great heat we were all in on one side or other in the examining witnesses
against Mr. Carcasse about his buying of tickets, and a cunning knave I do
believe he is, and will appear, though I have thought 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 this afternoon, and so away
by coach, and left her at Mrs. Pierces, myself to the Excise Office about
business, and thence to the Temple to walk a little only, and then to
Westminster to pass away time till anon, and here I went to Mrs. Martin's
to thank her for her oysters . . . . Thence away to my Lord
Bruncker's, and there was Sir Robert Murray, whom I never understood so
well as now by this opportunity of discourse with him, a most excellent
man of reason and learning, and understands the doctrine of musique, and
everything else I could discourse of, very finely. 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 the master-composer, and six more,
whereof two eunuches, so tall, that Sir T. Harvey said well that he
believes they do grow large by being gelt as our oxen do, and one woman
very well dressed and handsome enough, but would not be kissed, as Mr.
Killigrew, who brought the company in, did acquaint us. They sent two
harpsicons before; and by and by, after tuning them, they begun; and, I
confess, very good musique they made; that is, the composition exceeding
good, but yet not at all more pleasing to me than what I have heard in
English by Mrs. Knipp, Captain Cooke, 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 as well satisfied with several women's voices and men
also, as Crispe of the Wardrobe. The women sung well, but that which
distinguishes all is this, that in singing, the words are to be
considered, and how they are fitted with notes, and then the common accent
of the country is to be known and understood by the hearer, or he will
never be a good judge of the vocal musique of another country. So that I
was not taken with this at all, neither understanding the first, nor by
practice reconciled to the latter, so that their motions, and risings and
fallings, though it may be pleasing to an Italian, or one that understands
the tongue, yet to me it did not, but do from my heart believe that I
could set words in English, and make musique of them more agreeable to any
Englishman's eare (the most judicious) than any Italian musique set for
the voice, and performed before the same man, unless he be acquainted with
the Italian accent of speech. The composition as to the musique part was
exceeding good, and their justness in keeping time by practice much before
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 at it, in
his coach, and to Mrs. Pierce's, where I took up my wife, and there I find
Mrs. Pierce's little girl is my Valentine, she having drawn me; which I
was not sorry for, it easing me of something more that I must have given
to others. But here I do first observe the fashion of drawing 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 was I 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 very pretty. Thence with Cocke and
my wife, set him at home, and then we home. To the office, and there did
a little business, troubled that I have so much been hindered by matters
of pleasure from my business, but I shall recover it I hope in a little
time. So home and to supper, not at all smitten with the musique
to-night, which I did expect should have been 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 observed to-day, that there was no
musique in the morning to call up our new-married people, which is very
mean, methinks, and is as if they had married like dog and bitch.
17th (Lord's day). Up, and called at Michell's, and took him and his wife
and carried them to Westminster, I landing at White Hall, and having no
pleasure in the way 'con elle'; and so to the Duke's, where we all met and
had a hot encounter before the Duke of York about the business of our
payments at the Ticket Office, where we urged that we had nothing to do to
be troubled with the pay, having examined the tickets. 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 word but Sir W. Coventry, though at
the office like very devils in this point. But I did plainly declare
that, without money, no fleete could be expected, and desired the Duke of
York to take notice of it, and notice was taken of it, but I doubt will do
no good. But I desire to remember it as a most prodigious thing that to
this day my Lord Treasurer hath not consulted counsel, which Sir W.
Coventry and I and others do think is necessary, about the late Poll act,
enough to put the same into such order as that any body dare lend money
upon it, though we have from this office under our hands related the
necessity thereof to the Duke of York, nor is like to be determined in,
for ought I see, a good while had not Sir W. Coventry plainly said that he
did believe it would be a better work for the King than going to church
this morning, to send for the Atturney Generall to meet at the Lord
Treasurer's this afternoon and to bring the thing to an issue, saying that
himself, were he going to the Sacrament, would not think he should offend
God to leave it and go to the ending this work, so much it is of moment to
the King and Kingdom. Hereupon the Duke of York said he would presently
speak to the King, and cause it to be done this afternoon. Having done
here we broke up; having done nothing almost though for all this, and by
and by I met Sir 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
sure the King will suffer if some better care be not taken than he takes
to look after this business of money. So parted, and I by water home and
to dinner, 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 Council
anon, and that being done away to White Hall by water, and thence to my
Lord 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 tell me,
of his own accord, as a matter of no shame, that in Spayne he had a pretty
woman, his mistress, whom, when money grew scarce with him, he was forced
to leave, and afterwards heard how she and her husband lived well, she
being kept by an old fryer who used her as his whore; but this, says he,
is better than as our ministers do, who have wives that lay up their
estates, and do no good nor relieve any poor--no, not our greatest
prelates, and I think he is in the right for my part. Staid till the
Council was up, and attended the King and Duke of York round the 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 did the value of the
hull of the St. Patrick lately lost, which I told him I could not
presently answer; though I might have easily furnished myself to answer
all those questions. They stood a good while to see the ganders and geese
tread one another in the water, the goose being all the while kept for a
great while: quite under water, which was new to me, 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 not please me. They gone, by
coach to my Lord Treasurer's, as the Duke of York told me, to settle the
business of money for the navy, I walked into the Court to and again till
night, and there met Colonell Reames, and he and I walked together a great
while complaining of the ill-management of things, whereof he is as full
as I am. We ran over many persons and things, and see nothing done like
men like to do well while the King minds his pleasures so much. We did
bemoan it that nobody would or had authority enough with the King to tell
him how all things go to rack and will be lost. Then he and I parted, and
I to Westminster to the Swan, and there staid till Michell and his wife
come. Old Michell and 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 did to 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 to take one. . . . So that I had no pleasure at all 'con
elle ce' night. When we landed I did take occasion to send him back a the
bateau while I did 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' to answered 'ego' no love touching, in a slight mood. I seemed
not to take notice of it, but parted kindly; 'su marido' did alter with me
almost a my case, and there we parted, and so I home troubled at this, but
I think 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, and
about the peace; who told me that the whole business is managed between
Kevet, Burgomaster of Amsterdam, and my Lord Arlington, who hath, by the
interest 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, whether
the French will. We think we shall have the help of the information of
their affairs and state, and the helps of the Prince of Orange his
faction; but above all, that De Witt, who hath all this while said he
cannot get peace, his mouth will now be stopped, so that he will be forced
to offer fit terms for fear of the people; and, lastly, if France or
Spayne do not please us, we are in a way presently to clap up a peace with
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 King of Spayne
or House of Austria; which we do not know presently what will be
determined in. He tells me the Vice-Chamberlaine is so great with the
King, 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 will do what
he will; and advises me to be often with him, and eat and drink with him.;
and tells me that he doubts he is jealous of me, and was mighty mad to-day
at our discourse to him before the Duke of York. But I 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 ran to others, and among
the others he assures me that Henry Bruncker is one of the shrewdest
fellows for parts in England, and a dangerous man; that if ever the
Parliament comes again Sir W. Coventry cannot stand, but in this 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 their charge in getting
it reckoned as a fifth part of the expense of the Navy; that Harry
Coventry, who is to go upon this treaty with Lord Hollis (who he confesses
to be a very wise man) into Holland, is a mighty quick, ready man, but not
so weighty as he should be, he knowing him so well in his drink as he do;
that, unless the King do do something against my Lord Mordaunt and the
Patent for the Canary Company, before the Parliament next meets, he do
believe there will be a civil war before there will be any more money
given, unless it may be at their perfect disposal; and that all things are
now ordered to the provoking of the Parliament against they come next, and
the spending the King's money, so as to put him into a necessity of having
it at the time it is prorogued for, or sooner. Having discoursed all this
and much more, he away, and I to supper and to read my vows, and to bed.
My mind troubled about Betty Michell, 'pour sa carriage' this night
'envers moy', but do hope it will put me upon doing my business. This
evening, going to the Queen's side to see the ladies, I did find the
Queene, the Duchesse of York, and another or two, at cards, with the room
full of great ladies and men; which I was amazed at to see on a Sunday,
having not believed it; but, contrarily, flatly denied the same a little
while since to my cozen 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 thing as well writ as I think most things that ever I read in my
life, and glad I am that I read it.
18th. Up, and to my bookbinder's, and there mightily pleased to see some
papers of the account we did give the Parliament of the expense of the
Navy sewed together, which I could not have conceived before how prettily
it was done. Then by coach to the Exchequer about some tallies, and
thence back again home, by the way meeting Mr. Weaver, of Huntingdon, and
did discourse our business of law together, which did ease my mind, for I
was afeard I have omitted doing what I in prudence ought to have done. So
home and to dinner, and after dinner to the office, where je had Mrs.
Burrows all sola a my closet, and did there 'baiser and toucher ses
mamelles' . . . . Thence away, and with my wife by coach to the Duke
of York's play-house, expecting a new play, and so stayed not no more than
other people, but to the King's house, to "The Mayd's Tragedy;" but vexed
all the while with two talking ladies and Sir Charles Sedley; yet pleased
to hear their discourse, he being a stranger. 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 talk most pleasantly with him; but was, I
believe, a virtuous woman, and of quality. He would fain know who she
was, but she would not tell; yet did give him many pleasant hints of her
knowledge of him, by that means setting his brains at work to find, out
who she was, and did give him leave to use all means to find out who she
was, but pulling off her mask. He was mighty witty, and she also making
sport with him very inoffensively, that a more pleasant 'rencontre' I
never heard. But by that means lost the pleasure of the play wholly, to
which now and then Sir Charles Sedley's exceptions against both words and
pronouncing were very pretty. So home and to the office, did much
business, then home, to supper, and to bed.
19th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing little business,
our want of money being so infinite great. At noon home, and there find
old Mr. Michell and Howlett come to desire mine and my wife's company to
dinner to their son's, and so away by coach with them, it being Betty's
wedding-day a year, as also Shrove Tuesday. Here I made myself mighty
merry, the two old women being there also, and a mighty pretty dinner we
had in this little house, to my exceeding great content, and my wife's,
and my heart pleased to see Betty. But I have not been so merry a very
great while as with them, every thing pleasing me there as much as among
so mean company I could be pleased. After dinner 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 to see
it built in that manner! Anon with much content home, walking with my
wife and her woman, and there to my office, where late doing much
business, and then home to supper and to bed. This morning I hear that
our discourse of peace is all in the dirt; for the Dutch will not like of
the place, or at least the French will not agree to it; so that I do
wonder what we shall do, for carry on the war we cannot. I long to hear
the truth of it to-morrow at Court.
20th. Up, with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen by coach to White Hall, by
the way observing Sir W. Pen's carrying a favour to Sir W. Coventry, for
his daughter's wedding, and saying that there was others for us, when we
will fetch them, which vexed me, and I am resolved not to wear it when he
orders me one. His wedding hath been so poorly kept, that I am ashamed of
it; for a fellow that makes such a flutter as he do. When we come to the
Duke of York here, I heard discourse how Harris of his play-house is sick,
and everybody commends him, and, above all things, for acting the
Cardinall. Here they talk also how the King's viallin,--[violin]--
Bannister, is mad that the King hath a Frenchman come to be chief of some
part of the King's musique, at which the Duke of York made great mirth.
Then withdrew to his closett, all our business, lack of money and prospect
of the effects of it, such as made Sir W. Coventry say publickly before us
all, that he do heartily wish that his Royal Highness had nothing to do in
the Navy, whatever become of him; so much dishonour, he says, is likely to
fall under the management of it. The Duke of York was angry, as much as
he could be, or ever I saw him, with Sir G. Carteret, for not paying the
masters of some ships on Monday last, according to his promise, and I do
think Sir G. Carteret will make himself unhappy by not taking some course
either to borrow more money or wholly lay aside his pretence to the charge
of raising money, when he hath nothing to do to trouble himself with.
Thence to the Exchequer, and there find the people in readiness to
dispatch my tallies to-day, though Ash Wednesday. So I back by coach to
London to Sir Robt. Viner's and there got L100, and come away with it and
pay my fees round, and so away with the 'Chequer men to the Leg in King
Street, and there had wine for them; and here was one in company with
them, that was the man that got the vessel to carry over the King from
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 the trouble is,
that this poor man, who hath received no part of his money these four
years, and is ready to starve almost, must yet pay to the Poll Bill for
this pension. He told me several particulars of the King's coming
thither, which was mighty pleasant, and shews how mean a thing a king is,
how subject to fall, and how like other men he is in his afflictions.
Thence with my tallies home, and a little dinner, and then with my wife by
coach to Lincoln's Inn Fields, sent her to her brother's, and I with Lord
Bellasses to the Lord Chancellor's. Lord Bellasses tells me how the King
of France hath caused the stop to be made to our proposition of treating
in The Hague; that he being greater than they, we may better come and
treat at Paris: so that God knows what will become of the peace! He tells
me, too, as a grand secret, that he do believe the peace offensive and
defensive between Spayne and us is quite finished, but must not be known,
to prevent the King of France's present falling upon Flanders. He do
believe the Duke of York will be made General of the Spanish armies there,
and Governor of Flanders, if the French should come against it, and we
assist the Spaniard: that we have done the Spaniard abundance of mischief
in the West Indys, by our privateers at Jamaica, which they lament
mightily, and I am sorry for it to have it done at this time. By and by,
come to my Lord Chancellor, who heard mighty quietly my complaints for
lack of money, and spoke mighty kind to me, but little hopes of help
therein, only his good word. He do prettily cry upon Povy's account with
sometimes seeming friendship and pity, and this day quite the contrary.
He do confess our streights here and every where else arise from our
outspending our revenue. I mean that the King do do so. Thence away,
took up my wife; who tells me her brother 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 the office 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 she tells pretty storms of my Lord Bruncker since he
come to our end of the town, of people's applications to Mrs. Williams.
So, she gone, I back to my accounts of Tangier, which I am settling,
having my new tallies from the Exchequer this day, and having set all
right as I could wish, then to bed.
21st. Up, and to the Office, where sat all the morning, and there a most
furious conflict between Sir W. Pen and I, in few words, and on a sudden
occasion, of no great moment, but very bitter, and stared on one another,
and so broke off; and to our business, my heart as full of spite as it
could hold, for which God forgive me and him! At the end of the day come
witnesses on behalf of Mr. Carcasse; but, instead of clearing him, I find
they were brought to recriminate Sir W. Batten, and did 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 sorry to have such things
declared in the open office, before 100 people. But it was done home, and
I do believe true, though (Sir) W. Batten denies all, but is cruel mad,
and swore one of them, he or Carcasse, should not continue in the Office,
which is said like a fool. He gone, for he would not stay, and [Sir] W.
Pen gone a good while before, Lord Bruncker, Sir T. Harvy, and I, staid
and examined the witnesses, though amounting to little more than a
reproaching of Sir W. Batten. I home, my head and mind vexed about the
conflict between Sir W. Pen and I, though I have got, nor lost any ground
by it. At home was Mr. Daniel and wife and sister, and dined with us, and
I disturbed at dinner, Colonell Fitzgerald coming to me about tallies,
which I did go and give him, and then to the office, where did much
business and walked an hour or two with Lord Bruncker, who is mightily
concerned in this business for Carcasse and against Sir W. Batten, and I
do hope it will come to a good height, for I think it will be good for the
King as well as for me, that they two do not agree, though I do, for ought
I see yet, think that my Lord is for the most part in the right. He gone,
I to the office again to 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 examine one Jones, a young merchant, who was said to have spoke
the worst against Sir W. Batten, but he do deny it wholly, yet I do
believe Carcasse will go near to prove all that was sworn in the morning,
and so it be true I wish it may. That done, I to end my letters, and then
home to 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 Sir H.
Cholmly to give him some tallies upon the business of the Mole at Tangier,
and then out with him by coach to the Excise Office, there to enter them,
and so back again with him to the Exchange, and there I took another
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's house, where some
other company. It is instead of a wedding dinner for his daughter, whom I
saw in palterly clothes, nothing new but a bracelet that her servant had
given her, and ugly she is, as heart can wish. A sorry dinner, not any
thing handsome or clean, but some silver plates they borrowed of me. My
wife was here too. So a great deal of talk, and I seemingly merry, but
took no pleasure at all. We had favours given us all, and we put them in
our hats, I against my will, but that my Lord and the rest did, I being
displeased that he did carry Sir W. Coventry's himself several days ago,
and the people up and down the town long since, 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 the Office and Navy for the Duke of York
against Sunday next, and at it late, and then home to supper and to bed,
talking with my wife of the poorness 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 very good
health and mind's content, and in condition of estate much beyond whatever
my friends could expect of a child of theirs, this day 34 years. 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 York to-morrow, and then
the office met and spent the greatest part about this letter. At noon
home to dinner, and then to the office again very close at it all the day
till midnight, making an end and writing fair this great letter and other
things to my full content, it abundantly providing for the vindication of
this office, whatever the success be of our wants of money. This evening
Sir W. Batten come to me to the office on purpose, out of spleen (of which
he is full to Carcasse!), to tell me that he is now informed of many
double tickets now found of Carcasses making which quite overthrows him.
It is strange to see how, though I do believe this fellow to be a rogue,
and could be contented to have him removed, yet to see him persecuted by
Sir W. Batten, who is as bad himself, 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.