with me for fear), slip to White Hall by water; where to Mr. Coventry,
and, as we used to do, to the Duke; the other of my fellows being come.
But we said nothing of our business, the Duke being sent for to the King,
that he could not stay to speak with us. This morning came my Lord
Windsor to kiss the Duke's hand, being returned from Jamaica. He tells
the Duke, that from such a degree of latitude going thither he begun to be
sick, and was never well till his coming so far back again, and then
presently begun to be well. He told the Duke of their taking the fort of
St. Jago, upon Cuba, by his men; but, upon the whole, I believe that he
did matters like a young lord, and was weary of being upon service out of
his own country, where he might have pleasure. For methought it was a
shame to see him this very afternoon, being the first day of his coming to
town, to be at a playhouse. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who though he has
been abroad again two or three days is falling ill again, and is let blood
this morning, though I hope it is only a great cold that he has got. It
was a great trouble to me (and I had great apprehensions of it) that my
Lord desired me to go to Westminster Hall, to the Parliament-house door,
about business; and to Sir Wm. Wheeler, which I told him I would do, but
durst not go for fear of being taken by these rogues; but was forced to go
to White Hall and take boat, and so land below the Tower at the Iron-gate;
and so the back way over Little Tower Hill; and with my cloak over my
face, took one of the watermen along with me, and staid behind a wall in
the New-buildings behind our garden, while he went to see whether any body
stood within the Merchants' Gate, under which we pass to go into our
garden, and there standing but a little dirty boy before the gate, did
make me quake and sweat to think he might be a Trepan. But there was
nobody, and so I got safe into the garden, and coming to open my office
door, something behind it fell in the opening, which made me start. So
that God knows in what a sad condition I should be in if I were truly in
the condition that many a poor man is for debt: and therefore ought to
bless God that I have no such reall reason, and to endeavour to keep
myself, by my good deportment and good husbandry, out of any such
condition. At home I found Mr. Creed with my wife, and so he dined with
us, I finding by a note that Mr. Clerke in my absence hath left here, that
I am free; and that he hath stopped all matters in Court; I was very glad
of it, and immediately had a light thought of taking pleasure to rejoice
my heart, and so resolved to take my wife to a play at Court to-night, and
the rather because it is my birthday, being this day thirty years old, for
which let me praise God. While my wife dressed herself, Creed and I
walked out to see what play was acted to-day, and we find it "The Slighted
Mayde." But, Lord! to see that though I did know myself to be out of
danger, yet I durst not go through the street, but round by the garden
into Tower Street. By and by took coach, and to the Duke's house, where
we saw it well acted, though the play hath little good in it, being most
pleased to see the little girl dance in boy's apparel, she having very
fine legs, only bends in the hams, as I perceive all women do. The play
being done, we took coach and to Court, and there got good places, and saw
"The Wilde Gallant," performed by the King's house, but it was ill acted,
and the play so poor a thing as I never saw in my life almost, and so
little answering the name, that from beginning to end, I could not, nor
can at this time, tell certainly which was the Wild Gallant. The King did
not seem pleased at all, all the whole play, nor any body else, though Mr.
Clerke whom we met here did commend it to us. My Lady Castlemaine was all
worth seeing tonight, and little Steward.--[Mrs. Stuart]--Mrs. Wells do
appear at Court again, and looks well; so that, it may be, the late report
of laying the dropped child to her was not true. It being done, we got a
coach and got well home about 12 at night. Now as my mind was but very
ill satisfied with these two plays themselves, so was I in the midst of
them sad to think of the spending so much money and venturing upon the
breach of my vow, which I found myself sorry for, I bless God, though my
nature would well be contented to follow the pleasure still. But I did
make payment of my forfeiture presently, though I hope to save it back
again by forbearing two plays at Court for this one at the Theatre, or
else to forbear that to the Theatre which I am to have at Easter. But it
being my birthday and my day of liberty regained to me, and lastly, the
last play that is likely to be acted at Court before Easter, because of
the Lent coming in, I was the easier content to fling away so much money.
So to bed. This day I was told that my Lady Castlemaine hath all the
King's Christmas presents, made him by the peers, given to her, which is a
most abominable thing; and that at the great ball she was much richer in
jewells than the Queen and Duchess put both together.
24th. Slept hard till 8 o'clock, then waked by Mr. Clerke's being come to
consult me about Field's business, which we did by calling him up to my
bedside, and he says we shall trounce him. Then up, and to the office,
and at 11 o'clock by water to Westminster, and to Sir W. Wheeler's about
my Lord's borrowing of money that I was lately upon with him, and then to
my Lord, who continues ill, but will do well I doubt not. Among other
things, he tells me that he hears the Commons will not agree to the King's
late declaration, nor will yield that the Papists have any ground given
them to raise themselves up again in England, which I perceive by my Lord
was expected at Court. Thence home again by water presently, and with a
bad dinner, being not looked for, to the office, and there we sat, and
then Captn. Cocke and I upon his hemp accounts till 9 at night, and then,
I not very well, home to supper and to bed. My late distemper of heat and
itching being come upon me again, so that I must think of sweating again
as I did before.
25th. Up and to my office, where with Captain Cocke making an end of his
last night's accounts till noon, and so home to dinner, my wife being come
in from laying out about L4 in provision of several things against Lent.
In the afternoon to the Temple, my brother's, the Wardrobe, to Mr. Moore,
and other places, called at about small businesses, and so at night home
to my office and then to supper and to bed. The Commons in Parliament, I
hear, are very high to stand to the Act of Uniformity, and will not
indulge the Papists (which is endeavoured by the Court Party) nor the
Presbyters.
26th. Up and drinking a draft of wormewood wine with Sir W. Batten at the
Steelyard, he and I by water to the Parliament-house: he went in, and I
walked up and down the Hall. All the news is the great odds yesterday in
the votes between them that are for the Indulgence to the Papists and
Presbyters, and those that are against it, which did carry it by 200
against 30. And pretty it is to consider how the King would appear to be
a stiff Protestant and son of the, Church; and yet would appear willing to
give a liberty to these people, because of his promise at Breda. And yet
all the world do believe that the King would not have this liberty given
them at all. Thence to my Lord's, who, I hear, has his ague again, for
which I am sorry, and Creed and I to the King's Head ordinary, where much
good company. Among the rest a young gallant lately come from France, who
was full of his French, but methought not very good, but he had enough to
make him think himself a wise man a great while. Thence by water from the
New Exchange home to the Tower, and so sat at the office, and then writing
letters till 11 at night. Troubled this evening that my wife is not come
home from Chelsey, whither she is gone to see the play at the school where
Ashwell is, but she came at last, it seems, by water, and tells me she is
much pleased with Ashwell's acting and carriage, which I am glad of. So
home and to supper and bed.
27th. Up and to my office, whither several persons came to me about
office business. About 11 o'clock, Commissioner Pett and I walked to
Chyrurgeon's Hall (we being all invited thither, and promised to dine
there); where we were led into the Theatre; and by and by comes the
reader, Dr. Tearne, with the Master and Company, in a very handsome
manner: and all being settled, he begun his lecture, this being the second
upon the kidneys, ureters, &c., which was very fine; and his discourse
being ended, we walked into the Hall, and there being great store of
company, we had a fine dinner and good learned company, many Doctors of
Phisique, and we used with extraordinary great respect. Among other
observables we drank the King's health out of a gilt cup given by King
Henry VIII. to this Company, with bells hanging at it, which every man is
to ring by shaking after he hath drunk up the whole cup. There is also a
very excellent piece of the King, done by Holbein, stands up in the Hall,
with the officers of the Company kneeling to him to receive their Charter.
After dinner Dr. Scarborough took some of his friends, and I went along
with them, to see the body alone, which we did, which was a lusty fellow,
a seaman, that was hanged for a robbery. I did touch the dead body with
my bare hand: it felt cold, but methought it was a very unpleasant sight.
It seems one Dillon, of a great family, was, after much endeavours to have
saved him, hanged with a silken halter this Sessions (of his own
preparing), not for honour only, but it seems, it being soft and sleek, it
do slip close and kills, that is, strangles presently: whereas, a stiff
one do not come so close together, and so the party may live the longer
before killed. But all the Doctors at table conclude, that there is no
pain at all in hanging, for that it do stop the circulation of the blood;
and so stops all sense and motion in an instant. Thence we went into a
private room, where I perceive they prepare the bodies, and there were the
kidneys, ureters [&c.], upon which he read to-day, and Dr. Scarborough
upon my desire and the company's did show very clearly the manner of the
disease of the stone and the cutting and all other questions that I could
think of . . . how the water [comes] into the bladder through the
three skins or coats just as poor Dr. Jolly has heretofore told me.
Thence with great satisfaction to me back to the Company, where I heard
good discourse, and so to the afternoon Lecture upon the heart and lungs,
&c., and that being done we broke up, took leave, and back to the office,
we two, Sir W. Batten, who dined here also, being gone before. Here late,
and to Sir W. Batten's to speak upon some business, where I found Sir J.
Minnes pretty well fuddled I thought: he took me aside to tell me how
being at my Lord Chancellor's to-day, my Lord told him that there was a
Great Seal passing for Sir W. Pen, through the impossibility of the
Comptroller's duty to be performed by one man; to be as it were
joynt-comptroller with him, at which he is stark mad; and swears he will
give up his place, and do rail at Sir W. Pen the cruellest; he I made
shift to encourage as much as I could, but it pleased me heartily to hear
him rail against him, so that I do see thoroughly that they are not like
to be great friends, for he cries out against him for his house and yard
and God knows what. For my part, I do hope, when all is done, that my
following my business will keep me secure against all their envys. But to
see how the old man do strut, and swear that he understands all his duty
as easily as crack a nut, and easier, he told my Lord Chancellor, for his
teeth are gone; and that he understands it as well as any man in England;
and that he will never leave to record that he should be said to be unable
to do his duty alone; though, God knows, he cannot do it more than a
child. All this I am glad to see fall out between them and myself safe,
and yet I hope the King's service well done for all this, for I would not
that should be hindered by any of our private differences. So to my
office, and then home to supper and to bed.
28th. Waked with great pain in my right ear (which I find myself much
subject to) having taken cold. Up and to my office, where we sat all the
morning, and I dined with Sir W. Batten by chance, being in business
together about a bargain of New England masts. Then to the Temple to meet
my uncle Thomas, who I found there, but my cozen Roger not being come home
I took boat and to Westminster, where I found him in Parliament this
afternoon. The House have this noon been with the King to give him their
reasons for refusing to grant any indulgence to Presbyters or Papists;
which he, with great content and seeming pleasure, took, saying, that he
doubted not but he and they should agree in all things, though there may
seem a difference in judgement, he having writ and declared for an
indulgence: and that he did believe never prince was happier in a House of
Commons, than he was in them. Thence he and I to my Lord Sandwich, who
continues troubled with his cold. Our discourse most upon the outing of
Sir R. Bernard, and my Lord's being made Recorder of Huntingdon in his
stead, which he seems well contented with, saying, that it may be for his
convenience to have the chief officer of the town dependent upon him,
which is very true. Thence he and I to the Temple, but my uncle being
gone we parted, and I walked home, and to my office, and at nine o'clock
had a good supper of an oxe's cheek, of my wife's dressing and baking, and
so to my office again till past eleven at night, making up my month's
account, and find that I am at a stay with what I was last, that is L640.
So home and to bed. Coming by, I put in at White Hall, and at the Privy
Seal I did see the docquet by which Sir W. Pen is made the Comptroller's
assistant, as Sir J. Minnes told me last night, which I must endeavour to
prevent.
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
After oysters, at first course, a hash of rabbits, a lamb
At last we pretty good friends
Before I sent my boy out with them, I beat him for a lie
Dr. Calamy is this day sent to Newgate for preaching
Eat a mouthful of pye at home to stay my stomach
Familiarity with her other servants is it that spoils them all
Feverish, and hath sent for Mr. Pierce to let him blood
Found him a fool, as he ever was, or worse
Goes down the wind in honour as well as every thing else
Had a good supper of an oxe's cheek
Hanged with a silken halter
How highly the Presbyters do talk in the coffeehouses still
I and she never were so heartily angry in our lives as to-day
Ill humour to be so against that which all the world cries up
Lady Castlemaine hath all the King's Christmas presents
Lay chiding, and then pleased with my wife in bed
Lay very long with my wife in bed talking with great pleasure
Liability of a husband to pay for goods supplied his wife
Many thousands in a little time go out of England
Money, which sweetens all things
Most flat dead sermon, both for matter and manner of delivery
Much discourse, but little to be learned
Nor will yield that the Papists have any ground given them
Nothing in the world done with true integrity
Once a week or so I know a gentleman must go . . . .
Pain of the stone, and makes bloody water with great pain
Rabbit not half roasted, which made me angry with my wife
Scholler, but, it may be, thinks himself to be too much so
See how time and example may alter a man
Servant of the King's pleasures too, as well as business
So home, and mighty friends with my wife again
So neat and kind one to another
Sorry for doing it now, because of obliging me to do the like
Talk very highly of liberty of conscience
The house was full of citizens, and so the less pleasant
There is no passing but by coach in the streets, and hardly that
These young Lords are not fit to do any service abroad
They were so false spelt that I was ashamed of them
Vexed at my wife's neglect in leaving of her scarf
Wine, new and old, with labells pasted upon each bottle
With much ado in an hour getting a coach home
Yet it was her fault not to see that I did take them