proposition of treating in The Hague; that he being greaterthan they, we may better come and treat at Paris: so that God knows whatwill become of the peace! He tells me, too, as a grand secret, that hedo believe the peace offensive and defensive between Spayne and us isquite finished, but must not be known, to prevent the King of France'spresent falling upon Flanders. He do believe the Duke of York will bemade General of the Spanish armies there, and Governor of Flanders, ifthe French should come against it, and we assist the Spaniard: that wehave done the Spaniard abundance of mischief in the West Indys, by ourprivateers at Jamaica, which they lament mightily, and I am sorry for itto have it done at this time. By and by, come to my Lord Chancellor, whoheard mighty quietly my complaints for lack of money, and spoke mightykind to me, but little hopes of help therein, only his good word. He doprettily cry upon Povy's account with sometimes seeming friendship andpity, and this day quite the contrary. He do confess our streights hereand every where else arise from our outspending our revenue. I meanthat the King do do so. Thence away, took up my wife; who tells me herbrother hath laid out much money upon himself and wife for clothes, which I am sorry to hear, it requiring great expense. So home and to theoffice a while, and then home to supper, where Mrs. Turner come to us, and sat and talked. Poor woman, I pity her, but she is very cunning. She concurs with me in the falseness of Sir W. Pen's friendship, and shetells pretty storms of my Lord Bruncker since he come to our end of thetown, of people's applications to Mrs. Williams. So, she gone, I back tomy accounts of Tangier, which I am settling, having my new tallies fromthe Exchequer this day, and having set all right as I could wish, thento bed. 

21st. Up, and to the Office, where sat all the morning, and there a mostfurious conflict between Sir W. Pen and I, in few words, and on asudden occasion, of no great moment, but very bitter, and stared onone another, and so broke off; and to our business, my heart as full ofspite as it could hold, for which God forgive me and him! At the endof the day come witnesses on behalf of Mr. Carcasse; but, instead ofclearing him, I find they were brought to recriminate Sir W. Batten, anddid it by oath very highly, that made the old man mad, and, I confess, me ashamed, so that I caused all but ourselves to withdraw; being sorryto have such things declared in the open office, before 100 people. Butit was done home, and I do believe true, though (Sir) W. Batten deniesall, but is cruel mad, and swore one of them, he or Carcasse, should notcontinue in the Office, which is said like a fool. He gone, for he wouldnot stay, and [Sir] W. Pen gone a good while before, Lord Bruncker, SirT. Harvy, and I, staid and examined the witnesses, though amounting tolittle more than a reproaching of Sir W. Batten. I home, my head andmind vexed about the conflict between Sir W. Pen and I, though I havegot, nor lost any ground by it. At home was Mr. Daniel and wifeand sister, and dined with us, and I disturbed at dinner, ColonellFitzgerald coming to me about tallies, which I did go and give him, andthen to the office, where did much business and walked an hour or twowith Lord Bruncker, who is mightily concerned in this business forCarcasse and against Sir W. Batten, and I do hope it will come to a goodheight, for I think it will be good for the King as well as for me, thatthey two do not agree, though I do, for ought I see yet, think that myLord is for the most part in the right. He gone, I to the office againto dispatch business, and late at night comes in Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and [Sir] J. Minnes to the office, and what was it but to examineone Jones, a young merchant, who was said to have spoke the worstagainst Sir W. Batten, but he do deny it wholly, yet I do believeCarcasse will go near to prove all that was sworn in the morning, and soit be true I wish it may. That done, I to end my letters, and then hometo supper, and set right some accounts of Tangier, and then to bed. 

22nd. Up, and to the office, where I awhile, and then home with SirH. Cholmly to give him some tallies upon the business of the Mole atTangier, and then out with him by coach to the Excise Office, there toenter them, and so back again with him to the Exchange, and there I tookanother coach, and home to the office, and to my business till dinner, the rest of our officers having been this morning upon the Victuallers'accounts. At dinner all of us, that is to say, Lord Bruncker, [Sir] J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] T. Harvy, and myself, to Sir W. Pen'shouse, where some other company. It is instead of a wedding dinner forhis daughter, whom I saw in palterly clothes, nothing new but a braceletthat her servant had given her, and ugly she is, as heart can wish. Asorry dinner, not any thing handsome or clean, but some silver platesthey borrowed of me. My wife was here too. So a great deal of talk, andI seemingly merry, but took no pleasure at all. We had favours given usall, and we put them in our hats, I against my will, but that my Lordand the rest did, I being displeased that he did carry Sir W. Coventry'shimself several days ago, and the people up and down the town longsince, and we must have them but to-day. After dinner to talk a little, and then I away to my office, to draw up a letter of the state of theOffice and Navy for the Duke of York against Sunday next, and at itlate, and then home to supper and to bed, talking with my wife of thepoorness and meanness of all that Sir W. Pen and the people about us do, compared with what we do. 

23rd. This day I am, by the blessing of God, 34 years old, in verygood health and mind's content, and in condition of estate much beyondwhatever my friends could expect of a child of theirs, this day 34years. The Lord's name be praised! and may I be ever thankful for it. Up betimes to the office, in order to my letter to the Duke of Yorkto-morrow, and then the office met and spent the greatest part aboutthis letter. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office again veryclose at it all the day till midnight, making an end and writing fairthis great letter and other things to my full content, it abundantlyproviding for the vindication of this office, whatever the success be ofour wants of money. This evening Sir W. Batten come to me to the officeon purpose, out of spleen (of which he is full to Carcasse!), to tellme that he is now informed of many double tickets now found of Carcassesmaking which quite overthrows him. It is strange to see how, though Ido believe this fellow to be a rogue, and could be contented to havehim removed, yet to see him persecuted by Sir W. Batten, who is as badhimself, and that with so much rancour, I am almost the fellow's friend. But this good I shall have from it, that the differences between Sir W. Batten and my Lord Bruncker will do me no hurt. 

24th (Lord's day). Up, and with [Sir] W. Batten, by coach; he set medown at my Lord Bruncker's (his feud there not suffering him to 'lighthimself), and I with my Lord by and by when ready to White Hall, and byand by up to the Duke of York, and there presented our great letter andother papers, and among the rest my report of the victualling, which isgood, I think, and will continue my pretence to the place, which Iam still afeard Sir W. Coventry's employment may extinguish. We havedischarged ourselves in this letter fully from blame in the bad successof the Navy, if money do not come soon to us, and so my heart is atpretty good rest in this point. Having done here, Sir W. Batten and Ihome by coach, and though the sermon at our church was begun, yet hewould 'light to go home and eat a slice of roast beef off the spit, anddid, and then he and I to church in the middle of the sermon. My LadyPen there saluted me with great content to tell me that her daughterand husband are still in bed, as if the silly woman thought it a greatmatter of honour, and did, going out of the church, ask me whether wedid not make a great show at Court today, with all our favours in ourhats. After sermon home, and alone with my wife dined. Among otherthings my wife told me how ill a report our Mercer hath got by herkeeping of company, so that she will not send for her to dine with usor be with us as heretofore; and, what is more strange, tells me thatlittle Mis. Tooker hath got a clap as young as she is, being brought uploosely by her mother.... In the afternoon away to White Hall by water, and took a turn or two in the Park, and then back to White Hall, andthere meeting my Lord Arlington, he, by I know not what kindness, offered to carry me along with him to my Lord Treasurer's, whither, Itold him, I was going. I believe he had a mind to discourse of some Navybusinesses, but Sir Thomas Clifford coming into the coach to us, wewere prevented; which I was sorry for, for I had a mind to beginan acquaintance with him. He speaks well, and hath pretty slightsuperficial parts, I believe. He, in our going, talked much of the plainhabit of the Spaniards; how the King and Lords themselves wear but acloak of Colchester bayze, and the ladies mantles, in cold weather, ofwhite flannell: and that the endeavours frequently of setting up themanufacture of making these stuffs there have only been prevented by theInquisition: the English and Dutchmen that have been sent for to work, being taken with a Psalmbook or Testament, and so clapped up, and thehouse pulled down by the Inquisitors; and the greatest Lord inSpayne dare not say a word against it, if the word Inquisition be butmentioned. At my Lord Treasurer's 'light and parted with them, theygoing into Council, and I walked with Captain Cocke, who takes mightynotice of the differences growing in our office between Lord Brunckerand [Sir] W. Batten, and among others also, and I fear it may do ushurt, but I will keep out of them. By and by comes Sir S. Fox, and heand I walked and talked together on many things, but chiefly want ofmoney, and the straits the King brings himself and affairs into for wantof it. Captain Cocke did tell me what I must not forget: that the answerof the Dutch, refusing The Hague for a place of treaty, and proposingthe Boysse, Bredah, Bergen-op-Zoome, or Mastricht, was seemingly stoppedby the Swede's Embassador (though he did show it to the King, but theKing would take no notice of it, nor does not) from being delivered tothe King; and he hath wrote to desire them to consider better of it: sothat, though we know their refusal of the place, yet they know not thatwe know it, nor is the King obliged to show his sense of the affront. That the Dutch are in very great straits, so as to be said to be notable to set out their fleete this year. By and by comes Sir Robert Vinerand my Lord Mayor to ask the King's directions about measuring out thestreets according to the new Act for building of the City, wherein theKing is to be pleased. 

 [See Sir Christopher Wren's "Proposals for rebuilding the City of London after the great fire, with an engraved Plan of the principal Streets and Public Buildings, " in Elmes's "Memoirs of Sir Christopher Wren, " Appendix, p. 61. The originals are in All Souls' College Library, Oxford. --B. ]

But he says that the way proposed in Parliament, by Colonel Birch, wouldhave been the best, to have chosen some persons in trust, and sold thewhole ground, and let it be sold again by them, with preference to theold owner, which would have certainly caused the City to be built wherethese Trustees pleased; whereas now, great differences will be, and thestreets built by fits, and not entire till all differences be decided. This, as he tells it, I think would have been the best way. I enquiredabout the Frenchman

 ["One Hubert, a French papist, was seized in Essex, as he was getting out of the way in great confusion. He confessed he had begun the fire, and persisted in his confession to his death, for he was hanged upon no other evidence but that of his own confession. It is true he gave so broken an account of the whole matter that he was thought mad. Yet he was blindfolded, and carried to several places of the city, and then his eyes being opened, he was asked if that was the place, and he being carried to wrong places, after he looked round about for some time, he said that was not the place, but when he was brought to the place where it first broke out, he affirmed that was the true place. "Burnet's Own Time, " book ii. Archbishop Tillotson, according to Burnet, believed that London was burnt by design. ]

that was said to fire the City, and was hanged for it, by his ownconfession, that he was hired for it by a Frenchman of Roane, and thathe did with a stick reach in a fire-ball in at a window of the house:whereas the master of the house, who is the King's baker, and his son, and daughter, do all swear there was no such window, and that the firedid not begin thereabouts. Yet the fellow, who, though a mopish besottedfellow, did not speak like a madman, did swear that he did fire it: anddid not this like a madman; for, being tried on purpose, and landed withhis keeper at the Tower Wharf, he could carry the keeper to the veryhouse. Asking Sir R. Viner what he thought was the cause of the fire, hetells me, that the baker, son, and his daughter, did all swear again andagain, that their oven was drawn by ten o'clock at night; that, havingoccasion to light a candle about twelve, there was not so much fire inthe bakehouse as to light a match for a candle, so that they were fainto go into another place to light it; that about two in the morning theyfelt themselves almost choked with smoke, and rising, did find the firecoming upstairs; so they rose to save themselves; but that, at thattime, the bavins--[brushwood, or faggots used for lighting fires]--werenot on fire in the yard. So that they are, as they swear, in absoluteignorance how this fire should come; which is a strange thing, that sohorrid an effect should have so mean and uncertain a beginning. By andby called in to the King and Cabinet, and there had a few insipid wordsabout money for Tangier, but to no purpose. Thence away walked to myboat at White Hall, and so home and to supper, and then to talk with W. Hewer about business of the differences at present among the people ofour office, and so to my journall and to bed. This night going throughbridge by water, my waterman told me how the mistress of the Bearetavern, at the bridge-foot, did lately fling herself into the Thames, and drowned herself; which did trouble me the more, when they tell meit was she that did live at the White Horse tavern in Lumbard Streete, which was a most beautiful woman, as most I have seen. It seems she hathhad long melancholy upon her, and hath endeavoured to make away withherself often. 

25th. Lay long in bed, talking with pleasure with my poor wife, how sheused to make coal fires, and wash my foul clothes with her own hand forme, poor wretch! in our little room at my Lord Sandwich's; for which Iought for ever to love and admire her, and do; and persuade myself shewould do the same thing again, if God should reduce us to it. So up andby coach abroad to the Duke of Albemarle's about sending soldiers downto some ships, and so home, calling at a belt-maker's to mend my belt, and so home and to dinner, where pleasant with my wife, and then to theoffice, where mighty busy all the day, saving going forth to the 'Changeto pay for some things, and on other occasions, and at my goldsmith'sdid observe the King's new medall, where, in little, there is Mrs. Steward's face as well done as ever I saw anything in my whole life, I think: and a pretty thing it is, that he should choose her faceto represent Britannia by. So at the office late very busy and muchbusiness with great joy dispatched, and so home to supper and to bed. 

26th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. And here did receiveanother reference from Sir W. Coventry about the business of some of theMuster-Masters, concerning whom I had returned their small performances, which do give me a little more trouble for fear [Sir] W. Coventry shouldthink I had a design to favour my brother Balty, and to that end todisparage all the rest. But I shall clear all very well, only it doexercise my thoughts more than I am at leisure for. At home find Baltyand his wife very fine, which I did not like, for fear he do spend toomuch of his money that way, and lay [not] up anything. After dinner tothe office again, where by and by Lord Bruncker, [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir]J. Minnes and I met about receiving Carcasses answers to the depositionsagainst him. Wherein I did see so much favour from my Lord to him thatI do again begin to see that my Lord is not right at the bottom, anddid make me the more earnest against him, though said little. My Lordrising, declaring his judgement in his behalf, and going away, I didhinder our arguing it by ourselves, and so broke up the meeting, andmyself went full of trouble to my office, there to write over thedeposition and his answers side by side, and then home to supper and tobed with some trouble of mind to think of the issue of this, how it willbreed ill blood among us here. 

27th. Up by candle-light, about six o'clock, it being bitter coldweather again, after all our warm weather, and by water down to Woolwichrope-yard, I being this day at a leisure, the King and Duke of Yorkbeing gone down to Sheerenesse this morning to lay out the design fora fortification there to the river Medway; and so we do not attend theDuke of York as we should otherwise have done, and there to the DockYard to enquire of the state of things, and went into Mr. Pett's; andthere, beyond expectation, he did present me with a Japan cane, with asilver head, and his wife sent me by him a ring, with a Woolwich stone;

 [Woolwich stones, still collected in that locality, are simply waterworn pebbles of flint, which, when broken with a hammer, exhibit on the smooth surface some resemblance to the human face; and their possessors are thus enabled to trace likenesses of friends, or eminent public characters. The late Mr. Tennant, the geologist, of the Strand, had a collection of such stones. In the British Museum is a nodule of globular or Egyptian jasper, which, in its fracture, bears a striking resemblance to the well-known portrait of Chaucer. It is engraved in Rymsdyk's "Museum Britannicum, " tab. Xxviii. A flint, showing Mr. Pitt's face, used once to be exhibited at the meetings of the Pitt Club. --B. ]

now much in request; which I accepted, the values not being great, andknowing that I had done them courtesies, which he did own in veryhigh terms; and then, at my asking, did give me an old draught of anancient-built ship, given him by his father, of the Beare, in QueenElizabeth's time. This did much please me, it being a thing I muchdesired to have, to shew the difference in the build of ships now andheretofore. Being much taken with this kindness, I away to Blackwall andDeptford, to satisfy myself there about the King's business, and thenwalked to Redriffe, and so home about noon; there find Mr. Hunt, newlycome out of the country, who tells me the country is much impoverishedby the greatness of taxes: the farmers do break every day almost, andL1000 a-year become not worth L500. He dined with us, and we had gooddiscourse of the general ill state of things, and, by the way, he toldme some ridiculous pieces of thrift of Sir G. Downing's, who is hiscountryman, in inviting some poor people, at Christmas last, to charmthe country people's mouths; but did give them nothing but beef, porridge, pudding, and pork, and nothing said all dinner, but only hismother would say, "It's good broth, son. " He would answer, "Yes, it isgood broth. " Then, says his lady, Confirm all, and say, "Yes, very goodbroth. " By and by she would begin and say, "Good pork:"--"Yes, " says themother, "good pork. " Then he cries, "Yes, very good pork. " And so theysaid of all things; to which nobody made any answer, they going therenot out of love or esteem of them, but to eat his victuals, knowing himto be a niggardly fellow; and with this he is jeered now all over thecountry. This day just before dinner comes Captain Story, of Cambridge, to me to the office, about a bill for prest money, [Money paid to men who enlist into the public service; press money. So called because those who receive it are to be prest or ready when called on ("Encyclopaedic Dictionary "). ]

for men sent out of the country and the countries about him to thefleete the last year; but, Lord! to see the natures of men; how thisman, hearing of my name, did ask me of my country, and told me of mycozen Roger, that he was not so wise a man as his father; for that hedo not agree in Parliament with his fellow burgesses and knights ofthe shire, whereas I know very well the reason; for he is not so high aflyer as Mr. Chichley and others, but loves the King better than any ofthem, and to better purpose. But yet, he says that he is a very honestgentleman, and thence runs into a hundred stories of his own services tothe King, and how he at this day brings in the taxes before anybody herethinks they are collected: discourse very absurd to entertain a strangerwith. He being gone, and I glad of it, I home then to dinner. Afterdinner with my wife by coach abroad, andset Mr. Hunt down at the Templeand her at her brother's, and I to White Hall to meet [Sir] W. Coventry, but found him not, but met Mr. Cooling, who tells me of my Lord Duke ofBuckingham's being sent for last night, by a Serjeant at Armes, to theTower, for treasonable practices, and that the King is infinitely angrywith him, and declared him no longer one of his Council. I know not thereason of it, or occasion. To Westminster Hall, and there paid what Iowed for books, and so by coach, took up my wife to the Exchange, andthere bought things for Mrs. Pierces little daughter, my Valentine, andso to their house, where we find Knipp, who also challengeth me for herValentine. She looks well, sang well, and very merry we were for halfan hour. Tells me Harris is well again, having been very ill, and so wehome, and I to the office; then, at night, to Sir W. Pen's, and sat withmy Lady, and the young couple (Sir William out of town) talking merrily;but they make a very sorry couple, methinks, though rich. So late homeand to bed. 

28th. Up, and there comes to me Drumbleby with a flageolet, made to suitwith my former and brings me one Greeting, a master, to teach my wife. I agree by the whole with him to teach her to take out any lesson ofherself for L4. She was not ready to begin to-day, but do to-morrow. SoI to the office, where my Lord Bruncker and I only all the morning, and did business. At noon to the Exchange and to Sir Rob. Viner'sabout settling my accounts there. So back home and to dinner, where Mr. Holliard dined with us, and pleasant company he is. I love his company, and he secures me against ever having the stone again. He gives it me, as his opinion, that the City will never be built again together, as isexpected, while any restraint is laid upon them. He hath been a greatloser, and would be a builder again, but, he says, he knows not whatrestrictions there will be, so as it is unsafe for him to begin. Hegone, I to the office, and there busy till night doing much business, then home and to my accounts, wherein, beyond expectation, I succeededso well as to settle them very clear and plain, though by borrowing ofmonies this month to pay D. Gawden, and chopping and changing with myTangier money, they were become somewhat intricate, and, blessed be God;upon the evening my accounts, I do appear L6800 creditor: This done, I to supper about 12 at night, and so to bed. The weather for three orfour days being come to be exceeding cold again as any time this year. Idid within these six days see smoke still remaining of the late firein the City; and it is strange to think how, to this very day, I cannotsleep at night without great terrors of fire, and this very night Icould not sleep till almost two in the morning through thoughts of fire. Thus this month is ended with great content of mind to me, thriving inmy estate, and the affairs in my offices going pretty well as to myself. This afternoon Mr. Gawden was with me and tells me more than I knewbefore--that he hath orders to get all the victuals he can to Plymouth, and the Western ports, and other outports, and some to Scotland, so thatwe do intend to keep but a flying fleete this year; which, it may be, may preserve us a year longer, but the end of it must be ruin. Sir J. Minnes this night tells me, that he hears for certain, that ballads aremade of us in Holland for begging of a peace; which I expected, but amvexed at. So ends this month, with nothing of weight upon my mind, butfor my father and mother, who are both very ill, and have been so forsome weeks: whom God help! but I do fear my poor father will hardly beever thoroughly well again. 

MARCH 1666-1667

March 1st. Up, it being very cold weather again after a good deal ofwarm summer weather, and to the office, where I settled to do muchbusiness to-day. By and by sent for to Sir G. Carteret to discourse ofthe business of the Navy, and our wants, and the best way of bestowingthe little money we have, which is about L30, 000, but, God knows, wehave need of ten times as much, which do make my life uncomfortable, I confess, on the King's behalf, though it is well enough as to my ownparticular, but the King's service is undone by it. Having done withhim, back again to the office, and in the streets, in Mark Lane, I doobserve, it being St. David's day, the picture of a man dressed like aWelchman, hanging by the neck upon one of the poles that stand out atthe top of one of the merchants' houses, in full proportion, and veryhandsomely done; which is one of the oddest sights I have seen a goodwhile, for it was so like a man that one would have thought it wasindeed a man. 

 [From "Poor Robin's Almanack" for 1757 it appears that, in former times in England, a Welshman was burnt in effigy on this anniversary. Mr. W. C. Hazlitt, in his edition of Brand's "Popular Antiquities, " adds "The practice to which Pepys refers... Was very common at one time; and till very lately bakers made gingerbread Welshmen, called taffies, on St. David's day, which were made to represent a man skewered" (vol. I. , pp. 60, 61). ]

Being returned home, I find Greeting, the flageolet-master, come, andteaching my wife; and I do think my wife will take pleasure in it, andit will be easy for her, and pleasant. So I, as I am well content withthe charge it will occasion me. So to the office till dinner-time, andthen home to dinner, and before dinner making my wife to sing. Poorwretch! her ear is so bad that it made me angry, till the poor wretchcried to see me so vexed at her, that I think I shall not discourage herso much again, but will endeavour to make her understand sounds, and doher good that way; for she hath a great mind to learn, only to pleaseme; and, therefore, I am mighty unjust to her in discouraging her somuch, but we were good friends, and to dinner, and had she not been illwith those and that it were not Friday (on which in Lent there are noplays) I had carried her to a play, but she not being fit to go abroad, I to the office, where all the afternoon close examining the collectionof my papers of the accounts of the Navy since this war to my greatcontent, and so at night home to talk and sing with my-wife, and then tosupper and so to bed with great pleasure. But I cannot but remember thatjust before dinner one of my people come up to me, and told me a mancome from Huntingdon would speak with me, how my heart come into mymouth doubting that my father, who has been long sicke, was dead. It putme into a trembling, but, blessed be [God]! it was no such thing, but acountryman come about ordinary business to me, to receive L50 paid to myfather in the country for the Perkins's for their legacy, upon the deathof their mother, by my uncle's will. So though I get nothing at present, at least by the estate, I am fain to pay this money rather than rob myfather, and much good may it do them that I may have no more furthertrouble from them. I hear to-day that Tom Woodall, the known chyrurgeon, is killed at Somerset House by a Frenchman, but the occasion Sir W. Batten could not tell me. 

2nd. Up, and to the office, where sitting all the morning, and amongother things did agree upon a distribution of L30, 000 and odd, which isthe only sum we hear of like to come out of all the Poll Bill for theuse of this office for buying of goods. I did herein some few courtesiesfor particular friends I wished well to, and for the King's servicealso, and was therefore well pleased with what was done. Sir W. Pen thisday did bring an order from the Duke of York for our receiving from hima small vessel for a fireship, and taking away a better of the King'sfor it, it being expressed for his great service to the King. This I amglad of, not for his sake, but that it will give me a better ground, Ibelieve, to ask something for myself of this kind, which I was fearfulto begin. This do make Sir W. Pen the most kind to me that can be. Isuppose it is this, lest it should find any opposition from me, butI will not oppose, but promote it. After dinner, with my wife, tothe King's house to see "The Mayden Queene, " a new play of Dryden's, mightily commended for the regularity of it, and the strain and wit;and, the truth is, there is a comical part done by Nell, ["Her skill increasing with her years, other poets sought to obtain recommendations of her wit and beauty to the success of their writings. I have said that Dryden was one of the principal supporters of the King's house, and ere long in one of his new plays a principal character was set apart for the popular comedian. The drama was a tragi-comedy called 'Secret Love, or the Maiden Queen, ' and an additional interest was attached to its production from the king having suggested the plot to its author, and calling it 'his play. '"--Cunningham's Story of Nell Gwyn, ed: 1892, pp. 38, 39. ]

which is Florimell, that I never can hope ever to see the like doneagain, by man or woman. The King and Duke of York were at the play. But so great performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in theworld before as Nell do this, both as a mad girle, then most and bestof all when she comes in like a young gallant; and hath the notions andcarriage of a spark the most that ever I saw any man have. It makesme, I confess, admire her. Thence home and to the office, where busy awhile, and then home to read the lives of Henry 5th and 6th, very fine, in Speede, and to bed. This day I did pay a bill of L50 from my father, being so much out of my own purse gone to pay my uncle Robert's legacyto my aunt Perkins's child. 

3rd (Lord's day). Lay long, merrily talking with my wife, and then upand to church, where a dull sermon of Mr. Mills touching Original Sin, and then home, and there find little Michell and his wife, whom I lovemightily. Mightily contented I was in their company, for I love hermuch; and so after dinner I left them and by water from the Old Swan toWhite Hall, where, walking in the galleries, I in the first place metMr. Pierce, who tells me the story of Tom Woodall, the surgeon, killedin a drunken quarrel, and how the Duke of York hath a mind to get him[Pierce] one of his places in St. Thomas's Hospitall. Then comes Mr. Hayward, the Duke of York's servant, and tells us that the Swede'sEmbassador hath been here to-day with news that it is believed that theDutch will yield to have the treaty at London or Dover, neither of whichwill get our King any credit, we having already consented to have it atThe Hague; which, it seems, De Witt opposed, as a thing wherein the Kingof England must needs have some profound design, which in my consciencehe hath not. They do also tell me that newes is this day come to theKing, that the King of France is come with his army to the frontiers ofFlanders, demanding leave to pass through their country towards Poland, but is denied, and thereupon that he is gone into the country. How truethis is I dare not believe till I hear more. From them I walked into theParke, it being a fine but very cold day; and there took two or threeturns the length of the Pell Mell: and there I met Serjeant Bearcroft, who was sent for the Duke of Buckingham, to have brought him prisonerto the Tower. He come to towne this day, and brings word that, beingovertaken and outrid by the Duchesse of Buckingham within a few milesof the Duke's house of Westhorp, he believes she got thither about aquarter of an hour before him, and so had time to consider; so that, when he come, the doors were kept shut against him. The next day, comingwith officers of the neighbour market-town to force open the doors, theywere open for him, but the Duke gone; so he took horse presently, andheard upon the road that the Duke of Buckingham was gone before him forLondon: so that he believes he is this day also come to towne beforehim; but no newes is yet heard of him. This is all he brings. Thence tomy Lord Chancellor's, and there, meeting Sir H. Cholmly, he and I walkedin my Lord's garden, and talked; among other things, of the treaty: andhe says there will certainly be a peace, but I cannot believe it. Hetells me that the Duke of Buckingham his crimes, as far as he knows, arehis being of a caball with some discontented persons of the late Houseof Commons, and opposing the desires of the King in all his matters inthat House; and endeavouring to become popular, and advising how theCommons' House should proceed, and how he would order the House ofLords. And that he hath been endeavouring to have the King's nativitycalculated; which was done, and the fellow now in the Tower about it;which itself hath heretofore, as he says, been held treason, and peopledied for it; but by the Statute of Treasons, in Queen Mary's times andsince, it hath been left out. He tells me that this silly Lord hathprovoked, by his ill-carriage, the Duke of York, my Lord Chancellor, andall the great persons; and therefore, most likely, will die. He tellsme, too, many practices of treachery against this King; as betrayinghim in Scotland, and giving Oliver an account of the King's privatecouncils; which the King knows very well, and hath yet pardoned him. 

 [Two of our greatest poets have drawn the character of the Duke of Buckingham in brilliant verse, and both have condemned him to infamy. There is enough in Pepys's reports to corroborate the main features of Dryden's magnificent portrait of Zimri in "Absolom and Achitophel":

 "In the first rank of these did Zimri stand; A man so various that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome; Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong; Was everything by starts, and nothing long, But, in the course of one revolving moon, Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon; Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking, * * * * * * * He laughed himself from Court, then sought relief By forming parties, but could ne'er be chief. "

 Pope's facts are not correct, and hence the effect of his picture is impaired. In spite of the duke's constant visits to the Tower, Charles II. Still continued his friend; but on the death of the king, expecting little from James, he retired to his estate at Helmsley, in Yorkshire, to nurse his property and to restore his constitution. He died on April 16th, 1687, at Kirkby Moorside, after a few days' illness, caused by sitting on the damp grass when heated from a fox chase. The scene of his death was the house of a tenant, not "the worst inn's worst room" ("Moral Essays, " epist. Iii. ). He was buried in Westminster Abbey. ]

Here I passed away a little time more talking with him and Creed, whom Imet there, and so away, Creed walking with me to White Hall, and thereI took water and stayed at Michell's to drink. I home, and there to readvery good things in Fuller's "Church History, " and "Worthies, " and soto supper, and after supper had much good discourse with W. Hewer, whosupped with us, about the ticket office and the knaveries and extortionsevery day used there, and particularly of the business of Mr. Carcasse, whom I fear I shall find a very rogue. So parted with him, and then tobed. 

4th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and [Sir] W. Batten by barge to Deptfordby eight in the morning, where to the King's yard a little to lookafter business there, and then to a private storehouse to look upon somecordage of Sir W. Batten's, and there being a hole formerly made fora drain for tarr to run into, wherein the barrel stood still, full ofstinking water, Sir W. Batten did fall with one leg into it, which mighthave been very bad to him by breaking a leg or other hurt, but, thanksbe to God, he only sprained his foot a little. So after his shifting hisstockings at a strong water shop close by, we took barge again, and soto Woolwich, where our business was chiefly to look upon the ballastwharfe there, which is offered us for the King's use to hire, but we donot think it worth the laying out much money upon, unless we could buythe fee-simple of it, which cannot be sold us, so we wholly flung itoff: So to the Dockyard, and there staid a while talking about businessof the yard, and thence to the Rope-yard, and so to the White Hart andthere dined, and Captain Cocke with us, whom we found at the Rope-yard, and very merry at dinner, and many pretty tales of Sir J. Minnes, whichI have entered in my tale book. But by this time Sir W. Batten was cometo be in much pain in his foot, so as he was forced to be carried downin a chair to the barge again, and so away to Deptford, and there Ia little in the yard, and then to Bagwell's, where I find his wifewashing, and also I did 'hazer tout que je voudrais con' her, and thensent for her husband, and discoursed of his going to Harwich this weekto his charge of the new ship building there, which I have got him, andso away, walked to Redriffe, and there took boat and away home, and uponTower Hill, near the ticket office, meeting with my old acquaintance Mr. Chaplin, the cheesemonger, and there fell to talk of news, and he tellsme that for certain the King of France is denied passage with his armythrough Flanders, and that he hears that the Dutch do stand upon highterms with us, and will have a promise of not being obliged to strikethe flag to us before they will treat with us, and other high things, which I am ashamed of and do hope will never be yielded to. That they domake all imaginable preparations, but that he believes they will be inmighty want of men; that the King of France do court us mightily. Hetells me too that our Lord-Treasurer is going to lay down, and that LordArlington is to be Lord Treasurer, but I believe nothing of it, for heis not yet of estate visible enough to have the charge I suppose uponhim. So being parted from him I home to the office, and after havingdone business there I home to supper, and there mightily pleased with mywife's beginning the flagellette, believing that she will come to verywell thereon. This day in the barge I took Berckenshaw's translation ofAlsted his Templum, but the most ridiculous book, as he has translatedit, that ever I saw in my life, I declaring that I understood not threelines together from one end of the book to the other. 

5th. Up, and to the office, where met and sat all the morning, doinglittle for want of money, but only bear the countenance of an office. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office again, and there comesMartin my purser, and I walked with him awhile in the garden, I givinghim good advice to beware of coming any more with high demands forsupernumeraries or other things, for now Sir W. Pen is come to mind thebusiness, the passing of his accounts will not be so easy as the last. He tells me he will never need it again, it being as easy, and to asmuch purpose to do the same thing otherwise, and how he do keep hisCaptain's table, and by that means hath the command of his Captains, and do not fear in a 5th-rate ship constantly employed to get a L1000 infive years time, and this year, besides all his spendings, which are Ifear high, he hath got at this day clear above L150 in a voyage of aboutfive or six months, which is a brave trade. He gone I to the office, andthere all the afternoon late doing much business, and then to see Sir W. Batten, whose leg is all but better than it was, and like to do well. Iby discourse do perceive he and his Lady are to their hearts out withmy Lord Bruncker and Mrs. Williams, to which I added something, but, Ithink, did not venture too far with them. But, Lord! to see to what apoor content any acquaintance among these people, or the people of theworld, as they now-adays go, is worth; for my part I and my wife willkeep to one another and let the world go hang, for there is nothing butfalseness in it. So home to supper and hear my wife and girle sing alittle, and then to bed with much content of mind. 

6th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Pen to White Hall by coach, and by the wayagreed to acquaint [Sir] W. Coventry with the business of Mr. Carcasse, and he and I spoke to Sir W. Coventry that we might move it to the Dukeof York, which I did in a very indifferent, that is, impartial manner, but vexed I believe Lord Bruncker. Here the Duke of York did acquaintus, and the King did the like also, afterwards coming in, with hisresolution of altering the manner of the war this year; that is, weshall keep what fleete we have abroad in several squadrons: so thatnow all is come out; but we are to keep it as close as we can, withouthindering the work that is to be done in preparation to this. Greatpreparations there are to fortify Sheernesse and the yard at Portsmouth, and forces are drawing down to both those places, and elsewhere by theseaside; so that we have some fear of an invasion; and the Duke of Yorkhimself did declare his expectation of the enemy's blocking us up herein the River, and therefore directed that we should send away all theships that we have to fit out hence. Sir W. Pen told me, going with methis morning to White Hall, that for certain the Duke of Buckinghamis brought into the Tower, and that he hath had an hour's privateconference with the King before he was sent thither. To WestminsterHall. There bought some news books, and, as every where else, hear everybody complain of the dearness of coals, being at L4 per chaldron, theweather, too, being become most bitter cold, the King saying to-day thatit was the coldest day he ever knew in England. Thence by coach to myLord Crew's, where very welcome. Here I find they are in doubt wherethe Duke of Buckingham is; which makes me mightily reflect on theuncertainty of all history, when, in a business of this moment, andof this day's growth, we cannot tell the truth. Here dined my oldacquaintance, Mr. Borfett, that was my Lord Sandwich's chaplain, andmy Lady Wright and Dr. Boreman, who is preacher at St. Gyles's in theFields, who, after dinner, did give my Lord an account of two papistwomen lately converted, whereof one wrote her recantation, which heshewed under her own hand mighty well drawn, so as my Lord desired acopy of it, after he had satisfied himself from the Doctor, that to hisknowledge she was not a woman under any necessity. Thence by coach homeand staid a very little, and then by water to Redriffe, and walkedto Bagwell's, where 'la moher' was 'defro, sed' would not have me'demeurer' there 'parce que' Mrs. Batters and one of my 'ancillas', I believe Jane (for she was gone abroad to-day), was in the town, andcoming thither; so I away presently, esteeming it a great escape. So tothe yard and spoke a word or two, and then by water home, wondrous cold, and reading a ridiculous ballad made in praise of the Duke of Albemarle, to the tune of St. George, the tune being printed, too; and I observethat people have some great encouragement to make ballads of him ofthis kind. There are so many, that hereafter he will sound like Guy ofWarwicke. Then abroad with my wife, leaving her at the 'Change, while Ito Sir H. Cholmly's, a pretty house, and a fine, worthy, well-disposedgentleman he is. He and I to Sir Ph. Warwicke's, about money forTangier, but to little purpose. H. Cholmley tells me, among otherthings, that he hears of little hopes of a peace, their demands beingso high as we shall never grant, and could tell me that we shall keepno fleete abroad this year, but only squadrons. And, among other things, that my Lord Bellasses, he believes, will lose his command of Tangier byhis corrupt covetous ways of. Endeavouring to sell his command, which Iam glad [of], for he is a man of no worth in the world but compliment. So to the 'Change, and there bought 32s. Worth of things for Mrs. Knipp, my Valentine, which is pretty to see how my wife is come to conventionwith me, that, whatever I do give to anybody else, I shall give her asmuch, which I am not much displeased with. So home and to the officeand Sir W. Batten, to tell him what I had done to-day about Carcasse'sbusiness, and God forgive me I am not without design to give a blowto Sir W. Batten by it. So home, where Mr. Batelier supped with us andtalked away the evening pretty late, and so he gone and we to bed. 

7th. So up, and to the office, my head full of Carcasse's business; thenhearing that Knipp is at my house, I home, and it was about a ticket fora friend of hers. I do love the humour of the jade very well. So tothe office again, not being able to stay, and there about noon my LordBruncker did begin to talk of Carcasse's business. Only CommissionerPett, my Lord, and I there, and it was pretty to see how Pett hugged theoccasion of having anything against Sir W. Batten, which I am not muchtroubled at, for I love him not neither. Though I did really endeavourto quash it all I could, because I would prevent their malice takingeffect. My Lord I see is fully resolved to vindicate Carcasse, thoughto the undoing of Sir W. Batten, but I believe he will find himself in amistake, and do himself no good, and that I shall be glad of, for thoughI love the treason I hate the traitor. But he is vexed at my moving itto the Duke of York yesterday, which I answered well, so as I thinkhe could not answer. But, Lord! it is pretty to see how Pett hugs thisbusiness, and how he favours my Lord Bruncker; who to my knowledge hateshim, and has said more to his disadvantage, in my presence, to the Kingand Duke of York than any man in England, and so let them thrive onewith another by cheating one another, for that is all I observe amongthem. Thence home late, and find my wife hath dined, and she and Mrs. Hewer going to a play. Here was Creed, and he and I to Devonshire House, to a burial of a kinsman of Sir R. Viner's; and there I received a ring, and so away presently to Creed, who staid for me at an alehouse hard by, and thence to the Duke's playhouse, where he parted, and I in and findmy wife and Mrs. Hewer, and sat by them and saw "The English Princesse, or Richard the Third;" a most sad, melancholy play, and pretty good; butnothing eminent in it, as some tragedys are; only little Mis. Davis diddance a jig after the end of the play, and there telling the next day'splay; so that it come in by force only to please the company to seeher dance in boy's 'clothes; and, the truth is, there is no comparisonbetween Nell's dancing the other day at the King's house in boy'sclothes and this, this being infinitely beyond the other. Mere was Mr. Clerke and Pierce, to whom one word only of "How do you, " and soaway home, Mrs. Hewer with us, and I to the office and so to [Sir] W. Batten's, and there talked privately with him and [Sir] W. Pen aboutbusiness of Carcasse against tomorrow, wherein I think I did give themproof enough of my ability as well as friendship to [Sir] W. Batten, andthe honour of the office, in my sense of the rogue's business. So backto finish my office business, and then home to supper, and to bed. Thisday, Commissioner Taylor come to me for advice, and would force me totake ten pieces in gold of him, which I had no mind to, he being becomeone of our number at the Board. This day was reckoned by all people thecoldest day that ever was remembered in England; and, God knows! coalsat a very great price. 

8th. Up, and to the Old Swan, where drank at Michell's, but not seeingher whom I love I by water to White Hall, and there acquainted Sir G. Carteret betimes what I had to say this day before the Duke of York inthe business of Carcasse, which he likes well of, being a great enemy tohim, and then I being too early here to go to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, having nothing to say to him, and being able to give him but a badaccount of the business of the office (which is a shame to me, and thatwhich I shall rue if I do not recover), to the Exchequer about getting acertificate of Mr. Lanyon's entered at Sir R. Longs office, and strangeit is to see what horrid delays there are at this day in the businessof money, there being nothing yet come from my Lord Treasurer to setthe business of money in action since the Parliament broke off, notwithstanding the greatness and number of the King's occasions forit. So to the Swan, and there had three or four baisers of the littleancilla there, and so to Westminster Hall, where I saw Mr. Martin, thepurser, come through with a picture in his hand, which he had bought, and observed how all the people of the Hall did fleer and laugh uponhim, crying, "There is plenty grown upon a sudden;" and, the truth is, Iwas a little troubled that my favour should fall on so vain a fellow ashe, and the more because, methought, the people do gaze upon me as theman that had raised him, and as if they guessed whence my kindness tohim springs. So thence to White Hall, where I find all met at the Dukeof York's chamber; and, by and by, the Duke of York comes, and Carcasseis called in, and I read the depositions and his answers, and he addedwith great confidence and good words, even almost to persuasion, what tosay; and my Lord Bruncker, like a very silly solicitor, argued againstme and us all for him; and, being asked first by the Duke of Yorkhis opinion, did give it for his being excused. I next did answer thecontrary very plainly, and had, in this dispute, which vexed and willnever be forgot by my Lord, many occasions of speaking severely, anddid, against his bad practices. Commissioner Pett, like a fawning rogue, sided with my Lord, but to no purpose; and [Sir] W. Pen, like a cunningrogue, spoke mighty indifferently, and said nothing in all the fray, like a knave as he is. But [Sir] W. Batten spoke out, and did come offhimself by the Duke's kindness very well; and then Sir G. Carteret, andSir W. Coventry, and the Duke of York himself, flatly as I said; andso he was declared unfit to continue in, and therefore to be presentlydischarged the office; which, among other good effects, I hope, willmake my Lord Bruncker not 'alloquer' so high, when he shall consider hehath had such a publick foyle as this is. So home with [Sir] W. Batten, and [Sir] W. Pen, by coach, and there met at the office, and my LordBruncker presently after us, and there did give order to Mr. Stevens forsecuring the tickets in Carcasses hands, which my Lord against his willcould not refuse to sign, and then home to dinner, and so away with mywife by coach, she to Mrs. Pierce's and I to my Lord Bellasses, andwith him to [my] Lord Treasurer's, where by agreement we met with SirH. Cholmly, and there sat and talked all the afternoon almost about onething or other, expecting Sir Philip Warwicke's coming, but he come not, so we away towards night, Sir H. Cholmly and I to the Temple, and thereparted, telling me of my Lord Bellasses's want of generosity, and thathe [Bellasses] will certainly be turned out of his government, andhe thinks himself stands fair for it. So home, and there found, as Iexpected, Mrs. Pierce and Mr. Batelier; he went for Mrs. Jones, butno Mrs. Knipp come, which vexed me, nor any other company. So with onefidler we danced away the evening, but I was not well contented with thelittleness of the room, and my wife's want of preparing things ready, asthey should be, for supper, and bad. So not very merry, though very wellpleased. So after supper to bed, my wife and Mrs. Pierce, and her boyJames and I. Yesterday I began to make this mark (V) stand instead ofthree pricks, which therefore I must observe every where, it being amark more easy to make. 

9th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning busy. At noon hometo dinner, where Mrs. Pierce did continue with us and her boy (who Istill find every day more and more witty beyond his age), and did dinewith us, and by and by comes in her husband and a brother-in-law of his, a parson, one of the tallest biggest men that ever I saw in my life. Soto the office, where a meeting extraordinary about settling the numberand wages of my Lord Bruncker's clerks for his new work upon theTreasurer's accounts, but this did put us upon running into the businessof yesterday about Carcasse, wherein I perceive he is most dissatisfiedwith me, and I am not sorry for it, having all the world but him of myside therein, for it will let him know another time that he is notto expect our submitting to him in every thing, as I think he didheretofore expect. He did speak many severe words to me, and I returnedas many to him, so that I do think there cannot for a great while, be, any right peace between us, and I care not a fart for it; but however, I must look about me and mind my business, for I perceive by his threatsand enquiries he is and will endeavour to find out something againstme or mine. Breaking up here somewhat brokenly I home, and carried Mrs. Pierce and wife to the New Exchange, and there did give her and myselfa pair of gloves, and then set her down at home, and so back againstraight home and thereto do business, and then to Sir W. Batten's, where [Sir] W. Pen and others, and mighty merry, only I have got a greatcold, and the scolding this day at the office with my Lord Bruncker hathmade it worse, that I am not able to speak. But, Lord! to see how kindSir W. Batten and his Lady are to me upon this business of my standingby [Sir] W. Batten against Carcasse, and I am glad of it. Captain Cocke, who was here to-night, did tell us that he is certain that yesterday aproclamation was voted at the Council, touching the proclaiming of myLord Duke of Buckingham a traytor, and that it will be out on Monday. Sohome late, and drank some buttered ale, and so to bed and to sleep. Thiscold did most certainly come by my staying a little too long bare-leggedyesterday morning when I rose while I looked out fresh socks and threadstockings, yesterday's having in the night, lying near the window, beencovered with snow within the window, which made me I durst not put themon. 

10th (Lord's day). Having my cold still grown more upon me, so as I amnot able to speak, I lay in bed till noon, and then up and to my chamberwith a good fire, and there spent an hour on Morly's Introduction toMusique, a very good but unmethodical book. Then to dinner, my wife andI, and then all the afternoon alone in my chamber preparing a letter forCommissioner Taylor to the City about getting his accounts for The LoyalLondon, [The "Loyal London" was the ship given to the king by the City. It was launched at Deptford on June 10th, 1666]

by him built for them, stated and discharged, they owing him still aboutL4000. Towards the evening comes Mr. Spong to see me, whose discourseabout several things I proposed to him was very good, better than I havehad with any body a good while. He gone, I to my business again, andanon comes my Lady Pen and her son-in law and daughter, and there wetalked all the evening away, and then to supper; and after supper comesSir W. Pen, and there we talked together, and then broke up, and so tobed. He tells me that our Mr. Turner has seen the proclamation againstthe Duke of Buckingham, and that therefore it is true what we heardlast night. Yesterday and to-day I have been troubled with a hoarsenessthrough cold that I could not almost speak. 

11th. Up, and with my cold still upon me and hoarseness, but I wasforced to rise and to the office, where all the morning busy, and amongother things Sir W. Warren come to me, to whom of late I have been verystrange, partly from my indifference how more than heretofore to getmoney, but most from my finding that he is become great with my LordBruncker, and so I dare not trust him as I used to do, for I will not beinward with him that is open to another. By and by comes Sir H. Cholmlyto me about Tangier business, and then talking of news he tells me howyesterday the King did publiquely talk of the King of France's dealingwith all the Princes of Christendome. As to the States of Holland, he[the King of France] hath advised them, on good grounds, to refuse totreat with us at the Hague, because of having opportunity of spies, byreason of our interest in the House of Orange; and then, it being a townin one particular province, it would not be fit to have it, but in atown wherein the provinces have equal interest, as at Mastricht, andother places named. That he advises them to offer no terms, nor acceptof any, without his privity and consent, according to agreement; andtells them, if not so, he hath in his power to be even with them, theKing of England being come to offer him any terms he pleases; and thatmy Lord St. Albans is now at Paris, Plenipotentiary, to make what peacehe pleases; and so he can make it, and exclude them, the Dutch, if hesees fit. A copy of this letter of the King of France's the SpanishAmbassador here gets, and comes and tells all to our King; which ourKing denies, and says the King of France only uses his power of sayinganything. At the same time, the King of France writes to the Emperor, that he is resolved to do all things to express affection to theEmperor, having it now in his power to make what peace he pleasesbetween the King of England and him, and the States of the UnitedProvinces; and, therefore, that he would not have him to concern himselfin a friendship with us; and assures him that, on that regard, he willnot offer anything to his disturbance, in his interest in Flanders, orelsewhere. He writes, at the same time, to Spayne, to tell him that hewonders to hear of a league almost ended between the Crown of Spayne andEngland, by my Lord Sandwich, and all without his privity, while he wasmaking a peace upon what terms he pleased with England: that he is agreat lover of the Crown of Spayne, and would take the King and hisaffairs, during his minority, into his protection, nor would offerto set his foot in Flanders, or any where else, to disturb him; and, therefore, would not have him to trouble himself to make peace with anybody; only he hath a desire to offer an exchange, which he thinks may beof moment to both sides: that is, that he [France] will enstate the Kingof Spayne in the kingdom of Portugall, and he and the Dutch will put himinto possession of Lisbon; and, that being done, he [France] may haveFlanders: and this, they say; do mightily take in Spayne, which issensible of the fruitless expence Flanders, so far off, gives them; andhow much better it would be for them to be master of Portugall; and theKing of France offers, for security herein, that the King of Englandshall be bond for him, and that he will countersecure the King ofEngland with Amsterdam; and, it seems, hath assured our King, that ifhe will make a league with him, he will make a peace exclusive to theHollander. These things are almost romantique, but yet true, as Sir H. Cholmly tells me the King himself did relate it all yesterday; and itseems as if the King of France did think other princes fit for nothingbut to make sport for him: but simple princes they are, that are forcedto suffer this from him. So at noon with Sir W. Pen by coach to theSun in Leadenhall Streete, where Sir R. Ford, Sir W. Batten, andCommissioner Taylor (whose feast it was) were, and we dined and had avery good dinner. Among other discourses Sir R. Ford did tell me that hedo verily believe that the city will in few years be built again in allthe greatest streets, and answered the objections I did give to it. Here we had the proclamation this day come out against the Duke ofBuckingham, commanding him to come in to one of the Secretaries, or tothe Lieutenant of the Tower. A silly, vain man to bring himself to this:and there be many hard circumstances in the proclamation of the causesof this proceeding of the King's, which speak great displeasure of theKing's, and crimes of his. Then to discourse of the business of the day, that is, to see Commissioner Taylor's accounts for his ship he built, The Loyall London, and it is pretty to see how dully this old fellowmakes his demands, and yet plaguy wise sayings will come from the mansometimes, and also how Sir R. Ford and [Sir] W. Batten did with seemingreliance advise him what to do, and how to come prepared to answerobjections to the Common Council. Thence away to the office, where latebusy, and then home to supper, mightily pleased with my wife's trill, and so to bed. This night Mr. Carcasse did come to me again to desirefavour, and that I would mediate that he might be restored, but I didgive him no kind answer at all, but was very angry, and I confess a gooddeal of it from my Lord Bruncker's simplicity and passion. 

12th. Up, and to the office, where all-the morning, and my Lord Brunckermighty quiet, and no words all day, which I wonder at, expecting that hewould have fallen again upon the business of Carcasse, and the more forthat here happened that Perkins, who was the greatest witness of allagainst him, was brought in by Sir W. Batten to prove that he did reallybelong to The Prince, but being examined was found rather a fool thananything, as not being able to give any account when he come in nor whenhe come out of her, more than that he was taken by the Dutch in her, but did agree in earnest to Sir W. Pen's saying that she lay up all, thewinter before at Lambeth. This I confess did make me begin to doubt thetruth of his evidence, but not to doubt the faults of Carcasse, forhe was condemned by, many other better evidences than his, besides thewhole world's report. At noon home, and there find Mr. Goodgroome, whoseteaching of my wife only by singing over and over again to her, andletting her sing with him, not by herself, to correct her faults, I donot like at all, but was angry at it; but have this content, that I dothink she will come to sing pretty well, and to trill in time, whichpleases me well. He dined with us, and then to the office, when we had asorry meeting to little purpose, and then broke up, and I to my office, and busy late to good purpose, and so home to supper and to bed. Thisday a poor seaman, almost starved for want of food, lay in our yarda-dying. I sent him half-a-crown, and we ordered his ticket to be paid. 

13th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Batten to the Duke of York to our usualattendance, where I did fear my Lord Bruncker might move something inrevenge that might trouble me, but he did not, but contrarily had thecontent to hear Sir G. Carteret fall foul on him in the Duke of York'sbed chamber for his directing people with tickets and petitions to him, bidding him mind his Controller's place and not his, for if he did heshould be too hard for him, and made high words, which I was gladof. Having done our usual business with the Duke of York, I away; andmeeting Mr. D. Gawden in the presence-chamber, he and I to talk; andamong other things he tells me, and I do find every where else, also, that our masters do begin not to like of their councils in fitting outno fleete, but only squadrons, and are finding out excuses for it; and, among others, he tells me a Privy-Councillor did tell him that it wassaid in Council that a fleete could not be set out this year, for wantof victuals, which gives him and me a great alarme, but me especiallyfor had it been so, I ought to have represented it; and therefore itputs me in policy presently to prepare myself to answer this objection, if ever it should come about, by drawing up a state of the Victualler'sstores, which I will presently do. So to Westminster Hall, and therestaid and talked, and then to Sir G. Carteret's, where I dined with theladies, he not at home, and very well used I am among them, so that I amheartily ashamed that my wife hath not been there to see them; but sheshall very shortly. So home by water, and stepped into Michell's, andthere did baiser my Betty, 'que aegrotat' a little. At home find Mr. Holliard, and made him eat a bit of victuals. Here I find Mr. Greeten, who teaches my wife on the flageolet, and I think she will come tosomething on it. Mr. Holliard advises me to have my father come up totown, for he doubts else in the country he will never find ease, for, poor man, his grief is now grown so great upon him that he is never atease, so I will have him up at Easter. By and by by coach, set down Mr. Holliard near his house at Hatton Garden and myself to Lord Treasurer's, and sent my wife to the New Exchange. I staid not here, but toWestminster Hall, and thence to Martin's, where he and she both within, and with them the little widow that was once there with her when I wasthere, that dissembled so well to be grieved at hearing a tune that her, late husband liked, but there being so much company, I had no pleasurehere, and so away to the Hall again, and there met Doll Lane coming out, and 'par contrat did hazer bargain para aller to the cabaret de vin', called the Rose, and 'ibi' I staid two hours, 'sed' she did not 'venir', 'lequel' troubled me, and so away by coach and took up my wife, and awayhome, and so to Sir W. Batten's, where I am told that it is intended byMr. Carcasse to pray me to be godfather with Lord Bruncker to-morrow tohis child, which I suppose they tell me in mirth, but if he shouldask me I know not whether I should refuse it or no. Late at my officepreparing a speech against to-morrow morning, before the King, at myLord Treasurer's, and the truth is it run in my head all night. So hometo supper and to bed. The Duke of Buckingham is concluded gone over sea, and, it is thought, to France. 

14th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen to my LordTreasurer's, where we met with my Lord Bruncker an hour before the Kingcome, and had time to talk a little of our business. Then come muchcompany, among others Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that undoubtedly myLord Bellasses will go no more as Governor to Tangier, and that he doput in fair for it, and believes he shall have it, and proposes how itmay conduce to his account and mine in the business of money. Here wefell into talk with Sir Stephen Fox, and, among other things, of theSpanish manner of walking, when three together, and shewed me how, whichwas pretty, to prevent differences. By and by comes the King and Dukeof York, and presently the officers of the Ordnance were called; my LordBerkeley, Sir John Duncomb, and Mr. Chichly; then we, my Lord Bruncker, [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and myself; where we find only the Kingand Duke of York, and my Lord Treasurer, and Sir G. Carteret; where Ionly did speak, laying down the state of our wants, which the Kingand Duke of York seemed very well pleased with, and we did get what weasked, L500, 000, assigned upon the eleven months' tax: but that isnot so much ready money, or what will raise L40, 000 per week, whichwe desired, and the business will want. Yet are we fain to come awayanswered, when, God knows, it will undo the King's business to havematters of this moment put off in this manner. The King did prevent myoffering anything by and by as Treasurer for Tangier, telling me thathe had ordered us L30, 000 on the same tax; but that is not what we wouldhave to bring our payments to come within a year. So we gone out, inwent others; viz. , one after another, Sir Stephen Fox for the army, Captain Cocke for sick and wounded, Mr. Ashburnham for the household. Thence [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and I, back again; I mightilypleased with what I had said and done, and the success thereof. But, itbeing a fine clear day, I did, 'en gayete de coeur', propose going toBow for ayre sake, and dine there, which they embraced, and so [Sir] W. Batten and I (setting [Sir] W. Pen down at Mark Lane end) straight toBow, to the Queen's Head, and there bespoke our dinner, carrying meatwith us from London; and anon comes [Sir] W. Pen with my wife and LadyBatten, and then Mr. Lowder with his mother and wife. While [Sir] W. Batten and I were alone, we had much friendly discourse, though I willnever trust him far; but we do propose getting "The Flying Greyhound, "our privateer, to us and [Sir] W. Pen at the end of the year when wecall her home, by begging her of the King, and I do not think we shallbe denied her. They being come, we to oysters and so to talk, verypleasant I was all day, and anon to dinner, and I made very goodcompany. Here till the evening, so as it was dark almost before we gothome (back again in the same method, I think, we went), and spent thenight talking at Sir W. Batten's, only a little at my office, to lookover the Victualler's contract, and draw up some arguments for him toplead for his charges in transportation of goods beyond the ports whichthe letter of one article in his contract do lay upon him. This doneI home to supper and to bed. Troubled a little at my fear that my LordBruncker should tell Sir W. Coventry of our neglecting the office thisafternoon (which was intended) to look after our pleasures, but nothingwill fall upon me alone about this. 

15th. Up, and pleased at Tom's teaching of Barker something to sing a3rd part to a song, which will please mightily. So I to the office allthe morning, and at noon to the 'Change, where I do hear that lettersthis day come to Court do tell us that we are likely not to agree, theDutch demanding high terms, and the King of France the like, in a mostbraving manner. The merchants do give themselves over for lost, no manknowing what to do, whether to sell or buy, not knowing whether peaceor war to expect, and I am told that could that be now known a man mightget L20, 000 in a week's time by buying up of goods in case there shouldbe war. Thence home and dined well, and then with my wife, set her atUnthanke's and I to Sir G. Carteret, where talked with the ladies awhile, and my Lady Carteret talks nothing but sorrow and afflictionscoming on us, and indeed I do fear the same. So away and met Dr. Fuller, Bishop of Limricke, and walked an hour with him in the Court talking ofnewes only, and he do think that matters will be bad with us. Then toWestminster Hall, and there spent an hour or two walking up and down, thinking 'para avoir' got out Doll Lane, 'sed je ne' could do it, havingno opportunity 'de hazer le, ainsi lost the tota' afternoon, and so awayand called my wife and home, where a little at the office, and then hometo my closet to enter my journalls, and so to supper and to bed. Thisnoon come little Mis. Tooker, who is grown a little woman; ego hadopportunity 'para baiser her.... This morning I was called up by SirJohn Winter, poor man! come in his sedan from the other end of the town, before I was up, and merely about the King's business, which is a worthything of him, and I believe him to be a worthy good man, and I willdo him the right to tell the Duke of it, who did speak well of him theother day. It was about helping the King in the business of bringingdown his timber to the sea-side, in the Forest of Deane. 

16th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning; at noon home todinner, and then to the office again in the afternoon, and there allday very busy till night, and then, having done much business, home tosupper, and so to bed. This afternoon come home Sir J. Minnes, who hasbeen down, but with little purpose, to pay the ships below at the Nore. This evening, having done my letters, I did write out the heads ofwhat I had prepared to speak to the King the other day at my LordTreasurer's, which I do think convenient to keep by me for futureuse. The weather is now grown warm again, after much cold; and it isobservable that within these eight days I did see smoke remaining, coming out of some cellars, from the late great fire, now above sixmonths since. There was this day at the office (as he is most days) SirW. Warren, against whom I did manifestly plead, and heartily too, Godforgive me! But the reason is because I do find that he do now whollyrely almost upon my Lord Bruncker, though I confess I have no greaterground of my leaving him than the confidence which I perceive he hathgot in my Lord Bruncker, whose seeming favours only do obtain of him asmuch compensation as, I believe (for he do know well the way of usinghis bounties), as mine more real. Besides, my Lord and I being becomeantagonistic, I do not think it safe for me to trust myself in the handsof one whom I know to be a knave, and using all means to become graciousthere. 

17th (Lord's day). Up betime with my wife, and by coach with Sir W. Penand Sir Thomas Allen to White Hall, there my wife and I the first timethat ever we went to my Lady Jemimah's chamber at Sir Edward Carteret'slodgings. I confess I have been much to blame and much ashamed of ournot visiting her sooner, but better now than never. Here we took herbefore she was up, which I was sorry for, so only saw her, and away tochapel, leaving further visit till after sermon. I put my wife into thepew below, but it was pretty to see, myself being but in a plain band, and every way else ordinary, how the verger took me for her man, I think, and I was fain to tell him she was a kinswoman of my LordSandwich's, he saying that none under knights-baronets' ladies are togo into that pew. So she being there, I to the Duke of York's lodging, where in his dressing-chamber he talking of his journey to-morrow ornext day to Harwich, to prepare some fortifications there; so thatwe are wholly upon the defensive part this year, only we have someexpectations that we may by our squadrons annoy them in their trade bythe North of Scotland and to the Westward. Here Sir W. Pen did show theDuke of York a letter of Hogg's about a prize he drove in within theSound at Plymouth, where the Vice-Admiral claims her. Sir W. Pen wouldhave me speak to the latter, which I did, and I think without anyoffence, but afterwards I was sorry for it, and Sir W. Pen did plainlysay that he had no mind to speak to the Duke of York about it, so thathe put me upon it, but it shall be, the last time that I will do suchanother thing, though I think no manner of hurt done by it to me atall. That done I to walk in the Parke, where to the Queene's Chapel, and there heard a fryer preach with his cord about his middle, inPortuguese, something I could understand, showing that God did respectthe meek and humble, as well as the high and rich. He was full ofaction, but very decent and good, I thought, and his manner of deliveryvery good. Then I went back to White Hall, and there up to the closet, and spoke with several people till sermon was ended, which was preachedby the Bishop of Hereford, an old good man, that they say made anexcellent sermon. He was by birth a Catholique, and a great gallant, having L1500 per annum, patrimony, and is a Knight Barronet; was turnedfrom his persuasion by the late Archbishop Laud. He and the Bishop ofExeter, Dr. Ward, are the two Bishops that the King do say he cannothave bad sermons from. Here I met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me, that undoubtedly my Lord Bellasses do go no more to Tangier, and that hedo believe he do stand in a likely way to go Governor; though he says, and showed me, a young silly Lord, one Lord Allington, who hath offereda great sum of money to go, and will put hard for it, he having a finelady, and a great man would be glad to have him out of the way. AfterChapel I down and took out my wife from the pew, where she was talkingwith a lady whom I knew not till I was gone. It was Mrs. Ashfield ofBrampton, who had with much civility been, it seems, at our house to seeher. I am sorry I did not show her any more respect. With my wife toSir G. Carteret's, where we dined and mightily made of, and mostextraordinary people they are to continue friendship with for goodness, virtue, and nobleness and interest. After dinner he and I alone awhileand did joy ourselves in my Lord Sandwich's being out of the way allthis time. He concurs that we are in a way of ruin by thus being forcedto keep only small squadrons out, but do tell me that it was not choice, but only force, that we could not keep out the whole fleete. He tells methat the King is very kind to my Lord Sandwich, and did himself observeto him (Sir G. Carteret), how those very people, meaning the Prince andDuke of Albemarle, are punished in the same kind as they did seek toabuse my Lord Sandwich. Thence away, and got a hackney coach and carriedmy wife home, and there only drank, and myself back again to my LordTreasurer's, where the King, Duke of York, and Sir G. Carteret and LordArlington were and none else, so I staid not, but to White Hall, andthere meeting nobody I would speak with, walked into the Park and tooktwo or three turns all alone, and then took coach and home, where I findMercer, who I was glad to see, but durst [not] shew so, my wife beingdispleased with her, and indeed I fear she is grown a very gossip. Ito my chamber, and there fitted my arguments which I had promised Mr. Gawden in his behalf in some pretences to allowance of the King, andthen to supper, and so to my chamber a little again, and then to bed. Duke of Buckingham not heard of yet. 

18th. Up betimes, and to the office to write fair my paper for D. Gawdenagainst anon, and then to other business, where all the morning. D. Gawden by and by comes, and I did read over and give him the paper, which I think I have much obliged him in. A little before noon comesmy old good friend, Mr. Richard Cumberland, --[Richard Cumberland, afterwards Bishop of Peterborough]--to see me, being newly come to town, whom I have not seen almost, if not quite, these seven years. In hisplain country-parson's dress. I could not spend much time with him, but prayed him come with his brother, who was with him, to dine with meto-day; which he did do and I had a great deal of his good company; anda most excellent person he is as any I know, and one that I am sorryshould be lost and buried in a little country town, and would be glad toremove him thence; and the truth is, if he would accept of my sister'sfortune, I should give L100 more with him than to a man able to settleher four times as much as, I fear, he is able to do; and I will thinkof it, and a way how to move it, he having in discourse said he was notagainst marrying, nor yet engaged. I shewed him my closet, and did givehim some very good musique, Mr. Caesar being here upon his lute. Theygone I to the office, where all the afternoon very busy, and amongother things comes Captain Jenifer to me, a great servant of my LordSandwich's, who tells me that he do hear for certain, though I do notyet believe it, that Sir W. Coventry is to be Secretary of State, and myLord Arlington Lord Treasurer. I only wish that the latter were as fitfor the latter office as the former is for the former, and more fitthan my Lord Arlington. Anon Sir W. Pen come and talked with me in thegarden, and tells me that for certain the Duke of Richmond is to marryMrs. Stewart, he having this day brought in an account of his estateand debts to the King on that account. At night home to supper and soto bed. My father's letter this day do tell me of his own continuedillness, and that my mother grows so much worse, that he fears shecannot long continue, which troubles me very much. This day, Mr. Caesar told me a pretty experiment of his, of angling with a minikin, agut-string varnished over, which keeps it from swelling, and is beyondany hair for strength and smallness. The secret I like mightily. 

19th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon dinedat home very pleasantly with my wife, and after dinner with a great dealof pleasure had her sing, which she begins to do with some pleasureto me, more than I expected. Then to the office again, where all theafternoon close, and at night home to supper and to bed. It comes in mymind this night to set down how a house was the other day in BishopsgateStreet blowed up with powder; a house that was untenanted, and between aflax shop and a-----------, both bad for fire; but, thanks be to God, itdid no more hurt; and all do conclude it a plot. I would also rememberto my shame how I was pleased yesterday, to find the righteous maid ofMagister Griffin sweeping of 'nostra' office, 'elle con the Roman narizand bonne' body which I did heretofore like, and do still refresh me tothink 'que elle' is come to us, that I may 'voir her aliquando'. Thisafternoon I am told again that the town do talk of my Lord Arlington'sbeing to be Lord Treasurer, and Sir W. Coventry to be Secretary ofState; and that for certain the match is concluded between the Duke ofRichmond and Mrs. Stewart, which I am well enough pleased with; and itis pretty to consider how his quality will allay people's talk; whereas, had a meaner person married her, he would for certain have been reckoneda cuckold at first-dash. 

20th. Up pretty betimes, and to the Old Swan, and there drank atMichell's, but his wife is not there, but gone to her mother's, who isill, and so hath staid there since Sunday. Thence to Westminster Halland drank at the Swan, and 'baiserais the petite misse'; and so to Mrs. Martin's.... I sent for some burnt wine, and drank and then away, notpleased with my folly, and so to the Hall again, and there staid alittle, and so home by water again, where, after speaking with my wife, I with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes to our church to the vestry, tobe assessed by the late Poll Bill, where I am rated as an Esquire, andfor my office, all will come to about L50. But not more than I expected, nor so much by a great deal as I ought to be, for all my offices. Soshall be glad to escape so. Thence by water again to White Hall, andthere up into the house, and do hear that newes is come now that theenemy do incline again to a peace, but could hear no particulars, so donot believe it. I had a great mind to have spoke with the King, about abusiness proper enough for me, about the French prize man-of-war, how hewould have her altered, only out of a desire to show myself mindful ofbusiness, but my linen was so dirty and my clothes mean, that I neitherthought it fit to do that, nor go to other persons at the Court, withwhom I had business, which did vex me, and I must remedy [it]. HereI hear that the Duke of Richmond and Mrs. Stewart were betrothed lastnight. Thence to Westminster Hall again, and there saw Betty Michell, and bought a pair of gloves of her, she being fain to keep shop there, her mother being sick, and her father gathering of the tax. I 'aimaisher de toute my corazon'. Thence, my mind wandering all this day upon'mauvaises amours' which I be merry for. So home by water again, whereI find my wife gone abroad, so I to Sir W. Batten to dinner, and had agood dinner of ling and herring pie, very good meat, best of the kindthat ever I had. Having dined, I by coach to the Temple, and there didbuy a little book or two, and it is strange how "Rycaut's Discourse ofTurky, " which before the fire I was asked but 8s. For, there beingall but twenty-two or thereabouts burned, I did now offer 20s. , and hedemands 50s. , and I think I shall give it him, though it be only as amonument of the fire. So to the New Exchange, where I find my wife, andso took her to Unthanke's, and left her there, and I to White Hall, and thence to Westminster, only out of idleness, and to get some littlepleasure to my 'mauvais flammes', but sped not, so back and took upmy wife; and to Polichinelli at Charing Crosse, which is prettierand prettier, and so full of variety that it is extraordinary goodentertainment. Thence by coach home, that is, my wife home, and I to theExchange, and there met with Fenn, who tells me they have yet no ordersout of the Exchequer for money upon the Acts, which is a thing not tobe borne by any Prince of understanding or care, for no money can be gotadvanced upon the Acts only from the weight of orders in form out ofthe Exchequer so long time after the passing of the Acts. So home tothe office a little, where I met with a sad letter from my brother, whotells me my mother is declared by the doctors to be past recovery, andthat my father is also very ill every hour: so that I fear we shall seea sudden change there. God fit them and us for it! So to Sir W. Pen's, where my wife was, and supped with a little, but yet little mirth, anda bad, nasty supper, which makes me not love the family, they do allthings so meanly, to make a little bad show upon their backs. Thencehome and to bed, very much troubled about my father's and my mother'sillness. 

21st. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning. At noon home todinner, and had some melancholy discourse with my wife about my mother'sbeing so ill and my father, and after dinner to cheer myself, I havingthe opportunity of Sir W. Coventry and the Duke of York's being outof town, I alone out and to the Duke of York's play-house, whereunexpectedly I come to see only the young men and women of the houseact; they having liberty to act for their own profit on Wednesdays andFridays this Lent: and the play they did yesterday, being Wednesday, wasso well-taken, that they thought fit to venture it publickly to-day;a play of my Lord Falkland's' called "The Wedding Night, " a kind ofa tragedy, and some things very good in it, but the whole together, Ithought, not so. I confess I was well enough pleased with my seeingit: and the people did do better, without the great actors, than I didexpect, but yet far short of what they do when they are there, which Iwas glad to find the difference of. Thence to rights home, and thereto the office to my business hard, being sorry to have made this scapewithout my wife, but I have a good salvo to my oath in doing it. By andby, in the evening, comes Sir W. Batten's Mingo to me to pray me to cometo his master and Sir Richard Ford, who have very ill news to tell me. I knew what it was, it was about our trial for a good prize to-day, "ThePhoenix, "

 [There are references to the "Phoenix, " a Dutch ship taken as a prize, among the State Papers (see "Calendar, " 1666-67, p. 404). Pepys appears to have got into trouble at a later date in respect to this same ship, for among the Rawlinson MSS. (A. 170) are "Papers relating to the charge brought against him in the House of Commons in 1689 with reference to the ship Phoenix and the East India Company in 1681-86. "]

a worth two or L3000. I went to them, where they told me with muchtrouble how they had sped, being cast and sentenced to make greatreparation for what we had embezzled, and they did it so well that I wasmuch troubled at it, when by and by Sir W. Batten asked me whether Iwas mortified enough, and told me we had got the day, which was mightywelcome news to me and us all. But it is pretty to see what money willdo. Yesterday, Walker was mighty cold on our behalf, till Sir W. Battenpromised him, if we sped in this business of the goods, a coach; andif at the next trial we sped for the ship, we would give him a pairof horses. And he hath strove for us today like a prince, though theSwedes' Agent was there with all the vehemence he could to save thegoods, but yet we carried it against him. This put me in mighty goodheart, and then we go to Sir W. Pen, who is come back to-night fromChatham, and did put him into the same condition, and then comfortedhim. So back to my office, and wrote an affectionate and sad letter tomy father about his and my mother's illness, and so home to supper andto bed late. 

22nd. Up and by coach to Sir Ph. Warwicke about business for Tangierabout money, and then to Sir Stephen Fox to give him account of a littleservice I have done him about money coming to him from our office, andthen to Lovett's and saw a few baubling things of their doing which arevery pretty, but the quality of the people, living only by shifts, donot please me, that it makes me I do no more care for them, nor shallhave more acquaintance with them after I have got my Lady Castlemayne'spicture home. So to White Hall, where the King at Chapel, and I wouldnot stay, but to Westminster to Howlett's, and there, he being not well, I sent for a quart of claret and burnt it and drank, and had a 'basado'or three or four of Sarah, whom 'je trouve ici', and so by coach to SirRobt. Viner's about my accounts with him, and so to the 'Change, where Ihear for certain that we are going on with our treaty of peace, and thatwe are to treat at Bredah. But this our condescension people do thinkwill undo us, and I do much fear it. So home to dinner, where my wifehaving dressed herself in a silly dress of a blue petticoat uppermost, and a white satin waistcoat and whitehood, though I think she did itbecause her gown is gone to the tailor's, did, together with my beinghungry, which always makes me peevish, make me angry, but when mybelly was full were friends again, and dined and then by water down toGreenwich and thence walked to Woolwich, all the way reading Playford's"Introduction to Musique, " wherein are some things very pretty. AtWoolwich I did much business, taking an account of the state of theships there under hand, thence to Blackwall, and did the like for twoships we have repairing there, and then to Deptford and did the likethere, and so home. Captain Perriman with me from Deptford, telling memany particulars how the King's business is ill ordered, and indeed sothey are, God knows! So home and to the office, where did business, andso home to my chamber, and then to supper and to bed. Landing at theTower to-night I met on Tower Hill with Captain Cocke and spent halfan hour walking in the dusk of the evening with him, talking of thesorrowful condition we are in, that we must be ruined if the Parliamentdo not come and chastize us, that we are resolved to make a peacewhatever it cost, that the King is disobliging the Parliament in thisinterval all that may be, yet his money is gone and he must have more, and they likely not to give it, without a great deal of do. God knowswhat the issue of it will be. But the considering that the Duke of York, instead of being at sea as Admirall, is now going from port to port, as he is at this day at Harwich, and was the other day with the King atSheernesse, and hath ordered at Portsmouth how fortifications shall bemade to oppose the enemy, in case of invasion, [which] is to us a sadconsideration, and as shameful to the nation, especially after so manyproud vaunts as we have made against the Dutch, and all from the follyof the Duke of Albemarle, who made nothing of beating them, and SirJohn Lawson he always declared that we never did fail to beat them withlesser numbers than theirs, which did so prevail with the King as tothrow us into this war. 

23rd. At the office all the morning, where Sir W. Pen come, beingreturned from Chatham, from considering the means of fortifying theriver Medway, by a chain at the stakes, and ships laid there with gunsto keep the enemy from coming up to burn our ships; all our care nowbeing to fortify ourselves against their invading us. At noon home todinner, and then to the office all the afternoon again, where Mr. Moorecome, who tells me that there is now no doubt made of a peace beingagreed on, the King having declared this week in Council that they wouldtreat at Bredagh. He gone I to my office, where busy late, and so tosupper and to bed. Vexed with our mayde Luce, our cook-mayde, who is agood drudging servant in everything else, and pleases us, but that shewill be drunk, and hath been so last night and all this day, that shecould not make clean the house. My fear is only fire. 

24th (Lord's day). With Sir W. Batten to White Hall, and there I to SirG. Carteret, who is mighty cheerful, which makes me think and by somediscourse that there is expectation of a peace, but I did not ask [him]. Here was Sir J. Minnes also: and they did talk of my Lord Bruncker, whose father, it seems, did give Mr. Ashburnham and the present LordDigby L1200 to be made an Irish lord, and swore the same day that he hadnot 12d. Left to pay for his dinner: they make great mirth at this, myLord Bruncker having lately given great matter of offence both to themand us all, that we are at present mightily displeased with him. By andby to the Duke of York, where we all met, and there was the King also;and all our discourse was about fortifying of the Medway and Harwich, which is to be entrenched quite round, and Portsmouth: and here theyadvised with Sir Godfry Lloyd and Sir Bernard de Gum, the two greatengineers, and had the plates drawn before them; and indeed all theircare they now take is to fortify themselves, and are not ashamed of it:for when by and by my Lord Arlington come in with letters, and seeingthe King and Duke of York give us and the officers of the Ordnancedirections in this matter, he did move that we might do it as privatelyas we could, that it might not come into the Dutch Gazette presently, as the King's and Duke of York's going down the other day to Sheerenessewas, the week after, in the Harlem Gazette. The King and Duke of Yorkboth laughed at it, and made no matter, but said, "Let us be safe, andlet them talk, for there is nothing will trouble them more, norwill prevent their coming more, than to hear that we are fortifyingourselves. " And the Duke of York said further, "What said MarshalTurenne, when some in vanity said that the enemies were afraid, for theyentrenched themselves? 'Well, ' says he, 'I would they were not afraid, for then they would not entrench themselves, and so we could deal withthem the better. '" Away thence, and met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tellsme that he do believe the government of Tangier is bought by my LordAllington for a sum of money to my Lord Arlington, and something toLord Bellasses, who (he did tell me particularly how) is as very a falsevillain as ever was born, having received money of him here upon promiseand confidence of his return, forcing him to pay it by advance here, andpromising to ask no more there, when at the same time he was treatingwith my Lord Allington to sell his command to him, and yet told SirH. Cholmly nothing of it, but when Sir H. Cholmly told him what he hadheard, he confessed that my Lord Allington had spoken to him of it, butthat he was a vain man to look after it, for he was nothing fit for it, and then goes presently to my Lord Allington and drives on the bargain, yet tells Lord Allington what he himself had said of him, as [though]Sir H. Cholmly had said them. I am glad I am informed hereof, and shallknow him for a Lord, &c. Sir H. Cholmly tells me further that he isconfident there will be a peace, and that a great man did tell him thatmy Lord Albemarle did tell him the other day at White Hall as a secretthat we should have a peace if any thing the King of France can ask andour King can give will gain it, which he is it seems mad at. Thence backwith Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen home, and heard a piece of sermon, and so home to dinner, where Balty come, very fine, and dined with us, and after dinner with me by water to White Hall, and there he and I didwalk round the Park, I giving him my thoughts about the difficulty ofgetting employment for him this year, but advised him how to employhimself, and I would do what I could. So he and I parted, and I toMartin's, where I find her within, and 'su hermano' and 'la veuve'Burroughs. Here I did 'demeurer toda' the afternoon.... By and by comeup the mistress of the house, Crags, a pleasant jolly woman. I staid allbut a little, and away home by water through bridge, a brave evening, and so home to read, and anon to supper, W. Hewer with us, and then toread myself to sleep again, and then to bed, and mightily troubled themost of the night with fears of fire, which I cannot get out of myhead to this day since the last great fire. I did this night give thewaterman who uses to carry me 10s. At his request, for the painting ofhis new boat, on which shall be my arms. 

25th. (Ladyday. ) Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen by coach toExeter House to our lawyers to have consulted about our trial to-morrow, but missed them, so parted, and [Sir] W. Pen and I to Mr. Povy's about alittle business of [Sir] W. Pen's, where we went over Mr. Povy'shouse, which lies in the same good condition as ever, which is mostextraordinary fine, and he was now at work with a cabinet-maker, makingof a new inlaid table. Having seen his house, we away, having in our waythither called at Mr. Lilly's, who was working; and indeed his picturesare without doubt much beyond Mr. Hales's, I think I may say I amconvinced: but a mighty proud man he is, and full of state. So home, andto the office, and by and by to dinner, a poor dinner, my wife and I, atSir W. Pen's, and then he and I before to Exeter House, where I do notstay, but to the King's playhouse; and by and by comes Mr. Lowtherand his wife and mine, and into a box, forsooth, neither of them beingdressed, which I was almost ashamed of. Sir W. Pen and I in the pit, andhere saw "The Mayden Queene" again; which indeed the more I see the moreI like, and is an excellent play, and so done by Nell, her merry part, as cannot be better done in nature, I think. Thence home, and there Ifind letters from my brother, which tell me that yesterday when he wrotemy mother did rattle in the throat so as they did expect every momenther death, which though I have a good while expected did much surpriseme, yet was obliged to sup at Sir W. Pen's and my wife, and therecounterfeited some little mirth, but my heart was sad, and so home aftersupper and to bed, and much troubled in my sleep of my being crying bymy mother's bedside, laying my head over hers and crying, she almostdead and dying, and so waked, but what is strange, methought she hadhair over her face, and not the same kind of face as my mother reallyhath, but yet did not consider that, but did weep over her as my mother, whose soul God have mercy of. 

26th. Up with a sad heart in reference to my mother, of whose death Iundoubtedly expect to hear the next post, if not of my father's also, who by his pain as well as his grief for her is very ill, but on my ownbehalf I have cause to be joyful this day, it being my usual feast day, for my being cut of the stone this day nine years, and through God'sblessing am at this day and have long been in as good condition ofhealth as ever I was in my life or any man in England is, God make methankful for it! But the condition I am in, in reference to my mother, makes it unfit for me to keep my usual feast. Unless it shall pleaseGod to send her well (which I despair wholly of), and then I will makeamends for it by observing another day in its room. So to the office, and at the office all the morning, where I had an opportunity to speakto Sir John Harman about my desire to have my brother Balty go againwith him to sea as he did the last year, which he do seem not onlycontented but pleased with, which I was glad of. So at noon home todinner, where I find Creed, who dined with us, but I had not any timeto talk with him, my head being busy, and before I had dined was calledaway by Sir W. Batten, and both of us in his coach (which I observe hiscoachman do always go now from hence towards White Hall through TowerStreet, and it is the best way) to Exeter House, where the judge wassitting, and after several little causes comes on ours, and while theseveral depositions and papers were at large reading (which they callthe preparatory), and being cold by being forced to sit with my hat offclose to a window in the Hall, Sir W. Pen and I to the Castle Tavernhard by and got a lobster, and he and I staid and eat it, and drank goodwine; I only burnt wine, as my whole custom of late hath been, as anevasion, God knows, for my drinking of wine (but it is an evasion whichwill not serve me now hot weather is coming, that I cannot pretend, asindeed I really have done, that I drank it for cold), but I will leaveit off, and it is but seldom, as when I am in women's company, that Imust call for wine, for I must be forced to drink to them. Having donehere then we back again to the Court, and there heard our cause pleaded;Sir [Edward] Turner, Sir W. Walker, and Sir Ellis Layton being ourcounsel against only Sir Robert Wiseman on the other. The second of ourthree counsel was the best, and indeed did speak admirably, and is avery shrewd man. Nevertheless, as good as he did make our case, and therest, yet when Wiseman come to argue (nay, and though he did begin sosillily that we laughed in scorn in our sleeves at him), yet he did sostate the case, that the judge did not think fit to decide the causeto-night, but took to to-morrow, and did stagger us in our hopes, so asto make us despair of the success. I am mightily pleased with the judge, who seems a very rational, learned, and uncorrupt man, and much goodreading and reason there is heard in hearing of this law argued, so thatthe thing pleased me, though our success doth shake me. Thence Sir W. Pen and I home and to write letters, among others a sad one to my fatherupon fear of my mother's death, and so home to supper and to bed. 

27th. [Sir] W. Pen and I to White Hall, and in the coach did begin ourdiscourse again about Balty, and he promises me to move it this veryday. He and I met my Lord Bruncker at Sir G. Carteret's by appointment, there to discourse a little business, all being likely to go to rack forlack of money still. Thence to the Duke of York's lodgings, and did ourusual business, and Sir W. Pen telling me that he had this morning spokeof Balty to Sir W. Coventry, and that the thing was done, I did takenotice of it also to [Sir] W. Coventry, who told me that he had boththe thing and the person in his head before to have done it, which is adouble pleasure to me. Our business with the Duke being done, [Sir] W. Pen and I towards the Exchequer, and in our way met Sir G. Downing goingto chapel, but we stopped, and he would go with us back to the Exchequerand showed us in his office his chests full and ground and shelves fullof money, and says that there is L50, 000 at this day in his office ofpeople's money, who may demand it this day, and might have had it awayseveral weeks ago upon the late Act, but do rather choose to haveit continue there than to put it into the Banker's hands, and I mustconfess it is more than I should have believed had I not seen it, andmore than ever I could have expected would have arisen for this new Actin so short a time, and if it do so now already what would it do ifthe money was collected upon the Act and returned into the Exchequer sotimely as it ought to be. But it comes into my mind here to observe whatI have heard from Sir John Bankes, though I cannot fully conceive thereason of it, that it will be impossible to make the Exchequer evera true bank to all intents, unless the Exchequer stood nearer theExchange, where merchants might with ease, while they are going abouttheir business, at all hours, and without trouble or loss of time, havetheir satisfaction, which they cannot have now without much trouble, andloss of half a day, and no certainty of having the offices open. By thishe means a bank for common practise and use of merchants, and therein Ido agree with him. Being parted from Sir W. Pen and [Sir] G. Downing, Ito Westminster Hall and there met Balty, whom I had sent for, and theredid break the business of my getting him the place of going again asMuster-Master with Harman this voyage to the West Indys, which indeedI do owe to Sir W. Pen. He is mighty glad of it, and earnest to fithimself for it, but I do find, poor man, that he is troubled how todispose of his wife, and apparently it is out of fear of her, and hishonour, and I believe he hath received some cause of this his jealousyand care, and I do pity him in it, and will endeavour to find out someway to do, it for him. Having put him in a way of preparing himselffor the voyage, I did go to the Swan, and there sent for Jervas, my oldperiwig maker, and he did bring me a periwig, but it was full of nits, so as I was troubled to see it (it being his old fault), and did sendhim to make it clean, and in the mean time, having staid for him a goodwhile, did go away by water to the Castle Taverne, by Exeter House, andthere met Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and several others, among therest Sir Ellis Layton, who do apply himself to discourse with me, andI think by his discourse, out of his opinion of my interest in Sir W. Coventry, the man I find a wonderful witty, ready man for sudden answersand little tales, and sayings very extraordinary witty, but in thebottom I doubt he is not so. Yet he pretends to have studied men, andthe truth is in several that I do know he did give me a very inwardaccount of them. But above all things he did give me a full account, upon my demand, of this judge of the Admiralty, Judge Jenkins; who, hesays, is a man never practised in this Court, but taken merely for hismerit and ability's sake from Trinity Hall, where he had always lived;only by accident the business of the want of a Judge being proposed tothe present Archbishop of Canterbury that now is, he did think of thisman and sent for him up: and here he is, against the 'gre' and contentof the old Doctors, made judge, but is a very excellent man both forjudgment and temper, yet majesty enough, and by all men's report, not tobe corrupted. After dinner to the Court, where Sir Ellis Layton did makea very silly motion in our behalf, but did neither hurt nor good. Afterhim Walker and Wiseman; and then the judge did pronounce his sentence;for some part of the goods and ship, and the freight of the whole, tobe free, and returned and paid by us; and the remaining, which was thegreater part, to be ours. The loss of so much troubles us, but we havegot a pretty good part, thanks be to God! So we are not displeased noryet have cause to triumph, as we did once expect. Having seen the endof this, I being desirous to be at home to see the issue of any countryletters about my mother, which I expect shall give me tidings of herdeath, I directly home and there to the office, where I find no letterfrom my father or brother, but by and by the boy tells me that hismistress sends me word that she hath opened my letter, and that she isloth to send me any more news. So I home, and there up to my wife inour chamber, and there received from my brother the newes of my mother'sdying on Monday, about five or six o'clock in the afternoon, and thatthe last time she spoke of her children was on Friday last, and herlast words were, "God bless my poor Sam!" The reading hereof did set mea-weeping heartily, and so weeping to myself awhile, and my wife also toherself, I then spoke to my wife respecting myself, and indeed, havingsome thoughts how much better both for her and us it is than itmight have been had she outlived my father and me or my happy presentcondition in the world, she being helpless, I was the sooner at ease inmy mind, and then found it necessary to go abroad with my wife to lookafter the providing mourning to send into the country, some to-morrow, and more against Sunday, for my family, being resolved to put myselfand wife, and Barker and Jane, W. Hewer and Tom, in mourning, and mytwo under-mayds, to give them hoods and scarfs and gloves. So to mytailor's, and up and down, and then home and to my office a little, and then to supper and to bed, my heart sad and afflicted, though myjudgment at ease. 

28th. My tailor come to me betimes this morning, and having given himdirections, I to the office and there all the morning. At noon dinedwell. Balty, who is mighty thoughtful how to dispose of his wife, andwould fain have me provide a place for her, which the thoughts of whatI should do with her if he should miscarry at sea makes me avoid theoffering him that she should be at my house. I find he is plainlyjealous of her being in any place where she may have ill company, andI do pity him for it, and would be glad to help him, and will if I can. Having dined, I down by water with Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and [Sir] R. Ford to our prize, part of whose goods were condemnedyesterday--"The Lindeboome"--and there we did drink some of her wine, very good. But it did grate my heart to see the poor master come onboard, and look about into every corner, and find fault that she was notso clean as she used to be, though methought she was very clean; andto see his new masters come in, that had nothing to do with her, didtrouble me to see him. Thence to Blackwall and there to Mr. Johnson's, to see how some works upon some of our repaired ships go on, and at hishouse eat and drank and mighty extraordinary merry (too merry for mewhose mother died so lately, but they know it not, so cannot reproachme therein, though I reproach myself), and in going home had many goodstories of Sir W. Batten and one of Sir W. Pen, the most tedious andsilly and troublesome (he forcing us to hear him) that ever I heardin my life. So to the office awhile, troubled with Sir W. Pen'simpertinences, he being half foxed at Johnson's, and so to bed. 

29th. Lay long talking with my wife about Balty, whom I do wish verywell to, and would be glad to advise him, for he is very sober andwilling to take all pains. Up and to Sir W. Batten, who I find has hadsome words with Sir W. Pen about the employing of a cooper about ourprize wines, [Sir] W. Batten standing and indeed imposing upon us Mr. Morrice, which I like not, nor do [Sir] W. Pen, and I confess the verythoughts of what our goods will come to when we have them do discourageme in going any further in the adventure. Then to the office till noon, doing business, and then to the Exchange, and thence to the Sun Taverneand dined with [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] R. Ford, and the Swede's Agent todiscourse of a composition about our prizes that are condemned, but diddo little, he standing upon high terms and we doing the like. I home, and there find Balty and his wife got thither both by my wife for me togive them good advice, for her to be with his father and mother all thistime of absence, for saving of money, and did plainly and like a friendtell them my mind of the necessity of saving money, and that if I didnot find they did endeavour it, I should not think fit to trouble myselffor them, but I see she is utterly against being with his father andmother, and he is fond of her, and I perceive the differences betweenthe old people and them are too great to be presently forgot, and sohe do propose that it will be cheaper for him to put her to board ata place he is offered at Lee, and I, seeing that I am not like to betroubled with the finding a place, and having given him so muchgood advice, do leave them to stand and fall as they please, havingdischarged myself as a friend, and not likely to be accountable forher nor be troubled with her, if he should miscarry I mean, as to herlodging, and so broke up. Then he and I to make a visit to [Sir] W. Pen, who hath thought fit to show kindness to Balty in this business, indeedthough he be a false rogue, but it was he knew a thing easy to do. Thence together to my shoemaker's, cutler's, tailor's, and up and downabout my mourning, and in my way do observe the great streets in thecity are marked out with piles drove into the ground; and if ever it bebuilt in that form with so fair streets, it will be a noble sight. So tothe Council chamber, but staid not there, but to a periwigg-maker's ofhis acquaintance, and there bought two periwiggs, mighty fine; indeed, too fine, I thought, for me; but he persuaded me, and I did buy them forL4 10s. The two. Then to the Exchange and bought gloves, and so to theBull-Head Taverne, whither he brought my French gun; and one Truelocke, the famous gunsmith, that is a mighty ingenious man, and he did take mygun in pieces, and made me understand the secrets thereof and upon thewhole I do find it a very good piece of work, and truly wrought; butfor certain not a thing to be used much with safety: and he do find thatthis very gun was never yet shot off: I was mighty satisfied with it andhim, and the sight of so much curiosity of this kind. Here he broughtalso a haberdasher at my desire, and I bought a hat of him, and so awayand called away my wife from his house, and so home and to read, andthen to supper and to bed, my head full in behalf of Balty, who tells mestrange stories of his mother. Among others, how she, in his absence inIreland, did pawne all the things that he had got in his service underOliver, and run of her own accord, without her husband's leave, intoFlanders, and that his purse, and 4s. A week which his father receivesof the French church, is all the subsistence his father and mother have, and that about L20 a year maintains them; which, if it please God, Iwill find one way or other to provide for them, to remove that scandalaway. 

30th. Up, and the French periwigg maker of whom I bought two yesterdaycomes with them, and I am very well pleased with them. So to the office, where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and thence with mywife's knowledge and leave did by coach go see the silly play of my LadyNewcastle's, called "The Humourous Lovers;" the most silly thing thatever come upon a stage. I was sick to see it, but yet would not but haveseen it, that I might the better understand her. Here I spied Knipp andBetty, of the King's house, and sent Knipp oranges, but, having littlemoney about me, did not offer to carry them abroad, which otherwise Ihad, I fear, been tempted to. So with [Sir] W. Pen home (he being at theplay also), a most summer evening, and to my office, where, among otherthings, a most extraordinary letter to the Duke of York touching thewant of money and the sad state of the King's service thereby, and so tosupper and to bed. 

31st (Lord's day). Up, and my tailor's boy brings my mourning clotheshome, and my wife hers and Barker's, but they go not to church thismorning. I to church, and with my mourning, very handsome, and newperiwigg, make a great shew. After church home to dinner, and therecome Betty Michell and her husband. I do and shall love her, but, poorwretch, she is now almost ready to lie down. After dinner Balty (whodined also with us) and I with Sir J. Minnes in his coach to White Hall, but did nothing, but by water to Strand Bridge and thence walked to myLord Treasurer's, where the King, Duke of York, and the Caball, and muchcompany without; and a fine day. Anon come out from the Caball my LordHollis and Mr. H. Coventry, who, it is conceived, have received theirinstructions from the King this day; they being to begin their journeytowards their treaty at Bredagh speedily, their passes being come. Here I saw the Lady Northumberland and her daughter-in-law, my LordTreasurer's daughter, my Lady Piercy, a beautiful lady indeed. So awayback by water, and left Balty at White Hall and I to Mrs. Martin.... Andso by coach home, and there to my chamber, and then to supper and bed, having not had time to make up my accounts of this month at this veryday, but will in a day or two, and pay my forfeit for not doing it, though business hath most hindered me. The month shuts up only withgreat desires of peace in all of us, and a belief that we shall have apeace, in most people, if a peace can be had on any terms, for there isa necessity of it; for we cannot go on with the war, and our masters areafraid to come to depend upon the good will of the Parliament any more, as I do hear. 

APRIL 1667

April 1st. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes in his coach, set him down at theTreasurer's Office in Broad-streete, and I in his coach to White Hall, and there had the good fortune to walk with Sir W. Coventry into thegarden, and there read our melancholy letter to the Duke of York, whichhe likes. And so to talk: and he flatly owns that we must have a peace, for we cannot set out a fleete; and, to use his own words, he fears thatwe shall soon have enough of fighting in this new way, which we havethought on for this year. He bemoans the want of money, and discovershimself jealous that Sir G. Carteret do not look after, or concernhimself for getting, money as he used to do, and did say it is true ifSir G. Carteret would only do his work, and my Lord Treasurer would dohis own, Sir G. Carteret hath nothing to do to look after money, butif he will undertake my Lord Treasurer's work to raise money of theBankers, then people must expect that he will do it, and did furthersay, that he [Carteret] and my Lord Chancellor do at this very daylabour all they can to villify this new way of raising money, and makingit payable, as it now is, into the Exchequer; and expressly said thatin pursuance hereof, my Lord Chancellor hath prevailed with the King, inthe close of his last speech to the House, to say, that he did hopeto see them come to give money as it used to be given, without so manyprovisos, meaning, as Sir W. Coventry says, this new method of the Act. While we were talking, there come Sir Thomas Allen with two ladies; oneof which was Mrs. Rebecca Allen, that I knew heretofore, the clerk ofthe rope-yard's daughter at Chatham, who, poor heart! come to desirefavour for her husband, who is clapt up, being a Lieutenant [Jowles], for sending a challenge to his Captain, in the most saucy, base languagethat could be writ. I perceive [Sir] W. Coventry is wholly resolvedto bring him to punishment; for, "bear with this, " says he, "and nodiscipline shall ever be expected. " She in this sad condition took nonotice of me, nor I of her. So away we to the Duke of York, and there inhis closett [Sir] W. Coventry and I delivered the letter, which the Dukeof York made not much of, I thought, as to laying it to heart, as thematter deserved, but did promise to look after the getting of money forus, and I believe Sir W. Coventry will add what force he can to it. Idid speak to [Sir] W. Coventry about Balty's warrant, which is ready, and about being Deputy Treasurer, which he very readily and friendlilyagreed to, at which I was glad, and so away and by coach back toBroad-streete to Sir G. Carteret's, and there found my brother passinghis accounts, which I helped till dinner, and dined there, and many goodstories at dinner, among others about discoveries of murder, and Sir J. Minnes did tell of the discovery of his own great-grandfather's murder, fifteen years after he was murdered. Thence, after dinner, home and bywater to Redriffe, and walked (fine weather) to Deptford, and there didbusiness and so back again, walked, and pleased with a jolly femme thatI saw going and coming in the way, which je could avoir been contentedpour avoir staid with if I could have gained acquaintance con elle, butat such times as these I am at a great loss, having not confidence, noalcune ready wit. So home and to the office, where late, and then hometo supper and bed. This evening Mrs. Turner come to my office, and didwalk an hour with me in the garden, telling me stories how SirEdward Spragge hath lately made love to our neighbour, a widow, Mrs. Hollworthy, who is a woman of estate, and wit and spirit, and do contemnhim the most, and sent him away with the greatest scorn in the world;she tells me also odd stories how the parish talks of Sir W. Pen'sfamily, how poorly they clothe their daughter so soon after marriage, and do say that Mr. Lowther was married once before, and some suchthing there hath been, whatever the bottom of it is. But to think of theclatter they make with his coach, and his owne fine cloathes, and yethow meanly they live within doors, and nastily, and borrowing everythingof neighbours is a most shitten thing. 

2nd. Up, and to the office, where all the morning sitting, and muchtroubled, but little business done for want of money, which makes memighty melancholy. At noon home to dinner, and Mr. Deane with me, whohath promised me a very fine draught of the Rupert, which he will makepurposely for me with great perfection, which I will make one of thebeautifullest things that ever was seen of the kind in the world, shebeing a ship that will deserve it. Then to the office, where all theafternoon very busy, and in the evening weary home and there to sing, but vexed with the unreadiness of the girle's voice to learn the latterpart of my song, though I confess it is very hard, half notes. So tosupper and to bed. 

3rd. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall to Sir W. Coventry'schamber, and there did receive the Duke's order for Balty's receiving ofthe contingent money to be paymaster of it, and it pleases me the morefor that it is but L1500, which will be but a little sum for to try hisability and honesty in the disposing of, and so I am the willinger totrust and pass my word for him therein. By and by up to the Duke ofYork, where our usual business, and among other things I read two mostdismal letters of the straits we are in (from Collonell Middleton andCommissioner Taylor) that ever were writ in the world, so as the Dukeof York would have them to shew the King, and to every demand of money, whereof we proposed many and very pressing ones, Sir G. Carteret couldmake no answer but no money, which I confess made me almost ready to cryfor sorrow and vexation, but that which was the most considerable waswhen Sir G. Carteret did say that he had no funds to raise money on; andbeing asked by Sir W. Coventry whether the eleven months' tax was not afund, and he answered, "No, that the bankers would not lend money uponit. " Then Sir W. Coventry burst out and said he did supplicate his RoyalHighness, and would do the same to the King, that he would remember whothey were that did persuade the King from parting with the Chimney-moneyto the Parliament, and taking that in lieu which they would certainlyhave given, and which would have raised infallibly ready money; meaningthe bankers and the farmers of the Chimney-money, whereof Sir, G. Carteret, I think, is one; saying plainly, that whoever did advise theKing to that, did, as much as in them lay, cut the King's throat, and did wholly betray him; to which the Duke of York did assent; andremembered that the King did say again and again at the time, that hewas assured, and did fully believe, the money would be raised presentlyupon a land-tax. This put as all into a stound; and Sir W. Coventry wenton to declare, that he was glad he was come to have so lately concern inthe Navy as he hath, for he cannot now give any good account of theNavy business; and that all his work now was to be able to provide suchorders as would justify his Royal Highness in the business, when itshall be called to account; and that he do do, not concerning himselfwhether they are or can be performed, or no; and that when it comes tobe examined, and falls on my Lord Treasurer, he cannot help it, whateverthe issue of it shall be. Hereupon Sir W. Batten did pray him to keepalso by him all our letters that come from the office that may justifyus, which he says he do do, and, God knows, it is an ill sign whenwe are once to come to study how to excuse ourselves. It is a sadconsideration, and therewith we broke up, all in a sad posture, the mostthat ever I saw in my life. One thing more Sir W. Coventry did sayto the Duke of York, when I moved again, that of about L9000 debt toLanyon, at Plymouth, he might pay L3700 worth of prize-goods, that hebought lately at the candle, out of this debt due to him from the King;and the Duke of York, and Sir G: Carteret, and Lord Barkeley, saying, all of them, that my Lord Ashly would not be got to yield to it, whois Treasurer of the Prizes, Sir W. Coventry did plainly desire that itmight be declared whether the proceeds of the prizes were to go to thehelping on of the war, or no; and, if it were, how then could this bedenied? which put them all into another stound; and it is true, Godforgive us! Thence to the chappell, and there, by chance, hear that Dr. Crew is to preach; and so into the organ-loft, where I met Mr. Carteret, and my Lady Jemimah, and Sir Thomas Crew's two daughters, and Dr. Childeplayed; and Dr. Crew did make a very pretty, neat, sober, honest sermon;and delivered it very readily, decently, and gravely, beyond his years:so as I was exceedingly taken with it, and I believe the wholechappell, he being but young; but his manner of his delivery I do likeexceedingly. His text was, "But seeke ye first the kingdom of God, andhis righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. " Thencewith my Lady to Sir G. Carteret's lodgings, and so up into the house, and there do hear that the Dutch letters are come, and say that theDutch have ordered a passe to be sent for our Commissioners, and that itis now upon the way, coming with a trumpeter blinded, as is usual. But Iperceive every body begins to doubt the success of the treaty, all theirhopes being only that if it can be had on any terms, the Chancellor willhave it; for he dare not come before a Parliament, nor a great many moreof the courtiers, and the King himself do declare he do not desire it, nor intend it but on a strait; which God defend him from! Here I hearhow the King is not so well pleased of this marriage between the Dukeof Richmond and Mrs. Stewart, as is talked; and that he [the Duke] by awile did fetch her to the Beare, at the Bridge-foot, where a coach wasready, and they are stole away into Kent, without the King's leave; andthat the King hath said he will never see her more; but people do thinkthat it is only a trick. This day I saw Prince Rupert abroad in theVane-room, pretty well as he used to be, and looks as well, onlysomething appears to be under his periwigg on the crown of his head. Sohome by water, and there find my wife gone abroad to her tailor's, and Idined alone with W. Hewer, and then to the office to draw up a memorialfor the Duke of York this afternoon at the Council about Lanyon'sbusiness. By and by we met by appointment at the office upon a referenceto Carcasses business to us again from the Duke of York, but a veryconfident cunning rogue we have found him at length. He carried himselfvery uncivilly to Sir W. Batten this afternoon, as heretofore, and hissilly Lord [Bruncker] pleaded for him, but all will not nor shall not dofor ought he shall give, though I love the man as a man of great partsand ability. Thence to White Hall by water (only asking Betty Michellby the way how she did), and there come too late to do any thing at theCouncil. So by coach to my periwigg maker's and tailor's, and so home, where I find my wife with her flageolet master, which I wish she wouldpractise, and so to the office, and then to Sir W. Batten's, and then toSir W. Pen's, talking and spending time in vain a little while, andthen home up to my chamber, and so to supper and to bed, vexed at two orthree things, viz. That my wife's watch proves so bad as it do; theill state of the office; and Kingdom's business; at the charge which mymother's death for mourning will bring me when all paid. 

4th. Up, and going down found Jervas the barber with a periwigg which Ihad the other day cheapened at Westminster, but it being full of nits, as heretofore his work used to be, I did now refuse it, having boughtelsewhere. So to the office till noon, busy, and then (which I think Ihave not done three times in my life) left the board upon occasion of aletter of Sir W. Coventry, and meeting Balty at my house I took him withme by water, and to the Duke of Albemarle to give him an account of thebusiness, which was the escaping of some soldiers for the manning of afew ships now going out with Harman to the West Indies, which is asad consideration that at the very beginning of the year and few shipsabroad we should be in such want of men that they do hide themselves, and swear they will not go to be killed and have no pay. I find the Dukeof Albemarle at dinner with sorry company, some of his officers of theArmy; dirty dishes, and a nasty wife at table, and bad meat, of which Imade but an ill dinner. Pretty to hear how she talked against CaptainDu Tell, the Frenchman, that the Prince and her husband put out the lastyear; and how, says she, the Duke of York hath made him, for his goodservices, his Cupbearer; yet he fired more shot into the Prince's ship, and others of the King's ships, than of the enemy. And the Duke ofAlbemarle did confirm it, and that somebody in the fight did cry outthat a little Dutchman, by his ship, did plague him more than any other;upon which they were going to order him to be sunk, when they lookedand found it was Du Tell, who, as the Duke of Albemarle says, had killedseveral men in several of our ships. He said, but for his interest, which he knew he had at Court, he had hanged him at the yard's-arm, without staying for a Court-martiall. One Colonel Howard, at the table, magnified the Duke of Albemarle's fight in June last, as being a greateraction than ever was done by Caesar. The Duke of Albemarle, did say ithad been no great action, had all his number fought, as they should havedone, to have beat the Dutch; but of his 55 ships, not above 25 fought. He did give an account that it was a fight he was forced to: the Dutchbeing come in his way, and he being ordered to the buoy of the Nore, hecould not pass by them without fighting, nor avoid them without greatdisadvantage and dishonour; and this Sir G. Carteret, I afterwardsgiving him an account of what he said, says that it is true, that hewas ordered up to the Nore. But I remember he said, had all his captainsfought, he would no more have doubted to have beat the Dutch, with alltheir number, than to eat the apple that lay on his trencher. My LadyDuchesse, among other things, discoursed of the wisdom of dividing thefleete; which the General said nothing to, though he knows well thatit come from themselves in the fleete, and was brought up hither by SirEdward Spragge. Colonel Howard, asking how the prince did, the Duke ofAlbemarle answering, "Pretty well;" the other replied, "But not so wellas to go to sea again. "--"How!" says the Duchess, "what should he gofor, if he were well, for there are no ships for him to command? And soyou have brought your hogs to a fair market, " said she. [It was prettyto hear the Duke of Albemarle himself to wish that they would come onour ground, meaning the French, for that he would pay them, so as tomake them glad to go back to France again; which was like a general, butnot like an admiral. ] One at the table told an odd passage in this lateplague: that at Petersfield, I think, he said, one side of the streethad every house almost infected through the town, and the other, not oneshut up. Dinner being done, I brought Balty to the Duke of Albemarle tokiss his hand and thank him far his kindness the last year to him, andtake leave of him, and then Balty and I to walk in the Park, and, outof pity to his father, told him what I had in my thoughts to do for himabout the money--that is, to make him Deputy Treasurer of the fleete, which I have done by getting Sir G. Carteret's consent, and an orderfrom the Duke of York for L1500 to be paid to him. He promises the wholeprofit to be paid to my wife, for to be disposed of as she sees fit, forher father and mother's relief. So mightily pleased with our walk, itbeing mighty pleasant weather, I back to Sir G. Carteret's, and there hehad newly dined, and talked, and find that he do give every thing overfor lost, declaring no money to be raised, and let Sir W. Coventry namethe man that persuaded the King to take the Land Tax on promise, ofraising present money upon it. He will, he says, be able to clearhimself enough of it. I made him merry, with telling him how manyland-admirals we are to have this year: Allen at Plymouth, Holmesat Portsmouth, Spragge for Medway, Teddiman at Dover, Smith to theNorthward, and Harman to the Southward. He did defend to me Sir W. Coventry as not guilty of the dividing of the fleete the last year, andblesses God, as I do, for my Lord Sandwich's absence, and tells mehow the King did lately observe to him how they have been particularlypunished that were enemies to my Lord Sandwich. Mightily pleased I amwith his family, and my Lady Carteret was on the bed to-day, having beenlet blood, and tells me of my Lady Jemimah's being big-bellied. Thencewith him to my Lord Treasurer's, and there walked during Council sittingwith Sir Stephen Fox, talking of the sad condition of the King's purse, and affairs thereby; and how sad the King's life must be, to pass byhis officers every hour, that are four years behind-hand unpaid. My LordBarkeley [of Stratton] I met with there, and fell into talk with him onthe same thing, wishing to God that it might be remedied, to which heanswered, with an oath, that it was as easy to remedy it as anything inthe world; saying, that there is himself and three more would venturetheir carcasses upon it to pay all the King's debts in three years, hadthey the managing his revenue, and putting L300, 000 in his purse, as astock. But, Lord! what a thing is this to me, that do know how likelya man my Lord Barkeley of all the world is, to do such a thing as this. Here I spoke with Sir W. Coventry, who tells me plainly that to allfuture complaints of lack of money he will answer but with the shrug ofhis shoulder; which methought did come to my heart, to see him to beginto abandon the King's affairs, and let them sink or swim, so he do hisowne part, which I confess I believe he do beyond any officer the Kinghath, but unless he do endeavour to make others do theirs, nothing willbe done. The consideration here do make me go away very sad, and so homeby coach, and there took up my wife and Mercer, who had been to-day atWhite Hall to the Maundy, [The practice of giving alms on Maundy Thursday to poor men and women equal in number to the years of the sovereign's age is a curious survival in an altered form of an old custom. The original custom was for the king to wash the feet of twelve poor persons, and to give them a supper in imitation of Christ's last supper and his washing of the Apostles' feet. James II. Was the last sovereign to perform the ceremony in person, but it was performed by deputy so late as 1731. The Archbishop of York was the king's deputy on that occasion. The institution has passed through the various stages of feet washing with a supper, the discontinuance of the feet washing, the substitution of a gift of provisions for the supper, and finally the substitution of a gift of money for the provisions. The ceremony took place at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall; but it is now held at Westminster Abbey. Maundy is derived from the Latin word 'maudatum', which commences the original anthem sung during the ceremony, in reference to Christ's command]

it being Maundy Thursday; but the King did not wash the poor people'sfeet himself, but the Bishop of London did it for him, but I did not seeit, and with them took up Mrs. Anne Jones at her mother's door, and soto take the ayre to Hackney, where good neat's tongue, and things to eatand drink, and very merry, the weather being mighty pleasant; and hereI was told that at their church they have a fair pair of organs, whichplay while the people sing, which I am mighty glad of, wishing thelike at our church at London, and would give L50 towards it. So verypleasant, and hugging of Mercer in our going home, we home, and then tothe office to do a little business, and so to supper at home and to bed. 

5th. Up, and troubled with Mr. Carcasse's coming to speak with me, which made me give him occasion to fall into a heat, and he began to beill-mannered to me, which made me angry. He gone, I to Sir W. Pen aboutthe business of Mrs. Turner's son to keep his ship in employment, butso false a fellow as Sir W. Pen is I never did nor hope shall ever knowagain. So to the office, and there did business, till dinnertime, andthen home to dinner, wife and I alone, and then down to the Old Swan, and drank with Betty and her husband, but no opportunity para baiser la. So to White Hall to the Council chamber, where I find no Council heldtill after the holidays. So to Westminster Hall, and there bought a pairof snuffers, and saw Mrs. Howlett after her sickness come to the Hallagain. So by coach to the New Exchange and Mercer's and other places totake up bills for what I owe them, and to Mrs. Pierce, to invite her todinner with us on Monday, but staid not with her. In the street met withMr. Sanchy, my old acquaintance at Cambridge, reckoned a great ministerhere in the City; and by Sir Richard Ford particularly, which I wonderat; for methinks, in his talk, he is but a mean man. I set him down inHolborne, and I to the Old Exchange, and there to Sir Robert Viner's, and made up my accounts there, to my great content; but I find they donot keep them so regularly as, to be able to do it easily, and truly, and readily, nor would it have been easily stated by any body on mybehalf but myself, several things being to be recalled to memory, whichnobody else could have done, and therefore it is fully necessary for meto even accounts with these people as often as I can. So to the 'Change, and there met with Mr. James Houblon, but no hopes, as he sees, of peacewhatever we pretend, but we shall be abused by the King of France. Thenhome to the office, and busy late, and then to Sir W. Batten's, whereMr. Young was talking about the building of the City again; and he toldme that those few churches that are to be new built are plainly notchosen with regard to the convenience of the City; they stand a greatmany in a cluster about Cornhill; but that all of them are either in thegift of the Lord Archbishop, or Bishop of London, or Lord Chancellor, orgift of the City. Thus all things, even to the building of churches, aredone in this world! And then he says, which I wonder at, that I shouldnot in all this time see, that Moorefields have houses two stories highin them, and paved streets, the City having let leases for seven years, which he do conclude will be very much to the hindering the building ofthe City; but it was considered that the streets cannot be passable inLondon till a whole street be built; and several that had got ground ofthe City for charity, to build sheds on, had got the trick presentlyto sell that for L60, which did not cost them L20 to put up; and so theCity, being very poor in stock, thought it as good to do it themselves, and therefore let leases for seven years of the ground in Moorefields;and a good deal of this money, thus advanced, hath been employed forthe enabling them to find some money for Commissioner Taylor, and SirW. Batten, towards the charge of "The Loyall London, " or else, it isfeared, it had never been paid. And Taylor having a bill to pay whereinAlderman Hooker was concerned it was his invention to find out thisway of raising money, or else this had not been thought on. So hometo supper and to bed. This morning come to me the Collectors for myPollmoney; for which I paid for my title as Esquire and place of Clerkof Acts, and my head and wife's, and servants' and their wages, L40 17s;and though this be a great deal, yet it is a shame I should pay no more;that is, that I should not be assessed for my pay, as in the Victuallingbusiness and Tangier; and for my money, which, of my own accord, I haddetermined to charge myself with L1000 money, till coming to the Vestry, and seeing nobody of our ablest merchants, as Sir Andrew Rickard, todo it, I thought it not decent for me to do it, nor would it be thoughtwisdom to do it unnecessarily, but vain glory. 

6th. Up, and betimes in the morning down to the Tower wharfe, there toattend the shipping of soldiers, to go down to man some ships going out, and pretty to see how merrily some, and most go, and how sad others--theleave they take of their friends, and the terms that some wives, andother wenches asked to part with them: a pretty mixture. So to theoffice, having staid as long as I could, and there sat all the morning, and then home at noon to dinner, and then abroad, Balty with me, and toWhite Hall, by water, to Sir G. Carteret, about Balty's L1500 contingentmoney for the fleete to the West Indys, and so away with him to theExchange, and mercers and drapers, up and down, to pay all my scoresoccasioned by this mourning for my mother; and emptied a L50 bag, and itwas a joy to me to see that I am able to part with such a sum, withoutmuch inconvenience; at least, without any trouble of mind. So to CaptainCocke's to meet Fenn, to talk about this money for Balty, and thereCocke tells me that he is confident there will be a peace, whateverterms be asked us, and he confides that it will take because the Frenchand Dutch will be jealous one of another which shall give the bestterms, lest the other should make the peace with us alone, to the ruinof the third, which is our best defence, this jealousy, for ought I atpresent see. So home and there very late, very busy, and then home tosupper and to bed, the people having got their house very clean againstMonday's dinner. 

7th (Easter day). Up, and when dressed with my wife (in mourning for mymother) to church both, where Mr. Mills, a lazy sermon. Home to dinner, wife and I and W. Hewer, and after dinner I by water to White Hall toSir G. Carteret's, there to talk about Balty's money, and did presentBalty to him to kiss his hand, and then to walk in the Parke, and heardthe Italian musique at the Queen's chapel, whose composition is fine, but yet the voices of eunuchs I do not like like our women, nor am morepleased with it at all than with English voices, but that they dojump most excellently with themselves and their instrument, which iswonderful pleasant; but I am convinced more and more, that, as everynation has a particular accent and tone in discourse, so as the tone ofone not to agree with or please the other, no more can the fashion ofsinging to words, for that the better the words are set, the more theytake in of the ordinary tone of the country whose language the songspeaks, so that a song well composed by an Englishman must be better toan Englishman than it can be to a stranger, or than if set by a strangerin foreign words. Thence back to White Hall, and there saw the King comeout of chapel after prayers in the afternoon, which he is never at butafter having received the Sacrament: and the Court, I perceive, is quiteout of mourning; and some very fine; among others, my Lord Gerard, ina very rich vest and coat. Here I met with my Lord Bellasses: and it ispretty to see what a formal story he tells me of his leaving, his placeupon the death of my Lord Cleveland, by which he is become Captain ofthe Pensioners; and that the King did leave it to him to keep the otheror take this; whereas, I know the contrary, that they had a mind to havehim away from Tangier. He tells me he is commanded by the King to godown to the Northward to satisfy the Deputy Lieutenants of Yorkshire, who have desired to lay down their commissions upon pretence of havingno profit by their places but charge, but indeed is upon the Duke ofBuckingham's being under a cloud (of whom there is yet nothing heard), so that the King is apprehensive of their discontent, and sends him topacify them, and I think he is as good a dissembler as any man else, anda fine person he is for person, and proper to lead the Pensioners, buta man of no honour nor faith I doubt. So to Sir G. Carteret's againto talk with him about Balty's money, and wrote a letter to Portsmouthabout part of it, and then in his coach, with his little daughter Porpot(as he used to nickname her), and saw her at home, and her maid, andanother little gentlewoman, and so I walked into Moore Fields, and, asis said, did find houses built two stories high, and like to stand; andit must become a place of great trade, till the City be built; andthe street is already paved as London streets used to be, which is astrange, and to mean unpleasing sight. So home and to my chamber aboutsending an express to Portsmouth about Balty's money, and then comesMrs. Turner to enquire after her son's business, which goes but bad, which led me to show her how false Sir W. Pen is to her, whereupon shetold me his obligations to her, and promises to her, and how a whilesince he did show himself dissatisfied in her son's coming to the tableand applying himself to me, which is a good nut, and a nut I will makeuse of. She gone I to other business in my chamber, and then to supperand to bed. The Swede's Embassadors and our Commissioners are making allthe haste they can over to the treaty for peace, and I find at Court, and particularly Lord Bellasses, says there will be a peace, and it isworth remembering what Sir W. Coventry did tell me (as a secret though)that whereas we are afeard Harman's fleete to the West Indys will notbe got out before the Dutch come and block us up, we shall have a happypretext to get out our ships under pretence of attending the Embassadorsand Commissioners, which is a very good, but yet a poor shift. 

8th. Up, and having dressed myself, to the office a little, and out, expecting to have seen the pretty daughter of the Ship taverne at thehither end of Billiter Lane (whom I never yet have opportunity to speakto). I in there to drink my morning draught of half a pint of Rhenishwine; but a ma doleur elle and their family are going away thence, anda new man come to the house. So I away to the Temple, to my new. Bookseller's; and there I did agree for Rycaut's late History of theTurkish Policy, which costs me 55s. ; whereas it was sold plain beforethe late fire for 8s. , and bound and coloured as this is for 20s. ; forI have bought it finely bound and truly coloured, all the figures, ofwhich there was but six books done so, whereof the King and Duke ofYork, and Duke of Monmouth, and Lord Arlington, had four. The fifth wassold, and I have bought the sixth. So to enquire out Mrs. Knipp's newlodging, but could not, but do hear of her at the Playhouse, where shewas practising, and I sent for her out by a porter, and the jade cometo me all undressed, so cannot go home to my house to dinner, as I hadinvited her, which I was not much troubled at, because I think there isa distance between her and Mrs. Pierce, and so our company would not beso pleasant. So home, and there find all things in good readiness fora good dinner, and here unexpectedly I find little Mis. Tooker, whom mywife loves not from the report of her being already naught; however, Ido shew her countenance, and by and by come my guests, Dr. Clerke andhis wife, and Mrs. Worshipp, and her daughter; and then Mr. Pierce andhis wife, and boy, and Betty; and then I sent for Mercer; so that wehad, with my wife and I, twelve at table, and very good and pleasantcompany, and a most neat and excellent, but dear dinner; but, Lord! tosee with what envy they looked upon all my fine plate was pleasant;for I made the best shew I could, to let them understand me and mycondition, to take down the pride of Mrs. Clerke, who thinks herselfvery great. We sat long, and very merry, and all things agreeable; and, after dinner, went out by coaches, thinking to have seen a play, butcome too late to both houses, and then they had thoughts of goingabroad somewhere; but I thought all the charge ought not to be mine, andtherefore I endeavoured to part the company, and so ordered it to setthem all down at Mrs. Pierces; and there my wife and I and Mercer leftthem in good humour, and we three to the King's house, and saw thelatter end of the "Surprisall, " a wherein was no great matter, Ithought, by what I saw there. Thence away to Polichinello, and therehad three times more sport than at the play, and so home, and there thefirst night we have been this year in the garden late, we three and ourBarker singing very well, and then home to supper, and so broke up, andto bed mightily pleased with this day's pleasure. 

9th. Up. And to the office a while, none of my fellow officers coming tosit, it being holiday, and so towards noon I to the Exchange, and theredo hear mighty cries for peace, and that otherwise we shall be undone;and yet I do suspect the badness of the peace we shall make. Several docomplain of abundance of land flung up by tenants out of their handsfor want of ability to pay their rents; and by name, that the Duke ofBuckingham hath L6000 so flung up. And my father writes, that JasperTrice, upon this pretence of his tenants' dealing with him, is brokeup housekeeping, and gone to board with his brother, Naylor, at Offord;which is very sad. So home to dinner, and after dinner I took coach andto the King's house, and by and by comes after me my wife with W. Hewerand his mother and Barker, and there we saw "The Tameing of a Shrew, "which hath some very good pieces in it, but generally is but a meanplay; and the best part, "Sawny, "

 [This play was entitled "Sawney the Scot, or the Taming of a Shrew, " and consisted of an alteration of Shakespeare's play by John Lacy. Although it had long been popular it was not printed until 1698. In the old "Taming of a Shrew" (1594), reprinted by Thomas Amyot for the Shakespeare Society in 1844, the hero's servant is named Sander, and this seems to have given the hint to Lacy, when altering Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew, " to foist a 'Scotsman into the action. Sawney was one of Lacy's favourite characters, and occupies a prominent position in Michael Wright's picture at Hampton Court. Evelyn, on October 3rd, 1662, "visited Mr. Wright, a Scotsman, who had liv'd long at Rome, and was esteem'd a good painter, " and he singles out as his best picture, "Lacy, the famous Roscius, or comedian, whom he has painted in three dresses, as a gallant, a Presbyterian minister, and a Scotch Highlander in his plaid. " Langbaine and Aubrey both make the mistake of ascribing the third figure to Teague in "The Committee;" and in spite of Evelyn's clear statement, his editor in a note follows them in their blunder. Planche has reproduced the picture in his "History of Costume" (Vol. Ii. , p. 243). ]

done by Lacy, hath not half its life, by reason of the words, I suppose, not being understood, at least by me. After the play was done, as I comeso I went away alone, and had a mind to have taken out Knipp to havetaken the ayre with her, and to that end sent a porter in to her thatshe should take a coach and come to me to the Piatza in Covent Garden, where I waited for her, but was doubtful I might have done ill in doingit if we should be visti ensemble, sed elle was gone out, and so I waseased of my care, and therefore away to Westminster to the Swan, andthere did baiser la little missa.... And drank, and then by water to theOld Swan, and there found Betty Michell sitting at the door, it beingdarkish. I staid and talked a little with her, but no once baiser la, though she was to my thinking at this time une de plus pretty mohersthat ever I did voir in my vida, and God forgive me my mind did runsobre elle all the vespre and night and la day suivante. So home and tothe office a little, and then to Sir W. Batten's, where he tells me howhe hath found his lady's jewels again, which have been so long lost, anda servant imprisoned and arraigned, and they were in her closet under achina cup, where he hath servants will swear they did look in searchingthe house; but Mrs. Turner and I, and others, do believe that they wereonly disposed of by my Lady, in case she had died, to some friends ofhers, and now laid there again. So home to supper, and to read the bookI bought yesterday of the Turkish policy, which is a good book, wellwrit, and so owned by Dr. Clerke yesterday to me, commending it mightilyto me for my reading as the only book of the subject that ever was writ, yet so designedly. So to bed. 

10th. Up, and to my office a little, and then, in the garden, find SirW. Pen; and he and I to Sir W. Batten, where he tells us news of the newdisorders of Hogg and his men in taking out of 30 tons of wine out of aprize of ours, which makes us mad; and that, added to the unwillingnessof the men to go longer abroad without money, do lead us to concludenot to keep her abroad any longer, of which I am very glad, for I do notlike our doings with what we have already got, Sir W. Batten orderingthe disposal of our wines and goods, and he leaves it to Morrice thecooper, who I take to be a cunning proud knave, so that I am verydesirous to adventure no further. So away by water from the Old Swan toWhite Hall, and there to Sir W. Coventry's, with whom I staid a greatwhile longer than I have done these many months, and had opportunity oftalking with him, and he do declare himself troubled that he hath anything left him to do in the Navy, and would be glad to part with hiswhole profits and concernments in it, his pains and care being whollyineffectual during this lack of money; the expense growing infinite, theservice not to be done, and discipline and order not to be kept, onlyfrom want of money. I begun to discourse with him the business ofTangier, which by the removal of my Lord Bellasses, is now to have anew Governor; and did move him, that at this season all the businessof reforming the garrison might be considered, while nobody was to beoffended; and I told him it is plain that we do overspend our revenue:that the place is of no more profit to the King than it was the firstday, nor in itself of better credit; no more people of condition willingto live there, nor any thing like a place likely to turn his Majesty toaccount: that it hath been hitherto, and, for aught I see, likely onlyto be used as a job to do a kindness to some Lord, or he that can get tobe Governor. Sir W. Coventry agreed with me, so as to say, that unlessthe King hath the wealth of the Mogul, he would be a beggar to have hisbusinesses ordered in the manner they now are: that his garrisons mustbe made places only of convenience to particular persons that he hathmoved the Duke of York in it; and that it was resolved to send noGovernor thither till there had been Commissioners sent to put thegarrison in order, so as that he that goes may go with limitations andrules to follow, and not to do as he please, as the rest have hithertodone. That he is not afeard to speak his mind, though to the displeasureof any man; and that I know well enough; but that, when it is come, asit is now, that to speak the truth in behalf of the King plainly do nogood, but all things bore down by other measures than by what is bestfor the King, he hath no temptation to be perpetually fighting ofbattles, it being more easy to him do those terms to suffer things to goon without giving any man offence, than to have the same thing done, andhe contract the displeasure of all the world, as he must do, that willbe for the King. I did offer him to draw up my thoughts in this matterto present to the Duke of York, which he approved of, and I do thinkto do it. So away, and by coach going home saw Sir G. Carteret goingtowards White Hall. So 'light and by water met him, and with him to theKing's little chapel; and afterwards to see the King heal the King'sEvil, wherein no pleasure, I having seen it before; and then to see himand the Queene and Duke of York and his wife, at dinner in the Queene'slodgings; and so with Sir G. Carteret to his lodgings to dinner; wherevery good company; and after dinner he and I to talk alone how thingsare managed, and to what ruin we must come if we have not a peace. Hedid tell me one occasion, how Sir Thomas Allen, which I took for a manof known courage and service on the King's side, was tried for hislife in Prince Rupert's fleete, in the late times, for cowardice, and condemned to be hanged, and fled to Jersey; where Sir G. Carteretreceived him, not knowing the reason of his coming thither: and thatthereupon Prince Rupert wrote to the Queen-Mother his dislike of SirG. Carteret's receiving a person that stood condemned; and so Sir G. Carteret was forced to bid him betake himself to some other place. Thiswas strange to me. Our Commissioners are preparing to go to Bredah tothe treaty, and do design to be going the next week. So away by coachhome, where there should have been a meeting about Carcasse's business, but only my Lord and I met, and so broke up, Carcasse having only readhis answer to his charge, which is well writ, but I think will not proveto his advantage, for I believe him to be a very rogue. So home, andBalty and I to look Mr. Fenn at Sir G. Carteret's office in BroadStreete, and there missing him and at the banker's hard by, we home, andI down by water to Deptford Dockyard, and there did a little business, and so home back again all the way reading a little piece I latelybought, called "The Virtuoso, or the Stoicke, " proposing many thingsparadoxical to our common opinions, wherein in some places he speakswell, but generally is but a sorry man. So home and to my chamber toenter my two last days' journall, and this, and then to supper and tobed. Blessed be God! I hear that my father is better and better, andwill, I hope, live to enjoy some cheerful days more; but it is strangewhat he writes me, that Mr. Weaver, of Huntingdon, who was a lusty, likely, and but a youngish man, should be dead. 

11th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and (which isnow rare, he having not been with us twice I think these six months) SirG. Carteret come to us upon some particular business of his office, andwent away again. At noon I to the 'Change, and there hear by Mr. Hublonof the loss of a little East Indiaman, valued at about L20, 000, cominghome alone, and safe to within ten leagues of Scilly, and there snaptby a French Caper. Our merchants do much pray for peace; and he tells methat letters are come that the Dutch have stopped the fitting of theirgreat ships, and the coming out of a fleete of theirs of 50 sayle, thatwas ready to come out; but I doubt the truth of it yet. Thence to Sir G. Carteret, by his invitation to his office, where my Lady was, and dinedwith him, and very merry and good people they are, when pleased, as anyI know. After dinner I to the office, where busy till evening, andthen with Balty to Sir G. Carteret's office, and there with Mr. Fenn despatched the business of Balty's L1500 he received for thecontingencies of the fleete, whereof he received about L253 in piecesof eight at a goldsmith's there hard by, which did puzzle me and him totell; for I could not tell the difference by sight, only by bigness, and that is not always discernible, between a whole and half-piece andquarterpiece. Having received this money I home with Balty and it, andthen abroad by coach with my wife and set her down at her father's, andI to White Hall, thinking there to have seen the Duchess of Newcastle'scoming this night to Court, to make a visit to the Queene, the Kinghaving been with her yesterday, to make her a visit since her comingto town. The whole story of this lady is a romance, and all she do isromantick. Her footmen in velvet coats, and herself in an antique dress, as they say; and was the other day at her own play, "The HumourousLovers;" the most ridiculous thing that ever was wrote, but yet sheand her Lord mightily pleased with it; and she, at the end, made herrespects to the players from her box, and did give them thanks. There isas much expectation of her coming to Court, that so people may come tosee her, as if it were the Queen of Sheba; but I lost my labour, for shedid not come this night. So, meeting Mr. Brisband, he took me up to myLady Jemimah's chamber, who is let blood to-day, and so there we sat andtalked an hour, I think, very merry and one odd thing or other, and soaway, and I took up my wife at her tailor's (whose wife is brought tobed, and my wife must be godmother), and so with much ado got a coach tocarry us home, it being late, and so to my chamber, having little leftto do at my office, my eyes being a little sore by reason of my readinga small printed book the other day after it was dark, and so to supperand to bed. It comes in my head to set down that there have been twofires in the City, as I am told for certain, and it is so, within thisweek. 

12th. Up, and when ready, and to my office, to do a little business, and, coming homeward again, saw my door and hatch open, left so by Luce, our cookmayde, which so vexed me, that I did give her a kick in ourentry, and offered a blow at her, and was seen doing so by Sir W. Pen's footboy, which did vex me to the heart, because I know he willbe telling their family of it; though I did put on presently a verypleasant face to the boy, and spoke kindly to him, as one withoutpassion, so as it may be he might not think I was angry, but yet I wastroubled at it. So away by water to White Hall, and there did our usualbusiness before the Duke of York; but it fell out that, discoursingof matters of money, it rose to a mighty heat, very high words arisingbetween Sir G. Carteret and [Sir] W. Coventry, the former in his passionsaying that the other should have helped things if they were so bad; andthe other answered, so he would, and things should have been better hadhe been Treasurer of the Navy. I was mightily troubled at this heat, andit will breed ill blood, I fear; but things are in that bad conditionthat I do daily expect when we shall all fly in one another's faces, when we shall be reduced, every one, to answer for himself. We broke up;and I soon after to Sir G. Carteret's chamber, where I find the poor mantelling his lady privately, and she weeping. I went into them, and didseem, as indeed I was, troubled for this; and did give the best adviceI could, which, I think, did please them: and they do apprehend me theirfriend, as indeed I am, for I do take the Vice-chamberlain for a mosthonest man. He did assure me that he was not, all expences and thingspaid, clear in estate L15, 000 better than he was when the King come in;and that the King and Lord Chancellor did know that he was worth, withthe debt the King owed him, L50, 000, I think, he said, when the Kingcome into England. I did pacify all I could, and then away by waterhome, there to write letters and things for the dispatch of Balty awaythis day to sea; and after dinner he did go, I having given him muchgood counsell; and I have great hopes that he will make good use of it, and be a good man, for I find him willing to take pains and very sober. He being gone, I close at my office all the afternoon getting off ofhand my papers, which, by the late holidays and my laziness, were growntoo many upon my hands, to my great trouble, and therefore at it aslate as my eyes would give me leave, and then by water down to Redriffe, meaning to meet my wife, who is gone with Mercer, Barker, and the boy(it being most sweet weather) to walk, and I did meet with them, andwalked back, and then by the time we got home it was dark, and westaid singing in the garden till supper was ready, and there with greatpleasure. But I tried my girles Mercer and Barker singly one afteranother, a single song, "At dead low ebb, " etc. , and I do clearly findthat as to manner of singing the latter do much the better, the otherthinking herself as I do myself above taking pains for a manner ofsinging, contenting ourselves with the judgment and goodness of eare. Soto supper, and then parted and to bed. 

13th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and strangehow the false fellow Commissioner. Pett was eager to have had Carcassesbusiness brought on to-day that he might give my Lord Bruncker (whohates him, I am sure, and hath spoke as much against him to the Kingin my hearing as any man) a cast of his office in pleading for his manCarcasse, but I did prevent its being brought on to-day, and so brokeup, and I home to dinner, and after dinner with a little singing withsome pleasure alone with my poor wife, and then to the office, wheresat all the afternoon till late at night, and then home to supper and tobed, my eyes troubling me still after candle-light, which troubles me. Wrote to my father, who, I am glad to hear, is at some ease again, and Ilong to have him in town, that I may see what can be done for himhere; for I would fain do all I can that I may have him live, and takepleasure in my doing well in the world. This afternoon come Mrs. Lowtherto me to the office, and there je did toker ses mammailles and didbaiser them and su bocca, which she took fort willingly.... 

14th (Lord's day). Up, and to read a little in my new History of Turkey, and so with my wife to church, and then home, where is little Michelland my pretty Betty and also Mercer, and very merry. A good dinner ofroast beef. After dinner I away to take water at the Tower, and thenceto Westminster, where Mrs. Martin was not at home. So to White Hall, and there walked up and down, and among other things visited Sir G. Carteret, and much talk with him, who is discontented, as he hathreason, to see how things are like to come all to naught, and it is verymuch that this resolution of having of country Admirals should not cometo his eares till I told him the other day, so that I doubt who managesthings. From him to Margaret's Church, and there spied Martin, and homewith her..... But fell out to see her expensefullness, having boughtTurkey work, chairs, &c. By and by away home, and there took out mywife, and the two Mercers, and two of our mayds, Barker and Jane, andover the water to the Jamaica House, where I never was before, and therethe girls did run for wagers over the bowling-green; and there, withmuch pleasure, spent little, and so home, and they home, and I to readwith satisfaction in my book of Turkey, and so to bed. 

15th. Lay long in bed, and by and by called up by Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that my Lord Middleton is for certain chosen Governor ofTangier; a man of moderate understanding, not covetous, but a soldier offortune, and poor. Here comes Mr. Sanchy with an impertinent businessto me of a ticket, which I put off. But by and by comes Dr. Childe byappointment, and sat with me all the morning making me bases and inwardparts to several songs that I desired of him, to my great content. Thendined, and then abroad by coach, and I set him down at Hatton Garden, and I to the King's house by chance, where a new play: so full as Inever saw it; I forced to stand all the while close to the very doortill I took cold, and many people went away for want of room. The King, and Queene, and Duke of York and Duchesse there, and all the Court, andSir W. Coventry. The play called "The Change of Crownes;" a play of NedHoward's, the best that ever I saw at that house, being a great play andserious; only Lacy did act the country-gentleman come up to Court, who do abuse the Court with all the imaginable wit and plainness aboutselling of places, and doing every thing for money. The play tookvery much. Thence I to my new bookseller's, and there bought "Hooker'sPolity, " the new edition, and "Dugdale's History of the Inns of Court, "of which there was but a few saved out of the fire, and Playford's newCatch-book, that hath a great many new fooleries in it. Then home, alittle at the office, and then to supper and to bed, mightily pleasedwith the new play. 

16th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning, at noon home todinner, and thence in haste to carry my wife to see the new play I sawyesterday, she not knowing it. But there, contrary to expectation, find"The Silent Woman. " However, in; and there Knipp come into the pit. Itook her by me, and here we met with Mrs. Horsley, the pretty woman--anacquaintance of Mercer's, whose house is burnt. Knipp tells me the Kingwas so angry at the liberty taken by Lacy's, part to abuse him to hisface, that he commanded they should act no more, till Moone went and gotleave for them to act again, but not this play. The King mighty angry;and it was bitter indeed, but very true and witty. I never was moretaken with a play than I am with this "Silent Woman, " as old as it is, and as often as I have seen it. There is more wit in it than goes to tennew plays. Thence with my wife and Knipp to Mrs. Pierce's, and sawher closet again, and liked her picture. Thence took them all to theCake-house, in Southampton Market-place, where Pierce told us the storyhow, in good earnest, [the King] is offended with the Duke of Richmond'smarrying, and Mrs. Stewart's sending the King his jewels again. As shetells it, it is the noblest romance and example of a brave lady thatever I read in my life. Pretty to hear them talk of yesterday's play, and I durst not own to my wife to have seen it. Thence home and to [Sir]W. Batten!'s, where we have made a bargain for the ending of some of thetrouble about some of our prizes for L1400. So home to look on my newbooks that I have lately bought, and then to supper and to bed. 

17th. Up, and with the two Sir Williams by coach to the Duke of York, who is come to St. James's, the first time we have attended him therethis year. In our way, in Tower Street, we saw Desbrough walking onfoot: who is now no more a prisoner, and looks well, and just as he usedto do heretofore. When we come to the Duke of York's I was spoke toby Mr. Bruncker on behalf of Carcasse. Thence by coach to Sir G. Carteret's, in London, there to pass some accounts of his, and at ittill dinner, and then to work again a little, and then go away, and mywife being sent for by me to the New Exchange I took her up, and thereto the King's playhouse (at the door met with W. Joyce in the street, who come to our coach side, but we in haste took no notice of him, forwhich I was sorry afterwards, though I love not the fellow, yet for hiswife's sake), and saw a piece of "Rollo, " a play I like not much, butmuch good acting in it: the house very empty. So away home, and I alittle to the office, and then to Sir Robert Viner's, and so back, and find my wife gone down by water to take a little ayre, and I tomy chamber and there spent the night in reading my new book, "OriginesJuridiciales, " which pleases me. So to supper and to bed. 

18th. Up, and to read more in the "Origines, " and then to the office, where the news is strong that not only the Dutch cannot set out a fleetethis year, but that the French will not, and that he hath given theanswer to the Dutch Embassador, saying that he is for the King ofEngland's, having an honourable peace, which, if true, is the bestnews we have had a good while. At the office all the morning, and therepleased with the little pretty Deptford woman I have wished for long, and she hath occasion given her to come again to me. After office I tothe 'Change a little, and then home and to dinner, and then by coachwith my wife to the Duke of York's house, and there saw "The Wits, " aplay I formerly loved, and is now corrected and enlarged: but, though Ilike the acting, yet I like not much in the play now. The Duke of Yorkand [Sir] W. Coventry gone to Portsmouth, makes me thus to go toplays. So home, and to the office a little and then home, where I findGoodgroome, and he and I did sing several things over, and tried two orthree grace parts in Playford's new book, my wife pleasing me in singingher part of the things she knew, which is a comfort to my very heart. Sohe being gone we to supper and to bed. 

19th. Up, and to the office all the morning, doing a great deal ofbusiness. At noon to dinner betimes, and then my wife and I by coachto the Duke's house, calling at Lovett's, where I find my LadyCastlemayne's picture not yet done, which has lain so many months there, which vexes me, but I mean not to trouble them more after this is done. So to the playhouse, not much company come, which I impute to the heatof the weather, it being very hot. Here we saw "Macbeth, "

 [See November 5th, 1664. Downes wrote: "The Tragedy of Macbeth, alter'd by Sir William Davenant; being drest in all it's finery, as new cloaths, new scenes, machines as flyings for the Witches; with all the singing and dancing in it. The first compos'd by Mr. Lock, the other by Mr. Channell and Mr. Joseph Preist; it being all excellently perform'd, being in the nature of an opera, it recompenc'd double the expence; it proves still a lasting play. "]

which, though I have seen it often, yet is it one of the best plays fora stage, and variety of dancing and musique, that ever I saw. So beingvery much pleased, thence home by coach with young Goodyer and his ownsister, who offered us to go in their coach. A good-natured youth Ibelieve he is, but I fear will mind his pleasures too much. She ispretty, and a modest, brown girle. Set us down, so my wife and I intothe garden, a fine moonshine evening, and there talking, and among otherthings she tells me that she finds by W. Hewer that my people do observemy minding my pleasure more than usual, which I confess, and am ashamedof, and so from this day take upon me to leave it till Whit-Sunday. While we were sitting in the garden comes Mrs. Turner to advise abouther son, the Captain, when I did give her the best advice I could, tolook out for some land employment for him, a peace being at hand, whenfew ships will be employed and very many, and these old Captains, to beprovided for. Then to other talk, and among the rest about Sir W. Pen'sbeing to buy Wansted House of Sir Robert Brookes, but has put him offagain, and left him the other day to pay for a dinner at a tavern, which she says our parishioner, Mrs. Hollworthy, talks of; and I dare behanged if ever he could mean to buy that great house, that knows not howto furnish one that is not the tenth part so big. Thence I to my chamberto write a little, and then to bed, having got a mighty cold in my righteare and side of my throat, and in much trouble with it almost all thenight. 

20th. Up, with much pain in my eare and palate. To the office out ofhumour all the morning. At noon dined, and with my wife to the King'shouse, but there found the bill torn down and no play acted, and sobeing in the humour to see one, went to the Duke of York's house, andthere saw "The Witts" again, which likes me better than it did the otherday, having much wit in it. Here met with Mr. Rolt, who tells methe reason of no play to-day at the King's house. That Lacy had beencommitted to the porter's lodge for his acting his part in the late newplay, and that being thence released he come to the King's house, there met with Ned Howard, the poet of the play, who congratulated hisrelease; upon which Lacy cursed him as that it was the fault of hisnonsensical play that was the cause of his ill usage. Mr. Howard didgive him some reply; to which Lacy [answered] him, that he was more afool than a poet; upon which Howard did give him a blow on the face withhis glove; on which Lacy, having a cane in his hand, did give him a blowover the pate. Here Rolt and others that discoursed of it in the pitthis afternoon did wonder that Howard did not run him through, he beingtoo mean a fellow to fight with. But Howard did not do any thing butcomplain to the King of it; so the whole house is silenced, and thegentry seem to rejoice much at it, the house being become too insolent. Here were many fine ladies this afternoon at this house as I have at anytime seen, and so after the play home and there wrote to my father, andthen to walk in the garden with my wife, resolving by the grace of Godto see no more plays till Whitsuntide, I having now seen a play everyday this week till I have neglected my business, and that I am ashamedof, being found so much absent; the Duke of York and Sir W. Coventryhaving been out of town at Portsmouth did the more embolden me thereto. So home, and having brought home with me from Fenchurch Street a hundredof sparrowgrass, --[A form once so commonly used for asparagus thatit has found its way into dictionaries. ]--cost 18d. We had them anda little bit of salmon, which my wife had a mind to, cost 3s. So tosupper, and my pain being somewhat better in my throat, we to bed. 

21st (Lord's day). Up, and John, a hackney coachman whom of late I havemuch used, as being formerly Sir W. Pen's coachman, coming to me by mydirection to see whether I would use him to-day or no, I took him to ourbackgate to look upon the ground which is to be let there, where I havea mind to buy enough to build a coach-house and stable; for I have hadit much in my thoughts lately that it is not too much for me now, in degree or cost, to keep a coach, but contrarily, that I am almostashamed to be seen in a hackney, and therefore if I can have theconveniency, I will secure the ground at least till peace comes, that Ido receive encouragement to keep a coach, or else that I may part withthe ground again. The place I like very well, being close to my ownehouse, and so resolve to go about it, and so home and with my wife tochurch, and then to dinner, Mercer with us, with design to go to Hackneyto church in the afternoon. So after dinner she and I sung "Suo Moro, "which is one of the best pieces of musique to my thinking that ever Idid hear in my life; then took coach and to Hackney church, where veryfull, and found much difficulty to get pews, I offering the sextonmoney, and he could not help me. So my wife and Mercer ventured intoa pew, and I into another. A knight and his lady very civil to me whenthey come, and the like to my wife in hers, being Sir G. Viner and hislady--rich in jewells, but most in beauty--almost the finest woman thatever I saw. That which we went chiefly to see was the young ladiesof the schools, --[Hackney was long famous for its boardingschools. ]--whereof there is great store, very pretty; and also theorgan, which is handsome, and tunes the psalm, and plays with thepeople; which is mighty pretty, and makes me mighty earnest to have apair at our church, I having almost a mind to give them a pair, if theywould settle a maintenance on them for it. I am mightily taken withthem. So, church done, we to coach and away to Kingsland and Islington, and there eat and drank at the Old House, and so back, it raining alittle, which is mighty welcome, it having not rained in many weeks, sothat they say it makes the fields just now mighty sweet. So with greatpleasure home by night. Set down Mercer, and I to my chamber, and thereread a great deal in Rycaut's Turkey book with great pleasure, and soeat and to bed. My sore throat still troubling me, but not so much. Thisnight I do come to full resolution of diligence for a good while, and Ihope God will give me the grace and wisdom to perform it. 

22nd. Up pretty betimes, my throat better, and so drest me, and to WhiteHall to see Sir W. Coventry, returned from Portsmouth, whom I am almostashamed to see for fear he should have been told how often I have beenat plays, but it is better to see him at first than afterward. So walkedto the Old Swan and drank at Michell's, and then to White Hall and overthe Park to St. James's to [Sir] W. Coventry, where well received, andgood discourse. He seems to be sure of a peace; that the King of Francedo not intend to set out a fleete, for that he do design Flanders. Our Embassadors set out this week. Thence I over the Park to Sir G. Carteret, and after him by coach to the Lord Chancellor's house, thefirst time I have been therein; and it is very noble, and brave picturesof the ancient and present nobility, never saw better. Thence with himto London, mighty merry in the way. Thence home, and find the boy out ofthe house and office, and by and by comes in and hath been to Mercer's. I did pay his coat for him. Then to my chamber, my wife comes home withlinen she hath been buying of. I then to dinner, and then down the riverto Greenwich, and the watermen would go no further. So I turned themoff, giving them nothing, and walked to Woolwich; there did somebusiness, and met with Captain Cocke and back with him. He tells me ourpeace is agreed on; we are not to assist the Spanyard against the Frenchfor this year, and no restitution, and we are likely to lose Poleroone. 

 [Among the State Papers is a document dated July 8th, 1667, in which we read: "At Breda, the business is so far advanced that the English have relinquished their pretensions to the ships Henry Bonaventure and Good Hope. The matter sticks only at Poleron; the States have resolved not to part with it, though the English should have a right to it" ("Calendar, " 1667, p. 278). ]

I know not whether this be true or no, but I am for peace on any terms. He tells me how the King was vexed the other day for having no paperlaid him at the Council-table, as was usual; and Sir Richard Browne didtell his Majesty he would call the person whose work it was to provideit: who being come, did tell his Majesty that he was but a poor man, andwas out L400 or L500 for it, which was as much as he is worth; and thathe cannot provide it any longer without money, having not receiveda penny since the King's coming in. So the King spoke to my LordChamberlain; and many such mementos the King do now-a-days meet withall, enough to make an ingenuous man mad. I to Deptford, and there scoldedwith a master for his ship's not being gone, and so home to the officeand did business till my eyes are sore again, and so home to sing, andthen to bed, my eyes failing me mightily:

23rd (St. George's-day). The feast being kept at White Hall, out ofdesign, as it is thought, to make the best countenance we can to theSwede's Embassadors, before their leaving us to go to the treaty abroad, to shew some jollity. We sat at the office all the morning. Word isbrought me that young Michell is come to call my wife to his wife'slabour, and she went, and I at the office full of expectation whatto hear from poor Betty Michell. This morning much to do with SirW. Warren, all whose applications now are to Lord Bruncker, and I amagainst him now, not professedly, but apparently in discourse, and willbe. At noon home to dinner, where alone, and after dinner to my musiquepapers, and by and by comes in my wife, who gives me the good news thatthe midwife and she alone have delivered poor Betty of a pretty girl, which I am mighty glad of, and she in good condition, my wife as well asI mightily pleased with it. Then to the office to do things towards thepost, and then my wife and I set down at her mother's, and I up and downto do business, but did little; and so to Mrs. Martin's, and theredid hazer what I would con her, and then called my wife and to littleMichell's, where we saw the little child, which I like mightily, beingI allow very pretty, and asked her how she did, being mighty glad of herdoing well, and so home to the office, and then to my chamber, and so tobed. 

24th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Pen to St. James's, and there the Duke ofYork was preparing to go to some further ceremonies about the Garter, that he could give us no audience. Thence to Westminster Hall, the firstday of the Term, and there joyed Mrs. Michell, who is mightily pleasedwith my wife's work yesterday, and so away to my barber's about myperiwigg, and then to the Exchange, there to meet Fenn about some moneyto be borrowed of the office of the Ordnance to answer a great pinch. Sohome to dinner, and in the afternoon met by agreement (being put on itby Harry Bruncker's frighting us into a despatch of Carcasse's business)[Lord] Bruncker, T. Harvey, [Sir] J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, and I (SirW. Pen keeping out of the way still), where a great many high words fromBruncker, and as many from me and others to him, and to better purpose, for I think we have fortified ourselves to overthrow his man Carcasse, and to do no honour to him. We rose with little done but great heat, not to be reconciled I doubt, and I care not, for I will be on the rightside, and that shall keep me: Thence by coach to Sir John Duncomb's'lodging in the Pell Mell, --[See November 8th, 1664]--in order to themoney spoken of in the morning; and there awhile sat and discoursed. :and I find him that he is a very proper man for business, being veryresolute and proud, and industrious. He told me what reformation theyhad made in the office of the Ordnance, taking away Legg's fees:

 [William Legge, eldest son of Edward Legge, sometime Vice-President of Munster, born 1609(?). He served under Maurice of Nassau and Gustavus Adolphus, and held the rank of colonel in the Royalist army. He closely attached himself to Prince Rupert, and was an active agent in affecting the reconciliation between that prince and his uncle Charles I. Colonel Legge distinguished himself in several actions, and was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester; it was said that he would have "been executed if his wife had not contrived his escape from Coventry gaol in her own clothes. " He was Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles I. , and also to Charles II. ; he held the offices of Master of the Armories and Lieutenant- General of the Ordnance. He refused honours (a knighthood from Charles I. And an earldom from Charles II. ), but his eldest son George was created Baron Dartmouth in 1682. He died October 13th, 1672, at his house in the Minories, and was buried in]

and have got an order that no Treasurer after him shall ever sit at theBoard; and it is a good one: that no master of the Ordnance here shallever sell a place. He tells me they have not paid any increase of pricefor any thing during this war, but in most have paid less; and at thisday have greater stores than they know where to lay, if there should bepeace, and than ever was any time this war. That they pay every man incourse, and have notice of the disposal of every farthing. Every manthat they owe money to has his share of every sum they receive; neverborrowed all this war but L30, 000 by the King's express command, but dousually stay till their assignments become payable in their own course, which is the whole mystery, that they have had assignments for a fifthpart of whatever was assigned to the Navy. They have power of puttingout and in of all officers; are going upon a building that will costthem L12, 000; that they out of their stock of tallies have been forcedto help the Treasurer of the Navy at this great pinch. Then to talk ofnewes: that he thinks the want of money hath undone the King, for theParliament will never give the King more money without calling allpeople to account, nor, as he believes, will ever make war again, butthey will manage it themselves: unless, which I proposed, he wouldvisibly become a severer inspector into his own business and accounts, and that would gain upon the Parliament yet: which he confesses andconfirms as the only lift to set him upon his legs, but says that itis not in his nature ever to do. He says that he believes but four men(such as he could name) would do the business of both offices, his andours, and if ever the war were to be again it should be so, he believes. He told me to my face that I was a very good clerk, and did understandthe business and do it very well, and that he would never desire abetter. He do believe that the Parliament, if ever they meet, willoffer some alterations to the King, and will turn some of us out, and Iprotest I think he is in the right that either they or the King will beadvised to some regulations, and therefore I ought to beware, as itis easy for me to keep myself up if I will. He thinks that much of ourmisfortune hath been for want of an active Lord Treasurer, and that sucha man as Sir W. Coventry would do the business thoroughly. This talkbeing over, comes his boy and tells us [Sir] W. Coventry is come in, andso he and I to him, and there told the difficulty of getting this money, and they did play hard upon Sir G. Carteret as a man moped and stunned, not knowing which way to turn himself. Sir W. Coventry cried that hewas disheartened, and I do think that there is much in it, but SirJ. Duncomb do charge him with mighty neglect in the pursuing of hisbusiness, and that he do not look after it himself, but leaves it toFenn, so that I do perceive that they are resolved to scheme at bringingthe business into a better way of execution, and I think it needs, thatis the truth of it. So I away to Sir G. Carteret's lodgings about thismoney, and contrary to expectation I find he hath prevailed with Leggon his own bond to lend him L2000, which I am glad of, but, poor man, helittle sees what observations people do make upon his management, andhe is not a man fit to be told what one hears. Thence by water at 10 atnight from Westminster Bridge, having kissed little Frank, and so to theOld Swan, and walked home by moonshine, and there to my chamber a while, and supper and to bed. 

25th. Received a writ from the Exchequer this morning of distrain forL70, 000, which troubled me, though it be but, matter of form. To theoffice, where sat all the morning. At noon my wife being to Unthanke'schristening, I to Sir W. Batten's to dinner, where merry, and the ratherbecause we are like to come to some good end in another of our prizes. Thence by coach to my Lord Treasurer's, and there being come too soonto the New Exchange, but did nothing, and back again, and there foundmy Lord Bruncker and T. Harvy, and walked in a room very merrilydiscoursing. By and by comes my Lord Ashly and tells us my LordTreasurer is ill and cannot speak with us now. Thence away, Sir W. Penand I and Mr. Lewes, who come hither after us, and Mr. Gawden in thelast man's coach. Set me down by the Poultry, and I to Sir RobertViner's, and there had my account stated and took it home to review. Sohome to the office, and there late writing out something, having beena little at Sir W. Batten's to talk, and there vexed to see them giveorder for Hogg's further abroad, and so home and to bed. 

26th. Up, and by coach with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen to WhiteHall, and there saw the Duke of Albemarle, who is not well, and do growcrazy. Thence I to St. James's, to meet Sir G. Carteret, and did, andLord Berkely, to get them (as we would have done the Duke of Albemarle)to the meeting of the Lords of Appeale in the business of one of ourprizes. With them to the meeting of the Guinny Company, and there staid, and went with Lord Berkely. While I was waiting for him in the MattedGallery, a young man was most finely working in Indian inke the greatpicture of the King and Queen sitting, --[Charles I. And HenriettaMaria. ]--by Van Dyke; and did it very finely. Thence to Westminster Hallto hear our cause, but [it] did not come before them to-day, so wentdown and walked below in the Hall, and there met with Ned Pickering, who tells me the ill newes of his nephew Gilbert, who is turned a veryrogue, and then I took a turn with Mr. Evelyn, with whom I walked twohours, till almost one of the clock: talking of the badness of theGovernment, where nothing but wickedness, and wicked men and womencommand the King: that it is not in his nature to gainsay any thing thatrelates to his pleasures; that much of it arises from the sickliness ofour Ministers of State, who cannot be about him as the idle companionsare, and therefore he gives way to the young rogues; and then, from thenegligence of the Clergy, that a Bishop shall never be seen about him, as the King of France hath always: that the King would fain have someof the same gang to be Lord Treasurer, which would be yet worse, for nowsome delays are put to the getting gifts of the King, as that whore myLady Byron, [Eleanor, daughter of Robert Needham, Viscount Kilmurrey, and widow of Peter Warburton, became in 1644 the second wife of John Byron, first Lord Byron. Died 1663. --B. ]

who had been, as he called it, the King's seventeenth whore abroad, didnot leave him till she had got him to give her an order for L4000 worthof plate to be made for her; but by delays, thanks be to God! she diedbefore she had it. He tells me mighty stories of the King of France, howgreat a prince he is. He hath made a code to shorten the law; hehath put out all the ancient commanders of castles that were becomehereditary; he hath made all the fryers subject to the bishops, which before were only subject to Rome, and so were hardly the King'ssubjects, and that none shall become 'religieux' but at such an age, which he thinks will in a few, years ruin the Pope, and bring Franceinto a patriarchate. He confirmed to me the business of the want ofpaper at the Council-table the other day, which I have observed; Woolybeing to have found it, and did, being called, tell the King to his facethe reason of it; and Mr. Evelyn tells me several of the menial servantsof the Court lacking bread, that have not received a farthing wagessince the King's coming in. He tells me the King of France hath hismistresses, but laughs at the foolery of our King, that makes hisbastards princes, [Louis made his own bastards dukes and princes, and legitimatized them as much as he could, connecting them also by marriage with the real blood-royal. --B. ]

and loses his revenue upon them, and makes his mistresses his mastersand the King of France did never grant Lavalliere

 [Louise Francoise de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere had four children by Louis XIV. , of whom only two survived-Marie Anne Bourbon, called Mademoiselle de Blois, born in 1666, afterwards married to the Prince de Conti, and the Comte de Vermandois, born in 1667. In that year (the very year in which Evelyn was giving this account to Pepys), the Duchy of Vaujour and two baronies were created in favour of La Valliere, and her daughter, who, in the deed of creation, was legitimatized, and styled princess. --B. ]

any thing to bestow on others, and gives a little subsistence, but nomore, to his bastards. He told me the whole story of Mrs. Stewart'sgoing away from Court, he knowing her well; and believes her, up to herleaving the Court, to be as virtuous as any woman in the world: and toldme, from a Lord that she told it to but yesterday, with her own mouth, and a sober man, that when the Duke of Richmond did make love to her, she did ask the King, and he did the like also; and that the King didnot deny it, and [she] told this Lord that she was come to that pass asto resolve to have married any gentleman of L1500 a-year that wouldhave had her in honour; for it was come to that pass, that she could notlonger continue at Court without prostituting herself to the King, [Even at a much later time Mrs. Godolphin well resolved "not to talk foolishly to men, more especially THE KING, "--"be sure never to talk to THE KING" ("Life, " by Evelyn). These expressions speak volumes as to Charles's character. --B. ]

whom she had so long kept off, though he had liberty more than any otherhad, or he ought to have, as to dalliance. 

 [Evelyn evidently believed the Duchess of Richmond to be innocent; and his testimony, coupled with her own declaration, ought to weigh down all the scandal which Pepys reports from other sources. --B. ]

She told this Lord that she had reflected upon the occasion she hadgiven the world to think her a bad woman, and that she had no way butto marry and leave the Court, rather in this way of discontent thanotherwise, that the world might see that she sought not any thing buther honour; and that she will never come to live at Court more than whenshe comes to town to come to kiss the Queene her Mistress's hand: andhopes, though she hath little reason to hope, she can please her Lord soas to reclaim him, that they may yet live comfortably in the country onhis estate. She told this Lord that all the jewells she ever had givenher at Court, or any other presents, more than the King's allowance ofL700 per annum out of the Privypurse for her clothes, were, at her firstcoming the King did give her a necklace of pearl of about L1100 andafterwards, about seven months since, when the King had hopes to haveobtained some courtesy of her, the King did give her some jewells, Ihave forgot what, and I think a pair of pendants. The Duke of York, being once her Valentine, did give her a jewell of about L800; and myLord Mandeville, her Valentine this year, a ring of about L300; and theKing of France would have had her mother, who, he says, is one of themost cunning women in the world, to have let her stay in France, sayingthat he loved her not as a mistress, but as one that he could marry aswell as any lady in France; and that, if she might stay, for the honourof his Court he would take care she should not repent. But her mother, by command of the Queen-mother, thought rather to bring her intoEngland; and the King of France did give her a jewell: so that Mr. Evelyn believes she may be worth in jewells about L6000, and that thatis all that she hath in the world: and a worthy woman; and in this hathdone as great an act of honour as ever was done by woman. That now theCountesse Castlemayne do carry all before her: and among other argumentsto prove Mrs. Stewart to have been honest to the last, he says thatthe King's keeping in still with my Lady Castlemayne do show it; for henever was known to keep two mistresses in his life, and would never havekept to her had he prevailed any thing with Mrs. Stewart. She is goneyesterday with her Lord to Cobham. He did tell me of the ridiculoushumour of our King and Knights of the Garter the other day, who, whereasheretofore their robes were only to be worn during their ceremoniesand service, these, as proud of their coats, did wear them all day tillnight, and then rode into the Parke with them on. Nay, and he tells mehe did see my Lord Oxford and the Duke of Monmouth in a hackney-coachwith two footmen in the Parke, with their robes on; which is a mostscandalous thing, so as all gravity may be said to be lost among us. Byand by we discoursed of Sir Thomas Clifford, whom I took for a very richand learned man, and of the great family of that name. He tells me he isonly a man of about seven-score pounds a-year, of little learning morethan the law of a justice of peace, which he knows well: a parson's son, got to be burgess in a little borough in the West, and here fell intothe acquaintance of my Lord Arlington, whose creature he is, and neverfrom him; a man of virtue, and comely, and good parts enough; and hathcome into his place with a great grace, though with a great skip overthe heads of a great many, as Chichly and Duncum, and some Lords thatdid expect it. By the way, he tells me, that of all the great men ofEngland there is none that endeavours more to raise those that he takesinto favour than my Lord Arlington; and that, on that score, he is muchmore to be made one's patron than my Lord Chancellor, who never did, nor never will do, any thing, but for money! After having this longdiscourse we parted, about one of the clock, and so away by water home, calling upon Michell, whose wife and girle are pretty well, and I hometo dinner, and after dinner with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, there toattend the Duke of York before council, where we all met at his closetand did the little business we had, and here he did tell us how the Kingof France is intent upon his design against Flanders, and hath drawn upa remonstrance of the cause of the war, and appointed the 20th of thenext month for his rendezvous, and himself to prepare for the campaignthe 30th, so that this, we are in hopes, will keep him in employment. Turenne is to be his general. Here was Carcasses business unexpectedlymoved by him, but what was done therein appears in my account of hiscase in writing by itself. Certain newes of the Dutch being abroad onour coast with twenty-four great ships. This done Sir W. Batten and Iback again to London, and in the way met my Lady Newcastle going withher coaches and footmen all in velvet: herself, whom I never saw before, as I have heard her often described, for all the town-talk is now-a-daysof her extravagancies, with her velvetcap, her hair about her ears; manyblack patches, because of pimples about her mouth; naked-necked, withoutany thing about it, and a black just-au-corps. She seemed to me avery comely woman: but I hope to see more of her on Mayday. My mindis mightily of late upon a coach. At home, to the office, where latespending all the evening upon entering in long hand our late passageswith Carcasse for memory sake, and so home in great pain in my back bythe uneasiness of Sir W. Batten's coach driving hard this afternoon overthe stones to prevent coming too late. So at night to supper in greatpain, and to bed, where lay in great pain, not able to turn myself allnight. 

27th. Up with much pain, and to the office, where all the morning. Atnoon home to dinner, W. Hewer with us. This noon I got in some coals at23s. Per chaldron, a good hearing, I thank God-having not been put tobuy a coal all this dear time, that during this war poor people havebeen forced to give 45s. And 50s. , and L3. In the afternoon (my wife andpeople busy these late days, and will be for some time, making of shirtsand smocks) to the office, where late, and then home, after letters, and so to supper and to bed, with much pleasure of mind, after havingdispatched business. This afternoon I spent some time walking withMr. Moore, in the garden, among other things discoursing of my LordSandwich's family, which he tells me is in a very bad condition, forwant of money and management, my Lord's charging them with bills, andnobody, nor any thing provided to answer them. He did discourse of hishopes of being supplied with L1900 against a present bill from me, butI took no notice of it, nor will do it. It seems Mr. Sheply doubts hisaccounts are ill kept, and every thing else in the family out of order, which I am grieved to hear of. 

28th (Lord's day). Lay long, my pain in my back being still great, though not so great as it was. However, up and to church, where a lazysermon, and then home and to dinner, my wife and I alone and Barker. After dinner, by water--the day being mighty pleasant, and the tideserving finely, I up (reading in Boyle's book of colours), as high asBarne Elmes, and there took one turn alone, and then back to PutneyChurch, where I saw the girls of the schools, few of which pretty; andthere I come into a pew, and met with little James Pierce, which I wasmuch pleased at, the little rogue being very glad to see me: his master, Reader to the Church. Here was a good sermon and much company, but Isleepy, and a little out of order, for my hat falling down through ahole underneath the pulpit, which, however, after sermon, by a stick, and the helpe of the clerke, I got up again, and then walked out of thechurch with the boy, and then left him, promising him to get him a playanother time. And so by water, the tide being with me again, down toDeptford, and there I walked down the Yard, Shish and Cox with me, and discoursed about cleaning of the wet docke, and heard, which I hadbefore, how, when the docke was made, a ship of near 500 tons was therefound; a ship supposed of Queene Elizabeth's time, and well wrought, with a great deal of stoneshot in her, of eighteen inches diameter, which was shot then in use: and afterwards meeting with Captain Perrimanand Mr. Castle at Half-way Tree, they tell me of stoneshot of thirty-sixinches diameter, which they shot out of mortarpieces. Thence walkedto Half-way Tree, and there stopt and talk with Mr. Castle and CaptainPerriman, and so to Redriffe and took boat again, and so home, and thereto write down my Journall, and so to supper and to read, and so to bed, mightily pleased with my reading of Boyle's book of colours to-day, onlytroubled that some part of it, indeed the greatest part, I am not ableto understand for want of study. My wife this night troubled at myleaving her alone so much and keeping her within doors, which indeed Ido not well nor wisely in. 

29th. Up, being visited very early by Creed newly come fromHinchingbrooke, who went thither without my knowledge, and I believeonly to save his being taxed by the Poll Bill. I did give him no verygood countenance nor welcome, but took occasion to go forth and walked(he with me) to St. Dunstan's, and thence I to Sir W. Coventry's, wherea good while with him, and I think he pretty kind, but that the natureof our present condition affords not matter for either of us to bepleased with any thing. We discoursed of Carcasse, whose Lord, he tellsme, do make complaints that his clerk should be singled out, and my LordBerkeley do take his part. So he advises we would sum up all we haveagainst him and lay it before the Duke of York; he condemned my LordBruncker. Thence to Sir G. Carteret, and there talked a little whileabout office business, and thence by coach home, in several placespaying my debts in order to my evening my accounts this month, andthence by and by to White Hall again to Sir G. Carteret to dinner, wherevery good company and discourse, and I think it my part to keep in therenow more than ordinary because of the probability of my Lord's comingsoon home. Our Commissioners for the treaty set out this morning betimesdown the river. Here I hear that the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke ofYork's son, is very sick; and my Lord Treasurer very bad of the stone, and hath been so some days. After dinner Sir G. Carteret and I alone inhis closet an hour or more talking of my Lord Sandwich's coming home, which, the peace being likely to be made here, he expects, both for myLord's sake and his own (whose interest he wants) it will be best forhim to be at home, where he will be well received by the King; he issure of his service well accepted, though the business of Spain do fallby this peace. He tells me my Lord Arlington hath done like a gentlemanby him in all things. He says, if my Lord [Sandwich] were here, hewere the fittest man to be Lord Treasurer of any man in England; and hethinks it might be compassed; for he confesses that the King's mattersdo suffer through the inability of this man, who is likely to die, andhe will propound him to the King. It will remove him from his place atsea, and the King will have a good place to bestow. He says to me, thathe could wish, when my Lord comes, that he would think fit to forbearplaying, as a thing below him, and which will lessen him, as it do myLord St. Albans, in the King's esteem: and as a great secret tells methat he hath made a match for my Lord Hinchingbroke to a daughter of myLord Burlington's, where there is a great alliance, L10, 000 portion; acivil family, and relation to my Lord Chancellor, whose son hath marriedone of the daughters; and that my Lord Chancellor do take it withvery great kindness, so that he do hold himself obliged by it. My LordSandwich hath referred it to my Lord Crew, Sir G. Carteret, and Mr. Montagu, to end it. My Lord Hinchingbroke and the lady know nothing yetof it. It will, I think, be very happy. Very glad of this discourse, Iaway mightily pleased with the confidence I have in this family, andso away, took up my wife, who was at her mother's, and so home, where Isettled to my chamber about my accounts, both Tangier and private, andup at it till twelve at night, with good success, when news is broughtme that there is a great fire in Southwarke: so we up to the leads, andthen I and the boy down to the end of our, lane, and there saw it, itseeming pretty great, but nothing to the fire of London, that it made methink little of it. We could at that distance see an engine play--thatis, the water go out, it being moonlight. By and by, it begun toslacken, and then I home and to bed. 

30th. Up, and Mr. Madden come to speak with me, whom my people notknowing have made to wait long without doors, which vexed me. Then comesSir John Winter to discourse with me about the forest of Deane, and thenabout my Lord Treasurer, and asking me whether, as he had heard, I hadnot been cut for the stone, I took him to my closet, and there shewedit to him, of which he took the dimensions and had some discourse ofit, and I believe will shew my Lord Treasurer it. Thence to the office, where we sat all the morning, but little to do, and then to the 'Change, where for certain I hear, and the News book declares, a peace betweenFrance and Portugal. Met here with Mr. Pierce, and he tells me the Dukeof Cambridge is very ill and full of spots about his body, that Dr. Frazier knows not what to think of it. Then home and to dinner, and thento the office, where all the afternoon; we met about Sir W. Warren'sbusiness and accounts, wherein I do rather oppose than forward him, butnot in declared terms, for I will not be at, enmity with him, but I willnot have him find any friendship so good as mine. By and by rose and bywater to White Hall, and then called my wife at Unthanke's. So home andto my chamber, to my accounts, and finished them to my heart's wishesand admiration, they being grown very intricate, being let alone fortwo months, but I brought them together all naturally, within a fewshillings, but to my sorrow the Poll money I paid this month andmourning have made me L80 a worse man than at my last balance, so that Iam worth now but L6700, which is yet an infinite mercy to me, for whichGod make me thankful. So late to supper, with a glad heart for theevening of my accounts so well, and so to bed. 

MAY 1667

May 1st. Up, it being a fine day, and after doing a little business inmy chamber I left my wife to go abroad with W. Hewer and his mother in aHackney coach incognito to the Park, while I abroad to the Excise Officefirst, and there met the Cofferer and Sir Stephen Fox about our moneymatters there, wherein we agreed, and so to discourse of my LordTreasurer, who is a little better than he was of the stone, havingrested a little this night. I there did acquaint them of my knowledge ofthat disease, which I believe will be told my Lord Treasurer. Thence toWestminster; in the way meeting many milk-maids with their garlands upontheir pails, dancing with a fiddler before them;

 [On the 1st of May milkmaids used to borrow silver cups, tankards, &c. , to hang them round their milkpails, with the addition of flowers and ribbons, which they carried upon their heads, accompanied by a bagpipe or fiddle, and went from door to door, dancing before the houses of their customers, in order to obtain a small gratuity from each of them. 

 "In London thirty years ago, When pretty milkmaids went about, It was a goodly sight to see Their May-day pageant all drawn out. 

 "Such scenes and sounds once blest my eyes And charm'd my ears; but all have vanish'd, On May-day now no garlands go, For milkmaids and their dance are banish'd. "

 Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. I. , pp. 569, 570. ]

and saw pretty Nelly standing at her lodgings' door in Drury-lane in hersmock sleeves and bodice, looking upon one: she seemed a mighty prettycreature. To the Hall and there walked a while, it being term. I thencehome to the Rose, and then had Doll Lane venir para me.... To my LordCrew's, where I found them at dinner, and among others. Mrs. Bocket, which I have not seen a long time, and two little dirty children, andshe as idle a prating and impertinent woman as ever she was. Afterdinner my Lord took me alone and walked with me, giving me an accountof the meeting of the Commissioners for Accounts, whereof he is one. Howsome of the gentlemen, Garraway, Littleton, and others, did scruple attheir first coming there, being called thither to act, as Membersof Parliament, which they could not do by any authority but that ofParliament, and therefore desired the King's direction in it, which wassent for by my Lord Bridgewater, who brought answer, very short, thatthe King expected they should obey his Commission. Then they went on, and observed a power to be given them of administering and framingan oath, which they thought they could not do by any power but Act ofParliament; and the whole Commission did think fit to have the judges'opinion in it; and so, drawing up their scruples in writing, they allattended the King, who told them he would send to the judges to beanswered, and did so; who have, my Lord tells me, met three times aboutit, not knowing what answer to give to it; and they have met this week, doing nothing but expecting the solution of the judges in this point. MyLord tells me he do believe this Commission will do more hurt than good;it may undo some accounts, if these men shall think fit; but it cannever clear an account, for he must come into the Exchequer for allthis. Besides, it is a kind of inquisition that hath seldom ever beengranted in England; and he believes it will never, besides, give anysatisfaction to the People or Parliament, but be looked upon as aforced, packed business of the King, especially if these Parliament-menthat are of it shall not concur with them: which he doubts they willnot, and, therefore, wishes much that the King would lay hold of thisfit occasion, and let the Commission fall. Then to talk of my LordSandwich, whom my Lord Crew hath a great desire might get to be LordTreasurer if the present Lord should die, as it is believed he will, in a little time; and thinks he can have no competitor but my LordArlington, who, it is given out, desires it: but my Lord thinks it isnot so, for that the being Secretary do keep him a greater interest withthe King than the other would do at least, do believe, that if my Lordwould surrender him his Wardrobe place, it would be a temptation toArlington to assist my Lord in getting the Treasurer's. I did objectto my Lord [Crew] that it would be no place of content, nor safety, norhonour for my Lord, the State being so indigent as it is, and the [King]so irregular, and those about him, that my Lord must be forced to partwith anything to answer his warrants; and that, therefore, I do believethe King had rather have a man that may be one of his vicious caball, than a sober man that will mind the publick, that so they may sit atcards and dispose of the revenue of the kingdom. This my Lord was movedat, and said he did not indeed know how to answer it, and bid me thinkof it; and so said he himself would also do. He do mightily cry out ofthe bad management of our monies, the King having had so much given him;and yet, when the Parliament do find that the King should have L900, 000in his purse by the best account of issues they have yet seen, yet weshould report in the Navy a debt due from the King of L900, 000; which, Idid confess, I doubted was true in the first, and knew to be true inthe last, and did believe that there was some great miscarriages in it:which he owned to believe also, saying, that at this rate it is not inthe power of the kingdom to make a war, nor answer the King's wants. Thence away to the King's playhouse, by agreement met Sir W. Pen, andsaw "Love in a Maze" but a sorry play: only Lacy's clowne's part, whichhe did most admirably indeed; and I am glad to find the rogue at libertyagain. Here was but little, and that ordinary, company. We sat at theupper bench next the boxes; and I find it do pretty well, and have theadvantage of seeing and hearing the great people, which may be pleasantwhen there is good store. Now was only Prince Rupert and my LordLauderdale, and my Lord, the naming of whom puts me in mind of myseeing, at Sir Robert Viner's, two or three great silver flagons, madewith inscriptions as gifts of the King to such and such persons ofquality as did stay in town the late great plague, for the keepingthings in order in the town, which is a handsome thing. But here wasneither Hart, Nell, nor Knipp; therefore, the play was not likely toplease me. Thence Sir W. Pen and I in his coach, Tiburne way, into thePark, where a horrid dust, and number of coaches, without pleasureor order. That which we, and almost all went for, was to see my LadyNewcastle; which we could not, she being followed and crowded upon bycoaches all the way she went, that nobody could come near her; only Icould see she was in a large black coach, adorned with silver insteadof gold, and so white curtains, and every thing black and white, andherself in her cap, but other parts I could not make [out]. But thatwhich I did see, and wonder at with reason, was to find Pegg Pen in anew coach, with only her husband's pretty sister with her, both patchedand very fine, and in much the finest coach in the park, and I thinkthat ever I did see one or other, for neatness and richness in gold, and everything that is noble. My Lady Castlemayne, the King, my LordSt. Albans, nor Mr. Jermyn, have so neat a coach, that ever I saw. And, Lord! to have them have this, and nothing else that is correspondent, isto me one of the most ridiculous sights that ever I did see, though herpresent dress was well enough; but to live in the condition they do athome, and be abroad in this coach, astonishes me. When we had spenthalf an hour in the Park, we went out again, weary of the dust, anddespairing of seeing my Lady Newcastle; and so back the same way, and toSt. James's, thinking to have met my Lady Newcastle before she got home, but we staying by the way to drink, she got home a little before us: sowe lost our labours, and then home; where we find the two young ladiescome home, and their patches off, I suppose Sir W. Pen do not allowof them in his sight, and going out of town to-night, though late, toWalthamstow. So to talk a little at Sir W. Batten's, and then home tosupper, where I find Mrs. Hewer and her son, who have been abroad withmy wife in the Park, and so after supper to read and then to bed. SirW. Pen did give me an account this afternoon of his design of buying SirRobert Brooke's fine house at Wansted; which I so wondered at, and didgive him reasons against it, which he allowed of: and told me that hedid intend to pull down the house and build a less, and that he shouldget L1500 by the old house, and I know not what fooleries. But Iwill never believe he ever intended to buy it, for my part; though hetroubled Mr. Gawden to go and look upon it, and advise him in it. 

2nd. To the office, where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, andthen abroad to my Lord Treasurer's, who continues so ill as not to betroubled with business. So Mr. Gawden and I to my Lord Ashly's and spokewith him, and then straight home, and there I did much business at theoffice, and then to my own chamber and did the like there, to my greatcontent, but to the pain of my eyes, and then to supper and to bed, having a song with my wife with great pleasure, she doing it well. 

3rd. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, and [Sir] W. Pen inthe last man's coach to St. James's, and thence up to the Duke of York'schamber, which, as it is now fretted at the top, and the chimney-piecemade handsome, is one of the noblest and best-proportioned rooms thatever, I think, I saw in my life, and when ready, into his closet anddid our business, where, among other things, we had a proposition ofMr. Pierces, for being continued in pay, or something done for him, inreward of his pains as Chyrurgeon-Generall; forasmuch as Troutbecke, that was never a doctor before, hath got L200 a year settled on him fornothing but that one voyage with the Duke of Albemarle. The Duke of Yorkand the whole company did shew most particular kindness to Mr. Pierce, every body moving for him, and the Duke himself most, that he is likelyto be a very great man, I believe. Here also we had another mention ofCarcasses business, and we directed to bring in a report of our opinionof his case, which vexes us that such a rogue shall make us so muchtrouble. Thence I presently to the Excise Office, and there met theCofferer and [Sir] Stephen Fox by agreement, and agreed upon a methodfor our future payments, and then we three to my Lord Treasurer, whocontinues still very ill. I had taken my stone with me on purpose, and Sir Philip Warwicke carried it in to him to see, but was not ina condition to talk with me about it, poor man. So I with them toWestminster by coach; the Cofferer telling us odd stories how he wasdealt with by the men of the Church at Westminster in taking a lease ofthem at the King's coming in, and particularly the devilish covetousnessof Dr. Busby. Sir Stephen Fox, in discourse, told him how he is sellingsome land he hath, which yields him not above three per cent. , if somuch, and turning it into money, which he can put out at ten per cent. ;and, as times go, if they be like to continue, it is the best way forme to keep money going so, for aught I see. I to Westminster Hall, andthere took a turn with my old acquaintance Mr. Pechell, whose red nosemakes me ashamed to be seen with him, though otherwise a good-naturedman. So away, I not finding of Mr. Moore, with whom I should have metand spoke about a letter I this day received from him from my LordHinchingbroke, wherein he desires me to help him to L1900 to pay a billof exchange of his father's, which troubles me much, but I willfind some way, if I can do it, but not to bring myself in bonds ordisbursements for it, whatever comes of it. So home to dinner, where mywife hath 'ceux la' upon her and is very ill with them, and so forcedto go to bed, and I sat by her a good while, then down to my chamber andmade an end of Rycaut's History of the Turks, which is a very good book. Then to the office, and did some business, and then my wife being prettywell, by coach to little Michell's, and there saw my poor Betty andher little child, which slept so soundly we could hardly wake it in anhour's time without hurting it, and they tell me what I did not know, that a child (as this do) will hunt and hunt up and down with its mouthif you touch the cheek of it with your finger's end for a nipple, andfit its mouth for sucking, but this hath not sucked yet, she havingno nipples. Here sat a while, and then my wife and I, it being a mostcurious clear evening, after some rain to-day, took a most excellenttour by coach to Bow, and there drank and back again, and so a littleat the office, and home to read a little, and to supper and bed mightilyrefreshed with this evening's tour, but troubled that it hath hinderedmy doing some business which I would have done at the office. This daythe newes is come that the fleete of the Dutch, of about 20 ships, whichcome upon our coasts upon design to have intercepted our colliers, butby good luck failed, is gone to the Frith, --[Frith of Forth. See 5th ofthis month. ]--and there lies, perhaps to trouble the Scotch privateers, which have galled them of late very much, it may be more than all ourlast year's fleete. 

4th. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, among other thingsa great conflict I had with Sir W. Warren, he bringing a letter to theBoard, flatly in words charging them with their delays in passing hisaccounts, which have been with them these two years, part of which Isaid was not true, and the other undecent. The whole Board was concernedto take notice of it, as well as myself, but none of them had the honourto do it, but suffered me to do it alone, only Sir W. Batten, who didwhat he did out of common spite to him. So I writ in the margin of theletter, "Returned as untrue, " and, by consent of the Board, did give ithim again, and so parted. Home to dinner, and there came a woman whosehusband I sent for, one Fisher, about the business of Perkins andCarcasse, and I do think by her I shall find the business as bad as everit was, and that we shall find Commissioner Pett a rogue, using foulplay on behalf of Carcasse. After dinner to the office again, and therelate all the afternoon, doing much business, and with great content hometo supper and to bed. 

5th (Lord's day). Up, and going down to the water side, I met Sir JohnRobinson, and so with him by coach to White Hall, still a vain, prating, boasting man as any I know, as if the whole City and Kingdom had allits work done by him. He tells me he hath now got a street ordered tobe continued, forty feet broad, from Paul's through Cannon Street to theTower, which will be very fine. He and others this day, where I was inthe afternoon, do tell me of at least six or eight fires within thesefew days; and continually stirs of fires, and real fires there havebeen, in one place or other, almost ever since the late great fire, asif there was a fate sent people for fire. I walked over the Park toSir W. Coventry's. Among other things to tell him what I hear of peoplebeing forced to sell their bills before September for 35 and 40 percent. Loss, and what is worst, that there are some courtiers that havemade a knot to buy them, in hopes of some ways to get money of theKing to pay them, which Sir W. Coventry is amazed at, and says we are apeople made up for destruction, and will do what he can to prevent allthis by getting the King to provide wherewith to pay them. We talkedof Tangier, of which he is ashamed; also that it should put the King tothis charge for no good in the world: and now a man going over that is agood soldier, but a debauched man, which the place need not to have. And so used these words: "That this place was to the King as my LordCarnarvon says of wood, that it is an excrescence of the earth providedby God for the payment of debts. " Thence away to Sir G. Carteret, whomI find taking physic. I staid talking with him but a little, and so hometo church, and heard a dull sermon, and most of the best women of ourparish gone into the country, or at least not at church. So home, andfind my boy not there, nor was at church, which vexed me, and when hecome home I enquired, he tells me he went to see his mother. I send himback to her to send me some token that he was with her. So there comea man with him back of good fashion. He says he saw him with her, which pacified me, but I did soundly threaten him before him, and so todinner, and then had a little scolding with my wife for not being fineenough to go to the christening to-day, which she excused by being ill, as she was indeed, and cried, but I was in an ill humour and ashamed, indeed, that she should not go dressed. However, friends by and by, andwe went by water to Michell's, and there his little house full of hisfather and mothers and the kindred, hardly any else, and mighty merryin this innocent company, and Betty mighty pretty in bed, but, her headakeing, not very merry, but the company mighty merry, and I with them, and so the child was christened; my wife, his father, and her mother, the witnesses, and the child's name Elizabeth. So we had gloves and wineand wafers, very pretty, and talked and tattled, and so we away by waterand up with the tide, she and I and Barker, as high as Barne Eimes, itbeing a fine evening, and back again to pass the bridges at standingwater between 9 and 10 at might, and then home and to supper, and thento bed with much pleasure. This day Sir W. Coventry tells me the Dutchfleete shot some shot, four or five hundred, into Burnt-Island in theFrith, but without any hurt; and so are gone. 

6th. Up and angry with my mayds for letting in watermen, and I know notwho, anybody that they are acquainted with, into my kitchen to talk andprate with them, which I will not endure. Then out and by coach tomy Lord Treasurer's, who continues still very ill, then to Sir Ph. Warwicke's house, and there did a little business about my Tangiertallies, and so to Westminster Hall, and there to the Exchequer toconsult about some way of getting our poor Creditors of the Navy (whoserved in their goods before the late Session of Parliament) paid outof the 11 months tax, which seems to relate only for goods to be thenserved in, and I think I have found out a way to bring them into theAct, which, if it do, I shall think a good service done. Thence by coachhome with Captain Cocke, in our way talking of my Lord Bruncker and hisLady, who are mighty angry with us all of the office, about Carcasse'sbusiness, but especially with me, and in great confidence he bids mehave a care of him, for he hath said that he would wound me withthe person where my greatest interest is. I suppose he means Sir W. Coventry, and therefore I will beware of him, and am glad, though vexedto hear it. So home to dinner, where Creed come, whom I vexed devilishlywith telling him a wise man, and good friend of his and mine, did saythat he lately went into the country to Hinchingbroke; and, at hiscoming to town again, hath shifted his lodgings, only to avoid paying tothe Poll Bill, which is so true that he blushed, and could not in wordsdeny it, but the fellow did think to have not had it discovered. He isso devilish a subtle false rogue, that I am really weary and afeard ofhis company, and therefore after dinner left him in the house, and to myoffice, where busy all the afternoon despatching much business, and inthe evening to Sir R. Viner's to adjust accounts there, and so home, where some of our old Navy creditors come to me by my direction toconsider of what I have invented for their help as I have said in themorning, and like it mighty well, and so I to the office, where busylate, then home to supper and sing with my wife, who do begin to give mereal pleasure with her singing, and so to bed. 

7th. Up betimes, and by coach to St. James's; but there find Sir W. Coventry gone out betimes this morning, on horseback, with the King andDuke of York, to Putney-heath, --to run some horses, and so back again tothe office, where some witnesses from Chatham which I sent for are comeup, and do give shrewd testimonies against Carcasse, which put my Lordinto a new flame, and he and I to high words, and so broke up. Then hometo dinner, where W. Hewer dined with us, and he and I after dinner todiscourse of Carcasses business, wherein I apparently now do manageit wholly against my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Pen, like a false rogue, shrinking out of the collar, Sir J. Minnes, afoot, being easily ledeither way, and Sir W. Batten, a malicious fellow that is not able todefend any thing, so that the whole odium must fall on me, which I willtherefore beware how I manage that I may not get enemies to no purpose. It vexes me to see with what a company I am mixed, but then it pleasesme to see that I am reckoned the chief mover among them, as they do, confess and esteem me in every thing. Thence to the office, and didbusiness, and then by coach to St. James's again, but [Sir] W. Coventrynot within, so I wrote something to him, and then straight back againand to Sir W. Batten's, and there talked with him and [Sir] J. Minnes, who are mighty hot in Carcasses business, but their judgment's not tobe trusted. However, I will go through with it, or otherwise we shall beall slaves to my Lord Bruncker and his man's impudence. So to the officea little, and then home to supper and to bed, after hearing my wifesing, who is manifestly come to be more musical in her eare than ever Ithought she could have been made, which rejoices me to the heart, for Itake great delight now to hear her sing. 

8th. Up pretty betimes and out of doors, and in Fen Church streetmet Mr. Lovett going with a picture to me, but I could not stand todiscourse or see it, but on to the next hackney coach and so to Sir W. Coventry, where he and I alone a while discoursing of some businessesof the office, and then up to the Duke of York to his chamber with myfellow brethren who are come, and so did our usual weekly business, which was but little to-day, and I was glad that the business ofCarcasse was not mentioned because our report was not ready, but I amresolved it shall against the next coming to the Duke of York. Here wasdiscourse about a way of paying our old creditors which did please me, there being hopes of getting them comprehended within the 11 months Tax, and this did give occasion for Sir G. Carteret's and my going to SirRobert Long to discourse it, who do agree that now the King's Councildo say that they may be included in the Act, which do make me very glad, not so much for the sake of the poor men as for the King, for it wouldhave been a ruin to him and his service not to have had a way to havepaid the debt. There parted with Sir G. Carteret and into WestminsterHall, where I met with Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I to Sir Ph. Warwicke's to speak a little about our Tangier business, but to littlepurpose, my Lord Treasurer being so ill that no business can be done. Thence with Sir H. Cholmly to find out Creed from one lodging toanother, which he hath changed so often that there is no finding him, but at last do come to his lodging that he is entering into this day, and do find his goods unlading at the door, by Scotland Yard, and thereI set down Sir H. Cholmly, and I away to the 'Change, where spoke aboutseveral things, and then going home did meet Mr. Andrews our neighbour, and did speak with him to enquire about the ground behind our house, ofwhich I have a mind to buy enough to make a stable and coach-house; forI do see that my condition do require it, as well as that it is morecharge to my purse to live as I do than to keep one, and therefore Iam resolved before winter to have one, unless some extraordinary thinghappens to hinder me. He promises me to look after it for me, and so Ihome to dinner, where I find my wife's flageolette master, and I amso pleased with her proceeding, though she hath lost time by notpractising, that I am resolved for the encouragement of the man tolearn myself a little for a month or so, for I do foresee if God send mywife and I to live, she will become very good company for me. He gone, comes Lovett with my little print of my dear Lady Castlemayne varnished, and the frame prettily done like gold, which pleases me well. He dinedwith me, but by his discourse I do still see that he is a man of goodwit but most strange experience, and acquaintance with all manner ofsubtleties and tricks, that I do think him not fit for me to keep anyacquaintance with him, lest he some time or other shew me a slipperytrick. After dinner, he gone, I to the office, where all the afternoonvery busy, and so in the evening to Sir R. Viner's, thinking to finishmy accounts there, but am prevented, and so back again home, and late atmy office at business, and so home to supper and sing a little with mydear wife, and so to bed. 

9th. Up, and to the office, and at noon home to dinner, and then with mywife and Barker by coach, and left them at Charing Cross, and I to St. James's, and there found Sir W. Coventry alone in his chamber, andsat and talked with him more than I have done a great while of severalthings of the Navy, how our debts and wants do unfit us for doing anything. He tells me he hears stories of Commissioner Pett, of sellingtimber to the Navy under other names, which I told him I believe istrue, and did give him an instance. He told me also how his clerkFloyd he hath put away for his common idlenesse and ill company, andparticularly that yesterday he was found not able to come and attendhim, by being run into the arme in a squabble, though he pretends it wasdone in the streets by strangers, at nine at night, by the Maypole inthe Strand. Sir W. Coventry did write to me this morning to recommendhim another, which I could find in my heart to do W. Hewer for his good;but do believe he will not part with me, nor have I any mind to let himgo. I would my brother were fit for it, I would adventure him there. He insists upon an unmarried man, that can write well, and hath Frenchenough to transcribe it only from a copy, and may write shorthand, if itmay be. Thence with him to my Lord Chancellor at Clarendon House, to aCommittee for Tangier, where several things spoke of and proceeded on, and particularly sending Commissioners thither before the new Governorgoes, which I think will signify as much good as any thing else thathath been done about the place, which is none at all. I did again tellthem the badness of their credit by the time their tallies took beforethey become payable, and their spending more than their fund. They seemwell satisfied with what I said, and I am glad that I may be rememberedthat I do tell them the case plain; but it troubled me that I see themhot upon it, that the Governor shall not be paymaster, which willforce me either to the providing one there to do it (which I will neverundertake), or leave the employment, which I had rather do. Mightilypleased with the noblenesse of this house, and the brave furniture andpictures, which indeed is very noble, and, being broke up, I with Sir G. Carteret in his coach into Hide Park, to discourse of things, andspent an hour in this manner with great pleasure, telling me all hisconcernments, and how he is gone through with the purchase for my LadyJemimah and her husband; how the Treasury is like to come into thehands of a Committee; but that not that, nor anything else, will do ourbusiness, unless the King himself will mind his business, and how hisservants do execute their parts; he do fear an utter ruin in the state, and that in a little time, if the King do not mind his business soon;that the King is very kind to him, and to my Lord Sandwich, and that hedoubts not but at his coming home, which he expects about Michaelmas, hewill be very well received. But it is pretty strange how he began againthe business of the intention of a marriage of my Lord Hinchingbroke toa daughter of my Lord Burlington's to my Lord Chancellor, which he nowtells me as a great secret, when he told it me the last Sunday but one;but it may be the poor man hath forgot, and I do believe he do make ita secret, he telling me that he has not told it to any but myself, endthis day to his daughter my Lady Jemimah, who looks to lie down abouttwo months hence. After all this discourse we turned back and to WhiteHall, where we parted, and I took up my wife at Unthanke's, and sohome, and in our street, at the Three Tuns' Tavern' door, I find a greathubbub; and what was it but two brothers have fallen out, and one killedthe other. And who should they be but the two Fieldings; one whereof, Bazill, was page to my Lady Sandwich; and he hath killed the other, himself being very drunk, and so is sent to Newgate. I to the office anddid as much business as my eyes would let me, and so home to supper andto bed. 

10th. Up and to the office, where a meeting about the Victuallers'accounts all the morning, and at noon all of us to Kent's, at the ThreeTuns' Tavern, and there dined well at Mr. Gawden's charge; and, therethe constable of the parish did show us the picklocks and dice that werefound in the dead man's pocket, and but 18d. In money; and a table-book, wherein were entered the names of several places where he was to go; andamong others Kent's house, where he was to dine, and did dine yesterday:and after dinner went into the church, and there saw his corpse withthe wound in his left breast; a sad spectacle, and a broad wound, whichmakes my hand now shake to write of it. His brother intending, it seems, to kill the coachman, who did not please him, this fellow stepped in, and took away his sword; who thereupon took out his knife, which was ofthe fashion, with a falchion blade, and a little cross at the hilt likea dagger; and with that stabbed him. So to the office again, very busy, and in the evening to Sir Robert Viner's, and there took up all my notesand evened our balance to the 7th of this month, and saw it entered intheir ledger, and took a receipt for the remainder of my money as thebalance of an account then adjusted. Then to my Lord Treasurer's, butmissed Sir Ph. Warwicke, and so back again, and drove hard towardsClerkenwell, [At Newcastle House, Clerkenwell Close, the duke and duchess lived in great state. The house was divided, and let in tenements in the eighteenth century. ]

thinking to have overtaken my Lady Newcastle, whom I saw before us inher coach, with 100 boys and girls running looking upon her but I couldnot: and so she got home before I could come up to her. But I will geta time to see her. So to the office and did more business, and then homeand sang with pleasure with my wife, and to supper and so to bed. 

11th. Up, and being called on by Mr. Commander, he and I out to theground behind Sir W. Pen's, where I am resolved to take a lease of someof it for a stable and coach [house], and so to keep a coach, unlesssome change come before I can do it, for I do see it is a greater chargeto me now in hackneys, and I am a little dishonoured by going in them. We spoke with him that hath the letting it, and I do believe when I cantell how much it will be fit for me to have we shall go near to agree. So home, and there found my door open, which makes me very angry withNell, and do think to put her away for it, though it do so go againstme to part with a servant that it troubles me more than anything in theworld. So to the office, where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, where Mr. Goodgroome and Creed, and I have great hopes that my wifewill come to sing to my mind. After dinner my wife and Creed and I beingentered a hackney coach to go to the other end of the town, we espiedThe. Turner coming in her coach to see us, which we were surprised at, and so 'light and took her and another young lady home, and there satand talked with The. , she being lately come out of the North after twoor three years absence. She is come to put out her sister and brothersto school at Putney. After a little talk, I over Tower Hill with them toa lady's they go to visit, and so away with my wife, whose being dressedthis day in fair hair did make me so mad, that I spoke not one word toher in our going, though I was ready to burst with anger. So to WhiteHall to the Committee of Tangier, where they were discoursing about lawsfor the civil government of the place, but so dull and so little to thepurpose that I fell to slumber, when the fear of being seen by Sir W. Coventry did trouble me much afterwards, but I hope he did not. Afterthat broke up. Creed and I into the Park, and walked, a most pleasantevening, and so took coach, and took up my wife, and in my way homediscovered my trouble to my wife for her white locks, [Randle Holmes says the ladies wore "false locks set on wyres, to make them stand at a distance from the head, " and accompanies the information with the figure of a lady "with a pair of locks and curls which were in great fashion in 1670" (Planche's "Cyclopaedia of Costume;" Vol. I. , p. 248). ]

swearing by God, several times, which I pray God forgive me for, andbending my fist, that I would not endure it. She, poor wretch, [A new light is thrown upon this favourite expression of Pepys's when speaking of his wife by the following quotation from a Midland wordbook: "Wretch, n. , often used as an expression of endearment or sympathy. Old Woman to Young Master: 'An''ow is the missis to-day, door wretch?' Of a boy going to school a considerable distance off 'I met 'im with a bit o' bread in 'is bag, door wretch'" ("A Glossary of Words and Phrases used in S. E. Worcestershire, " by Jesse Salisbury. Published by the English Dialect Society, 1894). ]

was surprized with it, and made me no answer all the way home; but therewe parted, and I to the office late, and then home, and without supperto bed, vexed. 

12th (Lord's day). Up, and to my chamber, to settle some accounts there, and by and by down comes my wife to me in her night-gown, and we beguncalmly, that upon having money to lace her gown for second mourning, shewould promise to wear white locks no more in my sight, which I, like asevere fool, thinking not enough, begun to except against, and made herfly out to very high terms and cry, and in her heat told me of keepingcompany with Mrs. Knipp, saying, that if I would promise never to seeher more--of whom she hath more reason to suspect than I had heretoforeof Pembleton--she would never wear white locks more. This vexed me, butI restrained myself from saying anything, but do think never to see thiswoman--at least, to have her here more, but by and by I did give hermoney to buy lace, and she promised to wear no more white locks while Ilived, and so all very good friends as ever, and I to my business, andshe to dress herself. Against noon we had a coach ready for us, and sheand I to White Hall, where I went to see whether Sir G. Carteret was atdinner or no, our design being to make a visit there, and I found themset down, which troubled me, for I would not then go up, but back to thecoach to my wife, and she and I homeward again, and in our way bethoughtourselves of going alone, she and I, to go to a French house to dinner, and so enquired out Monsieur Robins, my perriwigg-maker, who keeps anordinary, and in an ugly street in Covent Garden, did find him at thedoor, and so we in; and in a moment almost had the table covered, andclean glasses, and all in the French manner, and a mess of potagefirst, and then a couple of pigeons a la esterve, and then a piece ofboeuf-a-la-mode, all exceeding well seasoned, and to our great liking;at least it would have been anywhere else but in this bad street, and ina perriwigg-maker's house; but to see the pleasant and ready attendancethat we had, and all things so desirous to please, and ingenious in thepeople, did take me mightily. Our dinner cost us 6s. , and so my wifeand I away to Islington, it being a fine day, and thence to Sir G. Whitmore's house, where we 'light, and walked over the fields toKingsland, and back again; a walk, I think, I have not taken thesetwenty years; but puts me in mind of my boy's time, when I boarded atKingsland, and used to shoot with my bow and arrows in these fields. Avery pretty place it is; and little did any of my friends think I shouldcome to walk in these fields in this condition and state that I am. Thentook coach again, and home through Shoreditch; and at home my wife findsBarker to have been abroad, and telling her so many lies about it, thatshe struck her, and the wench said she would not stay with her: so Iexamined the wench, and found her in so many lies myself, that I wasglad to be rid of her, and so resolved having her go away to-morrow. Somy wife and W. Hewer and I to supper, and then he and I to my chamber tobegin the draught of the report from this office to the Duke of York inthe case of Mr. Carcasse, which I sat up till midnight to do, and thento bed, believing it necessary to have it done, and to do it plainly, for it is not to be endured the trouble that this rascal hath put us to, and the disgrace he hath brought upon this office. 

13th. Up, and when ready, to the office (my wife rising to send awayBarker, according to our resolution last night, and she did do it withmore clothes than have cost us L10, and 20s. In her purse, which I didfor the respect I bear Mr. Falconbridge, otherwise she had not deservedhalf of it, but I am the more willing to do it to be rid of one thatmade work and trouble in the house, and had not qualities of any honouror pleasure to me or my family, but what is a strange thing did alwaysdeclare to her mistress and others that she had rather be putto drudgery and to wash the house than to live as she did like agentlewoman), and there I and Gibson all the morning making an end of myreport against Carcasse, which I think will do our business, but it isa horrid shame such a rogue should give me and all of us this trouble. This morning come Sir H. Cholmly to me for a tally or two; and tells methat he hears that we are by agreement to give the King of France NovaScotia, which he do not like: but I do not know the importance of it. 

 [Nova Scotia and the adjoining countries were called by the French Acadie. Pepys is not the only official personage whose ignorance of Nova Scotia is on record. A story is current of a prime minister (Duke of Newcastle) who was surprised at hearing Cape Breton was an island. "Egad, I'll go tell the King Cape Breton is an island!" Of the same it is said, that when told Annapolis was in danger, and ought to be defended: "Oh! certainly Annapolis must be defended, -- where is Annapolis?"--B. ]

Then abroad with my wife to my Lord Treasurer's, and she to hertailor's. I find Sir Philip Warwicke, who I perceive do give over myLord Treasurer for a man of this world, his pain being grown great againupon him, and all the rest he hath is by narcotiques, and now Sir PhilipWarwicke do please himself, like a good man, to tell some of the goodejaculations of my Lord Treasurer concerning the little worth of thisworld, to buy it with so much pain, and other things fit for a dyingman. So finding no business likely to be done here for Tangier, I havinga warrant for tallies to be signed, I away to the New Exchange, andthere staid a little, and then to a looking-glass shop to consult aboutcovering the wall in my closet over my chimney, which is darkish, withlooking-glasses, and then to my wife's tailor's, but find her not readyto go home, but got to buy things, and so I away home to look aftermy business and finish my report of Carcasse, and then did get Sir W. Batten, Sir J. Minnes, and [Sir] W. Pen together, and read it over withall the many papers relating to the business, which they do wonder at, and the trouble I have taken about it, and like the report, so as thatthey do unanimously resolve to sign it, and stand by it, and after agreat deal of discourse of the strange deportment of my Lord Bruncker inthis business to withstand the whole board in behalf of such an impudentrogue as this is, I parted, and home to my wife, and supped and talkedwith her, and then to bed, resolving to rise betimes to-morrow to writefair the report. 

14th. Up by 5 o'clock, and when ready down to my chamber, and there withMr. Fist, Sir W. Batten's clerk, who writes mighty well, writing overour report in Mr. Carcasses business, in which we continued till 9o'clock, that the office met, and then to the office, where all themorning, and so at noon home to dinner, where Mr. Holliard come and eatwith us, who among other things do give me good hopes that we shall givemy father some ease as to his rupture when he comes to town, which Iexpect to-morrow. After dinner comes Fist, and he and I to our reportagain till 9 o'clock, and then by coach to my Lord Chancellor's, where Imet Mr. Povy, expecting the coming of the rest of the Commissioners forTangier. Here I understand how the two Dukes, both the only sons of theDuke of York, are sick even to danger, and that on Sunday last theywere both so ill, as that the poor Duchess was in doubt which would diefirst: the Duke of Cambridge of some general disease; the other littleDuke, whose title I know not, of the convulsion fits, of which he hadfour this morning. Fear that either of them might be dead, did make usthink that it was the occasion that the Duke of York and others were notcome to the meeting of the Commission which was designed, and my LordChancellor did expect. And it was pretty to observe how, when my Lordsent down to St. James's to see why the Duke of York come not, and Mr. Povy, who went, returned, my Lord (Chancellor) did ask, not how thePrinces or the Dukes do, as other people do, but "How do the children?"which methought was mighty great, and like a great man and grandfather. I find every body mightily concerned for these children, as a matterwherein the State is much concerned that they should live. At last itwas found that the meeting did fail from no known occasion, at which myLord Chancellor was angry, and did cry out against Creed that he shouldgive him no notice. So Povy and I went forth, and staid at the gate ofthe house by the streete, and there stopped to talk about the businessof the Treasury of Tangier, which by the badness of our credit, and theresolution that the Governor shall not be paymaster, will force me toprovide one there to be my paymaster, which I will never do, but ratherlose my place, for I will not venture my fortune to a fellow to beemployed so far off, and in that wicked place. Thence home, and withFist presently to the finishing the writing fair of our report. And byand by to Sir W. Batten's, and there he and I and [Sir] J. Minnes and[Sir] W. Pen did read and sign it with great good liking, and so awayto the office again to look over and correct it, and then home to supperand to bed, my mind being pretty well settled, having this report done, and so to supper and to bed. 

15th. [This morning my wife had some things brought home by a new womanof the New Exchange, one Mrs. Smith, which she would have me see for herfine hand, and indeed it is a fine hand, and the woman I have observedis a mighty pretty looked woman. ] Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir]J. Minnes to St. James's, and stopt at Temple Bar for Sir J. Minnes togo into the Devil's Taverne to shit, he having drunk whey, and his bellywrought. Being come, we up to the Duke of York's chamber, who, whenready, we to our usual business, and being very glad, we all that signedit, that is, Sir J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and myself, and thenSir G. Carteret and [Sir] W. Coventry, Bruncker, and T. Harvy, and theofficers of the Ordnance, Sir J. Duncombe, and Mr. Cholmely presentedour report about Carcasse, and did afterwards read it with that successthat the Duke of York was for punishing him, not only with turning himout of the office, but with what other punishment he could, which nobodydid forward, and so he escaped, only with giving security to secure theKing against double tickets of his and other things that he might havewronged the King or subject in before his dismission. Yet, Lord! tosee how our silly Lord Bruncker would have stood to have justified thisrogue, though to the reproach of all us who have signed, which I shallnever forget to have been a most malicious or a most silly act, and I dothink it is as much the latter as the other, for none but a fool couldhave done as this silly Lord hath done in this business. So the Duke ofYork did like our report, and ordered his being secured till he did givehis security, which did fully content me, and will I hope vindicate theoffice. It happened that my Lord Arlington coming in by chance was atthe hearing of all this, which I was not sorry for, for he did move ordid second the Duke of York that this roguery of his might be put in theNews-book that it might be made publique to satisfy for the wrong thecredit of this office hath received by this rogue's occasion. So withutmost content I away with Sir G. Carteret to London, talking all theway; and he do tell me that the business of my Lord Hinchingbroke hismarriage with my Lord Burlington's daughter is concluded on by allfriends; and that my Lady is now told of it, and do mightily pleaseherself with it; which I am mighty glad of. So home, and there I findthat my wife hath been at my desire at the Inne, thinking that my fathermight be come up with the coach, but he is not come this week, poorman, but will be here the next. At noon to dinner, and then to SirW. Batten's, where I hear the news how our Embassadors were but illreceived at Flushing, nor at Bredah itself, there being only a house andno furniture provided for them, though it be said that they have as muchas the French. Here we staid talking a little, and then I to the officeabout my business, and thence to the office, where busy about my ownpapers of my office, and by and by comes the office full to examine SirW. Warren's account, which I do appear mighty fierce in against him, andindeed am, for his accounts are so perplexed that I am sure he cannotbut expect to get many a L1000 in it before it passes our hands, but Iwill not favour him, but save what I can to the King. At his accounts, wherein I very high against him, till late, and then we broke up withlittle done, and so broke up, and I to my office, where late doing ofbusiness, and then home to supper and to bed. News still that my LordTreasurer is so ill as not to be any man of this world; and it is saidthat the Treasury shall be managed by Commission. I would to God Sir G. Carteret, or my Lord Sandwich, be in it! But the latter is the more fitfor it. This day going to White Hall, Sir W. Batten did tell me strangestories of Sir W. Pen, how he is already ashamed of the fine coach whichhis son-in-law and daughter have made, and indeed it is one of the mostridiculous things for people of their low, mean fashion to make sucha coach that ever I saw. He tells me how his people come as they do tomine every day to borrow one thing or other, and that his Lady hath beenforced to sell some coals (in the late dear time) only to enable herto pay money that she hath borrowed of Griffin to defray her familyexpense, which is a strange story for a rogue that spends so much moneyon clothes and other occasions himself as he do, but that which is moststrange, he tells me that Sir W. Pen do not give L6000, as is usually[supposed], with his daughter to him, and that Mr. Lowder is come to usethe tubb, that is to bathe and sweat himself, and that his lady is cometo use the tubb too, which he takes to be that he hath, and hath givenher the pox, but I hope it is not so, but, says Sir W. Batten, this isa fair joynture, that he hath made her, meaning by that the costs thehaving of a bath. 

16th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and, amongother things, comes in Mr. Carcasse, and after many arguings againstit, did offer security as was desired, but who should this be but Mr. Powell, that is one other of my Lord Bruncker's clerks; and I hopegood use will be made of it. But then he began to fall foul upon theinjustice of the Board, which when I heard I threatened him with beinglaid by the heels, which my Lord Bruncker took up as a thing that Icould not do upon the occasion he had given, but yet did own that it wasill said of him. I made not many words of it, but have let him see thatI can say what I will without fear of him, and so we broke off, leavingthe bond to be drawn by me, which I will do in the best manner I can. Atnoon, this being Holy Thursday, that is, Ascension Day, when the boys goon procession round the parish, we were to go to the Three Tuns' Tavern, to dine with the rest of the parish; where all the parish almost was, Sir Andrew Rickard and others; and of our house, J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and myself; and Mr. Mills did sit uppermost at the table. Herewe were informed that the report of our Embassadors being ill receivedin their way to Bredah is not true, but that they are received with verygreat civility, which I am glad to hear. But that that did vex me wasthat among all us there should come in Mr. Carcasse to be a guest forhis money (5s. A piece) as well as any of us. This did vex me, and Iwould have gone, and did go to my house, thinking to dine at home, butI was called away from them, and so we sat down, and to dinner. Amongother things Sir John Fredericke and Sir R. Ford did talk of Paul'sSchool, which, they tell me, must be taken away; and then I fear it willbe long before another place, as they say is promised, is found; butthey do say that the honour of their company is concerned in the doingof it, and that it is a thing that they are obliged to do. Thence home, and to my office, where busy; anon at 7 at night I and my wife and SirW. Pen in his coach to Unthanke's, my wife's tailor, for her to speakone word, and then we to my Lord Treasurer's, where I find the portercrying, and suspected it was that my Lord is dead; and, poor Lord! wedid find that he was dead just now; and the crying of the fellow did sotrouble me, that considering I was not likely to trouble him any more, nor have occasion to give any more anything, I did give him 3s. ; but itmay be, poor man, he hath lost a considerable hope by the death of hisLord, whose house will be no more frequented as before, and perhaps Imay never come thither again about any business. There is a good mangone: and I pray God that the Treasury may not be worse managed bythe hand or hands it shall now be put into; though, for certain, theslowness, though he was of great integrity, of this man, and remissness, have gone as far to undo the nation, as anything else that hathhappened; and yet, if I knew all the difficulties that he hath lainunder, and his instrument Sir Philip Warwicke, I might be brought toanother mind. Thence we to Islington, to the Old House, and there eatand drank, and then it being late and a pleasant evening, we home, andthere to my chamber, and to bed. It is remarkable that this afternoonMr. Moore come to me, and there, among other things, did tell me how Mr. Moyer, the merchant, having procured an order from the King and Dukeof York and Council, with the consent of my Lord Chancellor, and byassistance of Lord Arlington, for the releasing out of prison hisbrother, Samuel Moyer, who was a great man in the late times inHaberdashers'-hall, and was engaged under hand and seal to give the manthat obtained it so much in behalf of my Lord Chancellor; but it seemsmy Lady Duchess of Albemarle had before undertaken it for so much money, but hath not done it. The Duke of Albemarle did the next day send forthis Moyer, to tell him, that notwithstanding this order of the King andCouncil's being passed for release of his brother, yet, if he did notconsider the pains of some friends of his, he would stop that order. This Moyer being an honest, bold man, told him that he was engaged tothe hand that had done the thing to give him a reward; and more he wouldnot give, nor could own any kindness done by his Grace's interest; andso parted. The next day Sir Edward Savage did take the said Moyer in taxabout it, giving ill words of this Moyer and his brother; which henot being able to bear, told him he would give to the person that hadengaged him what he promised, and not any thing to any body else; andthat both he and his brother were as honest men as himself, or any manelse; and so sent him going, and bid him do his worst. It is one of themost extraordinary cases that ever I saw or understood; but it is true. This day Mr. Sheply is come to town and to see me, and he tells me myfather is very well only for his pain, so that he is not able to stir;but is in great pain. I would to God that he were in town that I mighthave what help can be got for him, for it troubles me to have him livein that condition of misery if I can help it. 

17th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning upon some accountsof Mr. Gawden's, and at noon to the Three Tuns to dinner with LordBruncker, Sir J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and T. Harvy, where verymerry, and my Lord Bruncker in appearance as good friends as ever, though I know he has a hatred to me in heart. After dinner to my house, where Mr. Sheply dined, and we drank and talked together. He, poor man, hath had his arm broke the late frost, slipping in going over HuntingdonBridge. He tells me that jasper Trice and Lewes Phillips and Mr. Ashfield are gone from Brampton, and he thinks chiefly from the heightof Sir J. Bernard's carriage, who carries all things before him there, which they cannot bear with, and so leave the town, and this is a greatinstance of the advantage a man of the law hath over all other people, which would make a man to study it a little. Sheply being gone, therecome the flageolet master, who having had a bad bargain of teaching mywife by the year, she not practising so much as she should do, I didthink that the man did deserve some more consideration, and so will givehim an opportunity of 20s. A month more, and he shall teach me, and thisafternoon I begun, and I think it will be a few shillings well spent. Then to Sir R. Viner's with 600 pieces of gold to turn into silver, forthe enabling me to answer Sir G. Carteret's L3000; which he now drawsall out of my hand towards the paying for a purchase he hath made forhis son and my Lady Jemimah, in Northamptonshire, of Sir Samuel Luke, in a good place; a good house, and near all her friends; which is avery happy thing. Thence to St. James's, and there spoke with Sir W. Coventry, and give him some account of some things, but had littlediscourse with him, there being company with him, and so directly homeagain and then to my office, doing some business, and so to my house, and with my wife to practice on the flageolet a little, and with greatpleasure I see she can readily hit her notes, but only want of practicemakes her she cannot go through a whole tune readily. So to supper andto bed. 

18th. Up, and all the morning at the office, and then to dinner, andafter dinner to the office to dictate some letters, and then with mywife to Sir W. Turner's to visit The. , but she being abroad we backagain home, and then I to the office, finished my letters, and then towalk an hour in the garden talking with my wife, whose growth in musiquedo begin to please me mightily, and by and by home and there find ourLuce drunk, and when her mistress told her of it would be gone, and soput up some of her things and did go away of her accord, nobody pressingher to it, and the truth is, though she be the dirtiest, homeliestservant that ever I kept, yet I was sorry to have her go, partly throughmy love to my servants, and partly because she was a very drudging, working wench, only she would be drunk. But that which did a littletrouble me was that I did hear her tell her mistress that she would tellher master something before she was aware of her that she would besorry to have him know; but did it in such a silly, drunken manner, that though it trouble me a little, yet not knowing what to suspect sheshould know, and not knowing well whether she said it to her mistress orJane, I did not much think of it. So she gone, we to supper and to bed, my study being made finely clean. 

19th (Lord's day). Up, and to my chamber to set some papers in order, and then, to church, where my old acquaintance, that dull fellow, Meriton, made a good sermon, and hath a strange knack of a grave, serious delivery, which is very agreeable. After church to White Hall, and there find Sir G. Carteret just set down to dinner, and I dined withthem, as I intended, and good company, the best people and family inthe world I think. Here was great talk of the good end that my LordTreasurer made; closing his owne eyes and setting his mouth, and biddingadieu with the greatest content and freedom in the world; and is saidto die with the cleanest hands that ever any Lord Treasurer did. Afterdinner Sir G. Carteret and I alone, and there, among other discourse, hedid declare that he would be content to part with his place of Treasurerof the Navy upon good terms. I did propose my Lord Belasses as a manlikely to buy it, which he listened to, and I did fully concur andpromote his design of parting with it, for though I would have my fatherlive, I would not have him die Treasurer of the Navy, because of theaccounts which must be uncleared at his death, besides many othercircumstances making it advisable for him to let it go. He tells me thathe fears all will come to naught in the nation soon if the King do notmind his business, which he do not seem likely to do. He says that theTreasury will be managed for a while by a Commission, whereof he thinksmy Lord Chancellor for the honour of it, and my Lord Ashly, and the twoSecretaries will be, and some others he knows not. I took leave of him, and directly by water home, and there to read the life of Mr. Hooker, which pleases me as much as any thing I have read a great while, and byand by comes Mr. Howe to see us, and after him a little Mr. Sheply, andso we all to talk, and, Mercer being there, we some of us to sing, andso to supper, a great deal of silly talk. Among other things, W. Howetold us how the Barristers and Students of Gray's Inne rose in rebellionagainst the Benchers the other day, who outlawed them, and a great dealof do; but now they are at peace again. They being gone, I to my bookagain, and made an end of Mr. Hooker's Life, and so to bed. 

20th. Up betimes, and comes my flagelette master to set me a new tune, which I played presently, and shall in a month do as much as I desireat it. He being gone, I to several businesses in my chamber, and thenby coach to the Commissioners of Excise, and so to Westminster Hall, and there spoke with several persons I had to do with. Here among othernews, I hear that the Commissioners for the Treasury were named by theKing yesterday; but who they are nobody could tell: but the persons arethe Lord Chancellor, the two Secretaries, Lord Ashly, and others saySir W. Coventry and Sir John Duncomb, but all conclude the Duke ofAlbemarle; but reports do differ, but will be known in a day or two. Having done my business, I then homeward, and overtook Mr. Commander; sotook him into a coach with me, and he and I into Lincoln's Inne Fields, there to look upon the coach-houses to see what ground is necessary forcoach-house and horses, because of that that I am going about to do, andhaving satisfied myself in this he and I to Mr. Hide's to look upon theground again behind our house, and concluded upon his going along withus to-morrow to see some stables, he thinking that we demand more thanis necessary. So away home, and then, I, it being a broken day, and hadpower by my vows, did walk abroad, first through the Minorys, the firsttime I have been over the Hill to the postern-gate, and seen the place, since the houses were pulled down about that side of the Tower, sincethe fire, to find where my young mercer with my pretty little woman tohis wife lives, who lived in Lumbard streete, and I did espy them, buttook no notice now of them, but may do hereafter. Thence down to theOld Swan, and there saw Betty Michell, whom I have not seen since herchristening. But, Lord! how pretty she is, and looks as well as ever Isaw her, and her child (which I am fain to seem very fond of) is prettyalso, I think, and will be. Thence by water to Westminster Hall, andthere walked a while talking at random with Sir W. Doyly, and so away toMrs. Martin's lodging, who was gone before, expecting me, and there jehazer what je vellem cum her and drank, and so by coach home (but I haveforgot that I did in the morning go to the Swan, and there tumbling ofla little fille, son uncle did trouver her cum su neckcloth off, whichI was ashamed of, but made no great matter of it, but let it pass witha laugh), and there spent the evening with my wife at our flagelets, andso to supper, and after a little reading to bed. My wife still troubledwith her cold. I find it everywhere now to be a thing doubted whetherwe shall have peace or no, and the captain of one of our ships that wentwith the Embassadors do say, that the seamen of Holland to his hearingdid defy us, and called us English dogs, and cried out against peace, and that the great people there do oppose peace, though he says thecommon people do wish it. 

21st. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning. At noon dined athome with my wife and find a new girle, a good big girle come to us, gotby Payne to be our girle; and his daughter Nell we make our cook. Thiswench's name is Mary, and seems a good likely maid. After dinner I withMr. Commander and Mr. Hide's brother to Lincolne's Inne Fields, andthere viewed several coach-houses, and satisfied ourselves now fully init, and then there parted, leaving the rest to future discourse betweenus. Thence I home; but, Lord! how it went against my heart to go awayfrom the very door of the Duke's play-house, and my Lady Castlemayne'scoach, and many great coaches there, to see "The Siege of Rhodes. " I wasvery near making a forfeit, but I did command myself, and so home to myoffice, and there did much business to my good content, much betterthan going to a play, and then home to my wife, who is not well withher cold, and sat and read a piece of Grand Cyrus in English by her, and then to my chamber and to supper, and so to bed. This morning theCaptain come from Holland did tell us at the board what I have saidhe reported yesterday. This evening after I come from the office Mrs. Turner come to see my wife and me, and sit and talk with us, and so, mywife not being well and going to bed, Mrs. Turner and I sat up till 12at night talking alone in my chamber, and most of our discourse was ofour neighbours. As to my Lord Bruncker, she says how Mrs. Griffin, our housekeeper's wife, hath it from his maid, that comes to her houseoften, that they are very poor; that the other day Mrs. Williams wasfain to send a jewell to pawn; that their maid hath said herself thatshe hath got L50 since she come thither, and L17 by the payment of onebill; that they have a most lewd and nasty family here in the office, but Mrs. Turner do tell me that my Lord hath put the King to infinitecharge since his coming thither in alterations, and particularly thatMr. Harper at Deptford did himself tell her that my Lord hath had ofFoly, the ironmonger, L50 worth in locks and keys for his house, andthat it is from the fineness of them, having some of L4 and L5 a lock, such as is in the Duke's closet; that he hath several of these; that hedo keep many of her things from her of her own goods, and would have herbring a bill into the office for them; that Mrs. Griffin do say thathe do not keep Mrs. Williams now for love, but need, he having anotherwhore that he keeps in Covent Garden; that they do owe money everywherealmost for every thing, even Mrs. Shipman for her butter and cheeseabout L3, and after many demands cannot get it. Mrs. Turner says she dobelieve their coming here is only out of a belief of getting purchase byit, and that their servants (which was wittily said of her touchinghis clerks) do act only as privateers, no purchase, no pay. And in myconscience she is in the right. Then we fell to talk of Sir W. Pen, and his family and rise. She [Mrs. Turner] says that he was a pityfull[fellow] when she first knew them; that his lady was one of the sourest, dirty women, that ever she saw; that they took two chambers, one overanother, for themselves and child, in Tower Hill; that for many yearstogether they eat more meals at her house than at their own; did callbrothers and sisters the husbands and wives; that her husband wasgodfather to one, and she godmother to another (this Margaret) of theirchildren, by the same token that she was fain to write with her own handa letter to Captain Twiddy, to stand for a godfather for her; thatshe brought my Lady, who then was a dirty slattern, with her stockingshanging about her heels, so that afterwards the people of the whole Hilldid say that Mrs. Turner had made Mrs. Pen a gentlewoman, first to theknowledge of my Lady Vane, Sir Henry's lady, and him to the knowledge ofmost of the great people that then he sought to, and that in short hisrise hath been his giving of large bribes, wherein, and she agrees withmy opinion and knowledge before therein, he is very profuse. This madehim General; this got him out of the Tower when he was in; and hathbrought him into what he is now, since the King's coming in: that longago, indeed, he would drink the King's health privately with Mr. Turner;but that when he saw it fit to turn Roundhead, and was offered by Mr. Turner to drink the King's health, he answered "No;" he was changed, andnow, he that would make him drink the King's health, or any health butthe Protector's and the State's, or to that purpose, he would be thefirst man should sheath his sword in his guts. That at the King's comingin, he did send for her husband, and told him what a great man Sir W. Coventry was like to be, and that he having all the records in his handsof the Navy, if he would transcribe what was of most present use of thepractice of the Navy, and give them him to give Sir W. Coventry fromhim, it would undoubtedly do his business of getting him a principalofficer's place; that her husband was at L5 charge to get thesepresently writ; that Sir W. Pen did give them Sir W. Coventry as fromhimself, which did set him up with W. Coventry, and made him what he is, and never owned any thing of Mr. Turner in them; by which he left himin the lurch, though he did promise the Duke of Albemarle to do allthat was possible, and made no question of Mr. Turner's being what hedesired; and when afterwards, too, did propose to him the getting ofthe Purveyor's place for him, he did tell Mr. Turner it was necessary topresent Sir W. Coventry 100 pieces, which he did, and W. Coventry took80 of them: so that he was W. Coventry's mere broker, as Sir W. Battenand my Lady did once tell my Lady Duchess of Albemarle, in the case ofMr. Falconer, whom W. Pen made to give W. Coventry L200 for his placeof Clerk of the Rope Yard of Woolwich, and to settle L80 a year upon hisdaughter Pegg, after the death of his wife, and a gold watch presentlyto his wife. Mrs. Turner do tell me that my Lady and Pegg havethemselves owned to her that Sir W. Coventry and Sir W. Pen had privatemarks to write to one another by, that when they in appearance writ afair letter in behalf of anybody, that they had a little mark toshow they meant it only in shew: this, these silly people did confessthemselves of him. She says that their son, Mr. William Pen, did tellher that his father did observe the commanders did make their addressesto me and applications, but they should know that his father shouldbe the chief of the office, and that she hath observed that Sir W. Pennever had a kindness to her son, since W. Pen told her son that he hadapplied himself to me. That his rise hath been by her and her husband'smeans, and that it is a most inconceivable thing how this man can havethe face to use her and her family with the neglect that he do them. That he was in the late war a most devilish plunderer, and that got himhis estate, which he hath in Ireland, and nothing else, and that he hathalways been a very liberal man in his bribes, that upon his coming intothis part of the Controller's business wherein he is, he did send for T. Willson and told him how against his knowledge he was put in, and had solittle wit as to say to him, "This will make the pot boyle, will it not, Mr. Willson? will it not make the pot boyle?" and do offer him tocome in and do his business for him, and he would reward him. This Mr. Willson did come and tell her presently, he having been their servant, and to this day is very faithful to them. That her husband's not beingforward to make him a bill for Rere Admirall's pay and Generall's payboth at the same time after he was first made Generall did first givehim occasion of keeping a distance from him, since which they havenever been great friends, Pen having by degrees been continually growinghigher and higher, till now that he do wholly slight them and use themonly as servants. Upon the whole, she told me stories enough to confirmme that he is the most false fellow that ever was born of woman, andthat so she thinks and knows him to be. 

22nd. Up, and by water to White Hall to Sir G. Carteret, who tells menow for certain how the Commission for the Treasury is disposed of:viz. , to Duke of Albemarle, Lord Ashly, Sir W. Coventry, Sir JohnDuncomb, and Sir Thomas Clifford: at which, he says, all the whole Courtis disturbed; it having been once concluded otherwise into the otherhands formerly mentioned in yesterday's notes, but all of a sudden theKing's choice was changed, and these are to be the men; the first ofwhich is only for a puppet to give honour to the rest. He do presagethat these men will make it their business to find faults in themanagement of the late Lord Treasurer, and in discouraging the bankers:but I am, whatever I in compliance do say to him, of another mind, andmy heart is very glad of it, for I do expect they will do much good, andthat it is the happiest thing that hath appeared to me for the good ofthe nation since the King come in. Thence to St. James's, and up to theDuke of York; and there in his chamber Sir W. Coventry did of himselftake notice of this business of the Treasury, wherein he is in theCommission, and desired that I would be thinking of any thing fit forhim to be acquainted with for the lessening of charge and bettering ofour credit, and what our expence bath been since the King's coming home, which he believes will be one of the first things they shall enquireinto: which I promised him, and from time to time, which he desires, will give him an account of what I can think of worthy his knowledge. Iam mighty glad of this opportunity of professing my joy to him in whatchoice the King hath made, and the hopes I have that it will save thekingdom from perishing and how it do encourage me to take pains again, after my having through despair neglected it! which he told me ofhimself that it was so with him, that he had given himself up to moreease than ever he expected, and that his opinion of matters was so bad, that there was no publick employment in the kingdom should have beenaccepted by him but this which the King hath now given him; and thereinhe is glad, in hopes of the service he may do therein; and in myconscience he will. So into the Duke of York's closet; and there, amongother things, Sir W. Coventry did take notice of what he told me theother day, about a report of Commissioner Pett's dealing for timberin the Navy, and selling it to us in other names; and, besides his ownproof, did produce a paper I had given him this morning about it, in thecase of Widow Murford and Morecocke, which was so handled, that the Dukeof York grew very angry, and commanded us presently to fall into theexamination of it, saying that he would not trust a man for his sakethat lifts up the whites of his eyes. And it was declared that if he befound to have done so, he should be reckoned unfit to serve the Navy;and I do believe he will be turned out; and it was, methought, a worthysaying of Sir W. Coventry to the Duke of York, "Sir, " says he, "I donot make this complaint out of any disrespect to Commissioner Pett, butbecause I do love to do these things fairly and openly. " Thence I toWestminster Hall with Sir G. Carteret to the Chequer Chamber to hear ourcause of the Lindeboome prize there before the Lords of Appeal, wherewas Lord Ashly, Arlington, Barkely, and Sir G. Carteret, but the latterthree signified nothing, the former only either minding or understandingwhat was said. Here was good pleading of Sir Walter Walker's and worthhearing, but little done in our business. Thence by coach to the RedLyon, thinking to meet my father, but I come too soon, but my wife isgone out of town to meet him. I am in great pain, poor man, for him, lest he should come up in pain to town. So I staid not, but to the'Change, and there staid a little, where most of the newes is that theSwedes are likely to fall out with the Dutch, which we wish, but howtrue I know not. Here I met my uncle Wight, the second day he hath beenabroad, having been sick these two months even to death, but havingnever sent to me even in the greatest of his danger. I do think my Aunthad no mind I should come, and so I never went to see him, but neitherhe took notice of it to me, nor I made any excuse for it to him, butpast two or three How do you's, and so parted and so home, and by andby comes my poor father, much better than I expected, being at ease byfits, according as his truss sits, and at another time in as much pain. I am mighty glad to see him come well to town. So to dinner, where Creedcomes. After dinner my wife and father abroad, and Creed and I alsoby water, and parted at the Temple stairs, where I landed, and to theKing's house, where I did give 18d. , and saw the two last acts of "TheGoblins, " a play I could not make any thing of by these two acts, buthere Knipp spied me out of the tiring-room, and come to the pit door, and I out to her, and kissed her, she only coming to see me, being in acountry-dress, she, and others having, it seemed, had a country-dance inthe play, but she no other part: so we parted, and I into the pit againtill it was done. The house full, but I had no mind to be seen, butthence to. My cutler's, and two or three other places on small, errands, and so home, where my father and wife come home, and pretty well myfather, who to supper and betimes to bed at his country hours. I toSir W. Batten's, and there got some more part of my dividend of theprize-money. So home and to set down in writing the state of theaccount, and then to supper, and my wife to her flageolet, whereinshe did make out a tune so prettily of herself, that I was infinitelypleased beyond whatever I expected from her, and so to bed. This daycoming from Westminster with W. Batten, we saw at White Hall stairs afisher-boat, with a sturgeon that he had newly catched in the River;which I saw, but it was but a little one; but big enough to prevent mymistake of that for a colt, if ever I become Mayor of Huntingdon!

 [During a very high flood in the meadows between Huntingdon and Godmanchester, something was seen floating, which the Godmanchester people thought was a black pig, and the Huntingdon folk declared it was a sturgeon; when rescued from the waters, it proved to be a young donkey. This mistake led to the one party being styled "Godmanchester black pigs, " and the other "Huntingdon sturgeons, " terms not altogether forgotten at this day. Pepys's colt must be taken to be the colt of an ass. --B. ]

23rd. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noonhome, and with my father dined, and, poor man! he hath put off histravelling-clothes to-day, and is mighty spruce, and I love to see himcheerful. After dinner I to my chamber, and my wife and I to talk, andby and by they tell Mrs. Daniel would speak with me, so I down to theparlour to her, and sat down together and talked about getting herhusband a place .... I do promise, and mean to do what kindness I can toher husband. After having been there hasti je was ashamed de peur thatmy people pensait.... De it, or lest they might espy us through sometrees, we parted and I to the office, and presently back home again, andthere was asked by my wife, I know not whether simply or with design, how I come to look as I did, car ego was in much chaleur et de body andof animi, which I put off with the heat of the season, and so toother business, but I had some fear hung upon me lest alcuno had sididecouvert. So to the office, and then to Sir R. Viner's about somepart of my accounts now going on with him, and then home and ended myletters, and then to supper and my chamber to settle many thingsthere, and then to bed. This noon I was on the 'Change, where I to myastonishment hear, and it is in the Gazette, that Sir John Duncomb issworn yesterday a Privy-councillor. This day I hear also that last nightthe Duke of Kendall, second son of the Duke of York, did die; and thatthe other, Duke of Cambridge, continues very ill still. This afternoonI had opportunity para jouer with Mrs. Pen, tokendo her mammaillesand baisando elle, being sola in the casa of her pater, and she fortwilling. 

24th. Up, and to the office, where, by and by, by appointment, we metupon Sir W. Warren's accounts, wherein I do appear in every thing asmuch as I can his enemy, though not so far but upon good conditions fromhim I may return to be his friend, but I do think it necessary to dowhat I do at present. We broke off at noon without doing much, and thenhome, where my wife not well, but yet engaged by invitation to go withSir W. Pen. I got her to go with him by coach to Islington to the oldhouse, where his lady and Madam Lowther, with her exceeding fine coachand mean horses, and her mother-in-law, did meet us, and two of Mr. Lowther's brothers, and here dined upon nothing but pigeon-pyes, whichwas such a thing for him to invite all the company to, that I wasashamed of it. But after dinner was all our sport, when there come in ajuggler, who, indeed, did shew us so good tricks as I have never seenin my life, I think, of legerdemaine, and such as my wife hath sinceseriously said that she would not believe but that he did them by thehelp of the devil. Here, after a bad dinner, and but ordinary company, saving that I discern good parts in one of the sons, who, methought, didtake me up very prettily in one or two things that I said, and I was sosensible of it as to be a caution to me hereafter how I do venture tospeak more than is necessary in any company, though, as I did now, Ido think them incapable to censure me. We broke up, they back toWalthamstow, and only my wife and I and Sir W. Pen to the King'splayhouse, and there saw "The Mayden Queene, " which, though I have oftenseen, yet pleases me infinitely, it being impossible, I think, ever tohave the Queen's part, which is very good and passionate, and Florimel'spart, which is the most comicall that ever was made for woman, everdone better than they two are by young Marshall and Nelly. Home, whereI spent the evening with my father and wife, and late at night someflagillette with my wife, and then to supper and to bed. 

25th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined athome, and there come Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and dined with me, tellingme that the Duke of Cambridge continues very ill, so as they do despairof his living. So to the office again, where all the afternoon. About4 o'clock comes Mrs. Pierce to see my wife, and I into them, and therefind Pierce very fine, and in her own hair, which do become her, and sosays my wife, ten times better than lighter hair, her complexion beingmighty good. With them talked a little, and was invited by her to comewith my wife on Wednesday next in the evening, to be merry there, whichwe shall do. Then to the office again, where dispatched a great deal ofbusiness till late at night, to my great content, and then home and withmy wife to our flageolets a little, and so to supper and to bed, afterhaving my chamber a little wiped up. 

26th (Lord's day). Up sooner than usual on Sundays, and to walk, itbeing exceeding hot all night (so as this night I begun to leave off mywaistcoat this year) and this morning, and so to walk in the gardentill toward church time, when my wife and I to church, where severalstrangers of good condition come to our pew, where the pew was full. At noon dined at home, where little Michell come and his wife, whocontinues mighty pretty. After dinner I by water alone to Westminster, where, not finding Mrs. Martin within, did go towards the parish church, and in the way did overtake her, who resolved to go into the church withher that she was going with (Mrs. Hargrave, the little crooked woman, the vintner's wife of the Dog) and then go out again, and so I to thechurch, and seeing her return did go out again myself, but met with Mr. Howlett, who, offering me a pew in the gallery, I had no excuse but upwith him I must go, and then much against my will staid out the wholechurch in pain while she expected me at home, but I did entertain myselfwith my perspective glass up and down the church, by which I had thegreat pleasure of seeing and gazing at a great many very fine women;and what with that, and sleeping, I passed away the time till sermon wasdone, and then to Mrs. Martin, and there staid with her an hour or two, and there did what I would with her, and after been here so long Iaway to my boat, and up with it as far as Barne Elmes, reading of Mr. Evelyn's late new book against Solitude, in which I do not find muchexcess of good matter, though it be pretty for a bye discourse. I walkedthe length of the Elmes, and with great pleasure saw some gallant ladiesand people come with their bottles, and basket, and chairs, and form, tosup under the trees, by the waterside, which was mighty pleasant. I toboat again and to my book, and having done that I took another book, Mr. Boyle's of Colours, and there read, where I laughed, finding many finethings worthy observation, and so landed at the Old Swan, and so home, where I find my poor father newly come out of an unexpected fit of hispain, that they feared he would have died. They had sent for me to WhiteHall and all up and down, and for Mr. Holliard also, who did come, butW. Hewer being here did I think do the business in getting my father'sbowel, that was fallen down, into his body again, and that which made memore sensible of it was that he this morning did show me the place wherehis bowel did use to fall down and swell, which did trouble me to see. But above all things the poor man's patience under it, and his goodheart and humour, as soon as he was out of it, did so work upon me, thatmy heart was sad to think upon his condition, but do hope that a waywill be found by a steel truss to relieve him. By and by to supper, all our discourse about Brampton, and my intentions to build there if Icould be free of my engagement to my Uncle Thomas and his son, that theymay not have what I have built, against my will, to them whether I willor no, in case of me and my brothers being without heirs male; whichis the true reason why I am against laying out money upon thatplace, together with my fear of some inconvenience by being so nearHinchingbroke; being obliged to be a servant to that family, and subjectto what expence they shall cost me; and to have all that I shall buy, or do, esteemed as got by the death of my uncle, when indeed what I havefrom him is not worth naming. After supper to read and then to bed. 

27th. Up, and there comes Greeting my flagelette master, and I practisedwith him. There come also Richardson, the bookbinder, with one ofOgilby's Bibles in quires for me to see and buy, it being Mr. Cade's, my stationer's; but it is like to be so big that I shall not use it, itbeing too great to stir up and down without much trouble, which I shallnot like nor do intend it for. So by water to White Hall, and there findSir G. Carteret at home, and talked with him a while, and find that thenew Commissioners of the Treasury did meet this morning. So I to findout Sir W. Coventry, but missed, only I do hear that they have chosenSir G. Downing for their Secretary; and I think in my conscience theyhave done a great thing in it; for he is a business active man, andvalues himself upon having of things do well under his hand; so that Iam mightily pleased in their choice. Here I met Mr. Pierce, who tells methat he lately met Mr. Carcasse, who do mightily inveigh against me, forthat all that has been done against him he lays on me, and I think he isin the right and I do own it, only I find what I suspected, that he doreport that Sir W. Batten and I, who never agreed before, do now, andsince this business agree even more, which I did fear would be thought, and therefore will find occasion to undeceive the world in thatparticular by promoting something shortly against [Sir] W. Batten. Sohome, and there to sing with my wife before dinner, and then to dinner, and after dinner comes Carcasse to speak with me, but I would not givehim way to enlarge on anything, but he would have begun to have made anoise how I have undone him and used all the wit I could in the drawingup of his report, wherein he told me I had taken a great deal of painsto undo him. To which I did not think fit to enter into any answer, butdismissed him, and so I again up to my chamber, vexed at the impudenceof this rogue, but I think I shall be wary enough for him: So to mychamber, and there did some little business, and then abroad, andstopped at the Bear-garden-stairs, there to see a prize fought. But thehouse so full there was no getting in there, so forced to go through analehouse into the pit, where the bears are baited; and upon a stool didsee them fight, which they did very furiously, a butcher and a waterman. The former had the better all along, till by and by the latter droppedhis sword out of his hand, and the butcher, whether not seeing his sworddropped I know not, but did give him a cut over the wrist, so as hewas disabled to fight any longer. But, Lord! to see how in a minutethe whole stage was full of watermen to revenge the foul play, and thebutchers to defend their fellow, though most blamed him; and there theyall fell to it to knocking down and cutting many on each side. It waspleasant to see, but that I stood in the pit, and feared that in thetumult I might get some hurt. At last the rabble broke up, and so I awayto White Hall and so to St. James's, but I found not Sir W. Coventry, sointo the Park and took a turn or two, it being a most sweet day, andso by water home, and with my father and wife walked in the garden, andthen anon to supper and to bed. The Duke of Cambridge very ill still. 

28th. Up, and by coach to St. James's, where I find Sir W. Coventry, andhe desirous to have spoke with me. It was to read over a draught of aletter which he hath made for his brother Commissioners and him to signto us, demanding an account of the whole business of the Navy accounts;and I perceive, by the way he goes about it, that they will do admirablethings. He tells me they have chosen Sir G. Downing their Secretary, whowill be as fit a man as any in the world; and said, by the by, speakingof the bankers being fearful of Sir G. Downing's being Secretary, he being their enemy, that they did not intend to be ruled by theirSecretary, but do the business themselves. My heart is glad to see sogreat hopes of good to the nation as will be by these men; and it do megood to see Sir W. Coventry so cheerfull as he now is on the same score. Thence home, and there fell to seeing my office and closet there madesoundly clean, and the windows cleaned. At which all the morning, and soat noon to dinner. After dinner my wife away down with Jane and W. Hewerto Woolwich, in order to a little ayre and to lie there to-night, and soto gather May-dew to-morrow morning, [If we are to credit the following paragraph, extracted from the "Morning Post" of May 2nd, 1791, the virtues of May dew were then still held in some estimation; for it records that "on the day preceding, according to annual and superstitious custom, a number of persons went into the fields, and bathed their faces with the dew on the grass, under the idea that it would render them beautiful" (Hone's "Every Day Book, " vol. Ii. , p. 611). Aubrey speaks of May dew as "a great dissolvent" ("Miscellanies, " p. 183). --B. ]

which Mrs. Turner hath taught her as the only thing in the world to washher face with; and I am contented with it. Presently comes Creed, and heand I by water to Fox-hall, and there walked in Spring Garden. A greatdeal of company, and the weather and garden pleasant: that it is verypleasant and cheap going thither, for a man may go to spend what hewill, or nothing, all is one. But to hear the nightingale and otherbirds, and here fiddles, and there a harp, and here a Jew's trump, andhere laughing, and there fine people walking, is mighty divertising. Among others, there were two pretty women alone, that walked a greatwhile, which being discovered by some idle gentlemen, they would needstake them up; but to see the poor ladies how they were put to it to runfrom them, and they after them, and sometimes the ladies put themselvesalong with other company, then the other drew back; at last, the lastdid get off out of the house, and took boat and away. I was troubled tosee them abused so; and could have found in my heart, as little desireof fighting as I have, to have protected the ladies. So by water, setCreed down at White Hall, and I to the Old Swan, and so home. My fathergone to bed, and wife abroad at Woolwich, I to Sir W. Pen, where he andhis Lady and Pegg and pretty Mrs. Lowther her sister-in-law at supper, where I sat and talked, and Sir W. Pen, half drunk, did talk like a fooland vex his wife, that I was half pleased and half vexed to see so muchfolly and rudeness from him, and so late home to bed. 

29th. Up, and by coach to St. James's, where by and by up to the Dukeof York, where, among other things, our parson Mills having the offer ofanother benefice by Sir Robert Brookes, who was his pupil, he by myLord Barkeley [of Stratton] is made one of the Duke's Chaplains, whichqualifies him for two livings. But to see how slightly such things aredone, the Duke of York only taking my Lord Barkeley's word upon saying, that we the officers of the Navy do say he is a good man and minister ofour parish, and the Duke of York admits him to kiss his hand, but speaksnot one word to him; but so a warrant will be drawn from the Duke ofYork to qualify him, and there's an end of it. So we into the Duke'sclosett, where little to do, but complaint for want of money and amotion of Sir W. Coventry's that we should all now bethink ourselvesof lessening charge to the King, which he said was the only way he sawlikely to put the King out of debt, and this puts me upon thinking tooffer something presently myself to prevent its being done in a worsemanner without me relating to the Victualling business, which, as I mayorder it, I think may be done and save myself something. Thence home, and there settle to some accounts of mine in my chamber I all themorning till dinner. My wife comes home from Woolwich, but did not dinewith me, going to dress herself against night, to go to Mrs. Pierce's tobe merry, where we are to have Knepp and Harris and other good people. I at my accounts all the afternoon, being a little lost in them asto reckoning interest. Anon comes down my wife, dressed in her secondmourning, with her black moyre waistcoat, and short petticoat, lacedwith silver lace so basely that I could not endure to see her, and withlaced lining, which is too soon, so that I was horrid angry, and wentout of doors to the office and there staid, and would not go to ourintended meeting, which vexed me to the blood, and my wife sent twiceor thrice to me, to direct her any way to dress her, but to put on hercloth gown, which she would not venture, which made me mad: and so inthe evening to my chamber, vexed, and to my accounts, which I ended tomy great content, and did make amends for the loss of our mirth thisnight, by getting this done, which otherwise I fear I should not havedone a good while else. So to bed. 

30th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined athome, being without any words friends with my wife, though last nightI was very angry, and do think I did give her as much cause to be angrywith me. After dinner I walked to Arundell House, the way very dusty, the day of meeting of the Society being changed from Wednesdayto Thursday, which I knew not before, because the Wednesday is aCouncil-day, and several of the Council are of the Society, and wouldcome but for their attending the King at Council; where I find muchcompany, indeed very much company, in expectation of the Duchesse ofNewcastle, who had desired to be invited to the Society; and was, aftermuch debate, pro and con. , it seems many being against it; and we dobelieve the town will be full of ballads of it. Anon comes the Duchessewith her women attending her; among others, the Ferabosco, 2 of whomso much talk is that her lady would bid her show her face and kill thegallants. She is indeed black, and hath good black little eyes, butotherwise but a very ordinary woman I do think, but they say sings well. The Duchesse hath been a good, comely woman; but her dress so antick, and her deportment so ordinary, that I do not like her at all, nor did Ihear her say any thing that was worth hearing, but that she was full ofadmiration, all admiration. Several fine experiments were shown her ofcolours, loadstones, microscopes, and of liquors among others, of onethat did, while she was there, turn a piece of roasted mutton into pureblood, which was very rare. Here was Mrs. Moore of Cambridge, whom I hadnot seen before, and I was glad to see her; as also a very pretty blackboy that run up and down the room, somebody's child in Arundell House. After they had shown her many experiments, and she cried still she wasfull of admiration, she departed, being led out and in by several Lordsthat were there; among others Lord George Barkeley and Earl of Carlisle, and a very pretty young man, the Duke of Somerset. She gone, I by coachhome, and there busy at my letters till night, and then with my wife inthe evening singing with her in the garden with great pleasure, and sohome to supper and to bed. 

31st. Up, and there came young Mrs. Daniel in the morning as I expectedabout business of her husband's. I took her into the office to discoursewith her about getting some employment for him.... By water to WhiteHall to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the first time I everwas there and I think the second that they have met at the Treasurychamber there. Here I saw Duncomb look as big, and take as much state onhim, as if he had been born a lord. I was in with him about Tangier, andat present received but little answer from them, they being in a cloudof business yet, but I doubt not but all will go well under them. HereI met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that he is told this day bySecretary Morris that he believes we are, and shall be, only fooled bythe French; and that the Dutch are very high and insolent, and do lookupon us as come over only to beg a peace; which troubles me very much, and I do fear it is true. Thence to Sir G. Carteret at his lodgings;who, I perceive, is mightily displeased with this new Treasury; and hehath reason, for it will eclipse him; and he tells me that my Lord Ashlysays they understand nothing; and he says he believes the King do notintend they shall sit long. But I believe no such thing, but that theKing will find such benefit by them as he will desire to have themcontinue, as we see he hath done, in the late new Act that was so muchdecried about the King; but yet the King hath since permitted it, andfound good by it. He says, and I believe, that a great many persons atCourt are angry at the rise of this Duncomb, whose father, he tells me, was a long-Parliamentman, and a great Committee-man; and this fellowused to carry his papers to Committees after him: he was a kind of anatturny: but for all this, I believe this man will be a great man, inspite of all. Thence I away to Holborne to Mr. Gawden, whom I met atBernard's Inn gate, and straight we together to the Navy Office, wherewe did all meet about some victualling business, and so home to dinnerand to the office, where the weather so hot now-a-days that I cannot butsleep before I do any business, and in the evening home, and there, tomy unexpected satisfaction, did get my intricate accounts of interest, which have been of late much perplexed by mixing of some moneys of SirG. Carteret's with mine, evened and set right: and so late to supper, and with great quiet to bed; finding by the balance of my account that Iam creditor L6900, for which the Lord of Heaven be praised!

JUNE 1667

June 1st. Up; and there comes to me Mr. Commander, whom I employ abouthiring of some ground behind the office, for the building of me a stableand coach-house: for I do find it necessary for me, both in respect tohonour and the profit of it also, my expense in hackney-coaches beingnow so great, to keep a coach, and therefore will do it. Having givenhim some instructions about it, I to the office, where we sat all themorning; where we have news that our peace with Spayne, as to trade, iswholly concluded, and we are to furnish him with some men for Flandersagainst the French. How that will agree with the French, I know not; butthey say that he also hath liberty, to get what men he pleases outof England. But for the Spaniard, I hear that my Lord Castlehavenis raising a regiment of 4000 men, which he is to command there; andseveral young gentlemen are going over in commands with him: and theysay the Duke of Monmouth is going over only as a traveller, not toengage on either side, but only to see the campagne, which will bebecoming him much more than to live whoreing and rogueing, as he nowdo. After dinner to the office, where, after a little nap, I fell tobusiness, and did very much with infinite joy to myself, as it always isto me when I have dispatched much business, and therefore it troubles meto see how hard it is for me to settle to it sometimes when my mind isupon pleasure. So home late to supper and to bed. 

2nd (Lord's day). Up betimes, and down to my chamber without trimmingmyself, or putting on clean linen, thinking only to keep to my chamberand do business to-day, but when I come there I find that without beingshaved I am not fully awake, nor ready to settle to business, and sowas fain to go up again and dress myself, which I did, and so down tomy chamber, and fell roundly to business, and did to my satisfaction bydinner go far in the drawing up a state of my accounts of Tangier forthe new Lords Commissioners. So to dinner, and then to my business againall the afternoon close, when Creed come to visit me, but I did put himoff, and to my business, till anon I did make an end, and wrote it fairwith a letter to the Lords to accompany my accounts, which I think willbe so much satisfaction and so soon done (their order for my doing itbeing dated but May 30) as they will not find from any hand else. Beingweary and almost blind with writing and reading so much to-day, I tookboat at the Old Swan, and there up the river all alone as high as Putneyalmost, and then back again, all the way reading, and finishing Mr. Boyle's book of Colours, which is so chymical, that I can understand butlittle of it, but understand enough to see that he is a most excellentman. So back and home, and there to supper, and so to bed. 

3rd. Up, and by coach to St. James's, and with Sir W. Coventry a greatwhile talking about several businesses, but especially about accounts, and how backward our Treasurer is in giving them satisfaction, and thetruth is I do doubt he cannot do better, but it is strange to say thatbeing conscious of our doing little at this day, nor for some time pastin our office for want of money, I do hang my head to him, and cannotbe so free with him as I used to be, nor can be free with him, though ofall men, I think, I have the least cause to be so, having taken so muchmore pains, while I could do anything, than the rest of my fellows. Parted with him, and so going through the Park met Mr. Mills, ourparson, whom I went back with to bring him to [Sir] W. Coventry, togive him the form of a qualification for the Duke of York to sign to, to enable him to have two livings: which was a service I did, but muchagainst my will, for a lazy, fat priest. Thence to Westminster Hall, andthere walked a turn or two with Sir William Doyly, who did lay a wagerwith me, the Treasurership would be in one hand, notwithstanding thispresent Commission, before Christmas: on which we did lay a poll ofling, a brace of carps, and a pottle of wine; and Sir W. Pen and Mr. Scowen to be at the eating of them. Thence down by water to Deptford, itbeing Trinity Monday, when the Master is chosen, and there, finding themall at church, and thinking they dined, as usual, at Stepny, I turnedback, having a good book in my hand, the Life of Cardinal Wolsey, wroteby his own servant, and to Ratcliffe; and so walked to Stepny, andspent, my time in the churchyard, looking over the gravestones, expecting when the company would come by. Finding no company stirring, I sent to the house to see; and, it seems, they dine not there, butat Deptford: so I back again to Deptford, and there find them just satdown. And so I down with them; and we had a good dinner of plain meat, and good company at our table: among others, my good Mr. Evelyn, withwhom, after dinner, I stepped aside, and talked upon the present postureof our affairs; which is, that the Dutch are known to be abroad witheighty sail of ships of war, and twenty fire-ships; and the French comeinto the Channell with twenty sail of men-of-war, and five fireships, while we have not a ship at sea to do them any hurt with; but arecalling in all we can, while our Embassadors are treating at Bredah; andthe Dutch look upon them as come to beg peace, and use them accordingly;and all this through the negligence of our Prince, who hath power, if hewould, to master all these with the money and men that he hath had thecommand of, and may now have, if he would mind his business. But, for aught we see, the Kingdom is likely to be lost, as well as thereputation of it is, for ever; notwithstanding so much reputation gotand preserved by a rebel that went before him. This discourse of oursended with sorrowful reflections upon our condition, and so broke up, and Creed and I got out of the room, and away by water to White Hall, and there he and I waited in the Treasury-chamber an hour or two, wherewe saw the Country Receivers and Accountants for money come to attend;and one of them, a brisk young fellow, with his hat cocked like a foolbehind, as the present fashion among the blades is, committed to theSerjeant. By and by, I, upon desire, was called in, and delivered in myreport of my Accounts. Present, Lord Ashly, Clifford, and Duncomb, who, being busy, did not read it; but committed it to Sir George Downing, andso I was dismissed; but, Lord! to see how Duncomb do take upon him isan eyesore, though I think he deserves great honour, but only thesuddenness of his rise, and his pride. But I do like the way of theselords, that they admit nobody to use many words, nor do they spend manywords themselves, but in great state do hear what they see necessary, and say little themselves, but bid withdraw. Thence Creed and I bywater up to Fox Hall, and over against it stopped, thinking to see someCock-fighting; but it was just being done, and, therefore, back again tothe other side, and to Spring Garden, and there eat and drank a little, and then to walk up and down the garden, reflecting upon the badmanagement of things now, compared with what it was in the laterebellious times, when men, some for fear, and some for religion, mindedtheir business, which none now do, by being void of both. Much talk ofthis and, other kinds, very pleasant, and so when it was almost nightwe home, setting him in at White Hall, and I to the Old Swan, and thencehome, where to supper, and then to read a little, and so to bed. 

4th. Up, and to the office, and there busy all the morning puttingin order the answering the great letter sent to the office by the newCommissioners of the Treasury, who demand an account from the King'scoming in to this day, which we shall do in the best manner we can. At noon home to dinner, and after dinner comes Mr. Commander to me andtells me, after all, that I cannot have a lease of the ground for mycoach-house and stable, till a suit in law be ended, about the end ofthe old stable now standing, which they and I would have pulled downto make a better way for a coach. I am a little sorry that I cannotpresently have it, because I am pretty full in my mind of keeping acoach; but yet, when I think on it again, the Dutch and French bothat sea, and we poor, and still out of order, I know not yet what turnsthere may be, and besides, I am in danger of parting with one of myplaces, which relates to the Victualling, that brings me by accidentin L800 a year, that is, L300 from the King and L500 from D. Gawden. I ought to be well contented to forbear awhile, and therefore I amcontented. To the office all the afternoon, where I dispatched muchbusiness to my great content, and then home in the evening, and thereto sing and pipe with my wife, and that being done, she fell all of asudden to discourse about her clothes and my humours in not sufferingher to wear them as she pleases, and grew to high words between us, butI fell to read a book (Boyle's Hydrostatiques)

 ["Hydrostatical Paradoxes made out by New Experiments" was published by the Hon. Robert Boyle in 1666 (Oxford). ]

aloud in my chamber and let her talk, till she was tired and vexed thatI would not hear her, and so become friends, and to bed together thefirst night after 4 or 5 that she hath lain from me by reason of a greatcold she had got. 

5th. Up, and with Mr. Kenasteri by coach to White Hall to theCommissioners of the Treasury about getting money for Tangier, and didcome to, after long waiting, speak with them, and there I find them allsat; and, among the rest, Duncomb lolling, with his heels upon anotherchair, by that, that he sat upon, and had an answer good enough, andthen away home, and (it being a most windy day, and hath been so allnight, South West, and we have great hopes that it may have done theDutch or French fleets some hurt) having got some papers in order, Iback to St. James's, where we all met at Sir W. Coventry's chamber, anddined and talked of our business, he being a most excellent man, andindeed, with all his business, hath more of his employed upon the goodof the service of the Navy, than all of us, that makes me ashamed ofit. This noon Captain Perriman brings us word how the Happy Returne's'[crew] below in the Hope, ordered to carry the Portugal Embassador toHolland (and the Embassador, I think, on board), refuse to go till paid;and by their example two or three more ships are in a mutiny: which isa sad consideration, while so many of the enemy's ships are at thisday triumphing in the sea. Here a very good and neat dinner, after theFrench manner, and good discourse, and then up after dinner to theDuke of York and did our usual business, and are put in hopes by Sir W. Coventry that we shall have money, and so away, Sir G. Carteret and Ito my Lord Crew to advise about Sir G. Carteret's carrying his accountsto-morrow to the Commissioners appointed to examine them and all otheraccounts since the war, who at last by the King's calling them to himyesterday and chiding them will sit, but Littleton and Garraway muchagainst their wills. The truth of it is, it is a ridiculous thing, forit will come to nothing, nor do the King nor kingdom good in any manner, I think. Here they talked of my Lord Hinchingbroke's match with LordBurlington's daughter, which is now gone a pretty way forward, and togreat content, which I am infinitely glad of. So from hence to WhiteHall, and in the streete Sir G. Carteret showed me a gentleman coming byin his coach, who hath been sent for up out of Lincolneshire, I think hesays he is a justice of peace there, that the Council have laid by theheels here, and here lies in a messenger's hands, for saying that a manand his wife are but one person, and so ought to pay but 12d. For bothto the Poll Bill; by which others were led to do the like: and so herehe lies prisoner. To White Hall, and there I attended to speak with SirW. Coventry about Lanyon's business, to get him some money out of thePrize Office from my Lord Ashly, and so home, and there to the officea little, and thence to my chamber to read, and supper, and to bed. Myfather, blessed be God! finds great ease by his new steel trusse, whichhe put on yesterday. So to bed. The Duke of Cambridge past hopes ofliving still. 

6th. Up, and to the office all the morning, where (which he hath notdone a great while) Sir G. Carteret come to advise with us for thedisposing of L10, 000, which is the first sum the new Lords Treasurershave provided us; but, unless we have more, this will not enable us tocut off any of the growing charge which they seem to give it us for, andexpect we should discharge several ships quite off with it. So home andwith my father and wife to Sir W. Pen's to dinner, which they invited usto out of their respect to my father, as a stranger; though I know themas false as the devil himself, and that it is only that they think itfit to oblige me; wherein I am a happy man, that all my fellow-officersare desirous of my friendship. Here as merry as in so false a place, andwhere I must dissemble my hatred, I could be, and after dinner my fatherand wife to a play, and I to my office, and there busy all the afternoontill late at night, and then my wife and I sang a song or two in thegarden, and so home to supper and to bed. This afternoon comes Mr. Pierce to me about some business, and tells me that the Duke ofCambridge is yet living, but every minute expected to die, and is givenover by all people, which indeed is a sad loss. 

7th. Up, and after with my flageolet and Mr. Townsend, whom I sent forto come to me to discourse about my Lord Sandwich's business; for whom Iam in some pain, lest the Accounts of the Wardrobe may not be in so goodorder as may please the new Lords Treasurers, who are quick-sighted, andunder obligations of recommending themselves to the King and the world, by their finding and mending of faults, and are, most of them, not thebest friends to my Lord, and to the office, and there all the morning. At noon home to dinner, my father, wife, and I, and a good dinner, andthen to the office again, where busy all the afternoon, also I have adesire to dispatch all business that hath lain long on my hands, and soto it till the evening, and then home to sing and pipe with my wife, andthen to supper and to bed, my head full of thoughts how to keep if I cansome part of my wages as Surveyor of the Victualling, which I seemust now come to be taken away among the other places that have beenoccasioned by this war, and the rather because I have of late aninclination to keep a coach. Ever since my drinking, two days ago, somevery Goole drink at Sir W. Coventry's table I have been full of windand with some pain, and I was afraid last night that it would amount tomuch, but, blessed be God! I find that the worst is past, so that I doclearly see that all the indisposition I am liable to-day as tosickness is only the Colique. This day I read (shown me by Mr. Gibson)a discourse newly come forth of the King of France, his pretence toFlanders, which is a very fine discourse, and the truth is, hath somuch of the Civil Law in it, that I am not a fit judge of it, but, as itappears to me, he hath a good pretence to it by right of his Queene. Soto bed. 

8th. Up, and to the office, where all the news this morning is, that theDutch are come with a fleete of eighty sail to Harwich, and thatguns were heard plain by Sir W. Rider's people at Bednallgreene, allyesterday even. So to the office, we all sat all the morning, and thenhome to dinner, where our dinner a ham of French bacon, boiled withpigeons, an excellent dish. Here dined with us only W. Hewer and hismother. After dinner to the office again, where busy till night, andthen home and to read a little and then to bed. The news is confirmedthat the Dutch are off of Harwich, but had done nothing last night. TheKing hath sent down my Lord of Oxford to raise the countries there; andall the Westerne barges are taken up to make a bridge over the River, about the Hope, for horse to cross the River, if there be occasion. 

9th (Lord's day). Up, and by water to White Hall, and so walked to St. James's, where I hear that the Duke of Cambridge, who was given overlong since by the Doctors, is now likely to recover; for which God bepraised! To Sir W. Coventry, and there talked with him a great while;and mighty glad I was of my good fortune to visit him, for it keeps inmy acquaintance with him, and the world sees it, and reckons my interestaccordingly. In comes my Lord Barkeley, who is going down to Harwichalso to look after the militia there: and there is also the Dukeof Monmouth, and with him a great many young Hectors, the LordChesterfield, my Lord Mandeville, and others: but to little purpose, I fear, but to debauch the country women thereabouts. My Lord Barkeleywanting some maps, and Sir W. Coventry recommending the six maps ofEngland that are bound up for the pocket, I did offer to present my Lordwith them, which he accepted: and so I will send them him. Thence toWhite Hall, and there to the Chapel, where I met Creed, and he and Istaid to hear who preached, which was a man who begun dully, and so weaway by water and landed in Southwarke, and to a church in the streetwhere we take water beyond the bridge, which was so full and the weatherhot that we could not stand there. So to my house, where we find myfather and wife at dinner, and after dinner Creed and I by water toWhite Hall, and there we parted, and I to Sir G. Carteret's, where, he busy, I up into the house, and there met with a gentleman, CaptainAldrige, that belongs to my Lord Barkeley, and I did give him the bookof maps for my Lord, and so I to Westminster Church and there staida good while, and saw Betty Michell there. So away thence, and afterchurch time to Mrs. Martin's, and then hazer what I would with her, andthen took boat and up, all alone, a most excellent evening, as high asBarne Elmes, and there took a turn; and then to my boat again, and home, reading and making an end of the book I lately bought a merry satyrcalled "The Visions, " translated from Spanish by L'Estrange, whereinthere are many very pretty things; but the translation is, as to therendering it into English expression, the best that ever I saw, it beingimpossible almost to conceive that it should be a translation. Beingcome home I find an order come for the getting some fire-ships presentlyto annoy the Dutch, who are in the King's Channel, and expected uphigher. So [Sir] W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen being come this evening fromtheir country houses to town we did issue orders about it, and then hometo supper and, to bed, 10th. Up; and news brought us that, the Dutch are come up as high as theNore; and more pressing orders for fireships. W. Batten, W. Pen, andI to St. James's; where the Duke of York gone this morning betimes, tosend away some men down to Chatham. So we three to White Hall, and metSir W. Coventry, who presses all that is possible for fire-ships. Sowe three to the office presently; and thither comes Sir FretchevilleHollis, who is to command them all in some exploits he is to do withthem on the enemy in the River. So we all down to Deptford, and pitchedupon ships and set men at work: but, Lord! to see how backwardly thingsmove at this pinch, notwithstanding that, by the enemy's being now comeup as high as almost the Hope, Sir J. Minnes, who has gone down to paysome ships there, hath sent up the money; and so we are possessed ofmoney to do what we will with. Yet partly ourselves, being used tobe idle and in despair, and partly people that have been used to bedeceived by us as to money, won't believe us; and we know not, thoughwe have it, how almost to promise it; and our wants such, and men outof the way, that it is an admirable thing to consider how much the Kingsuffers, and how necessary it is in a State to keep the King's servicealways in a good posture and credit. Here I eat a bit, and then in theafternoon took boat and down to Greenwich, where I find the stairs fullof people, there being a great riding

 [It was an ancient custom in Berkshire, when a man had beaten his wife, for the neighbours to parade in front of his house, for the purpose of serenading him with kettles, and horns and hand-bells, and every species of "rough music, " by which name the ceremony was designated. Perhaps the riding mentioned by Pepys was a punishment somewhat similar. Malcolm ("Manners of London") quotes from the "Protestant Mercury, " that a porter's lady, who resided near Strand Lane, beat her husband with so much violence and perseverance, that the poor man was compelled to leap out of the window to escape her fury. Exasperated at this virago, the neighbours made a "riding, " i. E. A pedestrian procession, headed by a drum, and accompanied by a chemise, displayed for a banner. The manual musician sounded the tune of "You round-headed cuckolds, come dig, come dig!" and nearly seventy coalheavers, carmen, and porters, adorned with large horns fastened to their heads, followed. The public seemed highly pleased with the nature of the punishment, and gave liberally to the vindicators of injured manhood. --B. ]

there to-day for a man, the constable of the town, whose wife beat him. Here I was with much ado fain to press two watermen to make me a galley, and so to Woolwich to give order for the dispatch of a ship I have takenunder my care to see dispatched, and orders being so given, I, underpretence to fetch up the ship, which lay at Grays (the Golden Hand), [The "Golden Hand" was to have been used for the conveyance of the Swedish Ambassadors' horses and goods to Holland. In August, 1667, Frances, widow of Captain Douglas and daughter of Lord Grey, petitioned the king "for a gift of the prize ship Golden Hand, now employed in weighing the ships sunk at Chatham, where her husband lost his life in defence of the ships against the Dutch" ("Calendar of State Papers, " 1667, p. 430)]

did do that in my way, and went down to Gravesend, where I find the Dukeof Albemarle just come, with a great many idle lords and gentlemen, withtheir pistols and fooleries; and the bulwarke not able to have stoodhalf an hour had they come up; but the Dutch are fallen down from theHope and Shell-haven as low as Sheernesse, and we do plainly at thistime hear the guns play. Yet I do not find the Duke of Albemarle intendsto go thither, but stays here to-night, and hath, though the Dutchare gone, ordered our frigates to be brought to a line between the twoblockhouses; which I took then to be a ridiculous thing. So I away intothe town and took a captain or two of our ships (who did give me anaccount of the proceedings of the Dutch fleete in the river) to thetaverne, and there eat and drank, and I find the townsmen had removedmost of their goods out of the town, for fear of the Dutch coming up tothem; and from Sir John Griffen, that last night there was not twelvemen to be got in the town to defend it: which the master of the housetells me is not true, but that the men of the town did intend to stay, though they did indeed, and so had he, at the Ship, removed their goods. Thence went off to an Ostend man-of-war, just now come up, who met theDutch fleete, who took three ships that he come convoying hither fromhim says they are as low as the Nore, or thereabouts. So I homeward, aslong as it was light reading Mr. Boyle's book of Hydrostatics, whichis a most excellent book as ever I read, and I will take much pains tounderstand him through if I can, the doctrine being very useful. Whenit grew too dark to read I lay down and took a nap, it being a mostexcellent fine evening, and about one o'clock got home, and after havingwrote to Sir W. Coventry an account of what I had done and seen (whichis entered in my letter-book), I to bed. 

11th. Up, and more letters still from Sir W. Coventry about morefire-ships, and so Sir W. Batten and I to the office, where Brunckercome to us, who is just now going to Chatham upon a desire ofCommissioner Pett's, who is in a very fearful stink for fear of theDutch, and desires help for God and the King and kingdom's sake. SoBruncker goes down, and Sir J. Minnes also, from Gravesend. This morningPett writes us word that Sheernesse is lost last night, after two orthree hours' dispute. The enemy hath possessed himself of that place;which is very sad, and puts us into great fears of Chatham. Sir W. Batten and I down by water to Deptford, and there Sir W. Pen and we didconsider of several matters relating to the dispatch of the fire-ships, and so [Sir] W. Batten and I home again, and there to dinner, my wifeand father having dined, and after dinner, by W. Hewer's lucky advice, went to Mr. Fenn, and did get him to pay me above L400 of my wages, andW. Hewer received it for me, and brought it home this night. Thence Imeeting Mr. Moore went toward the other end of the town by coach, and spying Mercer in the street, I took leave of Moore and 'light andfollowed her, and at Paul's overtook her and walked with her through thedusty street almost to home, and there in Lombard Street met The. Turnerin coach, who had been at my house to see us, being to go out of townto-morrow to the Northward, and so I promised to see her tomorrow, and then home, and there to our business, hiring some fire-ships, andreceiving every hour almost letters from Sir W. Coventry, calling formore fire-ships; and an order from Council to enable us to take anyman's ships; and Sir W. Coventry, in his letter to us, says he do notdoubt but at this time, under an invasion, as he owns it to be, the Kingmay, by law, take any man's goods. At this business late, and then home;where a great deal of serious talk with my wife about the sad state weare in, and especially from the beating up of drums this night for thetrainbands upon pain of death to appear in arms to-morrow morning withbullet and powder, and money to supply themselves with victuals fora fortnight; which, considering the soldiers drawn out to Chatham andelsewhere, looks as if they had a design to ruin the City and give itup to be undone; which, I hear, makes the sober citizens to think verysadly of things. So to bed after supper, ill in my mind. This afternoonMrs. Williams sent to me to speak with her, which I did, only aboutnews. I had not spoke with her many a day before by reason of Carcassesbusiness. 

12th. Up very betimes to our business at the office, there hiring ofmore fire-ships; and at it close all the morning. At noon home, and SirW. Pen dined with us. By and by, after dinner, my wife out by coach tosee her mother; and I in another, being afraid, at this busy time, to beseen with a woman in a coach, as if I were idle, towards The. Turner's;but met Sir W. Coventry's boy; and there in his letter find that theDutch had made no motion since their taking Sheernesse; and the Dukeof Albemarle writes that all is safe as to the great ships against anyassault, the boom and chaine being so fortified; which put my heart intogreat joy. 

 [There had been correspondence with Pett respecting this chain in April and May. On the 10th May Pett wrote to the Navy Commissioners, "The chain is promised to be dispatched to-morrow, and all things are ready for fixing it. " On the 11th June the Dutch "got twenty or twenty-two ships over the narrow part of the river at Chatham, where ships had been sunk; after two and a half hours' fighting one guard-ship after another was fired and blown up, and the enemy master of the chain" ("Calendar of State Papers, " 1667, pp. 58, 87, 215). ]

When I come to Sir W: Coventry's chamber, I find him abroad; but hisclerk, Powell, do tell me that ill newes is come to Court of the Dutchbreaking the Chaine at Chatham; which struck me to the heart. And toWhite Hall to hear the truth of it; and there, going up the back-stairs, I did hear some lacquies speaking of sad newes come to Court, saying, that hardly anybody in the Court but do look as if he cried, and wouldnot go into the house for fear of being seen, but slunk out and gotinto a coach, and to The. Turner's to Sir W. Turner's, where I met RogerPepys, newly come out of the country. He and I talked aside a little, he offering a match for Pall, one Barnes, of whom we shall talk more thenext time. His father married a Pepys; in discourse, he told me furtherthat his grandfather, my great grandfather, had L800 per annum, inQueen Elizabeth's time, in the very town of Cottenham; and that we didcertainly come out of Scotland with the Abbot of Crowland. More talk Ihad, and shall have more with him, but my mind is so sad and head fullof this ill news that I cannot now set it down. A short visit here, mywife coming to me, and took leave of The. , and so home, where all ourhearts do now ake; for the newes is true, that the Dutch have broke thechaine and burned our ships, and particularly "The Royal Charles, "

 [Vandervelde's drawings of the conflagration of the English fleet, made by him on the spot, are in the British Museum. --B. ]

other particulars I know not, but most sad to be sure. And, the truthis, I do fear so much that the whole kingdom is undone, that I do thisnight resolve to study with my father and wife what to do with thelittle that I have in money by me, for I give [up] all the rest that Ihave in the King's hands, for Tangier, for lost. So God help us! and Godknows what disorders we may fall into, and whether any violence on thisoffice, or perhaps some severity on our persons, as being reckoned bythe silly people, or perhaps may, by policy of State, be thought fitto be condemned by the King and Duke of York, and so put to trouble;though, God knows! I have, in my own person, done my full duty, I amsure. So having with much ado finished my business at the office, I hometo consider with my father and wife of things, and then to supper andto bed with a heavy heart. The manner of my advising this night with myfather was, I took him and my wife up to her chamber, and shut the door;and there told them the sad state of the times how we are like to beall undone; that I do fear some violence will be offered to thisoffice, where all I have in the world is; and resolved upon sending itaway--sometimes into the country--sometimes my father to lie in town, and have the gold with him at Sarah Giles's, and with that resolutionwent to bed full of fear and fright, hardly slept all night. 

13th. No sooner up but hear the sad newes confirmed of the RoyallCharles being taken by them, and now in fitting by them--which Pettshould have carried up higher by our several orders, and deserves, therefore, to be hanged for not doing it--and turning several others;and that another fleete is come up into the Hope. Upon which newes theKing and Duke of York have been below--[Below London Bridge. ]--sincefour o'clock in the morning, to command the sinking of ships atBarking-Creeke, and other places, to stop their coming up higher: whichput me into such a fear, that I presently resolved of my father's andwife's going into the country; and, at two hours' warning, they did goby the coach this day, with about L1300 in gold in their night-bag. Pray God give them good passage, and good care to hide it when they comehome! but my heart is full of fear: They gone, I continued in fright andfear what to do with the rest. W. Hewer hath been at the banker's, andhath got L500 out of Backewell's hands of his own money; but they areso called upon that they will be all broke, hundreds coming to them formoney: and their answer is, "It is payable at twenty days--when the daysare out, we will pay you;" and those that are not so, they make tellover their money, and make their bags false, on purpose to give cause toretell it, and so spend time. I cannot have my 200 pieces of gold againfor silver, all being bought up last night that were to be had, andsold for 24 and 25s. A-piece. So I must keep the silver by me, whichsometimes I think to fling into the house of office, and then again knownot how I shall come by it, if we be made to leave the office. Everyminute some one or other calls for this or that order; and so I forcedto be at the office, most of the day, about the fire-ships which areto be suddenly fitted out: and it's a most strange thing that we hearnothing from any of my brethren at Chatham; so that we are wholly in thedark, various being the reports of what is done there; insomuch thatI sent Mr. Clapham express thither to see how matters go: I did, aboutnoon, resolve to send Mr. Gibson away after my wife with another 1000pieces, under colour of an express to Sir Jeremy Smith; who is, as Ihear, with some ships at Newcastle; which I did really send to him, andmay, possibly, prove of good use to the King; for it is possible, in thehurry of business, they may not think of it at Court, and the charge ofan express is not considerable to the King. So though I intend Gibson nofurther than to Huntingdon I direct him to send the packet forward. Mybusiness the most of the afternoon is listening to every body that comesto the office, what news? which is variously related, some better, someworse, but nothing certain. The King and Duke of York up and down allthe day here and there: some time on Tower Hill, where the City militiawas; where the King did make a speech to them, that they should venturethemselves no further than he would himself. I also sent, my mind beingin pain, Saunders after my wife and father, to overtake them at theirnight's lodgings, to see how matters go with them. In the evening, Isent for my cousin Sarah [Gyles] and her husband, who come; and I diddeliver them my chest of writings about Brampton, and my brother Tom'spapers, and my journalls, which I value much; and did send my twosilver flaggons to Kate Joyce's: that so, being scattered what I have, something might be saved. I have also made a girdle, by which, with sometrouble, I do carry about me L300 in gold about my body, that I may notbe without something in case I should be surprised: for I think, inany nation but our's, people that appear (for we are not indeed so) sofaulty as we, would have their throats cut. In the evening comes Mr. Pelling, and several others, to the office, and tell me that never werepeople so dejected as they are in the City all over at this day; and dotalk most loudly, even treason; as, that we are bought and sold--thatwe are betrayed by the Papists, and others, about the King; cry out thatthe office of the Ordnance hath been so backward as no powder to havebeen at Chatham nor Upnor Castle till such a time, and the carriages allbroken; that Legg is a Papist; that Upnor, the old good castle built byQueen Elizabeth, should be lately slighted; that the ships at Chathamshould not be carried up higher. They look upon us as lost, and removetheir families and rich goods in the City; and do think verily that theFrench, being come down with his army to Dunkirke, it is to invade us, and that we shall be invaded. Mr. Clerke, the solicitor, comes to meabout business, and tells me that he hears that the King hath chosenMr. Pierpont and Vaughan of the West, Privy-councillors; that my LordChancellor was affronted in the Hall this day, by people telling himof his Dunkirke house; and that there are regiments ordered to be gottogether, whereof to be commanders my Lord Fairfax, Ingoldsby, Bethell, Norton, and Birch, and other Presbyterians; and that Dr. Bates will haveliberty to preach. Now, whether this be true or not, I know not; but dothink that nothing but this will unite us together. Late at night comesMr. Hudson, the cooper, my neighbour, and tells me that he come fromChatham this evening at five o'clock, and saw this afternoon "The RoyalJames, " "Oake, " and "London, " burnt by the enemy with their fire-ships:that two or three men-of-war come up with them, and made no more ofUpnor Castle's shooting, than of a fly; that those ships lay below UpnorCastle, but therein, I conceive, he is in an error; that the Dutch arefitting out "The Royall Charles;" that we shot so far as from the Yardthither, so that the shot did no good, for the bullets grazed on thewater; that Upnor played hard with their guns at first, but slowlyafterwards, either from the men being beat off, or their powder spent. But we hear that the fleete in the Hope is not come up any higher thelast flood; and Sir W. Batten tells me that ships are provided to sinkin the River, about Woolwich, that will prevent their coming up higherif they should attempt it. I made my will also this day, and did giveall I had equally between my father and wife, and left copies of it ineach of Mr. Hater and W. Hewer's hands, who both witnessed the will, and so to supper and then to bed, and slept pretty well, but yet oftenwaking. 

14th. Up, and to the office; where Mr. Fryer comes and tells me thatthere are several Frenchmen and Flemish ships in the River, with passesfrom the Duke of York for carrying of prisoners, that ought to be partedfrom the rest of the ships, and their powder taken, lest they do firethemselves when the enemy comes, and so spoil us; which is good advice, and I think I will give notice of it; and did so. But it is pretty oddto see how every body, even at this high time of danger, puts businessoff of their own hands! He says that he told this to the Lieutenant ofthe Tower, to whom I, for the same reason, was directing him to go; andthe Lieutenant of the Tower bade him come to us, for he had nothing todo with it; and yesterday comes Captain Crew, of one of the fireships, and told me that the officers of the Ordnance would deliver his gunner'smaterials, but not compound them, [Meaning, apparently, that the Ordnance would deliver the charcoal, sulphur, and saltpetre separately, but not mix them as gunpowder. ]

 [The want of ammunition when the Dutch burnt the fleet, and the revenge of the deserter sailors, are well described by Marvell

 "Our Seamen, whom no danger's shape could fright, Unpaid, refuse to mount their ships, for spite Or to their fellows swim, on board the Dutch, Who show the tempting metal in their clutch. ]

but that we must do it; whereupon I was forced to write to them aboutit; and one that like a great many come to me this morning by and bycomes--Mr. Wilson, and by direction of his, a man of Mr. Gawden's; whocome from Chatham last night, and saw the three ships burnt, they lyingall dry, and boats going from the men-of-war and fire them. But that, that he tells me of worst consequence is, that he himself, I think hesaid, did hear many Englishmen on board the Dutch ships speaking to oneanother in English; and that they did cry and say, "We did heretoforefight for tickets; now we fight for dollars!" and did ask how such andsuch a one did, and would commend themselves to them: which is a sadconsideration. And Mr. Lewes, who was present at this fellow's discourseto me, did tell me, that he is told that when they took "The RoyallCharles, " they said that they had their tickets signed, and showedsome, and that now they come to have them paid, and would have them paidbefore they parted. And several seamen come this morning to me, to tellme that, if I would get their tickets paid, they would go and do allthey could against the Dutch; but otherwise they would not venture beingkilled, and lose all they have already fought for: so that I was forcedto try what I could do to get them paid. This man tells me that theships burnt last night did lie above Upnor Castle, over against theDocke; and the boats come from the ships of war and burnt them all whichis very sad. And masters of ships, that we are now taking up, do keepfrom their ships all their stores, or as much as they can, so that wecan despatch them, having not time to appraise them nor secure theirpayment; only some little money we have, which we are fain to pay themen we have with, every night, or they will not work. And indeed thehearts as well as affections of the seamen are turned away; and inthe open streets in Wapping, and up and down, the wives have criedpublickly, "This comes of your not paying our husbands; and now yourwork is undone, or done by hands that understand it not. " And Sir W. Batten told me that he was himself affronted with a woman, in languageof this kind, on Tower Hill publickly yesterday; and we are fain to bearit, and to keep one at the office door to let no idle people in, forfear of firing of the office and doing us mischief. The City is troubledat their being put upon duty: summoned one hour, and discharged twohours after; and then again summoned two hours after that; to theirgreat charge as well as trouble. And Pelling, the Potticary, tells methe world says all over, that less charge than what the kingdom is putto, of one kind or other, by this business, would have set out allour great ships. It is said they did in open streets yesterday, atWestminster, cry, "A Parliament! a Parliament!" and I do believe it willcost blood to answer for these miscarriages. We do not hear that theDutch are come to Gravesend; which is a wonder. But a wonderful thingit is that to this day we have not one word yet from Bruncker, or PeterPett, or J. Minnes, of any thing at Chatham. The people that come hitherto hear how things go, make me ashamed to be found unable to answerthem: for I am left alone here at the office; and the truth is, I amglad my station is to be here, near my own home and out of danger, yetin a place of doing the King good service. I have this morning good newsfrom Gibson; three letters from three several stages, that he was safelast night as far as Royston, at between nine and ten at night. Thedismay that is upon us all, in the business of the kingdom and Navy atthis day, is not to be expressed otherwise than by the condition thecitizens were in when the City was on fire, nobody knowing which wayto turn themselves, while every thing concurred to greaten the fire; ashere the easterly gale and spring-tides for coming up both rivers, andenabling them to break the chaine. D. Gawden did tell me yesterday, thatthe day before at the Council they were ready to fall together by theears at the Council-table, arraigning one another of being guilty ofthe counsel that brought us into this misery, by laying up all the greatships. Mr. Hater tells me at noon that some rude people have been, ashe hears, at my Lord Chancellor's, where they have cut down the treesbefore his house and broke his windows; and a gibbet either set upbefore or painted upon his gate, and these three words writ: "Threesights to be seen; Dunkirke, Tangier, and a barren Queene. "

 ["Pride, Lust, Ambition, and the People's Hate, The kingdom's broker, ruin of the State, Dunkirk's sad loss, divider of the fleet, Tangier's compounder for a barren sheet This shrub of gentry, married to the crown, His daughter to the heir, is tumbled down. "

 Poems on State Affairs, vol. I. , p. 253. --B. ]

It gives great matter of talk that it is said there is at this hour, inthe Exchequer, as much money as is ready to break down the floor. Thisarises, I believe, from Sir G. Downing's late talk of the greatness ofthe sum lying there of people's money, that they would not fetch away, which he shewed me and a great many others. Most people that I speakwith are in doubt how we shall do to secure our seamen from running overto the Dutch; which is a sad but very true consideration at this day. At noon I am told that my Lord Duke of Albemarle is made Lord HighConstable; the meaning whereof at this time I know not, nor whether it, be true or no. Dined, and Mr. Hater and W. Hewer with me; where they dospeak very sorrowfully of the posture of the times, and how people docry out in the streets of their being bought and sold; and both they, and every body that come to me, do tell me that people make nothing oftalking treason in the streets openly: as, that we are bought and sold, and governed by Papists, and that we are betrayed by people about theKing, and shall be delivered up to the French, and I know not what. At dinner we discoursed of Tom of the Wood, a fellow that lives like ahermit near Woolwich, who, as they say, and Mr. Bodham, they tell me, affirms that he was by at the justice's when some did accuse him therefor it, did foretell the burning of the City, and now says that agreater desolation is at hand. Thence we read and laughed at Lilly'sprophecies this month, in his Almanack this year! So to the office afterdinner; and thither comes Mr. Pierce, who tells me his condition, how hecannot get his money, about L500, which, he says, is a very great partof what he hath for his family and children, out of Viner's hand: andindeed it is to be feared that this will wholly undo the bankers. Hesays he knows nothing of the late affronts to my Lord Chancellor'shouse, as is said, nor hears of the Duke of Albemarle's being made HighConstable; but says that they are in great distraction at White Hall, and that every where people do speak high against Sir W. Coventry: buthe agrees with me, that he is the best Minister of State the King hath, and so from my heart I believe. At night come home Sir W. Batten andW. Pen, who only can tell me that they have placed guns at Woolwich andDeptford, and sunk some ships below Woolwich and Blackewall, and arein hopes that they will stop the enemy's coming up. But strange ourconfusion! that among them that are sunk they have gone and sunk withoutconsideration "The Franakin, "' one of the King's ships, with stores toa very considerable value, that hath been long loaden for supply of theships; and the new ship at Bristoll, and much wanted there; and nobodywill own that they directed it, but do lay it on Sir W. Rider. Theyspeak also of another ship, loaden to the value of L80, 000, sunk withthe goods in her, or at least was mightily contended for by him, and aforeign ship, that had the faith of the nation for her security: thisSir R. Ford tells us: And it is too plain a truth, that both here andat Chatham the ships that we have sunk have many, and the first of them, been ships completely fitted for fire-ships at great charge. But moststrange the backwardness and disorder of all people, especially theKing's people in pay, to do any work, Sir W. Pen tells me, all cryingout for money; and it was so at Chatham, that this night comes an orderfrom Sir W. Coventry to stop the pay of the wages of that Yard; the Dukeof Albemarle having related, that not above three of 1100 in pay theredid attend to do any work there. This evening having sent a messenger toChatham on purpose, we have received a dull letter from my Lord Brunckerand Peter Pett, how matters have gone there this week; but not so much, or so particularly, as we knew it by common talk before, and as true. Idoubt they will be found to have been but slow men in this business;and they say the Duke of Albemarle did tell my Lord Bruncker to his facethat his discharging of the great ships there was the cause of all this;and I am told that it is become common talk against my Lord Bruncker. But in that he is to be justified, for he did it by verbal order fromSir W. Coventry, and with good intent; and it was to good purpose, whatever the success be, for the men would have but spent the King somuch the more in wages, and yet not attended on board to have done theKing any service; and as an evidence of that, just now, being the 15thday in the morning that I am writing yesterday's passages, one is withme, Jacob Bryan, Purser of "The Princesse, " who confesses to me that hehath about 180 men borne at this day in victuals and wages on that shiplying at Chatham, being lately brought in thither; of which 180 therewas not above five appeared to do the King any service at this latebusiness. And this morning also, some of the Cambridge's men come upfrom Portsmouth, by order from Sir Fretcheville Hollis, who boasted tous the other day that he had sent for 50, and would be hanged if 100 didnot come up that would do as much as twice the number of other men: Isay some of them, instead of being at work at Deptford, where they wereintended, do come to the office this morning to demand the payment oftheir tickets; for otherwise they would, they said, do no more work; andare, as I understand from every body that has to do with them, the mostdebauched, damning, swearing rogues that ever were in the Navy, justlike their prophane commander. So to Sir W. Batten's to sit and talka little, and then home to my flageolet, my heart being at pretty goodease by a letter from my wife, brought by Saunders, that my father andwife got well last night to their Inne and out again this morning, andGibson's being got safe to Caxton at twelve last night. So to supper, and then to bed. No news to-day of any motion of the enemy eitherupwards towards Chatham or this way. 

15th. All the morning at the office. No newes more than last night; onlyPurser Tyler comes and tells me that he being at all the passages inthis business at Chatham, he says there have been horrible miscarriages, such as we shall shortly hear of: that the want of boats hath undone us;and it is commonly said, and Sir J. Minnes under his hand tells us, thatthey were employed by the men of the Yard to carry away their goods; andI hear that Commissioner Pett will be found the first man that beganto remove; he is much spoken against, and Bruncker is complained of andreproached for discharging the men of the great ships heretofore. Atnoon Mr. Hater dined with me; and tells me he believes that it willhardly be the want of money alone that will excuse to the Parliament theneglect of not setting out a fleete, it having never been done in ourgreatest straits, but however unlikely it appeared, yet when it was goneabout, the State or King did compass it; and there is something in it. In like manner all the afternoon busy, vexed to see how slowly things goon for want of money. At night comes, unexpectedly so soon, Mr. Gibson, who left my wife well, and all got down well with them, but not withhimself, which I was afeard of, and cannot blame him, but must myselfbe wiser against another time. He had one of his bags broke, through hisbreeches, and some pieces dropped out, not many, he thinks, but two, forhe 'light, and took them up, and went back and could find no more. ButI am not able to tell how many, which troubles me, but the joy of havingthe greatest part safe there makes me bear with it, so as not to afflictmyself for it. This afternoon poor Betty Michell, whom I love, sent totell my wife her child was dying, which I am troubled for, poor girle!At night home and to my flageolet. Played with pleasure, but with aheavy heart, only it pleased me to think how it may please God I maylive to spend my time in the country with plainness and pleasure, thoughbut with little glory. So to supper and to bed. 

16th (Lord's day). Up, and called on by several on business of theoffice. Then to the office to look out several of my old letters to SirW. Coventry in order to the preparing for justifying this office in ourfrequent foretelling the want of money. By and by comes Roger Pepys andhis son Talbot, whom he had brought to town to settle at the Temple, but, by reason of our present stirs, will carry him back again with himthis week. He seems to be but a silly lad. I sent them to church thismorning, I staying at home at the office, busy. At noon home to dinner, and much good discourse with him, he being mighty sensible of our miseryand mal-administration. Talking of these straits we are in, he tells methat my Lord Arlington did the last week take up L12, 000 in gold, which is very likely, for all was taken up that could be. Discoursingafterwards with him of our family he told me, that when I come to hishouse he will show me a decree in Chancery, wherein there was twenty-sixmen all housekeepers in the town of Cottenham, in Queene Elizabeth'stime, of our name. He to church again in the afternoon, I staid at homebusy, and did show some dalliance to my maid Nell, speaking to her ofher sweetheart which she had, silly girle. After sermon Roger Pepyscomes again. I spent the evening with him much troubled with thethoughts of the evils of our time, whereon we discoursed. By and byoccasion offered for my writing to Sir W. Coventry a plain bold lettertouching lack of money; which, when it was gone, I was afeard might giveoffence: but upon two or three readings over again the copy of it, I wassatisfied it was a good letter; only Sir W. Batten signed it with me, which I could wish I had done alone. Roger Pepys gone, I to the garden, and there dallied a while all alone with Mrs. Markham, and then home tomy chamber and to read and write, and then to supper and to bed. 

17th. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning, particularlysetting my people to work in transcribing pieces of letters publiqueand private, which I do collect against a black day to defend the officewith and myself. At noon dined at home, Mr. Hater with me alone, whodo seem to be confident that this nation will be undone, and with goodreason: Wishes himself at Hambrough, as a great many more, he says, hebelieves do, but nothing but the reconciling of the Presbyterian partywill save us, and I am of his mind. At the office all the afternoon, where every moment business of one kind or other about the fire-shipsand other businesses, most of them vexatious for want of money, thecommanders all complaining that, if they miss to pay their men a night, they run away; seamen demanding money of them by way of advance, andsome of Sir Fretcheville Hollis's men, that he so bragged of, demandingtheir tickets to be paid, or they would not work: this Hollis, Sir W. Batten and W. Pen say, proves a very... , as Sir W. B. Terms him, and theother called him a conceited, idle, prating, lying fellow. But it waspleasant this morning to hear Hollis give me the account what, he says, he told the King in Commissioner Pett's presence, whence it was that hisship was fit sooner than others, telling the King how he dealt with theseveral Commissioners and agents of the Ports where he comes, offeringLanyon to carry him a Ton or two of goods to the streights, givingMiddleton an hour or two's hearing of his stories of Barbadoes, goingto prayer with Taylor, and standing bare and calling, "If it please yourHonour, " to Pett, but Sir W. Pen says that he tells this story to everybody, and believes it to be a very lie. At night comes Captain Cocke tosee me, and he and I an hour in the garden together. He tells me therehave been great endeavours of bringing in the Presbyterian interest, butthat it will not do. He named to me several of the insipid lords thatare to command the armies that are to be raised. He says the King andCourt are all troubled, and the gates of the Court were shut up upon thefirst coming of the Dutch to us, but they do mind the business no morethan ever: that the bankers, he fears, are broke as to ready-money, though Viner had L100, 000 by him when our trouble begun: that he andthe Duke of Albemarle have received into their own hands, of Viner, theformer L10, 000, and the latter L12, 000, in tallies or assignments, tosecure what was in his hands of theirs; and many other great men of our. Masters have done the like; which is no good sign, when they beginto fear the main. He and every body cries out of the office ofthe Ordnance, for their neglects, both at Gravesend and Upnor, andeverywhere else. He gone, I to my business again, and then home tosupper and to bed. I have lately played the fool much with our Nell, inplaying with her breasts. This night, late, comes a porter with a letterfrom Monsieur Pratt, to borrow L100 for my Lord Hinchingbroke, to enablehim to go out with his troop in the country, as he is commanded; but Idid find an excuse to decline it. Among other reasons to myself, thisis one, to teach him the necessity of being a good husband, and keepingmoney or credit by him. 

18th. Up, and did this morning dally with Nell... Which I was afterwardtroubled for. To the office, and there all the morning. Peg Pen cometo see me, and I was glad of it, and did resolve to have tried her thisafternoon, but that there was company with elle at my home, whither Igot her. Dined at home, W. Hewer with me, and then to the office, andto my Lady Pen's, and did find occasion for Peg to go home with me to mychamber, but there being an idle gentleman with them, he went with us, and I lost my hope. So to the office, and by and by word was brought methat Commissioner Pett is brought to the Tower, and there laid up closeprisoner; which puts me into a fright, lest they may do the same with usas they do with him. This puts me upon hastening what I am doing withmy people, and collecting out of my papers our defence. Myself got Fist, Sir W. Batten's clerk, and busy with him writing letters late, and thenhome to supper and to read myself asleep, after piping, and so to bed. Great newes to-night of the blowing up of one of the Dutch greatestships, while a Council of War was on board: the latter part, I doubt, is not so, it not being confirmed since; but the former, that they had aship blown up, is said to be true. This evening comes Sir G. Carteretto the office, to talk of business at Sir W. Batten's; where all to beundone for want of money, there being none to pay the Chest at theirpublique pay the 24th of this month, which will make us a scorn to theworld. After he had done there, he and I into the garden, and walked;and the greatest of our discourse is, his sense of the requisiteness ofhis parting with his being Treasurer of the Navy, if he can, on anygood terms. He do harp upon getting my Lord Bruncker to take it on halfprofit, but that he is not able to secure him in paying him so much. But the thing I do advise him to do by all means, and he resolves on it, being but the same counsel which I intend to take myself. My Lady Jemgoes down to Hinchingbroke to lie down, because of the troubles of thetimes here. He tells me he is not sure that the King of France will notannoy us this year, but that the Court seems [to] reckon upon it as athing certain, for that is all that I and most people are afeard of thisyear. He tells me now the great question is, whether a Parliament orno Parliament; and says the Parliament itself cannot be thought able atpresent to raise money, and therefore it will be to no purpose to callone. I hear this day poor Michell's child is dead. 

19th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy with Fist again, beginning early to overtake my business in my letters, which for a postor two have by the late and present troubles been interrupted. At nooncomes Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen, and we to [Sir] W. Pen's house, and there discoursed of business an hour, and by and by comes anorder from Sir R. Browne, commanding me this afternoon to attend theCouncil-board, with all my books and papers touching the Medway. Iwas ready [to fear] some mischief to myself, though it appears mostreasonable that it is to inform them about Commissioner Pett. I eata little bit in haste at Sir W. Batten's, without much comfort, beingfearful, though I shew it not, and to my office and get up some papers, and found out the most material letters and orders in our books, and sotook coach and to the Council-chamber lobby, where I met Mr. Evelyn, whodo miserably decry our follies that bring all this misery upon us. Whilewe were discoursing over our publique misfortunes, I am called in to alarge Committee of the Council: present the Duke of Albemarle, Anglesey, Arlington, Ashly, Carteret, Duncomb, Coventry, Ingram, Clifford, Lauderdale, Morrice, Manchester, Craven, Carlisle, Bridgewater. Andafter Sir W. Coventry's telling them what orders His Royal Highness hadmade for the safety of the Medway, I told them to their full contentwhat we had done, and showed them our letters. Then was Peter Pettcalled in, with the Lieutenant of the Tower. He is in his old clothes, and looked most sillily. His charge was chiefly the not carrying up ofthe great ships, and the using of the boats in carrying away his goods;to which he answered very sillily, though his faults to me seem onlygreat omissions. Lord Arlington and Coventry very severe against him;the former saying that, if he was not guilty, the world would think themall guilty. 

 [Pett was made a scapegoat. This is confirmed by Marvel:

 "After this loss, to relish discontent, Some one must be accused by Parliament; All our miscarriages on Pett must fall, His name alone seems fit to answer all. Whose counsel first did this mad war beget? Who all commands sold through the Navy? Pett. Who would not follow when the Dutch were beat? Who treated out the time at Bergen? Pett. Who the Dutch fleet with storms disabled met, And, rifling prizes, them neglected? Pett. Who with false news prevented the Gazette, The fleet divided, writ for Ruhert? Pett. Who all our seamen cheated of their debt? And all our prizes who did swallow? Pett. Who did advise no navy out to set? And who the forts left unprepared? Pett. Who to supply with powder did forget Languard, Sheerness, Gravesend, and Upnor? Pett. Who all our ships exposed in Chatham net? Who should it be but the fanatick Pett? Pett, the sea-architect, in making ships, Was the first cause of all these naval slips. Had he not built, none of these faults had been; If no creation, there had been no sin But his great crime, one boat away he sent, That lost our fleet, and did our flight prevent. "

 Instructions to a Painter. --B]

The latter urged, that there must be some faults, and that the Admiralmust be found to have done his part. I did say an unhappy word, whichI was sorry for, when he complained of want of oares for the boats:and there was, it seems, enough, and good enough, to carry away all theboats with from the King's occasions. He said he used never a boat tillthey were all gone but one; and that was to carry away things of greatvalue, and these were his models of ships; which, when the Council, someof them, had said they wished that the Dutch had had them instead of theKing's ships, he answered, he did believe the Dutch would have made moreadvantage of the models than of the ships, and that the King had hadgreater loss thereby; this they all laughed at. After having heard himfor an hour or more, they bid him withdraw. I all this while showing himno respect, but rather against him, for which God forgive me! for Imean no hurt to him, but only find that these Lords are upon their ownpurgation, and it is necessary I should be so in behalf of the office. He being gone, they caused Sir Richard Browne to read over his minutes;and then my Lord Arlington moved that they might be put into my hands toput into form, I being more acquainted with such business; and they wereso. So I away back with my books and papers; and when I got into theCourt it was pretty to see how people gazed upon me, that I thoughtmyself obliged to salute people and to smile, lest they should think Iwas a prisoner too; but afterwards I found that most did take me tobe there to bear evidence against P. Pett; but my fear was such, at mygoing in, of the success of the day, that at my going in I did think fitto give T. Hater, whom I took with me, to wait the event, my closet-keyand directions where to find L500 and more in silver and gold, and mytallys, to remove, in case of any misfortune to me. Thence to SirG. Carteret's to take my leave of my Lady Jem, who is going into thecountry tomorrow; but she being now at prayers with my Lady and family, and hearing here by Yorke, the carrier, that my wife is coming to towne, I did make haste home to see her, that she might not find me abroad, it being the first minute I have been abroad since yesterday wasse'ennight. It is pretty to see how strange it is to be abroad to seepeople, as it used to be after a month or two's absence, and I havebrought myself so to it, that I have no great mind to be abroad, whichI could not have believed of myself. I got home, and after being therea little, she come, and two of her fellow-travellers with her, with whomwe drunk: a couple of merchant-like men, I think, but have friends inour country. They being gone, I and my wife to talk, who did give meso bad an account of her and my father's method in burying of our gold, that made me mad: and she herself is not pleased with it, she believingthat my sister knows of it. My father and she did it on Sunday, whenthey were gone to church, in open daylight, in the midst of the garden;where, for aught they knew, many eyes might see them: which put me intosuch trouble, that I was almost mad about it, and presently cast about, how to have it back again to secure it here, the times being a littlebetter now; at least at White Hall they seem as if they were, but oneway or other I am resolved to free them from the place if I can getthem. Such was my trouble at this, that I fell out with my wife, thatthough new come to towne, I did not sup with her, nor speak to hertonight, but to bed and sleep. 

20th. Up, without any respect to my wife, only answering her a questionor two, without any anger though, and so to the office, where all themorning busy, and among other things Mr. Barber come to me (one of theclerks of the Ticket office) to get me to sign some tickets, and told methat all the discourse yesterday, about that part of the town where hewas, was that Mr. Pett and I were in the Tower; and I did hear thesame before. At noon, home to dinner, and there my wife and I very goodfriends; the care of my gold being somewhat over, considering it was intheir hands that have as much cause to secure it as myself almost, andso if they will be mad, let them. But yet I do intend to, send for itaway. Here dined Mercer with us, and after dinner she cut my hair, andthen I into my closet and there slept a little, as I do now almost everyday after dinner; and then, after dallying a little with Nell, which Iam ashamed to think of, away to the office. Busy all the afternoon; inthe evening did treat with, and in the end agree; but by some kind ofcompulsion, with the owners of six merchant ships, to serve the King asmen-of-war. But, Lord! to see how against the hair it is with these menand every body to trust us and the King; and how unreasonable it is toexpect they should be willing to lend their ships, and lay out 2 or L300a man to fit their ships for new voyages, when we have not paid themhalf of what we owe them for their old services! I did write so to SirW. Coventry this night. At night my wife and I to walk and talkagain about our gold, which I am not quiet in my mind to be safe, andtherefore will think of some way to remove it, it troubling me verymuch. So home with my wife to supper and to bed, miserable hot weatherall night it was. 

21st. Up and by water to White Hall, there to discourse with [Sir] G. Carteret and Mr. Fenn about office business. I found them all aground, and no money to do anything with. Thence homewards, calling at myTailor's to bespeak some coloured clothes, and thence to HerculesPillars, all alone, and there spent 6d. On myself, and so home andbusy all the morning. At noon to dinner, home, where my wife shows me aletter from her father, who is going over sea, and this afternoon wouldtake his leave of her. I sent him by her three Jacobuses in gold, having real pity for him and her. So I to my office, and there all theafternoon. This day comes news from Harwich that the Dutch fleete areall in sight, near 100 sail great and small, they think, coming towardsthem; where, they think, they shall be able to oppose them; but do cryout of the falling back of the seamen, few standing by them, and thosewith much faintness. The like they write from Portsmouth, and theirletters this post are worth reading. Sir H. Cholmly come to me this day, and tells me the Court is as mad as ever; and that the night the Dutchburned our ships the King did sup with my Lady Castlemayne, at theDuchess of Monmouth's, and there were all mad in hunting of a poor moth. All the Court afraid of a Parliament; but he thinks nothing can save usbut the King's giving up all to a Parliament. Busy at the office allthe afternoon, and did much business to my great content. In the eveningsent for home, and there I find my Lady Pen and Mrs. Lowther, and Mrs. Turner and my wife eating some victuals, and there I sat and laughedwith them a little, and so to the office again, and in the eveningwalked with my wife in the garden, and did give Sir W. Pen at hislodgings (being just come from Deptford from attending the dispatch ofthe fire-ships there) an account of what passed the other day at Counciltouching Commissioner Pett, and so home to supper and to bed. 

22nd. Up, and to my office, where busy, and there comes Mrs. Daniel... At the office I all the morning busy. At noon home to dinner, where Mr. Lewes Phillips, by invitation of my wife, comes, he coming up to townwith her in the coach this week, and she expected another gentleman, afellow-traveller, and I perceive the feast was for him, though she donot say it, but by some mistake he come not, so there was a good dinnerlost. Here we had the two Mercers, and pretty merry. Much talk with Mr. Phillips about country business, among others that there is no way forme to purchase any severall lands in Brampton, or making any severallthat is not so, without much trouble and cost, and, it may be, not doit neither, so that there is no more ground to be laid to our Bramptonhouse. After dinner I left them, and to the office, and thence to Sir W. Pen's, there to talk with Mrs. Lowther, and by and by we hearing Mercerand my boy singing at my house, making exceeding good musique, to thejoy of my heart, that I should be the master of it, I took her to myoffice and there merry a while, and then I left them, and at the officebusy all the afternoon, and sleepy after a great dinner. In the eveningcome Captain Hart and Haywood to me about the six merchant-ships nowtaken up for men-of-war; and in talk they told me about the taking of"The Royal Charles;" that nothing but carelessness lost the ship, forthey might have saved her the very tide that the Dutch come up, if theywould have but used means and had had but boats: and that the want ofboats plainly lost all the other ships. That the Dutch did take her witha boat of nine men, who found not a man on board her, and her laying sonear them was a main temptation to them to come on; and presently a manwent up and struck her flag and jacke, and a trumpeter sounded upon her"Joan's placket is torn, " that they did carry her down at a time, both for tides and wind, when the best pilot in Chatham would not haveundertaken it, they heeling her on one side to make her draw littlewater: and so carried her away safe. They being gone, by and by comesSir W. Pen home, and he and I together talking. He hath been at Court;and in the first place, I hear the Duke of Cambridge is dead; a which isa great loss to the nation, having, I think, never an heyre male now ofthe King's or Duke's to succeed to the Crown. He tells me that they dobegin already to damn the Dutch, and call them cowards at White Hall, and think of them and their business no better than they used to do;which is very sad. The King did tell him himself, which is so, I wastold, here in the City, that the City, hath lent him L10, 000, to be laidout towards securing of the River of Thames; which, methinks, is a verypoor thing, that we should be induced to borrow by such mean sums. He tells me that it is most manifest that one great thing making itimpossible for us to have set out a fleete this year, if we could havedone it for money or stores, was the liberty given the beginning of theyear for the setting out of merchant-men, which did take up, as issaid, above ten, if not fifteen thousand seamen: and this the other dayCaptain Cocke tells me appears in the council-books, that is the numberof seamen required to man the merchant ships that had passes to goabroad. By and by, my wife being here, they sat down and eat a bit oftheir nasty victuals, and so parted and we to bed. 

23rd (Lord's day). Up to my chamber, and there all the morning readingin my Lord Coke's Pleas of the Crowne, very fine noble reading. Afterchurch time comes my wife and Sir W. Pen his lady and daughter; and Mrs. Markham and Captain Harrison (who come to dine with them), by invitationend dined with me, they as good as inviting themselves. I confess I hatetheir company and tricks, and so had no great pleasure in [it], but agood dinner lost. After dinner they all to church, and I by water aloneto Woolwich, and there called on Mr. Bodham: and he and I to see thebatterys newly raised; which, indeed, are good works to command theRiver below the ships that are sunk, but not above them. Here I met withCaptain Cocke and Matt. Wren, Fenn, and Charles Porter, and Temple andhis wife. Here I fell in with these, and to Bodham's with them, andthere we sat and laughed and drank in his arbour, Wren making much andkissing all the day of Temple's wife. It is a sad sight to see so manygood ships there sunk in the River, while we would be thought to bemasters of the sea. Cocke says the bankers cannot, till peace returns, ever hope to have credit again; so that they can pay no more money, butpeople must be contented to take publick security such as they can givethem; and if so, and they do live to receive the money thereupon, thebankers will be happy men. Fenn read me an order of council passed the17th instant, directing all the Treasurers of any part of the King'srevenue to make no payments but such as shall be approved by the presentLords Commissioners; which will, I think, spoil the credit of all hisMajesty's service, when people cannot depend upon payment any where. But the King's declaration in behalf of the bankers, to make good theirassignments for money, is very good, and will, I hope, secure me. Cockesays, that he hears it is come to it now, that the King will try whathe can soon do for a peace; and if he cannot, that then he will cast allupon the Parliament to do as they see fit: and in doing so, perhaps, hemay save us all. The King of France, it is believed, is engaged for thisyear;

 [Louis XIV. Was at this time in Flanders, with his queen, his mistresses, and all his Court. Turenne commanded under him. Whilst Charles was hunting moths at Lady Castlemaine's, and the English fleet was burning, Louis was carrying on the campaign with vigour. Armentieres was taken on the 28th May; Charleroi on the 2nd June, St. Winox on the 6th, Fumes on the 12th, Ath on the 16th, Toumay on the 24th; the Escarpe on the 6th July, Courtray on the 18th, Audenarde on the 31st; and Lisle on the 27th August. --B. ]

so that we shall be safe as to him. The great misery the City andkingdom is like to suffer for want of coals in a little time is veryvisible, and, is feared, will breed a mutiny; for we are not in anyprospect to command the sea for our colliers to come, but rather, it isfeared, the Dutch may go and burn all our colliers at Newcastle; thoughothers do say that they lie safe enough there. No news at all of latefrom Bredagh what our Treaters do. By and by, all by water in threeboats to Greenwich, there to Cocke's, where we supped well, and thenlate, Wren, Fenn, and I home by water, set me in at the Tower, and theyto White Hall, and so I home, and after a little talk with my wife tobed. 

24th. Up, and to the office, where much business upon me by the comingof people of all sorts about the dispatch of one business or other ofthe fire-ships, or other ships to be set out now. This morning Greetingcome, and I with him at my flageolet. At noon dined at home with my wifealone, and then in the afternoon all the day at my office. Troubled alittle at a letter from my father, which tells me of an idle companion, one Coleman, who went down with him and my wife in the coach, and comeup again with my wife, a pensioner of the King's Guard, and one thatmy wife, indeed, made the feast for on Saturday last, though he didnot come; but if he knows nothing of our money I will prevent any otherinconvenience. In the evening comes Mr. Povy about business; and he andI to walk in the garden an hour or two, and to talk of State matters. He tells me his opinion that it is out of possibility for us to escapebeing undone, there being nothing in our power to do that is necessaryfor the saving us: a lazy Prince, no Council, no money, no reputation athome or abroad. He says that to this day the King do follow the women asmuch as ever he did; that the Duke of York hath not got Mrs. Middleton, as I was told the other day: but says that he wants not her, for he hathothers, and hath always had, and that he [Povy] hath known them broughtthrough the Matted Gallery at White Hall into his [the Duke's] closet;nay, he hath come out of his wife's bed, and gone to others laid inbed for him: that Mr. Bruncker is not the only pimp, but that the wholefamily is of the same strain, and will do anything to please him: that, besides the death of the two Princes lately, the family is in horribledisorder by being in debt by spending above L60, 000 per. Annum, when hehath not L40, 000: that the Duchesse is not only the proudest womanin the world, but the most expensefull; and that the Duke of York'smarriage with her hath undone the kingdom, by making the Chancellor sogreat above reach, who otherwise would have been but an ordinary man, tohave been dealt with by other people; and he would have been careful ofmanaging things well, for fear of being called to account; whereas, nowhe is secure, and hath let things run to rack, as they now appear. Thatat a certain time Mr. Povy did carry him an account of the state of theDuke of York's estate, showing in faithfullness how he spent more thanhis estate would bear, by above L20, 000 per annum, and asked my Lord'sopinion of it; to which he answered that no man that loved the King orkingdom durst own the writing of that paper; at which Povy was startled, and reckoned himself undone for this good service, and found itnecessary then to show it to the Duke of York's Commissioners; who read, examined, and approved of it, so as to cause it to be put into form, andsigned it, and gave it the Duke. Now the end of the Chancellor was, forfear that his daughter's ill housewifery should be condemned. He [Povy]tells me that the other day, upon this ill newes of the Dutch being uponus, White Hall was shut up, and the Council called and sat close; and, by the way, he do assure me, from the mouth of some Privy-councillors, that at this day the Privy-council in general do know no more what thestate of the kingdom as to peace and war is, than he or I; nor knows whomanages it, nor upon whom it depends; and there my Lord Chancellor didmake a speech to them, saying that they knew well that he was no friendto the war from the beginning, and therefore had concerned himselflittle in, nor could say much to it; and a great deal of that kind, todischarge himself of the fault of the war. Upon which my Lord Angleseyrose up and told his Majesty that he thought their coming now togetherwas not to enquire who was, or was not, the cause of the war, but toenquire what was, or could be, done in the business of making a peace, and in whose hands that was, and where it was stopped or forwarded; andwent on very highly to have all made open to them: and, by the way, Iremember that Captain Cocke did the other day tell me that this LordAnglesey hath said, within few days, that he would willingly giveL10, 000 of his estate that he was well secured of the rest, suchapprehensions he hath of the sequel of things, as giving all over forlost. He tells me, speaking of the horrid effeminacy of the King, thatthe King hath taken ten times more care and pains in making friendsbetween my Lady Castlemayne and Mrs. Stewart, when they have fallen out, than ever he did to save his kingdom; nay, that upon any falling outbetween my Lady Castlemayne's nurse and her woman, my Lady hath oftensaid she would make the King to make them friends, and they would befriends and be quiet; which the King hath been fain to do: that the Kingis, at this day, every night in Hyde Park with the Duchesse of Monmouth, or with my Lady Castlemaine: that he [Povy] is concerned of late by myLord Arlington in the looking after some buildings that he is about inNorfolke, where my Lord is laying out a great deal of money; and thathe, Mr. Povy, considering the unsafeness of laying out money at such atime as this, and, besides, the enviousness of the particular county, as well as all the kingdom, to find him building and employing workmen, while all the ordinary people of the country are carried down to theseasides for securing the land, he thought it becoming him to go to myLord Arlington (Sir Thomas Clifford by), and give it as his advice tohold his hands a little; but my Lord would not, but would have him goon, and so Sir Thomas Clifford advised also, which one would think, ifhe were a statesman worth a fart should be a sign of his foreseeing thatall shall do well. But I do forbear concluding any such thing from them. He tells me that there is not so great confidence between any two menof power in the nation at this day, that he knows of, as between my LordArlington and Sir Thomas Clifford; and that it arises by accident only, there being no relation nor acquaintance between them, but only SirThomas Clifford's coming to him, and applying himself to him forfavours, when he come first up to town to be a Parliament-man. He tellsme that he do not think there is anything in the world for us possiblyto be saved by but the King of France's generousnesse to stand by usagainst the Dutch, and getting us a tolerable peace, it may be, upon ourgiving him Tangier and the islands he hath taken, and other thingshe shall please to ask. He confirms me in the several grounds I haveconceived of fearing that we shall shortly fall into mutinys andoutrages among ourselves, and that therefore he, as a Treasurer, andtherefore much more myself, I say, as being not only a Treasurer but anofficer of the Navy, on whom, for all the world knows, the faults of allour evils are to be laid, do fear to be seized on by some rude hands ashaving money to answer for, which will make me the more desirous to getoff of this Treasurership as soon as I can, as I had before in my mindresolved. Having done all this discourse, and concluded the kingdom ina desperate condition, we parted; and I to my wife, with whom was Mercerand Betty Michell, poor woman, come with her husband to see us afterthe death of her little girle. We sat in the garden together a while, it being night, and then Mercer and I a song or two, and then in (theMichell's home), my wife, Mercer, and I to supper, and then parted andto bed. 

25th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen in his new chariot (which indeed is plain, but pretty and more fashionable in shape than any coach he hath, and yetdo not cost him, harness and all, above L32) to White Hall; where staida very little: and thence to St. James's to [Sir] W. Coventry, whom Ihave not seen since before the coming of the Dutch into the river, nordid indeed know how well to go see him, for shame either to him or me, or both of us, to find ourselves in so much misery. I find that he andhis fellow-Treasurers are in the utmost want of money, and do find faultwith Sir G. Carteret, that, having kept the mystery of borrowing moneyto himself so long, to the ruin of the nation, as [Sir] W. Coventry saidin words to [Sir] W. Pen and me, he should now lay it aside and come tothem for money for every penny he hath, declaring that he can raise nomore: which, I confess, do appear to me the most like ill-will of anything that I have observed of [Sir] W. Coventry, when he himself didtell us, on another occasion at the same time, that the bankers who usedto furnish them money are not able to lend a farthing, and he knows wellenough that that was all the mystery [Sir] G. Carteret did use, that is, only his credit with them. He told us the masters and owners of thetwo ships that I had complained of, for not readily setting forth theirships, which we had taken up to make men-of-war, had been yesterday withthe King and Council, and had made their case so well understood, thatthe King did owe them for what they had earned the last year, that theycould not set them out again without some money or stores out of theKing's Yards; the latter of which [Sir] W. Coventry said must be done, for that they were not able to raise money for them, though it was butL200 a ship: which do skew us our condition to be so bad, that I am ina total despair of ever having the nation do well. After talking awhile, and all out of heart with stories of want of seamen, and seamen'srunning away, and their demanding a month's advance, and our beingforced to give seamen 3s. A-day to go hence to work at Chatham, andother things that show nothing but destruction upon us; for it iscertain that, as it now is, the seamen of England, in my conscience, would, if they could, go over and serve the King of France or Hollandrather than us. Up to the Duke of York to his chamber, where he seems tobe pretty easy, and now and then merry; but yet one may perceive inall their minds there is something of trouble and care, and with goodreason. Thence to White Hall, and with Sir W. Pen, by chariot; and therein the Court met with my Lord Anglesey: and he to talk with [Sir]W. Pen, and told him of the masters of ships being with the Councilyesterday, and that we were not in condition, though the men werewilling, to furnish them with L200 of money, already due to them asearned by them the last year, to enable them to set out their shipsagain this year for the King: which he is amazed at; and when I toldhim, "My Lord, this is a sad instance of the condition we are in, " heanswered, that it was so indeed, and sighed: and so parted: and he up tothe Council-chamber, where I perceive they sit every morning, and I toWestminster Hall, where it is Term time. I met with none I knew, nordid desire it, but only past through the-Hall and so back again, andby coach home to dinner, being weary indeed of seeing the world, andthinking it high time for me to provide against the foul weather that iscertainly coming upon us. So to the office, and there [Sir] W. Pen andI did some business, and then home to dinner, where my wife pleasesme mightily with what she can do upon the flageolet, and then I to theoffice again, and busy all the afternoon, and it is worth noting thatthe King and Council, in their order of the 23rd instant, for unloadingthree merchant-ships taken up for the King's service for men-of-war, docall the late coming of the Dutch "an invasion. " I was told, yesterday, that Mr. Oldenburg, our Secretary at Gresham College, is put intothe Tower, for writing newes to a virtuoso in France, with whom heconstantly corresponds in philosophical matters; which makes it veryunsafe at this time to write, or almost do any thing. Several captainscome to the office yesterday and to-day, complaining that their men comeand go when they will, and will not be commanded, though they are paidevery night, or may be. Nay, this afternoon comes Harry Russell fromGravesend, telling us that the money carried down yesterday for theChest at Chatham had like to have been seized upon yesterday, in thebarge there, by seamen, who did beat our watermen: and what men shouldthese be but the boat's crew of Sir Fretcheville Hollis, who used tobrag so much of the goodness and order of his men, and his command overthem. Busy all the afternoon at the office. Towards night I with Mr. Kinaston to White Hall about a Tangier order, but lost our labour, onlymet Sir H. Cholmly there, and he tells me great newes; that this dayin Council the King hath declared that he will call his Parliament inthirty days: which is the best newes I have heard a great while, andwill, if any thing, save the kingdom. How the King come to be advised tothis, I know not; but he tells me that it was against the Duke ofYork's mind flatly, who did rather advise the King to raise money ashe pleased; and against the Chancellor's, who told the King that QueenElizabeth did do all her business in eighty-eight without calling aParliament, and so might he do, for anything he saw. But, blessed beGod! it is done; and pray God it may hold, though some of us must surelygo to the pot, for all must be flung up to them, or nothing will bedone. So back home, and my wife down by water, I sent her, with Mrs. Hewer and her son, W. Hewer, to see the sunk ships, while I staid at theoffice, and in the evening was visited by Mr. Roberts the merchant by usabout the getting him a ship cleared from serving the King as a man ofwar, which I will endeavour to do. So home to supper and to bed. 

26th. Up, and in dressing myself in my dressing chamber comes up Nell, and I did play with her.... So being ready I to White Hall by water, andthere to the Lords Treasurers' chamber, and there wait, and here it isevery body's discourse that the Parliament is ordered to meet the 25thof July, being, as they say, St. James's day; which every creature isglad of. But it is pretty to consider how, walking to the Old Swanfrom my house, I met Sir Thomas Harvy, whom, asking the newes of theParliament's meeting, he told me it was true, and they would certainlymake a great rout among us. I answered, I did not care for my part, though I was ruined, so that the Commonwealth might escape ruin by it. He answered, that is a good one, in faith; for you know yourself to besecure, in being necessary to the office; but for my part, says he, Imust look to be removed; but then, says he, I doubt not but I shall haveamends made me; for all the world knows upon what terms I come in; whichis a saying that a wise man would not unnecessarily have said, Ithink, to any body, meaning his buying his place of my Lord Barkely[of Stratton]. So we parted, and I to White Hall, as I said before, andthere met with Sir Stephen Fox and Mr. Scawen, who both confirm the newsof the Parliament's meeting. Here I staid for an order for my Tangiermoney, L30, 000, upon the 11 months' tax, and so away to my LordArlington's office, and there spoke to him about Mr. Lanyon's business, and received a good answer, and thence to Westminster Hall and therewalked a little, and there met with Colonell Reames, who tells me of aletter come last night, or the day before, from my Lord St. Albans, outof France, wherein he says, that the King of France did lately fall outwith him, giving him ill names, saying that he had belied him to ourKing, by saying that he had promised to assist our King, and to forwardthe peace; saying that indeed he had offered to forward the peace atsuch a time, but it was not accepted of, and so he thinks himself notobliged, and would do what was fit for him; and so made him to go outof his sight in great displeasure: and he hath given this account to theKing, which, Colonell Reymes tells me, puts them into new melancholyat Court, and he believes hath forwarded the resolution of calling theParliament. Wherewith for all this I am very well contented, and soparted and to the Exchequer, but Mr. Burgess was not in his office; soalone to the Swan, and thither come Mr. Kinaston to me, and he and Iinto a room and there drank and discoursed, and I am mightily pleasedwith him for a most diligent and methodical man in all his business. By and by to Burgess, and did as much as we could with him about ourTangier order, though we met with unexpected delays in it, but such asare not to be avoided by reason of the form of the Act and the disorderswhich the King's necessities do put upon it, and therefore away bycoach, and at White Hall spied Mr. Povy, who tells me, as a greatsecret, which none knows but himself, that Sir G. Carteret hathparted with his place of Treasurer of the Navy, by consent, to my LordAnglesey, and is to be Treasurer of Ireland in his stead; but upon whatterms it is I know not, but Mr. Povy tells it is so, and that it is inhis power to bring me to as great a friendship and confidence in my LordAnglesey as ever I was with [Sir] W. Coventry, which I am glad of, andso parted, and I to my tailor's about turning my old silk suit and cloakinto a suit and vest, and thence with Mr. Kinaston (whom I had set downin the Strand and took up again at the Temple gate) home, and there todinner, mightily pleased with my wife's playing on the flageolet, and soafter dinner to the office. Such is the want already of coals, and thedespair of having any supply, by reason of the enemy's being abroad, andno fleete of ours to secure, that they are come, as Mr. Kinaston tellsme, at this day to L5 10s. Per chaldron. All the afternoon busy atthe office. In the evening with my wife and Mercer took coach and toIslington to the Old House, and there eat and drank and sang with greatpleasure, and then round by Hackney home with great pleasure, and whencome home to bed, my stomach not being well pleased with the cream wehad to-night. 

27th. Wakened this morning, about three o'clock, by Mr. Griffin with aletter from Sir W. Coventry to W. Pen, which W. Pen sent me to see, that the Dutch are come up to the Nore again, and he knows not whetherfurther or no, and would have, therefore, several things done: shipssunk, and I know not what--which Sir W. Pen (who it seems is very illthis night, or would be thought so) hath directed Griffin to carry tothe Trinity House; so he went away with the letter, and I tried and withmuch ado did get a little sleep more, and so up about six o'clock, fullof thought what to do with the little money I have left and my plate, wishing with all my heart that that was all secured. So to the office, where much business all the morning, and the more by my brethren beingall out of the way; Sir W. Pen this night taken so ill cannot stir;[Sir] W. Batten ill at Walthamstow; Sir J. Minnes the like at Chatham, and my Lord Bruncker there also upon business. Horrible trouble with thebackwardness of the merchants to let us have their ships, and seamen'srunning away, and not to be got or kept without money. It is worthturning to our letters this day to Sir W. Coventry about these matters. At noon to dinner, having a haunch of venison boiled; and all my clerksat dinner with me; and mightily taken with Mr. Gibson's discourse of thefaults of this war in its management compared [with] that in the lastwar, which I will get him to put into writing. Thence, after dinner, tothe office again, and there I saw the proclamations come out this dayfor the Parliament to meet the 25th of next month; for which God bepraised! and another to invite seamen to bring in their complaints, oftheir being ill-used in the getting their tickets and money, there beinga Committee of the Council appointed to receive their complaints. Thisnoon W. Hewer and T. Hater both tell me that it is all over the town, and Mr. Pierce tells me also, this afternoon coming to me, that forcertain Sir G. Carteret hath parted with his Treasurer's place, and thatmy Lord Anglesey is in it upon agreement and change of places, thoughthe latter part I do not think. This Povy told me yesterday, and I thinkit is a wise act of [Sir] G. Carteret. Pierce tells me that he hears forcertain fresh at Court, that France and we shall agree; and more, thatyesterday was damned at the Council, the Canary Company; and also thatmy Lord Mordaunt hath laid down his Commission, both good things toplease the Parliament, which I hope will do good. Pierce tells me thatall the town do cry out of our office, for a pack of fools and knaves;but says that everybody speaks either well, or at least the best of me, which is my great comfort, and think I do deserve it, and shall shew Ihave; but yet do think, and he also, that the Parliament will send usall going; and I shall be well contented with it, God knows! But hetells me how Matt. Wren should say that he was told that I should saythat W. Coventry was guilty of the miscarriage at Chatham, though Imyself, as he confesses, did tell him otherwise, and that it was whollyPett's fault. This do trouble me, not only as untrue, but as a designin some [one] or other to do me hurt; for, as the thing is false, so itnever entered into my mouth or thought, nor ever shall. He says that hehath rectified Wren in his belief of this, and so all is well. He gone, I to business till the evening, and then by chance home, and find thefellow that come up with my wife, Coleman, last from Brampton, a sillyrogue, but one that would seem a gentleman; but I did not stay with him. So to the office, where late, busy, and then to walk a little in thegarden, and so home to supper and to bed. News this tide, that about 80sail of the Dutch, great and small were seen coming up the river thismorning; and this tide some of them to the upper end of the Hope. 

28th. Up, and hear Sir W. Batten is come to town: I to see him; he isvery ill of his fever, and come to town only for advice. Sir J. Minnes, I hear also, is very ill all this night, worse than before. Thence Igoing out met at the gate Sir H. Cholmly coming to me, and I to himin the coach, and both of us presently to St. James's, by the waydiscoursing of some Tangier business about money, which the want of Isee will certainly bring the place into a bad condition. We find theDuke of York and [Sir] W. Coventry gone this morning, by two o'clock, toChatham, to come home to-night: and it is fine to observe how both theKing and Duke of York have, in their several late journeys to and again, done them in the night for coolnesse. Thence with him to the TreasuryChamber, and then to the Exchequer to inform ourselves a little aboutour warrant for L30, 000 for Tangier, which vexes us that it is so faroff in time of payment. Having walked two or three turns with him in theHall we parted, and I home by coach, and did business at the office tillnoon, and then by water to White Hall to dinner to Sir G. Carteret, but he not at home, but I dined with my Lady and good company, and gooddinner. My Lady and the family in very good humour upon this businessof his parting with his place of Treasurer of the Navy, which I perceivethey do own, and we did talk of it with satisfaction. They do here tellme that the Duke of Buckingham hath surrendered himself to SecretaryMorrice, and is going to the Tower. Mr. Fenn, at the table, says that hehath been taken by the watch two or three times of late, at unseasonablehours, but so disguised that they could not know him: and when I comehome, by and by, Mr. Lowther tells me that the Duke of Buckingham dodine publickly this day at Wadlow's, at the Sun Tavern; and is mightymerry, and sent word to the Lieutenant of the Tower, that he would cometo him as soon as he had dined. Now, how sad a thing it is, when wecome to make sport of proclaiming men traitors, and banishing them, andputting them out of their offices, and Privy Council, and of sending toand going to the Tower: God have mercy on us! At table, my Lady and SirPhilip Carteret have great and good discourse of the greatness of thepresent King of France--what great things he hath done, that a man maypass, at any hour in the night, all over that wild city [Paris], with apurse in his hand and no danger: that there is not a beggar to be seenin it, nor dirt lying in it; that he hath married two of Colbert'sdaughters to two of the greatest princes of France, and given themportions--bought the greatest dukedom in France, and given it toColbert;

 [The Carterets appear to have mystified Pepys, who eagerly believed all that was told him. At this time Paris was notoriously unsafe, infested with robbers and beggars, and abominably unclean. Colbert had three daughters, of whom the eldest was just married when Pepys wrote, viz. , Jean Marie Therese, to the Duc de Chevreuse, on the 3rd February, 1667. The second daughter, Henriette Louise, was not married to the Duc de St. Aignan till January 21st, 1671; and the third, Marie Anne, to the Duc de Mortemart, February 14th, 1679. Colbert himself was never made a duke. His highest title was Marquis de Seignelay. --B. ]

and ne'er a prince in France dare whisper against it, whereas here ourKing cannot do any such thing, but everybody's mouth is open againsthim for it, and the man that hath the favour also. That to severalcommanders that had not money to set them out to the present campagne, he did of his own accord--send them L1000 sterling a-piece, toequip themselves. But then they did enlarge upon the slavery of thepeople--that they are taxed more than the real estates they have; nay, it is an ordinary thing for people to desire to give the King all theirland that they have, and themselves become only his tenants, and pay himrent to the full value of it: so they may have but their earnings, Butthis will not be granted; but he shall give the value of his rent, and part of his labour too. That there is not a petty governor of aprovince--nay, of a town, but he will take the daughter from the richestman in the town under him, that hath got anything, and give her to hisfootman for a wife if he pleases, and the King of France will do thelike to the best man in his kingdom--take his daughter from him, andgive her to his footman, or whom he pleases. It is said that he do makea sport of us now; and says, that he knows no reason why his cozen, theKing of England, should not be as willing to let him have his kingdom, as that the Dutch should take it from him, which is a most wretchedthing that ever we should live to be in this most contemptiblecondition. After dinner Sir G. Carteret come in, and I to him and myLady, and there he did tell me that the business was done between himand my Lord Anglesey; that himself is to have the other's place ofDeputy Treasurer of Ireland, which is a place of honour and greatprofit, being far better, I know not for what reason, but a reason thereis, than the Treasurer's, my Lord of Corke's, and to give the other his, of Treasurer of the Navy; that the King, at his earnest entreaty, did, with much unwillingness, but with owning of great obligations tohim, for his faithfulness and long service to him and his father, andtherefore was willing to grant his desire. That the Duke of York hathgiven him the same kind words, so that it is done with all the goodmanner that could be, and he I perceive do look upon it, and so do I, I confess, as a great good fortune to him to meet with one of my LordAnglesey's quality willing to receive it at this time. Sir W. Coventryhe hath not yet made acquainted with it, nor do intend it, it being donepurely to ease himself of the many troubles and plagues which he thinksthe perverseness and unkindness of Sir W. Coventry and others byhis means have and is likely every day to bring upon him, and theParliament's envy, and lastly to put himself into a condition of makingup his accounts, which he is, he says, afeard he shall never otherwisebe. My Lord Chancellor, I perceive, is his friend in it. I remember Idid in the morning tell Sir H. Cholmly of this business: and he answeredme, he was sorry for it; for, whatever Sir G. Carteret was, he isconfident my Lord Anglesey is one of the greatest knaves in the world, which is news to me, but I shall make my use of it. Having done thisdiscourse with Sir G. Carteret, and signified my great satisfaction init, which they seem to look upon as something, I went away and by coachhome, and there find my wife making of tea, a drink which Mr. Pelling, the Potticary, tells her is good for her cold and defluxions. I to theoffice (whither come Mr. Carcasse to me to sue for my favour to him), and Sir W. Pen's, where I find Mr. Lowther come to town after thejourney, and after a small visit to him, I to the office to do muchbusiness, and then in the evening to Sir W. Batten's, to see how he did;and he is better than he was. He told me how Mrs. Lowther had her trainheld up yesterday by her page, at his house in the country; which is soridiculous a piece of pride as I am ashamed of. He told me also how hehears by somebody that my Lord Bruncker's maid hath told that herlady Mrs. Williams had sold her jewels and clothes to raise money forsomething or other; and indeed the last night a letter was sent from herto me, to send to my Lord, with about five pieces of gold in it, whichmethought at the time was but a poor supply. I then to Sir W. Pen, whocontinues a little ill, or dissembles it, the latter of which I am aptto believe. Here I staid but little, not meaning much kindness in it;and so to the office, and dispatched more business; and then homeat night, and to supper with my wife, and who should come in but Mr. Pelling, and supped with us, and told us the news of the town; how theofficers of the Navy are cried out upon, and a great many greatermen; but do think that I shall do well enough; and I think, if I havejustice, I shall. He tells me of my Lord Duke of Buckingham, his diningto-day at the Sun, and that he was mighty merry; and, what is strange, tells me that really he is at this day a very popular man, the worldreckoning him to suffer upon no other account than that he did propoundin Parliament to have all the questions that had to do with the receiptof the taxes and prizes; but they must be very silly that do thinkhe can do any thing out of good intention. After a great deal oftittle-tattle with this honest man, he gone we to bed. We hear that theDutch are gone down again; and thanks be to God! the trouble they giveus this second time is not very considerable. 

29th. Up, having had many ugly dreams to-night of my father and mysister and mother's coming to us, and meeting my wife and me at the gateof the office going out, they all in laced suits, and come, they toldme, to be with me this May day. My mother told me she lacked a pair ofgloves, and I remembered a pair of my wife's in my chamber, and resolvedshe should have them, but then recollected how my mother come to be herewhen I was in mourning for her, and so thinking it to be a mistake inour thinking her all this while dead, I did contrive that it shouldbe said to any that enquired that it was my mother-in-law, my wife'smother, that was dead, and we in mourning for. This dream troubled meand I waked.... These dreams did trouble me mightily all night. Up, andby coach to St. James's, and there find Sir W. Coventry and Sir W. Penabove stairs, and then we to discourse about making up our accountsagainst the Parliament; and Sir W. Coventry did give us the best advicehe could for us to provide for our own justification, believing, aseverybody do, that they will fall heavily upon us all, though he lay allupon want of money, only a little, he says (if the Parliament be in anytemper), may be laid upon themselves for not providing money sooner, they being expressly and industriously warned thereof by him, he says, even to the troubling them, that some of them did afterwards tell himthat he had frighted them. He says he do prepare to justify himself, and that he hears that my Lord Chancellor, my Lord Arlington, the ViceChamberlain and himself are reported all up and down the Coffee housesto be the four sacrifices that must be made to atone the people. Then weto talk of the loss of all affection and obedience, now in the seamen, so that all power is lost. He told us that he do concur in thinking thatwant of money do do the most of it, but that that is not all, but thehaving of gentlemen Captains, who discourage all Tarpaulins, and havegiven out that they would in a little time bring it to that pass that aTarpaulin should not dare to aspire to more than to be a Boatswain ora gunner. That this makes the Sea Captains to lose their own goodaffections to the service, and to instil it into the seamen also, andthat the seamen do see it themselves and resent it; and tells us thatit is notorious, even to his bearing of great ill will at Court, that hehath been the opposer of gentlemen Captains; and Sir W. Pen did put in, and said that he was esteemed to have been the man that did instil itinto Sir W. Coventry, which Sir W. Coventry did owne also, and says thathe hath always told the Gentlemen Captains his opinion of them, andthat himself who had now served to the business of the sea 6 or 7 yearsshould know a little, and as much as them that had never almost been atsea, and that yet he found himself fitter to be a Bishop or Pope thanto be a Sea-Commander, and so indeed he is. I begun to tell him of theexperience I had of the great brags made by Sir F. Hollis the other day, and the little proof either of the command or interest he had in hismen, which Sir W. Pen seconded by saying Sir Fr. Hollis had told himthat there was not a pilot to be got the other day for his fire-ships, and so was forced to carry them down himself, which Sir W. Coventrysays, in my conscience, he knows no more to do and understand the Riverno more than he do Tiber or Ganges. Thence I away with Sir W. Pen toWhite Hall, to the Treasury Chamber, but to no purpose, and so by coachhome, and there to my office to business, and then home to dinner, and to pipe with my wife, and so to the office again, having taken aresolution to take a turn to Chatham to-morrow, indeed to do business ofthe King's, but also to give myself the satisfaction of seeing the placeafter the Dutch have been here. I have sent to and got Creed to go withme by coach betimes to-morrow morning. After having done my business atthe office I home, and there I found Coleman come again to my house, and with my wife in our great chamber, which vexed me, there being a bedtherein. I staid there awhile, and then to my study vexed, showing nocivility to the man. But he comes on a compliment to receive my wife'scommands into the country, whither he is going, and it being Saturdaymy wife told me there was no other room for her to bring him in, and somuch is truth. But I staid vexed in my closet till by and by my cozenThomas Pepys, of Hatcham, come to see me, and he up to my closet, andthere sat talking an hour or two of the sad state of the times, whereofwe did talk very freely, and he thinks nothing but a union of religiousinterests will ever settle us; and I do think that, and the Parliament'staking the whole management of things into their hands, and severeinquisitions into our miscarriages; will help us. After we had bewailedourselves and the kingdom very freely one to another (wherein I do blamemyself for my freedom of speech to anybody), he gone, and Coleman gonealso before, I to the office, whither Creed come by my desire, andhe and I to my wife, to whom I now propose the going to Chatham, who, mightily pleased with it, sent for Mercer to go with her, but she couldnot go, having friends at home, which vexed my wife and me; and the poorwretch would have had anybody else to have gone, but I would like nobodyelse, so was contented to stay at home, on condition to go to Ispsumnext Sunday, which I will do, and so I to the office to dispatch mybusiness, and then home to supper with Creed, and then Creed and Itogether to bed, very pleasant in discourse. This day talking with SirW. Batten, he did give me an account how ill the King and Duke of Yorkwas advised to send orders for our frigates and fire-ships to come fromGravesend, soon as ever news come of the Dutch being returned into theriver, wherein no seamen, he believes, was advised with; for, says he, we might have done just as Warwicke did, when he, W. Batten; come withthe King and the like fleete, in the late wars, into the river: forWarwicke did not run away from them, but sailed before them when theysailed, and come to anchor when they come to anchor, and always kept ina small distance from them: so as to be able to take any opportunityof any of their ships running aground, or change of wind, or any thingelse, to his advantage. So might we have done with our fire-ships, andwe have lost an opportunity of taking or burning a good ship of their's, which was run aground about Holehaven, I think he said, with the windso as their ships could not get her away; but we might have done what wewould with her, and, it may be, done them mischief, too, with the wind. This seems very probable, and I believe was not considered. 

30th (Lord's day). Up about three o'clock, and Creed and I got ourselvesready, and took coach at our gate, it being very fine weather, and thecool of the morning, and with much pleasure, without any stop, got toRochester about ten of the clock, all the way having mighty pleasanttalk of the fate that is over all we do, that it seems as if we weredesigned in every thing, by land by sea, to undo ourselves. At the footof Rochester bridge, at the landing-place, I met my Lord Bruncker and myLord Douglas, and all the officers of the soldiers in the town, waitingthere for the Duke of York, whom they heard was coming thither this day;by and by comes my Lord Middleton, the first time I remember to haveseen him, well mounted, who had been to meet him, but come back withouthim; he seems a fine soldier, and so every body says he is; and aman, like my Lord Teviott, and indeed most of the Scotch gentry, as Iobserve, of few words. After staying here by the water-side and seeingthe boats come up from Chatham, with them that rowed with bandeleeresabout their shoulders, and muskets in their boats, they being theworkmen of the Yard, who have promised to redeem their credit, lost bytheir deserting the service when the Dutch were there, my Lord Brunckerwent with Lord Middleton to his inne, the Crowne, to dinner, which Itook unkindly, but he was slightly invited. So I and Creed down by boatto Chatham-yard (our watermen having their bandeleeres about them allthe way), and to Commissioner Pett's house, where my Lord Bruncker toldme that I should meet with his dinner two dishes of meat, but did not, but however by the help of Mr. Wiles had some beer and ale brought me, and a good piece of roast beef from somebody's table, and eat well attwo, and after dinner into the garden to shew Creed, and I must confessit must needs be thought a sorrowful thing for a man that hath taken somuch pains to make a place neat to lose it as Commissioner Pett must nowthis. Thence to see the batteries made; which, indeed, are very fine, and guns placed so as one would think the River should be very secure. I was glad, as also it was new to me, to see so many fortifications as Ihave of late seen, and so up to the top of the Hill, there to look, andcould see towards Sheerenesse, to spy the Dutch fleete, but could make[out] none but one vessel, they being all gone. But here I was told, that, in all the late attempt, there was but one man that they knewkilled on shore: and that was a man that had laid himself upon hisbelly upon one of the hills, on the other side of the River, to see theaction; and a bullet come, took the ground away just under his belly, and ripped up his belly, and so was killed. Thence back to the docke, and in my way saw how they are fain to take the deals of the rope-houseto supply other occasions, and how sillily the country troopers look, that stand upon the passes there; and, methinks, as if they were morewilling to run away than to fight, and it is said that the countrysoldiers did first run at Sheerenesse, but that then my Lord Douglas'smen did run also; but it is excused that there was no defence for themtowards the sea, that so the very beach did fly in their faces as thebullets come, and annoyed them, they having, after all this preparationof the officers of the ordnance, only done something towards the land, and nothing at all towards the sea. The people here everywhere do speakvery badly of Sir Edward Spragge, as not behaving himself as he shouldhave done in that business, going away with the first, and that oldCaptain Pyne, who, I am here told, and no sooner, is Master-Gunner ofEngland, was the last that staid there. Thence by barge, it raininghard, down to the chaine; and in our way did see the sad wrackes of thepoor "Royall Oake, " "James, " and "London;"

 ["The bottom of the 'Royal James' is got afloat, and those of the 'Loyal London' and 'Royal Oak' soon will be so. Many men are at work to put Sheerness in a posture of defence, and a boom is being fitted over the river by Upnor Castle, which with the good fortifications will leave nothing to fear. "--Calendar of State Papers, 1667, p. 285. ]

and several other of our ships by us sunk, and several of the enemy's, whereof three men-of-war that they could not get off, and so burned. Wedid also see several dead bodies lie by the side of the water. I do notsee that Upnor Castle hath received any hurt by them, though they playedlong against it; and they themselves shot till they had hardly a gunleft upon the carriages, so badly provided they were: they have nowmade two batteries on that side, which will be very good, and do goodservice. So to the chaine, and there saw it fast at the end on Upnorside of the River; very fast, and borne up upon the several stagesacross the River; and where it is broke nobody can tell me. I went onshore on Upnor side to look upon the end of the chaine; and causedthe link to be measured, and it was six inches and one-fourth incircumference. They have burned the Crane House that was to hawl ittaught. It seems very remarkable to me, and of great honour to theDutch, that those of them that did go on shore to Gillingham, thoughthey went in fear of their lives, and were some of them killed; and, notwithstanding their provocation at Schelling, yet killed none of ourpeople nor plundered their houses, but did take some things of easycarriage, and left the rest, and not a house burned; and, which is toour eternal disgrace, that what my Lord Douglas's men, who come afterthem, found there, they plundered and took all away; and the watermenthat carried us did further tell us, that our own soldiers are far moreterrible to those people of the country-towns than the Dutch themselves. We were told at the batteries, upon my seeing of the field-guns thatwere there, that, had they come a day sooner, they had been able to havesaved all; but they had no orders, and lay lingering upon the way, anddid not come forward for want of direction. Commissioner Pett's housewas all unfurnished, he having carried away all his goods. I met with nosatisfaction whereabouts the chaine was broke, but do confess I met withnobody that I could well expect to have satisfaction [from], it beingSunday; and the officers of the Yard most of them abroad, or at the Hillhouse, at the pay of the Chest, which they did make use of to day to dopart in. Several complaints, I hear, of the Monmouth's coming away toosoon from the chaine, where she was placed with the two guard-ships tosecure it; and Captain Robert Clerke, my friend, is blamed for sodoing there, but I hear nothing of him at London about it; but CaptainBrookes's running aground with the "Sancta Maria, " which was one of thethree ships that were ordered to be sunk to have dammed up the Riverat the chaine, is mightily cried against, and with reason, he being thechief man to approve of the abilities of other men, and the other twoslips did get safe thither and he run aground; but yet I do hear thatthough he be blameable, yet if she had been there, she nor two more tothem three would have been able to have commanded the river all over. Ifind that here, as it hath been in our river, fire-ships, when fitted, have been sunk afterwards, and particularly those here at the Mussle, where they did no good at all. Our great ships that were run agroundand sunk are all well raised but the "Vanguard, " which they go about toraise to-morrow. "The Henery, " being let loose to drive up the river ofherself, did run up as high as the bridge, and broke down some of therails of the bridge, and so back again with the tide, and up again, andthen berthed himself so well as no pilot could ever have done better;and Punnet says he would not, for his life, have undertaken to have doneit, with all his skill. I find it is true that the Dutch did heele "TheCharles" to get her down, and yet run aground twice or thrice, and yetgot her safe away, and have her, with a great many good guns inher, which none of our pilots would ever have undertaken. It is veryconsiderable the quantity of goods, which the making of these platformsand batterys do take out of the King's stores: so that we shall havelittle left there, and, God knows! no credit to buy any; besides, thetaking away and spending of (it is possible) several goods that wouldhave been either rejected or abatement made for them before used. Itis a strange thing to see that, while my Lords Douglas and Middleton doride up and down upon single horses, my Lord Bruncker do go up and downwith his hackney-coach and six horses at the King's charge, which willdo, for all this time, and the time that he is likely to stay, mustamount to a great deal. But I do not see that he hath any command overthe seamen, he being affronted by three or four seamen before my veryface, which he took sillily, methought; and is not able to do so muchgood as a good boatswain in this business. My Lord Bruncker, I perceive, do endeavour to speak well of Commissioner Pett, saying that he didexercise great care and pains while he was there, but do not undertaketo answer for his not carrying up of the great ships. Back again toRochester, and there walked to the Cathedral as they were beginning ofthe service, but would not be seen to stay to church there, besides hadno mind, but rather to go to our inne, the White Hart, where we drankand were fain (the towne being so full of soldiers) to have a bed cordedfor us to lie in, I being unwilling to lie at the Hill house for onenight, being desirous to be near our coach to be gone betimes to-morrowmorning. Here in the streets, I did hear the Scotch march beat by thedrums before the soldiers, which is very odde. Thence to the Castle, andviewed it with Creed, and had good satisfaction from him that showed itus touching the history of it. Then into the fields, a fine walk, andthere saw Sir Francis Clerke's house, which is a pretty seat, and thenback to our inne and bespoke supper, and so back to the fields and intothe Cherry garden, where we had them fresh gathered, and here met with ayoung, plain, silly shopkeeper, and his wife, a pretty young woman, theman's name Hawkins, and I did kiss her, and we talked (and the woman ofthe house is a very talking bawdy jade), and eat cherries together, andthen to walk in the fields till it was late, and did kiss her, and Ibelieve had I had a fit time and place I might have done what I wouldwith her. Walked back and left them at their house near our inne, andthen to our inne, where, I hear, my Lord Bruncker hath sent for me tospeak with me before I go: so I took his coach, which stands there withtwo horses, and to him and to his bedside, where he was in bed, andhath a watchman with a halbert at his door; and to him, and did talk alittle, and find him a very weak man for this business that he is upon;and do pity the King's service, that is no better handled, and his follyto call away Pett before we could have found a better man to have staidin his stead; so took leave of him, and with Creed back again, it beingnow about 10 at night, and to our inne to supper, and then to bed, being both sleepy, but could get no sheets to our bed, only linen to ourmouths, and so to sleep, merrily talking of Hawkins and his wife, andtroubled that Creed did see so much of my dalliance, though very little. 

JULY 1667

July 1st. Up betimes, about 9 o'clock, waked by a damned noise betweena sow gelder and a cow and a dog, nobody after we were up being able totell us what it was. After being ready we took coach, and, being verysleepy, droused most part of the way to Gravesend, and there 'light, anddown to the new batterys, which are like to be very fine, and there didhear a plain fellow cry out upon the folly of the King's officers above, to spend so much money in works at Woolwich and Deptford, and sinking ofgood ships loaden with goods, when, if half the charge had been laid outhere, it would have secured all that, and this place too, before now. And I think it is not only true in this, but that the best of theactions of us all are so silly, that the meanest people begin to seethrough them, and contemn them. Besides, says he, they spoil the riverby it. Then informed ourselves where we might have some creame, and theyguided us to one Goody Best's, a little out of the towne towards Londonroad, and thither we went with the coach, and find it a mighty clean, plain house, and had a dish of very good creame to our liking, and soaway presently very merry, and fell to reading of the several Advicesto a Painter, which made us good sport, and indeed are very witty, andCreed did also repeat to me some of the substance of letters of oldBurleigh in Queen Elizabeth's time, which he hath of late read in theprinted Cabbala, which is a very fine style at this day and fit tobe imitated. With this, and talking and laughing at the folly of ourmasters in the management of things at this day, we got home by noon, where all well, and then to dinner, and after dinner both of us laiddown upon the couch and chairs and to sleep, which I did for an hour ortwo, and then to the office, where I am sorry to hear that Sir J. Minnesis likely to die this night, or to-morrow, I forgot to set down that wemet this morning upon the road with Mrs. Williams going down to my LordBruncker; we bowed without speaking one to another, but I am ashamed atthe folly of the man to have her down at this serious busy time, whenthe town and country is full of people and full of censure, and againsthim particularly. At Sir W. Batten's my Lady tells me that she hears forcertain that my Lord's maid of his lodging here do give out that Mrs. Williams hath been fain of late to sell her best clothes and jewels toget a little money upon, which is a sad condition. Thence to the office, and did write to my Lord Bruncker to give me a little satisfaction aboutthe certainty of the chain's being broke, which I begin to doubt, andthe more from Sir W. Pen's discourse. It is worth while to read myletter to him entered in my letter book. Home in the evening to supper, and so pretty betimes, about 10 o'clock, to bed, and slept well. Thisday letters are come that my sister is very ill. 

2nd. Up, and put on my new silke camelott suit, made of my cloak, andsuit now made into a vest. So to the office, where W. Pen and myself, and Sir T. Harvy met, the first time we have had a meeting since thecoming of the Dutch upon this coast. Our only business (for we havelittle else to do, nobody being willing to trust us for anything) wasto speak with the owners of six merchantmen which we have been takingup this fortnight, and are yet in no readiness, they not fitting theirships without money advanced to them, we owing them for what their shipshave earned the last year. So every thing stands still for money, whilewe want money to pay for some of the most necessary things that wepromised ready money for in the height of our wants, as grapnells, &c. At noon home to dinner, and after dinner my wife and Jane (mighty finethe girle) to go to see Jane's old mistress, who was to see her, and didsee my wife the other day, and it is pleasant to hear with what kindnessher old mistress speaks of this girle, and how she would still have her, and how the wench cried when she told her that she must come to her oldmistress my wife. They gone, I to my chamber, and there dallied a littlewith my maid Nell.... And so to the office where busy till night, andthen comes Mrs. Turner, and walks with me in the garden to talk with meabout her husband's business, and to tell me how she hears at the otherend of the town how bad our office is spoken of by the King and Princeand Duke of Albemarle, and that there is not a good word said of any ofus but of me; and me they all do speak mightily of, which, whether trueor no, I am mighty glad to hear, but from all put together that I hearfrom other people, I am likely to pass as well as anybody. So, she gone, comes my wife and to walk in the garden, Sir J. Minnes being still illand so keeping us from singing, and by and by Sir W. Pen come and walkedwith us and gave us a bottle of Syder, and so we home to supper and tobed. This day I am told that poor Tooker is dead, a very painfull poorman as ever I knew. 

3rd. Up, and within most of the morning, my tailor's boy coming to altersomething in my new suit I put on yesterday. Then to the office and didbusiness, and then (my wife being a little ill of those in bed) I to SirW. Batten's and dined, and there comes in Sir Richard Ford, tells us howhe hath been at the Sessions-house, and there it is plain that there isa combination of rogues in the town, that do make it their businessto set houses on fire, and that one house they did set on fire inAldersgate Streete last Easter; and that this is proved by two youngmen, whom one of them debauched by degrees to steal their fathers' plateand clothes, and at last to be of their company; and they had theirplaces to take up what goods were flung into the streets out of thewindows, when the houses were on fire; and this is like to be proved toa great number of rogues, whereof five are already found, and some foundguilty this day. One of these boys is the son of a Montagu, of my LordManchester's family; but whose son he could not tell me. This is astrange thing methinks, but I am glad that it is proved so true anddiscovered. So home, and to enter my Journall of my late journey to thishour, and then to the office, where to do a little business, and then bywater to White Hall (calling at Michell's in my way, but the rogue wouldnot invite me in, I having a mind para voir his wife), and there to theCouncil-chamber, to deliver a letter to their Lordships about the stateof the six merchantmen which we have been so long fitting out. WhenI come, the King and the whole table full of Lords were hearing of apitifull cause of a complaint of an old man, with a great grey beard, against his son, for not allowing him something to live on; and at lastcome to the ordering the son to allow his father L10 a year. This causelasted them near two hours; which, methinks, at this time to be the workof the Council-board of England, is a scandalous thing, and methoughtSir W. Coventry to me did own as much. Here I find all the newes is theenemy's landing 3, 000 men near Harwich, [Richard Browne, writing to Williamson from Aldeburgh, on July 2nd, says: "The Dutch fleet of 80 sail has anchored in the bay; they were expected to land, but they tacked about, and stood first northward and then southward, close by Orford lighthouse, and have now passed the Ness towards Harwich; they have fired no guns, but made false fires" ("Calendar of State Papers, " 1667, p. 258). ]

and attacking Landguard Fort, and being beat off thence with our greatguns, killing some of their men, and they leaving their ladders behindthem; but we had no Horse in the way on Suffolk side, otherwise we mighthave galled their Foot. The Duke of York is gone down thither this day, while the General sat sleeping this afternoon at the Council-table. Thenews so much talked of this Exchange, of a peace, I find by Sir RichardBrowne arises from a letter the Swedes' agent hath received from Bredahand shewed at Court to-day, that they are come very near it, but Ido not find anybody here relying upon it. This cause being over, theTrinity House men, whom I did not expect to meet, were called in, andthere Sir W. Pen made a formal speech in answer to a question of theKing's, whether the lying of the sunk ships in the river would spoilthe river. But, Lord! how gingerly he answered it, and with a deal ofdo that he did not know whether it would be safe as to the enemy to havethem taken up, but that doubtless it would be better for the river tohave them taken up. Methought the Council found them answer like fools, and it ended in bidding them think more of it, and bring their answerin writing. Thence I to Westminster Hall, and there hear how they talkagainst the present management of things, and against Sir W. Coventryfor his bringing in of new commanders and casting out the old seamen, which I did endeavour to rectify Mrs. Michell and them in, lettingthem know that he hath opposed it all his life the most of any man inEngland. After a deal of this tittle tattle, I to Mrs. Martin's, and there she was gone in before, but when I come, contrary to myexpectation, I find her all in trouble, and what was it for but that Ihave got her with child.... And is in exceeding grief, and swears thatthe child is mine, which I do not believe, but yet do comfort her thateither it cannot be so, or if it be that I will take care to send forher husband, though I do hardly see how I can be sure of that, the shipbeing at sea, and as far as Scotland, but however I must do it, andshall find some way or other of doing it, though it do trouble me not alittle. Thence, not pleased, away to White Hall to Mr. Williamson, and by and by my Lord Arlington about Mr. Lanyon's business, and it ispretty to see how Mr. Williamson did altogether excuse himself that mybusiness was not done when I come to my Lord and told him my business;"Why, " says my Lord, "it hath been done, and the King signed it severaldays ago, " and so it was and was in Mr. Williamson's hands, which madeus both laugh, and I in innocent mirth, I remember, said, it is prettyto see in what a condition we are that all our matters now-a-days areundone, we know not how, and done we know not when. He laughed at it, but I have since reflected on it, and find it a severe speech as itmight be taken by a chief minister of state, as indeed Mr. Williamsonis, for he is indeed the Secretary. But we fell to other pleasant talk, and a fine gentleman he is, and so gave him L5 for his fee, and awayhome, and to Sir W. Batten's to talk a little, and then to the office todo a little business, and so home to supper and read myself asleep, andthen to bed. 

4th. Up, and, in vain expecting Sir R. Ford's calling on me, I tookcoach and to the Sessions-house, where I have a mind to hear BazillFielding's case--[See May 9th, 1667]--tried; and so got up to theBench, my Lord Chief-Justice Keeling being Judge. Here I stood bare, notchallenging, though I might well enough, to be covered. But here wereseveral fine trials; among others, several brought in for making ittheir trade to set houses on fire merely to get plunder; and all provedby the two little boys spoken of yesterday by Sir R. Ford, who did giveso good account of particulars that I never heard children in my life. And I confess, though I was unsatisfied with the force given to suchlittle boys, to take away men's lives, yet, when I was told that my LordChief-Justice did declare that there was no law against taking the oathof children above twelve years old, and then heard from Sir R. Ford thegood account which the boys had given of their understanding the natureand consequence of an oath, and now my own observation of the sobrietyand readiness of their answers, further than of any man of any rank thatcome to give witness this day, though some men of years and learning, Iwas a little amazed, and fully satisfied that they ought to have asmuch credit as the rest. They proved against several, their consultingseveral times at a bawdy-house in Moore-Fields, called the Russia House, among many other rogueries, of setting houses on fire, that they mightgather the goods that were flung into the streets; and it is worthconsidering how unsafe it is to have children play up and down this lewdtown. For these two boys, one is my Lady Montagu's (I know not whatLady Montagu) son, and the other of good condition, were playing inMoore-Fields, and one rogue, Gabriel Holmes, did come to them andteach them to drink, and then to bring him plate and clothes from theirfathers' houses, and carry him into their houses, and leaving open thedoors for him, and at last were made of their conspiracy, and were atthe very burning of this house in Aldersgate Street, on Easter Sundayat night last, and did gather up goods, as they had resolved before andthis Gabriel Holmes did advise to have had two houses set on fire, oneafter another, that, while they were quenching of one, they might beburning another. And it is pretty that G. Holmes did tell his fellows, and these boys swore it, that he did set fire to a box of linen in theSheriffe, Sir Joseph Shelden's' house, while he was attending the firein Aldersgate Street, and the Sheriffe himself said that there wasa fire in his house, in a box of linen, at the same time, but cannotconceive how this fellow should do it. The boys did swear against oneof them, that he had made it his part to pull the plug out of the enginewhile it was a-playing; and it really was so. And goods they did carryaway, and the manner of the setting the house on fire was, that Holmesdid get to a cockpit; where, it seems, there was a publick cockpit, and set fire to the straw in it, and hath a fire-ball at the end of thestraw, which did take fire, and so it prevailed, and burned the house;and, among other things they carried away, he took six of the cocks thatwere at the cockpit; and afterwards the boys told us how they had onedressed, by the same token it was so hard they could not eat it. Butthat which was most remarkable was the impudence of this Holmes, whohath been arraigned often, and still got away; and on this business wastaken and broke loose just at Newgate Gate; and was last night luckilytaken about Bow, who got loose, and run into the river, and hid himselfin the rushes; and they pursued him with a dog, and the dog got him andheld him till he was taken. But the impudence of this fellow was such, that he denied he ever saw the boys before, or ever knew the RussiaHouse, or that the people knew him; and by and by the mistress of theRussia House was called in, being indicted, at the same time, aboutanother thing; and she denied that the fellow was of her acquaintance, when it was pretty to see how the little boys did presently fall uponher, and ask her how she durst say so, when she was always with themwhen they met at her house, and particularly when she come in in hersmock before a dozen of them, at which the Court laughed, and put thewoman away. Well, this fellow Holmes was found guilty of the act ofburning the house, and other things, that he stood indicted for. Andthen there were other good cases, as of a woman that come to serve agentlewoman, and in three days run away, betimes in the morning, with agreat deal of plate and rings, and other good things. It was time verywell spent to be here. Here I saw how favourable the judge was to ayoung gentleman that struck one of the officers, for not making himroom: told him he had endangered the loss of his hand, but that he hopedhe had not struck him, and would suppose that he had not struck him. About that the Court rose, and I to dinner with my Lord Mayor andSheriffs; where a good dinner and good discourse; the judge being there. There was also tried this morning Fielding, which I thought had beenBazilll--but it proved the other, and Bazill was killed; that killedhis brother, who was found guilty of murder, and nobody pitied him. The judge seems to be a worthy man, and able: and do intend, for theserogues that burned this house to be hung in some conspicuous place inthe town, for an example. After dinner to the Court again, where I heardsome more causes, but with so much trouble because of the hot weatherthat I had no pleasure in it. Anon the Court rose, and I walked to Fleetstreete for my belt at the beltmaker's, and so home and to the office, wrote some letters, and then home to supper and to bed. 

5th. Up, and to the office, where Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, [Sir]T. Harvy and I met upon Mr. Gawden's accounts, and was at it all themorning. This morning Sir G. Carteret did come to us, and walked in thegarden. It was to talk with me about some thing of my Lord Sandwich's, but here he told us that the great seale is passed to my Lord Annesly[Anglesey] for Treasurer of the Navy: so that now he do no more belongto us: and I confess, for his sake, I am glad of it, and do believe theother will have little content in it. At noon I home to dinner with mywife, and after dinner to sing, and then to the office a little and SirW. Batten's, where I am vexed to hear that Nan Wright, now Mrs. Markham, Sir W. Pen's mayde and whore, is come to sit in our pew at church, anddid so while my Lady Batten was there. I confess I am very much vexed atit and ashamed. By and by out with [Sir] W. Pen to White Hall, whereI staid not, but to the New Exchange to buy gloves and other littleerrands, and so home and to my office busy till night, and then walkedin the garden with my wife, and then to supper and to sing, and so tobed. No news, but that the Dutch are gone clear from Harwich northward, and have given out they are going to Yarmouth. 

6th. Up, and to the office, where some of us sat busy all the morning. At noon home to dinner, whither Creed come to dine with us and bringsthe first word I hear of the news of a peace, the King having letterscome to him this noon signifying that it is concluded on, and that Mr. Coventry is upon his way coming over for the King's satisfaction. Thenews was so good and sudden that I went with great joy to [Sir] W. Batten and then to [Sir] W. Pen to tell it them, and so home todinner, mighty merry, and light at my heart only on this ground, that acontinuing of the war must undo us, and so though peace may do the likeif we do not make good use of it to reform ourselves and get up money, yet there is an opportunity for us to save ourselves. At least, for myown particular, we shall continue well till I can get my money intomy hands, and then I will shift for myself. After dinner away, leavingCreed there, by coach to Westminster, where to the Swan and drank, andthen to the Hall, and there talked a little with great joy of the peace, and then to Mrs. Martin's, where I met with the good news que elle neest con child, the fear of which she did give me the other day, hadtroubled me much. My joy in this made me send for wine, and thithercome her sister and Mrs. Cragg, and I staid a good while there. But herehappened the best instance of a woman's falseness in the world, that hersister Doll, who went for a bottle of wine, did come home all blubberingand swearing against one Captain Vandener, a Dutchman of the RhenishWine House, that pulled her into a stable by the Dog tavern, and theredid tumble her and toss her, calling him all the rogues and toads in theworld, when she knows that elle hath suffered me to do any thing withher a hundred times. Thence with joyful heart to White Hall to ask Mr. Williamson the news, who told me that Mr. Coventry is coming over witha project of a peace; which, if the States agree to, and our King, whentheir Ministers on both sides have shewed it them, we shall agree, andthat is all: but the King, I hear, do give it out plain that the peaceis concluded. Thence by coach home, and there wrote a few letters, andthen to consult with my wife about going to Epsum to-morrow, sometimesdesigning to go and then again not; and at last it grew late and Ibethought myself of business to employ me at home tomorrow, and so Idid not go. This afternoon I met with Mr. Rolt, who tells me that he isgoing Cornett under Collonel Ingoldsby, being his old acquaintance, and Ingoldsby hath a troop now from under the King, and I think it is ahandsome way for him, but it was an ominous thing, methought, just as hewas bidding me his last adieu, his nose fell a-bleeding, which ran in mymind a pretty while after. This afternoon Sir Alexander Frazier, whowas of council for Sir J. Minnes, and had given him over for a dead man, said to me at White Hall:--"What, " says he, "Sir J. Minnes is dead. " Itold him, "No! but that there is hopes of his life. " Methought he lookedvery sillily after it, and went his way. Late home to supper, alittle troubled at my not going to Epsum to-morrow, as I had resolved, especially having the Duke of York and [Sir] W. Coventry out of town, but it was my own fault and at last my judgment to stay, and so tosupper and to bed. This day, with great satisfaction, I hear that myLady Jemimah is brought to bed, at Hinchingbroke, of a boy. 

7th (Lord's day). Up, and to my chamber, there to settle some papers, and thither comes Mr. Moore to me and talked till church time of thenews of the times about the peace and the bad consequences of it if itbe not improved to good purpose of fitting ourselves for another war. Hetells me he heard that the discontented Parliament-men are fearful thatthe next sitting the King will put for a general excise, by which toraise him money, and then to fling off the Parliament, and raise aland-army and keep them all down like slaves; and it is gotten amongthem, that Bab. May, the Privy-purse, hath been heard to say that L300a-year is enough for any country gentleman; which makes them mad, andthey do talk of 6 or L800, 000 gone into the Privy-purse this war, whenin King James's time it arose but to L5, 000, and in King Charles's butL10, 000 in a year. He tells me that a goldsmith in town told him that, being with some plate with my Lady Castlemayne lately, she directed herwoman (the great beauty), "Wilson, " says she, "make a note for this, andfor that, to the Privy-purse for money. " He tells me a little more ofthe baseness of the courses taken at Court in the case of Mr. Moyer, whois at liberty, and is to give L500 for his liberty; but now the greatones are divided, who shall have the money, the Duke of Albemarle on onehand, and another Lord on the other; and that it is fain to be decidedby having the person's name put into the King's warrant for his liberty, at whose intercession the King shall own that he is set at liberty;which is a most lamentable thing, that we do professedly own that we dothese things, not for right and justice sake, but only to gratify thisor that person about the King. God forgive us all! Busy till noon, andthen home to dinner, and Mr. Moore come and dined with us, and much morediscourse at and after dinner of the same kind, and then, he gone, I tomy office busy till the evening, and then with my wife and Jane over toHalf-way house, a very good walk; and there drank, and in the cool ofthe evening back again, and sang with pleasure upon the water, and weremightily pleased in hearing a boatfull of Spaniards sing, and so home tosupper and to bed. Jane of late mighty fine, by reason of a laced whiskeher mistress hath given her, which makes her a very gracefull servant. But, above all, my wife and I were the most surprised in the beauty of aplain girle, which we met in the little lane going from Redriffe-stairsinto the fields, one of the prettiest faces that we think we ever saw inour lives. 

8th. Up, and to my chamber, and by and by comes Greeting, and to myflageolett with him with a pretty deal of pleasure, and then to theoffice, where [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen and I met about puttingmen to work for the weighing of the ships in the River sunk. Then homeagain, and there heard Mr. Caesar play some very good things on the lutetogether with myself on the violl and Greeting on the viallin. Then withmy wife abroad by coach, she to her tailor's, I to Westminster to Burgesabout my Tangier business, and thence to White Hall, where I spoke withSir John Nicholas, who tells me that Mr. Coventry is come from Bredah, as was expected; but, contrary to expectation, brings with him two orthree articles which do not please the King: as, to retrench the Act ofNavigation, and then to ascertain what are contraband goods; andthen that those exiled persons, who are or shall take refuge in theircountry, may be secure from any further prosecution. Whether these willbe enough to break the peace upon, or no, he cannot tell; but I perceivethe certainty of peace is blown over. So called on my wife and met Creedby the way, and they two and I to Charing Cross, there to see the greatboy and girle that are lately come out of Ireland, the latter eight, theformer but four years old, of most prodigious bigness for their age. Itried to weigh them in my arms, and find them twice as heavy as peoplealmost twice their age; and yet I am apt to believe they are very young. Their father a little sorry fellow, and their mother an old Irishwoman. They have had four children of this bigness, and four of ordinarygrowth, whereof two of each are dead. If, as my Lord Ormond certifies, it be true that they are no older, it is very monstrous. So home and todinner with my wife and to pipe, and then I to the office, where busyall the afternoon till the evening, and then with my wife by coachabroad to Bow and Stratford, it being so dusty weather that therewas little pleasure in it, and so home and to walk in the garden, andthither comes Pelling to us to talk, and so in and to supper, and thento bed. All the world being as I hear very much damped that their hopesof peace is become uncertain again. 

9th. Up pretty betimes and to the office, where busy till office time, and then we sat, but nothing to do but receive clamours about money. This day my Lord Anglesey, our new Treasurer, come the first time to theBoard, and there sat with us till noon; and I do perceive he is avery notable man, and understanding, and will do things regular, andunderstand them himself, not trust Fenn, as Sir G. Carteret did, andwill solicit soundly for money, which I do fear was Sir G. Carteret'sfault, that he did not do that enough, considering the age we live in, that nothing will do but by solicitation, though never so good for theKing or Kingdom, and a bad business well solicited shall, for peacesake, speed when a good one shall not. But I do confess that I do thinkit a very bold act of him to take upon himself the place of Treasurerof the Navy at this time, but when I consider that a regular accountantnever ought to fear any thing nor have reason I then do cease to wonder. At noon home to dinner and to play on the flageolet with my wife, andthen to the office, where very busy close at my office till late atnight. At night walked and sang with my wife in the garden, and so hometo supper and to bed. This evening news comes for certain that the Dutchare with their fleete before Dover, and that it is expected they willattempt something there. The business of the peace is quite dashedagain, so as now it is doubtful whether the King will condescend to whatthe Dutch demand, it being so near the Parliament, it being a thing thatwill, it may be, recommend him to them when they shall find that thenot having of a peace lies on his side by denying some of their demands. This morning Captain Clerke (Robin Clerke) was at the table, nowcommands the Monmouth, and did when the enemy passed the chaine atChatham the other day, who said publickly at the table that he didadmire at the order when it was brought him for sinking of the Monmouth(to the endangering of the ship, and spoiling of all her provisions)when her number of men were upon her that he could have carried her upthe River whither he pleased, and have-been a guard to the rest, andcould have sunk her at any time. He did carry some 100 barrels of powderout of the ship to save it after the orders come for the sinking her. He knew no reason at all, he declares, that could lead them to order thesinking her, nor the rest of the great ships that were sunk, but aboveall admires they would burn them on shore and sink them there, when ithad been better to have sunk them long way in the middle of the River, for then they would not have burned them so low as now they did. 

10th. Up, and to the office betimes, and there all the morning verybusy causing papers to be entered and sorted to put the office in orderagainst the Parliament. At noon home to dinner, and then to the officeagain close all the afternoon upon the same occasion with great pleasuretill late, and then with my wife and Mercer in the garden and sung, andthen home and sung, and to supper with great content, and so to bed. TheDuke of York is come back last night from Harwich, the news he bringsI know not, nor hear anything to-day from Dover, whether the enemy havemade any attempt there as was expected. This day our girle Mary, whomPayne helped us to, to be under his daughter, when she come to be ourcook-mayde, did go away declaring that she must be where she might earnsomething one day, and spend it and play away the next. But a good civilwench, and one neither wife nor I did ever give angry word to, but shehas this silly vanity that she must play. 

11th. Up betimes and to my office, and there busy till the office (whichwas only Sir T. Harvy and myself) met, and did little business andthen broke up. He tells me that the Council last night did sit close todetermine of the King's answer about the peace, and that though he donot certainly know, yet by all discourse yesterday he do believe it ispeace, and that the King had said it should be peace, and had biddenAlderman Baclewell to declare [it] upon the 'Change. It is high time forus to have peace that the King and Council may get up their credits andhave time to do it, for that indeed is the bottom of all our misery, that nobody have any so good opinion of the King and his Council andtheir advice as to lend money or venture their persons, or estates, orpains upon people that they know cannot thrive with all that we can do, but either by their corruption or negligence must be undone. This indeedis the very bottom of every man's thought, and the certain ground thatwe must be ruined unless the King change his course, or the Parliamentcome and alter it. At noon dined alone with my wife. All the afternoonclose at the office, very hard at gathering papers and putting things inorder against the Parliament, and at night home with my wife to supper, and then to bed, in hopes to have all things in my office in goodcondition in a little time for any body to examine, which I am sure noneelse will. 

12th. Up betimes and to my chamber, there doing business, and by and bycomes Greeting and begun a new month with him, and now to learn to setanything from the notes upon the flageolet, but, Lord! to see how like afool he goes about to give me direction would make a man mad. I thenout and by coach to White Hall and to the Treasury chamber, where dida little business, and thence to the Exchequer to Burges, about Tangierbusiness, and so back again, stepping into the Hall a little, and thenhomeward by coach, and met at White Hall with Sir H. Cholmly, and sointo his coach, and he with me to the Excise Office, there to do alittle business also, in the way he telling me that undoubtedly thepeace is concluded; for he did stand yesterday where he did hear partof the discourse at the Council table, and there did hear the King arguefor it. Among other things, that the spirits of the seamen were down, and the forces of our enemies are grown too great and many for us, andhe would not have his subjects overpressed; for he knew an Englishmanwould do as much as any man upon hopeful terms; but where he sees he isoverpressed, he despairs soon as any other; and, besides that, they havealready such a load of dejection upon them, that they will not be intemper a good while again. He heard my Lord Chancellor say to the King, "Sir, " says he, "the whole world do complain publickly of treachery, that things have been managed falsely by some of his greatministers. "--"Sir, " says he, "I am for your Majesty's falling into aspeedy enquiry into the truth of it, and, where you meet with it, punishit. But, at the same time, consider what you have to do, and make use ofyour time for having a peace; for more money will not be given withoutmuch trouble, nor is it, I fear, to be had of the people, nor will alittle do it to put us into condition of doing our business. " But SirH. Cholmly tells me he [the] Chancellors did say the other day at histable, "Treachery!" says he; "I could wish we could prove therewas anything of that in it; for that would imply some wit andthoughtfulness; but we are ruined merely by folly and neglect. " Andso Sir H. Cholmly tells me they did all argue for peace, and so hedo believe that the King hath agreed to the three points Mr. Coventrybrought over, which I have mentioned before, and is gone with them back. He tells me further that the Duke of Buckingham was before the Councilthe other day, and there did carry it very submissively and pleasinglyto the King; but to my Lord Arlington, who do prosecute the business, he was most bitter and sharp, and very slighting. As to the letter abouthis employing a man to cast the King's nativity, says he to the King, "Sir, " says he, "this is none of my hand, and I refer it to your Majestywhether you do not know this hand. " The King answered, that it wasindeed none of his, and that he knew whose it was, but could not recallit presently. "Why, " says he, "it is my sister of Richmond's, somefrolick or other of hers of some certain person; and there is nothing ofthe King's name in it, but it is only said to be his by supposition, asis said. " The King, it seems, seemed not very much displeased withwhat the Duke had said; but, however, he is still in the Tower, and nodiscourse of his being out in haste, though my Lady Castlemayne hathso far solicited for him that the King and she are quite fallen out: hecomes not to her, nor hath for some three or four days; and parted withvery foul words, the King calling her a whore, and a jade that meddledwith things she had nothing to do with at all: and she calling him fool;and told him if he was not a fool, he would not suffer his businessesto be carried on by fellows that did not understand them, and causehis best subjects, and those best able to serve him, to be imprisoned;meaning the Duke of Buckingham. And it seems she was not only for hisliberty, but to be restored to all his places; which, it is thought, hewill never be. While we were at the Excise office talking with Mr. Ball, it was computed that the Parliament had given the King for this waronly, besides all prizes, and besides the L200, 000 which he was to spendof his own revenue, to guard the sea above L5, 000, 000 and odd L100, 000;which is a most prodigious sum. Sir H. Cholmly, as a true Englishgentleman, do decry the King's expenses of his Privy-purse, whichin King James's time did not rise to above L5000 a year, and in KingCharles's to L10, 000, do now cost us above L100, 000, besides the greatcharge of the monarchy, as the Duke of York L100, 000 of it, and otherlimbs of the Royal family, and the guards, which, for his part, says he, "I would have all disbanded, for the King is not the better by them, andwould be as safe without them; for we have had no rebellions to make himfear anything. " But, contrarily, he is now raising of a land-army, whichthis Parliament and kingdom will never bear; besides, the commandersthey put over them are such as will never be able to raise or commandthem; but the design is, and the Duke of York, he says, is hot for it, to have a land-army, and so to make the government like that of France, but our princes have not brains, or at least care and forecast enough todo that. It is strange how he and every body do now-a-days reflect uponOliver, and commend him, what brave things he did, and made all theneighbour princes fear him; while here a prince, come in with all thelove and prayers and good liking of his people, who have given greatersigns of loyalty and willingness to serve him with their estates thanever was done by any people, hath lost all so soon, that it is a miraclewhat way a man could devise to lose so much in so little time. Thence heset me down at my Lord Crew's and away, and I up to my Lord, where SirThomas Crew was, and by and by comes Mr. Caesar, who teaches my Lady'spage upon the lute, and here Mr. Caesar did play some very fine thingsindeed, to my great liking. Here was my Lord Hinchingbroke also, newlycome from Hinchingbroke, where all well, but methinks I knowing in whatcase he stands for money by his demands to me and the report Mr. Mooregives of the management of the family, makes me, God forgive me! tocontemn him, though I do really honour and pity them, though theydeserve it not, that have so good an estate and will live beyond it. To dinner, and very good discourse with my Lord. And after dinner SirThomas Crew and I alone, and he tells me how I am mightily in esteemwith the Parliament; there being harangues made in the House to theSpeaker, of Mr. Pepys's readiness and civility to show them every thing, which I am at this time very glad of. He tells me the news of the Kingand my Lady Castlemayne which I have wrote already this day, and thedesign of the Parliament to look into things very well before they giveany more money, and I pray God they may. Thence, after dinner, to St. James's, but missed Sir W. Coventry, and so home, and there find my wifein a dogged humour for my not dining at home, and I did give her a pullby the nose and some ill words, which she provoked me to by somethingshe spoke, that we fell extraordinarily out, insomuch, that I going tothe office to avoid further anger, she followed me in a devilish mannerthither, and with much ado I got her into the garden out of hearing, toprevent shame, and so home, and by degrees I found it necessary to calmeher, and did, and then to the office, where pretty late, and then towalk with her in the garden, and so to supper, and pretty good friends, and so to bed with my mind very quiet. 

13th. Up pretty betimes, it being mighty hot weather, I lying thisnight, which I have not done, I believe, since a boy, I am sure notsince I had the stone before, with only a rugg and a sheet upon me. Tomy chamber, and my wife up to do something, and by chance we fell outagain, but I to the office, and there we did at the board much business, though the most was the dividing of L5000 which the Lords Commissionershave with great difficulty found upon our letter to them this week thatwould have required L50, 000 among a great many occasions. After rising, my Lord Anglesey, this being the second time of his being with us, didtake me aside and asked me where I lived, because he would be glad tohave some discourse with me. This I liked well enough, and told him Iwould wait upon him, which I will do, and so all broke up, and I home todinner, where Mr. Pierce dined with us, who tells us what troubles me, that my Lord Buckhurst hath got Nell away from the King's house, lieswith her, and gives her L100 a year, so as she hath sent her parts tothe house, and will act no more. 

 [Lord Buckhurst and Nell Gwyn, with the help of Sir Charles Sedley, kept "merry house" at Epsom next door to the King's Head Inn (see Cunningham's "Story of Nell Gwyn, " ed. 1892, p. 57)]

And yesterday Sir Thomas Crew told me that Lacy lies a-dying of the pox, and yet hath his whore by him, whom he will have to look on, he says, though he can do no more; nor would receive any ghostly advice from aBishop, an old acquaintance of his, that went to see him. He says thereis a strangeness between the King and my Lady Castlemayne, as I was toldyesterday. After dinner my wife and I to the New Exchange, to prettymaid Mrs. Smith's shop, where I left my wife, and I to Sir W. Coventry, and there had the opportunity of talk with him, who I perceive do notlike our business of the change of the Treasurer's hand, and he tells methat he is entered the lists with this new Treasurer before the King intaking away the business of the Victualling money from his hand, andthe Regiment, and declaring that he hath no right to the 3d. Per byhis patent, for that it was always heretofore given by particular PrivySeal, and that the King and Council just upon his coming in had declaredL2000 a year sufficient. This makes him angry, but Sir W. Coventry Iperceive cares not, but do every day hold up his head higher and higher, and this day I have received an order from the Commissioners of theTreasury to pay no more pensions for Tangier, which I am glad of, andhe tells me they do make bold with all things of that kind. Thence I toWhite Hall, and in the street I spied Mrs. Borroughs, and took a meansto meet and salute her and talk a little, and then parted, and I homeby coach, taking up my wife at the Exchange, and there I am mightilypleased with this Mrs. Smith, being a very pleasant woman. So home, and resolved upon going to Epsum tomorrow, only for ayre, and got Mrs. Turner to go with us, and so home and to supper (after having been atthe office) and to bed. It is an odd and sad thing to say, that thoughthis be a peace worse than we had before, yet every body's fear almostis, that the Dutch will not stand by their promise, now the King hathconsented to all they would have. And yet no wise man that I meet with, when he comes to think of it, but wishes, with all his heart, a war; butthat the King is not a man to be trusted with the management of it. Itwas pleasantly said by a man in this City, a stranger, to one thattold him that the peace was concluded, "Well, " says he, "and have youa peace?"--"Yes, " says the other. --"Why, then, " says he, "hold yourpeace!" partly reproaching us with the disgracefulness of it, that itis not fit to be mentioned; and next, that we are not able to makethe Dutch keep it, when they have a mind to break it. Sir Thomas Crewyesterday, speaking of the King of France, how great a man he is, why, says he, all the world thought that when the last Pope died, there wouldhave been such bandying between the Crowns of France and Spain, whereas, when he was asked what he would have his ministers at Rome do, why, sayshe, let them choose who they will; if the Pope will do what is fit, thePope and I will be friends. If he will not, I will take a course withhim: therefore, I will not trouble myself; and thereupon the electionwas despatched in a little time--I think in a day, and all ended. 

 [Of Clement IX. , Giulio Rispogliosi, elected June 20th, 1667, N. S. He was succeeded by Clement X. In 1670. ]

14th (Lord's day). Up, and my wife, a little before four, and to make usready; and by and by Mrs. Turner come to us, by agreement, and she and Istaid talking below, while my wife dressed herself, which vexed me thatshe was so long about it keeping us till past five o'clock before shewas ready. She ready; and, taking some bottles of wine, and beer, andsome cold fowle with us into the coach, we took coach and four horses, which I had provided last night, and so away. A very fine day, and sotowards Epsum, talking all the way pleasantly, and particularly of thepride and ignorance of Mrs. Lowther, in having of her train carried up?The country very fine, only the way very dusty. We got to Epsum by eighto'clock, to the well; where much company, and there we 'light, and Idrank the water: they did not, but do go about and walk a little amongthe women, but I did drink four pints, and had some very good stools byit. Here I met with divers of our town, among others with several of thetradesmen of our office, but did talk but little with them, it growinghot in the sun, and so we took coach again and to the towne, to theKing's Head, where our coachman carried us, and there had an ill roomfor us to go into, but the best in the house that was not taken up. Herewe called for drink, and bespoke dinner; and hear that my Lord Buckhurstand Nelly are lodged at the next house, and Sir Charles Sidly with themand keep a merry house. Poor girl! I pity her; but more the loss of herat the King's house. Here I saw Gilsthrop, Sir W. Batten's clerk thathath been long sick, he looks like a dying man, with a consumptiongot, as is believed, by the pox, but God knows that the man is in a sadcondition, though he finds himself much better since his coming thither, he says. W. Hewer rode with us, and I left him and the women, and myselfwalked to church, where few people, contrary to what I expected, andnone I knew, but all the Houblons, brothers, and them after sermon I didsalute, and walk with towards my inne, which was in their way to theirlodgings. They come last night to see their elder brother, who stayshere at the waters, and away to-morrow. James did tell me that I was theonly happy man of the Navy, of whom, he says, during all this freedomthe people have taken of speaking treason, he hath not heard one badword of me, which is a great joy to me; for I hear the same of others, but do know that I have deserved as well as most. We parted to meetanon, and I to my women into a better room, which the people of thehouse borrowed for us, and there to dinner, a good dinner, and weremerry, and Pendleton come to us, who happened to be in the house, andthere talked and were merry. After dinner, he gone, we all lay downafter dinner (the day being wonderful hot) to sleep, and each of us tooka good nap, and then rose; and Tom Wilson come to see me, and sat andtalked an hour; and I perceive he hath been much acquainted with Dr. Fuller (Tom) and Dr. Pierson, and several of the great cavalier parsonsduring the late troubles; and I was glad to hear him talk of them, whichhe did very ingeniously, and very much of Dr. Fuller's art of memory, which he did tell me several instances of. By and by he parted, and wetook coach and to take the ayre, there being a fine breeze abroad; andI went and carried them to the well, and there filled some bottles ofwater to carry home with me; and there talked with the two women thatfarm the well, at L12 per annum, of the lord of the manor, Mr. Evelyn(who with his lady, and also my Lord George Barkeley's lady, and theirfine daughter, that the King of France liked so well, and did dance sorich in jewells before the King at the Ball I was at, at our Court, lastwinter, and also their son, a Knight of the Bath, were at church thismorning). Here W. Hewer's horse broke loose, and we had the sport to seehim taken again. Then I carried them to see my cozen Pepys's house, and 'light, and walked round about it, and they like it, as indeed itdeserves, very well, and is a pretty place; and then I walked them tothe wood hard by, and there got them in the thickets till they had lostthemselves, and I could not find the way into any of the walks in thewood, which indeed are very pleasant, if I could have found them. Atlast got out of the wood again; and I, by leaping down the little bank, coming out of the wood, did sprain my right foot, which brought me greatpresent pain, but presently, with walking, it went away for the present, and so the women and W. Hewer and I walked upon the Downes, where aflock of sheep was; and the most pleasant and innocent sight that ever Isaw in my life--we find a shepherd and his little boy reading, far fromany houses or sight of people, the Bible to him; so I made the boy readto me, which he did, with the forced tone that children do usually read, that was mighty pretty, and then I did give him something, and went tothe father, and talked with him; and I find he had been a servant in mycozen Pepys's house, and told me what was become of their old servants. He did content himself mightily in my liking his boy's reading, and didbless God for him, the most like one of the old patriarchs that everI saw in my life, and it brought those thoughts of the old age of theworld in my mind for two or three days after. We took notice of hiswoolen knit stockings of two colours mixed, and of his shoes shod withiron shoes, both at the toe and heels, and with great nails in the solesof his feet, which was mighty pretty: and, taking notice of them, "Why, "says the poor man, "the downes, you see, are full of stones, and we arefaine to shoe ourselves thus; and these, " says he, "will make the stonesfly till they sing before me. " I did give the poor man something, forwhich he was mighty thankful, and I tried to cast stones with his hornecrooke. He values his dog mightily, that would turn a sheep any waywhich he would have him, when he goes to fold them: told me therewas about eighteen scoare sheep in his flock, and that he hath fourshillings a week the year round for keeping of them: so we posted thencewith mighty pleasure in the discourse we had with this poor man, andMrs. Turner, in the common fields here, did gather one of the prettiestnosegays that ever I saw in my life. So to our coach, and through Mr. Minnes's wood, and looked upon Mr. Evelyn's house; and so over thecommon, and through Epsum towne to our inne, in the way stopping a poorwoman with her milk-pail, and in one of my gilt tumblers did drink ourbellyfulls of milk, better than any creame; and so to our inne, andthere had a dish of creame, but it was sour, and so had no pleasure init; and so paid our reckoning, and took coach, it being about sevenat night, and passed and saw the people walking with their wives andchildren to take the ayre, and we set out for home, the sun by and bygoing down, and we in the cool of the evening all the way with muchpleasure home, talking and pleasing ourselves with the pleasure of thisday's work, Mrs. Turner mightily pleased with my resolution, which, Itell her, is never to keep a country-house, but to keep a coach, andwith my wife on the Saturday to go sometimes for a day to this place, and then quit to another place; and there is more variety and as littlecharge, and no trouble, as there is in a country-house. Anon itgrew dark, and as it grew dark we had the pleasure to see severalglow-wormes, which was mighty pretty, but my foot begins more and moreto pain me, which Mrs. Turner, by keeping her warm hand upon it, didmuch ease; but so that when we come home, which was just at eleven atnight, I was not able to walk from the lane's end to my house withoutbeing helped, which did trouble me, and therefore to bed presently, but, thanks be to God, found that I had not been missed, nor any businesshappened in my absence. So to bed, and there had a cerecloth laid to myfoot and leg alone, but in great pain all night long. 

15th. So as I was not able to go to-day to wait on the Duke of York withmy fellows, but was forced in bed to write the particulars for theirdiscourse there, and kept my bed all day, and anon comes Mrs. Turner, and new-dressed my foot, and did it so, that I was at much easepresently, and so continued all day, so as I slept much and well in thedaytime, and in the evening rose and eat something, where our poor Janevery sad for the death of her poor brother, who hath left a wife and twosmall children. I did give her 20s. In money, and what wine she needed, for the burying him. This evening come to see me Pelling, and we didsing together, and he sings well indeed, and after supper I was willingto go to bed to ease my foot again, which I did, and slept well allnight. 

16th. In the morning I was able to put on a wide shoe on the foot, andto the office without much pain, and there sat all the morning. At noonhome to dinner, where Creed to discourse of our Tangier business, whichstands very bad in the business of money, and therefore we expect tohave a committee called soon, and to acquaint them among other thingswith the order come to me for the not paying of any more pensions. Wedined together, and after dinner I to the office, and there very late, very busy, doing much business indeed, and so with great comfort home tosupper, and so to bed to ease my foot, which toward night began to ake. 

17th. Up, and to my chamber to set down my Journall of Sunday last withmuch pleasure, and my foot being pretty well, but yet I am forced tolimp. Then by coach, set my wife down at the New Exchange, and I toWhite Hall to the Treasury chamber, but to little purpose. So to Mr. Burges to as little. There to the Hall and talked with Mrs. Michell, whobegins to tire me about doing something for her elder son, which I amwilling to do, but know not what. Thence to White Hall again, and thenceaway, and took up my wife at Unthanke's, and left her at the 'Change, and so I to Bennet's to take up a bill for the last silk I had for myvest and coat, which I owe them for, and so to the Excise Office, and there did a little business, and so to Temple Bar and staid at mybookseller's till my wife calls me, and so home, where I am saluted withthe news of Hogg's bringing a rich Canary prize to Hull:

 [Thomas Pointer to Samuel Pepys (Hull, July 15th): "Capt. Hogg has brought in a great prize laden with Canary wine; also Capt. Reeves of the 'Panther, ' and the 'Fanfan, ' whose commander is slain, have come in with their prizes" ("Calendar of State Papers, " 1667, p. 298). ]

and Sir W. Batten do offer me L1000 down for my particular share, besideSir Richard Ford's part, which do tempt me; but yet I would not take it, but will stand and fall with the company. He and two more, the Pantherand Fanfan, did enter into consortship; and so they have all broughtin each a prize, though ours worth as much as both theirs, and more. However, it will be well worth having, God be thanked for it! This newsmakes us all very glad. I at Sir W. Batten's did hear the particulars ofit; and there for joy he did give the company that were there a bottleor two of his own last year's wine, growing at Walthamstow, than whichthe whole company said they never drank better foreign wine in theirlives. Home, and to dinner, and by and by comes Mr. Pierce, who isinterested in the Panther, for some advice, and then comes Creed, and heand I spent the whole afternoon till eight at night walking and talkingof sundry things public and private in the garden, but most of all ofthe unhappy state of this nation at this time by the negligence ofthe King and his Council. The Duke of Buckingham is, it seems, set atliberty, without any further charge against him or other clearing ofhim, but let to go out; which is one of the strangest instances of thefool's play with which all publick things are done in this age, that isto be apprehended. And it is said that when he was charged withmaking himself popular--as indeed he is, for many of the discontentedParliament, Sir Robert Howard and Sir Thomas Meres, and others, didattend at the Council-chamber when he was examined--he should answer, that whoever was committed to prison by my Lord Chancellor or my LordArlington, could not want being popular. But it is worth consideringthe ill state a Minister of State is in, under such a Prince as oursis; for, undoubtedly, neither of those two great men would have beenso fierce against the Duke of Buckingham at the Council-table theother day, had they [not] been assured of the King's good liking, andsupporting them therein: whereas, perhaps at the desire of my LadyCastlemayne, who, I suppose, hath at last overcome the King, the Duke ofBuckingham is well received again, and now these men delivered up to theinterest he can make for his revenge. He told me over the story of Mrs. Stewart, much after the manner which I was told it long since, andhave entered it in this book, told me by Mr. Evelyn; only he says it isverily believed that the King did never intend to marry her to any buthimself, and that the Duke of York and Lord Chancellor were jealousof it; and that Mrs. Stewart might be got with child by the King, orsomebody else, and the King own a marriage before his contract, for itis but a contract, as he tells me, to this day, with the Queene, and sowipe their noses of the Crown; and that, therefore, the Duke of York andChancellor did do all they could to forward the match with my Lord Dukeof Richmond, that she might be married out of the way; but, above all, it is a worthy part that this good lady hath acted. Thus we talked tillnight and then parted, and so I to my office and did business, and sohome to supper, and there find my sister Michell

 [The wife of Balthazar St. Michel, Mrs. Pepys's brother. --B. Leigh, opposite to Sheerness. --R. ]

come from Lee to see us; but do tattle so much of the late businessof the Dutch coming thither that I was weary of it. Yet it is worthremembering what she says: that she hath heard both seamen and soldiersswear they would rather serve the Dutch than the King, for they shouldbe better used. 

 [Reference has already been made to Andrew Marvell's "Instructions to a Painter", in which the unpaid English sailors are described as swimming to the Dutch ships, where they received the money which was withheld from them on their own ships. ]

She saw "The Royal Charles" brought into the river by them; and howthey shot off their great guns for joy, when they got her out of ChathamRiver. I would not forget that this very day when we had nothing to doalmost but five merchantmen to man in the River, which have now beenabout it some weeks, I was asked at Westminster, what the matter wasthat there was such ado kept in pressing of men, as it seems there isthereabouts at this day. So after supper we all to bed, my foot verywell again, I thank God. 

18th. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning, and most of ourtime taken up with Carcasse upon some complaints brought in against him, and many other petitions about tickets lost, which spends most of ourtime. Home to dinner, and then to the office again, where very wellemployed at the office till evening; and then being weary, took out mywife and Will Batelier by coach to Islington, but no pleasure in ourgoing, the way being so dusty that one durst not breathe. Drank at theold house, and so home, and then to the office a little, and so home tosupper and to bed. 

19th. Up and comes the flageolet master, and brings me two new greatIvory pipes which cost me 32s. , and so to play, and he being done, andBalty's wife taking her leave of me, she going back to Lee to-day, I toWestminster and there did receive L15, 000 orders out of the Exchequerin part of a bigger sum upon the eleven months tax for Tangier, part ofwhich I presently delivered to Sir H. Cholmly, who was there, and thencewith Mr. Gawden to Auditor Woods and Beales to examine some precedentsin his business of the Victualling on his behalf, and so home, and in myway by coach down Marke Lane, mightily pleased and smitten to see, as Ithought, in passing, the pretty woman, the line-maker's wife that livedin Fenchurch Streete, and I had great mind to have gone back to haveseen, but yet would correct my nature and would not. So to dinner withmy wife, and then to sing, and so to the office, where busy all theafternoon late, and to Sir W. Batten's and to Sir R. Ford's, we allto consider about our great prize at Hull, being troubled at our beinglikely to be troubled with Prince Rupert, by reason of Hogg's consortinghimself with two privateers of the Prince's, and so we study how to easeor secure ourselves. So to walk in the garden with my wife, and then tosupper and to bed. One tells me that, by letter from Holland, the peoplethere are made to believe that our condition in England is such as theymay have whatever they will ask; and that so they are mighty high, anddespise us, or a peace with us; and there is too much reason for themto do so. The Dutch fleete are in great squadrons everywhere still aboutHarwich, and were lately at Portsmouth; and the last letters say atPlymouth, and now gone to Dartmouth to destroy our Streights' fleetelately got in thither; but God knows whether they can do it any hurt, or no, but it was pretty news come the other day so fast, of the Dutchfleets being in so many places, that Sir W. Batten at table cried, "ByGod, " says he, "I think the Devil shits Dutchmen. "

20th. Up and to the office, where all the morning, and then towards the'Change, at noon, in my way observing my mistake yesterday in Mark Lane, that the woman I saw was not the pretty woman I meant, the line-maker'swife, but a new-married woman, very pretty, a strong-water seller: andin going by, to my content, I find that the very pretty daughter at theShip tavern, at the end of Billiter Lane, is there still, and in thebar: and, I believe, is married to him that is new come, and hath newtrimmed the house. Home to dinner, and then to the office, we havingdispatched away Mr. Oviatt to Hull, about our prizes there; and I havewrote a letter of thanks by him to Lord Bellasses, who had writ to me tooffer all his service for my interest there, but I dare not trust him. In the evening late walking in the garden with my wife, and then to bed. 

21st (Lord's day). Up betimes, and all the morning, and then to dinnerwith my wife alone, and then all the afternoon in like manner, in mychamber, making up my Tangier accounts and drawing a letter, whichI have done at last to my full content, to present to the LordsCommissioners for Tangier tomorrow; and about seven at night, whenfinished my letter and weary, I and my wife and Mercer up by water toBarne Elmes, where we walked by moonshine, and called at Lambeth, anddrank and had cold meat in the boat, and did eat, and sang, and downhome, by almost twelve at night, very fine and pleasant, only could notsing ordinary songs with the freedom that otherwise I would. Here Mercertells me that the pretty maid of the Ship tavern I spoke of yesterday ismarried there, which I am glad of. So having spent this night, with muchserious pleasure to consider that I am in a condition to fling away anangell

 [The angel coin was so called from the figure of the Archangel Michael in conflict with the dragon on the obverse. On the reverse was a representation of a ship with a large cross as a mast. The last angel coined was in Charles I. 's reign, and the value varied from 6s. 8d. To 10s. ]

in such a refreshment to myself and family, we home and to bed, leavingMercer, by the way, at her own door. 

22nd. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes to St. James's, where the first time I have been there since the enemy's being with us, where little business but lack of money, which now is so professed bySir W. Coventry as nothing is more, and the King's whole business ownedto be at a stand for want of it. So up to my Lord Chancellor's, wherewas a Committee of Tangier in my Lord's roome, where he is to hearcauses, where all the judges' pictures hang up, very fine. Here I readmy letter to them, which was well received, and they did fall seriouslyto discourse the want of money and other particulars, and to some prettygood purpose. But to see how Sir W. Coventry did oppose both myLord Chancellor and the Duke of York himself, about the Order of theCommissioners of the Treasury to me for not paying of pensions, and withso much reason, and eloquence so natural, was admirable. And anotherthing, about his pressing for the reduction of the charge of Tangier, which they would have put off to another time; "But, " says he, "the Kingsuffers so much by the putting off of the consideration of reductionsof charge, that he is undone; and therefore I do pray you, sir, to hisRoyal Highness, that when any thing offers of the kind, you will not letit escape you. " Here was a great bundle of letters brought hither, sentup from sea, from a vessel of ours that hath taken them after they hadbeen flung over by a Dutchman; wherein, among others, the Duke of Yorkdid read the superscription of one to De Witt, thus "To the most wise, foreseeing and discreet, These, &c. ;" which, I thought with myself, Icould have been glad might have been duly directed to any one of themat the table, though the greatest men in this kingdom. The Duke ofYork, the Lord Chancellor, my Lord Duke of Albemarle, Arlington, Ashley, Peterborough, and Coventry (the best of them all for parts), I perceivethey do all profess their expectation of a peace, and that suddenly, anddo advise of things accordingly, and do all speak of it (and expressly, I remember, the Duke of Albemarle), saying that they hoped for it. Letters were read at the table from Tangier that Guiland is whollylost, and that he do offer Arzill to us to deliver it to us. But Sir W. Coventry did declare his opinion that we should have nothing to dowith it, and said that if Tangier were offered us now, as the King'scondition is, he would advise against the taking it; saying, that theKing's charge is too great, and must be brought down, it being, like thefire of this City, never to be mastered till you have brought it underyou; and that these places abroad are but so much charge to the King, and we do rather hitherto strive to greaten them than lessen them; andthen the King is forced to part with them, "as, " says he, "he did withDunkirke, " by my Lord Tiviott's making it so chargeable to the King ashe did that, and would have done Tangier, if he had lived: I perceive heis the only man that do seek the King's profit, and is bold to deliverwhat he thinks on every occasion. Having broke up here, I away with Mr. Gawden in his coach to the 'Change, and there a little, and then homeand dined, and then to the office, and by and by with my wife to WhiteHall (she to Unthanke's), and there met Creed and did a little businessat the Treasury chamber, and then to walk in Westminster Hall an houror two, with much pleasure reflecting upon our discourse to-day at theTangier meeting, and crying up the worth of Sir W. Coventry. Creed tellsme of the fray between the Duke of Buckingham at the Duke's playhousethe last Saturday (and it is the first day I have heard that they haveacted at either the King's or Duke's houses this month or six weeks) andHenry Killigrew, whom the Duke of Buckingham did soundly beat and takeaway his sword, and make a fool of, till the fellow prayed him to sparehis life; and I am glad of it; for it seems in this business the Duke ofBuckingham did carry himself very innocently and well, and I wish he hadpaid this fellow's coat well. I heard something of this at the 'Changeto-day: and it is pretty to hear how people do speak kindly of the Dukeof Buckingham, as one that will enquire into faults; and therefore theydo mightily favour him. And it puts me in mind that, this afternoon, Billing, the Quaker, meeting me in the Hall, come to me, and after alittle discourse did say, "Well, " says he, "now you will be all calledto an account;" meaning the Parliament is drawing near. This done I tookcoach and took up my wife, and so home, and after a little at the officeI home to my chamber a while, and then to supper and to bed. 

23rd: Up betimes and to the office, doing something towards our greataccount to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and anon the officesat, and all the morning doing business. At noon home to dinner, andthen close to my business all the afternoon. In the evening Sir R. Fordis come back from the Prince and tells Sir W. Batten and me how baselySir W. Pen received our letter we sent him about the prizes at Hull, andslily answered him about the Prince's leaving all his concerns to him, but the Prince did it afterward by letter brought by Sir R. Ford to us, which Sir W. Pen knows not of, but a very rogue he is. By and by comessudden news to me by letter from the Clerke of the Cheque at Gravesend, that there were thirty sail of Dutch men-of-war coming up into the Hopethis last tide: which I told Sir W. Pen of; but he would not believe it, but laughed, and said it was a fleete of Billanders, ["Bilander. A small merchant vessel with two masts, particularly distinguished from other vessels with two masts by the form of her mainsail, which is bent to the whole length of her yard, hanging fore and aft, and inclined to the horizon at an angle of about 45 deg. Few vessels are now rigged in this manner, and the name is rather indiscriminately used. "--Smyth's Sailor's Word-Book. ]

and that the guns that were heard was the salutation of the Swede'sAmbassador that comes over with them. But within half an hour comesanother letter from Captain Proud, that eight of them were come intothe Hope, and thirty more following them, at ten this morning. By andby comes an order from White Hall to send down one of our number toChatham, fearing that, as they did before, they may make a show first uphither, but then go to Chatham: so my Lord Bruncker do go, and we hereare ordered to give notice to the merchant men-of-war, gone below thebarricado at Woolwich, to come up again. So with much trouble to supper, home and to bed. 

24th. Betimes this morning comes a letter from the Clerke of the Chequeat Gravesend to me, to tell me that the Dutch fleete did come all intothe Hope yesterday noon, and held a fight with our ships from thencetill seven at night; that they had burned twelve fire-ships, and we tookone of their's, and burned five of our fire-ships. But then rising andgoing to Sir W. Batten, he tells me that we have burned one of theirmen-of-war, and another of theirs is blown up: but how true this is, Iknow not. But these fellows are mighty bold, and have had the fortune ofthe wind easterly this time to bring them up, and prevent our troublingthem with our fire-ships; and, indeed, have had the winds at theircommand from the beginning, and now do take the beginning of the spring, as if they had some great design to do. I to my office, and there hardat work all the morning, to my great content, abstracting the contractbook into my abstract book, which I have by reason of the war omittedfor above two years, but now am endeavouring to have all my books readyand perfect against the Parliament comes, that upon examination I maybe in condition to value myself upon my perfect doing of my own duty. At noon home to dinner, where my wife mighty musty, --[Dull, heavy, spiritless]--but I took no notice of it, but after dinner to the office, and there with Mr. Harper did another good piece of work about my latecollection of the accounts of the Navy presented to the Parliament attheir last session, which was left unfinished, and now I have done itwhich sets my mind at my ease, and so, having tired myself, I took apair of oares about five o'clock, which I made a gally at Redriffe, and so with very much pleasure down to Gravesend, all the way withextraordinary content reading of Boyle's Hydrostatickes, which the moreI read and understand, the more I admire, as a most excellent piece ofphilosophy; as we come nearer Gravesend, we hear the Dutch fleete andours a-firing their guns most distinctly and loud. But before we got toGravesend they ceased, and it grew darkish, and so I landed only (andthe flood being come) and went up to the Ship and discoursed with thelandlord of the house, who undeceives me in what I heard this morningabout the Dutch having lost two men-of-war, for it is not so, butseveral of their fire-ships. He do say, that this afternoon they didforce our ships to retreat, but that now they are gone down as far asShield-haven: but what the event hath been of this evening's guns theyknow not, but suppose not much, for they have all this while shot atgood distance one from another. They seem confident of the security ofthis town and the River above it, if the enemy should come up so high;their fortifications being so good, and guns many. But he do saythat people do complain of Sir Edward Spragg, that he hath not doneextraordinary; and more of Sir W. Jenings, that he come up with histamkins

 [Tamkin, or tampion, the wooden stopper of a cannon placed in the muzzle to exclude water or dust. ]

in his guns. Having discoursed this a little with him, and eat a bitof cold venison and drank, I away, took boat, and homeward again, withgreat pleasure, the moon shining, and it being a fine pleasant coolevening, and got home by half-past twelve at night, and so to bed. 

25th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon hometo dinner, and there sang with much pleasure with my wife, and so to theoffice again, and busy all the afternoon. At night Sir W. Batten, [Sir]W. Pen, and myself, and Sir R. Ford, did meet in the garden to discourseabout our prizes at Hull. It appears that Hogg is the eeriest rogue, themost observable embezzler, that ever was known. This vexes us, and madeus very free and plain with Sir W. Pen, who hath been his great patron, and as very a rogue as he. But he do now seem to own that his opinionis changed of him, and that he will joyne with us in our strictestinquiries, and did sign to the letters we had drawn, which he hadrefused before, and so seemingly parted good friends, and then Idemanded of Sir R. Ford and the rest, what passed to-day at the meetingof the Parliament: who told me that, contrary to all expectation by theKing that there would be but a thin meeting, there met above 300 thisfirst day, and all the discontented party; and, indeed, the whole Houseseems to be no other almost. The Speaker told them, as soon as they weresat, that he was ordered by the King to let them know he was hinderedby some important business to come to them and speak to them, as heintended; and, therefore, ordered him to move that they would adjournthemselves till Monday next, it being very plain to all the House thathe expects to hear by that time of the sealing of the peace, which byletters, it seems, from my Lord Holis, was to be sealed the last Sunday. 

 [The peace was signed on the 31st. See August 9th. --B. ]

But before they would come to the question whether they would adjourn, Sir Thomas Tomkins steps up and tells them, that all the countryis grieved at this new raised standing army; and that they thoughtthemselves safe enough in their trayn-bands; and that, therefore, hedesired the King might be moved to disband them. Then rises Garraway andseconds him, only with this explanation, which he said he believed theother meant; that, as soon as peace should be concluded, they might bedisbanded. Then rose Sir W. Coventry, and told them that he did approveof what the last gentleman said; but also, that at the same time he didno more than what, he durst be bold to say, he knew to be the King'smind, that as soon as peace was concluded he would do it of himself. Then rose Sir Thomas Littleton, and did give several reasons for theuncertainty of their meeting again but to adjourne, in case news comesof the peace being ended before Monday next, and the possibility of theKing's having some about him that may endeavour to alter his own, and the good part of his Council's advice, for the keeping up of theland-army; and, therefore, it was fit that they did present it tothe King as their desire, that, as soon as peace was concluded, theland-army might be laid down, and that this their request might becarried to the King by them of their House that were Privy-councillors;which was put to the vote, and carried 'nemine contradicente'. So afterthis vote passed, they adjourned: but it is plain what the effects ofthis Parliament will be, if they be suffered to sit, that they willfall foul upon the faults of the Government; and I pray God they maybe permitted to do it, for nothing else, I fear, will save the King andkingdom than the doing it betimes. They gone, I to walk with my wife inthe garden, and then home to supper and to bed. 

26th. Up, and betimes to the office, where Mr. Hater and I together allthe morning about the perfecting of my abstract book of contracts andother things to my great content. At noon home to dinner, and then tothe office again all the afternoon doing of other good things there, and being tired, I then abroad with my wife and left her at the NewExchange, while I by water thence to Westminster to the Hall, but shopswere shut up, and so to White Hall by water, and thence took up my wifeat Unthanke's, and so home, mightily tired with the dust in riding in acoach, it being mighty troublesome. So home and to my office, and therebusy very late, and then to walk a little with my wife, and then tosupper and to bed. No news at all this day what we have done to theenemy, but that the enemy is fallen down, and we after them, but tolittle purpose. 

27th. Up and to the office, where I hear that Sir John Coventry is comeover from Bredah, a nephew, I think, of Sir W. Coventry's: but whatmessage he brings I know not. This morning news is come that Sir Jos. Jordan is come from Harwich, with sixteen fire-ships and four otherlittle ships of war: and did attempt to do some execution upon theenemy, but did it without discretion, as most do say, so as that theyhave been able to do no good, but have lost four of their fire ships. They attempted [this], it seems, when the wind was too strong, that ourgrapplings could not hold: others say we come to leeward of them, butall condemn it as a foolish management. They are come to Sir EdwardSpragg about Lee, and the Dutch are below at the Nore. At the office allthe morning; and at noon to the 'Change, where I met Fenn; and he tellsme that Sir John Coventry do bring the confirmation of the peace; butI do not find the 'Change at all glad of it, but rather the worse, theylooking upon it as a peace made only to preserve the King for a time inhis lusts and ease, and to sacrifice trade and his kingdoms only to hisown pleasures: so that the hearts of merchants are quite down. He tellsme that the King and my Lady Castlemayne are quite broke off, and she isgone away, and is with child, and swears the King shall own it; and shewill have it christened in the Chapel at White Hall so, and owned forthe King's, as other Kings have done; or she will bring it into WhiteHall gallery, and dash the brains of it out before the King's face. 

 [Charles owned only four children by Lady Castlemaine-Anne, Countess of Sussex, and the Dukes of Southampton, Grafton, and Northumberland. The last of these was born in 1665. The paternity of all her other children was certainly doubtful. See pp. 50, 52. ]

He tells me that the King and Court were never in the world so bad asthey are now for gaming, swearing, whoring, and drinking, and the mostabominable vices that ever were in the world; so that all must come tonought. He told me that Sir G. Carteret was at this end of the town; soI went to visit him in Broad Street; and there he and I together: and heis mightily pleased with my Lady Jem's having a son; and a mighty gladman he is. He [Sir George Carteret] tells me, as to news, that thepeace is now confirmed, and all that over. He says it was a very unhappymotion in the House the other day about the land-army; for, whether theKing hath a mind of his own to do the thing desired or no, his doing itwill be looked upon as a thing done only in fear of the Parliament. Hesays that the Duke of York is suspected to be the great man that is forraising of this army, and bringing things to be commanded by an army;but he believes that he is wronged, and says that he do know that he iswronged therein. He do say that the Court is in a way to ruin all fortheir pleasures; and says that he himself hath once taken the liberty totell the King the necessity of having, at least, a show of religion inthe Government, and sobriety; and that it was that, that did set up andkeep up Oliver, though he was the greatest rogue in the world, and thatit is so fixed in the nature of the common Englishman that it will notout of him. He tells me that while all should be labouring to settle thekingdom, they are at Court all in factions, some for and others againstmy Lord Chancellor, and another for and against another man, and theKing adheres to no man, but this day delivers himself up to this, andthe next to that, to the ruin of himself and business; that he is atthe command of any woman like a slave, though he be the best man to theQueene in the world, with so much respect, and never lies a night fromher: but yet cannot command himself in the presence of a woman he likes. Having had this discourse, I parted, and home to dinner, and thence tothe office all the afternoon to my great content very busy. It rainingthis day all day to our great joy, it having not rained, I think, thismonth before, so as the ground was everywhere so burned and dry as couldbe; and no travelling in the road or streets in London, for dust. Atnight late home to supper and to bed. 

28th (Lord's day). Up and to my chamber, where all the morning close, to draw up a letter to Sir W. Coventry upon the tidings of peace, takingoccasion, before I am forced to it, to resign up to his Royall Highnessmy place of the Victualling, and to recommend myself to him by promiseof doing my utmost to improve this peace in the best manner we may, tosave the kingdom from ruin. By noon I had done this to my good content, and then with my wife all alone to dinner, and so to my chamber all theafternoon to write my letter fair, and sent it away, and then to talkwith my wife, and read, and so by daylight (the only time I think I havedone it this year) to supper, and then to my chamber to read and so tobed, my mind very much eased after what I have done to-day. 

29th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to St. James's, to Sir W. Coventry'schamber; where, among other things, he come to me, and told me that hehad received my yesterday's letters, and that we concurred very well inour notions; and that, as to my place which I had offered to resign ofthe Victualling, he had drawn up a letter at the same time for the Dukeof York's signing for the like places in general raised during this war;and that he had done me right to the Duke of York, to let him know thatI had, of my own accord, offered to resign mine. The letter do bid us todo all things, particularizing several, for the laying up of the ships, and easing the King of charge; so that the war is now professedly over. By and by up to the Duke of York's chamber; and there all the talk wasabout Jordan's coming with so much indiscretion, with his four littlefrigates and sixteen fire-ships from Harwich, to annoy the enemy. Hisfailures were of several sorts, I know not which the truest: that hecome with so strong a gale of wind, that his grapplings would not hold;that he did come by their lee; whereas if he had come athwart theirhawse, they would have held; that they did not stop a tide, and come upwith a windward tide, and then they would not have come so fast. Now, there happened to be Captain Jenifer by, who commanded the Lily in thisbusiness, and thus says that, finding the Dutch not so many as theyexpected, they did not know but that there were more of them above, andso were not so earnest to the setting upon these; that they did do whatthey could to make the fire-ships fall in among the enemy; and, fortheir lives, neither Sir J. Jordan nor others could, by shooting severaltimes at them, make them go in; and it seems they were commanded by someidle fellows, such as they could of a sudden gather up at Harwich; whichis a sad consideration that, at such a time as this, where the savingthe reputation of the whole nation lay at stake, and after so long awar, the King had not credit to gather a few able men to command thesevessels. He says, that if they had come up slower, the enemy would, withtheir boats and their great sloops, which they have to row with a greatmany men, they would, and did, come and cut up several of our fireships, and would certainly have taken most of them, for they do come with agreat provision of these boats on purpose, and to save their men, whichis bravely done of them, though they did, on this very occasion, shewgreat fear, as they say, by some men leaping overboard out of a greatship, as these were all of them of sixty and seventy guns a-piece, whichone of our fireships laid on board, though the fire did not take. Butyet it is brave to see what care they do take to encourage their men toprovide great stores of boats to save them, while we have not creditto find one boat for a ship. And, further, he told us that this newway used by Deane, and this Sir W. Coventry observed several times, ofpreparing of fire-ships, do not do the work; for the fire, not beingstrong and quick enough to flame up, so as to take the rigging andsails, lies smothering a great while, half an hour before it flames, inwhich time they can get her off safely, though, which is uncertain, anddid fail in one or two this bout, it do serve to burn our own ships. But what a shame it is to consider how two of our ships' companies diddesert their ships for fear of being taken by their boats, our littlefrigates being forced to leave them, being chased by their greater!And one more company did set their ship on fire, and leave her; whichafterwards a Feversham fisherman come up to, and put out the fire, andcarried safe into Feversham, where she now is, which was observed bythe Duke of York, and all the company with him, that it was only want ofcourage, and a general dismay and abjectness of spirit upon all our men;and others did observe our ill management, and God Almighty's curseupon all that we have in hand, for never such an opportunity was ofdestroying so many good ships of theirs as we now had. But to see hownegligent we were in this business, that our fleete of Jordan's shouldnot have any notice where Spragg was, nor Spragg of Jordan's, so asto be able to meet and join in the business, and help one another; butJordan, when he saw Spragg's fleete above, did think them to be anotherpart of the enemy's fleete! While, on the other side, notwithstandingour people at Court made such a secret of Jordan's design that nobodymust know it, and even this Office itself must not know it; nor for mypart I did not, though Sir W. Batten says by others' discourse to himhe had heard something of it; yet De Ruyter, or he that commanded thisfleete, had notice of it, and told it to a fisherman of ours that hetook and released on Thursday last, which was the day before our fleetecame to him. But then, that, that seems most to our disgrace, and whichthe Duke of York did take special and vehement notice of, is, that whenthe Dutch saw so many fire-ships provided for them, themselves lying, I think, about the Nore, they did with all their great ships, with aNorth-east wind, as I take it they said, but whatever it was, it wasa wind that we should not have done it with, turn down to theMiddle-ground; which the Duke of York observed, never was nor would havebeen undertaken by ourselves. And whereas some of the company answered, it was their great fear, not their choice that made them do it, the Dukeof York answered, that it was, it may be, their fear and wisdom thatmade them do it; but yet their fear did not make them mistake, as weshould have done, when we have had no fear upon us, and have run ourships on ground. And this brought it into my mind, that they managedtheir retreat down this difficult passage, with all their fear, betterthan we could do ourselves in the main sea, when the Duke of Albemarlerun away from the Dutch, when the Prince was lost, and the Royal Charlesand the other great ships come on ground upon the Galloper. Thus, inall things, in wisdom, courage, force, knowledge of our own streams, andsuccess, the Dutch have the best of us, and do end the war with victoryon their side. The Duke of York being ready, we into his closet, but, being in haste to go to the Parliament House, he could not stay. So weparted, and to Westminster Hall, where the Hall full of people to seethe issue of the day, the King being come to speak to the House to-day. One thing extraordinary was, this day a man, a Quaker, came nakedthrough the Hall, only very civilly tied about the privities to avoidscandal, and with a chafing-dish of fire and brimstone burning upon hishead, did pass through the Hall, crying, "Repent! repent!" I up tothe Painted Chamber, thinking to have got in to have heard the King'sspeech, but upon second thoughts did not think it would be worth thecrowd, and so went down again into the Hall and there walked withseveral, among others my Lord Rutherford, who is come out of Scotland, and I hope I may get some advantage by it in reference to the businessof the interest of the great sum of money I paid him long since withoutinterest. But I did not now move him in it. But presently comes down theHouse of Commons, the King having made then a very short and no pleasingspeech to them at all, not at all giving them thanks for their readinessto come up to town at this busy time; but told them that he did thinkhe should have had occasion for them, but had none, and therefore diddismiss them to look after their own occasions till October; and that hedid wonder any should offer to bring in a suspicion that he intendedto rule by an army, or otherwise than by the laws of the land, which hepromised them he would do; and so bade them go home and settle the mindsof the country in that particular; and only added, that he had made apeace which he did believe they would find reasonable, and a goodpeace, but did give them none of the particulars thereof. Thus they aredismissed again to their general great distaste, I believe the greatestthat ever Parliament was, to see themselves so fooled, and the nation incertain condition of ruin, while the King, they see, is only governed byhis lust, and women, and rogues about him. The Speaker, they found, waskept from coming in the morning to the House on purpose, till afterthe King was come to the House of Lords, for fear they should be doinganything in the House of Commons to the further dissatisfaction of theKing and his courtiers. They do all give up the kingdom for lost that Ispeak to; and do hear what the King says, how he and the Duke of Yorkdo do what they can to get up an army, that they may need no moreParliaments: and how my Lady Castlemayne hath, before the late breachbetween her and the King, said to the King that he must rule by an army, or all would be lost, and that Bab. May hath given the like advice tothe King, to crush the English gentlemen, saying that L300 a-year wasenough for any man but them that lived at Court. I am told that manypetitions were provided for the Parliament, complaining of the wrongsthey have received from the Court and courtiers, in city and country, if the Parliament had but sat: and I do perceive they all do resolve tohave a good account of the money spent before ever they give a farthingmore: and the whole kingdom is everywhere sensible of their beingabused, insomuch that they forced their Parliament-men to come upto sit; and my cozen Roger told me that (but that was in mirth) hebelieved, if he had not come up, he should have had his house burned. The kingdom never in so troubled a condition in this world as now;nobody pleased with the peace, and yet nobody daring to wish for thecontinuance of the war, it being plain that nothing do nor can thriveunder us. Here I saw old good Mr. Vaughan, and several of the great menof the Commons, and some of them old men, that are come 200 miles, and more, to attend this session-of Parliament; and have been at greatcharge and disappointments in their other private business; and now allto no purpose, neither to serve their country, content themselves, norreceive any thanks from the King. It is verily expected by many of themthat the King will continue the prorogation in October, so as, if it bepossible, never to have [this] Parliament more. My Lord Bristoll tookhis place in the House of Lords this day, but not in his robes; and whenthe King come in, he withdrew but my Lord of Buckingham was there asbrisk as ever, and sat in his robes; which is a monstrous thing, thata man proclaimed against, and put in the Tower, and all, and releasedwithout any trial, and yet not restored to his places: But, above all, Isaw my Lord Mordaunt as merry as the best, that it seems hath done suchfurther indignities to Mr. Taylor' since the last sitting of Parliamentas would hang [him], if there were nothing else, would the King do whatwere fit for him; but nothing of that is now likely to be. After havingspent an hour or two in the hall, my cozen Roger and I and Creed tothe Old Exchange, where I find all the merchants sad at this peace andbreaking up of the Parliament, as men despairing of any good to thenation, which is a grievous consideration; and so home, and there cozenRoger and Creed to dinner with me, and very merry:--but among otherthings they told me of the strange, bold sermon of Dr. Creetonyesterday, before the King; how he preached against the sins of theCourt, and particularly against adultery, over and over instancing howfor that single sin in David, the whole nation was undone; and of ournegligence in having our castles without ammunition and powder when theDutch come upon us; and how we have no courage now a-days, but let ourships be taken out of our harbour. Here Creed did tell us the story ofthe dwell last night, in Coventgarden, between Sir H. Bellasses and TomPorter. It is worth remembering the silliness of the quarrell, and isa kind of emblem of the general complexion of this whole kingdom atpresent. They two it seems dined yesterday at Sir Robert Carr's, whereit seems people do drink high, all that come. It happened that thesetwo, the greatest friends in the world, were talking together: and SirH. Bellasses talked a little louder than ordinary to Tom Porter, givingof him some advice. Some of the company standing by said, "What! arethey quarrelling, that they talk so high?" Sir H. Bellasses hearing it, said, "No!" says he: "I would have you know that I never quarrel, butI strike; and take that as a rule of mine!"--"How?" says Tom Porter, "strike! I would I could see the man in England that durst give me ablow!" with that Sir H. Bellasses did give him a box of the eare; andso they were going to fight there, but were hindered. And by and by TomPorter went out; and meeting Dryden the poet, told him of the business, and that he was resolved to fight Sir H. Bellasses presently; for heknew, if he did not, they should be made friends to-morrow, and then theblow would rest upon him; which he would prevent, and desired Drydento let him have his boy to bring him notice which way Sir H. Bellassesgoes. By and by he is informed that Sir H. Bellasses's coach was coming:so Tom Porter went down out of the Coffee-house where he stayed forthe tidings, and stopped the coach, and bade Sir H. Bellasses comeout. "Why, " says H. Bellasses, "you will not hurt me coming out, willyou?"--"No, " says Tom Porter. So out he went, and both drew: and H. Bellasses having drawn and flung away his scabbard, Tom Porter askedhim whether he was ready? The other answering him he was, they fell tofight, some of their acquaintance by. They wounded one another, and H. Bellasses so much that it is feared he will die: and finding himselfseverely wounded, he called to Tom Porter, and kissed him, and bade himshift for himself; "for, " says he, "Tom, thou hast hurt me; but I willmake shift to stand upon my legs till thou mayest withdraw, and theworld not take notice of you, for I would not have thee troubled forwhat thou hast done. " And so whether he did fly or no I cannot tell:but Tom Porter shewed H. Bellasses that he was wounded too: and they areboth ill, but H. Bellasses to fear of life. And this is a fineexample; and H. Bellasses a Parliament-man too, and both of them mostextraordinary friends! Among other discourse, my cozen Roger told us athing certain, that the Archbishop of Canterbury; that now is, do keep awench, and that he is as very a wencher as can be; and tells us it isa thing publickly known that Sir Charles Sidley had got away one of theArchbishop's wenches from him, and the Archbishop sent to him to let himknow that she was his kinswoman, and did wonder that he would offer anydishonour to one related to him. To which Sir Charles Sidley is saidto answer, "A pox take his Grace! pray tell his Grace that I believe hefinds himself too old, and is afraid that I should outdo him among hisgirls, and spoil his trade. " But he makes no more of doubt to say thatthe Archbishop is a wencher, and known to be so, which is one of themost astonishing things that I have heard of, unless it be, what forcertain he says is true, that my Lady Castlemayne hath made a Bishoplately, namely, --her uncle, Dr. Glenham, who, I think they say, isBishop of Carlisle; a drunken, swearing rascal, and a scandal to theChurch; and do now pretend to be Bishop of Lincoln, in competition withDr. Raynbow, who is reckoned as worthy a man as most in the Church forpiety and learning: which are things so scandalous to consider, thatno man can doubt but we must be undone that hears of them. After dinnercomes W. How and a son of Mr. Pagett's to see me, with whom I drank, butcould not stay, and so by coach with cozen Roger (who before his goingdid acquaint me in private with an offer made of his marrying of Mrs. Elizabeth Wiles, whom I know; a kinswoman of Mr. Honiwood's, an ugly oldmaid, but a good housewife; and is said to have L2500 to her portion;but if I can find that she hath but L2000, which he prays me to examine, he says he will have her, she being one he hath long known intimately, and a good housewife, and discreet woman; though I am against it inmy heart, she being not handsome at all) and it hath been the very badfortune of the Pepyses that ever I knew, never to marry an handsomewoman, excepting Ned Pepys and Creed, set the former down at the Templeresolving to go to Cambridge to-morrow, and Creed and I to White Hallto the Treasury chamber there to attend, but in vain, only here, lookingout of the window into the garden, I saw the King (whom I have nothad any desire to see since the Dutch come upon the coast first toSheerness, for shame that I should see him, or he me, methinks, aftersuch a dishonour) come upon the garden; with him two or three idleLords; and instantly after him, in another walk, my Lady Castlemayne, led by Bab. May: at which I was surprised, having but newly heard thestories of the King and her being parted for ever. So I took Mr. Povy, who was there, aside, and he told me all, how imperious this woman is, and hectors the King to whatever she will. It seems she is with child, and the King says he did not get it: with that she made a slighting"puh" with her mouth, and went out of the house, and never come in againtill the King went to Sir Daniel Harvy's to pray her; and so she iscome to-day, when one would think his mind should be full of some othercares, having but this morning broken up such a Parliament, with so muchdiscontent, and so many wants upon him, and but yesterday heard sucha sermon against adultery. But it seems she hath told the King, thatwhoever did get it, he should own it; and the bottom of the quarrel isthis:--She is fallen in love with young Jermin who hath of late lainwith her oftener than the King, and is now going to marry my LadyFalmouth; the King he is mad at her entertaining Jermin, and she is madat Jermin's going to marry from her: so they are all mad; and thusthe kingdom is governed! and they say it is labouring to make breachesbetween the Duke of Richmond and his lady that the King may get her tohim. But he tells me for certain that nothing is more sure than that theKing, and Duke of York, and the Chancellor, are desirous and labouringall they can to get an army, whatever the King says to the Parliament;and he believes that they are at last resolved to stand and fall allthree together: so that he says match of the Duke of York with theChancellor's daughter hath undone the nation. He tells me also that theKing hath not greater enemies in the world than those of his own family;for there is not an officer in the house almost but curses him forletting them starve, and there is not a farthing of money to be raisedfor the buying them bread. Having done talking with him I to WestminsterHall, and there talked and wandered up and down till the evening to nopurpose, there and to the Swan, and so till the evening, and so home, and there to walk in the garden with my wife, telling her of my losingL300 a year by my place that I am to part with, which do a littletrouble me, but we must live with somewhat more thrift, and so home tosupper and to play on the flageolet, which do do very prettily, and soto bed. Many guns were heard this afternoon, it seems, at White Halland in the Temple garden very plain; but what it should be nobody knows, unless the Dutch be driving our ships up the river. To-morrow we shallknow. 

30th. Up and to the office, where we sat busy all the morning. At noonhome to dinner, where Daniel and his wife with us, come to see whetherI could get him any employment. But I am so far from it, that I have thetrouble upon my mind how to dispose of Mr. Gibson and one or two moreI am concerned for in the Victualling business, which are to be nowdischarged. After dinner by coach to White Hall, calling on two orthree tradesmen and paying their bills, and so to White Hall, to theTreasury-chamber, where I did speak with the Lords, and did my businessabout getting them to assent to 10 per cent. Interest on the 11 monthstax, but find them mightily put to it for money. Here I do hear thatthere are three Lords more to be added to them; my Lord Bridgewater, myLord Anglesey, and my Lord Chamberlaine. Having done my business, I toCreed's chamber, and thence out with Creed to White Hall with him; inour way, meeting with Mr. Cooling, my Lord Chamberlain's secretary, onhorseback, who stopped to speak with us, and he proved very drunk, anddid talk, and would have talked all night with us, I not being able tobreak loose from him, he holding me so by the hand. But, Lord! to seehis present humour, how he swears at every word, and talks of the Kingand my Lady Castlemayne in the plainest words in the world. And from himI gather that the story I learned yesterday is true--that the King hathdeclared that he did not get the child of which she is conceived at thistime, he having not as he says lain with her this half year. But shetold him, "God damn me, but you shall own it!" It seems, he is jealousof Jermin, and she loves him so, that the thoughts of his marrying of myLady Falmouth puts her into fits of the mother; and he, it seems, hathlain with her from time to time, continually, for a good while; andonce, as this Cooling says, the King had like to have taken hima-bed with her, but that he was fain to creep under the bed into hercloset.... But it is a pretty thing he told us how the King, oncespeaking of the Duke of York's being mastered by his wife, said to someof the company by, that he would go no more abroad with this Tom Otter(meaning the Duke of York) and his wife. Tom Killigrew, being by, answered, "Sir, " says he, "pray which is the best for a man, to be a TomOtter to his wife or to his mistress?" meaning the King's being so tomy Lady Castlemayne. Thus he went on; and speaking then of my LordSandwich, whom he professed to love exceedingly, says Creed, "I know notwhat, but he is a man, methinks, that I could love for himself, withoutother regards. "... He talked very lewdly; and then took notice of mykindness to him on shipboard seven years ago, when the King was comingover, and how much he was obliged to me; but says, pray look upon thisacknowledgement of a kindness in me to be a miracle; for, says he, "itis against the law at Court for a man that borrows money of me, evento buy his place with, to own it the next Sunday;" and then told us hishorse was a bribe, and his boots a bribe; and told us he was made up ofbribes, as an Oxford scholar is set out with other men's goods when hegoes out of town, and that he makes every sort of tradesman to bribehim; and invited me home to his house, to taste of his bribe wine. Inever heard so much vanity from a man in my life; so, being now weary ofhim, we parted, and I took coach, and carried Creed to the Temple. Thereset him down, and to my office, where busy late till my eyes begun toake, and then home to supper: a pullet, with good sauce, to my liking, and then to play on the flageolet with my wife, which she now does veryprettily, and so to bed. 

31st. Up, and after some time with Greeting upon my flageolet I tomy office, and there all the morning busy. Among other things, Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and myself did examine a fellow of our privateman-of-war, who we have found come up from Hull, with near L500 worth ofpieces of eight, though he will confess but 100 pieces. But it appearsthat there have been fine doings there. At noon dined at home, and thento the office, where busy again till the evening, when Major Halsey andKinaston to adjust matters about Mrs. Rumbald's bill of exchange, andhere Major Halsey, speaking much of my doing business, and understandingbusiness, told me how my Lord Generall do say that I am worth themall, but I have heard that Halsey hath said the same behind my back toothers. Then abroad with my wife by coach to Marrowbone, where my LordMayor and Aldermen, it seem, dined to-day: and were just now going away, methought, in a disconsolate condition, compared with their splendourthey formerly had, when the City was standing. Here my wife and I drankat the gate, not 'lighting, and then home with much pleasure, and so tomy chamber, and my wife and I to pipe, and so to supper and to bed. 

AUGUST 1667

August 1st. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon my wife andI dined at Sir W. Pen's, only with Mrs. Turner and her husband, on adamned venison pasty, that stunk like a devil. However, I did not knowit till dinner was done. We had nothing but only this, and a leg ofmutton, and a pullet or two. Mrs. Markham was here, with her greatbelly. I was very merry, and after dinner, upon a motion of the women, I was got to go to the play with them-the first I have seen since beforethe Dutch coming upon our coast, and so to the King's house, to see "TheCustome of the Country. " The house mighty empty--more than ever I sawit--and an ill play. After the play, we into the house, and spoke withKnipp, who went abroad with us by coach to the Neat Houses in the way toChelsy; and there, in a box in a tree, we sat and sang, and talked andeat; my wife out of humour, as she always is, when this woman is by. So, after it was dark, we home. Set Knepp down at home, who told us thestory how Nell is gone from the King's house, and is kept by my LordBuckhurst. Then we home, the gates of the City shut, it being so late:and at Newgate we find them in trouble, some thieves having this nightbroke open prison. So we through, and home; and our coachman was fain todrive hard from two or three fellows, which he said were rogues, thathe met at the end of Blow-bladder Street, next Cheapside. So set Mrs. Turner home, and then we home, and I to the Office a little; and so homeand to bed, my wife in an ill humour still. 

2nd. Up, but before I rose my wife fell into angry discourse of mykindness yesterday to Mrs. Knipp, and leading her, and sitting in thecoach hand in hand, and my arm about her middle, and in some bad wordsreproached me with it. I was troubled, but having much business in myhead and desirous of peace rose and did not provoke her. So she up andcome to me and added more, and spoke basely of my father, who I perceivedid do something in the country, at her last being there, that did notlike her, but I would not enquire into anything, but let her talk, andwhen ready away to the Office I went, where all the morning I was, only Mr. Gawden come to me, and he and I home to my chamber, and therereckoned, and there I received my profits for Tangier of him, and L250on my victualling score. He is a most noble-minded man as ever I metwith, and seems to own himself much obliged to me, which I will labourto make him; for he is a good man also: we talked on many good thingsrelating to the King's service, and, in fine, I had much matter of joyby this morning's work, receiving above L400 of him, on one account orother; and a promise that, though I lay down my victualling place, yet, as long as he continues victualler, I shall be the better by him. To theoffice again, and there evened all our business with Mr. Kinaston aboutColonel Norwood's Bill of Exchange from Tangier, and I am glad of it, for though he be a good man, yet his importunity tries me. So home todinner, where Mr. Hater with me and W. Hewer, because of their being inthe way after dinner, and so to the office after dinner, where and withmy Lord Bruneker at his lodgings all the afternoon and evening making upour great account for the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, but notso as pleased me yet. So at 12 at night home to supper and to bed, mywife being gone in an ill humour to bed before me. This noon my wifecomes to me alone, and tells me she had those upon her and bid meremember it. I asked her why, and she said she had a reason. I do thinkby something too she said to-day, that she took notice that I had notlain with her this half-year, that she thinks that I have some doubtthat she might be with child by somebody else. Which God knows neverentered into my head, or whether my father observed any thing atBrampton with Coleman I know not. But I do not do well to let thesebeginnings of discontents take so much root between us. 

3rd. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning. Then at noon todinner, and to the office again, there to enable myself, by finishingour great account, to give it to the Lords Commissioners of theTreasury; which I did, and there was called in to them, to tell themonly the total of our debt of the Navy on the 25th of May last, whichis above L950, 000. Here I find them mighty hot in their answer to theCouncil-board about our Treasurer's threepences of the Victualling, andalso against the present farm of the Customes, which they do most highlyinveigh against. So home again by coach, and there hard to work tillvery late and my eyes began to fail me, which now upon very littleoverworking them they do, which grieves me much. Late home, to supper, and to bed. 

4th (Lord's day). Busy at my Office from morning till night, in writingwith my own hand fair our large general account of the expence and debtof the Navy, which lasted me till night to do, that I was almost blind, and Mr. Gibson with me all day long, and dined with me, and excellentdiscourse I had with him, he understanding all the business of the Navymost admirably. To walk a little with my wife at night in the garden, itbeing very hot weather again, and so to supper and to bed. 

5th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten in the morning to St. James's, where wedid our ordinary business with the Duke of York, where I perceive theyhave taken the highest resolution in the world to become good husbands, and to retrench all charge; and to that end we are commanded to give himan account of the establishment in the seventh year of the late King'sreign, and how offices and salaries have been increased since; and Ihope it will end in the taking away some of our Commissioners, thoughit may be to the lessening of some of our salaries also. After donewith the Duke of York, and coming out through his dressing-room, I therespied Signor Francisco tuning his gittar, and Monsieur de Puy with him, who did make him play to me, which he did most admirably--so well as Iwas mightily troubled that all that pains should have been taken upon sobad an instrument. Walked over the Park with Mr. Gawden, end with him bycoach home, and to the Exchange, where I hear the ill news of our losslately of four rich ships, two from Guinea, one from Gallipoly, all withrich oyles; and the other from Barbadoes, worth, as is guessed, L80, 000. But here is strong talk, as if Harman had taken some of the DutchEast India ships, but I dare not yet believe it, and brought them intoLisbon. 

 ["Sept. 6, 1667. John Clarke to James Hickes. A vessel arrived from Harwich brings news that the English lost 600 to 700 men in the attempt on St. Christopher; that Sir John Harman was not then there, but going with 11 ships, and left a ketch at Barbadoes to bring more soldiers after him; that the ketch met a French sloop with a packet from St. Christopher to their fleet at Martinico, and took her, whereupon Sir John Harman sailed there and fell upon their fleet of 27 sail, 25 of which he sank, and burnt the others, save two which escaped; also that he left three of his fleet there, and went with the rest to Nevis, to make another attempt on St. Christopher. "Calendar of State Payers, 1667, p. 447]

Home, and dined with my wife at Sir W. Pen's, where a very good pastyof venison, better than we expected, the last stinking basely, and afterdinner he and my wife and I to the Duke of York's house, and there saw"Love Trickes, or the School of Compliments;" a silly play, only Miss[Davis's] dancing in a shepherd's clothes did please us mightily. Thencewithout much pleasure home and to my Office, so home, to supper, and tobed. My wife mighty angry with Nell, who is turned a very gossip, andgads abroad as soon as our backs are turned, and will put her awaytomorrow, which I am not sorry for. 

6th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning very full of business. A full Board. Here, talking of news, my Lord Anglesey did tell us thatthe Dutch do make a further bogle with us about two or three things, which they will be satisfied in, he says, by us easily; but only in one, it seems, they do demand that we shall not interrupt their East Indiamencoming home, and of which they are in some fear; and we are full ofhopes that we have 'light upon some of them, and carried them intoLisbon, by Harman; which God send! But they, which do shew the lowesteem they have of us, have the confidence to demand that we shallhave a cessation on our parts, and yet they at liberty to take what theywill; which is such an affront, as another cannot be devised greater. Atnoon home to dinner, where I find Mrs. Wood, formerly Bab. Shelden, andour Mercer, who is dressed to-day in a paysan dress, that looks mightypretty. We dined and sang and laughed mighty merry, and then I to theOffice, only met at the door with Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Burroughs, whoI took in and drank with, but was afraid my wife should see them, theybeing, especially the first, a prattling gossip, and so after drinkingwith them parted, and I to the Office, busy as long as my poor eyeswould endure, which troubles me mightily and then into the garden withmy wife, and to Sir W. Batten's with [Sir] W. Pen and [Sir] J. Minnes, and there eat a melon and talked, and so home to supper and to bed. My wife, as she said last night, hath put away Nell to-day, for hergossiping abroad and telling of stories. Sir W. Batten did tellme to-night that the Council have ordered a hearing before them ofCarcasses business, which do vex me mightily, that we should be troubledso much by an idle rogue, a servant of our own, and all my thoughtsto-night have been how to manage the matter before the Council. 

7th. Up, and at the office very busy, and did much business all themorning. My wife abroad with her maid Jane and Tom all the afternoon, being gone forth to eat some pasties at "The Bottle of Hay, " in St. John's Street, as you go to Islington, of which she is mighty fond, andI dined at home alone, and at the office close all the afternoon, doing much business to my great content. This afternoon Mr. Pierce, thesurgeon, comes to me about business, and tells me that though the Kingand my Lady Castlemayne are friends again, she is not at White Hall, butat Sir D. Harvy's, whither the King goes to her; and he says she madehim ask her forgiveness upon his knees, and promised to offend her nomore so: that, indeed, she did threaten to bring all his bastards tohis closet-door, and hath nearly hectored him out of his wits. I at myoffice till night, and then home to my pipe, my wife not coming home, which vexed me. I then into the garden, and there walked alone in thegarden till 10 at night, when she come home, having been upon the waterand could not get home sooner. So to supper, and to bed. 

8th. Up, and all the morning at the office, where busy, and at noonhome to dinner, where Creed dined with us, who tells me that Sir HenryBellasses is dead of the duell he fought about ten days ago, with TomPorter; and it is pretty to see how the world talk of them as a coupleof fools, that killed one another out of love. After dinner to theoffice a while, and then with my wife to the Temple, where I light andsent her to her tailor's. I to my bookseller's; where, by and by, I metMr. Evelyn, and talked of several things, but particularly of the times:and he tells me that wise men do prepare to remove abroad what theyhave, for that we must be ruined, our case being past relief, thekingdom so much in debt, and the King minding nothing but his lust, going two days a-week to see my Lady Castlemayne at Sir D. Harvy's. Hegone, I met with Mr. Moore, who tells me that my Lord Hinchingbroke isnow with his mistress, but not that he is married, as W. Howe come andtold us the other day. So by coach to White Hall, and there staid alittle, thinking to see Sir G. Carteret, but missed him, and so by coachtook up my wife, and so home, and as far as Bow, where we staid anddrank, and there, passing by Mr. Lowther and his lady, they stopped andwe talked a little with them, they being in their gilt coach, and soparted; and presently come to us Mr. Andrews, whom I had not seen a goodwhile, who, as other merchants do, do all give over any hopes of thingsdoing well, and so he spends his time here most, playing at bowles. After dining together at the coach-side, we with great pleasure home, and so to the office, where I despatched my business, and home tosupper, and to bed. 

9th. Up, and betimes with Sir H. Cholmly upon some accounts of Tangier, and then he and I to Westminster, to Mr. Burges, and then walked in theHall, and he and I talked, and he do really declare that he expects thatof necessity this kingdom will fall back again to a commonwealth, andother wise men are of the same mind: this family doing all that sillymen can do, to make themselves unable to support their kingdom, minding their lust and their pleasure, and making their government sochargeable, that people do well remember better things were done, andbetter managed, and with much less charge under a commonwealth than theyhave been by this King, and do seem to resolve to wind up his businessesand get money in his hand against the turn do come. After some talk I bycoach and there dined, and with us Mr. Batelier by chance coming in tospeak with me, and when I come home, and find Mr. Goodgroome, my wife'ssinging-master, there I did soundly rattle him for neglecting her somuch as he hath done--she not having learned three songs these threemonths and more. After dinner my wife abroad with Mrs. Turner, and I tothe office, where busy all the afternoon, and in the evening by coach toSt. James's, and there met Sir W. Coventry; and he and I walked in thePark an hour. And then to his chamber, where he read to me the heads ofthe late great dispute between him and the rest of the Commissionersof the Treasury, and our new Treasurer of the Navy where they haveoverthrown him the last Wednesday, in the great dispute touching hishaving the payment of the Victualler, which is now settled by Councilthat he is not to have it and, indeed, they have been most just, as wellas most severe and bold, in the doing this against a man of his quality;but I perceive he do really make no difference between any man. He tellsme this day it is supposed the peace is ratified at Bredah, and all thatmatter over. We did talk of many retrenchments of charge of the Navywhich he will put in practice, and every where else; though, he tellsme, he despairs of being able to do what ought to be done for the savingof the kingdom, which I tell him, as indeed all the world is almost inhopes of, upon the proceeding of these gentlemen for the regulating ofthe Treasury, it being so late, and our poverty grown so great, thatthey want where to set their feet, to begin to do any thing. He tells mehow weary he hath for this year and a half been of the war; and how inthe Duke of York's bedchamber, at Christ Church, at Oxford, when theCourt was there, he did labour to persuade the Duke to fling off thecare of the Navy, and get it committed to other hands; which, if he haddone, would have been much to his honour, being just come home with somuch honour from sea as he did. I took notice of the sharp letter hewrote, which he sent us to read yesterday, to Sir Edward Spragg, wherehe is very plain about his leaving his charge of the ships at Gravesend, when the enemy come last up, and several other things: a copy whereofI have kept. But it is done like a most worthy man; and he says it isgood, now and then, to tell these gentlemen their duties, for they needit. And it seems, as he tells me, all our Knights are fallen out onewith another, he, and Jenings, and Hollis, and (his words were) theyare disputing which is the coward among them; and yet men that take thegreatest liberty of censuring others! Here, with him, very late, till Icould hardly get a coach or link willing to go through the ruines; but Ido, but will not do it again, being, indeed, very dangerous. So homeand to supper, and bed, my head most full of an answer I have drawnthis noon to the Committee of the Council to whom Carcasses business isreferred to be examined again. 

10th. Up, and to the Office, and there finished the letter aboutCarcasse, and sent it away, I think well writ, though it troubles me weshould be put to trouble by this rogue so much. At the office all themorning, and at noon home to dinner, where I sang and piped with mywife with great pleasure, and did hire a coach to carry us to Barnettto-morrow. After dinner I to the office, and there wrote as long as myeyes would give me leave, and then abroad and to the New Exchange, to the bookseller's there, where I hear of several new books comingout--Mr. Spratt's History of the Royal Society, and Mrs. Phillips's'poems. Sir John Denham's poems are going to be all printed together;and, among others, some new things; and among them he showed me a copyof verses of his upon Sir John Minnes's going heretofore to Bullogne toeat a pig. 

 [The collected edition of Denham's poems is dated 1668. The verses referred to are inscribed "To Sir John Mennis being invited from Calice to Bologne to eat a pig, " and two of the lines run

 "Little Admiral John To Bologne is gone. "]

Cowley, he tells me, is dead; who, it seems, was a mighty civil, seriousman; which I did not know before. Several good plays are likely tobe abroad soon, as Mustapha and Henry the 5th. Here having staid anddivertised myself a good while, I home again and to finish my letters bythe post, and so home, and betimes to bed with my wife because of risingbetimes to-morrow. 

11th (Lord's day). Up by four o'clock, and ready with Mrs. Turner totake coach before five; which we did, and set on our journey, and gotto the Wells at Barnett by seven o'clock, and there found many peoplea-drinking; but the morning is a very cold morning, so as we were verycold all the way in the coach. Here we met Joseph Batelier, and I talkedwith him, and here was W. Hewer also, and his uncle Steventon: so, after drinking three glasses and the women nothing, we back by coach toBarnett, where to the Red Lyon, where we 'light, and went up into thegreat Room, and there drank, and eat some of the best cheese-cakesthat ever I eat in my life, and so took coach again, and W. Heweron horseback with us, and so to Hatfield, to the inn, next my LordSalisbury's house, and there rested ourselves, and drank, and bespokedinner; and so to church, it being just church-time, and there we findmy Lord and my Lady Sands and several fine ladies of the family, and agreat many handsome faces and genteel persons more in the church, anddid hear a most excellent good sermon, which pleased me mightily, andvery devout; it being upon, the signs of saving grace, where it is ina man, and one sign, which held him all this day, was, that where thatgrace was, there is also the grace of prayer, which he did handle veryfinely. In this church lies the former Lord of Salisbury, Cecil, buriedin a noble tomb. So the church being done, we to our inn, and theredined very well, and mighty merry; and as soon as we had dined we walkedout into the Park through the fine walk of trees, and to the Vineyard, and there shewed them that, which is in good order, and indeed a placeof great delight; which, together with our fine walk through the Park, was of as much pleasure as could be desired in the world for countrypleasure and good ayre. Being come back, and weary with the walk, foras I made it, it was pretty long, being come back to our inne, there thewomen had pleasure in putting on some straw hats, which are much worn inthis country, and did become them mightily, but especially my wife. So, after resting awhile, we took coach again, and back to Barnett, whereW. Hewer took us into his lodging, which is very handsome, and theredid treat us very highly with cheesecakes, cream, tarts, and other goodthings; and then walked into the garden, which was pretty, and therefilled my pockets full of filberts, and so with much pleasure. Amongother things, I met in this house with a printed book of the Life of O. Cromwell, to his honour as a soldier and politician, though as a rebell, the first of that kind that ever I saw, and it is well done. Took coachagain, and got home with great content, just at day shutting in, andso as soon as home eat a little and then to bed, with exceeding greatcontent at our day's work. 

12th. My wife waked betimes to call up her maids to washing, and so tobed again, whom I then hugged, it being cold now in the mornings.... Upby and by, and with Mr. Gawden by coach to St. James's, where we findthe Duke gone a-hunting with the King, but found Sir W. Coventry within, with whom we discoursed, and he did largely discourse with us about ourspeedy falling upon considering of retrenchments in the expense of theNavy, which I will put forward as much as I can. So having done there Ito Westminster Hall to Burges, and then walked to the New Exchange, andthere to my bookseller's, and did buy Scott's Discourse of Witches; anddo hear Mr. Cowley mightily lamented his death, by Dr. Ward, the Bishopof Winchester, and Dr. Bates, who were standing there, as the best poetof our nation, and as good a man. Thence I to the printseller's, overagainst the Exchange towards Covent Garden, and there bought a few moreprints of cittys, and so home with them, and my wife and maids beinggone over the water to the whitster's

 [A bleacher of linen. "The whitsters of Datchet Mead" are referred to by Mrs. Ford ("Merry Wives of Windsor, " act iii. , sc. 3). ]

with their clothes, this being the first time of her trying this wayof washing her linen, I dined at Sir W. Batten's, and after dinner, allalone to the King's playhouse, and there did happen to sit just beforeMrs. Pierce, and Mrs. Knepp, who pulled me by the hair; and so Iaddressed myself to them, and talked to them all the intervals of theplay, and did give them fruit. The play is "Brenoralt, " which I do findbut little in, for my part. Here was many fine ladies-among others, theGerman Baron, with his lady, who is envoye from the Emperour, and theirfine daughter, which hath travelled all Europe over with them, it seems;and is accordingly accomplished, and indeed, is a wonderful prettywoman. Here Sir Philip Frowde, who sat next to me, did tell me how SirH. Belasses is dead, and that the quarrel between him and Tom Porter, who is fled, did arise in the ridiculous fashion that I was first toldit, which is a strange thing between two so good friends. The play beingdone, I took the women, and Mrs. Corbett, who was with them, by coach, it raining, to Mrs. Manuel's, the Jew's wife, formerly a player, whowe heard sing with one of the Italians that was there; and, indeed, shesings mightily well; and just after the Italian manner, but yet do notplease me like one of Mrs. Knepp's songs, to a good English tune, themanner of their ayre not pleasing me so well as the fashion of our own, nor so natural. Here I sat a little and then left them, and then bycoach home, and my wife not come home, so the office a little and thenhome, and my wife come; and so, saying nothing where I had been, we tosupper and pipe, and so to bed. 

13th. Up, and to the office, where we sat busy all the morning. At noonhome to dinner all alone, my wife being again at the whitster's. Afterdinner with Sir W. Pen to St. James's, where the rest come and attendedthe Duke of York, with our usual business; who, upon occasion, told usthat he did expect this night or to-morrow to hear from Breda of theconsummation of the peace. Thence Sir W. Pen and I to the King's house, and there saw "The Committee, " which I went to with some prejudice, notliking it before, but I do now find it a very good play, and a greatdeal of good invention in it; but Lacy's part is so well performed thatit would set off anything. The play being done, we with great pleasurehome, and there I to the office to finish my letters, and then home tomy chamber to sing and pipe till my wife comes home from her washing, which was nine at night, and a dark and rainy night, that I was troubledat her staying out so long. But she come well home, and so to supper andto bed. 

14th. Up, and to the office, where we held a meeting extraordinary uponsome particular business, and there sat all the morning. At noon, mywife being gone to the whitster's again to her clothes, I to dinner toSir W. Batten's, where much of our discourse concerning Carcasse, who itseems do find success before the Council, and do everywhere threaten uswith what he will prove against us, which do vex us to see that we mustbe subjected to such a rogue of our own servants as this is. By andby to talk of our prize at Hull, and Sir W. Batten offering, again andagain, seriously how he would sell his part for L1000 and I consideringthe knavery of Hogg and his company, and the trouble we may have withthe Prince Rupert about the consort ship, and how we are linked with SirR. Ford, whose son-in-law too is got thither, and there we intrust himwith all our concern, who I doubt not is of the same trade with hisfather-in-law for a knave, and then the danger of the sea, if it shallbe brought about, or bad debts contracted in the sale, but chiefly to beeased of my fears about all or any of this, I did offer my part tohim for L700. With a little beating the bargain, we come to a perfectagreement for L666 13s. 4d. , which is two-thirds of L1000, which ismy proportion of the prize. I went to my office full of doubts and joyconcerning what I had done; but, however, did put into writing the headsof our agreement, and returned to Sir W. Batten, and we both signedthem; and Sir R. Ford, being come thither since, witnessed them. Sohaving put it past further dispute I away, satisfied, and took coach andto the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Country Captain, " which isa very ordinary play. Methinks I had no pleasure therein at all, andso home again and to my business hard till my wife come home from herclothes, and so with her to supper and to bed. No news yet come of theratification of the peace which we have expected now every hour sinceyesterday. 

15th. Up, and to the office betimes, where busy, and sat all themorning, vexed with more news of Carcasses proceedings at the Council, insomuch as we four, [Sir] J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, (Sir) W. Pen, andmyself, did make an appointment to dine with Sir W. Coventry to-dayto discourse it with him, which we did by going thither as soon as theoffice was up, and there dined, and very merry, and many good stories, and after dinner to our discourse about Carcasse, and how much we aretroubled that we should be brought, as they say we shall, to defend ourreport before the Council-board with him, and to have a clerk imposed onus. He tells us in short that there is no intention in the Lords for thelatter, but wholly the contrary. That they do not desire neither to doanything in disrespect to the Board, and he will endeavour to prevent, as he hath done, our coming to plead at the table with our clerk, anddo believe the whole will amount to nothing at the Council, only whathe shall declare in behalf of the King against the office, if heoffers anything, will and ought to be received, to which we all shew areadiness, though I confess even that (though I think I am as clear asthe clearest of them), yet I am troubled to think what trouble a roguemay without cause give a man, though it be only by bespattering a man, and therefore could wish that over, though I fear nothing to be proved. Thence with much satisfaction, and Sir W. Pen and I to the Duke's house, where a new play. The King and Court there: the house full, and an actbegun. And so went to the King's, and there saw "The Merry Wives ofWindsor:" which did not please me at all, in no part of it, and so afterthe play done we to the Duke's house, where my wife was by appointmentin Sir W. Pen's coach, and she home, and we home, and I to my office, where busy till letters done, and then home to supper and to bed. 

16th. Up, and at the office all the morning, and so at noon to dinner, and after dinner my wife and I to the Duke's playhouse, where we saw thenew play acted yesterday, "The Feign Innocence, or Sir Martin Marr-all;"a play made by my Lord Duke of Newcastle, but, as every body says, corrected by Dryden. It is the most entire piece of mirth, a completefarce from one end to the other, that certainly was ever writ. I neverlaughed so in all my life. I laughed till my head [ached] all theevening and night with the laughing; and at very good wit therein, notfooling. The house full, and in all things of mighty content to me. Thence to the New Exchange with my wife, where, at my bookseller's, Isaw "The History of the Royall Society, " which, I believe, is a finebook, and have bespoke one in quires. So home, and I to the office alittle, and so to my chamber, and read the history of 88--[See 10th ofthis month. ]--in Speede, in order to my seeing the play thereof actedto-morrow at the King's house. So to supper in some pain by the suddenchange of the weather cold and my drinking of cold drink, which I must Ifear begin to leave off, though I shall try it as long as I can withoutmuch pain. But I find myself to be full of wind, and my anus to be knittogether as it is always with cold. Every body wonders that we have nonews from Bredah of the ratification of the peace; and do suspect thatthere is some stop in it. So to bed. 

17th. Up, and all the morning at the office, where we sat, and my headwas full of the business of Carcasse, who hath a hearing this morningbefore the Council and hath summonsed at least thirty persons, and whichis wondrous, a great many of them, I hear, do declare more against himthan for him, and yet he summonses people without distinction. Sure heis distracted. At noon home to dinner, and presently my wife and I andSir W. Pen to the King's playhouse, where the house extraordinary full;and there was the King and Duke of York to see the new play, "QueenElizabeth's Troubles and the History of Eighty Eight. " I confess I havesucked in so much of the sad story of Queen Elizabeth, from my cradle, that I was ready to weep for her sometimes; but the play is the mostridiculous that sure ever come upon the stage; and, indeed, is merely ashew, only shews the true garbe of the Queen in those days, just as wesee Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth painted; but the play is merely apuppet play, acted by living puppets. Neither the design nor languagebetter; and one stands by and tells us the meaning of things: only I waspleased to see Knipp dance among the milkmaids, and to hear her sing asong to Queen Elizabeth; and to see her come out in her night-gowne withno lockes on, but her bare face and hair only tied up in a knot behind;which is the comeliest dress that ever I saw her in to her advantage. Thence home and went as far as Mile End with Sir W. Pen, whose coachtook him up there for his country-house; and after having drunk there, at the Rose and Crowne, a good house for Alderman Bides ale, --[JohnBide, brewer, Sheriff of London in 1647. --B. ]--we parted, and we home, and there I finished my letters, and then home to supper and to bed. 

18th (Lord's day). Up, and being ready, walked up and down to CreeChurch, to see it how it is; but I find no alteration there, as they saythere was, for my Lord Mayor and Aldermen to come to sermon, as they doevery Sunday, as they did formerly to Paul's. Walk back home and to ourown church, where a dull sermon and our church empty of the best sort ofpeople, they being at their country houses, and so home, and there dinedwith me Mr. Turner and his daughter Betty. 

 [Betty Turner, who is frequently mentioned after this date, appears to have been a daughter of Serjeant John Turner and his wife Jane, and younger sister of Theophila Turner (see January 4th, 6th, 1668-69). ]

Her mother should, but they were invited to Sir J. Minnes, where shedined and the others here with me. Betty is grown a fine lady as tocarriage and discourse. I and my wife are mightily pleased with her. Wehad a good haunch of venison, powdered and boiled, and a good dinner andmerry. After dinner comes Mr. Pelling the Potticary, whom I had sent forto dine with me, but he was engaged. After sitting an hour to talk webroke up, all leaving Pelling to talk with my wife, and I walked towardsWhite Hall, but, being wearied, turned into St. Dunstan's Church, whereI heard an able sermon of the minister of the place; and stood by apretty, modest maid, whom I did labour to take by the hand and the body;but she would not, but got further and further from me; and, at last, I could perceive her to take pins out of her pocket to prick me if Ishould touch her again--which seeing I did forbear, and was glad I didspy her design. And then I fell to gaze upon another pretty maid in apew close to me, and she on me; and I did go about to take her by thehand, which she suffered a little and then withdrew. So the sermonended, and the church broke up, and my amours ended also, and so tookcoach and home, and there took up my wife, and to Islington withher, our old road, but before we got to Islington, between that andKingsland, there happened an odd adventure: one of our coach-horses fellsick of the staggers, so as he was ready to fall down. The coachman wasfain to 'light, and hold him up, and cut his tongue to make him bleed, and his tail. The horse continued shaking every part of him, as if hehad been in an ague, a good while, and his blood settled in his tongue, and the coachman thought and believed he would presently drop down dead;then he blew some tobacco in his nose, upon which the horse sneezed, and, by and by, grows well, and draws us the rest of our way, as wellas ever he did; which was one of the strangest things of a horse I everobserved, but he says it is usual. It is the staggers. Staid and eat anddrank at Islington, at the old house, and so home, and to my chamber toread, and then to supper and to bed. 

19th. Up, and at the office all the morning very busy. Towards noon I toWestminster about some tallies at the Exchequer, and then straight homeagain and dined, and then to sing with my wife with great content, andthen I to the office again, where busy, and then out and took coachand to the Duke of York's house, all alone, and there saw "Sir MartinMarr-all" again, though I saw him but two days since, and do find it themost comical play that ever I saw in my life. Soon as the play done Ihome, and there busy till night, and then comes Mr. Moore to me only todiscourse with me about some general things touching the badness of thetimes, how ill they look, and he do agree with most people that I meetwith, that we shall fall into a commonwealth in a few years, whether wewill or no; for the charge of a monarchy is such as the kingdom cannotbe brought to bear willingly, nor are things managed so well nowadaysunder it, as heretofore. He says every body do think that there issomething extraordinary that keeps us so long from the news of the peacebeing ratified, which the King and the Duke of York have expected thesesix days. He gone, my wife and I and Mrs. Turner walked in the garden agood while till 9 at night, and then parted, and I home to supper and toread a little (which I cannot refrain, though I have all the reason inthe world to favour my eyes, which every day grow worse and worse byover-using them), and then to bed. 

20th. Up, and to my chamber to set down my journall for the last threedays, and then to the office, where busy all the morning. At noon hometo dinner, and then with my wife abroad, set her down at the Exchange, and I to St. James's, where find Sir W. Coventry alone, and fell todiscourse of retrenchments; and thereon he tells how he hath alreadypropounded to the Lords Committee of the Councils how he would have theTreasurer of the Navy a less man, that might not sit at the Board, butbe subject to the Board. He would have two Controllers to do his workand two Surveyors, whereof one of each to take it by turns to reside atPortsmouth and Chatham by a kind of rotation; he would have but only oneClerk of the Acts. He do tell me he hath propounded how the charge ofthe Navy in peace shall come within L200, 000, by keeping out twenty-fourships in summer, and ten in the winter. And several other particularswe went over of retrenchment: and I find I must provide some things tooffer that I may be found studious to lessen the King's charge. By andby comes my Lord Bruncker, and then we up to the Duke of York, and therehad a hearing of our usual business, but no money to be heard of--no, not L100 upon the most pressing service that can be imagined of bringingin the King's timber from Whittlewood, while we have the utmost want ofit, and no credit to provide it elsewhere, and as soon as we had donewith the Duke of York, Sir W. Coventry did single [out] Sir W. Pen andme, and desired us to lend the King some money, out of the prizes wehave taken by Hogg. He did not much press it, and we made but a merryanswer thereto; but I perceive he did ask it seriously, and did tell usthat there never was so much need of it in the world as now, we beingbrought to the lowest straits that can be in the world. This troubled memuch. By and by Sir W. Batten told me that he heard how Carcasse do nowgive out that he will hang me, among the rest of his threats of himand Pen, which is the first word I ever heard of the kind from himconcerning me. It do trouble me a little, though I know nothing he canpossibly find to fasten on me. Thence, with my Lord Bruncker to theDuke's Playhouse (telling my wife so at the 'Change, where I left her), and there saw "Sir Martin Marr-all" again, which I have now seen threetimes, and it hath been acted but four times, and still find it a veryingenious play, and full of variety. So home, and to the office, wheremy eyes would not suffer me to do any thing by candlelight, and socalled my wife and walked in the garden. She mighty pressing for a newpair of cuffs, which I am against the laying out of money upon yet, which makes her angry. So home to supper and to bed. 

21st. Up, and my wife and I fell out about the pair of cuffs, which shehath a mind to have to go to see the ladies dancing to-morrow at BettyTurner's school; and do vex me so that I am resolved to deny themher. However, by-and-by a way was found that she had them, and I wellsatisfied, being unwilling to let our difference grow higher upon sosmall an occasion and frowardness of mine. Then to the office, my LordBruncker and I all the morning answering petitions, which now by a newCouncil's order we are commanded to set a day in a week apart for, and we resolve to do it by turn, my Lord and I one week and two othersanother. At noon home to dinner, and then my wife and I mighty pleasantabroad, she to the New Exchange and I to the Commissioners of theTreasury, who do sit very close, and are bringing the King's charges aslow as they can; but Sir W. Coventry did here again tell me that he isvery serious in what he said to Sir W. Pen and me yesterday about ourlending of money to the King; and says that people do talk that we hadhad the King's ships at his cost to take prizes, and that we oughtto lend the King money more than other people. I did tell him I willconsider it, and so parted; and do find I cannot avoid it. So toWestminster Hall and there staid a while, and thence to Mrs. Martin's, and there did take a little pleasure both with her and her sister. Heresat and talked, and it is a strange thing to see the impudence of thewoman, that desires by all means to have her mari come home, only thatshe might beat liberty to have me para toker her, which is a thing I donot so much desire. Thence by coach, took up my wife, and home and outto Mile End, and there drank, and so home, and after some little readingin my chamber, to supper and to bed. This day I sent my cozen Roger atierce of claret, which I give him. This morning come two of CaptainCooke's boys, whose voices are broke, and are gone from the Chapel, buthave extraordinary skill; and they and my boy, with his broken voice, did sing three parts; their names were Blaewl and Loggings; but, notwithstanding their skill, yet to hear them sing with their brokenvoices, which they could not command to keep in tune, would make a manmad--so bad it was. 

22nd. Up, and to the office; whence Lord Bruncker, J. Minnes, W. Pen, and I, went to examine some men that are put in there, for rescuing ofmen that were pressed into the service: and we do plainly see that thedesperate condition that we put men into for want of their pay, makesthem mad, they being as good men as ever were in the world, and wouldas readily serve the King again, were they but paid. Two men leaptoverboard, among others, into the Thames, out of the vessel into whichthey were pressed, and were shot by the soldiers placed there to keepthem, two days since; so much people do avoid the King's service! Andthen these men are pressed without money, and so we cannot punish themfor any thing, so that we are forced only to make a show of severity bykeeping them in prison, but are unable to punish them. Returning to theoffice, did ask whether we might visit Commissioner Pett, to which, Iconfess, I have no great mind; and it was answered that he was closeprisoner, and we could not; but the Lieutenant of the Tower would sendfor him to his lodgings, if we would: so we put it off to another time. Returned to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at noon toCaptain Cocke's to dinner; where Lord Bruncker and his Lady, Matt. Wren, and Bulteale, and Sir Allen Apsly; the last of whom did make good sport, he being already fallen under the retrenchments of the new Committee, ashe is Master Falconer;

 [The post of Master Falconer was afterwards granted to Charles's son by Nell Gwyn, and it is still held by the Duke of St. Albans, as an hereditary office. --B. ]

which makes him mad, and swears that we are doing that the Parliamentwould have done--that is, that we are now endeavouring to destroy oneanother. But it was well observed by some at the table, that they do notthink this retrenching of the King's charge will be so acceptable to theParliament, they having given the King a revenue of so many L100, 000'sa-year more than his predecessors had, that he might live in pomp, like a king. After dinner with my Lord Bruncker and his mistress to theKing's playhouse, and there saw "The Indian Emperour;" where I find Nellcome again, which I am glad of; but was most infinitely displeasedwith her being put to act the Emperour's daughter; which is a great andserious part, which she do most basely. The rest of the play, thoughpretty good, was not well acted by most of them, methought; so that Itook no great content in it. But that, that troubled me most was, thatKnipp sent by Moll' to desire to speak to me after the play; and shebeckoned to me at the end of the play, and I promised to come; but itwas so late, and I forced to step to Mrs. Williams's lodgings with myLord Bruncker and her, where I did not stay, however, for fear of hershewing me her closet, and thereby forcing me to give her something; andit was so late, that for fear of my wife's coming home before me, I wasforced to go straight home, which troubled me. Home and to the office alittle, and then home and to my chamber to read, and anon, late, comeshome my wife, with Mr. Turner and Mrs. Turner, with whom she supped, having been with Mrs. Turner to-day at her daughter's school, to see herdaughters dancing, and the rest, which she says is fine. They gone, Ito supper and to bed. My wife very fine to-day, in her new suit of lacedcuffs and perquisites. This evening Pelling comes to me, and tellsme that this night the Dutch letters are come, and that the peace wasproclaimed there the 19th inst. , and that all is finished; which, formy life, I know not whether to be glad or sorry for, a peace being sonecessary, and yet the peace is so bad in its terms. 

23rd. Up, and Greeting comes, who brings me a tune for two flageolets, which we played, and is a tune played at the King's playhouse, whichgoes so well, that I will have more of them, and it will be a mightypleasure for me to have my wife able to play a part with me, which shewill easily, I find, do. Then abroad to White Hall in a hackney-coachwith Sir W. Pen: and in our way, in the narrow street near Paul's, goingthe backway by Tower Street, and the coach being forced to put back, he was turning himself into a cellar, --[So much of London was yet inruins. --B]--which made people cry out to us, and so we were forced toleap out--he out of one, and I out of the other boote;

 [The "boot" was originally a projection on each side of the coach, where the passengers sat with their backs to the carriage. Such a "boot" is seen in the carriage containing the attendants of Queen Elizabeth, in Hoefnagel's well-known picture of Nonsuch Palace, dated 1582. Taylor, the Water Poet, the inveterate opponent of the introduction of coaches, thus satirizes the one in which he was forced to take his place as a passenger: "It wears two boots and no spurs, sometimes having two pairs of legs in one boot; and oftentimes against nature most preposterously it makes fair ladies wear the boot. Moreover, it makes people imitate sea-crabs, in being drawn sideways, as they are when they sit in the boot of the coach. " In course of time these projections were abolished, and the coach then consisted of three parts, viz. , the body, the boot (on the top of which the coachman sat), and the baskets at the back. ]

Query, whether a glass-coach would have permitted us to have made theescape?--[See note on introduction of glass coaches, September 23rd, 1667. ]--neither of us getting any hurt; nor could the coach have gotmuch hurt had we been in it; but, however, there was cause enough for usto do what we could to save ourselves. So being all dusty, we put intothe Castle tavern, by the Savoy, and there brushed ourselves, and thento White Hall with our fellows to attend the Council, by order upon someproposition of my Lord Anglesey, we were called in. The King there: andit was about considering how the fleete might be discharged at theircoming in shortly (the peace being now ratified, and it takes place onMonday next, which Sir W. Coventry said would make some clashing betweensome of us twenty to one, for want of more warning, but the wind haskept the boats from coming over), whether by money or tickets, and criesout against tickets, but the matter was referred for us to providean answer to, which we must do in a few days. So we parted, and I toWestminster to the Exchequer, to see what sums of money other peoplelend upon the Act; and find of all sizes from L1000 to L100 nay, to L50, nay, to L20, nay, to L5: for I find that one Dr. Reade, Doctor of Law, gives no more, and others of them L20; which is a poor thing, methinks, that we should stoop so low as to borrow such sums. Upon the whole, Ido think to lend, since I must lend, L300, though, God knows! it is muchagainst my will to lend any, unless things were in better condition, andlikely to continue so. Thence home and there to dinner, and after dinnerby coach out again, setting my wife down at Unthanke's, and I to theTreasury-chamber, where I waited, talking with Sir G. Downing, till theLords met. He tells me how he will make all the Exchequer officers, ofone side and t'other, to lend the King money upon the Act; and that theleast clerk shall lend money, and he believes the least will L100: butthis I do not believe. He made me almost ashamed that we of the Navy hadnot in all this time lent any; so that I find it necessary I should, andso will speedily do it, before any of my fellows begin, and lead me to abigger sum. By and by the Lords come; and I perceive Sir W. Coventry isthe man, and nothing done till he comes. Among other things, I hear himobserve, looking over a paper, that Sir John Shaw is a miracle of a man, for he thinks he executes more places than any man in England; for therehe finds him a Surveyor of some of the King's woods, and so reckoned upmany other places, the most inconsistent in the world. Their businesswith me was to consider how to assigne such of our commanders as willtake assignements upon the Act for their wages; and the considerationthereof was referred to me to give them an answer the next sitting:which is a horrid poor thing: but they scruple at nothing of honour inthe case. So away hence, and called my wife, and to the King's house, and saw "The Mayden Queene, " which pleases us mightily; and then away, and took up Mrs. Turner at her door, and so to Mile End, and theredrank, and so back to her house, it being a fine evening, and theresupped. The first time I ever was there since they lived there; and shehath all things so neat and well done, that I am mightily pleased withher, and all she do. So here very merry, and then home and to bed, myeyes being very bad. I find most people pleased with their being atease, and safe of a peace, that they may know no more charge or hazardof an ill-managed war: but nobody speaking of the peace with any contentor pleasure, but are silent in it, as of a thing they are ashamed of;no, not at Court, much less in the City. 

24th (St. Bartholomew's day). This morning was proclaimed the peacebetween us and the States of the United Provinces, and also of the Kingof France and Denmarke; and in the afternoon the Proclamations wereprinted and come out; and at night the bells rung, but no bonfires thatI hear of any where, partly from the dearness of firing, but principallyfrom the little content most people have in the peace. All the morningat the office. At noon dined, and Creed with me, at home. After dinnerwe to a play, and there saw "The Cardinall" at the King's house, wherewith I am mightily pleased; but, above all, with Becke Marshall. But it is pretty to observe how I look up and down for, and did spyKnipp; but durst not own it to my wife that I see her, for fear ofangering her, who do not like my kindness to her, and so I was forcednot to take notice of her, and so homeward, leaving Creed at the Temple:and my belly now full with plays, that I do intend to bind myself to seeno more till Michaelmas. So with my wife to Mile End, and there drankof Bides ale, and so home. Most of our discourse is about our keeping acoach the next year, which pleases my wife mightily; and if I continueas able as now, it will save us money. This day comes a letter from theDuke of York to the Board to invite us, which is as much as to frightus, into the lending the King money; which is a poor thing, and mostdishonourable, and shows in what a case we are at the end of the warto our neighbours. And the King do now declare publickly to give 10 percent. To all lenders; which makes some think that the Dutch themselveswill send over money, and lend it upon our publick faith, the Act ofParliament. So home and to my office, wrote a little, and then home tosupper and to bed. 

25th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, and thence home; and Pelling comesby invitation to dine with me, and much pleasant discourse with him. After dinner, away by water to White Hall, where I landed Pelling, whois going to his wife, where she is in the country, at Parson's Greene:and myself to Westminster, and there at the Swan I did baiser Frank, and to the parish church, thinking to see Betty Michell; and did stayan hour in the crowd, thinking, by the end of a nose that I saw, thatit had been her; but at last the head turned towards me, and it was hermother, which vexed me, and so I back to my boat, which had broke oneof her oars in rowing, and had now fastened it again; and so I up toPutney, and there stepped into the church, to look upon the fine peoplethere, whereof there is great store, and the young ladies; and sowalked to Barne-Elmes, whither I sent Russel, reading of Boyle'sHydrostatickes, which are of infinite delight. I walked in the Elmes agood while, and then to my boat, and leisurely home, with great pleasureto myself; and there supped, and W. Hewer with us, with whom a greatdeal of good talk touching the Office, and so to bed. 

26th. Up, and Greeting come, and I reckoned with him for his teachingof my wife and me upon the flageolet to this day, and so paid him forhaving as much as he can teach us. Then to the Office, where we sat upona particular business all the morning: and my Lord Anglesey with us:who, and my Lord Bruncker, do bring us news how my Lord Chancellor'sseal is to be taken away from him to-day. The thing is so great andsudden to me, that it put me into a very great admiration what should bethe meaning of it; and they do not own that they know what it should be:but this is certain, that the King did resolve it on Saturday, and didyesterday send the Duke of Albemarle, the only man fit for those works, to him for his purse: to which the Chancellor answered, that he receivedit from the King, and would deliver it to the King's own hand, and socivilly returned the Duke of Albemarle without it; and this morningmy Lord Chancellor is to be with the King, to come to an end in thebusiness. After sitting, we rose, and my wife being gone abroadwith Mrs. Turner to her washing at the whitster's, I dined at Sir W. Batten's, where Mr. Boreman was, who come from White Hall; who tells usthat he saw my Lord Chancellor come in his coach with some of his men, without his Seal, to White Hall to his chamber; and thither the King andDuke of York come and staid together alone, an hour or more: and it issaid that the King do say that he will have the Parliament meet, andthat it will prevent much trouble by having of him out of their enmity, by his place being taken away; for that all their enmity will be at him. It is said also that my Lord Chancellor answers, that he desires he maybe brought to his trial, if he have done any thing to lose his office;and that he will be willing, and is most desirous, to lose that, andhis head both together. Upon what terms they parted nobody knows but theChancellor looked sad, he says. Then in comes Sir Richard Ford, and sayshe hears that there is nobody more presses to reconcile the King andChancellor than the Duke of Albemarle and Duke of Buckingham: the latterof which is very strange, not only that he who was so lately his enemyshould do it, but that this man, that but the other day was in danger oflosing his own head, should so soon come to be a mediator for others: itshows a wise Government. They all say that he [Clarendon] is but a poorman, not worth above L3000 a-year in land; but this I cannot believe:and all do blame him for having built so great a house, till he had gota better estate. Having dined, Sir J. Minnes and I to White Hall, wherewe could be informed in no more than we were told before, nobody knowingthe result of the meeting, but that the matter is suspended. So Iwalked to the King's playhouse, there to meet Sir W. Pen, and saw "TheSurprizall, " a very mean play, I thought: or else it was because I wasout of humour, and but very little company in the house. But there SirW. Pen and I had a great deal of discourse with Moll; who tells us thatNell is already left by my Lord Buckhurst, and that he makes sport ofher, and swears she hath had all she could get of him; and Hart, [Charles Hart, great-nephew of Shakespeare, a favourite actor. He is credited with being Nell Gwyn's first lover (or Charles I. , as the wits put it), and with having brought her on the stage. He died of stone, and was buried at Stanmore Magna, Middlesex, where he had a country house. ]

her great admirer, now hates her; and that she is very poor, and hathlost my Lady Castlemayne, who was her great friend also but she is cometo the House, but is neglected by them all. 

 [Lord Buckhurst's liaison with Nell Gwyn probably came to an end about this time. We learn from Pepys that in January, 1667-68, the king sent several times for Nelly (see January 11th, 1667-68). Nell's eldest son by Charles II. , Charles Beauclerc, was not born till May 8th, 1670. He was created Earl of Burford in 1676 and Duke of St. Albans in 1684. ]

Thence with Sir W. Pen home, and I to the office, where late aboutbusiness, and then home to supper, and so to bed. 

27th. Up, and am invited betimes to be godfather tomorrow to CaptainPoole's child with my Lady Pen and Lady Batten, which I accepted outof complaisance to them, and so to the office, where we sat all themorning. At noon dined at home, and then my wife and I, with Sir W. Pen, to the New Exchange, set her down, and he and I to St. James's, whereSir J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, and we waited upon the Duke of York, but did little business, and he, I perceive, his head full of otherbusiness, and of late hath not been very ready to be troubled with anyof our business. Having done with him, Sir J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Battenand I to White Hall, and there hear how it is like to go well enoughwith my Lord Chancellor; that he is like to keep his Seal, desiring thathe may stand his trial in Parliament, if they will accuse him of anything. Here Sir J. Minnes and I looking upon the pictures; and Mr. Chevins, being by, did take us, of his own accord, into the King'scloset, to shew us some pictures, which, indeed, is a very noble place, and exceeding great variety of brave pictures, and the best hands. I could have spent three or four hours there well, and we had greatliberty to look and Chevins seemed to take pleasure to shew us, andcommend the pictures. Having done here, I to the Exchange, and therefind my wife gone with Sir W. Pen. So I to visit Colonel Fitzgerald, whohath been long sick at Woolwich, where most of the officers and soldiersquartered there, since the Dutch being in the river, have died or beensick, and he among the rest; and, by the growth of his beard and gray[hairs], I did not know him. His desire to speak with me was about thelate command for my paying no more pensions for Tangier. Thence home, and there did business, and so in the evening home to supper and to bed. This day Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, was with me; and tells me how thisbusiness of my Lord Chancellor's was certainly designed in my LadyCastlemayne's chamber; and that, when he went from the King on Mondaymorning, she was in bed, though about twelve o'clock, and ran out in hersmock into her aviary looking into White Hall garden; and thither herwoman brought her her nightgown; and stood joying herself at the oldman's going away: and several of the gallants of White Hall, of whichthere were many staying to see the Chancellor return, did talk to her inher birdcage; among others, Blancford, telling her she was the bird ofparadise. 

 [Clarendon refers to this scene in the continuation of his Life (ed. 1827, vol. Iii. , p. 291), and Lister writes: "Lady Castlemaine rose hastily from her noontide bed, and came out into her aviary, anxious to read in the saddened air of her distinguished enemy some presage of his fall" ("Life of Clarendon, " vol. Ii. , p. 412). ]

28th. Up; and staid undressed till my tailor's boy did mend my vest, inorder to my going to the christening anon. Then out and to White Hall, to attend the Council, by their order, with an answer to their demandstouching our advice for the paying off of the seamen, when the shipsshall come in, which answer is worth seeing, shewing the badness of ourcondition. There, when I come, I was forced to stay till past twelveo'clock, in a crowd of people in the lobby, expecting the hearing of thegreat cause of Alderman Barker against my Lord Deputy of Ireland, forhis ill usage in his business of land there; but the King and Councilsat so long, as they neither heard them nor me. So when they rose, Iinto the House, and saw the King and Queen at dinner, and heard a littleof their viallins' musick, and so home, and there to dinner, and in theafternoon with my Lady Batten, Pen, and her daughter, and my wife, toMrs. Poole's, where I mighty merry among the women, and christened thechild, a girl, Elizabeth, which, though a girl, yet my Lady Batten wouldhave me to give the name. After christening comes Sir W. Batten, [Sir]W. Pen, and Mr. Lowther, and mighty merry there, and I forfeited fornot kissing the two godmothers presently after the christening, before Ikissed the mother, which made good mirth; and so anon away, and my wifeand I took coach and went twice round Bartholomew fayre; which I wasglad to see again, after two years missing it by the plague, and so homeand to my chamber a little, and so to supper and to bed. 

29th. Up, and Mr. Moore comes to me, and among other things tells methat my Lord Crew and his friends take it very ill of me that my LordSandwich's sea-fee should be retrenched, and so reported from thisOffice, and I give them no notice of it. The thing, though I know to befalse--at least, that nothing went from our office towards it--yet ittroubled me, and therefore after the office rose I went and dined withmy Lord Crew, and before dinner I did enter into that discourse, andlaboured to satisfy him; but found, though he said little, yet that hewas not yet satisfied; but after dinner did pray me to go and see howit was, whether true or no. Did tell me if I was not their friend, theycould trust to nobody, and that he did not forget my service and love tomy Lord, and adventures for him in dangerous times, and therefore wouldnot willingly doubt me now; but yet asked my pardon if, upon this news, he did begin to fear it. This did mightily trouble me: so I away thenceto White Hall, but could do nothing. So home, and there wrote all myletters, and then, in the evening, to White Hall again, and theremet Sir Richard Browne, Clerk to the Committee for retrenchments, whoassures me no one word was ever yet mentioned about my Lord's salary. This pleased me, and I to Sir G. Carteret, who I find in the same doubtabout it, and assured me he saw it in our original report, my Lord'sname with a discharge against it. This, though I know to be false, orthat it must be a mistake in my clerk, I went back to Sir R. Browne andgot a sight of their paper, and find how the mistake arose, by the illcopying of it out for the Council from our paper sent to the Duke ofYork, which I took away with me and shewed Sir G. Carteret, and thenceto my Lord Crew, and the mistake ended very merrily, and to all ourcontents, particularly my own, and so home, and to the office, andthen to my chamber late, and so to supper and to bed. I find at Sir G. Carteret's that they do mightily joy themselves in the hopes of my LordChancellor's getting over this trouble; and I make them believe, and so, indeed, I do believe he will, that my Lord Chancellor is become popularby it. I find by all hands that the Court is at this day all to pieces, every man of a faction of one sort or other, so as it is to be fearedwhat it will come to. But that, that pleases me is, I hear to-night thatMr. Bruncker is turned away yesterday by the Duke of York, for some boldwords he was heard by Colonel Werden to say in the garden, the daythe Chancellor was with the King--that he believed the King would behectored out of everything. For this the Duke of York, who all say hathbeen very strong for his father-in-law at this trial, hath turned himaway: and every body, I think, is glad of it; for he was a pestilentrogue, an atheist, that would have sold his King and country for 6d. Almost, so covetous and wicked a rogue he is, by all men's report. Butone observed to me, that there never was the occasion of men's holdingtheir tongues at Court and everywhere else as there is at this day, fornobody knows which side will be uppermost. 

30th. Up, and to White Hall, where at the Council Chamber I hearBarker's business is like to come to a hearing to-day, having failedthe last day. I therefore to Westminster to see what I could do inmy 'Chequer business about Tangier, and finding nothing to be done, returned, and in the Lobby staid till almost noon expecting to hearBarker's business, but it was not called, so I come away. Here I metwith Sir G. Downing, who tells me of Sir W. Pen's offering to lendL500; and I tell him of my L300, which he would have me to lend upon thecredit of the latter part of the Act; saying, that by that means my 10per cent. Will continue to me the longer. But I understand better, andwill do it upon the L380, 000, which will come to be paid the sooner;there being no delight in lending money now, to be paid by the Kingtwo years hence. But here he and Sir William Doyly were attending theCouncil as Commissioners for sick and wounded, and prisoners: and theytold me their business, which was to know how we shall do to release ourprisoners; for it seems the Dutch have got us to agree in the treaty, asthey fool us in anything, that the dyet of the prisoners on both sidesshall be paid for, before they be released; which they have done, knowing ours to run high, they having more prisoners of ours than wehave of theirs; so that they are able and most ready to discharge thedebt of theirs, but we are neither able nor willing to do that for ours, the debt of those in Zealand only, amounting to above L5000 for mentaken in the King's own ships, besides others taken in merchantmen, which expect, as is usual, that the King should redeem them; but I thinkhe will not, by what Sir G. Downing says. This our prisoners complainof there; and say in their letters, which Sir G. Downing shewed me, thatthey have made a good feat that they should be taken in the service ofthe King, and the King not pay for their victuals while prisoners forhim. But so far they are from doing thus with their men, as we do todiscourage ours, that I find in the letters of some of our prisonersthere, which he shewed me, that they have with money got our men, thatthey took, to work and carry their ships home for them; and they havebeen well rewarded, and released when they come into Holland: which isdone like a noble, brave, and wise people. Having staid out my time thatI thought fit for me to return home, I home and there took coach andwith my wife to Walthamstow; to Sir W. Pen's, by invitation, the firsttime I have been there, and there find him and all their guests (ofour office only) at dinner, which was a very bad dinner, and everythingsuitable, that I never knew people in my life that make their flutter, that do things so meanly. I was sick to see it, but was merry at someridiculous humours of my Lady Batten, who, as being an ill-bred woman, would take exceptions at anything any body said, and I made good sportat it. After dinner into the garden and wilderness, which is like therest of the house, nothing in order, nor looked after. By and by comesnewes that my Lady Viner was come to see Mrs. Lowther, which I was gladof, and all the pleasure I had here was to see her, which I did, andsaluted her, and find she is pretty, though not so eminently so aspeople talked of her, and of very pretty carriage and discourse. I satwith them and her an hour talking and pleasant, and then slunk awayalone without taking leave, leaving my wife there to come home withthem, and I to Bartholomew fayre, to walk up and down; and there, among other things, find my Lady Castlemayne at a puppet-play, "PatientGrizill, "

 [The well-known story, first told by Boccaccio, then by Petrarca, afterwards by Chaucer, and which has since become proverbial. Tom Warton, writing about 1770, says, "I need not mention that it is to this day represented in England, on a stage of the lowest species, and of the highest antiquity: I mean at a puppet show" ("Hist. Of English Poetry, " sect. Xv. ). --B. ]

and the street full of people expecting her coming out. I confess I didwonder at her courage to come abroad, thinking the people would abuseher; but they, silly people! do not know her work she makes, andtherefore suffered her with great respect to take coach, and she away, without any trouble at all, which I wondered at, I confess. I onlywalked up and down, and, among others, saw Tom Pepys, the turner, whohath a shop, and I think lives in the fair when the fair is not. Ionly asked how he did as he stood in the street, and so up and downsauntering till late and then home, and there discoursed with my wife ofour bad entertainment to-day, and so to bed. I met Captain Cocke to-dayat the Council Chamber and took him with me to Westminster, who tellsme that there is yet expectation that the Chancellor will lose the Seal, and that he is sure that the King hath said it to him who told it him, and he fears we shall be soon broke in pieces, and assures me that therehave been high words between the Duke of York and Sir W. Coventry, forhis being so high against the Chancellor; so as the Duke of York wouldnot sign some papers that he brought, saying that he could not endurethe sight of him: and that Sir W. Coventry answered, that what he didwas in obedience to the King's commands; and that he did not think anyman fit to serve a Prince, that did not know how to retire and live acountry life. This is all I hear. 

31st. At the office all the morning; where, by Sir W. Pen, I do hearthat the Seal was fetched away to the King yesterday from the LordChancellor by Secretary Morrice; which puts me into a great horror, tohave it done after so much debate and confidence that it would not bedone at last. When we arose I took a turn with Lord Bruncker in thegarden, and he tells me that he hath of late discoursed about thisbusiness with Sir W. Coventry, who he finds is the great man in thedoing this business of the Chancellor's, and that he do persevere init, though against the Duke of York's opinion, to which he says thatthe Duke of York was once of the same mind, and if he hath thought fitsince, for any reason, to alter his mind, he hath not found any to alterhis own, and so desires to be excused, for it is for the King's andkingdom's good. And it seems that the Duke of York himself was the firstman that did speak to the King of this, though he hath since altered hismind; and that W. Coventry did tell the Duke of York that he was not fitto serve a Prince that did not know how to retire, and live a privatelife; and that he was ready for that, if it be his and the King'spleasure. After having wrote my letters at the office in the afternoon, I in the evening to White Hall to see how matters go, and there I metwith Mr. Ball, of the Excise-office, and he tells me that the Seal isdelivered to Sir Orlando Bridgeman; the man of the whole nation thatis the best spoken of, and will please most people; and therefore I ammighty glad of it. He was then at my Lord Arlington's, whither I went, expecting to see him come out; but staid so long, and Sir W. Coventrycoming thither, whom I had not a mind should see me there idle upon apost-night, I went home without seeing him; but he is there with hisSeal in his hand. So I home, took up my wife, whom I left at Unthanke's, and so home, and after signing my letters to bed. This day, beingdissatisfied with my wife's learning so few songs of Goodgroome, I didcome to a new bargain with him to teach her songs at so much, viz. ; 10s. A song, which he accepts of, and will teach her. 

SEPTEMBER 1667

September 1st (Lord's day). Up, and betimes by water from the Tower, and called at the Old Swan for a glass of strong water, and sent word tohave little Michell and his wife come and dine with us to-day; and so, taking in a gentleman and his lady that wanted a boat, I to Westminster. Setting them on shore at Charing Cross, I to Mrs. Martin's, where Ihad two pair of cuffs which I bespoke, and there did sit and talk withher.... And here I did see her little girle my goddaughter, which willbe pretty, and there having staid a little I away to Creed's chamber, and when he was ready away to White Hall, where I met with severalpeople and had my fill of talk. Our new Lord-keeper, Bridgeman, did thisday, the first time, attend the King to chapel with his Seal. Sir H. Cholmly tells me there are hopes that the women will also have a rout, and particularly that my Lady Castlemayne is coming to a compositionwith the King to be gone; but how true this is, I know not. Blancfort ismade Privy-purse to the Duke of York; the Attorney-general is made Chiefjustice, in the room of my Lord Bridgeman; the Solicitor-general is madeAttorney-general; and Sir Edward Turner made Solicitor-general. It ispretty to see how strange every body looks, nobody knowing whence thisarises; whether from my Lady Castlemayne, Bab. May, and their faction;or from the Duke of York, notwithstanding his great appearance ofdefence of the Chancellor; or from Sir William Coventry, and some fewwith him. But greater changes are yet expected. So home and by water todinner, where comes Pelting and young Michell and his wife, whom I havenot seen a great while, poor girle, and then comes Mr. Howe, and alldined with me very merry, and spent all the afternoon, Pelting, Howe, and I, and my boy, singing of Lock's response to the Ten Commandments, which he hath set very finely, and was a good while since sung beforethe King, and spoiled in the performance, which occasioned his printingthem for his vindication, and are excellent good. They parted, in theevening my wife and I to walk in the garden and there scolded a little, I being doubtful that she had received a couple of fine pinners (one ofpoint de Gesne), which I feared she hath from some [one] or other of apresent; but, on the contrary, I find she hath bought them for me to payfor them, without my knowledge. This do displease me much; but yet do somuch please me better than if she had received them the other way, thatI was not much angry, but fell to other discourse, and so to my chamber, and got her to read to me for saving of my eyes, and then, having got agreat cold, I know not how, I to bed and lay ill at ease all the night. 

2nd. This day is kept in the City as a publick fast for the fire thisday twelve months: but I was not at church, being commanded, with therest, to attend the Duke of York; and, therefore, with Sir J. Minnesto St. James's, where we had much business before the Duke of York, and observed all things to be very kind between the Duke of York and W. Coventry, which did mightily joy me. When we had done, Sir W. Coventrycalled me down with him to his chamber, and there told me that he isleaving the Duke of York's service, which I was amazed at. But he tellsme that it is not with the least unkindness on the Duke of York'sside, though he expects, and I told him he was in the right, it will beinterpreted otherwise, because done just at this time; "but, " says he, "I did desire it a good while since, and the Duke of York did, with muchentreaty, grant it, desiring that I would say nothing of it, that hemight have time and liberty to choose his successor, without beingimportuned for others whom he should not like:" and that he hath chosenMr. Wren, which I am glad of, he being a very ingenious man; and so SirW. Coventry says of him, though he knows him little; but particularlycommends him for the book he writ in answer to "Harrington's Oceana, "which, for that reason, I intend to buy. He tells me the true reason is, that he, being a man not willing to undertake more business than he cango through, and being desirous to have his whole time to spend upon thebusiness of the Treasury, and a little for his own ease, he did desirethis of the Duke of York. He assures me that the kindness with which hegoes away from the Duke of York is one of the greatest joys that everhe had in the world. I used some freedom with him, telling him how theworld hath discoursed of his having offended the Duke of York, aboutthe late business of the Chancellor. He do not deny it, but says thatperhaps the Duke of York might have some reason for it, he opposing himin a thing wherein he was so earnest but tells me, that, notwithstandingall that, the Duke of York does not now, nor can blame him; for he tellsme that he was the man that did propose the removal of the Chancellor;and that he did still persist in it, and at this day publickly owns it, and is glad of it; but that the Duke of York knows that he did firstspeak of it to the Duke of York, before he spoke to any mortal creaturebesides, which was fair dealing: and the Duke of York was then of thesame mind with him, and did speak of it to the King; though since, forreasons best known to himself, he was afterwards altered. I did thendesire to know what was the great matter that grounded his desire of theChancellor's removal? He told me many things not fit to be spoken, andyet not any thing of his being unfaithful to the King; but, 'instaromnium', he told me, that while he was so great at the Council-board, and in the administration of matters, there was no room for any body topropose any remedy to what was amiss, or to compass any thing, thoughnever so good for the kingdom, unless approved of by the Chancellor, hemanaging all things with that greatness which now will be removed, thatthe King may have the benefit of others' advice. I then told him thatthe world hath an opinion that he hath joined himself with my LadyCastlemayne's faction in this business; he told me, he cannot help it, but says they are in an errour: but for first he will never, while helives, truckle under any body or any faction, but do just as his ownreason and judgment directs; and, when he cannot use that freedom, hewill have nothing to do in public affairs but then he added, that henever was the man that ever had any discourse with my Lady Castlemayne, or with others from her, about this or any public business, or ever madeher a visit, or at least not this twelvemonth, or been in her lodgingsbut when called on any business to attend the King there, nor hath hadany thing to do in knowing her mind in this business. He ended all withtelling me that he knows that he that serves a Prince must expect, andbe contented to stand, all fortunes, and be provided to retreat, andthat that he is most willing to do whenever the King shall please. Andso we parted, he setting me down out of his coach at Charing Cross, anddesired me to tell Sir W. Pen what he had told me of his leaving theDuke of York's service, that his friends might not be the last that knowit. I took a coach and went homewards; but then turned again, and toWhite Hall, where I met with many people; and, among other things, dolearn that there is some fear that Mr. Bruncker is got into the King'sfavour, and will be cherished there; which will breed ill will betweenthe King and Duke of York, he lodging at this time in White Hall sincehe was put away from the Duke of York: and he is great with Bab. May, myLady Castlemayne, and that wicked crew. But I find this denied by SirG. Carteret, who tells me that he is sure he hath no kindness from theKing; that the King at first, indeed, did endeavour to persuade the Dukeof York from putting him away; but when, besides this business of hisill words concerning his Majesty in the business of the Chancellor, hetold him that he hath had, a long time, a mind to put him away for hisill offices, done between him and his wife, the King held his peace, andsaid no more, but wished him to do what he pleased with him; which wasvery noble. I met with Fenn; and he tells me, as I do hear from someothers, that the business of the Chancellor's had proceeded fromsomething of a mistake, for the Duke of York did first tell the Kingthat the Chancellor had a desire to be eased of his great trouble; andthat the King, when the Chancellor come to him, did wonder to hear himdeny it, and the Duke of York was forced to deny to the King that everhe did tell him so in those terms: but the King did answer that he wassure that he did say some such thing to him; but, however, since it hadgone so far, did desire him to be contented with it, as a thing veryconvenient for him as well as for himself (the King), and so mattersproceeded, as we find. Now it is likely the Chancellor might, some timeor other, in a compliment or vanity, say to the Duke of York, that hewas weary of this burden, and I know not what; and this comes of it. Some people, and myself among them, are of good hope from this changethat things are reforming; but there are others that do think but thatit is a hit of chance, as all other our greatest matters are, and thatthere is no general plot or contrivance in any number of people what todo next, though, I believe, Sir W. Coventry may in himself have furtherdesigns; and so that, though other changes may come, yet they shall beaccidental and laid upon [not] good principles of doing good. Mr. Mayshewed me the King's new buildings, in order to their having of some oldsails for the closing of the windows this winter. I dined with Sir G. Carteret, with whom dined Mr. Jack Ashburnham and Dr. Creeton, whoI observe to be a most good man and scholar. In discourse at dinnerconcerning the change of men's humours and fashions touching meats, Mr. Ashburnham told us, that he remembers since the only fruit in request, and eaten by the King and Queen at table as the best fruit, was theKatharine payre, though they knew at the time other fruits of Franceand our own country. After dinner comes in Mr. Townsend; and there I waswitness of a horrid rateing, which Mr. Ashburnham, as one of the Groomsof the King's Bedchamber, did give him for want of linen for the King'sperson; which he swore was not to be endured, and that the King wouldnot endure it, and that the King his father, would have hanged hisWardrobe-man should he have been served so the King having at this dayno handkerchers, and but three bands to his neck, he swore. Mr. Townsendanswered want of money, and the owing of the linen-draper L5000; andthat he hath of late got many rich things made--beds, and sheets, andsaddles, and all without money, and he can go no further but still thisold man, indeed, like an old loving servant, did cry out for the King'sperson to be neglected. But, when he was gone, Townsend told me thatit is the grooms taking away the King's linen at the quarter's end, astheir fees, which makes this great want: for, whether the King can getit or no, they will run away at the quarter's end with what he hath had, let the King get more as he can. All the company gone, Sir G. Carteretand I to talk: and it is pretty to observe how already he says thathe did always look upon the Chancellor indeed as his friend, though henever did do him any service at all, nor ever got any thing by him, norwas he a man apt, and that, I think, is true, to do any man any kindnessof his own nature; though I do know that he was believed by all theworld to be the greatest support of Sir G. Carteret with the King ofany man in England: but so little is now made of it! He observes thatmy Lord Sandwich will lose a great friend in him; and I think so too, myLord Hinchingbroke being about a match calculated purely out of respectto my Lord Chancellor's family. By and by Sir G. Carteret, and Townsend, and I, to consider of an answer to the Commissioners of the Treasuryabout my Lord Sandwich's profits in the Wardrobe; which seem, as we makethem, to be very small, not L1000 a-year; but only the difference inmeasure at which he buys and delivers out to the King, and then 6d. Inthe pound from the tradesmen for what money he receives for him; butthis, it is believed, these Commissioners will endeavour to take away. From him I went to see a great match at tennis, between Prince Rupertand one Captain Cooke, against Bab. May and the elder Chichly; where theKing was, and Court; and it seems are the best players at tennis in thenation. But this puts me in mind of what I observed in the morning, thatthe King, playing at tennis, had a steele-yard carried to him, and Iwas told it was to weigh him after he had done playing; and at noonMr. Ashburnham told me that it is only the King's curiosity, which heusually hath of weighing himself before and after his play, to see howmuch he loses in weight by playing: and this day he lost 4 lbs. Thencehome and took my wife out to Mile End Green, and there I drank, and sohome, having a very fine evening. Then home, and I to Sir W. Batten and[Sir] W. Pen, and there discoursed of Sir W. Coventry's leaving the Dukeof York, and Mr. Wren's succeeding him. They told me both seriously, that they had long cut me out for Secretary to the Duke of York, if ever[Sir] W. Coventry left him; which, agreeing with what I have heard fromother hands heretofore, do make me not only think that something of thatkind hath been thought on, but do comfort me to see that the world hathsuch an esteem of my qualities as to think me fit for any such thing. Though I am glad, with all my heart, that I am not so; for it wouldnever please me to be forced to the attendance that that would require, and leave my wife and family to themselves, as I must do in such a case;thinking myself now in the best place that ever man was in to please hisown mind in, and, therefore, I will take care to preserve it. So to bed, my cold remaining though not so much upon me. This day Nell, an old tallmaid, come to live with us, a cook maid recommended by Mr. Batelier. 

3rd. All the morning, business at the office, dined at home, then in theafternoon set my wife down at the Exchange, and I to St. James's, andthere attended the Duke of York about the list of ships that we proposeto sell: and here there attended Mr. Wren the first time, who hath notyet, I think, received the Duke of York's seal and papers. At our cominghither, we found the Duke and Duchesse all alone at dinner, methoughtmelancholy; or else I thought so, from the late occasion of theChancellor's fall, who, they say, however, takes it very contentedly. Thence I to White Hall a little, and so took up my wife at the 'Change, and so home, and at the office late, and so home to supper and to bed, our boy ill. 

4th. By coach to White Hall to the Council-chamber; and there met withSir W. Coventry going in, who took me aside, and told me that he wasjust come from delivering up his seal and papers to Mr. Wren; and toldme he must now take his leave of me as a naval man, but that he shallalways bear respect to his friends there, and particularly to myself, with great kindness; which I returned to him with thanks, and so, withmuch kindness parted: and he into, the Council. I met with Sir SamuelMorland, who chewed me two orders upon the Exchequer, one of L600, andanother of L400, for money assigned to him, which he would have me lendhim money upon, and he would allow 12 per cent. I would not meddle withthem, though they are very good; and would, had I not so much money outalready on public credit. But I see by this his condition all trade willbe bad. I staid and heard Alderman Barker's case of his being abused bythe Council of Ireland, touching his lands there: all I observed thereis the silliness of the King, playing with his dog all the while, andnot minding the business, [Lord Rochester wrote

 "His very dog at council board Sits grave and wise as any lord. "

 Poems, 1697; p. 150. --The king's dogs were constantly stolen from him, and he advertised for their return. Some of these amusing advertisements are printed in "Notes and Queries" (seventh series, vol. Vii. , p. 26). ]

and what he said was mighty weak; but my Lord Keeper I observe to be amighty able man. The business broke off without any end to it, and soI home, and thence with my wife and W. Hewer to Bartholomew fayre, andthere Polichinelli, where we saw Mrs. Clerke and all her crew; and soto a private house, and sent for a side of pig, and eat it at anacquaintance of W. Hewer's, where there was some learned physic andchymical books, and among others, a natural "Herball" very fine. Herewe staid not, but to the Duke of York's play house, and there saw"Mustapha, " which, the more I see, the more I like; and is a mostadmirable poem, and bravely acted; only both Betterton and Harris couldnot contain from laughing in the midst of a most serious part from theridiculous mistake of one of the men upon the stage; which I did notlike. Thence home, where Batelier and his sister Mary come to us and satand talked, and so, they gone, we to supper and to bed. 

5th. Up, and all the morning at the office, where we sat till noon, andthen I home to dinner, where Mary Batelier and her brother dinedwith us, who grows troublesome in his talking so much of his going toMarseilles, and what commissions he hath to execute as a factor, and adeal of do of which I am weary. After dinner, with Sir W. Pen, mywife, and Mary Batelier to the Duke of York's house, and there saw"Heraclius, " which is a good play; but they did so spoil it with theirlaughing, and being all of them out, and with the noise they made withinthe theatre, that I was ashamed of it, and resolve not to come thitheragain a good while, believing that this negligence, which I neverobserved before, proceeds only from their want of company in the pit, that they have no care how they act. My wife was ill, and so I wasforced to go out of the house with her to Lincoln's Inn walks, and therein a corner she did her business, and was by and by well, and so intothe house again, but sick of their ill acting. So home and to theoffice, where busy late, then home to supper and to bed. This morningwas told by Sir W. Batten, that he do hear from Mr. Grey, who hath goodintelligence, that our Queen is to go into a nunnery, there to spend herdays; and that my Lady Castlemayne is going into France, and is to havea pension of L4000 a-year. This latter I do more believe than the other, it being very wise in her to do it, and save all she hath, besideseasing the King and kingdom of a burden and reproach. 

6th. Up, and to Westminster to the Exchequer, and then into the Hall, and there bought "Guillim's Heraldry" for my wife, and so to the Swan, and thither come Doll Lane, and je did toucher her, and drank, and soaway, I took coach and home, where I find my wife gone to Walthamstow byinvitation with Sir W. Batten, and so I followed, taking up Mrs. Turner, and she and I much discourse all the way touching the baseness of SirW. Pen and sluttishness of his family, and how the world do suspect thathis son Lowther, who is sick of a sore mouth, has got the pox. So wecome to Sir W. Batten's, where Sir W. Pen and his Lady, and we and Mrs. Shipman, and here we walked and had an indifferent good dinner, thevictuals very good and cleanly dressed and good linen, but no fine meatat all. After dinner we went up and down the house, and I do like itvery well, being furnished with a great deal of very good goods. Andhere we staid, I tired with the company, till almost evening, and thentook leave, Turner and I together again, and my wife with [Sir] W. Pen. At Aldgate I took my wife into our coach, and so to Bartholomew fair, and there, it being very dirty, and now night, we saw a poor fellow, whose legs were tied behind his back, dance upon his hands with his arseabove his head, and also dance upon his crutches, without any legs uponthe ground to help him, which he did with that pain that I was sorry tosee it, and did pity him and give him money after he had done. Then weto see a piece of clocke-work made by an Englishman--indeed, very good, wherein all the several states of man's age, to 100 years old, is shewnvery pretty and solemne; and several other things more cheerful, and sowe ended, and took a link, the women resolving to be dirty, and walkedup and down to get a coach; and my wife, being a little before me, hadbeen like to be taken up by one, whom we saw to be Sam Hartlib. My wifehad her wizard on: yet we cannot say that he meant any hurt; for it wasas she was just by a coach-side, which he had, or had a mind to take up;and he asked her, "Madam, do you go in this coach?" but, soon as hesaw a man come to her (I know not whether he knew me) he departed awayapace. By and by did get a coach, and so away home, and there to supper, and to bed. 

7th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon home todinner, where Goodgroome was teaching my wife, and dined with us, andI did tell him of my intention to learn to trill, which he will notpromise I shall obtain, but he will do what can be done, and I amresolved to learn. All the afternoon at the office, and towards nightout by coach with my wife, she to the 'Change, and I to see the price ofa copper cisterne for the table, which is very pretty, and they demandL6 or L7 for one; but I will have one. Then called my wife at the'Change, and bought a nightgown for my wife: cost but 24s. , and so outto Mile End to drink, and so home to the office to end my letters, andso home to supper and to bed. 

8th (Lord's day). Up, and walked to St. James's; but there I find Sir W. Coventry gone from his chamber, and Mr. Wren not yet come thither. ButI up to the Duke of York, and there, after being ready, my Lord Brunckerand I had an audience, and thence with my Lord Bruncker to White Hall, and he told me, in discourse, how that, though it is true that Sir W. Coventry did long since propose to the Duke of York the leaving hisservice, as being unable to fulfill it, as he should do, now he hathso much public business, and that the Duke of York did bid him to saynothing of it, but that he would take time to please himself in anotherto come in his place; yet the Duke's doing it at this time, declaringthat he hath found out another, and this one of the Chancellor'sservants, he cannot but think was done with some displeasure, and thatit could not well be otherwise, that the Duke of York should keep onein that place, that had so eminently opposed him in the defence of hisfather-in-law, nor could the Duchesse ever endure the sight of him, to be sure. But he thinks that the Duke of York and he are partedupon clear terms of friendship. He tells me he do believe that my LadyCastlemayne is compounding with the King for a pension, and to leave theCourt; but that her demands are mighty high: but he believes the King isresolved, and so do every body else I speak with, to do all possible toplease the Parliament; and he do declare that he will deliver every bodyup to them to give an account of their actions: and that last Friday, it seems, there was an Act of Council passed, to put out all Papists inoffice, and to keep out any from coming in. I went to the King's Chapelto the closet, and there I hear Cresset sing a tenor part along with theChurch musick very handsomely, but so loud that people did laugh at him, as a thing done for ostentation. Here I met Sir G. Downing, who wouldspeak with me, and first to inquire what I paid for my kid's leathergloves I had on my hand, and shewed me others on his, as handsome, asgood in all points, cost him but 12d. A pair, and mine me 2s. He toldme he had been seven years finding out a man that could dress Englishsheepskin as it should be--and, indeed, it is now as good, in allrespects, as kid, and he says will save L100, 000 a-year, that goes outto France for kid's skins. Thus he labours very worthily to advance ourown trade, but do it with mighty vanity and talking. But then he told meof our base condition, in the treaty with Holland and France, about ourprisoners, that whereas before we did clear one another's prisoners, manfor man, and we upon the publication of the peace did release all our's, 300 at Leith, and others in other places for nothing, the Dutch dokeep theirs, and will not discharge them with[out] paying their debtsaccording to the Treaty. That his instruments in Holland, writing toour Embassadors about this to Bredagh, they answer them that they do notknow of any thing that they have done therein, but left it just asit was before. To which, when they answer, that by the treaty theirLordships had [not] bound our countrymen to pay their debts in prison, they answer they cannot help it, and we must get them off as cheap aswe can. On this score, they demand L1100 for Sir G. Ascue, and L5000 forthe one province of Zealand, for the prisoners that we have therein. Hesays that this is a piece of shame that never any nation committed, andthat our very Lords here of the Council, when he related this matter tothem, did not remember that they had agreed to this article; and swearsthat all their articles are alike, as the giving away Polleroon, andSurinam, and Nova Scotia, which hath a river 300 miles up the country, with copper mines more than Swedeland, and Newcastle coals, the onlyplace in America that hath coals that we know of; and that Cromwell didvalue those places, and would for ever have made much of them; butwe have given them away for nothing, besides a debt to the King ofDenmarke. But, which is most of all, they have discharged those veryparticular demands of merchants of the Guinny Company and others, whichhe, when he was there, had adjusted with the Dutch, and come to anagreement in writing, and they undertaken to satisfy, and that this wasdone in black and white under their hands; and yet we have forgiven allthese, and not so much as sent to Sir G. Downing to know what he haddone, or to confer with him about any one point of the treaty, butsigned to what they would have, and we here signed to whatever in grossewas brought over by Mr. Coventry. And [Sir G. Downing] tells me, just inthese words, "My Lord Chancellor had a mind to keep himself from beingquestioned by clapping up a peace upon any terms. " When I answered thatthere was other privy-councillors to be advised with besides him, andthat, therefore, this whole peace could not be laid to his charge, he answered that nobody durst say any thing at the council-table buthimself, and that the King was as much afeard of saying any thing thereas the meanest privy-councillor; and says more, that at this day theKing, in familiar talk, do call the Chancellor "the insolent man, " andsays that he would not let him speak himself in Council: which is veryhigh, and do shew that the Chancellor is like to be in a bad state, unless he can defend himself better than people think. And yet Creedtells me that he do hear that my Lord Cornbury do say that his father dolong for the coming of the Parliament, in order to his own vindication, more than any one of his enemies. And here it comes into my head to setdown what Mr. Rawlinson, whom I met in Fenchurch Street on Friday last, looking over his ruines there, told me, that he was told by one of myLord Chancellor's gentlemen lately (--------byname), that a grant comingto him to be sealed, wherein the King hath given her [Lady Castlemaine], or somebody by her means, a place which he did not like well of, he didstop the grant; saying, that he thought this woman would sell everythingshortly: which she hearing of, she sent to let him know that she haddisposed of this place, and did not doubt, in a little time, to disposeof his. This Rawlinson do tell me my Lord Chancellor's own gentleman didtell him himself. Thence, meeting Creed, I with him to the Parke, there to walk a little, and to the Queen's Chapel and there hear theirmusique, which I liked in itself pretty well as to the composition, but their voices are very harsh and rough that I thought it was someinstruments they had that made them sound so. So to White Hall, and sawthe King and Queen at dinner; and observed (which I never did before), the formality, but it is but a formality, of putting a bit of breadwiped upon each dish into the mouth of every man that brings a dish; butit should be in the sauce. Here were some Russes come to see the Kingat dinner: among others, the interpreter, a comely Englishman, in theEnvoy's own clothes; which the Envoy, it seems, in vanity did send toshow his fine clothes upon this man's back, which is one, it seems, ofa comelier presence than himself: and yet it is said that none of theirclothes are their own, but taken out of the King's own Wardrobe; andwhich they dare not bring back dirty or spotted, but clean, or arein danger of being beaten, as they say: insomuch that, Sir CharlesCotterell says, when they are to have an audience they never venture toput on their clothes till he appears to come to fetch them; and, as soonas ever they come home, put them off again. I to Sir G. Carteret'sto dinner; where Mr. Cofferer Ashburnham; who told a good story of aprisoner's being condemned at Salisbury for a small matter. While he wason the bench with his father-in-law, judge Richardson, and while theywere considering to transport him to save his life, the fellow flunga great stone at the judge, that missed him, but broke through thewainscoat. Upon this, he had his hand cut off, and was hanged presently!Here was a gentleman, one Sheres, one come lately from my Lord Sandwich, with an express; but, Lord! I was almost ashamed to see him, lest heshould know that I have not yet wrote one letter to my Lord since hisgoing. I had no discourse with him, but after dinner Sir G. Carteret andI to talk about some business of his, and so I to Mrs. Martin, where wasMrs. Burroughs, and also fine Mrs. Noble, my partner in the christeningof Martin's child, did come to see it, and there we sat and talked anhour, and then all broke up and I by coach home, and there find Mr. Pelling and Howe, and we to sing and good musique till late, and then tosupper, and Howe lay at my house, and so after supper to bed with muchcontent, only my mind a little troubled at my late breach of vowes, which however I will pay my forfeits, though the badness of my eyes, making me unfit to read or write long, is my excuse, and do put meupon other pleasures and employment which I should refrain from inobservation of my vowes. 

9th. Up; and to the office, where all the morning, and at noon comesCreed to dine with me. After dinner, he and I and my wife to theBear-Garden, to see a prize fought there. But, coming too soon, I leftthem there and went on to White Hall, and there did some business withthe Lords of the Treasury; and here do hear, by Tom Killigrew andMr. Progers, that for certain news is come of Harman's having spoilednineteen of twenty-two French ships, somewhere about the Barbadoes, I think they said; but wherever it is, it is a good service, and verywelcome. Here I fell in talk with Tom Killigrew about musick, and hetells me that he will bring me to the best musick in England (of which, indeed, he is master), and that is two Italians and Mrs. Yates, who, hesays, is come to sing the Italian manner as well as ever he heard any:says that Knepp won't take pains enough, but that she understands herpart so well upon the stage, that no man or woman in the House do thelike. Thence I by water to the Bear-Garden, where now the yard was fullof people, and those most of them seamen, striving by force to get in, that I was afeard to be seen among them, but got into the ale-house, andso by a back-way was put into the bull-house, where I stood a good whileall alone among the bulls, and was afeard I was among the bears, too;but by and by the door opened, and I got into the common pit; and there, with my cloak about my face, I stood and saw the prize fought, till oneof them, a shoemaker, was so cut in both his wrists that he could notfight any longer, and then they broke off: his enemy was a butcher. Thesport very good, and various humours to be seen among the rabble that isthere. Thence carried Creed to White Hall, and there my wife and I tookcoach and home, and both of us to Sir W. Batten's, to invite them todinner on Wednesday next, having a whole buck come from Hampton Court, by the warrant which Sir Stephen Fox did give me. And so home to supperand to bed, after a little playing on the flageolet with my wife, who dooutdo therein whatever I expected of her. 

10th. Up, and all the morning at the Office, where little to do butbemoan ourselves under the want of money; and indeed little is, or canbe done, for want of money, we having not now received one penny for anyservice in many weeks, and none in view to receive, saving for paying ofsome seamen's wages. At noon sent to by my Lord Bruncker to speak withhim, and it was to dine with him and his Lady Williams (which I have notnow done in many months at their own table) and Mr. Wren, who is cometo dine with them, the first time he hath been at the office since hisbeing the Duke of York's Secretary. Here we sat and eat and talked andof some matters of the office, but his discourse is as yet but weak inthat matter, and no wonder, he being new in it, but I fear he will notgo about understanding with the impatience that Sir W. Coventry did. Having dined, I away, and with my wife and Mercer, set my wife down atthe 'Change, and the other at White Hall, and I to St. James's, where weall met, and did our usual weekly business with the Duke of York. But, Lord! methinks both he and we are mighty flat and dull over what weused to be, when Sir W. Coventry was among us. Thence I into St. James'sPark, and there met Mr. Povy; and he and I to walk an hour or more inthe Pell Mell, talking of the times. He tells me, among other things, that this business of the Chancellor do breed a kind of inward distancebetween the King and the Duke of York, and that it cannot be avoided;for though the latter did at first move it through his folly, yet he ismade to see that he is wounded by it, and is become much a less man thanhe was, and so will be: but he tells me that they are, and have alwaysbeen, great dissemblers one towards another; and that their partingheretofore in France is never to be thoroughly reconciled between them. He tells me that he believes there is no such thing like to be, as acomposition with my Lady Castlemayne, and that she shall be got out ofthe way before the Parliament comes; for he says she is as high as evershe was, though he believes the King is as weary of her as is possible, and would give any thing to remove her, but he is so weak in his passionthat he dare not do it; that he do believe that my Lord Chancellor willbe doing some acts in the Parliament which shall render him popular;and that there are many people now do speak kindly of him that did notbefore; but that, if he do do this, it must provoke the King, and thatparty that removed him. He seems to doubt what the King of France willdo, in case an accommodation shall be made between Spain and him forFlanders, for then he will have nothing more easy to do with his armythan to subdue us. Parted with him at White Hall, and, there I tookcoach and took up my wife and Mercer, and so home and I to the office, where ended my letters, and then to my chamber with my boy to lay upsome papers and things that lay out of order against to-morrow, to makeit clear against the feast that I am to have. Here Mr. Pelling come tosit with us, and talked of musique and the musicians of the town, and soto bed, after supper. 

11th. Up, and with Mr. Gawden to the Exchequer. By the way, he tells methis day he is to be answered whether he must hold Sheriffe or no; forhe would not hold unless he may keep it at his office, which is out ofthe city (and so my Lord Mayor must come with his sword down, wheneverhe comes thither), which he do, because he cannot get a house fit forhim in the city, or else he will fine for it. Among others that theyhave in nomination for Sheriffe, one is little Chaplin, who was hisservant, and a very young man to undergo that place; but as the cityis now, there is no great honour nor joy to be had, in being a publicofficer. At the Exchequer I looked after my business, and when done wenthome to the 'Change, and there bought a case of knives for dinner, and adish of fruit for 5s. , and bespoke other things, and then home, and hereI find all things in good order, and a good dinner towards. Anon comesSir W. Batten and his lady, and Mr. Griffith, their ward, and Sir W. Penand his lady, and Mrs. Lowther, who is grown, either through pride orwant of manners, a fool, having not a word to say almost all dinner;and, as a further mark of a beggarly, proud fool, hath a bracelet ofdiamonds and rubies about her wrist, and a sixpenny necklace abouther neck, and not one good rag of clothes upon her back; and Sir JohnChichly in their company, and Mrs. Turner. Here I had an extraordinarygood and handsome dinner for them, better than any of them deserve orunderstand, saving Sir John Chichly and Mrs. Turner, and not much mirth, only what I by discourse made, and that against my genius. After dinnerI took occasion to break up the company soon as I could, and all parted, Sir W. Batten and I by water to White Hall, there to speak with theCommissioners of the Treasury, who are mighty earnest for our hasteningall that may be the paying off of the Seamen, now there is money, andare considering many other thins for easing of charge, which I am gladof, but vexed to see that J. Duncomb should be so pressing in it as ifnone of us had like care with him. Having done there, I by coach tothe Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw part of "The UngratefullLovers;" and sat by Beck Marshall, who is very handsome near hand. HereI met Mrs. Turner and my wife as we agreed, and together home, and theremy wife and I part of the night at the flageolet, which she plays nowany thing upon almost at first sight and in good time. But here come Mr. Moore, and sat and discoursed with me of publique matters: the sum ofwhich is, that he do doubt that there is more at the bottom than theremoval of the Chancellor; that is, he do verily believe that the Kingdo resolve to declare the Duke of Monmouth legitimate, and that we shallsoon see it. This I do not think the Duke of York will endure withoutblows; but his poverty, and being lessened by having the Chancellorfallen and [Sir] W. Coventry gone from him, will disable him from beingable to do any thing almost, he being himself almost lost in the esteemof people; and will be more and more, unless my Lord Chancellor, who isalready begun to be pitied by some people, and to be better thought ofthan was expected, do recover himself in Parliament. He would seem tofear that this difference about the Crowne (if there be nothingelse) will undo us. He do say that, that is very true; that my Lord[Chancellor] did lately make some stop of some grants of L2000 a-yearto my Lord Grandison, which was only in his name, for the use of my LadyCastlemaine's children; and that this did incense her, and she did speakvery scornful words, and sent a scornful message to him about it. Hegone, after supper, I to bed, being mightily pleased with my wife'splaying so well upon the flageolet, and I am resolved she shall learnto play upon some instrument, for though her eare be bad, yet I see shewill attain any thing to be done by her hand. 

12th. Up, and at the office all the morning till almost noon, and thenI rode from the office (which I have not done five times I think sinceI come thither) and to the Exchequer for some tallies for Tangier; andthat being done, to the Dog taverne, and there I spent half a piece uponthe clerks, and so away, and I to Mrs. Martin's, but she not at home, but staid and drunk with her sister and landlady, and by that time itwas time to go to a play, which I did at the Duke's house, where "TuQuoque" was the first time acted, with some alterations of Sir W. Davenant's; but the play is a very silly play, methinks; for I, andothers that sat by me, Mr. Povy and Mr. Progers, were weary of it; butit will please the citizens. My wife also was there, I having sent forher to meet me there, and W. Hewer. After the play we home, and thereI to the office and despatched my business, and then home, and mightilypleased with my wife's playing on the flageolet, she taking out anytune almost at first sight, and keeping time to it, which pleases memightily. So to supper and to bed. 

13th. Called up by people come to deliver in ten chaldron of coals, brought in one of our prizes from Newcastle. The rest we intend to sell, we having above ten chaldron between us. They sell at about 28s. Or 29s. Per chaldron; but Sir W. Batten hath sworn that he was a cuckold thatsells under 30s. , and that makes us lay up all but what we have for ourown spending, which is very pleasant; for I believe we shall be glad tosell them for less. To the office, and there despatched business tillten o'clock, and then with Sir W. Batten and my wife and Mrs. Turner byhackney-coach to Walthamstow, to Mr. Shipman's to dinner, where Sir W. Pen and my Lady and Mrs. Lowther (the latter of which hath got a sorenose, given her, I believe, from her husband, which made me I could notlook upon her with any pleasure), and here a very good and plentifullwholesome dinner, and, above all thing, such plenty of milk meats, shekeeping a great dairy, and so good as I never met with. The afternoonproved very foul weather, the morning fair. We staid talking tillevening, and then home, and there to my flageolet with my wife, and soto bed without any supper, my belly being full and dinner not digested. It vexed me to hear how Sir W. Pen, who come alone from London, being tosend his coachman for his wife and daughter, and bidding his coachman inmuch anger to go for them (he being vexed, like a rogue, to do anythingto please his wife), his coachman Tom was heard to say a pox, or God rother, can she walk hither? These words do so mad me that I could find inmy heart to give him or my Lady notice of them. 

14th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy. At noon comesMr. Pierce and dined with me to advise about several matters of hisrelating to the office and his purse, and here he told me that the Kingand Duke of York and the whole Court is mighty joyful at the Duchesse ofYork's being brought to bed this day, or yesterday, of a son; which willsettle men's minds mightily. And he tells me that he do think that whatthe King do, of giving the Duke of Monmouth the command of hisGuards, and giving my Lord Gerard L12, 000 for it, is merely to find anemployment for him upon which he may live, and not out of any design tobring him into any title to the Crowne; which Mr. Moore did the otherday put me into great fear of. After dinner, he gone, my wife to theKing's play-house to see "The Northerne Castle, " which I think I neverdid see before. Knipp acted in it, and did her part very extraordinarywell; but the play is but a mean, sorry play; but the house very full ofgallants. It seems, it hath not been acted a good while. Thence to theExchange for something for my wife, and then home and to the office, andthen home to our flageolet, and so to bed, being mightily troubled inmind at the liberty I give myself of going to plays upon pretence of theweakness of my eyes, that cannot continue so long together at work at myoffice, but I must remedy it. 

15th (Lord's day). Up to my chamber, there to set some papers to rights. By and by to church, where I stood, in continual fear of Mrs. Markham'scoming to church, and offering to come into our pew, to prevent which, soon as ever I heard the great door open, I did step back, and clap mybreech to our pew-door, that she might be forced to shove me to comein; but as God would have it, she did not come. Mr. Mills preached, andafter sermon, by invitation, he and his wife come to dine with me, whichis the first time they have been in my house; I think, these five years, I thinking it not amiss, because of their acquaintance in our country, to shew them some respect. Mr. Turner and his wife, and their son theCaptain, dined with me, and I had a very good dinner for them, and verymerry, and after dinner, he [Mr. Mills] was forced to go, though itrained, to Stepney, to preach. We also to church, and then home, andthere comes Mr. Pelling, with two men, by promise, one Wallington andPiggott, the former whereof, being a very little fellow, did sing a mostexcellent bass, and yet a poor fellow, a working goldsmith, that goeswithout gloves to his hands. Here we sung several good things, but I ammore and more confirmed that singing with many voices is not singing, but a sort of instrumental musique, the sense of the words being lostby not being heard, and especially as they set them with Fuges of words, one after another, whereas singing properly, I think, should be but withone or two voices at most and the counterpoint. They supped with me, andso broke, up, and then my wife and I to my chamber, where, through thebadness of my eyes, she was forced to read to me, which she do verywell, and was Mr. Boyle's discourse upon the style of the Scripture, 'which is a very fine piece, and so to bed. 

16th. Up, and several come to me, among others Mr. Yeabsly of Plymouth, to discourse about their matters touching Tangier, and by and by SirH. Cholmly, who was with me a good while; who tells me that the Dukeof York's child is christened, the Duke of Albemarle and the Marquisof Worcester' godfathers, and my Lady Suffolke godmother; and they havenamed it Edgar, which is a brave name. But it seems they are more joyfulin the Chancellor's family, at the birth of this Prince, than in wisdomthey should, for fear it should give the King cause of jealousy. SirH. Cholmly do not seem to think there is any such thing can be in theKing's intention as that of raising the Duke of Monmouth to the Crowne, though he thinks there may possibly be some persons that would, andothers that would be glad to have the Queen removed to some monastery, or somewhere or other, to make room for a new wife; for they will allbe unsafe under the Duke of York. He says the King and Parliament willagree; that is, that the King will do any thing that they will have him. We together to the Exchequer about our Tangier orders, and so parted atthe New Exchange, where I staid reading Mrs. Phillips's poems till mywife and Mercer called me to Mrs. Pierces, by invitation to dinner, where I find her painted, which makes me loathe her, and the nastiestpoor dinner that made me sick, only here I met with a Fourth Advice tothe Painter upon the coming in of the Dutch to the River and end of thewar, that made my heart ake to read, it being too sharp, and so true. Here I also saw a printed account of the examinations taken, touchingthe burning of the City of London, shewing the plot of the Papiststherein; which, it seems, hath been ordered and to have been burnt bythe hands of the hangman, in Westminster Palace. I will try to get oneof them. After dinner she showed us her closet, which is pretty, withher James's picture done by Hales, but with a mighty bad hand, which ishis great fault that he do do negligently, and the drapery also notvery good. Being tired of being here, and sick of their damned sluttishdinner, my wife and Mercer and I away to the King's play-house, to seethe "Scornfull Lady;" but it being now three o'clock there was not onesoul in the pit; whereupon, for shame, we would not go in, but, againstour wills, went all to see "Tu Quoque" again, where there is a prettystore of company, and going with a prejudice the play appeared betterto us. Here we saw Madam Morland, who is grown mighty fat, but is verycomely. But one of the best arts of our sport was a mighty pretty ladythat sat behind, that did laugh so heartily and constantly, that it didme good to hear her. Thence to the King's house, upon a wager of minewith my wife, that there would be no acting there today, there beingno company: so I went in and found a pretty good company there, and sawtheir dance at the end of he play, and so to the coach again, and to theCock ale house, and there drank in our coach, and so home, and my wiferead to me as last night, and so to bed vexed with our dinner to-day, and myself more with being convinced that Mrs. Pierce paints, so thathenceforth to be sure I shall loathe her. 

17th. Up, and at the office all the morning, where Mr. Wren come to usand sat with us, only to learn, and do intend to come once or twice aweek and sit with us. In the afternoon walked to the Old Swan, the waymighty dirty, and there called at Michell's, and there had opportunitypara kiss su moher, but elle did receive it with a great deal of seemingregret, which did vex me. But however I do not doubt overcoming her asI did the moher of the monsieur at Deptford. So thence by water toWestminster, to Burgess, and there did receive my orders for L1500 morefor Tangier. Thence to the Hall, and there talked a little with Mrs. Michell, and so to Mrs. Martin's to pay for my cuffs and drink withher.... And by and by away by coach and met with Sir H. Cholmly, andwith him to the Temple, and there in Playford's shop did give him someof my Exchequer orders and took his receipts, and so parted and home, and there to my business hard at the office, and then home, my wifebeing at Mrs. Turner's, who and her husband come home with her, and herestaid and talked and staid late, and then went away and we to bed. Butthat which vexed me much this evening is that Captain Cocke and Sir W. Batten did come to me, and sat, and drank a bottle of wine, and told mehow Sir W. Pen hath got an order for the "Flying Greyhound" for himself, which is so false a thing, and the part of a knave, as nothing almostcan be more. This vexed me; but I resolve to bring it before the Duke, and try a pull for it. 

18th. Up betimes and to Captain Cocke, in his coach which he sent forme, and he not being ready I walked in the Exchange, which is now madepretty, by having windows and doors before all their shops, to keepout the cold. By and by to him, and he being ready, he and I out in hiscoach to my Lord Chancellor's; there to Mr. Wren's chamber, who did tellus the whole of Sir W. Pen's having the order for this ship of ours, and we went with him to St. James's, and there I did see the copy of it, which is built upon a suggestion of his having given the King a shipof his, "The Prosperous, " wherein is such a cheat as I have the bestadvantage in the world over him, and will make him do reason, or lay himon his back. This I was very glad of, and having done as far as I couldin it we returned, and I home, and there at the office all the morning, and at noon with my Lord Bruncker to the Treasurer's office to look overthe clerks who are there making up the books, but in such a manner as itis a shame to see. Then home to dinner, and after dinner, my mind mightyfull of this business of Sir W. Pen's, to the office, and there busy allthe afternoon. This evening Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen and I met at[Sir] W. Batten's house, and there I took an opportunity to break thebusiness, at which [Sir] W. Pen is much disturbed, and would excuse itthe most he can, but do it so basely, that though he do offer to let gohis pretence to her, and resign up his order for her, and come in onlyto ask his share of her (which do very well please me, and give mepresent satisfaction), yet I shall remember him for a knave while Ilive. But thus my mind is quieted for the present more than I thoughtI should be, and am glad that I shall have no need of bidding him opendefiance, which I would otherwise have done, and made a perpetual warbetween us. So to the office, and there busy pretty late, and so homeand to supper with my wife, and so to bed. 

19th. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon home to dinner, W. Hewer and I and my wife, when comes my cozen, Kate Joyce, and an aunt ofours, Lettice, formerly Haynes, and now Howlett, come to town to see herfriends, and also Sarah Kite, with her little boy in her armes, a verypretty little boy. The child I like very well, and could wish it my own. My wife being all unready, did not appear. I made as much of them asI could such ordinary company; and yet my heart was glad to see them, though their condition was a little below my present state, to befamiliar with. She tells me how the lifeguard, which we thought a littlewhile since was sent down into the country about some insurrection, was sent to Winchcombe, to spoil the tobacco there, which it seems thepeople there do plant contrary to law, and have always done, and stillbeen under force and danger of having it spoiled, as it hath beenoftentimes, and yet they will continue to plant it. 

 [Winchcombe St. Peter, a market-town in Gloucestershire. Tobacco was first cultivated in this parish, after its introduction into England, in 1583, and it proved, a considerable source of profit to the inhabitants, till the trade was placed under restrictions. The cultivation was first prohibited during the Commonwealth, and various acts were passed in the reign of Charles II. For the same purpose. Among the king's pamphlets in the British Museum is a tract entitled "Harry Hangman's Honour, or Glostershire Hangman's Request to the Smokers and Tobacconists of London, " dated June 11th, 1655. The author writes: "The very planting of tobacco hath proved the decay of my trade, for since it hath been planted in Glostershire, especially at Winchcomb, my trade hath proved nothing worth. " He adds: "Then 'twas a merry world with me, for indeed before tobacco was there planted, there being no kind of trade to employ men, and very small tillage, necessity compelled poor men to stand my friends by stealing of sheep and other cattel, breaking of hedges, robbing of orchards, and what not. "]

The place, she says, is a miserable poor place. They gone, I to theoffice, where all the afternoon very busy, and at night, when my eyeswere weary of the light, I and my wife to walk in the garden, and thenhome to supper and pipe, and then to bed. 

20th. At the office doing business all the morning. At noon expectedCreed to have come to dine with me and brought Mr. Sheres (the gentlemanlately come from my Lord Sandwich) with him; but they come not, sothere was a good dinner lost. After dinner my wife and Jane about somebusiness of hers abroad, and then I to the office, where, having donemy business, I out to pay some debts: among others to the taverne at theend of Billiter Lane, where my design was to see the pretty mistress ofthe house, which I did, and indeed is, as I always thought, one of themodestest, prettiest, plain women that ever I saw. Thence was met in thestreet by Sir W. Pen, and he and I by coach to the King's playhouse, andthere saw "The Mad Couple, " which I do not remember that I have seen; itis a pretty pleasant play. Thence home, and my wife and I to walk in thegarden, she having been at the same play with Jane, in the 18d. Seat, toshew Jane the play, and so home to supper and to bed. 

21st. All the morning at the office, dined at home, and expected Sheresagain, but he did not come, so another dinner lost by the folly ofCreed. After having done some business at the office, I out with mywife to Sheres's lodging and left an invitation for him to dine withme tomorrow, and so back and took up my wife at the Exchange, and thenkissed Mrs. Smith's pretty hand, and so with my wife by coach to takesome ayre (but the way very dirty) as far as Bow, and so drinking (asusual) at Mile End of Byde's ale, we home and there busy at my letterstill late, and so to walk by moonshine with my wife, and so to bed. TheKing, Duke of York, and the men of the Court, have been these four orfive days a-hunting at Bagshot. 

22nd (Lord's day). At my chamber all the morning making up someaccounts, to my great content. At noon comes Mr. Sheres, whom I find agood, ingenious man, but do talk a little too much of his travels. Heleft my Lord Sandwich well, but in pain to be at home for want of money, which comes very hardly. Most of the afternoon talking of Spain, andinforming him against his return how things are here, and so spent mostof the afternoon, and then he parted, and then to my chamber busy tillmy eyes were almost blind with writing and reading, and I was fain toget the boy to come and write for me, and then to supper, and Pellingcome to me at supper, and then to sing a Psalm with him, and so partedand to bed, after my wife had read some thing to me (to save my eyes)in a good book. This night I did even my accounts of the house, whichI have to my great shame omitted now above two months or more, andtherefore am content to take my wife's and mayd's accounts as they givethem, being not able to correct them, which vexes me; but the faultbeing my own, contrary to my wife's frequent desires, I cannot findfault, but am resolved never to let them come to that pass again. Thetruth is, I have indulged myself more in pleasure for these last twomonths than ever I did in my life before, since I come to be a personconcerned in business; and I doubt, when I come to make up my accounts, I shall find it so by the expence. 

23rd. Up, and walked to the Exchange, there to get a coach but failed, and so was forced to walk a most dirty walk to the Old Swan, and theretook boat, and so to the Exchange, and there took coach to St. James'sand did our usual business with the Duke of York. Thence I walked overthe Park to White Hall and took water to Westminster, and there, amongother things, bought the examinations of the business about the Fire ofLondon, which is a book that Mrs. Pierce tells me hath been commanded tobe burnt. The examinations indeed are very plain. Thence to the Exciseoffice, and so to the Exchange, and did a little business, and so homeand took up my wife, and so carried her to the other end, where I 'lightat my Lord Ashly's, by invitation, to dine there, which I did, andSir H. Cholmly, Creed, and Yeabsly, upon occasion of the business ofYeabsly, who, God knows, do bribe him very well for it; and it is prettyto see how this great man do condescend to these things, and do all hecan in his examining of his business to favour him, and yet with greatcunning not to be discovered but by me that am privy to it. At table itis worth remembering that my Lord tells us that the House of Lords isthe last appeal that a man can make, upon a poynt of interpretation ofthe law, and that therein they are above the judges; and that he didassert this in the Lords' House upon the late occasion of the quarrelbetween my Lord Bristoll and the Chancellor, when the former did accusethe latter of treason, and the judges did bring it in not to be treason:my Lord Ashly did declare that the judgment of the judges was nothingin the presence of their Lordships, but only as far as they were theproperest men to bring precedents; but not to interpret the law to theirLordships, but only the inducements of their persuasions: and this theLords did concur in. Another pretty thing was my Lady Ashly's speakingof the bad qualities of glass-coaches; among others, the flying openof the doors upon any great shake: but another was, that my LadyPeterborough being in her glass-coach, with the glass up, and seeing alady pass by in a coach whom she would salute, the glass was so clear, that she thought it had been open, and so ran her head through theglass, and cut all her forehead! After dinner, before we fell to theexamination of Yeabsly's business, we were put into my Lord's roombefore he could come to us, and there had opportunity to look over hisstate of his accounts of the prizes; and there saw how bountiful theKing hath been to several people and hardly any man almost, Commander ofthe Navy of any note, but hath had some reward or other out of it; andmany sums to the Privy-purse, but not so many, I see, as I thoughtthere had been: but we could not look quite through it. But severalBedchamber-men and people about the Court had good sums; and, amongothers, Sir John Minnes and Lord Bruncker have L200 a-piece for lookingto the East India prizes, while I did their work for them. By and by myLord come, and we did look over Yeabsly's business a little; and I findhow prettily this cunning Lord can be partial and dissemble it in thiscase, being privy to the bribe he is to receive. This done; we away, andwith Sir H. Cholmly to Westminster; who by the way told me how merrythe king and Duke of York and Court were the other day, when they wereabroad a-hunting. They come to Sir G. Carteret's house at Cranbourne, and there were entertained, and all made drunk; and that all beingdrunk, Armerer did come to the King, and swore to him, "By God, Sir, "says he, "you are not so kind to the Duke of York of late as you usedto be. "--"Not I?" says the King. "Why so?"--"Why, " says he, "if you are, let us drink his health. "--"Why, let us, " says the King. Then he fellon his knees, and drank it; and having done, the King began to drink it. "Nay, Sir, " says Armerer, "by God you must do it on your knees!" So hedid, and then all the company: and having done it, all fell a-cryingfor joy, being all maudlin and kissing one another, the King the Dukeof York, and the Duke of York the King: and in such a maudlin pickle asnever people were: and so passed the day. But Sir H. Cholmly tells me, that the King hath this good luck, that the next day he hates to haveany body mention what he had done the day before, nor will suffer anybody to gain upon him that way; which is a good quality. Parted with SirH. Cholmly at White Hall, and there I took coach and took up my wife atUnthanke's, and so out for ayre, it being a mighty pleasant day, as faras Bow, and so drank by the way, and home, and there to my chamber tillby and by comes Captain Cocke about business; who tells me that Mr. Bruncker is lost for ever, notwithstanding my Lord Bruncker hath advisedwith him, Cocke, how he might make a peace with the Duke of York andChancellor, upon promise of serving him in the Parliament but Cocke saysthat is base to offer, and will have no success neither. He saysthat Mr. Wren hath refused a present of Tom Wilson's for his place ofStore-keeper of Chatham, and is resolved never to take any thing; whichis both wise in him, and good to the King's service. He stayed with mevery late, here being Mrs. Turner and W. Batelier drinking and laughing, and then to bed. 

24th. Up, and to the Office, where all the morning very busy. At noonhome, where there dined with me Anthony Joyce and his wife, and Willand his wife, and my aunt Lucett, that was here the other day, and SarahKite, and I had a good dinner for them, and were as merry as I couldbe in that company where W. Joyce is, who is still the same impertinentfellow that ever he was. After dinner I away to St. James's, where wehad an audience of the Duke of York of many things of weight, as theconfirming an establishment of the numbers of men on ships in peace andother things of weight, about which we stayed till past candle-light, and so Sir W. Batten and W. Pen and I fain to go all in a hackney-coachround by London Wall, for fear of cellars, this being the first time Ihave been forced to go that way this year, though now I shall begin touse it. We tired one coach upon Holborne-Conduit Hill, and got another, and made it a long journey home. Where to the office and then home, andat my business till twelve at night, writing in short hand the draughtof a report to make to the King and Council to-morrow, about the reasonof not having the book of the Treasurer made up. This I did finishto-night to the spoiling of my eyes, I fear. This done, then to bed. This evening my wife tells me that W. Batelier hath been here to-day, and brought with him the pretty girl he speaks of, to come to servemy wife as a woman, out of the school at Bow. My wife says she isextraordinary handsome, and inclines to have her, and I am glad ofit--at least, that if we must have one, she should be handsome. But Ishall leave it wholly to my wife, to do what she will therein. 

25th. Up as soon as I could see and to the office to write over fairwith Mr. Hater my last night's work, which I did by nine o'clock, andgot it signed, and so with Sir H. Cholmly, who come to me about hisbusiness, to White Hall: and thither come also my Lord Bruncker: and weby and by called in, and our paper read; and much discourse thereon bySir G. Carteret, my Lord Anglesey, Sir W. Coventry, and my Lord Ashly, and myself: but I could easily discern that they none of them understoodthe business; and the King at last ended it with saying lazily, "Why, "says he, "after all this discourse, I now come to understand it; andthat is, that there can nothing be done in this more than is possible, "which was so silly as I never heard: "and therefore, " says he, "I wouldhave these gentlemen to do as much as possible to hasten the Treasurer'saccounts; and that is all. " And so we broke up: and I confess I wentaway ashamed, to see how slightly things are advised upon there. HereI saw the Duke of Buckingham sit in Council again, where he wasre-admitted, it seems, the last Council-day: and it is wonderful tosee how this man is come again to his places, all of them, after thereproach and disgrace done him: so that things are done in a mostfoolish manner quite through. The Duke of Buckingham did second Sir W. Coventry in the advising the King that he would not concern himself inthe owning or not owning any man's accounts, or any thing else, whereinhe had not the same satisfaction that would satisfy the Parliament;saying, that nothing would displease the Parliament more than to findhim defending any thing that is not right, nor justifiable to the utmostdegree but methought he spoke it but very poorly. After this, I walkedup and down the Gallery till noon; and here I met with Bishop Fuller, who, to my great joy, is made, which I did not hear before, Bishopof Lincoln. At noon I took coach, and to Sir G. Carteret's, inLincoln's-Inn-Fields, to the house that is my Lord's, which my Lord letshim have: and this is the first day of dining there. And there dinedwith him and his lady my Lord Privy-seale, who is indeed a very soberman; who, among other talk, did mightily wonder at the reason of thegrowth of the credit of banquiers, since it is so ordinary a thing forcitizens to break, out of knavery. Upon this we had much discourse; andI observed therein, to the honour of this City, that I have not heard ofone citizen of London broke in all this war, this plague, this fire, and this coming up of the enemy among us; which he owned to be veryconsiderable. 

 [This remarkable fact is confirmed by Evelyn, in a letter to Sir Samuel Tuke, September 27th, 1666. See "Correspondence, " vol. Iii. , p. 345, edit. 1879. ]

After dinner I to the King's playhouse, my eyes being so bad since lastnight's straining of them, that I am hardly able to see, besides thepain which I have in them. The play was a new play; and infinitely full:the King and all the Court almost there. It is "The Storme, " a playof Fletcher's;' which is but so-so, methinks; only there is a mostadmirable dance at the end, of the ladies, in a military manner, whichindeed did please me mightily. So, it being a mighty wet day and night, I with much ado got a coach, and, with twenty stops which he made, I gothim to carry me quite through, and paid dear for it, and so home, andthere comes my wife home from the Duke of York's playhouse, where shehath been with my aunt and Kate Joyce, and so to supper, and betimes tobed, to make amends for my last night's work and want of sleep. 

26th. Up, and to my chamber, whither Jonas Moore comes, and, among otherthings, after our business done, discoursing of matters of the office, I shewed him my varnished things, which he says he can outdo much, andtells me the mighty use of Napier's bones;

 [John Napier or Neper (1550-1617), laird of Merchiston (now swallowed up in the enlarged Edinburgh of to-day, although the old castle still stands), and the inventor of logarithms. He published his "Rabdologiae seu numerationis per virgulas libri duo" in 1617, and the work was reprinted and translated into Italian (1623) and Dutch (1626). In 1667 William Leybourn published "The Art of Numbering by Speaking Rods, vulgarly termed Napier's Bones. "]

so that I will have a pair presently. To the office, where busy allthe morning sitting, and at noon home to dinner, and then with my wifeabroad to the King's playhouse, to shew her yesterday's new play, whichI like as I did yesterday, the principal thing extraordinary being thedance, which is very good. So to Charing Cross by coach, about my wife'sbusiness, and then home round by London Wall, it being very dark anddirty, and so to supper, and, for the ease of my eyes, to bed, havingfirst ended all my letters at the office. 

27th. Up, and to the office, where very busy all the morning. While Iwas busy at the Office, my wife sends for me to come home, and what wasit but to see the pretty girl which she is taking to wait upon her: andthough she seems not altogether so great a beauty as she had before toldme, yet indeed she is mighty pretty; and so pretty, that I find I shallbe too much pleased with it, and therefore could be contented as to myjudgement, though not to my passion, that she might not come, lest I maybe found too much minding her, to the discontent of my wife. She isto come next week. She seems, by her discourse, to be grave beyond herbigness and age, and exceeding well bred as to her deportment, havingbeen a scholar in a school at Bow these seven or eight years. To theoffice again, my head running on this pretty girl, and there till noon, when Creed and Sheres come and dined with me; and we had a great dealof pretty discourse of the ceremoniousness of the Spaniards, whoseceremonies are so many and so known, that, Sheres tells me, upon alloccasions of joy or sorrow in a Grandee's family, my Lord Embassador isfain to send one with an 'en hora buena', if it be upon a marriage, orbirth of a child, or a 'pesa me', if it be upon the death of a child, or so. And these ceremonies are so set, and the words of the compliment, that he hath been sent from my Lord, when he hath done no more than sendin word to the Grandee that one was there from the Embassador; and heknowing what was his errand, that hath been enough, and he never spokenwith him: nay, several Grandees having been to marry a daughter, havewrote letters to my Lord to give him notice, and out of the greatness ofhis wisdom to desire his advice, though people he never saw; and then myLord he answers by commending the greatness of his discretion in makingso good an alliance, &c. , and so ends. He says that it is so far fromdishonour to a man to give private revenge for an affront, that thecontrary is a disgrace; they holding that he that receives an affrontis not fit to appear in the sight of the world till he hath revengedhimself; and therefore, that a gentleman there that receives an affrontoftentimes never appears again in the world till he hath, by someprivate way or other, revenged himself: and that, on this account, several have followed their enemies privately to the Indys, thence toItaly, thence to France and back again, watching for an opportunity tobe revenged. He says my Lord was fain to keep a letter from the Duke ofYork to the Queen of Spain a great while in his hands, before he couldthink fit to deliver it, till he had learnt whether the Queen wouldreceive it, it being directed to his cozen. He says that many ladies inSpain, after they are found to be with child, do never stir out of theirbeds or chambers till they are brought to bed: so ceremonious they arein that point also. He tells me of their wooing by serenades at thewindow, and that their friends do always make the match; but yet thatthey have opportunities to meet at masse at church, and there they makelove: that the Court there hath no dancing, nor visits at night to seethe King or Queen, but is always just like a cloyster, nobody stirringin it: that my Lord Sandwich wears a beard now, turned up in the Spanishmanner. But that which pleases me most indeed is, that the peace whichhe hath made with Spain is now printed here, and is acknowledged by allthe merchants to be the best peace that ever England had with them: andit appears that the King thinks it so, for this is printed before theratification is gone over; whereas that with France and Holland wasnot in a good while after, till copys come over of it in English out ofHolland and France, that it was a reproach not to have it printed here. This I am mighty glad of; and is the first and only piece of good news, or thing fit to be owned, that this nation hath done several years. After dinner I to the office, and they gone, anon comes Pelling, and heand I to Gray's Inne Fields, thinking to have heard Mrs. Knight sing ather lodgings, by a friend's means of his;

 [Mrs. Knight, a celebrated singer and mistress of Charles II. There is in Waller's "Poems" a song sung by her to the queen on her birthday. In her portrait, engraved by Faber, after Kneller, she is represented in mourning, and in a devout posture before a crucifix. Evelyn refers to her singing as incomparable, and adds that she had "the greatest reach of any English woman; she had been lately roaming in Italy, and was much improv'd in that quality" ("Diary, " December 2nd, 1674). ]

but we come too late; so must try another time. So lost our labour, andI by coach home, and there to my chamber, and did a great deal of goodbusiness about my Tangier accounts, and so with pleasure discoursingwith my wife of our journey shortly to Brampton, and of this littlegirle, which indeed runs in my head, and pleases me mightily, though Idare not own it, and so to supper and to bed. 

28th. Up, having slept not so much to-night as I used to do, for mythoughts being so full of this pretty little girle that is coming tolive with us, which pleases me mightily. All the morning at the Office, busy upon an Order of Council, wherein they are mightily at a loss whatto advise about our discharging of seamen by ticket, there being nomoney to pay their wages before January, only there is money to paythem since January, provided by the Parliament, which will be a horriddisgrace to the King and Crowne of England that no man shall reckonhimself safe, but where the Parliament takes care. And this did move Mr. Wren at the table to-day to say, that he did believe if ever there beoccasion more to raise money, it will become here, as it is in Poland, that there are two treasurers--one for the King, and the other for thekingdom. At noon dined at home, and Mr. Hater with me, and Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, dropped in, who I feared did come to bespeak me to begodfather to his son, which I am unwilling now to be, having ended myliking to his wife, since I find she paints. After dinner comes Sir Fr. Hollis to me about business; and I with him by coach to the Temple, andthere I 'light; all the way he telling me romantic lies of himself andhis family, how they have been Parliamentmen for Grimsby, he and hisforefathers, this 140 years; and his father is now: and himself, atthis day, stands for to be, with his father, by the death of hisfellow-burgess; and that he believes it will cost him as much as it didhis predecessor, which was L300 in ale, and L52 in buttered ale; whichI believe is one of his devilish lies. Here I 'light and to the Duke ofYork's playhouse, and there saw a piece of "Sir Martin Marrall, " withgreat delight, though I have seen it so often, and so home, and therebusy late, and so home to my supper and bed. 

29th (Lord's day). Up, and put off first my summer's silk suit, and puton a cloth one. Then to church, and so home to dinner, my wife and Ialone to a good dinner. All the afternoon talking in my chamber with mywife, about my keeping a coach the next year, and doing some things tomy house, which will cost money--that is, furnish our best chamberwith tapestry, and other rooms with pictures. In the evening readgood books--my wife to me; and I did even my kitchen accounts. Then tosupper, and so to bed. 

30th. By water to White Hall, there to a committee of Tangier, but theynot met yet, I went to St. James's, there thinking to have opportunityto speak to the Duke of York about the petition I have to make to himfor something in reward for my service this war, but I did waive it. Thence to White Hall, and there a Committee met, where little was done, and thence to the Duke of York to Council, where we the officers of theNavy did attend about the business of discharging the seamen by tickets, where several of the Lords spoke and of our number none but myself, which I did in such manner as pleased the King and Council. Speakingconcerning the difficulty of pleasing of seamen and giving themassurance to their satisfaction that they should be paid their arrearsof wages, my Lord Ashly did move that an assignment for money on theAct might be put into the hands of the East India Company, or City ofLondon, which he thought the seamen would believe. But this my LordAnglesey did very handsomely oppose, and I think did carry it that itwill not be: and it is indeed a mean thing that the King should so farown his own want of credit as to borrow theirs in this manner. My LordAnglesey told him that this was the way indeed to teach the Parliamentto trust the King no more for the time to come, but to have a kingdom'sTreasurer distinct from the King's. Home at noon to dinner, where Iexpected to have had our new girle, my wife's woman, but she is not yetcome. I abroad after dinner to White Hall, and there among other thingsdo hear that there will be musique to-morrow night before the King. Soto Westminster, where to the Swan.... And drank and away to the Hall, and thence to Mrs. Martin's, to bespeak some linen, and there je didavoir all with her, and drank, and away, having first promised mygoddaughter a new coat-her first coat. So by coach home, and there findour pretty girl Willet come, brought by Mr. Batelier, and she is verypretty, and so grave as I never saw a little thing in my life. IndeedI think her a little too good for my family, and so well carriaged as Ihardly ever saw. I wish my wife may use her well. Now I begin to befull of thought for my journey the next week, if I can get leave, toBrampton. Tonight come and sat with me Mr. Turner and his wife and tellme of a design of sending their son Franke to the East Indy Company'sservice if they can get him entertainment, which they are promised bySir Andr. Rickard, which I do very well like of. So the company broke upand to bed. 

OCTOBER 1667

October 1st. All the morning busy at the office, pleased mightily withmy girle that we have got to wait on my wife. At noon dined with Sir G. Carteret and the rest of our officers at his house in Broad Street, theybeing there upon his accounts. After dinner took coach and to my wife, who was gone before into the Strand, there to buy a nightgown, whereI found her in a shop with her pretty girle, and having bought it awayhome, and I thence to Sir G. Carteret's again, and so took coachalone, it now being almost night, to White Hall, and there in theBoarded-gallery did hear the musick with which the King is presentedthis night by Monsieur Grebus, the master of his musick; bothinstrumentall--I think twenty-four violins--and vocall; an English songupon Peace. But, God forgive me! I never was so little pleased witha concert of musick in my life. The manner of setting of words andrepeating them out of order, and that with a number of voices, makesme sick, the whole design of vocall musick being lost by it. Here was agreat press of people; but I did not see many pleased with it, only theinstrumental musick he had brought by practice to play very just. Sothence late in the dark round by the wall home by coach, and there tosing and sup with my wife, and look upon our pretty girle, and so tobed. 

2nd. Up, and very busy all the morning, upon my accounts of Tangier, topresent to the Commissioners of the Treasury in the afternoon, and thelike upon the accounts of the office. This morning come to me Mr. Gawdenabout business, with his gold chain about his neck, as being Sheriffeof the City this year. At noon to the Treasury Office again, and theredined and did business, and then by coach to the New Exchange, and theremet my wife and girl, and took them to the King's house to see "TheTraytour, " which still I like as a very good play; and thence, round bythe wall, home, having drunk at the Cock ale-house, as I of late haveused to do, and so home and to my chamber to read, and so to supper andto bed. 

3rd. Up, and going out of doors, I understand that Sir W. Batten isgone to bed on a sudden again this morning, being struck very ill, andI confess I have observed him for these last two months to look very illand to look worse and worse. I to St. James's (though it be a sittingday) to the Duke of York, about the Tangier Committee, which met thismorning, and he come to us, and the Charter for the City of Tangier wasread and the form of the Court Merchant. That being done Sir W. Coventrytook me into the gallery, and walked with me an hour, discoursing ofNavy business, and with much kindness to, and confidence in, me still;which I must endeavour to preserve, and will do; and, good man! all hiscare how to get the Navy paid off, and that all other things therein maygo well. He gone, I thence to my Lady Peterborough, who sent for me; andwith her an hour talking about her husband's pension, and how she hathgot an order for its being paid again; though, I believe, for all thatorder, it will hardly be; but of that I said nothing; but her design isto get it paid again: and how to raise money upon it, to clear it fromthe engagement which lies upon it to some citizens, who lent her husbandmoney, without her knowledge, upon it, to vast loss. She intends toforce them to take their money again, and release her husband of thosehard terms. The woman is a very wise woman, and is very plain in tellingme how her plate and jewels are at pawne for money, and how they areforced to live beyond their estate, and do get nothing by his being acourtier. The lady I pity, and her family. Having done with her, anddrunk two glasses of her meade, which she did give me, and so to theTreasurer's Office, and there find my Lord Bruncker and [Sir] W. Pen atdinner with Sir G. Carteret about his accounts, where I dined and talkedand settled some business, and then home, and there took out my wife andWillet, thinking to have gone to a play, but both houses were begun, andso we to the 'Change, and thence to my tailor's, and there, the coachmandesiring to go home to change his horses, we went with him into a nastyend of all St. Giles's, and there went into a nasty room, a chamber ofhis, where he hath a wife and child, and there staid, it growing darktoo, and I angry thereat, till he shifted his horses, and then homeapace, and there I to business late, and so home, to supper, and walkin the garden with my wife and girle, with whom we are mightily pleased, and after talking and supping, to bed. This noon, going home, I did callon Will Lincolne and agree with him to carry me to Brampton. 

4th. Up, and to White Hall to attend the Council about CommissionerPett's business, along with my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Pen, and in theRobe-chamber the Duke of York come to us, the officers of the Navy, andthere did meet together about Navy business, where Sir W. Coventry waswith us, and among other things did recommend his Royal Highness, nowthe prizes were disposing, to remember Sir John Harman to the King, forsome bounty, and also for my Lady Minnes, which was very nobly done ofhim. Thence all of us to attend the Council, where we were anon calledon, and there was a long hearing of Commissioner Pett, who was there, and there were the two Masters Attendant of Chatham called in, who dodeny their having any order from Commissioner Pett about bringing upthe great ships, which gives the lie to what he says; but, in general, I find him to be but a weak, silly man, and that is guilty of horridneglect in this business all along. Here broke off without coming to anissue, but that there should be another hearing on Monday next. So theCouncil rose, and I staid walking up and down the galleries till theKing went to dinner, and then I to my Lord Crew's to dinner; but hehaving dined, I took a very short leave, confessing I had not dined; andso to an ordinary hard by the Temple-gate, where I have heretofore been, and there dined--cost me 10d. And so to my Lord Ashly's, where afterdinner Sir H. Cholmly, Creed and I, with his Lordship, about Mr. Yeabsly's business, where having come to agreement with him abatinghim L1000 of what he demands for ships lost, I to Westminster, toMrs. Martin's lodging, whither I sent for her, and there hear that herhusband is come from sea, which is sooner than I expected; and here Istaid and drank, and so did toucher elle and away, and so by coach to mytailor's, and thence to my Lord Crew's, and there did stay with himan hour till almost night, discoursing about the ill state of my LordSandwich, that he can neither be got to be called home, nor money got tomaintain him there; which will ruin his family. And the truth is, he doalmost deserve it, for by all relation he hath, in a little more than ayear and a half, spent L20, 000 of the King's money, and the best part ofL10, 000 of his own; which is a most prodigious expence, more thanever Embassador spent there, and more than these Commissioners of theTreasury will or do allow. And they demand an account before they willgive him any more money; which puts all his friends to a loss what toanswer. But more money we must get him, or to be called home. I offerto speak to Sir W. Coventry about it; but my Lord will not advise toit, without consent of Sir G. Carteret. So home, and there to see SirW. Batten, who fell sick yesterday morning: He is asleep: and so I couldnot see him; but in an hour after, word is brought me that he is so ill, that it is believed he cannot live till to-morrow, which troubles me andmy wife mightily, partly out of kindness, he being a good neighbour andpartly because of the money he owes me, upon our bargain of the lateprize. So home and to supper and to bed. 

5th. Up, and to the Office; and there all the morning; none but my LordAnglesey and myself; but much surprized with the news of the death ofSir W. Batten, who died this morning, having been but two days sick. SirW. Pen and I did dispatch a letter this morning to Sir W. Coventry, to recommend Colonel Middleton, who we think a most honest andunderstanding man, and fit for that place. Sir G. Carteret did also comethis morning, and walked with me in the garden; and concluded not toconcern [himself] or have any advice made to Sir W. Coventry, in behalfof my Lord Sandwich's business; so I do rest satisfied, though I dothink they are all mad, that they will judge Sir W. Coventry an enemy, when he is indeed no such man to any body, but is severe and just, as heought to be, where he sees things ill done. At noon home, and by coachto Temple Bar to a India shop, and there bought a gown and sash, whichcost me 26s. , and so she [Mrs. Pepys] and Willet away to the 'Change, and I to my Lord Crew, and there met my Lord Hinchingbroke and LadyJemimah, and there dined with them and my Lord, where pretty merry, andafter dinner my Lord Crew and Hinchingbroke and myself went aside todiscourse about my Lord Sandwich's business, which is in a very illstate for want of money, and so parted, and I to my tailor's, and theretook up my wife and Willet, who staid there for me, and to the Dukeof York's playhouse, but the house so full, it being a new play, "TheCoffee House, " that we could not get in, and so to the King's house:and there, going in, met with Knepp, and she took us up into thetireing-rooms: and to the women's shift, where Nell was dressingherself, and was all unready, and is very pretty, prettier than Ithought. And so walked all up and down the house above, and then belowinto the scene-room, and there sat down, and she gave us fruit and hereI read the questions to Knepp, while she answered me, through all herpart of "Flora's Figary's, " which was acted to-day. But, Lord! to seehow they were both painted would make a man mad, and did make me loaththem; and what base company of men comes among them, and how lewdly theytalk! and how poor the men are in clothes, and yet what a shew they makeon the stage by candle-light, is very observable. But to see how Nellcursed, for having so few people in the pit, was pretty; the other housecarrying 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 intothe pit, and there saw the play, which is pretty good, but my belly wasfull of what I had seen in the house, and so, after the play done, awayhome, and there to the writing my letters, and so home to supper and tobed. 

6th (Lord's day). Up, and dressed myself, and so walked out with the boyto Smithfield to Cow Lane, to Lincolne's, and there spoke with him, andagreed upon the hour to-morrow, to set out towards Brampton; but vexedthat he is not likely to go himself, but sends another for him. Here Itook a hackney coach, and to White Hall, and there met Sir W. Coventry, and discoursed with him, and then with my Lord Bruncker, and manyothers, to end my matters in order to my going into the countryto-morrow for five or six days, which I have not done for above threeyears. Walked with Creed into the Park a little, and at last went intothe Queen's side, and there saw the King and Queen, and saw the ladies, in order to my hearing any news stirring to carry into the country, butmet with none, and so away home by coach, and there dined, and W. Howcome to see me, and after dinner parted, and I to my writing to my LordSandwich, which is the greatest business I have to do before my goinginto the country, and in the evening to my office to set matters torights there, and being in the garden Sir W. Pen did come to me, andfell to discourse about the business of "The Flying Greyhound, " whereinI was plain to him and he to me, and at last concluded upon my writinga petition to the Duke of York for a certain ship, The Maybolt Gallyott, and he offers to give me L300 for my success, which, however, I wouldnot oblige him to, but will see the issue of it by fair play, and soI did presently draw a petition, which he undertakes to proffer to theDuke of York, and solicit for me, and will not seem to doubt of hissuccess. So I wrote, and did give it him, and left it with him, and sohome to supper, where Pelling comes and sits with me, and there tells ushow old Mr. Batelier is dead this last night in the night, going tobed well, which I am mightily troubled for, he being a good man. Supperdone, and he gone, I to my chamber to write my journal to this night, and so to bed. 

7th. Up betimes, and did do several things towards the settling allmatters both of house and office in order for my journey this day, anddid leave my chief care, and the key of my closet, with Mr. Hater, withdirections what papers to secure, in case of fire or other accident; andso, about nine o'clock, I, and my wife, and Willet, set out in a coachI have hired, with four horses; and W. Hewer and Murford rode by us onhorseback; and so my wife and she in their morning gowns, very handsomeand pretty, and to my great liking. We set out, and so out at Allgate, and so to the Green Man, and so on to Enfield, in our way seeing Mr. Lowther and his lady in a coach, going to Walthamstow; and he told usthat he would overtake us at night, he being to go that way. So weto Enfield, and there bayted, it being but a foul, bad day, and thereLowther and Mr. Burford, an acquaintance of his, did overtake us, andthere drank and eat together; and, by and by, we parted, we going beforethem, and very merry, my wife and girle and I talking, and tellingtales, and singing, and before night come to Bishop Stafford, whereLowther and his friend did meet us again, and carried us to theRaynedeere, where Mrs. Aynsworth, [Elizabeth Aynsworth, here mentioned, was a noted procurerss at Cambridge, banished from that town by the university authorities for her evil courses. She subsequently kept the Rein Deer Inn at Bishops Stortford, at which the Vice-Chancellor, and some of the heads of colleges, had occasion to sleep, in their way to London, and were nobly entertained, their supper being served off plate. The next morning their hostess refused to make any charge, saying, that she was still indebted to the Vice-Chancellor, who, by driving her out of Cambridge, had made her fortune. No tradition of this woman has been preserved at Bishops Stortford; but it appears, from the register of that parish, that she was buried there 26th of March, 1686. It is recorded in the "History of Essex, " vol. Iii. , (p. 130) 8vo. , 1770, and in a pamphlet in the British Museum, entitled, "Boteler's Case, " that she was implicated in the murder of Captain Wood, a Hertfordshire gentleman, at Manuden, in Essex, and for which offence a person named Boteler was executed at Chelmsford, September 10th, 1667, and that Mrs. Aynsworth, tried at the same time as an accessory before the fact, was acquitted for want of evidence; though in her way to the jail she endeavoured to throw herself into the river, but was prevented. See Postea, May 25th, 1668. --B. ]

who lived heretofore at Cambridge, and whom I knew better than theythink for, do live. It was the woman that, among other things, was greatwith my cozen Barnston, of Cottenham, and did use to sing to him, anddid teach me "Full forty times over, " a very lewd song: a woman they arevery well acquainted with, and is here what she was at Cambridge, andall the good fellows of the country come hither. Lowther and his friendstayed and drank, and then went further this night; but here we stayed, and supped, and lodged. But, as soon as they were gone, and my suppergetting ready, I fell to write my letter to my Lord Sandwich, which Icould not finish before my coming from London; so did finish it to mygood content, and a good letter, telling him the present state of allmatters, and did get a man to promise to carry it to-morrow morning, to be there, at my house, by noon, and I paid him well for it; so, thatbeing done, and my mind at ease, we to supper, and so to bed, my wifeand I in one bed, and the girl in another, in the same room, and layvery well, but there was so much tearing company in the house, that wecould not see my landlady; so I had no opportunity of renewing my oldacquaintance with her, but here we slept very well. 

8th. Up pretty betimes, though not so soon as we intended, by reason ofMurford's not rising, and then not knowing how to open our door, which, and some other pleasant simplicities of the fellow, did give occasionto us to call him. Sir Martin Marrall, and W. Hewer being his helperand counsellor, we did call him, all this journey, Mr. Warner, which didgive us good occasion of mirth now and then. At last, rose, and up, andbroke our fast, and then took coach, and away, and at Newport did callon Mr. Lowther, and he and his friend, and the master of the house, their friend, where they were, a gentleman, did presently geta-horseback and overtook us, and went with us to Audley-End, and did goalong with us all over the house and garden: and mighty merry wewere. The house indeed do appear very fine, but not so fine as it hathheretofore to me; particularly the ceilings are not so good as I alwaystook them to be, being nothing so well wrought as my Lord Chancellor'sare; and though the figure of the house without be very extraordinarygood, 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 byHolben; and not one good suit of hangings in all the house, but all mostancient things, such as I would not give the hanging-up of in my house;and the other furniture, beds and other things, accordingly. 

 [Mr. George T. Robinson, F. S. A. , in a paper on "Decorative Plaster Work, " read before the Society of Arts in April, 1891, refers to the ceilings at Audley End as presenting an excellent idea of the state of the stuccoer's art in the middle of James I. 's reign, and adds, "Few houses in England can show so fine a series of the same date ... The great hall has medallions in the square portions of the ceiling formed by its dividing timber beams. The large saloon on the principal floor-a room about 66 feet long by 30 feet wide-has a very remarkable ceiling of the pendentive type, which presents many peculiarities, the most notable of which, that these not only depend from the ceiling, but the outside ones spring from the walls in a natural and structural manner. This is a most unusual circumstance in the stucco work of the time, the reason for the omission of this reasonable treatment evidently being the unwillingness of the stuccoer to omit his elaborate frieze in which he took such delight" ("Journal Soc. Of Arts, " vol. Xxxix. , p. 449)]

Only the gallery is good, and, above all things, the cellars, wherewe went down and drank of much good liquor; and indeed the cellars arefine: and here my wife and I did sing to my great content. And then tothe garden, and there eat many grapes, and took some with us and so awaythence, exceeding well satisfied, though not to that degree that, bymy old esteem of the house, I ought and did expect to have done, thesituation of it not pleasing me. Here we parted with Lowther and hisfriends, and away to Cambridge, it being foul, rainy weather, and theredid take up at the Rose, for the sake of Mrs. Dorothy Drawwater, the vintner's daughter, which is mentioned in the play of Sir MartinMarrall. Here we had a good chamber, and bespoke a good supper; and thenI took my wife, and W. Hewer, and Willet, it holding up a little, andshewed them Trinity College and St. John's Library, and went to King'sCollege Chapel, to see the outside of it only; and so to our inne, andwith much pleasure did this, they walking in their pretty morning gowns, very handsome, and I proud to find myself in condition to do this; andso home to our lodging, and there by and by, to supper, with much goodsport, talking with the Drawers concerning matters of the town, andpersons whom I remember, and so, after supper, to cards; and then tobed, lying, I in one bed, and my wife and girl in another, in the sameroom, and very merry talking together, and mightily pleased both of uswith the girl. Saunders, the only violin in my time, is, I hear, dead ofthe plague in the late plague there. 

9th. Up, and got ready, and eat our breakfast; and then took coach:and the poor, as they did yesterday, did stand at the coach to havesomething given them, as they do to all great persons; and I did givethem something: and the town musique did also come and play: but, Lord!what sad music they made! However, I was pleased with them, being allof us in very good humour, and so through the town, and observed atour College of Magdalene the posts new painted, and understand that theVice-Chancellor' is there this year. And so away for Huntingdon mightilypleased all along the road to remember old stories; and come to Bramptonat about noon, and there find my father and sister and brother all welland here laid up our things, and up and down to see the garden with myfather, and the house, and do altogether find it very pretty; especiallythe little parlour and the summerhouses in the garden, only the wall dowant greens upon it, and the house is too low-roofed; but that is onlybecause of my coming from a house with higher ceilings. But altogetheris very pretty; and I bless God that I am like to have such a prettyplace to retire to: and I did walk with my father without doors, and dofind a very convenient way of laying out money there in building, whichwill make a very good seat, and the place deserves it, I think, very well. By and by to dinner, and after dinner I walked up toHinchingbroke, where my Lady expected me; and there spent all theafternoon with her: the same most excellent, good, discreet lady thatever she was; and, among other things, is mightily pleased with the ladythat is like to be her son Hinchingbroke's wife, which I am mightilyglad of. By and by my wife comes with Willet, my wife in her velvettvest, which is mighty fine, and becomes her exceedingly. I am pleasedwith my Lady Paulina and Anne, who both are grown very proper ladies, and handsome enough. But a thousand questions my Lady asked me, till shecould think of no more almost, but walked up and down the house, withme. But I do find, by her, that they are reduced to great straits formoney, having been forced to sell her plate, 8 or L900 worth; and she isnow going to sell a suit of her best hangings, of which I could almostwish to buy a piece or two, if the pieces will be broke. But the houseis most excellently furnished, and brave rooms and good pictures, sothat it do please me infinitely beyond Audley End. Here we staid tillnight walking and talking and drinking, and with mighty satisfaction myLady with me alone most of the day talking of my Lord's bad conditionto be kept in Spayne without money and at a great expense, which (aswe will save the family) we must labour to remove. Night being come, we took leave with all possible kindness, and so home, and there Mr. Shepley staid with us and sapped, and full of good country discourse, and when supper done took his leave, and we all to bed, only I a littletroubled that my father tells me that he is troubled that my wife showsmy sister no countenance, and, him but very little, but is as a strangerin the house; and I do observe she do carry herself very high; but Iperceive there was some great falling out when she was here last, butthe reason I have no mind to enquire after, for vexing myself, beingdesirous to pass my time with as much mirth as I can while I am abroad. So all to bed. My wife and I in the high bed in our chamber, and Willetin the trundle bed, which she desired to lie in, by us. 

10th. Waked in the morning with great pain of the collique, by coldtaken yesterday, I believe, with going up and down in my shirt, but withrubbing my belly, keeping of it warm, I did at last come to some ease, and rose, and up to walk up and down the garden with my father, to talkof all our concernments: about a husband for my sister, whereof there isat present no appearance; but we must endeavour to find her one now, forshe grows old and ugly: then for my brother; and resolve he shall stayhere this winter, and then I will either send him to Cambridge for ayear, till I get him some church promotion, or send him to sea as achaplain, where he may study, and earn his living. Then walked roundabout our Greene, to see whether, in case I cannot buy out my uncleThomas and his son's right in this house, that I can buy another placeas good thereabouts to build on, and I do not see that I can. But this, with new building, may be made an excellent pretty thing, and I resolveto look after it as soon as I can, and Goody Gorum dies. By this time itwas almost noon, and then my father and I and wife and Willet abroad, bycoach round the towne of Brampton, to observe any other place as goodas ours, and find none; and so back with great pleasure; and thencewent all of us, my sister and brother, and W. Hewer, to dinner toHinchingbroke, where we had a good plain country dinner, but most kindlyused; and here dined the Minister of Brampton and his wife, who isreported a very good, but poor man. Here I spent alone with my Lady, after dinner, the most of the afternoon, and anon the two twins weresent for from schoole, at Mr. Taylor's, to come to see me, and I tookthem into the garden, and there, in one of the summer-houses, didexamine them, and do find them so well advanced in their learning, that I was amazed at it: they repeating a whole ode without book out ofHorace, and did give me a very good account of any thing almost, and didmake me very readily very good Latin, and did give me good account oftheir Greek grammar, beyond all possible expectation; and so grave andmanly as I never saw, I confess, nor could have believed; so that theywill be fit to go to Cambridge in two years at most. They are bothlittle, but very like one another, and well-looked children. Then in tomy Lady again, and staid till it was almost night again, and then tookleave for a great while again, but with extraordinary kindness frommy Lady, who looks upon me like one of her own family and interest. Sothence, my wife and people by the highway, and I walked over the parkwith Mr. Shepley, and through the grove, which is mighty pretty, as isimaginable, and so over their drawbridge to Nun's Bridge, and so to myfather's, and there sat and drank, and talked a little, and then parted. And he being gone, and what company there was, my father and I, witha dark lantern; it being now night, into the garden with my wife, andthere went about our great work to dig up my gold. But, Lord! what atosse I was for some time in, that they could not justly tell where itwas; that I begun heartily to sweat, and be angry, that they should notagree better upon the place, and at last to fear that it was gone but byand by poking with a spit, we found it, and then begun with a spudd tolift up the ground. But, good God! to see how sillily they did it, nothalf a foot under ground, and in the sight of the world from a hundredplaces, if any body by accident were near hand, and within sight ofa neighbour's window, and their hearing also, being close by: only myfather says that he saw them all gone to church before he begun thework, when he laid the money, but that do not excuse it to me. But I wasout of my wits almost, and the more from that, upon my lifting up theearth with the spudd, I did discern that I had scattered the pieces ofgold round about the ground among the grass and loose earth; and takingup the iron head-pieces wherein they were put, I perceive the earth wasgot among the gold, and wet, so that the bags were all rotten, and allthe notes, that I could not tell what in the world to say to it, notknowing how to judge what was wanting, or what had been lost by Gibsonin his coming down: which, all put together, did make me mad; and atlast was forced to take up the head-pieces, dirt and all, and as manyof the scattered pieces as I could with the dirt discern by thecandlelight, and carry them up into my brother's chamber, and therelocke them up till I had eat a little supper: and then, all people goingto bed, W. Hewer and I did all alone, with several pails of water andbasins, at last wash the dirt off of the pieces, and parted the piecesand the dirt, and then begun to tell [them]; and by a note which I hadof the value of the whole in my pocket, do find that there was shortabove a hundred pieces, which did make me mad; and considering that theneighbour's house was so near that we could not suppose we could speakone to another in the garden at the place where the gold lay--especiallymy father being deaf--but they must know what we had been doing on, I feared that they might in the night come and gather some pieces andprevent us the next morning; so W. Hewer and I out again about midnight, for it was now grown so late, and there by candlelight did make shiftto gather forty-five pieces more. And so in, and to cleanse them: andby this time it was past two in the morning; and so to bed, with my mindpretty quiet to think that I have recovered so many. And then to bed, and I lay in the trundle-bed, the girl being gone to bed to my wife, andthere lay in some disquiet all night, telling of the clock till it wasdaylight. 

11th. And then rose and called W. Hewer, and he and I, with pails anda sieve, did lock ourselves into the garden, and there gather all theearth about the place into pails, and then sift those pails in one ofthe summer-houses, just as they do for dyamonds in other parts of theworld; and there, to our great content, did with much trouble by nineo'clock (and by the time we emptied several pails and could not findone), we did make the last night's forty-five up seventy-nine: so thatwe are come to about twenty or thirty of what I think the true numbershould be; and perhaps within less; and of them I may reasonably thinkthat Mr. Gibson might lose some: so that I am pretty well satisfied thatmy loss is not great, and do bless God that it is so well, [About the year 1842, in removing the foundation of an old wall, adjoining a mansion at Brampton, always considered the quondam residence of the Pepys family, an iron pot, full of silver coins, was discovered, and taken to the Earl of Sandwich, the owner of the house, in whose possession they still remain. The pot was so much corroded, that a small piece of it only could be preserved. The coins were chiefly half-crowns of Elizabeth and the two elder Stuarts, and all of a date anterior to the Restoration. Although Pepys states that the treasure which he caused to be buried was gold exclusively, it is very probable that, in the confusion, a pot full of silver money was packed up with the rest; but, at all events, the coincidence appeared too singular to pass over without notice. --B. ]

and do leave my father to make a second examination of the dirt, whichhe promises he will do, and, poor man, is mightily troubled for thisaccident, but I declared myself very well satisfied, and so indeed I am;and my mind at rest in it, being but an accident, which is unusual; andso gives me some kind of content to remember how painful it is sometimesto keep money, as well as to get it, and how doubtful I was how to keepit all night, and how to secure it to London: and so got all my gold putup in bags. And so having the last night wrote to my Lady Sandwich tolend me John Bowles to go along with me my journey, not telling her thereason, that it was only to secure my gold, we to breakfast, and thenabout ten o'clock took coach, my wife and I, and Willet, and W. Hewer, and Murford and Bowles (whom my Lady lent me), and my brother John onhorseback; and with these four I thought myself pretty safe. But, beforewe went out, the Huntingdon musick come to me and played, and it wasbetter than that of Cambridge. Here I took leave of my father, and didgive my sister 20s. She cried at my going; but whether it was at herunwillingness for my going, or any unkindness of my wife's, or no, I know not; but, God forgive me! I take her to be so cunning andill-natured, that I have no great love for her; but only [she] is mysister, and must be provided for. My gold I put into a basket, and setunder one of the seats; and so my work every quarter of an hour was tolook to see whether all was well; and I did ride in great fear allthe day, but it was a pleasant day, and good company, and I mightilycontented. Mr. Shepley saw me beyond St. Neots, and there parted, and westraight to Stevenage, through Bald Lanes, which are already very bad;and at Stevenage we come well before night, and all sat, and there withgreat care I got the gold up to the chamber, my wife carrying one bag, and the girl another, and W. Hewer the rest in the basket, and set itall under a bed in our chamber; and then sat down to talk, and were verypleasant, satisfying myself, among other things, from John Bowles, insome terms of hunting, and about deere, bucks, and does. And so anon tosupper, and very merry we were, and a good supper, and after supper tobed. Brecocke alive still, and the best host I know almost. 

12th. Up, and eat our breakfast, and set out about nine o'clock, and soto Barnett, where we staid and baited, the weather very good all day andyesterday, and by five o'clock got home, where I find all well; and didbring my gold, to my heart's content, very safe home, having not thisday carried it in a basket, but in our hands: the girl took care of one, and my wife another bag, and I the rest, I being afraid of the bottomof the coach, lest it should break, and therefore was at more ease in mymind than I was yesterday. At home we find that Sir W. Batten's burialwas to-day carried from hence, with a hundred or two of coaches, toWalthamstow, and there buried. Here I hear by Mr. Pierce the surgeon;and then by Mr. Lewes, and also by Mr. Hater, that the Parliament hathmet on Thursday last, and adjourned to Monday next. The King did makethem a very kind speech, promising them to leave all to them to do, and call to account what and whom they pleased; and declared by my LordKeeper how many, thirty-six, actes he had done since he saw them; amongothers, disbanding the army, and putting all Papists out of employment, and displacing persons that had managed their business ill, that theParliament is mightily pleased with the King's speech, and voted givinghim thanks for what he said and hath done; and, among things, would byname thank him for displacing my Lord Chancellor, for which a great manydid speak in the House, but it was opposed by some, and particularlyHarry Coventry, who got that it should be put to a Committee to considerwhat particulars to mention in their thanks to the King, saying thatit was too soon to give thanks for the displacing of a man, before theyknew or had examined what was the cause of his displacing. And so itrested; but this do shew that they are and will be very high; and Mr. Pierce do tell me that he fears, and do hear, that it hath been saidamong them, that they will move for the calling my Lord Sandwich home, to bring him to account; which do trouble me mightily; but I trust itwill not be so. Anon comes home Sir W. Pen from the burial, and he andI to walk in the garden, where he did confirm the most of this news, andso to talk of our particular concernments, and among the rest he saysthat Lady Batten and her children-in-law are all broke in pieces, andthat there is but L800 found in the world, of money; and is in greatdoubt what we shall do towards the doing ourselves right with them, about the prize-money. This troubles me, but we will fall to work uponthat next week close. Then he tells me he did deliver my petition intothe hands of Sir W. Coventry, who did take it with great kindness andpromised to present it to the Duke of York, and that himself has sinceseen the Duke of York, but it was in haste, and thinks the Duke of Yorkdid tell him that the thing was done, but he is confident that it eitheris or will be done. This do please me mightily. So after a little talkmore I away home to supper with John Bowles and brother and wife (who, Iperceive, is already a little jealous of my being fond of Willet, butI will avoid giving her any cause to continue in that mind, as much aspossible), and before that did go with Sir W. Pen to my Lady Batten, whom I had not seen since she was a widow, which she took unkindly, butI did excuse it; and the house being full of company, and of severalfactions, she against the children, and they against one another andher, I away, and home to supper, and after supper to bed. 

13th (Lord's day). Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence walked toSir W. Coventry's lodgings, but he was gone out, so I to St. James's, and there to the Duke of York's chamber: and there he was dressing; andmany Lords and Parliament-men come to kiss his hands, they being newlycome to town. And there the Duke of York did of himself call me to him, and tell me that he had spoke to the King, and that the King had grantedme the ship I asked for; and did, moreover, say that he was mightilysatisfied with my service, and that he would be willing to do anythingthat was in his power for me: which he said with mighty kindness; whichI did return him thanks for, and departed with mighty joy, more than Idid expect. And so walked over the Park to White Hall, and there metSir H. Cholmly, who walked with me, and told me most of the news I heardlast night of the Parliament; and thinks they will do all things verywell, only they will be revenged of my Lord Chancellor; and says, however, that he thinks there will be but two things proved on him; andthat one is, that he may have said to the King, and to others, wordsto breed in the King an ill opinion of the Parliament--that they werefactious, and that it was better to dissolve them: and this, he thinks, they will be able to prove; but what this will amount to, he knows not. And next, that he hath taken money for several bargains that have beenmade with the Crown; and did instance one that is already complainedof: but there are so many more involved in it, that, should they unravelthings of this sort, every body almost will be more or less concerned. But these are the two great points which he thinks they will insiston, and prove against him. Thence I to the Chapel, and there heard thesermon and a pretty good anthem, and so home by water to dinner, whereBowies and brother, and a good dinner, and in the afternoon to make goodmy journal to this day, and so by water again to White Hall, and thenceonly walked to Mrs. Martin's, and there sat with her and her sisterand Borroughs... And there drank and talked and away by water home, andthere walked with Sir W. Pen, and told him what the Duke of York toldme to-day about the ship I begged; and he was knave enough, of his ownaccord, but, to be sure, in order to his own advantage, to offer me tosend for the master of the vessel, "The Maybolt Galliott, " and bid himto get her furnished as for a long voyage, and I to take no notice ofit, that she might be the more worth to me: so that here he is a veryknave to the King, and I doubt not his being the same to me on occasion. So in a doors and supped with my wife and brother, W. Hewer, andWillett, and so evened with W. Hewer for my expenses upon the road thislast journey, and do think that the whole journey will cost me littleless than L18 or L20, one way or other; but I am well pleased with it, and so after supper to bed. 

14th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence walked to St. James's, and there to Mr. Wren's; and he told me that my business was done aboutmy warrant on the Maybolt Galliott; which I did see, and though it wasnot so full in the reciting of my services as the other was in that ofSir W. Pen's, yet I was well pleased with it, and do intend to fetch itaway anon. Thence with Sir Thomas Allen, in a little sorry coach whichhe hath set up of late, and Sir Jeremy Smith, to White Hall, and thereI took water and went to Westminster Hall, and there hear that the Houseis this day again upon the business of giving the King the thanks of theHouse for his speech, and, among other things, for laying aside of myLord Chancellor. Thence I to Mrs. Martin's, where by appointment comesto me Mrs. Howlett, which I was afraid was to have told me something ofmy freedom with her daughter, but it was not so, but only to complainto me of her son-in-law, how he abuses and makes a slave of her, and hismother is one that encourages him in it, so that they are at this timeupon very bad terms one with another, and desires that I would take atime to advise him and tell him what it becomes him to do, which officeI am very glad of, for some ends of my own also con sa fille, and theredrank and parted, I mightily satisfied with this business, and so homeby water with Sir W. Warren, who happened to be at Westminster, andthere I pretty strange to him, and little discourse, and there at theoffice Lord Bruncker, W. Pen, T. Hater and I did some business, and sohome to dinner, and thence I out to visit Sir G. Carteret and ladiesthere; and from him do understand that the King himself (but thishe told me as a great secret) is satisfied that this thanks which heexpects from the House, for the laying aside of my Lord Chancellor, isa thing irregular; but, since it is come into the House, he do think itnecessary to carry it on, and will have it, and hath made his mind knownto be so, to some of the House. But Sir G. Carteret do say he knowsnothing of what my Lord Bruncker told us to-day, that the King was angrywith the Duke of York yesterday, and advised him not to hinder what hehad a mind to have done, touching this business; which is news very bad, if true. Here I visited my Lady Carteret, who hath been sick some time, but now pretty well, but laid on her bed. Thence to my Lord Crew, to seehim after my coming out of the country, and he seems satisfied with somesteps they have made in my absence towards my Lord Sandwich's relief formoney: and so I have no more to do, nor will trouble myself more aboutit till they send for me. He tells me also that the King will have thethanks of the House go on: and commends my Lord Keeper's speech for allbut what he was forced to say, about the reason of the King's sendingaway the House so soon the last time, when they were met, but this hewas forced to do. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there walked with Mr. Scowen, who tells me that it is at last carried in the House that thethanks shall be given to the King--among other things, particularly forthe removal of my Lord Chancellor; but he tells me it is a strange act, and that which he thinks would never have been, but that the King didinsist upon it, that, since it come into the House, it might not be letfall. After walking there awhile I took coach and to the Duke of York'sHouse, and there went in for nothing into the pit, at the last act, tosee Sir Martin Marrall, and met my wife, who was there, and my brother, and W. Hewer and Willett, and carried them home, still being pleasedwith the humour of the play, almost above all that ever I saw. Home, andthere do find that John Bowles is not yet come thither. I suppose he isplaying the good fellow in the town. So to the office a while, and thenhome to supper and to bed. 

15th. Up, and to the office, where, Sir W. Pen being ill of the gout, weall of us met there in his parlour and did the business of the office, our greatest business now being to manage the pay of the ships inorder and with speed to satisfy the Commissioners of the Treasury. Thismorning my brother set out for Brampton again, and is gone. At noon hometo dinner, and thence my wife and I and Willet to the Duke of York'shouse, where, after long stay, the King and Duke of York come, and theresaw "The Coffee-house, " the most ridiculous, insipid play that ever Isaw in my life, and glad we were that Betterton had no part in it. Buthere, before the play begun, my wife begun to complain to me of Willet'sconfidence in sitting cheek by jowl by us, which was a poor thing; butI perceive she is already jealous of my kindness to her, so that I beginto fear this girle is not likely to stay long with us. The play done, we home by coach, it being moonlight, and got well home, and I to mychamber to settle some papers, and so to supper and to bed. 

16th. Up, and at home most of the morning with Sir H. Cholmly, aboutsome accounts of his; and for news he tells me that the Commons andLords have concurred, and delivered the King their thanks, among otherthings, for his removal of the Chancellor; who took their thanks verywell, and, among other things, promised them, in these words, never, in any degree, to entertain the Chancellor any employment again. And hetells me that it is very true, he hath it from one that was by, that theKing did, give the Duke of York a sound reprimand; told him that he hadlived with him with more kindness than ever any brother King lived witha brother, and that he lived as much like a monarch as himself, butadvised him not to cross him in his designs about the Chancellor; inwhich the Duke of York do very wisely acquiesce, and will be quiet asthe King bade him, but presently commands all his friends to be silentin the business of the Chancellor, and they were so: but that theChancellor hath done all that is possible to provoke the King, and tobring himself to lose his head by enraging of people. He gone, I to theoffice, busy all the morning. At noon to Broad Street to Sir G. Carteretand Lord Bruncker, and there dined with them, and thence after dinnerwith Bruncker to White Hall, where the Duke of York is now newly comefor this winter, and there did our usual business, which is but little, and so I away to the Duke of York's house, thinking as we appointed, tomeet my wife there, but she was not; and more, I was vexed to see Young(who is but a bad actor at best) act Macbeth in the room of Betterton, who, poor man! is sick: but, Lord! what a prejudice it wrought in meagainst the whole play, and everybody else agreed in disliking thisfellow. Thence home, and there find my wife gone home; because of thisfellow's acting of the part, she went out of the house again. There busyat my chamber with Mr. Yeabsly, and then with Mr. Lewes, about publicbusiness late, and so to supper and to bed. 

17th. Up, and being sent for by my Lady Batten, I to her, and thereshe found fault with my not seeing her since her being a widow, whichI excused as well as I could, though it is a fault, but it is my naturenot to be forward in visits. But here she told me her condition, whichis good enough, being sole executrix, to the disappointment of all herhusband's children, and prayed my friendship about the accounts of theprizes, which I promised her. And here do see what creatures widows arein weeping for their husbands, and then presently leaving off; but Icannot wonder at it, the cares of the world taking place of all otherpassions. Thence to the office, where all the morning busy, and at noonhome to dinner, where Mr. John Andrews and his wife come and dined withme, and pretty merry we were, only I out of humour the greatest partof the dinner, by reason that my people had forgot to get wine ready, I having none in my house, which I cannot say now these almost threeyears, I think, without having two or three sorts, by which we were fainto stay a great while, while some could be fetched. When it come I begunto be merry, and merry we were, but it was an odd, strange thing toobserve of Mr. Andrews what a fancy he hath to raw meat, that he eats itwith no pleasure unless the blood run about his chops, which it did nowby a leg of mutton that was not above half boiled; but, it seems, athome all his meat is dressed so, and beef and all, and [he] eats it soat nights also. Here most of our discourse is of the business of theParliament, who run on mighty furiously, having yesterday been almostall the morning complaining against some high proceedings of my LordChief Justice Keeling, that the gentlemen of the country did complainagainst him in the House, and run very high. It is the man that did fallout with my cozen Roger Pepys, once, at the Assizes there, and wouldhave laid him by the heels; but, it seems, a very able lawyer. Afterdinner I to the office, where we all met with intent to proceed tothe publique sale of several prize ships, but upon discourse my LordAnglesey did discover (which troubled me that he that is a strangeralmost should do more than we ourselves could) that the appraisementsmade by our officers were not above half of what he had been offeredfor one of them, and did make it good by bringing a gentleman to give usL700 for the Wildboare, which they valued but at L276, which made usall startle and stop the sale, and I did propose to acquaint the Duke ofYork with it, and accordingly we did agree on it, and I wrote a severeletter about it, and we are to attend him with it to-morrow about it. This afternoon my Lord Anglesey tells us that the House of Commonshave this morning run into the inquiry in many things; as, the sale ofDunkirke, the dividing of the fleete the last year, the business of theprizes with my Lord Sandwich, and many other things; so that now theybegin to fall close upon it, and God knows what will be the end of it, but a Committee they have chosen to inquire into the miscarriages ofthe war. Having done, and being a little tired, Sir W. Pen and I in hiscoach out to Mile End Green, and there drank a cup of Byde's ale, and sotalking about the proceedings of Parliament, and how little a thingthe King is become to be forced to suffer it, though I declare my beingsatisfied that things should be enquired into, we back again home, and Ito my office to my letters, and so home to supper and to bed. 

18th. Up, and by coach with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, and there attendedthe Duke of York; but first we find him to spend above an hour inprivate in his closet with Sir W. Coventry; which I was glad to see, that there is so much confidence between them. By and by we were calledin and did our usual business, and complained of the business yesterdaydiscovered of our officers abusing the King in the appraisement of theprizes. Here it was worth observing that the Duke of York, consideringwhat third rate ships to keep abroad, the Rupert was thought on, butthen it was said that Captain Hubbert was Commander of her and that theKing had a mind for Spragg to command the ship, which would not be wellto be by turning out Hubbert, who is a good man, but one the Duke ofYork said he did not know whether he did so well conforme, as at thislime to please the people and Parliament. Sir W. Coventry answered, andthe Duke of York merrily agreed to it, that it was very hard to knowwhat it was that the Parliament would call conformity at this time, andso it stopped, which I only observe to see how the Parliament's presenttemper do amuse them all. Thence to several places to buy a hat, andbooks, and neckcloths, and several errands I did before I got home, and, among others, bought me two new pair of spectacles of Turlington, who, it seems, is famous for them; and his daughter, he being out of the way, do advise me two very young sights, as that that will help me most, andpromises me great ease from them, and I will try them. At the Exchange Imet Creed, and took him home with me, and dined, and among other thingshe tells me that Sir Robert Brookes is the man that did mention thebusiness in Parliament yesterday about my Lord Sandwich, but that it wasseconded by nobody, but the matter will fall before the Committee formiscarriages. Thence, after dinner, my wife and he, and I, and Willet tothe King's house, and saw "Brenoralt, " which is a good tragedy, that Ilike well, and parted after the play, and so home, and there a littleat my office, and so to my chamber, and spent this night late in tellingover all my gold, and putting it into proper bags and my iron chest, being glad with my heart to see so much of it here again, but cannotyet tell certainly how much I have lost by Gibson in his journey, and myfather's burying of it in the dirt. At this late, but did it to my mind, and so to supper and to bed. 

19th. At the office all the morning, where very busy, and at noon hometo a short dinner, being full of my desire of seeing my Lord Orrery'snew play this afternoon at the King's house, "The Black Prince, " thefirst time it is acted; where, though we come by two o'clock, yet therewas no room in the pit, but we were forced to go into one of the upperboxes, at 4s. A piece, which is the first time I ever sat in a box in mylife. And in the same box come, by and by, behind me, my Lord Barkeley[of Stratton] and his lady; but I did not turn my face to them to beknown, so that I was excused from giving them my seat; and this pleasureI had, that from this place the scenes do appear very fine indeed, andmuch better than in the pit. The house infinite full, and the King andDuke of York was there. By and by the play begun, and in it nothingparticular but a very fine dance for variety of figures, but a littletoo long. But, as to the contrivance, and all that was witty (which, indeed, was much, and very witty), was almost the same that had beenin his two former plays of "Henry the 5th" and "Mustapha, " and thesame points and turns of wit in both, and in this very same play oftenrepeated, but in excellent language, and were so excellent that thewhole house was mightily pleased with it all along till towards the endhe comes to discover the chief of the plot of the play by the readingof along letter, which was so long and some things (the people being setalready to think too long) so unnecessary that they frequently begun tolaugh, and to hiss twenty times, that, had it not been for the King'sbeing there, they had certainly hissed it off the stage. But I mustconfess that, as my Lord Barkeley says behind me, the having of thatlong letter was a thing so absurd, that he could not imagine how a manof his parts could possibly fall into it; or, if he did, if he had butlet any friend read it, the friend would have told him of it; and, Imust confess, it is one of the most remarkable instances that ever I didor expect to meet with in my life of a wise man's not being wise atall times, and in all things, for nothing could be more ridiculous thanthis, though the letter of itself at another time would be thought anexcellent letter, and indeed an excellent Romance, but at the end of theplay, when every body was weary of sitting, and were already possessedwith the effect of the whole letter; to trouble them with a letter aquarter of an hour long, was a most absurd thing. After the play done, and nothing pleasing them from the time of the letter to the end of theplay, people being put into a bad humour of disliking (which is anotherthing worth the noting), I home by coach, and could not forbear laughingalmost all the way home, and all the evening to my going to bed, at theridiculousness of the letter, and the more because my wife was angrywith me, and the world, for laughing, because the King was there, though she cannot defend the length of the letter. So after having donebusiness at the office, I home to supper and to bed. 

20th (Lord's day). Up, and put on my new tunique of velvett; which isvery plain, but good. This morning is brought to me an order for thepresenting the Committee of Parliament to-morrow with a list of thecommanders and ships' names of all the fleetes set out since the war, and particularly of those ships which were divided from the fleete withPrince Rupert;

 [This question of the division of the fleet in May, 1666, was one over which endless controversy as to responsibility was raised. When Prince Rupert, with twenty ships, was detached to prevent the junction of the French squadron with the Dutch, the Duke of Albemarle was left with fifty-four ships against eighty belonging to the Dutch. Albemarle's tactics are praised by Captain Mahan. ]

which gives me occasion to see that they are busy after that business, and I am glad of it. So I alone to church, and then home, and thereMr. Deane comes and dines with me by invitation, and both at and afterdinner he and I spent all the day till it was dark in discourse ofbusiness of the Navy and the ground of the many miscarriages, wherein hedo inform me in many more than I knew, and I had desired him to putthem in writing, and many indeed they are and good ones; and alsowe discoursed of the business of shipping, and he hath promised me adraught of the ship he is now building, wherein I am mightily pleased. This afternoon comes to me Captain O'Bryan, about a ship that the Kinghath given him; and he and I to talk of the Parliament; and he tellsme that the business of the Duke of York's slackening sail in the firstfight, at the beginning of the war, is brought into question, and Sir W. Pen and Captain Cox are to appear to-morrow about it; and it is thoughtwill at last be laid upon Mr. Bruncker's giving orders from the Duke ofYork (which the Duke of York do not own) to Captain Cox to do it; but itseems they do resent this very highly, and are mad in going through allbusiness, where they can lay any fault. I am glad to hear, that in theworld I am as kindly spoke of as any body; for, for aught I see, thereis bloody work like to be, Sir W. Coventry having been forced to producea letter in Parliament wherein the Duke of Albemarle did from Sheernessewrite in what good posture all things were at Chatham, and that thechain was so well placed that he feared no attempt of the enemy: sothat, among other things, I see every body is upon his own defence, andspares not to blame another to defend himself, and the same course Ishall take. But God knows where it will end! He gone, and Deane, I tomy chamber for a while, and then comes Pelling the apothecary to seeus, and sat and supped with me (my wife being gone to bed sick of thecholique), and then I to bed, after supper. Pelting tells me that myLady Duchesse Albemarle was at Mrs. Turner's this afternoon, she beingill, and did there publickly talk of business, and of our Office; andthat she believed that I was safe, and had done well; and so, I thankGod! I hear every body speaks of me; and indeed, I think, withoutvanity, I may expect to be profited rather than injured by this inquiry, which the Parliament makes into business. 

21st. Up, and betimes got a coach at the Exchange, and thence to St. James's, where I had forgot that the Duke of York and family were goneto White Hall, and thence to Westminster Hall and there walked a little, finding the Parliament likely to be busy all this morning about thebusiness of Mr. Bruncker for advising Cox and Harman to shorten sailwhen they were in pursuit of the Dutch after the first great victory. I went away to Mr. Creed's chamber, there to meet Sir H. Cholmly, aboutbusiness of Mr. Yeabsly, where I was delivered of a great fear that theywould question some of the orders for payment of money which I had gotthem signed at the time of the plague, when I was here alone, but alldid pass. Thence to Westminster again, and up to the lobby, where manycommanders of the fleete were, and Captain Cox, and Mr. Pierce, theSurgeon; the last of whom hath been in the House, and declared that heheard Bruncker advise; and give arguments to, Cox, for the safety of theDuke of York's person, to shorten sail, that they might not be in themiddle of the enemy in the morning alone; and Cox denying to observe hisadvice, having received the Duke of York's commands over night to keepwithin cannon-shot (as they then were) of the enemy, Bruncker did go toHarman, and used the same arguments, and told him that he was sure itwould be well pleasing to the King that care should be taken of notendangering the Duke of York; and, after much persuasion, Harman washeard to say, "Why, if it must be, then lower the topsail. " And sodid shorten sail, to the loss, as the Parliament will have it, of thegreatest victory that ever was, and which would have saved all theexpence of blood, and money, and honour, that followed; and this they doresent, so as to put it to the question, whether Bruncker should not becarried to the Tower: who do confess that, out of kindness to the Dukeof York's safety, he did advise that they should do so, but did notuse the Duke of York's name therein; and so it was only his error inadvising it, but the greatest theirs in taking it, contrary to order. Atlast, it ended that it should be suspended till Harman comes home; andthen the Parliament-men do all tell me that it will fall heavy, and, they think, be fatal to Bruncker or him. Sir W. Pen tells me he was goneto bed, having been all day labouring, and then not able to stand, ofthe goute, and did give order for the keeping the sails standing, asthey then were, all night. But, which I wonder at, he tells me that hedid not know the next day that they had shortened sail, nor everdid enquire into it till about ten days ago, that this begun to bementioned; and, indeed, it is charged privately as a fault on the Dukeof York, that he did not presently examine the reason of the breach ofhis orders, and punish it. But Cox tells me that he did finally refuseit; and what prevailed with Harman he knows not, and do think that wemight have done considerable service on the enemy the next day, if thishad not been done. Thus this business ended to-day, having kept themtill almost two o'clock; and then I by coach with Sir W. Pen as far asSt. Clement's, talking of this matter, and there set down; and Iwalked to Sir G. Carteret's, and there dined with him and severalParliament-men, who, I perceive, do all look upon it as a thing certainthat the Parliament will enquire into every thing, and will be verysevere where they can find any fault. Sir W. Coventry, I hear, did thisday make a speech, in apology for his reading the letter of the Duke ofAlbemarle, concerning the good condition which Chatham was in beforethe enemy come thither: declaring his simple intention therein, withoutprejudice to my Lord. And I am told that he was also with the Duke ofAlbemarle yesterday to excuse it; but this day I do hear, by some of SirW. Coventry's friends, that they think he hath done himself much injuryby making this man, and his interest, so much his enemy. After dinner, Iaway to Westminster, and up to the Parliament-house, and there didwait with great patience, till seven at night, to be called in tothe Committee, who sat all this afternoon, examining the businessof Chatham; and at last was called in, and told, that the least theyexpected from us Mr. Wren had promised them, and only bade me to bringall my fellow-officers thitherto attend them tomorrow, afternoon. Sir Robert Brookes in the chair: methinks a sorry fellow to be there, because a young man; and yet he seems to speak very well. I gone thence, my cozen Pepys comes out to me, and walks in the Hall with me, andbids me prepare to answer to every thing; for they do seem to lodge thebusiness of Chatham upon the Commissioners of the Navy, and they areresolved to lay the fault heavy somewhere, and to punish it: andprays me to prepare to save myself, and gives me hints what to prepareagainst; which I am obliged to him for, and do begin to mistrust lestsome unhappy slip or other after all my diligence and pains may not befound (which I can [not] foresee) that may prove as fatal to a man asthe constant course of negligence and unfaithfulness of other men. Herewe parted, and I to White Hall to Mr. Wren's chamber, thereto advisewith him about the list of ships and commanders which he is to presentto the Parliament, and took coach (little Michell being with me, whomI took with me from Westminster Hall), and setting him down in Graciousstreet home myself, where I find my wife and the two Mercers and Willettand W. Batelier have been dancing, but without a fidler. I had a littlepleasure in talking with these, but my head and heart full of thoughtsbetween hope and fear and doubts what will become of us and meparticularly against a furious Parliament. Then broke up and to bed, and there slept pretty well till about four o'clock, and from that timecould not, but my thoughts running on speeches to the Parliament toexcuse myself from the blame which by other men's negligence will'light, it may be, upon the office. This day I did get a list of thefourteen particular miscarriages which are already before the Committeeto be examined; wherein, besides two or three that will concern thisOffice much, there are those of the prizes, and that of Bergen, and notfollowing the Dutch ships, against my Lord Sandwich; that, I fear, will ruine him, unless he hath very good luck, or they may be in bettertemper before he can come to be charged: but my heart is full of fearfor him and his family. I hear that they do prosecute the businessagainst my Lord Chief Justice Keeling with great severity. 

22nd. Slept but ill all the last part of the night, for fear of thisday's success in Parliament: therefore up, and all of us all the morningclose, till almost two o'clock, collecting all we had to say and haddone from the beginning, touching the safety of the River Medway andChatham. And, having done this, and put it into order, we away, I nothaving time to eat my dinner; and so all in my Lord Bruncker's coach, that is to say, Bruncker, W. Pen, T. Harvy, and myself, talking of theother great matter with which they charge us, that is, of dischargingmen by ticket, in order to our defence in case that should be asked. Wecome to the Parliament-door, and there, after a little waiting till theCommittee was sat, we were, the House being very full, called in: Sir W. Pen went in and sat as a Member; and my Lord Bruncker would not at firstgo in, expecting to have a chair set for him, and his brother had bidhim not go in, till he was called for; but, after a few words, I hadoccasion to mention him, and so he was called in, but without any morechair or respect paid him than myself: and so Bruncker, and T. Harvy, and I, were there to answer: and I had a chair brought me to lean mybooks upon: and so did give them such an account, in a series of thewhole business that had passed the Office touching the matter, and soanswered all questions given me about it, that I did not perceive butthey were fully satisfied with me and the business as to our Office: andthen Commissioner Pett (who was by at all my discourse, and this heldtill within an hour after candlelight, for I had candles brought into read my papers by) was to answer for himself, we having lodged allmatters with him for execution. But, Lord! what a tumultuous thing thisCommittee is, for all the reputation they have of a great council, isa strange consideration; there being as impertinent questions, and asdisorderly proposed, as any man could make. But Commissioner Pett, ofall men living, did make the weakest defence for himself: nothing to thepurpose, nor to satisfaction, nor certain; but sometimes one thing andsometimes another, sometimes for himself and sometimes against him; andhis greatest failure was, that I observed, from his [not] consideringwhether the question propounded was his part to answer or no, and thething to be done was his work to do: the want of which distinctionwill overthrow him; for he concerns himself in giving an account of thedisposal of the boats, which he had no reason at all to do, or take anyblame upon him for them. He charged the not carrying up of "The Charles"upon the Tuesday, to the Duke of Albemarle; but I see the House ismighty favourable to the Duke of Albemarle, and would give little weightto it. And something of want of armes he spoke, which Sir J. Duncombanswered with great imperiousness and earnestness; but, for all that, Ido see the House is resolved to be better satisfied in the business ofthe unreadiness of Sherenesse, and want of armes and ammunition thereand every where: and all their officers were here to-day attending, butonly one called in, about armes for boats, to answer Commissioner Pett. None of my brethren said anything but me there, but only two or threesilly words my Lord Bruncker gave, in answer to one question about thenumber of men there were in the King's Yard at the time. At last, theHouse dismissed us, and shortly after did adjourne the debate tillFriday next: and my cozen Pepys did come out and joy me in my acquittingmyself so well, and so did several others, and my fellow-officers allvery brisk to see themselves so well acquitted; which makes me a littleproud, but yet not secure but we may yet meet with a back-blow which wesee not. So, with our hearts very light, Sir W. Pen and I in his coachhome, it being now near eight o'clock, and so to the office, and did alittle business by the post, and so home, hungry, and eat a good supper, and so, with my mind well at ease, to bed. My wife not very well ofthose. 

23rd. Up, and Sir W. Pen and I in his coach to White Hall, there toattend the Duke of York; but come a little too late, and so missed it:only spoke with him, and heard him correct my Lord Barkeley, who fellfoul on Sir Edward Spragg, who, it seems, said yesterday to the House, that if the Officers of the Ordnance had done as much work at Sherenessin ten weeks as "The Prince" did in ten days, he could have defended theplace against the Dutch: but the Duke of York told him that every bodymust have liberty, at this time, to make their own defence, though itbe to the charging of the fault upon any other, so it be true; so Iperceive the whole world is at work in blaming one another. ThenceSir W. Pen and I back into London; and there saw the King, with hiskettle-drums and trumpets, going to the Exchange, to lay the first stoneof the first pillar of the new building of the Exchange; which, thegates being shut, I could not get in to see: but, with Sir W. Pen, toCaptain Cocke's to drink a dram of brandy, and so he to the Treasuryoffice about Sir G. Carteret's accounts, and I took coach and back againtoward Westminster; but in my way stopped at the Exchange, and got in, the King being newly gone; and there find the bottom of the first pillarlaid. And here was a shed set up, and hung with tapestry, and a canopyof state, and some good victuals and wine, for the King, who, it seems, did it; and so a great many people, as Tom Killigrew, and others of theCourt there, and there I did eat a mouthful and drink a little, and dofind Mr. Gawden in his gowne as Sheriffe, and understand that the Kinghath this morning knighted him upon the place, which I am mightilypleased with; and I think the other Sheriffe, who is Davis, the littlefellow, my schoolfellow, --the bookseller, who was one of Audley's'Executors, and now become Sheriffe; which is a strange turn, methinks. Here mighty merry (there being a good deal of good company) for aquarter of an hour, and so I away and to Westminster Hall, where Icome just as the House rose; and there, in the Hall, met with Sir W. Coventry, who is in pain to defend himself in the business of tickets, it being said that the paying of the ships at Chatham by ticket was byhis direction, and he hath wrote to me to find his letters, and shewthem him, but I find none; but did there argue the case with him, and Ithink no great blame can be laid on us for that matter, only I see he isfearfull. And he tells me his mistake in the House the other day, which occasions him much trouble, in shewing of the House the Duke ofAlbemarle's letter about the good condition of Chatham, which he issorry for, and, owns as a mistake, the thing not being necessary to havebeen done; and confesses that nobody can escape from such error, sometimes or other. He says the House was well satisfied with my Reportyesterday; and so several others told me in the Hall that my Report wasvery good and satisfactory, and that I have got advantage by it inthe House: I pray God it may prove so! And here, after the Hall prettyempty, I did walk a few turns with Commissioner Pett, and did give thepoor weak man some advice for his advantage how to better his pleadingfor himself, which I think he will if he can remember and practise, for I would not have the man suffer what he do not deserve, there beingenough of what he do deserve to lie upon him. Thence to Mrs. Martin's, and there staid till two o'clock, and drank and talked, and did give herL3 to buy my goddaughter her first new gowne.... And so away homeward, and in my way met Sir W. Pen in Cheapside, and went into his coach, andback again and to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Black Prince"again: which is now mightily bettered by that long letter being printed, and so delivered to every body at their going in, and some shortreference made to it in heart in the play, which do mighty well; but, when all is done, I think it the worst play of my Lord Orrery's. Buthere, to my great satisfaction, I did see my Lord Hinchingbroke and hismistress, with her father and mother; and I am mightily pleased with theyoung lady, being handsome enough--and, indeed, to my great liking, asI would have her. I could not but look upon them all the play; beingexceeding pleased with my good hap to see them, God bring them together!and they are now already mighty kind to one another, and he is as itwere one of their family. The play done I home, and to the office awhile, and then home to supper, very hungry, and then to my chamber, toread the true story, in Speed, of the Black Prince, and so to bed. Thisday, it was moved in the House that a day might be appointed to bringin an impeachment against the Chancellor, but it was decried as beingirregular; but that, if there was ground for complaint, it might bebrought to the Committee for miscarriages, and, if they thought good, topresent it to the House; and so it was carried. They did also vote thisday thanks to be given to the Prince and Duke of Albemarle, for theircare and conduct in the last year's war, which is a strange act; but, I know not how, the blockhead Albemarle hath strange luck to be loved, though he be, and every man must know it, the heaviest man in the world, but stout and honest to his country. This evening late, Mr. Moore cometo me to prepare matters for my Lord Sandwich's defence; wherein I canlittle assist, but will do all I can; and am in great fear of nothingbut the damned business of the prizes, but I fear my Lord will receive acursed deal of trouble by it. 

24th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning very busy, and atnoon took Mr. Hater home with me to dinner, and instantly back again towrite what letters I had to write, that I might go abroad with my wife, who was not well, only to jumble her, and so to the Duke of York'splayhouse; but there Betterton not being yet well, we would not stay, though since I hear that Smith do act his part in "The Villaine, " whichwas then acted, as well or better than he, which I do not believe; butto Charing Cross, there to see Polichinelli. But, it being begun, we into see a Frenchman, at the house, where my wife's father last lodged, one Monsieur Prin, play on the trump-marine, [The trumpet marine is a stringed instrument having a triangular- shaped body or chest and a long neck, a single string raised on a bridge and running along the body and neck. It was played with a bow. ]

which he do beyond belief; and, the truth is, it do so far outdo atrumpet as nothing more, and he do play anything very true, and it ismost admirable and at first was a mystery to me that I should hear awhole concert of chords together at the end of a pause, but he showed methat it was only when the last notes were 5ths or 3rds, one to another, and then their sounds like an Echo did last so as they seemed to soundall together. The instrument is open at the end, I discovered; but hewould not let me look into it, but I was mightily pleased with it, andhe did take great pains to shew me all he could do on it, which was verymuch, and would make an excellent concert, two or three of them, betterthan trumpets can ever do, because of their want of compass. Here wealso saw again the two fat children come out of Ireland, and a brotherand sister of theirs now come, which are of little ordinary growth, likeother people. But, Lord! how strange it is to observe the differencebetween the same children, come out of the same little woman's belly!Thence to Mile-End Greene, and there drank, and so home bringing homenight with us, and so to the office a little, and then to bed. 

25th. Up, and all the morning close till two o'clock, till I had nottime to eat my dinner, to make our answer ready for the Parliament thisafternoon, to shew how Commissioner Pett was singly concerned in theexecuting of all orders from Chatham, and that we did properly lodge allorders with him. Thence with Sir W. Pen to the Parliament Committee, andthere we all met, and did shew, my Lord Bruncker and I, our commissionsunder the Great Seal in behalf of all the rest, to shew them our duties, and there I had no more matters asked me, but were bid to withdraw, anddid there wait, I all the afternoon till eight at, night, whilethey were examining several about the business of Chatham again, andparticularly my Lord Bruncker did meet with two or three blurs that hedid not think of. One from Spragg, who says that "The Unity" was orderedup contrary to his order, by my Lord Bruncker and Commissioner Pett. Another by Crispin, the waterman, who said he was upon "The Charles;"and spoke to Lord Bruncker coming by in his boat, to know whether theyshould carry up "The Charles, " they being a great many naked men withoutarmes, and he told them she was well as she was. Both these have littlein them indeed, but yet both did stick close against him; and he is theweakest man in the world to make his defence, and so is like to havemuch fault laid on him therefrom. Spragg was in with them all theafternoon, and hath much fault laid on him for a man that minded hispleasure, and little else of his whole charge. I walked in the lobby, and there do hear from Mr. Chichly that they were (the Commissionersof the Ordnance) shrewdly put to it yesterday, being examined with allseverity and were hardly used by them, much otherwise than we, and didgo away with mighty blame; and I am told by every body that it is likelyto stick mighty hard upon them: at which every body is glad, becauseof Duncomb's pride, and their expecting to have the thanks of the Housewhereas they have deserved, as the Parliament apprehends, as bad as badcan be. Here is great talk of an impeachment brought in against my LordMordaunt, and that another will be brought in against my Lord Chancellorin a few days. Here I understand for certain that they have orderedthat my Lord Arlington's letters, and Secretary Morrice's letters ofintelligence, be consulted, about the business of the Dutch fleete'scoming abroad, which is a very high point, but this they have done, butin what particular manner I cannot justly say, whether it was not withthe King's leave first asked. Here late, as I have said, and at lastthey broke up, and we had our commissions again, and I do hear howBirch is the high man that do examine and trouble every body with hisquestions, and they say that he do labour all he can to clear Pett, butit seems a witness has come in tonight, C. Millett, who do declare thathe did deliver a message from the Duke of Albemarle time enough for himto carry up "The Charles, " and he neglected it, which will stick veryhard, it seems, on him. So Sir W. Pen and I in his coach home, and thereto supper, a good supper, and so weary, and my eyes spent, to bed. 

26th. Up, and we met all this morning at Sir W. Pen's roome, the officebeing fowle with the altering of our garden door. There very busy, and at noon home, where Mrs. Pierce and her daughter's husband and Mr. Corbet dined with me. I had a good dinner for them, and mighty merry. Pierce and I very glad at the fate of the officers of Ordnance, thatthey are like to have so much blame on them. Here Mrs. Pierce tells methat the two Marshalls at the King's house are Stephen Marshall's, the great Presbyterian's daughters: and that Nelly and Beck Marshall, falling out the other day, the latter called the other my LordBuckhurst's whore. Nell answered then, "I was but one man's whore, though I was brought up in a bawdy-house to fill strong waters to theguests; and you are a whore to three or four, though a Presbyter'spraying daughter!" which was very pretty. Mrs. Pierce is still verypretty, but paints red on her face, which makes me hate her, that Ithank God I take no pleasure in her at all more. After much mirth andgood company at dinner, I to the office and left them, and Pendletonalso, who come in to see my wife and talk of dancing, and there I at theoffice all the afternoon very busy, and did much business, with my greatcontent to see it go off of hand, and so home, my eyes spent, to supperand to bed. 

27th (Lord's day). Up, and to my office, there, with W. Hewer, todictate a long letter to the Duke of York, about the bad state of theoffice, it being a work I do think fit for the office to do, though itbe to no purpose but for their vindication in these bad times; for Ido now learn many things tending to our safety which I did not whollyforget before, but do find the fruits of, and would I had practised themmore, as, among other things, to be sure to let our answers to ordersbear date presently after their date, that we may be found quick in ourexecution. This did us great good the other day before the Parliament. All the morning at this, at noon home to dinner, with my own familyalone. After dinner, I down to Deptford, the first time that I went tolook upon "The Maybolt, " which the King hath given me, and there sheis; and I did meet with Mr. Uthwayte, who do tell me that there are newsails ordered to be delivered her, and a cable, which I did not speak ofat all to him. So, thereupon, I told him I would not be my own hindranceso much as to take her into my custody before she had them, which wasall I said to him, but desired him to take a strict inventory of her, that I might not be cheated by the master nor the company, when theycome to understand that the vessel is gone away, which he hath promisedme, and so away back again home, reading all the way the book of thecollection of oaths in the several offices of this nation, which isworth a man's reading, and so away home, and there my boy and I to sing, and at it all the evening, and to supper, and so to bed. This eveningcome Sir J. Minnes to me, to let me know that a Parliament-man hathbeen with him, to tell him that the Parliament intend to examine himparticularly about Sir W. Coventry's selling of places, and about myLord Bruncker's discharging the ships at Chatham by ticket: for theformer of which I am more particularly sorry that that business of [Sir]W. Coventry should come up again; though this old man tells me, and, Ibelieve, that he can say nothing to it. 

28th. Up, and by water to White Hall (calling at Michell's and drank adram of strong water, but it being early I did not see his wife), andthence walked to Sir W. Coventry's lodging, but he was gone out, and sogoing towards St. James's I find him at his house which is fittingfor him; and there I to him, and was with him above an hour alone, discoursing of the matters of the nation, and our Office, and himself. He owns that he is, at this day, the chief person aymed at by theParliament--that is, by the friends of my Lord Chancellor, and also bythe Duke of Albemarle, by reason of his unhappy shewing of the Duke ofAlbemarle's letter, the other day, in the House; but that he thinks thathe is not liable to any hurt they can fasten on him for anything, heis so well armed to justify himself in every thing, unless in the oldbusiness of selling places, when he says every body did; and he will nownot be forward to tell his own story, as he hath been; but tells me heis grown wiser, and will put them to prove any thing, and he will defendhimself: besides that, he will dispute the statute, thinking that itwill not be found to reach him. We did talk many things, which, as theycome into my mind now, I shall set down without order: that he is wearyof public employment; and neither ever designed, nor will ever, if hiscommission were brought to him wrapt in gold, would he accept of anysingle place in the State, as particularly Secretary of State; which, hesays, the world discourses Morrice is willing to resign, and he thinksthe King might have thought of him, but he would not, by any means, nowtake it, if given him, nor anything, but in commission with others, whomay bear part of the blame; for now he observes well, that whoever diddo anything singly are now in danger, however honest and painfulthey were, saying that he himself was the only man, he thinks, at thecouncil-board that spoke his mind clearly, as he thought, to the good ofthe King; and the rest, who sat silent, have nothing said to them, nor are taken notice of. That the first time the King did take himso closely into his confidence and ministry of affairs was upon thebusiness of Chatham, when all the disturbances were there, and in thekingdom; and then, while everybody was fancying for himself, the Kingdid find him to persuade him to call for the Parliament, declaring thatit was against his own proper interest, forasmuch as [it was] likelythey would find faults with him, as well as with others, but that hewould prefer the service of the King before his own: and, thereupon, theKing did take him into his special notice, and, from that time to this, hath received him so; and that then he did see the folly and mistakesof the Chancellor in the management of things, and saw that matters werenever likely to be done well in that sort of conduct, and did persuadethe King to think fit of the taking away the seals from the Chancellor, which, when it was done, he told me that he himself, in his ownparticular, was sorry for it; for, while he stood, there was he and myLord Arlington to stand between him and harm: whereas now there is onlymy Lord Arlington, and he is now down, so that all their fury is placedupon him but that he did tell the King, when he first moved it, that, if he thought the laying of him, W. Coventry, aside, would at allfacilitate the removing of the Chancellor, he would most willinglysubmit to it, whereupon the King did command him to try the Duke of Yorkabout it, and persuade him to it, which he did, by the King's command, undertake, and compass, and the Duke of York did own his consent tothe King, but afterwards was brought to be of another mind for theChancellor, and now is displeased with him, and [so is] the Duchesse, sothat she will not see him; but he tells me the Duke of York seems prettykind, and hath said that he do believe that W. Coventry did meanwell, and do it only out of judgment. He tells me that he never was anintriguer in his life, nor will be, nor of any combination of personsto set up this, or fling down that, nor hath, in his own business, thisParliament, spoke to three members to say any thing for him, but willstand upon his own defence, and will stay by it, and thinks that heis armed against all they can [say], but the old business of sellingplaces, and in that thinks they cannot hurt him. However, I do find himmighty willing to have his name used as little as he can, and he wasglad when I did deliver him up a letter of his to me, which did givecountenance to the discharging of men by ticket at Chatham, which is nowcoming in question; and wherein, I confess, I am sorry to find him sotender of appearing, it being a thing not only good and fit, all thatwas done in it, but promoted and advised by him. But he thinks the Houseis set upon wresting anything to his prejudice that they can pick up. Hetells me he did never, as a great many have, call the Chancellor rogueand knave, and I know not what; but all that he hath said, and willstand by, is, that his counsels were not good, nor the manner of hismanaging of things. I suppose he means suffering the King to run indebt; for by and by the King walking in the parke, with a great crowdof his idle people about him, I took occasion to say that it was asorry thing to be a poor King, and to have others to come to correctthe faults of his own servants, and that this was it that brought us allinto this condition. He answered that he would never be a poor King, andthen the other would mend of itself. "No, " says he, "I would eat breadand drink water first, and this day discharge all the idle company aboutme, and walk only with two footmen; and this I have told the King, andthis must do it at last. " I asked him how long the King would sufferthis. He told me the King must suffer it yet longer, that he would notadvise the King to do otherwise; for it would break out again worse, ifhe should break them up before the core be come up. After this, we fellto other talk, of my waiting upon him hereafter, it may be, to reada chapter in Seneca, in this new house, which he hath bought, and ismaking very fine, when we may be out of employment, which he seems towish more than to fear, and I do believe him heartily. Thence home, andmet news from Mr. Townsend of the Wardrobe that old Young, the yeomantaylor, whose place my Lord Sandwich promised my father, is dead. Uponwhich, resolving presently that my father shall not be troubled with it, but I hope I shall be able to enable him to end his days where he is, in quiet, I went forth thinking to tell Mrs. Ferrers (Captain Ferrers'swife), who do expect it after my father, that she may look after it, butupon second thoughts forbore it, and so back again home, calling at theNew Exchange, and there buying "The Indian Emperour, " newly printed, andso home to dinner, where I had Mr. Clerke, the sollicitor, and oneof the Auditor's clerks to discourse about the form of making up myaccounts for the Exchequer, which did give me good satisfaction, and soafter dinner, my wife, and Mercer, who grows fat, and Willett, and I, tothe King's house, and there saw "The Committee, " a play I like well, and so at night home and to the office, and so to my chamber about myaccounts, and then to Sir W. Pen's to speak with Sir John Chichly, whodesired my advice about a prize which he hath begged of the King, andthere had a great deal of his foolish talk of ladies and love and I knownot what, and so home to supper and to bed. 

29th. Up, and at the office, my Lord Bruncker and I close togethertill almost 3 after noon, never stirring, making up a report for theCommittee this afternoon about the business of discharging men byticket, which it seems the House is mighty earnest in, but is a fooleryin itself, yet gives me a great deal of trouble to draw up a defence forthe Board, as if it was a crime; but I think I have done it to very goodpurpose. Then to my Lady Williams's, with her and my Lord, and there dideat a snapp of good victuals, and so to Westminster Hall, where we findthe House not up, but sitting all this day about the method of bringingin the charge against my Lord Chancellor; and at last resolved for aCommittee to draw up the heads, and so rose, and no Committee to sittonight. Here Sir W. Coventry and Lord Bruncker and I did in the Hall(between the two Courts at the top of the Hall) discourse about a letterof [Sir] W. Coventry's to Bruncker, whereon Bruncker did justify hisdischarging men by ticket, and insists on one word which Sir W. Coventry would not seem very earnest to have left out, but I did see himconcerned, and did after labour to suppress the whole letter, the thingbeing in itself really impertinent, but yet so it is that [Sir] W. Coventry do not desire to have his name used in this business, and Ihave prevailed with Bruncker for it. Thence Bruncker and I to the King'sHouse, thinking to have gone into a box above, for fear of being seen, the King being there, but the play being 3 acts done we would not give4s. , and so away and parted, and I home, and there after a little supperto bed, my eyes ill, and head full of thoughts of the trouble thisParliament gives us. 

30th. All the morning till past noon preparing over again our reportthis afternoon to the Committee of Parliament about tickets, and thenhome to eat a bit, and then with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, where we dida very little business with the Duke of York at our usual meeting, onlyI perceive that he do leave all of us, as the King do those about him, to stand and fall by ourselves, and I think is not without some careshimself what the Parliament may do in matters wherein his honour isconcerned. Thence to the Parliament-house; where, after the Committeewas sat, I was called in; and the first thing was upon the complaint ofa dirty slut that was there, about a ticket which she had lost, andhad applied herself to me for another.... I did give them a short andsatisfactory answer to that; and so they sent her away, and were ashamedof their foolery, in giving occasion to 500 seamen and seamen's wives tocome before them, as there was this afternoon. But then they fell to thebusiness of tickets, and I did give them the best answer I could, buthad not scope to do it in the methodical manner which I had preparedmyself for, but they did ask a great many broken rude questions aboutit, and were mightily hot whether my Lord Bruncker had any orderto discharge whole ships by ticket, and because my answer was withdistinction, and not direct, I did perceive they were not so fullysatisfied therewith as I could wish they were. So my Lord Bruncker wascalled in, and they could fasten nothing on him that I could see, norindeed was there any proper matter for blame, but I do see, and it wassaid publicly in the House by Sir T. Clerges that Sir W. Batten haddesigned the business of discharging men by ticket and an order afterthe thing was done to justify my Lord Bruncker for having done it. Butthis I did not owne at all, nor was it just so, though he did indeed dosomething like it, yet had contributed as much to it as any man of theboard by sending down of tickets to do it. But, Lord! to see that weshould be brought to justify ourselves in a thing of necessity andprofit to the King, and of no profit or convenience to us, but thecontrary. We being withdrawn, we heard no more of it, but there staidlate and do hear no more, only my cozen Pepys do tell me that he didhear one or two whisper as if they thought that I do bogle at thebusiness of my Lord Bruncker, which is a thing I neither did or havereason to do in his favour, but I do not think it fit to make him sufferfor a thing that deserves well. But this do trouble me a little thatanything should stick to my prejudice in any of them, and did troubleme so much that all the way home with Sir W. Pen I was not at good ease, nor all night, though when I come home I did find my wife, and BettyTurner, the two Mercers, and Mrs. Parker, an ugly lass, but yet danceswell, and speaks the best of them, and W. Batelier, and Pembletondancing; and here I danced with them, and had a good supper, and asmerry as I could be, and so they being gone we to bed. 

31st. Up, and all the morning at the office, and at noon Mr. Creed andYeabsly dined with me (my wife gone to dine with Mrs. Pierce and seea play with her), and after dinner in comes Mr. Turner, of Eynsbury, lately come to town, and also after him Captain Hill of the "Coventry, "who lost her at Barbadoes, and is come out of France, where he hathbeen long prisoner. After a great deal of mixed discourse, and then Mr. Turner and I alone a little in my closet, talking about my Lord Sandwich(who I hear is now ordered by the King to come home again), we allparted, and I by water, calling at Michell's, and saw and once kissedsu wife, but I do think that he is jealous of her, and so she dares notstand out of his sight; so could not do more, but away by water to theTemple, and there, after spending a little time in my bookseller's shop, I to Westminster; and there at the lobby do hear by Commissioner Pett, to my great amazement, that he is in worse condition than before, bythe coming in of the Duke of Albemarle's and Prince Rupert's Narratives'this day; wherein the former do most severely lay matters upon him, soas the House this day have, I think, ordered him to the Tower again, orsomething like it; so that the poor man is likely to be overthrown, Idoubt, right or wrong, so infinite fond they are of any thing the Dukeof Albemarle says or writes to them! I did then go down, and there metwith Colonel Reames and cozen Roger Pepys; and there they do tell me howthe Duke of Albemarle and the Prince have laid blame on a great many, and particularly on our Office in general; and particularly for want ofprovision, wherein I shall come to be questioned again in that businessmyself; which do trouble me. But my cozen Pepys and I had much discoursealone: and he do bewail the constitution of this House, and says thereis a direct caball and faction, as much as is possible between those forand those against the Chancellor, and so in other factions, that thereis nothing almost done honestly and with integrity; only some few, hesays, there are, that do keep out of all plots and combinations, andwhen their time comes will speak and see right done, if possible; andthat he himself is looked upon to be a man that will be of no faction, and so they do shun to make him; and I am glad of it. He tells me thathe thanks God he never knew what it was to be tempted to be a knave inhis life; till he did come into the House of Commons, where there isnothing done but by passion, and faction, and private interest. Reames did tell me of a fellow last night (one Kelsy, a commander of afire-ship, who complained for want of his money paid him) did saythat he did see one of the Commissioners of the Navy bring in threewaggon-loads of prize-goods into Greenwich one night; but that the Housedid take no notice of it, nor enquire; but this is me, and I must expectto be called to account, and answer what I did as well as I can. Sothence away home, and in Holborne, going round, it being dark, I espiedSir D. Gawden's coach, and so went out of mine into his; and therehad opportunity to talk of the business of victuals, which the Duke ofAlbemarle and Prince did complain that they were in want of the lastyear: but we do conclude we shall be able to show quite the contrary ofthat; only it troubles me that we must come to contend with these greatpersons, which will overrun us. So with some disquiet in my mind on thisaccount I home, and there comes Mr. Yeabsly, and he and I to even someaccounts, wherein I shall be a gainer about L200, which is a seasonableprofit, for I have got nothing a great while; and he being gone, I tobed. 

NOVEMBER 1667

November 1st. Up betimes, and down to the waterside (calling anddrinking a dram of the bottle at Michell's, but saw not Betty), andthence to White Hall and to Sir W. Coventry's lodging, where he andI alone a good while, where he gives me the full of the Duke ofAlbemarle's and Prince's narratives, given yesterday by the House, wherein they fall foul of him and Sir G. Carteret in something aboutthe dividing of the fleete, and the Prince particularly charging theCommissioners of the Navy with negligence, he says the Commissioners ofthe Navy whereof Sir W. Coventry is one. He tells me that he is preparedto answer any particular most thoroughly, but the quality of the personsdo make it difficult for him, and so I do see is in great pain, poorman, though he deserves better than twenty such as either of them, forhis abilities and true service to the King and kingdom. He says there isincoherences, he believes, to be found between their two reports, which will be pretty work to consider. The Duke of Albemarle charges W. Coventry that he should tell him, when he come down to the fleete withSir G. Carteret, to consult about dividing the fleete, that the Dutchwould not be out in six weeks, which W. Coventry says is as false as ispossible, and he can prove the contrary by the Duke of Albemarle's ownletters. The Duke of Albemarle says that he did upon sight of the Dutchcall a council of officers, and they did conclude they could not avoidfighting the Dutch; and yet we did go to the enemy, and found them atanchor, which is a pretty contradiction. And he tells me that Spragg didthe other day say in the House, that the Prince, at his going from theDuke of Albemarle with his fleete, did tell him that if the Dutch shouldcome on, the Duke was to follow him, the Prince, with his fleete, andnot fight the Dutch. Out of all this a great deal of good might well bepicked. But it is a sad consideration that all this picking of holes inone another's coats--nay, and the thanks of the House to the Princeand the Duke of Albemarle, and all this envy and design to ruin Sir W. Coventry--did arise from Sir W. Coventry's unfortunate mistake the otherday, in producing of a letter from the Duke of Albemarle, touching thegood condition of all things at Chatham just before the Dutch come up, and did us that fatal mischiefe; for upon this they are resolved to undohim, and I pray God they do not. He tells me upon my demanding it thathe thinks the King do not like this their bringing these narratives, andthat they give out that they would have said more but that the King hathhindered them, that I suppose is about my Lord Sandwich. He is gettinga copy of the Narratives, which I shall then have, and so I partedfrom him and away to White Hall, where I met Mr. Creed and Yeabsly, anddiscoursed a little about Mr. Yeabsly's business and accounts, and soI to chapel and there staid, it being All-Hallows day, and heard a fineanthem, made by Pelham (who is come over) in France, of which there wasgreat expectation, and indeed is a very good piece of musique, but stillI cannot call the Anthem anything but instrumentall musique with thevoice, for nothing is made of the words at all. I this morning beforechapel visited Sir G. Carteret, who is vexed to see how things arelikely to go, but cannot help it, and yet seems to think himself mightysafe. I also visited my Lord Hinchingbroke, at his chamber at WhiteHall, where I found Mr. Turner, Moore, and Creed, talking of my LordSandwich, whose case I doubt is but bad, and, I fear, will not escapebeing worse, though some of the company did say otherwise. But I ammightily pleased with my Lord Hinchingbroke's sobriety and few words. After chapel I with Creed to the Exchange, and after much talk he and Ithere about securing of some money either by land or goods to be alwaysat our command, which we think a thing advisable in this critical time, we parted, and I to the Sun Taverne with Sir W. Warren (with whom I havenot drank many a day, having for some time been strange to him), andthere did put it to him to advise me how to dispose of my prize, whichhe will think of and do to my best advantage. We talked of severalother things relating to his service, wherein I promise assistance, but coldly, thinking it policy to do so, and so, after eating a shortdinner, I away home, and there took out my wife, and she and I alone tothe King's playhouse, and there saw a silly play and an old one, "TheTaming of a Shrew, " and so home and I to my office a little, and thenhome to supper and to bed. 

2nd. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning; at noon home, and after dinner my wife and Willett and I to the King's playhouse, andthere saw "Henry the Fourth:" and contrary to expectation, was pleasedin nothing more than in Cartwright's speaking of Falstaffe's speechabout "What is Honour?" The house full of Parliament-men, it beingholyday with them: and it was observable how a gentleman of good habit, sitting just before us, eating of some fruit in the midst of the play, did drop down as dead, being choked; but with much ado Orange Moll didthrust her finger down his throat, and brought him to life again. Afterthe play, we home, and I busy at the office late, and then home tosupper and to bed. 

3rd (Lord's day). Up, and with my wife to church, and thither comesRoger Pepys to our pew, and thence home to dinner, whither comes byinvitation Mr. Turner, the minister, and my cozen Roger brought with himJeffrys, the apothecary at Westminster, who is our kinsman, and we hadmuch discourse of Cottenhamshire, and other things with great pleasure. My cozen Roger did tell me of a bargain which I may now have inNorfolke, that my she-cozen, Nan Pepys, is going to sell, the titlewhereof is very good, and the pennyworth is also good enough; but it isout of the way so of my life, that I shall never enjoy it, nor, it maybe, see it, and so I shall have nothing to do with it. After dinner totalk, and I find by discourse Mr. Turner to be a man mighty well read inthe Roman history, which is very pleasant. By and by Roger went, andMr. Turner spent an hour talking over my Lord Sandwich's condition asto this Parliament, which we fear may be bad, and the condition ofhis family, which can be no better, and then having little to comfortourselves but that this humour will not last always in the Parliament, and that [it] may well have a great many more as great men as heenquired into, and so we parted, and I to my chamber, and there busy allthe evening, and then my wife and I to supper, and so to bed, with muchdiscourse and pleasure one with another. 

4th. Up betimes, and by water with Sir R. Ford (who is going toParliament) to Westminster; and there landing at the New Exchangestairs, I to Sir W. Coventry: and there he read over to me the Prince'sand the Duke of Albemarle's Narratives; wherein they are very severeagainst him and our Office. But [Sir] W. Coventry do contemn them; onlythat their persons and qualities are great, and so I do perceive [he] isafeard of them, though he will not confess it. But he do say that, if hecan get out of these briars, he will never trouble himself with Princesnor Dukes again. He finds several things in their Narratives, which areboth inconsistent and foolish, as well as untrue, especially as to whatthe Duke of Albemarle avers of his knowing of the enemy's being abroadsooner than he says it, which [Sir] W. Coventry will shew him his ownletter against him, for I confess I do see so much, that, were I butwell possessed of what I should have in the world, I think I couldwillingly retreat, and trouble myself no more with it. Thence home, andthere met Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I to the Excise Office to see whattallies are paying, and thence back to the Old Exchange, by the waytalking of news, and he owning Sir W. Coventry, in his opinion, to beone of the worthiest men in the nation, as I do really think he is. Hetells me he do think really that they will cut off my Lord Chancellor'shead, the Chancellor at this day showing as much pride as is possible tothose few that venture their fortunes by coming to see him; and that theDuke of York is troubled much, knowing that those that fling down theChancellor cannot stop there, but will do something to him, to preventhis having it in his power hereafter to avenge himself and father-in-lawupon them. And this Sir H. Cholmly fears may be by divorcing the Queenand getting another, or declaring the Duke of Monmouth legitimate; whichGod forbid! He tells me he do verily believe that there will come inan impeachment of High Treason against my Lord of Ormond; among otherthings, for ordering the quartering of soldiers in Ireland on freequarters; which, it seems, is High Treason in that country, and was oneof the things that lost the Lord Strafford his head, and the law is notyet repealed; which, he says, was a mighty oversight of him not tohave it repealed, which he might with ease have done, or have justifiedhimself by an Act. From the Exchange I took a coach, and went toTurlington, the great spectacle-maker, for advice, who dissuades me fromusing old spectacles, but rather young ones, and do tell me that nothingcan wrong my eyes more than for me to use reading-glasses, which domagnify much. Thence home, and there dined, and then abroad and leftmy wife and Willett at her tailor's, and I to White Hall, where theCommissioners of the Treasury do not sit, and therefore I to Westminsterto the Hall, and there meeting with Col. Reames I did very cheaply byhim get copies of the Prince's and Duke of Albemarle's Narratives, whichthey did deliver the other day to the House, of which I am mighty glad, both for my present information and for my future satisfaction. So backby coach, and took up my wife, and away home, and there in my chamberall the evening among my papers and my accounts of Tangier to my greatsatisfaction, and so to supper and to bed. 

5th. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon home to dinner, andthence out with my wife and girle, and left them at her tailor's, andI to the Treasury, and there did a little business for Tangier, and sotook them up again, and home, and when I had done at the office, beingpost night, I to my chamber, and there did something more, and so tosupper and to bed. 

6th. Up, and to Westminster, where to the Parliament door, and therespoke with Sir G. Downing, to see what was done yesterday at theTreasury for Tangier, and it proved as good as nothing, so that I do seewe shall be brought to great straits for money there. He tells me herethat he is passing a Bill to make the Excise and every other part of theKing's Revenue assignable on the Exchequer, which indeed will be a verygood thing. This he says with great glee as an act of his, and how poora thing this was in the beginning, and with what envy he carried it on, and how my Lord Chancellor could never endure him for it since he firstbegun it. He tells me that the thing the House is just now upon isthat of taking away the charter from the Company of Woodmongers, whosefrauds, it seems, have been mightily laid before them. He tells me thatthey are like to fly very high against my Lord Chancellor. Thence Ito the House of Lords, and there first saw Dr. Fuller, as Bishop ofLincoln, to sit among the Lords. Here I spoke with the Duke of York andthe Duke of Albemarle about Tangier; but methinks both of them do lookvery coldly one upon another, and their discourse mighty cold, andlittle to the purpose about our want of money. Thence homeward, andcalled at Allestry's, the bookseller, who is bookseller to the RoyalSociety, and there did buy three or four books, and find great varietyof French and foreign books. And so home and to dinner, and after dinnerwith my wife to a play, and the girl--"Macbeth, " which we still likemightily, though mighty short of the content we used to have whenBetterton acted, who is still sick. So home, troubled with the wayand to get a coach, and so to supper and to bed. This day, in thePaynted-chamber, I met and walked with Mr. George Montagu, who thinksit may go hard with my Lord Sandwich, but he says the House is offendedwith Sir W. Coventry much, and that he do endeavour to gain them againin the most precarious manner in all things that is possible. 

7th. Up, and at the office hard all the morning, and at noon resolvedwith Sir W. Pen to go see "The Tempest, " an old play of Shakespeare's, acted, I hear, the first day; and so my wife, and girl, and W. Hewer bythemselves, and Sir W. Pen and I afterwards by ourselves; and forcedto sit in the side balcone over against the musique-room at the Duke'shouse, close by my Lady Dorset and a great many great ones. The housemighty full; the King and Court there and the most innocent play thatever I saw; and a curious piece of musique in an echo of half sentences, the echo repeating the former half, while the man goes on to the latter;which is mighty pretty. The play [has] no great wit, but yet good, aboveordinary plays. Thence home with [Sir] W. Pen, and there all mightilypleased with the play; and so to supper and to bed, after having done atthe office. 

8th. Called up betimes by Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I to good purposemost of the morning--I in my dressing-gown with him, on our Tangieraccounts, and stated them well; and here he tells me that he believes itwill go hard with my Lord Chancellor. Thence I to the office, where meton some special, business; and here I hear that the Duke of York isvery ill; and by and by word brought us that we shall not need to attendto-day the Duke of York, for he is not well, which is bad news. Theybeing gone, I to my workmen, who this day come to alter my office, bybeating down the wall, and making me a fayre window both there, andincreasing the window of my closet, which do give me some presenttrouble; but will be mighty pleasant. So all the whole day among themto very late, and so home weary, to supper, and to bed, troubled for theDuke of York his being sick. 

9th. Up and to my workmen, who are at work close again, and I at theoffice all the morning, and there do hear by a messenger that RogerPepys would speak with me, so before the office up I to Westminster, andthere find the House very busy, and like to be so all day, about my LordChancellor's impeachment, whether treason or not, where every body ismighty busy. I spoke with my cozen Roger, whose business was only togive me notice that Carcasse hath been before the Committee; and to warnme of it, which is a great courtesy in him to do, and I desire him tocontinue to do so. This business of this fellow, though it may be afoolish thing, yet it troubles me, and I do plainly see my weaknessthat I am not a man able to go through trouble, as other men, but thatI should be a miserable man if I should meet with adversity, which Godkeep me from! He desirous to get back into the House, he having hisnotes in his hand, the lawyers being now speaking to the point ofwhether treason or not treason, the article of advising the King tobreak up the Parliament, and to govern by the sword. Thence I down tothe Hall, and there met Mr. King, the Parliament-man for Harwich, andthere he did shew, and let me take a copy of, all the articles againstmy Lord Chancellor, and what members they were that undertook to bringwitnesses to make them good, of which I was mighty glad, and so awayhome, and to dinner and to my workmen, and in the afternoon out to getSimpson the joyner to come to work at my office, and so back home and tomy letters by the post to-night, and there, by W. Pen, do hear that thisarticle was overvoted in the House not to be a ground of impeachment oftreason, at which I was glad, being willing to have no blood spilt, ifI could help it. So home to supper, and glad that the dirty bricklayers'work of my office is done, and home to supper and to bed. 

10th (Lord's day). Mighty cold, and with my wife to church, where a lazysermon. Here was my Lady Batten in her mourning at church, but I took nonotice of her. At noon comes Michell and his wife to dine with us, andpretty merry. I glad to see her still. After dinner Sir W. Pen and Ito White Hall, to speak with Sir W. Coventry; and there, beyond all welooked for, do hear that the Duke of York hath got, and is full of, thesmall-pox; and so we to his lodgings; and there find most of the familygoing to St. James's, and the gallery doors locked up, that nobody mightpass to nor fro and a sad house, I am sure. I am sad to consider theeffects of his death, if he should miscarry; but Dr. Frazier tellsme that he is in as good condition as a man can be in his case. Theeruption appeared last night; it seems he was let blood on Friday. Thence, not finding [Sir] W. Coventry, and going back again home, we methim coming with the Lord Keeper, and so returned and spoke with him inWhite Hall Garden, two or three turns, advising with him what weshould do about Carcasse's bringing his letter into the Committee ofParliament, and he told us that the counsel he hath too late learnedis, to spring nothing in the House, nor offer anything, but just whatis drawn out of a man: that this is the best way of dealing with aParliament, and that he hath paid dear, and knows not how much more hemay pay, for not knowing it sooner, when he did unnecessarily producethe Duke of Albemarle's letter about Chatham, which if demanded wouldhave come out with all the advantages in the world to Sir W. Coventry, but, as he brought it out himself, hath drawn much evil upon him. Aftersome talk of this kind, we back home, and there I to my chamber busy allthe evening, and then to supper and to bed, my head running all nightupon our businesses in Parliament and what examinations we are likely togo under before they have done with us, which troubles me more than itshould a wise man and a man the best able to defend himself, I believe, of our own whole office, or any other, I am apt to think. 

11th. Up, and to Simpson at work in my office, and thence with SirG. Carteret (who come to talk with me) to Broad Streete, where greatcrowding of people for money, at which he blamed himself. Thence withhim and Lord Bruncker to Captain Cocke's (he out of doors), and theredrank their morning draught, and thence [Sir] G. Carteret and I towardthe Temple in coach together; and there he did tell me how the King doall he can in the world to overthrow my Lord Chancellor, and that noticeis taken of every man about the King that is not seen to promote theruine of the Chancellor; and that this being another great day inhis business, he dares not but be there. He tells me that as soon asSecretary Morrice brought the Great Seale from my Lord Chancellor, Bab. May fell upon his knees, and catched the King about the legs, and joyedhim, and said that this was the first time that ever he could callhim King of England, being freed from this great man: which was a mostridiculous saying. And he told me that, when first my Lord Gerard, agreat while ago, come to the King, and told him that the Chancellor didsay openly that the King was a lazy person and not fit to govern, which is now made one of the things in the people's mouths against theChancellor, "Why, " says the King, "that is no news, for he hath told meso twenty times, and but the other day he told me so;" and made matterof mirth at it: but yet this light discourse is likely to prove bad tohim. I 'light at the Temple, and went to my tailor's and mercer's abouta cloake, to choose the stuff, and so to my bookseller's and bought somebooks, and so home to dinner, and Simpson my joyner with me, and afterdinner, my wife, and I, and Willett, to the King's play-house, and theresaw "The Indian Emperour, " a good play, but not so good as people cry itup, I think, though above all things Nell's ill speaking of a great partmade me mad. Thence with great trouble and charge getting a coach (itbeing now and having been all this day a most cold and foggy, dark, thick day), we home, and there I to my office, and saw it made cleanfrom top to bottom, till I feared I took cold in walking in a damp roomwhile it is in washing, and so home to supper and to bed. This day I hada whole doe sent me by Mr. Hozier, which is a fine present, and I hadthe umbles of it for dinner. This day I hear Kirton, my bookseller, poorman, is dead, I believe, of grief for his losses by the fire. 

12th. Up, and to the Office, where sat all the morning; and there hearthe Duke of York do yet do very well with his smallpox: pray God he maycontinue to do so! This morning also, to my astonishment, I hear thatyesterday my Lord Chancellor, to another of his Articles, that ofbetraying the King's councils to his enemies, is voted to have matteragainst him for an impeachment of High Treason, and that this day theimpeachment is to be carried up to the House of Lords which is veryhigh, and I am troubled at it; for God knows what will follow, sincethey that do this must do more to secure themselves against any thatwill revenge this, if it ever come in their power! At noon home todinner, and then to my office, and there saw every thing finished, so asmy papers are all in order again and my office twice as pleasant as everit was, having a noble window in my closet and another in my office, tomy great content, and so did business late, and then home to supper andto bed. 

13th. Up, and down to the Old Swan, and so to Westminster; where I findthe House sitting, and in a mighty heat about Commissioner Pett, thatthey would have him impeached, though the Committee have yet brought inbut part of their Report: and this heat of the House is much heightenedby Sir Thomas Clifford telling them, that he was the man that did, outof his own purse, employ people at the out-ports to prevent the King ofScots to escape after the battle of Worcester. The House was in a greatheat all this day about it; and at last it was carried, however, that itshould be referred back to the Committee to make further enquiry. I herespoke with Roger Pepys, who sent for me, and it was to tell me thatthe Committee is mighty full of the business of buying and selling oftickets, and to caution me against such an enquiry (wherein I am verysafe), and that they have already found out Sir Richard Ford's son tohave had a hand in it, which they take to be the same as if thefather had done it, and I do believe the father may be as likely to beconcerned in it as his son. But I perceive by him they are resolved tofind out the bottom of the business if it be possible. By and by Imet with Mr. Wren, who tells me that the Duke of York is in as goodcondition as is possible for a man, in his condition of the smallpox. He, I perceive, is mightily concerned in the business of my LordChancellor, the impeachment against whom is gone up to the House ofLords; and great differences there are in the Lords' House about it, andthe Lords are very high one against another. Thence home to dinner, andas soon as dinner done I and my wife and Willet to the Duke of York's, house, and there saw the Tempest again, which is very pleasant, and fullof so good variety that I cannot be more pleased almost in a comedy, only the seamen's part a little too tedious. Thence home, and there tomy chamber, and do begin anew to bind myself to keep my old vows, andamong the rest not to see a play till Christmas but once in every otherweek, and have laid aside L10, which is to be lost to the poor, if I do. This I hope in God will bind me, for I do find myself mightily wrongedin my reputation, and indeed in my purse and business, by my latefollowing of my pleasure for so long time as I have done. So to supperand then to bed. This day Mr. Chichly told me, with a seeming trouble, that the House have stopped his son Jack (Sir John) his going to France, that he may be a witness against my Lord Sandwich: which do trouble me, though he can, I think, say little. 

14th. At the office close all the morning. At noon, all my clerks withme to dinner, to a venison pasty; and there comes Creed, and dined withme, and he tells me how high the Lords were in the Lords' House aboutthe business of the Chancellor, and that they are not yet agreed toimpeach him. After dinner, he and I, and my wife and girl, the lattertwo to their tailor's, and he and I to the Committee of the Treasury, where I had a hearing, but can get but L6000 for the pay of thegarrison, in lieu of above L16, 000; and this Alderman Backewell getsremitted there, and I am glad of it. Thence by coach took up my wife andgirl, and so home, and set down Creed at Arundell House, going to theRoyal Society, whither I would be glad to go, but cannot. Thence home, and to the Office, where about my letters, and so home to supper, and tobed, my eyes being bad again; and by this means, the nights, now-a-days, do become very long to me, longer than I can sleep out. 

15th. Up, and to Alderman Backewell's

 [Edward Backwell, goldsmith and alderman of the City of London. He was a man of considerable wealth during the Commonwealth. After the Restoration he negotiated Charles II. 's principal money transactions. He was M. P. For Wendover in the parliament of 1679, and in the Oxford parliament of 1680. According to the writer of the life in the "Diet. Of Nat. Biog. "his heirs did not ultimately suffer any pecuniary loss by the closure of the Exchequer. Mr. Hilton Price stated that Backwell removed to Holland in 1676, and died therein 1679; but this is disproved by the pedigree in Lipscomb's "Hist. Of Bucks, " where the date of his death is given as 1683, as well as by the fact that he sat for Wendover in 1679 and 1680, as stated above. ]

and there discoursed with him about the remitting of this L6000 toTangier, which he hath promised to do by the first post, and that willbe by Monday next, the 18th, and he and I agreed that I would takenotice of it that so he may be found to have done his best upon thedesire of the Lords Commissioners. From this we went to discourse ofhis condition, and he with some vain glory told me that the businessof Sheernesse did make him quite mad, and indeed might well have undonehim; but yet that he did the very next day pay here and got bills toanswer his promise to the King for the Swedes Embassadors (who were thendoing our business at the treaty at Breda) L7000, and did promise theBankers there, that if they would draw upon him all that he had oftheirs and L10, 000 more, he would answer it. He told me that SerjeantMaynard come to him for a sum of money that he had in his hands of his, and so did many others, and his answer was, What countrymen are you? Andwhen they told him, why then, says he, here is a tally upon the Receiverof your country for so [much], and to yours for so much, and did offerto lay by tallies to the full value of all that he owed in the world, and L40, 000 more for the security thereof, and not to touch a penny ofhis own till the full of what he owed was paid, which so pleased everybody that he hath mastered all, so that he hath lent the Commissionersof the Treasury above L40, 000 in money since that business, and did thismorning offer to a lady who come to give him notice that she should needher money L3000, in twenty days, he bid her if she pleased send for itto-day and she should have it. Which is a very great thing, and willmake them greater than ever they were, I am apt to think, in some time. Thence to Westminster, and there I walked with several, and do hear thatthere is to be a conference between the two Houses today; so I stayed:and it was only to tell the Commons that the Lords cannot agree to theconfining or sequestring of the Earle of Clarendon from the Parliament, forasmuch as they do not specify any particular crime which they layupon him and call Treason. This the House did receive, and so parted: atwhich, I hear, the Commons are like to grow very high, and will insistupon their privileges, and the Lords will own theirs, though the Dukeof Buckingham, Bristoll, and others, have been very high in the Houseof Lords to have had him committed. This is likely to breed ill blood. Thence I away home, calling at my mercer's and tailor's, and there find, as I expected, Mr. Caesar and little Pelham Humphreys, lately returnedfrom France, and is an absolute Monsieur, as full of form, andconfidence, and vanity, and disparages everything, and everybody's skillbut his own. The truth is, every body says he is very able, but to hearhow he laughs at all the King's musick here, as Blagrave and others, that they cannot keep time nor tune, nor understand anything; andthat Grebus, the Frenchman, the King's master of the musick, how heunderstands nothing, nor can play on any instrument, and so cannotcompose: and that he will give him a lift out of his place; and thathe and the King are mighty great! and that he hath already spoke to theKing of Grebus would make a man piss. I had a good dinner for them, asa venison pasty and some fowl, and after dinner we did play, he on thetheorbo. Mr. Caesar on his French lute, and I on the viol, but made butmean musique, nor do I see that this Frenchman do so much wonders on thetheorbo, but without question he is a good musician, but his vanity dooffend me. They gone, towards night, I to the office awhile, and thenhome and to my chamber, where busy till by and by comes Mr. Moore, andhe staid and supped and talked with me about many things, and tells mehis great fear that all things will go to ruin among us, for that theKing hath, as he says Sir Thomas Crew told him, been heard to say thatthe quarrel is not between my Lord Chancellor and him, but his brotherand him; which will make sad work among us if that be once promoted, asto be sure it will, Buckingham and Bristoll being now the only counselthe King follows, so as Arlington and Coventry are come to signifylittle. He tells me they are likely to fall upon my Lord Sandwich; but, for my part, sometimes I am apt to think they cannot do him much harm, he telling me that there is no great fear of the business of Resumption!By and by, I got him to read part of my Lord Cooke's chapter of treason, which is mighty well worth reading, and do inform me in many things, andfor aught I see it is useful now to know what these crimes are. And thento supper, and after supper he went away, and so I got the girl to combmy head, and then to bed, my eyes bad. This day, Poundy, the waterman, was with me, to let me know that he was summonsed to bear witnessagainst me to Prince Rupert's people (who have a commission to lookafter the business of prize-goods) about the business of the prize-goodsI was concerned in: but I did desire him to speak all he knew, and notto spare me, nor did promise nor give him any thing, but sent him awaywith good words, to bid him say all he knew to be true. This do nottrouble me much. 

16th. At the office all the morning, and at noon took my Lord Brunckerinto the garden, and there told him of his man Carcasses proceedingsagainst the Office in the House of Commons. I did [not] desire noradvise him anything, but in general, that the end of this might be ruinto the Office, but that we shall be brought to fencing for ourselves, and that will be no profit to the office, but let it light where itwould I thought I should be as well as any body. This I told him, and sohe seeming to be ignorant of it, and not pleased with it, we broke offby Sir Thos. Harvy's coming to us from the Pay Office, whither we hadsent a smart letter we had writ to him this morning about keeping theclerks at work at the making up the books, which I did to place thefault somewhere, and now I let him defend himself. He was mighty angry, and particularly with me, but I do not care, but do rather desire it, for I will not spare him, that we shall bear the blame, and such an idlefellow as he have L500 a year for nothing. So we broke off, and I hometo dinner, and then to the office, and having spent the afternoon onletters, I took coach in the evening, and to White Hall, where there isto be a performance of musique of Pelham's before the King. The companynot come; but I did go into the musique-room, where Captain Cocke andmany others; and here I did hear the best and the smallest organ go thatever I saw in my life, and such a one as, by the grace of God, I willhave the next year, if I continue in this condition, whatever it costme. I never was so pleased in my life. Thence, it being too soon, Ito Westminster Hall, it being now about 7 at night, and there met Mr. Gregory, my old acquaintance, an understanding gentleman; and he and Iwalked an hour together, talking of the bad prospect of the times; andthe sum of what I learn from him is this: That the King is the mostconcerned in the world against the Chancellor, and all people that donot appear against him, and therefore is angry with the Bishops, havingsaid that he had one Bishop on his side (Crofts ), and but one: thatBuckingham and Bristoll are now his only Cabinet Council;

 [The term Cabinet Council, as stated by Clarendon, originated thus, in 1640: "The bulk and burden of the state affairs lay principally upon the shoulders of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Strafford, and the Lord Cottington; some others being joined to them, as the Earl of Northumberland for ornament, the Bishop of London for his place, the two Secretaries, Sir H. Vane and Sir Francis Windebank, for service and communication of intelligence: only the Marquis of Hamilton, indeed, by his skill and interest, bore as great a part as he had a mind to do, and had the skill to meddle no further than he had a mind. These persons made up the committee of state, which was reproachfully after called the junto, and enviously then in the Court the Cabinet Council" ("History of the Rebellion, " vol. I. , p. 211, edit. 1849). ]

and that, before the Duke of York fell sick, Buckingham was admitted tothe King of his Cabinet, and there stayed with him several hours, and the Duke of York shut out. That it is plain that there is dislikebetween the King and Duke of York, and that it is to be feared that theHouse will go so far against the Chancellor, that they must do somethingto undo the Duke of York, or will not think themselves safe. That thisLord Vaughan, that is so great against the Chancellor, is one of thelewdest fellows of the age, worse than Sir Charles Sidly; and thathe was heard to swear, God damn him, he would do my Lord Clarendon'sbusiness. That he do find that my Lord Clarendon hath more friends inboth Houses than he believes he would have, by reason that they do seewhat are the hands that pull him down; which they do not like. ThatHarry Coventry was scolded at by the King severely the other day; andthat his answer was that, if he must not speak what he thought in thisbusiness in Parliament, he must not come thither. And he says that bythis very business Harry Coventry hath got more fame and common esteemthan any gentleman in England hath at this day, and is an excellent andable person. That the King, who not long ago did say of Bristoll, thathe was a man able in three years to get himself a fortune in any kingdomin the world, and lose all again in three months, do now hug him, andcommend his parts every where, above all the world. How fickle isthis man [the King], and how unhappy we like to be! That he fears somefurious courses will be taken against the Duke of York; and that he hathheard that it was designed, if they cannot carry matters against theChancellor, to impeach the Duke of York himself, which God forbid! ThatSir Edward Nicholas, whom he served while Secretary, is one of the bestmen in the world, but hated by the Queen-Mother, for a service he didthe old King against her mind and her favourites; and that she and myLady Castlemayne did make the King to lay him aside: but this man saysthat he is one of the most perfect heavenly and charitable men inthe whole world. That the House of Commons resolve to stand by theirproceedings, and have chosen a Committee to draw up the reasons thereofto carry to the Lords; which is likely to breed great heat betweenthem. That the Parliament, after all this, is likely to give the Kingno money; and, therefore, that it is to be wondered what makes the Kinggive way to so great extravagancies, which do all tend to the making himless than he is, and so will, every day more and more: and by this meansevery creature is divided against the other, that there never was sogreat an uncertainty in England, of what would, be the event of things, as at this day; nobody being at ease, or safe. Being full of hisdiscourse, and glad of the rencontre, I to White Hall; and there gotinto the theater-room, and there heard both the vocall and instrumentallmusick, where the little fellow' stood keeping time; but for my part, I see no great matter, but quite the contrary in both sorts of musique. The composition I believe is very good, but no more of delightfulness tothe eare or understanding but what is very ordinary. Here was the Kingand Queen, and some of the ladies; among whom none more jolly than myLady Buckingham, her Lord being once more a great man. Thence by coachhome and to my office, ended my letters, and then home to supper, and, my eyes being bad, to bed. 

17th (Lord's day). Up, and to church with my wife. A dull sermon of Mr. Mills, and then home, without strangers to dinner, and then my wife toread, and I to the office, enter my journall to this day, and so homewith great content that it is done, but with sorrow to my eyes. Thenhome, and got my wife to read to me out of Fuller's Church History, whenby and by comes Captain Cocke, who sat with me all the evening, talking, and I find by him, as by all others, that we are like to expect greatconfusions, and most of our discourse was the same, and did agree withthat the last night, particularly that about the difference between theKing and the Duke of York which is like to be. He tells me that he hearsthat Sir W. Coventry was, a little before the Duke of York fell sick, with the Duke of York in his closet, and fell on his knees, and beggedhis pardon for what he hath done to my Lord Chancellor; but this I darenot soon believe. But he tells me another thing, which he says he hadfrom the person himself who spoke with the Duke of Buckingham, who, hesays, is a very sober and worthy man, that he did lately speak withthe Duke of Buckingham about his greatness now with the King, and toldhim-"But, sir, these things that the King do now, in suffering theParliament to do all this, you know are not fit for the King to suffer, and you know how often you have said to me that the King was a weak man, and unable to govern, but to be governed, and that you could command himas you listed; why do you suffer him to go on in these things?"--"Why, "says the Duke of Buckingham, "I do suffer him to do this, that I mayhereafter the better command him. " This he swears to me the personhimself to whom the Duke of Buckingham said this did tell it him, and isa man of worth, understanding, and credit. He told me one odd passageby the Duke of Albemarle, speaking how hasty a man he is, and how forcertain he would have killed Sir W. Coventry, had he met him in alittle time after his shewing his letter in the House. He told me thata certain lady, whom he knows, did tell him that, she being certainlyinformed that some of the Duke of Albemarle's family did say that theEarl of Torrington was a bastard, [she] did think herself concerned totell the Duke of Albemarle of it, and did first tell the Duchesse, andwas going to tell the old man, when the Duchesse pulled her back by thesleeve, and hindered her, swearing to her that if he should hear it, hewould certainly kill the servant that should be found to have said it, and therefore prayed her to hold her peace. One thing more he told me, which is, that Garraway is come to town, and is thinking how to bringthe House to mind the public state of the nation and to put off theseparticular piques against man and man, and that he propounding this toSir W. Coventry, Sir W. Coventry did give no encouragement to it: whichhe says is that by their running after other men he may escape. But I dobelieve this is not true neither. But however I am glad that Garraway ishere, and that he do begin to think of the public condition in referenceto our neighbours that we are in, and in reference to ourselves, whereofI am mightily afeard of trouble. So to supper, and he gone and we tobed. 

18th. Up, and all the morning at my office till 3 after noon with Mr. Hater about perfecting my little pocket market book of the office, tillmy eyes were ready to fall out of my head, and then home to dinner, glad that I had done so much, and so abroad to White Hall, to theCommissioners of the Treasury, and there did a little business withthem, and so home, leaving multitudes of solicitors at their door, ofone sort or other, complaining for want of such despatch as they had inmy Lord Treasurer's time, when I believe more business was despatched, but it was in his manner to the King's wrong. Among others here wasGresham College coming about getting a grant of Chelsey College fortheir Society, which the King, it seems, hath given them his right in;but they met with some other pretences, I think; to it, besides theKing's. Thence took up my wife, whom I had left at her tailor's, andhome, and there, to save my eyes, got my wife at home to read again, as last night, in the same book, till W. Batelier come and spent theevening talking with us, and supped with us, and so to bed. 

19th. To the office, and thence before noon I, by the Board's direction, to the Parliament House to speak with Sir R. Brookes about the meaningof an order come to us this day to bring all the books of the office tothe Committee. I find by him that it is only about the business of anorder of ours for paying off the ships by ticket, which they think I onbehalf of my Lord Bruncker do suppress, which vexes me, and more at itsoccasioning the bringing them our books. So home and to dinner, whereMr. Shepley with me, newly come out of the country, but I was at littleliberty to talk to him, but after dinner with two contracts to theCommittee, with Lord Bruncker and Sir T. Harvy, and there did deliverthem, and promised at their command more, but much against my will. And here Sir R. Brookes did take me alone, and pray me to prevent theirtrouble, by discovering the order he would have. I told him I wouldsuppress none, nor could, but this did not satisfy him, and so weparted, I vexed that I should bring on myself this suspicion. Here Idid stand by unseen, and did hear their impertinent yet maliciousexaminations of some rogues about the business of Bergen, wherein theywould wind in something against my Lord Sandwich (it was plain by theirmanner of examining, as Sir Thomas Crew did afterwards observe to me, who was there), but all amounted to little I think. But here Sir ThomasCrew and W. Hewer, who was there also, did tell me that they did hearCaptain Downing give a cruel testimony against my Lord Bruncker, for hisneglect, and doing nothing, in the time of straits at Chatham, when hewas spoke to, and did tell the Committee that he, Downing, did presentlyafter, in Lord Bruncker's hearing, tell the Duke of Albemarle, that ifhe might advise the King, he should hang both my Lord Bruncker and Pett. This is very hard. Thence with W. Hewer and our messenger, Marlow, homeby coach, and so late at letters, and then home to supper, and my wifeto read and then to bed. This night I wrote to my father, in answer toa new match which is proposed (the executor of Ensum, my sister's formerservant) for my sister, that I will continue my mind of giving her L500, if he likes of the match. My father did also this week, by Shepley, return me up a 'guinny, which, it seems, upon searching the ground, theyhave found since I was there. I was told this day that Lory Hide, [Laurence Hyde, second son of Lord Chancellor Clarendon (1614-1711). He held many important offices, and was First Lord of the Treasury, 1679-84; created Earl of Rochester in 1681, and K. G. 1685. ]

second son of my Lord Chancellor, did some time since in the House say, that if he thought his father was guilty but of one of the things thensaid against him, he would be the first that should call for judgementagainst him: which Mr. Waller, the poet, did say was spoke like the oldRoman, like Brutus, for its greatness and worthiness. 

20th. Up, and all the morning at my office shut up with Mr. Gibson, I walking and he reading to me the order books of the office from thebeginning of the war, for preventing the Parliament's having them intheir hands before I have looked them over and seen the utmost that canbe said against us from any of our orders, and to my great content allthe morning I find none. So at noon home to dinner with my clerks, whohave of late dined frequently with me, and I do purpose to have themso still, by that means I having opportunity to talk with them aboutbusiness, and I love their company very well. All the morning Mr. Haterand the boy did shut up themselves at my house doing something towardsthe finishing the abstract book of our contracts for my pocket, whichI shall now want very much. After dinner I stayed at home all theafternoon, and Gibson with me; he and I shut up till about ten at night. We went through all our orders, and towards the end I do meet with twoor three orders for our discharging of two or three little vesselsby ticket without money, which do plunge me; but, however, I have theadvantage by this means to study an answer and to prepare a defence, atleast for myself. So he gone I to supper, my mind busy thinking afterour defence in this matter, but with vexation to think that a thing ofthis kind, which in itself brings nothing but trouble and shame to us, should happen before all others to become a charge against us. Thisafternoon Mr. Mills come and visited me, and stayed a little with me (mywife being to be godmother to his child to-morrow), and among other talkhe told me how fully satisfactory my first Report was to the House inthe business of Chatham: which I am glad to hear; and the more, for thatI know that he is a great creature of Sir R. Brookes's. 

21st. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, and at noon home, where my wife not very well, but is to go to Mr. Mills's child'schristening, where she is godmother, Sir J. Minnes and Sir R. Brookesher companions. I left her after dinner (my clerks dining with me) togo with Sir J. Minnes, and I to the office, where did much business tillafter candlelight, and then my eyes beginning to fail me, I out and tookcoach to Arundell House, where the meeting of Gresham College was brokeup; but there meeting Creed, I with him to the taverne in St. Clement'sChurchyard, where was Deane Wilkins, Dr. Whistler, Dr. Floyd, a divineadmitted, I perceive, this day, and other brave men; and there, amongother things of news, I do hear, that upon the reading of the House ofCommons's Reasons of the manner of their proceedings in the businessof my Lord Chancellor, the Reasons were so bad, that my Lord Bristollhimself did declare that he would not stand to what he had, and didstill, advise the Lords to concur to, upon any of the Reasons of theHouse of Commons; but if it was put to the question whether it should bedone on their Reasons, he would be against them; and indeed it seems theReasons--however they come to escape the House of Commons, which shewshow slightly the greatest matters are done in this world, and even inParliaments were none of them of strength, but the principle of themuntrue; they saying, that where any man is brought before a judge, accused of Treason in general, without specifying the particular, thejudge do there constantly and is obliged to commit him. Whereas thequestion being put by the Lords to my Lord Keeper, he said that quitethe contrary was true: and then, in the Sixth Article (I will get a copyof them if I can) there are two or three things strangely asserted tothe diminishing of the King's power, as is said, at least things thatheretofore would not have been heard of. But then the question being putamong the Lords, as my Lord Bristoll advised, whether, upon the wholematter and Reasons that had been laid before them, they would commit myLord Clarendon, it was carried five to one against it; there being butthree Bishops against him, of whom Cosens and Dr. Reynolds were two, and I know not the third. This made the opposite Lords, as Bristolland Buckingham, so mad, that they declared and protested against it, speaking very broad that there was mutiny and rebellion in the hearts ofthe Lords, and that they desired they might enter their dissents, which they did do, in great fury. So that upon the Lords sending tothe Commons, as I am told, to have a conference for them to givetheir answer to the Commons's Reasons, the Commons did desire a freeconference: but the Lords do deny it; and the reason is, that they holdnot the Commons any Court, but that themselves only are a Court, and theChief Court of judicature, and therefore are not to dispute the lawsand method of their own Court with them that are none, and so will notsubmit so much as to have their power disputed. And it is conceived thatmuch of this eagerness among the Lords do arise from the fear some ofthem have, that they may be dealt with in the same manner themselves, and therefore do stand upon it now. It seems my Lord Clarendon hath, asis said and believed, had his horses several times in his coach, readyto carry him to the Tower, expecting a message to that purpose; but bythis means his case is like to be laid by. From this we fell to otherdiscourse, and very good; among the rest they discourse of a man that isa little frantic, that hath been a kind of minister, Dr. Wilkins sayingthat he hath read for him in his church, that is poor and a debauchedman, that the College' have hired for 20s. To have some of the blood ofa sheep let into his body; and it is to be done on Saturday next. 

 [This was Arthur Coga, who had studied at Cambridge, and was said to be a bachelor of divinity. He was indigent, and "looked upon as a very freakish and extravagant man. " Dr. King, in a letter to the Hon. Robert Boyle, remarks "that Mr. Coga was about thirty-two years of age; that he spoke Latin well, when he was in company, which he liked, but that his brain was sometimes a little too warm. " The experiment was performed on November 23rd, 1667, by Dr. King, at Arundel House, in the presence of many spectators of quality, and four or five physicians. Coga wrote a description of his own case in Latin, and when asked why he had not the blood of some other creature, instead of that of a sheep, transfused into him, answered, "Sanguis ovis symbolicam quandam facultatem habet cum sanguine Christi, quia Christus est agnus Dei" (Birch's "History of the Royal Society, " vol. Ii. , pp. 214-16). Coga was the first person in England to be experimented upon; previous experiments were made by the transfusion of the blood of one dog into another. See November 14th, 1666 (vol. Vi. , p. 64). ]

They purpose to let in about twelve ounces; which, they compute, is whatwill be let in in a minute's time by a watch. They differ in the opinionthey have of the effects of it; some think it may have a good effectupon him as a frantic man by cooling his blood, others that it will nothave any effect at all. But the man is a healthy man, and by this meanswill be able to give an account what alteration, if any, he do find inhimself, and so may be usefull. On this occasion, Dr. Whistler told apretty story related by Muffet, a good author, of Dr. Caius, that builtKeys College; that, being very old, and living only at that time uponwoman's milk, he, while he fed upon the milk of an angry, fretful woman, was so himself; and then, being advised to take it of a good-natured, patient woman, he did become so, beyond the common temper of his age. Thus much nutriment, they observed, might do. Their discourse was veryfine; and if I should be put out of my office, I do take great contentin the liberty I shall be at of frequenting these gentlemen's company. Broke up thence and home, and there to my wife in her chamber, whois not well (of those), and there she tells me great stories of thegossiping women of the parish--what this, and what that woman was; and, among the rest, how Mrs. Hollworthy is the veriest confident bragginggossip of them all, which I should not have believed; but that Sir R. Brookes, her partner, was mighty civil to her, and taken with her, andwhat not. My eyes being bad I spent the evening with her in her chambertalking and inventing a cypher to put on a piece of plate, which I mustgive, better than ordinary, to the Parson's child, and so to bed, andthrough my wife's illness had a bad night of it, and she a worse, poorwretch!

22nd. Up betimes, and drinking my morning draught of strong water withBetty Michell, I had not opportunity para baiser la, I by water to WhiteHall, and there met Creed, and thence with him to Westminster Hall, where we talked long together of news, and there met with Cooling, myLord Chamberlain's Secretary, and from him learn the truth of all Iheard last night; and understand further, that this stiffness of theLords is in no manner of kindness to my Lord Chancellor, for he neitherhath, nor do, nor for the future likely can oblige any of them, butrather the contrary; but that they do fear what the consequence maybe to themselves, should they yield in his case, as many of them havereason. And more, he shewed me how this is rather to the wrong andprejudice of my Lord Chancellor; for that it is better for him to cometo be tried before the Lords, where he can have right and make interest, than, when the Parliament is up, be committed by the King, and tried bya Court on purpose made by the King, of what Lords the King pleases, whohave a mind to have his head. So that my Lord [Cornbury] himself, hisson, he tells me, hath moved, that if they have Treason against my Lordof Clarendon, that they would specify it and send it up to the Lords, that he might come to his trial; so full of intrigues this business is!Having now a mind to go on and to be rid of Creed, I could not, butwas forced to carry him with me to the Excise Office, and thence to theTemple, and there walked a good while in the Temple church, observingthe plainness of Selden's tomb, and how much better one of his executorshath, who is buried by him, and there I parted with him and took coachand home, where to dinner. 

23rd. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, and at noon home todinner, and all the afternoon also busy till late preparing things tofortify myself and fellows against the Parliament; and particularlymyself against what I fear is thought, that I have suppressed the Orderof the Board by which the discharging the great ships off at Chatham bytickets was directed; whereas, indeed, there was no such Order. So homeat night to supper and to bed. 

24th (Lord's day). In my chamber all the morning (having lain long inbed) till Mr. Shepley come to dine with me, and there being to returnto Hinchinbroke speedily, I did give him as good account how matters gohere as I could. After dinner, he being gone, I to the office, and therefor want of other of my clerks, sent to Mr. Gibbs, whom I never usedtill now, for the writing over of my little pocket Contract-book; andthere I laboured till nine at night with him, in drawing up the historyof all that hath passed concerning tickets, in order to the laying thewhole, and clearing myself and Office, before Sir R. Brookes; and inthis I took great pains, and then sent him away, and proceeded, andhad W. Hewer come to me, and he and I till past twelve at night inthe Office, and he, which was a good service, did so inform me in theconsequences of my writing this report, and that what I said would nothold water, in denying this Board to have ever ordered the dischargingout of the service whole ships by ticket, that I did alter my wholecounsel, and fall to arme myself with good reasons to justify the Officein so doing, which hath been but rare, and having done this, I went, with great quiet in my mind, home, though vexed that so honest abusiness should bring me so much trouble; but mightily was pleased tofind myself put out of my former design; and so, after supper, to bed. 

25th. Up, and all the morning finishing my letter to Sir Robert Brookes, which I did with great content, and yet at noon when I come home todinner I read it over again after it was sealed and delivered to themessenger, and read it to my clerks who dined with me, and there I didresolve upon some alteration, and caused it to be new writ, and so tothe office after dinner, and there all the afternoon mighty busy, andat night did take coach thinking to have gone to Westminster, but it wasmighty dark and foul, and my business not great, only to keep my eyesfrom reading by candle, being weary, but being gone part of my way Iturned back, and so home, and there to read, and my wife to read to meout of Sir Robert Cotton's book about warr, which is very fine, showinghow the Kings of England have raised money by the people heretoforeupon the people, and how they have played upon the kings also. So aftersupper I to bed. This morning Sir W. Pen tells me that the House wasvery hot on Saturday last upon the business of liberty of speech inthe House, and damned the vote in the beginning of the Long Parliamentagainst it; I so that he fears that there may be some bad thing whichthey have a mind to broach, which they dare not do without more securitythan they now have. God keep us, for things look mighty ill!

26th. Up, all the morning at the office, and then home to dinner, wheredined Mr. Clerke, solicitor, with me, to discourse about my Tangieraccounts, which I would fain make up, but I have not time. After dinner, by coach as far as the Temple, and there saw a new book, in folio, ofall that suffered for the King in the late times, which I will buy, it seems well writ, and then back to the Old Exchange, and there at mygoldsmith's bought a basin for my wife to give the Parson's child, towhich the other day she was godmother. It cost me; L10 14s. Besidesgraving, which I do with the cypher of the name, Daniel Mills, and sohome to the office, and then home to supper and hear my wife read, andthen to bed. This afternoon, after dinner, come to me Mr. Warren, andthere did tell me that he come to pay his debt to me for the kindness Idid him in getting his last ship out, which I must also remember wasa service to the King, though I did not tell him so, as appeared by myadvising with the board, and there writing to Sir W. Coventry to get thepass for the ship to go for it to Genoa. Now that which he had promisedme for the courtesy was I take it 100 pieces or more, I think more, andalso for the former courtesy I had done for the getting of his firstship out for this hemp he did promise me a consideration upon the returnof the goods, but I never did to this day demand any thing of him, onlyabout a month ago he told me that now his ship was come, and he wouldcome out of my debt, but told me that whereas he did expect to have hadsome profit by the voyage, it had proved of loss to him, by the loss ofsome ships, or some accidents, I know not what, and so that he was notable to do what he intended, but told me that he would present me withsixty pieces in gold. I told him I would demand nothing of his promises, though they were much greater, nor would have thus much, but if he couldafford to give me but fifty pieces, it should suffice me. So now hebrought something in a paper, which since proves to be fifty pieces. Butbefore I would take them I told him that I did not insist on anything, and therefore prayed him to consult his ability before he did part withthem: and so I refused them once or twice till he did the third timeoffer them, and then I took them, he saying that he would present mewith as many more if I would undertake to get him L500 paid on hisbills. I told him I would by no means have any promise of the kind, norwould have any kindness from him for any such service, but that I shoulddo my utmost for nothing to do him that justice, and would endeavour todo what I could for him, and so we parted, he owning himself mightilyengaged to me for my kind usage of him in accepting of so small a matterin satisfaction of all that he owed me; which I enter at large for myjustification if anything of this should be hereafter enquired after. This evening also comes to me to my closet at the Office Sir JohnChichly, of his own accord, to tell me what he shall answer to theCommittee, when, as he expects, he shall be examined about my LordSandwich; which is so little as will not hurt my Lord at all, I know. Hedo profess great generousness towards my Lord, and that this jealousy ofmy Lord's of him is without ground, but do mightily inveigh against SirRoger Cuttance, and would never have my Lord to carry him to sea again, as being a man that hath done my Lord more hurt than ever he can repairby his ill advice, and disobliging every body. He will by no means seemto crouch to my Lord, but says that he hath as good blood in his veinsas any man, though not so good a title, but that he will do nothing towrong or prejudice my Lord, and I hope he will not, nor I believe can;but he tells me that Sir E. Spragg and Utber are the men that have donemy Lord the most wrong, and did bespatter him the most at Oxford, andthat my Lord was misled to believe that all that was there said was his, which indeed it was not, and says that he did at that time complainto his father of this his misfortune. This I confess is strange to metouching these two men, but yet it may well enough as the world goes, though I wonder I confess at the latter of the two, who always professesgreat love to my Lord. Sir Roger Cuttance was with me in the morning, and there gives me an account so clear about Bergen and the otherbusiness against my Lord, as I do not see what can be laid to my Lord ineither, and tells me that Pen, however he now dissembles it, did on thequarter deck of my Lord's ship, after he come on board, when my Lorddid fire a gun for the ships to leave pursuing the enemy, Pen did say, before a great many, several times, that his heart did leap in his bellyfor joy when he heard the gun, and that it was the best thing that couldbe done for securing the fleet. He tells me also that Pen was the firstthat did move and persuade my Lord to the breaking bulke, as a thingthat was now the time to do right to the commanders of the great ships, who had no opportunity of getting anything by prizes, now his Lordshipmight distribute to everyone something, and he himself did write downbefore my Lord the proportions for each man. This I am glad of, thoughit may be this dissembling fellow may, twenty to one, deny it. 

27th. Up, and all the morning at my Lord Bruncker's lodgings with Sir J. Minnes and [Sir] W. Pen about Sir W. Warren's accounts, wherein I do notsee that they are ever very likely to come to an understanding of them, as Sir J. Minnes hath not yet handled them. Here till noon, and thenhome to dinner, where Mr. Pierce comes to me, and there, in general, tells me how the King is now fallen in and become a slave to the Duke ofBuckingham, led by none but him, whom he, Mr. Pierce, swears he knows dohate the very person of the King, and would, as well as will, certainlyruin him. He do say, and I think with right, that the King do in this dothe most ungrateful part of a master to a servant that ever was done, in this carriage of his to my Lord Chancellor: that, it may be, theChancellor may have faults, but none such as these they speak of; thathe do now really fear that all is going to ruin, for he says he hearsthat Sir W. Coventry hath been, just before his sickness, with the Dukeof York, to ask his forgiveness and peace for what he had done; for thathe never could foresee that what he meant so well, in the councilling tolay by the Chancellor, should come to this. As soon as dined, I with myboy Tom to my bookbinder's, where all the afternoon long till 8 or 9at night seeing him binding up two or three collections of letters andpapers that I had of him, but above all things my little abstract pocketbook of contracts, which he will do very neatly. Then home to read, sup, and to bed. 

28th. Up, and at the office all this morning, and then home to dinner, and then by coach sent my wife to the King's playhouse, and I to WhiteHall, there intending, with Lord Bruncker, Sir J. Minnes, and Sir T. Harvy to have seen the Duke of York, whom it seems the King and Queenhave visited, and so we may now well go to see him. But there was nobodycould speak with him, and so we parted, leaving a note in Mr. Wren'schamber that we had been there, he being at the free conference of thetwo Houses about this great business of my Lord Chancellor's, at whichthey were at this hour, three in the afternoon, and there they say myLord Anglesey do his part admirablyably, and each of us taking a copyof the Guinny Company's defence to a petition against them to theParliament the other day. So I away to the King's playhouse, and theresat by my wife, and saw "The Mistaken Beauty, " which I never, I think, saw before, though an old play; and there is much in it that I like, though the name is but improper to it--at least, that name, it beingalso called "The Lyer, " which is proper enough. Here I met with Sir. Richard Browne, who wondered to find me there, telling the that I am aman of so much business, which character, I thank God, I have ever got, and have for a long time had and deserved, and yet am now come to becensured in common with the office for a man of negligence. Thence homeand to the office to my letters, and then home to supper and to bed. 

29th. Waked about seven o'clock this morning with a noise I supposed Iheard, near our chamber, of knocking, which, by and by, increased: andI, more awake, could, distinguish it better. I then waked my wife, and both of us wondered at it, and lay so a great while, while thatincreased, and at last heard it plainer, knocking, as if it werebreaking down a window for people to get out; and then removing ofstools and chairs; and plainly, by and by, going up and down our stairs. We lay, both of us, afeard; yet I would have rose, but my wife would notlet me. Besides, I could not do it without making noise; and we did bothconclude that thieves were in the house, but wondered what our peopledid, whom we thought either killed, or afeard, as we were. Thus we laytill the clock struck eight, and high day. At last, I removed my gownand slippers safely to the other side of the bed over my wife: and theresafely rose, and put on my gown and breeches, and then, with a firebrandin my hand, safely opened the door, and saw nor heard any thing. Then(with fear, I confess) went to the maid's chamber-door, and all quietand safe. Called Jane up, and went down safely, and opened my chamberdoor, where all well. Then more freely about, and to the kitchen, wherethe cook-maid up, and all safe. So up again, and when Jane come, and wedemanded whether she heard no noise, she said, "yes, and was afeard, "but rose with the other maid, and found nothing; but heard a noise inthe great stack of chimnies that goes from Sir J. Minnes through ourhouse; and so we sent, and their chimnies have been swept this morning, and the noise was that, and nothing else. It is one of the mostextraordinary accidents in my life, and gives ground to think of DonQuixote's adventures how people may be surprised, and the more from anaccident last night, that our young gibb-cat

 [A male cat. "Gib" is a contraction of the Christian name Gilbert (Old French), "Tibert". 

 "I am melancholy as a gib-cat"

 Shakespeare, I Henry IV, act i. , sc. 3. 

 Gib alone is also used, and a verb made from it--"to gib, " or act like a cat. ]

did leap down our stairs from top to bottom, at two leaps, and frightedus, that we could not tell well whether it was the cat or a spirit, anddo sometimes think this morning that the house might be haunted. Gladto have this so well over, and indeed really glad in my mind, for Iwas much afeard, I dressed myself and to the office both forenoonand afternoon, mighty hard putting papers and things in order to myextraordinary satisfaction, and consulting my clerks in many things, who are infinite helps to my memory and reasons of things, and so beingweary, and my eyes akeing, having overwrought them to-day reading somuch shorthand, I home and there to supper, it being late, and to bed. This morning Sir W. Pen and I did walk together a good while, andhe tells me that the Houses are not likely to agree after their freeconference yesterday, and he fears what may follow. 

30th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, and then by coachto Arundel House, to the election of Officers for the next year; where Iwas near being chosen of the Council, but am glad I was not, for I couldnot have attended, though, above all things, I could wish it; and dotake it as a mighty respect to have been named there. The companygreat, and the elections long, and then to Cary House, a house now ofentertainment, next my Lord Ashly's; and there, where I have heretoforeheard Common Prayer in the time of Dr. Mossum, we after two hours' stay, sitting at the table with our napkins open, had our dinners brought, but badly done. But here was good company. I choosing to sit nextDr. Wilkins, Sir George Ent, and others whom I value, there talkedof several things. Among others Dr. Wilkins, talking of the universalspeech, of which he hath a book coming out, did first inform me howman was certainly made for society, he being of all creatures the leastarmed for defence, and of all creatures in the world the young ones arenot able to do anything to help themselves, nor can find the dug withoutbeing put to it, but would die if the mother did not help it; and, hesays, were it not for speech man would be a very mean creature. Much ofthis good discourse we had. But here, above all, I was pleased to seethe person who had his blood taken out. He speaks well, and did thisday give the Society a relation thereof in Latin, saying that he findshimself much better since, and as a new man, but he is cracked a littlein his head, though he speaks very reasonably, and very well. He had but20s. For his suffering it, and is to have the same again tried upon him:the first sound man that ever had it tried on him in England, andbut one that we hear of in France, which was a porter hired by thevirtuosos. Here all the afternoon till within night. Then I took coachand to the Exchange, where I was to meet my wife, but she was gone home, and so I to Westminster Hall, and there took a turn or two, but meetingwith nobody to discourse with, returned to Cary House, and there stayedand saw a pretty deception of the sight by a glass with water pouredinto it, with a stick standing up with three balls of wax upon it, onedistant from the other. How these balls did seem double and disappearone after another, mighty pretty! Here Mr. Carcasse did come to me, andbrought first Mr. Colwall, our Treasurer, and then Dr. Wilkins to engageme to be his friend, and himself asking forgiveness and desiring myfriendship, saying that the Council have now ordered him to be free toreturn to the Office to be employed. I promised him my friendship, andam glad of this occasion, having desired it; for there is nobody's illtongue that I fear like his, being a malicious and cunning bold fellow. Thence, paying our shot, 6s. Apiece, I home, and there to the officeand wrote my letters, and then home, my eyes very sore with yesterday'swork, and so home and tried to make a piece by my eare and viall to "Iwonder what the grave, " &c. , and so to supper and to bed, where frighteda good while and my wife again with noises, and my wife did rise twice, but I think it was Sir John Minnes's people again late cleaning theirhouse, for it was past I o'clock in the morning before we could fallto sleep, and so slept. But I perceive well what the care of money andtreasure in a man's house is to a man that fears to lose it. My LordAnglesey told me this day that he did believe the House of Commonswould, the next week, yield to the Lords; but, speaking with othersthis day, they conclude they will not, but that rather the King willaccommodate it by committing my Lord Clarendon himself. I remember whatMr. Evelyn said, that he did believe we should soon see ourselves fallinto a Commonwealth again. Joseph Williamson I find mighty kind still, but close, not daring to say anything almost that touches upon news orstate of affairs. 

DECEMBER 1667

December 1st (Lord's day). Up, and after entering my journal for 2 or 3days, I to church, where Mr. Mills, a dull sermon: and in our pew theresat a great lady, which I afterwards understood to be my Lady Carlisle, that made her husband a cuckold in Scotland, a very fine woman indeedin person. After sermon home, where W. Hewer dined with us, and afterdinner he and I all the afternoon to read over our office letters to seewhat matters can be got for our advantage or disadvantage therein. In the evening comes Mr. Pelling and the two men that were with himformerly, the little man that sings so good a base (Wallington) andanother that understands well, one Pigott, and Betty Turner come andsat and supped with us, and we spent the evening mighty well in goodmusique, to my great content to see myself in condition to have theseand entertain them for my own pleasure only. So they gone, we to bed. 

2nd. Up, and then abroad to Alderman Backewell's (who was sick of a coldin bed), and then to the Excise Office, where I find Mr. Ball out ofhumour in expectation of being put out of his office by the change ofthe farm of the excise. There comes Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I toWestminster, and there walked up and down till noon, where all thebusiness is that the Lords' answer is come down to the Commons, thatthey are not satisfied in the Commons' Reasons: and so the Commons arehot, and like to sit all day upon the business what to do herein, mostthinking that they will remonstrate against the Lords. Thence to LordCrew's, and there dined with him; where, after dinner, he took me aside, and bewailed the condition of the nation, how the King and his brotherare at a distance about this business of the Chancellor, and the twoHouses differing. And he do believe that there are so many about theKing like to be concerned and troubled by the Parliament, that they willget him to dissolve or prorogue the Parliament; and the rather, for thatthe King is likely, by this good husbandry of the Treasury, to get outof debt, and the Parliament is likely to give no money. Among otherthings, my Lord Crew did tell me, with grief, that he hears that theKing of late hath not dined nor supped with the Queen, as he used oflate to do. After a little discourse, Mr. Caesar, he dining there, didgive us some musique on his lute (Mr. John Crew being there) to my greatcontent, and then away I, and Mr. Caesar followed me and told me that myboy Tom hath this day declared to him that he cared not for the Frenchlute and would learn no more, which Caesar out of faithfulness tells methat I might not spend any more money on him in vain. I shall take theboy to task about it, though I am contented to save my money if the boyknows not what is good for himself. So thanked him, and indeed he is avery honest man I believe, and away home, there to get something readyfor the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and so took my wife andgirle and set them at Unthanke's, and I to White Hall, and there withthe Commissioners of the Treasury, who I find in mighty good conditionto go on in payment of the seamen off, and thence I to Westminster Hall, where I met with my cozen Roger and walked a good while with him; hetells me of the high vote of the Commons this afternoon, which I alsoheard at White Hall, that the proceedings of the Lords in the case ofmy Lord Clarendon are an obstruction to justice, and of ill precedentto future times. This makes every body wonder what will be the effect ofit, most thinking that the King will try him by his own Commission. Itseems they were mighty high to have remonstrated, but some said that wastoo great an appeale to the people. Roger is mighty full of fears ofthe consequence of it, and wishes the King would dissolve them. So weparted, and I bought some Scotch cakes at Wilkinson's in King Street, and called my wife, and home, and there to supper, talk, and to bed. Supped upon these cakes, of which I have eat none since we lived atWestminster. This night our poor little dogg Fancy was in a strange fit, through age, of which she has had five or six. 

3rd. Up, by candlelight, the only time I think I have done so thiswinter, and a coach being got over night, I to Sir W. Coventry's, thefirst time I have seen him at his new house since he come to lodgethere. He tells me of the vote for none of the House to be of theCommission for the Bill of Accounts; which he thinks is so great adisappointment to Birch and others that expected to be of it, that hethinks, could it have been [fore]seen, there would not have been anyBill at all. We hope it will be the better for all that are to account;it being likely that the men, being few, and not of the House, willhear reason. The main business I went about was about. Gilsthrop, SirW. Batten's clerk; who, being upon his death-bed, and now dead, hathoffered to make discoveries of the disorders of the Navy and of L65, 000damage to the King: which made mighty noise in the Commons' House;and members appointed to go to him, which they did; but nothing to thepurpose got from him, but complaints of false musters, and ships beingrefitted with victuals and stores at Plymouth, after they come fittedfrom other ports; but all this to no purpose, nor more than we know, andwill owne. But the best is, that this loggerhead should say this, thatunderstands nothing of the Navy, nor ever would; and hath particularlyblemished his master by name among us. I told Sir W. Coventry of myletter to Sir R. Brookes, and his answer to me. He advises me, in whatI write to him, to be as short as I can, and obscure, saving in thingsfully plain; for all that he do is to make mischief; and that thegreatest wisdom in dealing with the Parliament in the world is to saylittle, and let them get out what they can by force: which I shallobserve. He declared to me much of his mind to be ruled by his ownmeasures, and not to go so far as many would have him to the ruin ofmy Lord Chancellor, and for which they do endeavour to do what they canagainst [Sir] W. Coventry. "But, " says he, "I have done my do in helpingto get him out of the administration of things, for which he is not fit;but for his life or estate I will have nothing to say to it: besidesthat, my duty to my master the Duke of York is such, that I will perishbefore I will do any thing to displease or disoblige him, where the verynecessity of the kingdom do not in my judgment call me. " Thence I homeand to the office, where my Lord Anglesey, and all the discourse wasyesterday's vote in the Commons, wherein he told us that, should theLords yield to what the Commons would have in this matter, it were tomake them worse than any justice of Peace (whereas they are the highestCourt in the Kingdom) that they cannot be judges whether an offender beto be committed or bailed, which every justice of Peace do do, and thenhe showed me precedents plain in their defence. At noon home todinner, and busy all the afternoon, and at night home, and there met W. Batelier, who tells me the first great news that my Lord Chancellor isfled this day. By and by to Sir W. Pen's, where Sir R. Ford and he andI met, with Mr. Young and Lewes, about our accounts with my Lady Batten, which prove troublesome, and I doubt will prove to our loss. But here Ihear the whole that my Lord Chancellor is gone, and left a paper behindhim for the House of Lords, telling them the reason of him retiring, complaining of a design for his ruin. But the paper I must get: only thething at present is great, and will put the King and Commons to some newcounsels certainly. So home to supper and to bed. Sir W. Pen I findin much trouble this evening, having been called to the Committee thisafternoon, about the business of prizes. Sir Richard Ford told us thisevening an odd story of the basenesse of the late Lord Mayor, Sir W. Bolton, in cheating the poor of the City, out of the collections madefor the people that were burned, of L1800; of which he can give noaccount, and in which he hath forsworn himself plainly, so as the Courtof Aldermen have sequestered him from their Court till he do bring in anaccount, which is the greatest piece of roguery that they say was everfound in a Lord Mayor. He says also that this day hath been made appearto them that the Keeper of Newgate, at this day, hath made his house theonly nursery of rogues, and whores, and pickpockets, and thieves in theworld; where they were bred and entertained, and the whole society met:and that, for the sake of the Sheriffes, they durst not this day committhim, for fear of making him let out the prisoners, but are fain to go byartifice to deal with him. He tells me, also, speaking of the new streetthat is to be made from Guild Hall down to Cheapside, that the groundis already, most of it, bought. And tells me of one particular, of a manthat hath a piece of ground lieing in the very middle of the streetthat must be; which, when the street is cut out of it, there will remainground enough, of each side, to build a house to front the street. Hedemanded L700 for the ground, and to be excused paying any thing forthe melioration of the rest of his ground that he was to keep. The Courtconsented to give him L700, only not to abate him the consideration:which the man denied; but told them, and so they agreed, that hewould excuse the City the L700, that he might have the benefit of themelioration without paying any thing for it. So much some will get byhaving the City burned! But he told me that in other cases ground, bythis means, that was not 4d. A-foot before, will now, when houses arebuilt, be worth 15s. A-foot. But he tells me that the common standardnow reckoned on between man and man, in places where there is noalteration of circumstances, but only the houses burnt, there theground, which, with a house on it, did yield L100 a-year, is now reputedworth L33 6s. 8d. ; and that this is the common market-price between oneman and another, made upon a good and moderate medium. 

4th. At the office all the morning. At noon to dinner, and presentlywith my wife abroad, whom and her girle I leave at Unthanke's, and so toWhite Hall in expectation of waiting on the Duke of York to-day, butwas prevented therein, only at Mr. Wren's chamber there I hear that theHouse of Lords did send down the paper which my Lord Chancellor leftbehind him, directed to the Lords, to be seditious and scandalous; andthe Commons have voted that it be burned by the hands of the hangman, and that the King be desired to agree to it. I do hear, also, that theyhave desired the King to use means to stop his escape out of the nation. Here I also heard Mr. Jermin, who was there in the chamber upon occasionof Sir Thomas Harvy's telling him of his brother's having a child, andthereby taking away his hopes (that is, Mr. Jermin's) of L2000 a year. He swore, God damn him, he did not desire to have any more wealth thanhe had in the world, which indeed is a great estate, having all hisuncle's, my Lord St. Alban's, and my Lord hath all the Queen-Mother's. But when Sir Thos. Harvy told him that "hereafter you will wishit more;"--"By God, " answers he, "I won't promise what I shall dohereafter. " Thence into the House, and there spied a pretty woman withspots on her face, well clad, who was enquiring for the guard chamber; Ifollowed her, and there she went up, and turned into the turning towardsthe chapel, and I after her, and upon the stairs there met her coming upagain, and there kissed her twice, and her business was to enquire forSir Edward Bishop, one of the serjeants at armes. I believe she was awoman of pleasure, but was shy enough to me, and so I saw her go outafterwards, and I took a hackney coach, and away. I to Westminster Hall, and there walked, and thence towards White Hall by coach, and spyingMrs. Burroughs in a shop did stop and 'light and speak to her; and soto White Hall, where I 'light and went and met her coming towards WhiteHall, but was upon business, and I could not get her to go any whitherand so parted, and I home with my wife and girle (my wife not being verywell, of a great looseness day and night for these two days). Sohome, my wife to read to me in Sir R. Cotton's book of warr, which isexcellent reading, and particularly I was mightily pleased this night inwhat we read about the little profit or honour this kingdom ever gainedby the greatest of its conquests abroad in France. This evening come Mr. Mills and sat with us a while, who is mighty kind and good company, andso, he gone, I to supper and to bed. My wife an unquiet night. This dayGilsthrop is buried, who hath made all the late discourse of the greatdiscovery of L65, 000, of which the King bath been wronged. 

5th. At the office all the morning, do hear that Will Pen, Sir W. Pen'sson, is come from Ireland, but I have not seen him yet. At noon tothe 'Change, where did little, but so home again and to dinner with myclerks with me, and very good discourse and company they give me, and soto the office all the afternoon till late, and so home to supper and tobed. This day, not for want, but for good husbandry, I sent my father, by his desire, six pair of my old shoes, which fit him, and are good;yet, methought, it was a thing against my mind to have him wear my oldthings. 

6th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to the Duke of York, the first time thatI have seen him, or we waited on him, since his sickness; and, blessedbe God! he is not at all the worse for the smallpox, but is only alittle weak yet. We did much business with him, and so parted. My LordAnglesey told me how my Lord Northampton brought in a Bill into theHouse of Lords yesterday, under the name of a Bill for the Honour andPrivilege of the House, and Mercy to my Lord Clarendon: which, he toldme, he opposed, saying that he was a man accused of treason by the Houseof Commons; and mercy was not proper for him, having not been tried yet, and so no mercy needful for him. However, the Duke of Buckingham andothers did desire that the Bill might be read; and it, was for banishingmy Lord Clarendon from all his Majesty's dominions, and that it shouldbe treason to have him found in any of them: the thing is only a thingof vanity, and to insult over him, which is mighty poor I think, and sodo every body else, and ended in nothing, I think. By and by home withSir J. Minnes, who tells me that my Lord Clarendon did go away ina Custom-house boat, and is now at Callis (Calais): and, I confess, nothing seems to hang more heavy than his leaving of this unfortunatepaper behind him, that hath angered both Houses, and hath, I think, reconciled them in that which otherwise would have broke them in pieces;so that I do hence, and from Sir W. Coventry's late example and doctrineto me, learn that on these sorts of occasions there is nothing likesilence; it being seldom any wrong to a man to say nothing, but, forthe most part, it is to say anything. This day, in coming home, SirJ. Minnes told me a pretty story of Sir Lewes Dives, whom I saw thismorning speaking with him, that having escaped once out of prisonthrough a house of office, and another time in woman's apparel, andleaping over a broad canal, a soldier swore, says he, this is a strangejade.... He told me also a story of my Lord Cottington, who, wanting ason, intended to make his nephew his heir, a country boy; but didalter his mind upon the boy's being persuaded by another young heir, in roguery, to crow like a cock at my Lord's table, much company beingthere, and the boy having a great trick at doing that perfectly. MyLord bade them take away that fool from the table, and so gave over thethoughts of making him his heir, from this piece of folly. So home, andthere to dinner, and after dinner abroad with my wife and girle, setthem down at Unthanke's, and I to White Hall to the Council chamber, where I was summoned about the business of paying of the seamen, where Iheard my Lord Anglesey put to it by Sir W. Coventry before the King foraltering the course set by the Council; which he like a wise man didanswer in few words, that he had already sent to alter it according tothe Council's method, and so stopped it, whereas many words would haveset the Commissioners of the Treasury on fire, who, I perceive, wereprepared for it. Here I heard Mr. Gawden speak to the King and Councilupon some business of his before them, but did it so well, in so goodwords and to the purpose, that I could never have expected from a man ofno greater learning. So went away, and in the Lobby met Mr. Sawyer, myold chamber fellow, and stayed and had an hour's discourse of old thingswith him, and I perceive he do very well in the world, and is marriedhe tells me and hath a child. Then home and to the office, where CaptainCocke come to me; and, among other discourse, tells me that he is toldthat an impeachment against Sir W. Coventry will be brought in verysoon. He tells me, that even those that are against my Lord Chancellorand the Court, in the House, do not trust nor agree one with another. He tells me that my Lord Chancellor went away about ten at night, onSaturday last; and took boat at Westminster, and thence by a vessel toCallis, where he believes he now is: and that the Duke of York and Mr. Wren knew of it, and that himself did know of it on Sunday morning: thaton Sunday his coach, and people about it, went to Twittenham, and theworld thought that he had been there: that nothing but this unhappypaper hath undone him and that he doubts that this paper hath lost himeverywhere that his withdrawing do reconcile things so far as, he thinksthe heat of their fury will be over, and that all will be made wellbetween the two [royal] brothers: that Holland do endeavour to persuadethe King of France to break peace with us: that the Dutch will, withoutdoubt, have sixty sail of ships out the next year; so knows not whatwill become of us, but hopes the Parliament will find money for us tohave a fleete. He gone, I home, and there my wife made an end to me ofSir K. Cotton's discourse of warr, which is indeed a very fine book. Soto supper and to bed. Captain Cocke did this night tell me also, amongother discourses, that he did believe that there are jealousies in someof the House at this day against the Commissioners of the Treasury, thatby their good husbandry they will bring the King to be out of debt andto save money, and so will not be in need of the Parliament, and then dowhat he please, which is a very good piece of news that there is such athing to be hoped, which they would be afeard of. 

7th. All the morning at the office, and at noon home to dinner with myclerks, and while we were at dinner comes Willet's aunt to see her andmy wife; she is a very fine widow and pretty handsome, but extraordinarywell carriaged and speaks very handsomely and with extraordinaryunderstanding, so as I spent the whole afternoon in her company withmy wife, she understanding all the things of note touching plays andfashions and Court and everything and speaks rarely, which pleases memightily, and seems to love her niece very well, and was so glad (whichwas pretty odde) that since she came hither her breasts begin to swell, she being afeard before that she would have none, which was a prettykind of content she gave herself. She tells us that Catelin is likely tobe soon acted, which I am glad to hear, but it is at the King's House. But the King's House is at present and hath for some days been silencedupon some difference [between] Hart and Moone. She being gone I to theoffice, and there late doing business, and so home to supper and to bed. Only this evening I must remember that my Lady Batten sent for me, andit was to speak to me before her overseers about my bargain with Sir W. Batten about the prize, to which I would give no present answer, but amwell enough contented that they begin the discourse of it, and so awayto the office again, and then home to supper and to bed. Somebody toldme this, that they hear that Thomson, with the wooden leg, and Wildman, the Fifth-Monarchy man, a great creature of the Duke of Buckingham's, are in nomination to be Commissioners, among others, upon the Bill ofAccounts. 

8th (Lord's day). All the morning at my chamber doing something towardsthe settling of my papers and accounts, which have been out of order agreat while. At noon to dinner, where W. How with us, and after dinner, he being gone, I to my chamber again till almost night, and then tookboat, the tide serving, and so to White Hall, where I saw the Duchesseof York, in a fine dress of second mourning for her mother, being black, edged with ermine, go to make her first visit to the Queene since theDuke of York was sick; and by and by, she being returned, the Queenecome and visited her. But it was pretty to observe that Sir W. Coventryand I, walking an hour and more together in the Matted Gallery, heobserved, and so did I, how the Duchesse, as soon as she spied him, turned her head a one side. Here he and I walked thus long, which wehave not done a great while before. Our discourse was upon everything:the unhappiness of having our matters examined by people that understandthem not; that it was better for us in the Navy to have men that dounderstand the whole, and that are not passionate; that we that havetaken the most pains are called upon to answer for all crimes, whilethose that, like Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, did sit and donothing, do lie still without any trouble; that, if it were to servethe King and kingdom again in a war, neither of us could do more, though upon this experience we might do better than we did; that thecommanders, the gentlemen that could never be brought to order, butundid all, are now the men that find fault and abuse others; that ithad been much better for the King to have given Sir J. Minnes and SirW. Batten L1000 a-year to have sat still, than to have had them in hisbusiness this war: that the serving a Prince that minds not his businessis most unhappy for them that serve him well, and an unhappiness sogreat that he declares he will never have more to do with a war, under him. That he hath papers which do flatly contradict the Duke ofAlbemarle's Narrative; and that he hath been with the Duke of Albemarleand shewed him them, to prevent his falling into another like fault:that the Duke of Albemarle seems to be able to answer them; but hethinks that the Duke of Albemarle and the Prince are contented to lettheir Narratives sleep, they being not only contradictory in some things(as he observed about the business of the Duke of Albemarle's being tofollow the Prince upon dividing the fleete, in case the enemy come out), but neither of them to be maintained in others. That the business theother night of my Lord Anglesey at the Council was happily got overfor my Lord, by his dexterous silencing it, and the rest, not urging itfurther; forasmuch as, had the Duke of Buckingham come in time enough, and had got it by the end, he, would have toused him in it; Sir W. Coventry telling me that my Lord Anglesey did, with such impudence, maintain the quarrel against the Commons and some of the Lords, in thebusiness of my Lord Clarendon, that he believes there are enough wouldbe glad but of this occasion to be revenged of him. He tells me thathe hears some of the Thomsons are like to be of the Commission for theAccounts, and Wildman, which he much wonders at, as having been a falsefellow to every body, and in prison most of the time since the King'scoming in. But he do tell me that the House is in such a condition thatnobody can tell what to make of them, and, he thinks, they were neverin before; that every body leads, and nobody follows; and that he donow think that, since a great many are defeated in their expectationof being of the Commission, now they would put it into such hands as itshall get no credit from: for, if they do look to the bottom and seethe King's case, they think they are then bound to give the King money;whereas, they would be excused from that, and therefore endeavour tomake this business of the Accounts to signify little. I spoke with himabout my Lord Sandwich's business, in which he is very friendly, and dosay that the unhappy business of the prizes is it that hath broughtall this trouble upon him, and the only thing that made any thing elsementioned, and it is true. So having discoursed with him, I spent sometime with Sir Stephen Fox about the business of our adjusting the newmethod of the Excise between the Guards household and Tangier, the LordsCommissioners of the Treasury being now resolved to bring all theirmanagement into a course of payment by orders, and not by tallies, andI am glad of it, and so by water home late, and very dark, and when comehome there I got my wife to read, and then come Captain Cocke to me; andthere he tells me, to my great satisfaction, that Sir Robert Brookes diddine with him today; and that he told him, speaking of me, that he wouldmake me the darling of the House of Commons, so much he is satisfiedconcerning me. And this Cocke did tell me that I might give him thanksfor it; and I do think it may do me good, for he do happen to be held aconsiderable person, of a young man, both for sobriety and ability. Thento discourse of business of his own about some hemp of his that is comehome to receive it into the King's stores, and then parted, and by andby my wife and I to supper, she not being well, her flux being greatupon her, and so to bed. 

9th. All the morning busy at the office, doing very considerablebusiness, and thither comes Sir G. Carteret to talk with me; who seemsto think himself safe as to his particular, but do doubt what willbecome of the whole kingdom, things being so broke in pieces. He tellsme that the King himself did the other day very particularly tell thewhole story of my Lord Sandwich's not following the Dutch ships, withwhich he is charged; and shews the reasons of it to be the only goodcourse he could have taken, and do discourse it very knowingly. ThisI am glad of, though, as the King is now, his favour, for aught I see, serves very little in stead at this day, but rather is an argumentagainst a man; and the King do not concern himself to relieve or justifyany body, but is wholly negligent of everybody's concernment. Thismorning I was troubled with my Lord Hinchingbroke's sending to borrowL200 of me; but I did answer that I had none, nor could borrow any; forI am resolved I will not be undone for any body, though I would do muchfor my Lord Sandwich--for it is to answer a bill of exchange of his, andI perceive he hath made use of all other means in the world to do it, but I am resolved to serve him, but not ruin myself, as it may be topart with so much of the little I have by me to keep if I should by anyturn of times lose the rest. At noon I to the 'Change, and there did alittle business, and among other things called at Cade's, the stationer, where he tells me how my Lord Gerard is troubled for several things inthe House of Commons, and in one wherein himself is concerned; and, itseems, this Lord is a very proud and wicked man, and the Parliamentis likely to order him. Then home to dinner, and then a little abroad, thinking to have gone to the other end of the town, but it being almostnight I would not, but home again, and there to my chamber, and allalone did there draw up my answer to Sir Rob. Brookes's letter, and whenI had done it went down to my clerks at the office for their opinionwhich at this time serves me to very good purpose, they having manythings in their heads which I had not in the businesses of the officenow in dispute. Having done with this, then I home and to supper verylate, and to bed. My [wife] being yet very ill of her looseness, bywhich she is forced to lie from me to-night in the girl's chamber. 

10th. Up, and all the morning at the office, and then home with mypeople to dinner, and very merry, and then to my office again, where didmuch business till night, that my eyes begun to be sore, and then forcedto leave off, and by coach set my wife at her tailor's and Willet, and Ito Westminster Hall, and there walked a good while till 8 at night, andthere hear to my great content that the King did send a message tothe House to-day that he would adjourne them on the 17th instant toFebruary; by which time, at least, I shall have more respite to preparethings on my own behalf, and the Office, against their return. Here metMr. Hinxton, the organist, walking, and I walked with him; and, askinghim many questions, I do find that he can no more give an intelligibleanswer to a man that is not a great master in his art, than another man. And this confirms me that it is only want of an ingenious man thatis master in musique, to bring musique to a certainty, and ease incomposition. Having done this, I home, taking up my wife and girle, andthere to supper and to bed, having finished my letters, among which oneto Commissioner Middleton, who is now coming up to town from Portsmouth, to enter upon his Surveyorship. 

11th. By coach to White Hall, and there attended the Duke of York, as weare wont, who is now grown pretty well, and goes up and down White Hall, and this night will be at the Council, which I am glad of. Thence toWestminster Hall, and there walked most of the morning, and among othersdid there meet my cozen Roger Pepys, who intends to go to Impington onthis day s'ennight, the Parliament break up the night before. Here I metRolt and Sir John Chichly, and Harris, the player, and there we talkedof many things, and particularly of "Catiline, " which is to be suddenlyacted at the King's house; and there all agree that it cannot be welldone at that house, there not being good actors enow: and Burt' actsCicero, which they all conclude he will not be able to do well. TheKing gives them L500 for robes, there being, as they say, to be sixteenscarlett robes. Thence home to dinner, and would have had Harris homewith me, but it was too late for him to get to the playhouse after it, and so home to dinner, and spent the afternoon talking with my wife andpeople at home till the evening, and then comes Sir W. Warren to talkabout some business of his and mine: and he, I find, would have me notto think that the Parliament, in the mind they are in, and having somany good offices in their view to dispose of, will leave any of theKing's officers in, but will rout all, though I am likely to escape aswell as any, if any can escape; and I think he is in the right, and I dolook for it accordingly. Then we fell to discourse of my little vessel, "The Maybolt, " and he thinks that it will be best for me to employ herfor a voyage to Newcastle for coles, they being now dear, and the voyagenot long, nor dangerous yet; and I think I shall go near to do so. Then, talking of his business, I away to the office, where very busy, andthither comes Sir W. Pen, and he and I walked together in the garden, and there told me what passed to-day with him in the Committee, by myLord Sandwich's breaking bulk of the prizes; and he do seem to me thathe hath left it pretty well understood by them, he saying that whatmy Lord did was done at the desire, and with the advice, of the chiefofficers of the fleete, and that it was no more than admirals heretoforehave done in like cases, which, if it be true that he said it, is verywell, and did please me well. He being gone, I to my office again andthere late, and so weary home. 

12th. Rose before day, and took coach, by daylight, and to Westminsterto Sir G. Downing's, and there met Sir Stephen Fox, and thence he and Ito Sir Robert Longs to discourse the business of our orders for money, he for the guards, and I for Tangier, and were a little angry in ourconcerns, one against the other, but yet parted good friends, and Ithink I got ground by it. Thence straight to the office, and there satall the morning, and then home to dinner, and after dinner I all aloneto the Duke of York's house, and saw "The Tempest, " which, as often as Ihave seen it, I do like very well, and the house very full. But I couldtake little pleasure more than the play, for not being able to lookabout, for fear of being seen. Here only I saw a French lady in thepit, with a tunique, just like one of ours, only a handkercher about herneck; but this fashion for a woman did not look decent. Thence walked tomy bookseller's, and there he did give me a list of the twenty who werenominated for the Commission in Parliament for the Accounts: and it isstrange that of the twenty the Parliament could not think fit to choosetheir nine, but were fain to add three that were not in the list of thetwenty, they being many of them factious people and ringleaders in thelate troubles; so that Sir John Talbott did fly out and was very hotin the business of Wildman's being named, and took notice how he wasentertained in the bosom of the Duke of Buckingham, a Privy-counsellor;and that it was fit to be observed by the House, and punished. The menthat I know of the nine I like very well; that is, Mr. Pierrepont, LordBrereton, and Sir William Turner; and I do think the rest are so, too;but such as will not be able to do this business as it ought to be, todo any good with. Here I did also see their votes against my Lord ChiefeJustice Keeling, that his proceedings were illegal, and that he was acontemner of Magna Charta (the great preserver of our lives, freedoms, and properties) and an introduction to arbitrary government; which isvery high language, and of the same sound with that in the year 1640. Ihome, and there wrote my letters, and so to supper and to bed. This daymy Lord Chancellor's letter was burned at the 'Change. '

13th. Up, lying long all alone (my wife lying for these two or threedays of sickness alone), thinking of my several businesses in hand, and then rose and to the office, being in some doubt of having my cozenRoger and Lord Hinchinbroke and Sir Thos. Crew by my cozens invitationat dinner to-day, and we wholly unprovided. So I away to Westminster, tothe Parliament-door, to speak with Roger: and here I saw my Lord Keelinggo into the House to the barr, to have his business heard by the wholeHouse to-day; and a great crowd of people to stare upon him. Here I hearthat the Lords' Bill for banishing and disabling my Lord Clarendon frombearing any office, or being in the King's dominions, and its being madefelony for any to correspond with him but his own children, is broughtto the Commons: but they will not agree to it, being not satisfied withthat as sufficient, but will have a Bill of Attainder brought in againsthim: but they make use of this against the Lords, that they, that wouldnot think there was cause enough to commit him without hearing, willhave him banished without hearing. By and by comes out my cozen Roger tome, he being not willing to be in the House at the business of my LordKeeling, lest he should be called upon to complain against him for hisabusing him at Cambridge, very wrongfully and shamefully, but not tohis reproach, but to the Chief justice's in the end, when all the worldcried shame upon him for it. So he with me home, and Creed, whom Itook up by the way, going thither, and they to dine with me, and prettymerry, and among other pieces of news, it is now fresh that the Kingof Portugall is deposed, and his brother made King; and that my LordSandwich is gone from Madrid with great honour to Lisbon, to make up, atthis juncture, a peace to the advantage, as the Spaniard would have it, of Spain. I wish it may be for my Lord's honour, if it be so; but itseems my Lord is in mighty estimation in Spain. After dinner comes Mr. Moore, and he and I alone a while, he telling me my Lord Sandwich'scredit is like to be undone, if the bill of L200 my Lord Hinchingbrokewrote to me about be not paid to-morrow, and that, if I do not help himabout it, they have no way but to let it be protested. So, finding thatCreed hath supplied them with L150 in their straits, and that this is nobigger sum, I am very willing to serve my Lord, though not in thiskind; but yet I will endeavour to get this done for them, and the ratherbecause of some plate that was lodged the other day with me, by myLady's order, which may be in part of security for my money, as I mayorder it, for, for ought I see, there is no other to be hoped for. Thisdo trouble me; but yet it is good luck that the sum is no bigger. Hegone, I with my cozen Roger to Westminster Hall; and there we metthe House rising: and they have voted my Lord Chief Justice Keeling'sproceedings illegal; but that, out of particular respect to him, andthe mediation of a great many, they have resolved to proceed no furtheragainst him. After a turn or two with my cozen, I away with Sir W. Warren, who met me here by my desire, and to Exeter House, and there tocounsel, to Sir William Turner, about the business of my bargain with myLady Batten; and he do give me good advice, and that I am safe, butthat there is a great many pretty considerations in it that makes itnecessary for me to be silent yet for a while till we see whether theship be safe or no; for she is drove to the coast of Holland, where shenow is in the Texell, so that it is not prudence for me yet to resolvewhether I will stand by the bargain or no, and so home, and SirW. Warren and I walked upon Tower Hill by moonlight a great while, consulting business of the office and our present condition, which isbut bad, it being most likely that the Parliament will change all hands, and so let them, so I may keep but what I have. Thence home, and therespent the evening at home with my wife and entering my journal, and soto supper and to bed, troubled with my parting with the L200, which Imust lend my Lord Sandwich to answer his bill of exchange. 

14th. Up and to the office, where busy, and after dinner also to theoffice again till night, when Mr. Moore come to me to discourse aboutthe L200 I must supply my Lord Hinchingbroke, and I promised him to doit, though much against my will. So home, to supper and to bed. 

15th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, where I heard a German preach, ina tone hard to be understood, but yet an extraordinary good sermon, andwholly to my great content. So home, and there all alone with wife andgirle to dinner, and then I busy at my chamber all the afternoon, andlooking over my plate, which indeed is a very fine quantity, God knows, more than ever I expected to see of my own, and more than is fit for aman of no better quality than I am. In the evening comes Mrs. Turner tovisit us, who hath been long sick, and she sat and supped with us, andafter supper, her son Francke being there, now upon the point of hisgoing to the East Indys, I did give him "Lex Mercatoria, " and my wife myold pair of tweezers, which are pretty, and my book an excellent one forhim. Most of our talk was of the great discourse the world hath againstmy Lady Batten, for getting her husband to give her all, and disinherithis eldest son; though the truth is, the son, as they say, did playthe knave with his father when time was, and the father no great matterbetter with him, nor with other people also. So she gone, we to bed. 

16th. Up, and to several places, to pay what I owed. Among others, tomy mercer, to pay for my fine camlott cloak, which costs me, the verystuff, almost L6; and also a velvet coat-the outside cost me aboveL8. And so to Westminster, where I find the House mighty busy upon apetition against my Lord Gerard, which lays heavy things to his charge, of his abusing the King in his Guards; and very hot the House is uponit. I away home to dinner alone with wife and girle, and so to theoffice, where mighty busy to my great content late, and then home tosupper, talk with my wife, and to bed. It was doubtful to-day whetherthe House should be adjourned to-morrow or no. 

17th. Up, and to the office, where very busy all the morning, and thenin the afternoon I with Sir W. Pen and Sir T. Harvy to White Hall toattend the Duke of York, who is now as well as ever, and there we didour usual business with him, and so away home with Sir W. Pen, and thereto the office, where pretty late doing business, my wife having beenabroad all day with Mrs. Turner buying of one thing or other. This dayI do hear at White Hall that the Duke of Monmouth is sick, and in dangerof the smallpox. So home to supper and to bed. 

18th. Up, and to my goldsmith's in the morning, to look after theproviding of L60 for Mr. Moore, towards the answering of my LordSandwich's bill of exchange, he being come to be contented with mylending him L60 in part of it, which pleases me, I expecting to havebeen forced to answer the whole bill; and this, which I do do, I hopeto secure out of the plate, which was delivered into my custody of myLord's the other day by Mr. Cooke, and which I did get Mr. Stokes, the goldsmith, last night to weigh at my house, and there is enough tosecure L100. Thence home to the office, and there all the morning byparticular appointment with Sir W. Pen, Sir R. Ford, and those that areconcerned for my Lady Batten (Mr. Wood, Young, and Lewes), to even theaccounts of our prize business, and at noon broke up, and to dinner, every man to his own home, and to it till late at night again, andwe did come to some end, and I am mightily put to it how to orderthe business of my bargaine, but my industry is to keep it off fromdiscourse till the ship be brought home safe, and this I did do, and sowe broke up, she appearing in our debts about L1500, and so we parted, and I to my business, and home to my wife, who is troubled with thetooth ake, and there however I got her to read to me the History ofAlgiers, which I find a very pretty book, and so to supper with muchpleasure talking, and to bed. The Parliament not adjourned yet. 

19th. Up, and to the Office, where Commissioner Middleton first tookplace at the Board as Surveyor of the Navy; and indeed I think will bean excellent officer; I am sure much beyond what his predecessor was. Atnoon, to avoid being forced to invite him to dinner, it being his firstday, and nobody inviting him, I did go to the 'Change with Sir W. Pen inhis coach, who first went to Guildhall, whither I went with him, he tospeak with Sheriff Gawden--I only for company; and did here look up anddown this place, where I have not been before since the fire; and I seethat the city are got a pace on in the rebuilding of Guildhall. Thenceto the 'Change, where I stayed very little, and so home to dinner, andthere find my wife mightily out of order with her teeth. At the officeall the afternoon, and at night by coach to Westminster, to the Hall, where I met nobody, and do find that this evening the King by message(which he never did before) hath passed several bills, among othersthat for the Accounts, and for banishing my Lord Chancellor, and hathadjourned the House to February; at which I am glad, hoping in this timeto get leisure to state my Tangier Accounts, and to prepare better forthe Parliament's enquiries. Here I hear how the House of Lords, withgreat severity, if not tyranny, have ordered poor Carr, who only erredin the manner of the presenting his petition against my Lord Gerard, itbeing first printed before it was presented; which was, it, seems, byColonel Sands's going into the country, into whose hands he had put it:the poor man is ordered to stand in the pillory two or three times, andhis eares cut, and be imprisoned I know not how long. But it is believedthat the Commons, when they meet, will not be well pleased with it; andthey have no reason, I think. Having only heard this from Mrs. Michell, I away again home, and there to supper and to bed, my wife exceedingill in her face with the tooth ake, and now her face has become mightilyswelled that I am mightily troubled for it. 

20th. Up, and all the morning at the office with Sir R. Ford and thesame company as on Wednesday about my Lady Batten's accounts. At noonhome to dinner, where my poor wife in bed in mighty pain, her left cheekso swelled as that we feared it would break, and so were fain to sendfor Mr. Hollier, who come, and seems doubtful of the defluxions ofhumours that may spoil her face, if not timely cured. He laid a poulticeto it and other directions, and so away, and I to the office, where onthe same accounts very late, and did come pretty near a settlement. Soat night to Sir W. Pen's with Sir R. Ford, and there was Sir D. Gawden, and there we only talked of sundry things; and I have found of late, bydiscourse, that the present sort of government is looked upon as a sortof government that we never had yet--that is to say, a King and House ofCommons against the House of Lords; for so indeed it is, though neitherof the two first care a fig for one another, nor the third for themboth, only the Bishops are afeard of losing ground, as I believe theywill. So home to my poor wife, who is in mighty pain, and her facemiserably swelled: so as I was frighted to see it, and I was forced tolie below in the great chamber, where I have not lain many a day, andhaving sat up with her, talking and reading and pitying her, I to bed. 

21st. At the office all the morning, and at noon home to dinner withmy Clerks and Creed, who among other things all alone, after dinner, talking of the times, he tells me that the Nonconformists are mightyhigh, and their meetings frequented and connived at; and they do expectto have their day now soon; for my Lord of Buckingham is a declaredfriend to them, and even to the Quakers, who had very good words theother day from the King himself: and, what is more, the Archbishopof Canterbury is called no more to the Cabal, nor, by the way, Sir W. Coventry; which I am sorry for, the Cabal at present being, as hesays, the King, and Duke of Buckingham, and Lord Keeper, the Duke ofAlbemarle, and Privy Seale. The Bishops, differing from the King in thelate business in the House of Lords, having caused this and what is liketo follow, for every body is encouraged nowadays to speak, and even topreach, as I have heard one of them, as bad things against them as everin the year 1640; which is a strange change. He gone, I to the office, where busy till late at night, and then home to sit with my wife, whois a little better, and her cheek asswaged. I read to her out of "TheHistory of Algiers, " which is mighty pretty reading, and did discoursealone about my sister Pall's match, which is now on foot with oneJackson, another nephew of Mr. Phillips's, to whom he hath left hisestate. 

22nd (Lord's day). Up, and my wife, poor wretch, still in pain, andthen to dress myself and down to my chamber to settle some papers, andthither come to me Willet with an errand from her mistress, and thistime I first did give her a little kiss, she being a very prettyhumoured girle, and so one that I do love mightily. Thence to my office, and there did a little business, and so to church, where a dull sermon, and then home, and Cozen Kate Joyce come and dined with me and Mr. Holliard; but by chance I offering occasion to him to discourse ofthe Church of Rome, Lord! how he run on to discourse with the greatestvehemence and importunity in the world, as the only thing in the worldthat he is full of, and it was good sport to me to see him so earnest onso little occasion. She come to see us and to tell me that her husbandis going to build his house again, and would borrow of me L300, whichI shall upon good security be willing to do, and so told her, beingwilling to have some money out of my hands upon good security. Afterdinner up to my wife again, who is in great pain still with her tooth, and there, they gone, I spent the most of the afternoon and nightreading and talking to bear her company, and so to supper and to bed. 

23rd. Up before day, and by coach to Sir W. Coventry's, and with him toWhite Hall, and there walked a great while with him in the gardentill the Commissioners of the Treasury met, and there talked over manybusinesses, and particularly he tells me that by my desire he hath movedthe Duke of York that Sir J. Minnes might be removed from the Navy, atleast the Controller's place, and his business put on my Lord Brounckerand Sir W. Pen; that the Committee for Accounts are good sober men, andsuch as he thinks we shall have fair play from; that he hopes that thekingdom will escape ruin in general, notwithstanding all our fears, andyet I find he do seem not very confident in it. So to the Commissionersof the Treasury, and there I had a dispute before them with Sir StephenFox about our orders for money, who is very angry, but I value it not. But, Lord! to see with what folly my Lord Albemarle do speak in thisbusiness would make a man wonder at the good fortune of such a fool. Thence meeting there with Creed, he and I to the Exchange, and there Isaw Carr stand in the pillory for the business of my Lord Gerard, whichis supposed will make a hot business in the House of Commons, whenthey shall come to sit again, the Lords having ordered this with greatinjustice, as all people think, his only fault being the printing hispetition before, by accident, his petition be read in the House. Herewalked up and down the Exchange with Creed, and then home to dinner, andthere hear by Creed that the Bishops of Winchester and of Rochester, andthe Dean of the Chapel, and some other great prelates, are suspended:and a cloud upon the Archbishop ever since the late business in theHouse of Lords; and I believe it will be a heavy blow to the Clergy. This noon I bought a sermon of Dr. Floyd's, which Creed read a greatpart of to me and Mr. Hollier, who dined with me, but as well writ andas good, against the Church of Rome, as ever I read; but, Lord! howHollier, poor man, was taken with it. They gone I to the office, andthere very late with Mr. Willson and my people about the making of a newcontract for the victualler, which do and will require a great deal ofpains of me, and so to supper and to bed, my wife being pretty well allthis day by reason of her imposthume being broke in her cheek into hermouth. This day, at the 'Change, Creed shewed me Mr. Coleman, of whommy wife hath so good an opinion, and says that he is as very a rogue forwomen as any in the world; which did disquiet me, like a fool, and runin my mind a great while. 

24th. Up, and all the morning at the office, and at noon with my clerksto dinner, and then to the office again, busy at the office till six atnight, and then by coach to St. James's, it being about six at night;my design being to see the ceremonys, this night being the eveof Christmas, at the Queen's chapel. But it being not begun I toWestminster Hall, and there staid and walked, and then to the Swan, andthere drank and talked, and did banter a little Frank, and so to WhiteHall, and sent my coach round, I through the Park to chapel, where I gotin up almost to the rail, and with a great deal of patience staid fromnine at night to two in the morning, in a very great crowd; and thereexpected, but found nothing extraordinary, there being nothing but ahigh masse. The Queen was there, and some ladies. But, Lord! what anodde thing it was for me to be in a crowd of people, here a footman, there a beggar, here a fine lady, there a zealous poor papist, and herea Protestant, two or three together, come to see the shew. I was afeardof my pocket being picked very much.... Their musique very good indeed, but their service I confess too frivolous, that there can be no zeal goalong with it, and I do find by them themselves that they do run overtheir beads with one hand, and point and play and talk and make signswith the other in the midst of their masse. But all things very rich andbeautiful; and I see the papists have the wit, most of them, to bringcushions to kneel on, which I wanted, and was mightily troubled tokneel. All being done, and I sorry for my coming, missing of what Iexpected; which was, to have had a child born and dressed there, and agreat deal of do: but we broke up, and nothing like it done: and thereI left people receiving the Sacrament: and the Queen gone, and ladies;only my Lady Castlemayne, who looked prettily in her night-clothes, andso took my coach, which waited, and away through Covent Garden, to setdown two gentlemen and a lady, who come thither to see also, and didmake mighty mirth in their talk of the folly of this religion. And soI stopped, having set them down and drank some burnt wine at the RoseTavern door, while the constables come, and two or three Bellmen wentby, 25th. It being a fine, light, moonshine morning, and so home round thecity, and stopped and dropped money at five or six places, which I wasthe willinger to do, it being Christmas-day, and so home, and there findmy wife in bed, and Jane and the maids making pyes, and so I to bed, andslept well, and rose about nine, and to church, and there heard a dullsermon of Mr. Mills, but a great many fine people at church; and sohome. Wife and girl and I alone at dinner--a good Christmas dinner, andall the afternoon at home, my wife reading to me "The History of theDrummer of Mr. Mompesson, " which is a strange story of spies, and worthreading indeed. In the evening comes Mr. Pelling, and he sat and suppedwith us; and very good company, he reciting to us many copies of goodverses of Dr. Wilde, who writ "Iter Boreale, " and so to bed, my boybeing gone with W. Hewer and Mr. Hater to Mr. Gibson's in the country todinner and lie there all night. 

26th. Up and to Westminster, and there to the Swan, and by chance metMr. Spicer and another 'Chequer clerk, and there made them drink, andthere talked of the credit the 'Chequer is now come to and will in alittle time, and so away homeward, and called at my bookseller's, andthere bought Mr. Harrington's works, "Oceana, " &c. , and two other books, which cost me L4, and so home, and there eat a bit, and then with mywife to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Surprizall;" which didnot please me to-day, the actors not pleasing me; and especially Nell'sacting of a serious part, which she spoils. Here met with Sir W. Pen, and sat by him, and home by coach with him, and there to my office awhile, and then home to supper and to bed. I hear this day that Mrs. Stewart do at this day keep a great court at Somerset House, with herhusband the Duke of Richmond, she being visited for her beauty's sake bypeople, as the Queen is, at nights; and they say also that she is likelyto go to Court again, and there put my Lady Castlemayne's nose out ofjoynt. God knows that would make a great turn. This day I was invited tohave gone to my cozen Mary Pepys' burial, my uncle Thomas' daughter, butcould not. 

27th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and there walked with Creed in theMatted gallery till by and by a Committee for Tangier met: the Duke ofYork there; and there I did discourse over to them their condition as tomoney, which they were all mightily, as I could desire, satisfied with, but the Duke of Albemarle, who takes the part of the Guards againstus in our supplies of money, which is an odd consideration for a dull, heavy blockhead as he is, understanding no more of either than a goose:but the ability and integrity of Sir W. Coventry, in all the King'sconcernments, I do and must admire. After the Committee up, I and SirW. Coventry walked an hour in the gallery, talking over many businesses, and he tells me that there are so many things concur to make him andhis Fellow Commissioners unable to go through the King's work that hedo despair of it, every body becoming an enemy to them in theirretrenchments, and the King unstable, the debts great and the King'spresent occasions for money great and many and pressing, the bankersbroke and every body keeping in their money, while the times aredoubtful what will stand. But he says had they come in two years agothey doubt not to have done what the King would by this time, or werethe King in the condition as heretofore, when the Chancellor was great, to be able to have what sums of money they pleased of the Parliament, and then the ill administration was such that instead of making good useof this power and money he suffered all to go to ruin. But one suchsum now would put all upon their legs, and now the King would have theParliament give him money when they are in an ill humour and will not bewilling to give any, nor are very able, and besides every body distrustswhat they give the King will be lost; whereas six months hence, whenthey see that the King can live without them, and is become steady, and to manage what he has well, he doubts not but their doubts would beremoved, and would be much more free as well as more able to give himmoney. He told me how some of his enemies at the Duke of York's hadgot the Duke of York's commission for the Commissioners of his estatechanged, and he and Brouncker and Povy left out: that this they did doto disgrace and impose upon him at this time; but that he, though hevalues not the thing, did go and tell the Duke of York what he heard, and that he did not think that he had given him any reason to do this, out of his belief that he would not be as faithful and serviceable tohim as the best of those that have got him put out. Whereupon the Dukeof York did say that it arose only from his not knowing whether now hewould have time to regard his affairs; and that, if he should, he wouldput him into the commission with his own hand, though the commission bepassed. He answered that he had been faithful to him, and done him goodservice therein, so long as he could attend it; and if he had been ableto have attended it more, he would not have enriched himself with suchand such estates as my Lord Chancellor hath got, that did properlybelong to his Royal Highness, as being forfeited to the King, and so bythe King's gift given to the Duke of York. Hereupon the Duke of York didcall for the commission, and hath since put him in. This he tells me hedid only to show his enemies that he is not so low as to be trod on bythem, or the Duke hath any so bad opinion of him as they would think. Here we parted, and I with Sir H. Cholmly went and took a turn intothe Park, and there talked of several things, and about Tangierparticularly, and of his management of his business, and among otherdiscourse about the method he will leave his accounts in if he shouldsuddenly die, he says there is nothing but what is easily understood, but only a sum of L500 which he has entered given to E. E. S. , whichin great confidence he do discover to me to be my Lord Sandwich, at thebeginning of their contract for the Mole, and I suppose the rest did thelike, which was L1500, which would appear a very odd thing for my Lordto be a profiter by the getting of the contract made for them. But hereit puts me into thoughts how I shall own my receiving of L200 a yearfrom him, but it is his gift, I never asked of him, and which he did toMr. Povy, and so there is no great matter in it. Thence to other talk. He tells me that the business of getting the Duchess of Richmond toCourt is broke off, the Duke not suffering it; and thereby great troubleis brought among the people that endeavoured it, and thought they hadcompassed it. And, Lord! to think that at this time the King should mindno other cares but these! He tells me that my Lord of Canterbury is amighty stout man, and a man of a brave, high spirit, and cares not forthis disfavour that he is under at Court, knowing that the King cannottake away his profits during his life, and therefore do not value it. 

 [This character of Archbishop Sheldon does not tally with the scandal that Pepys previously reported of him. Burnet has some passages of importance on this in his "Own Time, " Book II. He affirms that Charles's final decision to throw over Clarendon was caused by the Chancellor's favouring Mrs. Stewart's marriage with the Duke of Richmond. The king had a conference with Sheldon on the removal of Clarendon, but could not convert the archbishop to his view. Lauderdale told Burnet that he had an account of the interview from the king. "The king and Sheldon had gone into such expostulations upon it that from that day forward Sheldon could never recover the king's confidence. "]

Thence I home, and there to my office and wrote a letter to the Duke ofYork from myself about my clerks extraordinary, which I have employedthis war, to prevent my being obliged to answer for what others dowithout any reason demand allowance for, and so by this means I will beaccountable for none but my own, and they shall not have them but uponthe same terms that I have, which is a profession that with these helpsthey will answer to their having performed their duties of their places. So to dinner, and then away by coach to the Temple, and then for speedby water thence to White Hall, and there to our usual attending the Dukeof York, and did attend him, where among other things I did present andlodge my letter, and did speed in it as I could wish. Thence home withSir W. Pen and Comm. Middleton by coach, and there home and to cardswith my wife, W. Hewer, Mercer, and the girle, and mighty pleasant allthe evening, and so to bed with my wife, which I have not done since herbeing ill for three weeks or thereabouts. 

28th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning, at noon home, and there to dinner with my clerks and Mr. Pelting, and had a very gooddinner, among others a haunch of venison boiled, and merry we were, andI rose soon from dinner, and with my wife and girle to the King's house, and there saw "The Mad Couple, " which is but an ordinary play; but onlyNell's and Hart's mad parts are most excellently done, but especiallyhers: which makes it a miracle to me to think how ill she do any seriouspart, as, the other day, just like a fool or changeling; and, in a madpart, do beyond all imitation almost. [It pleased us mightily to seethe natural affection of a poor woman, the mother of one of the childrenbrought on the stage: the child crying, she by force got upon the stage, and took up her child and carried it away off of the stage from Hart. ]Many fine faces here to-day. Thence home, and there to the office late, and then home to supper and to bed. I am told to-day, which troubles me, that great complaint is made upon the 'Change, among our merchants, thatthe very Ostend little pickaroon men-of-war do offer violence to ourmerchant-men, and search them, beat our masters, and plunder them, uponpretence of carrying Frenchmen's goods. Lord! what a condition are wecome to, and that so soon after a war!

29th (Lord's day). Up, and at my chamber all the day, both morningand afternoon (only a little at dinner with my wife alone), upon thesettling of my Tangier accounts towards the evening of all reckoningsnow against the new year, and here I do see the great folly of lettingthings go long unevened, it being very hard for me and dangerous tostate after things are gone out of memory, and much more would be soshould I have died in this time and my accounts come to other hands, tounderstand which would never be. At night comes Mrs. Turner to see us;and there, among other talk, she tells me that Mr. William Pen, whois lately come over from Ireland, is a Quaker again, or some verymelancholy thing; that he cares for no company, nor comes into any whichis a pleasant thing, after his being abroad so long, and his father sucha hypocritical rogue, and at this time an Atheist. She gone, I to myvery great content do find my accounts to come very even and naturally, and so to supper and to bed. 

30th. Up before day, and by coach to Westminster, and there first toSir H. Cholmly, and there I did to my great content deliver him up hislittle several papers for sums of money paid him, and took his regularreceipts upon his orders, wherein I am safe. Thence to White Hall, andthere to visit Sir G. Carteret, and there was with him a great while, and my Lady and they seem in very good humour, but by and by Sir G. Carteret and I alone, and there we did talk of the ruinous condition weare in, the King being going to put out of the Council so many able men;such as my Lord Anglesey, Ashly, Hopis, Secretary Morrice (to bring inMr. Trevor), and the Archbishop of Canterbury, and my Lord Bridgewater. He tells me that this is true, only the Duke of York do endeavour tohinder it, and the Duke of York himself did tell him so: that the Kingand the Duke of York do not in company disagree, but are friendly; butthat there is a core in their hearts, he doubts, which is not to beeasily removed; for these men do suffer only for their constancy to theChancellor, or at least from the King's ill-will against him: thatthey do now all they can to vilify the clergy, and do accuse Rochester[Dolben]... And so do raise scandals, all that is possible, againstother of the Bishops. He do suggest that something is intended for theDuke of Monmouth, and it may be, against the Queene also: that we arein no manner sure against an invasion the next year: that the Duke ofBuckingham do rule all now, and the Duke of York comes indeed to theCaball, but signifies little there. That this new faction do not endure, nor the King, Sir W. Coventry; but yet that he is so usefull that theycannot be without him; but that he is not now called to the Caball. That my Lord of Buckingham, Bristoll, and Arlington, do seem to agreein these things; but that they do not in their hearts trust one another, but do drive several ways, all of them. In short, he do bless himselfthat he is no more concerned in matters now; and the hopes he hathof being at liberty, when his accounts are over, to retire into thecountry. That he do give over the kingdom for wholly lost. So after someother little discourse, I away, meeting with Mr. Cooling. I with himby coach to the Wardrobe, where I never was since the fire in HattonGarden, but did not 'light: and he tells me he fears that my LordSandwich will suffer much by Mr. Townsend's being untrue to him, hebeing now unable to give the Commissioners of the Treasury an account ofhis money received by many thousands of pounds, which I am troubledfor. Thence to the Old Exchange together, he telling me that he believesthere will be no such turning out of great men as is talked of, but thatit is only to fright people, but I do fear there may be such a thingdoing. He do mightily inveigh against the folly of the King to bring hismatters to wrack thus, and that we must all be undone without help. I met with Cooling at the Temple-gate, after I had been at both mybooksellers and there laid out several pounds in books now against thenew year. From the 'Change (where I met with Captain Cocke, who wouldhave borrowed money of me, but I had the grace to deny him, he wouldhave had 3 or L400) I with Cocke and Mr. Temple (whose wife was just nowbrought to bed of a boy, but he seems not to be at all taken with it, which is a strange consideration how others do rejoice to have a childborn), to Sir G. Carteret's, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and there did dinetogether, there being there, among other company, Mr. Attorney Montagu, and his fine lady, a fine woman. After dinner, I did understand from myLady Jemimah that her brother Hinchingbroke's business was to be endedthis day, as she thinks, towards his match, and they do talk here oftheir intent to buy themselves some new clothes against the wedding, which I am very glad of. After dinner I did even with Sir G. Carteretthe accounts of the interest of the money which I did so long put outfor him in Sir R. Viner's hands, and by it I think I shall be a gainerabout L28, which is a very good reward for the little trouble I have hadin it. Thence with Sir Philip Carteret to the King's playhouse, there tosee "Love's Cruelty, " an old play, but which I have not seen before; andin the first act Orange Moll come to me, with one of our porters bymy house, to tell me that Mrs. Pierce and Knepp did dine at my houseto-day, and that I was desired to come home. So I went out presently, and by coach home, and they were just gone away so, after a very littlestay with my wife, I took coach again, and to the King's playhouseagain, and come in the fourth act; and it proves to me a very sillyplay, and to everybody else, as far as I could judge. But the jest is, that here telling Moll how I had lost my journey, she told me that Mrs. Knepp was in the house, and so shews me to her, and I went to her, andsat out the play, and then with her to Mrs. Manuel's, where Mrs. Piercewas, and her boy and girl; and here I did hear Mrs. Manuel and oneof the Italians, her gallant, sing well. But yet I confess I am notdelighted so much with it, as to admire it: for, not understanding thewords, I lose the benefit of the vocalitys of the musick, and it provesonly instrumental; and therefore was more pleased to hear Knepp sing twoor three little English things that I understood, though the compositionof the other, and performance, was very fine. Thence, after sitting andtalking a pretty while, I took leave and left them there, and so to mybookseller's, and paid for the books I had bought, and away home, whereI told my wife where I had been. But she was as mad as a devil, andnothing but ill words between us all the evening while we sat atcards--W. Hewer and the girl by--even to gross ill words, which I wastroubled for, but do see that I must use policy to keep her spirit down, and to give her no offence by my being with Knepp and Pierce, of which, though she will not own it, yet she is heartily jealous. At last itended in few words and my silence (which for fear of growing higherbetween us I did forbear), and so to supper and to bed without one wordone to another. This day I did carry money out, and paid several debts. Among others, my tailor, and shoemaker, and draper, Sir W. Turner, whobegun to talk of the Commission of accounts, wherein he is one; butthough they are the greatest people that ever were in the nation as topower, and like to be our judges, yet I did never speak one word to himof desiring favour, or bidding him joy in it, but did answer him towhat he said, and do resolve to stand or fall by my silent preparing toanswer whatever can be laid to me, and that will be my best proceeding, I think. This day I got a little rent in my new fine camlett cloak withthe latch of Sir G. Carteret's door; but it is darned up at my tailor's, that it will be no great blemish to it; but it troubled me. I could notbut observe that Sir Philip Carteret would fain have given me my goinginto a play; but yet, when he come to the door, he had no money to payfor himself, I having refused to accept of it for myself, but was fain;and I perceive he is known there, and do run upon the score for plays, which is a shame; but I perceive always he is in want of money. 

 [The practice of gallants attending the theatre without payment is illustrated by Mr. Lowe in his "Betterton, " from Shadwell's "True Widow":

 "1st Doorkeeper. Pray, sir, pay me: my masters will make me pay it. 

 3d Man. Impudent rascal, do you ask me for money? Take that, sirrah. 

 2nd Doorkeeper. Will you pay me, sir?

 4th Man. No; I don't intend to stay. 

 2nd Doorkeeper. So you say every day, and see two or three acts for nothing. "]

In the pit I met with Sir Ch. North, formerly Mr. North, who was with myLord at sea; and he, of his own accord, was so silly as to tell me heis married; and for her quality (being a Lord's daughter, my Lord Grey), and person, and beauty, and years, and estate, and disposition, he isthe happiest man in the world. I am sure he is an ugly fellow; buta good scholar and sober gentleman; and heir to his father, now LordNorth, the old Lord being dead. 

31st. Up, without words to my wife, or few, and those not angry, and soto White Hall, and there waited a long time, while the Duke of Yorkwas with the King in the Caball, and there I and Creed stayed talkingwithout, in the Vane-Room, and I perceive all people's expectation is, what will be the issue of this great business of putting these greatLords out of the council and power, the quarrel, I perceive, beingonly their standing against the will of the King in the business of theChancellor. Anon the Duke of York comes out, and then to a committee ofTangier, where my Lord Middleton did come to-day, and seems to me but adull, heavy man; but he is a great soldier, and stout, and a needy Lord, which will still keep that poor garrison from ever coming to be worthanything to the King. Here, after a short meeting, we broke up, and Ihome to the office, where they are sitting, and so I to them, and havingdone our business rose, and I home to dinner with my people, and theredined with me my uncle Thomas, with a mourning hat-band on, for hisdaughter Mary, and here I and my people did discourse of the Act for theaccounts, ["An Act for taking the Accompts of the several sums of money therein menconed, 19 and 20 Car. II. , c. I. The commissioners were empowered to call before them all Treasurers, Receivers, Paymasters, Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy and Ordnance respectively, Pursers, Mustermasters and Clerks of the Cheque, Accomptants, and all Officers and Keepers of his Majesties Stores and Provisions for Warr as well for Land as Sea, and all other persons whatsoever imployed in the management of the said Warr or requisite for the discovery of any frauds relating thereunto, " &c. , &c. ("Statutes of the Realm, " vol. V. , pp. 624, 627). ]

which do give the greatest power to these people, as they report thathave read it (I having not yet read it, and indeed its nature is such asI have no mind to go about to read it, for fear of meeting matter in itto trouble me), that ever was given to any subjects, and too much also. After dinner with my wife and girl to Unthanke's, and there left her, and I to Westminster, and there to Mrs. Martin's, and did hazer con ellewhat I desired, and there did drink with her, and find fault with herhusband's wearing of too fine clothes, by which I perceive he will be abeggar, and so after a little talking I away and took up my wife again, and so home and to the office, where Captain Perryman did give mean account, walking in the garden, how the seamen of England arediscouraged by want of money (or otherwise by being, as he says, but Ithink without cause, by their being underrated) so far as that he thinksthe greatest part are gone abroad or going, and says that it is knownthat there are Irish in the town, up and down, that do labour to enticethe seamen out of the nation by giving them L3 in hand, and promiseof 40s. Per month, to go into the King of France's service, which is amighty shame, but yet I believe is true. I did advise with him about mylittle vessel, "The Maybolt, " which he says will be best for me to sell, though my employing her to Newcastle this winter, and the next spring, for coles, will be a gainful trade, but yet make me great trouble, but Iwill think of it, and so to my office, ended my letters, and so home tosupper and to bed, good friends with my wife. Thus ends the year, withgreat happiness to myself and family as to health and good condition inthe world, blessed be God for it! only with great trouble to my mindin reference to the publick, there being little hopes left but that thewhole nation must in a very little time be lost, either by troubles athome, the Parliament being dissatisfied, and the King led into unsettledcouncils by some about him, himself considering little, and divisionsgrowing between the King and Duke of York; or else by foreign invasion, to which we must submit if any, at this bad point of time, should comeupon us, which the King of France is well able to do. These thoughts, and some cares upon me, concerning my standing in this Office when theCommittee of Parliament shall come to examine our Navy matters, whichthey will now shortly do. I pray God they may do the kingdom servicetherein, as they will have sufficient opportunity of doing it!

 ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS, DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, 1667 N. S. , COMPLETE:

 20s. In money, and what wine she needed, for the burying him A gainful trade, but yet make me great trouble Act of Council passed, to put out all Papists in office Advantage a man of the law hath over all other people And a deal of do of which I am weary Angling with a minikin, a gut-string varnished over Anthem anything but instrumentall musique with the voice Archbishop is a wencher, and known to be so As he called it, the King's seventeenth whore abroad Baker's house in Pudding Lane, where the late great fire begun Beginnings of discontents take so much root between us Being taken with a Psalmbook or Testament Better now than never Bill against importing Cattle from Ireland Bold to deliver what he thinks on every occasion Bring me a periwig, but it was full of nits But do it with mighty vanity and talking But my wife vexed, which vexed me Buying his place of my Lord Barkely Buying up of goods in case there should be war Cast stones with his horne crooke Certainly Annapolis must be defended, --where is Annapolis? Chief Court of judicature (House of Lords) Clap of the pox which he got about twelve years ago Come to us out of bed in his furred mittens and furred cap Commons, where there is nothing done but by passion, and faction Confidence, and vanity, and disparages everything Consider that this is all the pleasure I live for in the world Court full of great apprehensions of the French Court is in a way to ruin all for their pleasures Credit of this office hath received by this rogue's occasion Dash the brains of it out before the King's face Declared he will never have another public mistress again Desk fastened to one of the armes of his chayre Did take me up very prettily in one or two things that I said Dinner, an ill and little mean one, with foul cloth and dishes Disquiet all night, telling of the clock till it was daylight Do outdo the Lords infinitely (debates in the Commons) Dog, that would turn a sheep any way which Dutch fleets being in so many places Eat some of the best cheese-cakes that ever I eat in my life Enough existed to build a ship (Pieces of the true Cross) Enviously, said, I could not come honestly by them Erasmus "de scribendis epistolis" Every body leads, and nobody follows Father, who to supper and betimes to bed at his country hours Feared she hath from some [one] or other of a present Fell a-crying for joy, being all maudlin and kissing one another Fool's play with which all publick things are done For I will not be inward with him that is open to another For I will be hanged before I seek to him, unless I see I need Found to be with child, do never stir out of their beds Give the King of France Nova Scotia, which he do not like Gold holds up its price still Good purpose of fitting ourselves for another war (A Peace) Had his hand cut off, and was hanged presently! Had the umbles of it for dinner Hates to have any body mention what he had done the day before Hath given her the pox, but I hope it is not so Have not any awe over them from the King's displeasure (Commons) He was charged with making himself popular He is not a man fit to be told what one hears He will do no good, he being a man of an unsettled head He is a man of no worth in the world but compliment Heeling her on one side to make her draw little water History of this day's growth, we cannot tell the truth House of Lords is the last appeal that a man can make How do the children? Hugged, it being cold now in the mornings.... Hunt up and down with its mouth if you touch the cheek I would not enquire into anything, but let her talk I am not a man able to go through trouble, as other men I having now seen a play every day this week I perceive no passion in a woman can be lasting long I did get her hand to me under my cloak I love the treason I hate the traitor I find her painted, which makes me loathe her (cosmetics) If the word Inquisition be but mentioned Ill-bred woman, would take exceptions at anything any body said Ill sign when we are once to come to study how to excuse Just set down to dinner, and I dined with them, as I intended King do resolve to declare the Duke of Monmouth legitimate King is at the command of any woman like a slave King the necessity of having, at least, a show of religion King is offended with the Duke of Richmond's marrying King of France did think other princes fit for nothing King governed by his lust, and women, and rogues about him King's service is undone, and those that trust him perish Kingdom will fall back again to a commonwealth Know yourself to be secure, in being necessary to the office Lady Castlemayne's nose out of joynt Lady Castlemayne is compounding with the King for a pension Liberty of speech in the House Little content most people have in the peace Little worth of this world, to buy it with so much pain Looks to lie down about two months hence Make a man wonder at the good fortune of such a fool Mazer or drinking-bowl turned out of some kind of wood Mean, methinks, and is as if they had married like dog and bitch Mirrors which makes the room seem both bigger and lighter Mr. William Pen a Quaker again Mrs. Stewart's sending the King his jewels again Much difficulty to get pews, I offering the sexton money Musique in the morning to call up our new-married people Must yet pay to the Poll Bill for this pension (unreceived) My wife will keep to one another and let the world go hang My intention to learn to trill My people do observe my minding my pleasure more than usual My wife this night troubled at my leaving her alone so much Necessary, and yet the peace is so bad in its terms Never laughed so in all my life. I laughed till my head ached Never was known to keep two mistresses in his life (Charles II. ) Never, while he lives, truckle under any body or any faction Never to keep a country-house, but to keep a coach New medall, where, in little, there is Mrs. Steward's face Night the Dutch burned our ships the King did sup with Castlemayne No man knowing what to do, whether to sell or buy Nobody knows which side will be uppermost Nobody being willing to trust us for anything Nor offer anything, but just what is drawn out of a man Not more than I expected, nor so much by a great deal as I ought Not thinking them safe men to receive such a gratuity Now above six months since (smoke from the cellars) Officers are four years behind-hand unpaid Only because she sees it is the fashion (She likes it) Outdo for neatness and plenty anything done by any of them Painful to keep money, as well as to get it Pit, where the bears are baited Poll Bill Pressing in it as if none of us had like care with him Prince's being trepanned, which was in doing just as we passed Proud that she shall come to trill Receive the applications of people, and hath presents Reparation for what we had embezzled Run over their beads with one hand, and point and play and talk Said to die with the cleanest hands that ever any Lord Treasurer Saying, that for money he might be got to our side Says of wood, that it is an excrescence of the earth Seems she hath had long melancholy upon her Sermon ended, and the church broke up, and my amours ended also Sermon upon Original Sin, neither understood by himself Sermon without affectation or study Shame such a rogue should give me and all of us this trouble She has this silly vanity that she must play Sick of it and of him for it Silence; it being seldom any wrong to a man to say nothing Singing with many voices is not singing So every thing stands still for money Some ends of my own in what advice I do give her Sorry thing to be a poor King Spares not to blame another to defend himself Sparrowgrass Speaks rarely, which pleases me mightily Spends his time here most, playing at bowles Sport to me to see him so earnest on so little occasion Street ordered to be continued, forty feet broad, from Paul's Supper and to bed without one word one to another Suspect the badness of the peace we shall make Swear they will not go to be killed and have no pay Take pins out of her pocket to prick me if I should touch her The pleasure of my not committing these things to my memory The world do not grow old at all The gates of the City shut, it being so late Their condition was a little below my present state Then home, and merry with my wife They are all mad; and thus the kingdom is governed! They want where to set their feet, to begin to do any thing Think never to see this woman--at least, to have her here more Though he knows, if he be not a fool, that I love him not Through my wife's illness had a bad night of it, and she a worse To my joy, I met not with any that have sped better than myself Troubled to think what trouble a rogue may without cause give Uncertainty of all history Used to make coal fires, and wash my foul clothes Very great tax; but yet I do think it is so perplexed Voyage to Newcastle for coles We find the two young ladies come home, and their patches off Weary of it; but it will please the citizens Weigh him after he had done playing What way a man could devise to lose so much in so little time What I said would not hold water Whatever I do give to anybody else, I shall give her Where a piece of the Cross is Which he left him in the lurch Whip this child till the blood come, if it were my child! Who continues so ill as not to be troubled with business Whom, in mirth to us, he calls Antichrist Whose red nose makes me ashamed to be seen with him Wise man's not being wise at all times Wise men do prepare to remove abroad what they have Wonders that she cannot be as good within as she is fair without Wretch, n. , often used as an expression of endearment Yet let him remember the days of darkness Young fellow, with his hat cocked like a fool behind