trimming, I to the Office, and there with Gibson and Tom finishing against
to-morrow my notes upon Commanders' Instructions; and, when church-time,
to church with my wife, leaving them at work. Dr. Mills preached a dull
sermon, and so we home to dinner; and thence by coach to St. Andrew's,
Holborne, thinking to have heard Dr. Stillingfleete preach, but we could
not get a place, and so to St. Margaret's, Westminster, and there heard a
sermon, and did get a place, the first we have heard there these many
years, and here at a distance I saw Betty Michell, but she is become much
a plainer woman than she was a girl. Thence towards the Park, but too
soon to go in, so went on to Knightsbridge, and there eat and drank at
"The World's End," where we had good things, and then back to the Park,
and there till night, being fine weather, and much company, and so home,
and after supper to bed. This day I first left off both my waistcoats by
day, and my waistcoat by night, it being very hot weather, so hot as to
make me break out, here and there, in my hands, which vexes me to see, but
is good for me.
10th. Troubled, about three in the morning, with my wife's calling her
maid up, and rising herself, to go with her coach abroad, to gather
May-dew, which she did, and I troubled for it, for fear of any hurt, going
abroad so betimes, happening to her; but I to sleep again, and she come
home about six, and to bed again all well, and I up and with Mr. Gibson by
coach to St. James's, and thence to White Hall, where the Duke of York met
the Office, and there discoursed of several things, particularly the
Instructions of Commanders of ships. But here happened by chance a
discourse of the Council of Trade, against which the Duke of York is
mightily displeased, and particularly Mr. Child, against whom he speaking
hardly, Captain Cox did second the Duke of York, by saying that he was
talked of for an unfayre dealer with masters of ships, about freight: to
which Sir T. Littleton very hotly and foolishly replied presently, that he
never heard any honest man speak ill of Child; to which the Duke of York
did make a smart reply, and was angry; so as I was sorry to hear it come
so far, and that I, by seeming to assent to Cox, might be observed too
much by Littleton, though I said nothing aloud, for this must breed great
heart-burnings. After this meeting done, the Duke of York took the
Treasurers into his closet to chide them, as Mr. Wren tells me; for that
my Lord Keeper did last night at the Council say, when nobody was ready to
say any thing against the constitution of the Navy, that he did believe
the Treasurers of the Navy had something to say, which was very foul on
their part, to be parties against us. They being gone, Mr. Wren [and I]
took boat, thinking to dine with my Lord of Canterbury; but, when we come
to Lambeth, the gate was shut, which is strictly done at twelve o'clock,
and nobody comes in afterwards: so we lost our labour, and therefore back
to White Hall, and thence walked my boy Jacke with me, to my Lord Crew,
whom I have not seen since he was sick, which is eight months ago, I think
and there dined with him: he is mightily broke. A stranger a country
gentleman, was with him: and he pleased with my discourse accidentally
about the decay of gentlemen's families in the country, telling us that
the old rule was, that a family might remain fifty miles from London one
hundred years, one hundred miles from London two hundred years, and so
farther, or nearer London more or less years. He also told us that he hath
heard his father say, that in his time it was so rare for a country
gentleman to come to London, that, when he did come, he used to make his
will before he set out. Thence: to St. James's, and there met the Duke of
York, who told me, with great content, that he did now think he should
master our adversaries, for that the King did tell him that he was;
satisfied in the constitution of the Navy, but that it was well to give
these people leave to object against it, which they having not done, he
did give order to give warrant to the Duke of York to direct Sir Jeremy
Smith to be a Commissioner of the Navy in the room of Pen; which, though
he be an impertinent fellow, yet I am glad of it, it showing that the
other side is not so strong as it was: and so, in plain terms, the Duke of
York did tell me, that they were every day losing ground; and particularly
that he would take care to keep out Child: at all which I am glad, though
yet I dare not think myself secure, as the King may yet be wrought upon by
these people to bring changes in our Office, and remove us, ere it be
long. Thence I to White Hall, an there took boat to Westminster, and to
Mrs. Martin's, who is not come to town from her husband at Portsmouth. So
drank only at Cragg's with Doll, and so to the Swan, and there baiser a
new maid that is there, and so to White Hall again, to a Committee of
Tangier, where I see all things going to rack in the business of the
Corporation, and consequently in the place, by Middleton's going. Thence
walked a little with Creed, who tells me he hears how fine my horses and
coach are, and advises me to avoid being noted for it, which I was vexed
to hear taken notice of, it being what I feared and Povy told me of my
gold-lace sleeves in the Park yesterday, which vexed me also, so as to
resolve never to appear in Court with them, but presently to have them
taken off, as it is fit I should, and so to my wife at Unthanke's, and
coach, and so called at my tailor's to that purpose, and so home, and
after a little walk in the garden, home to supper and to bed.
11th. My wife again up by four o'clock, to go to gather May-dew; and so
back home by seven, to bed, and by and by I up and to the office, where
all the morning, and dined at noon at home with my people, and so all the
afternoon. In the evening my wife and I all alone, with the boy, by
water, up as high as Putney almost, with the tide, and back again, neither
staying going nor coming; but talking, and singing, and reading a foolish
copy of verses upon my Lord Mayor's entertaining of all the bachelors,
designed in praise to my Lord Mayor, and so home and to the office a
little, and then home to bed, my eyes being bad. Some trouble at Court
for fear of the Queen's miscarrying; she being, as they all conclude, far
gone with child.
12th. Up, and to Westminster Hall, where the term is, and this the first
day of my being there, and here by chance met Roger Pepys, come to town
the last night: I was glad to see him. After some talk with him and
others, and among others Sir Charles Harbord and Sidney Montagu, the
latter of whom is to set out to-morrow towards Flanders and Italy, I
invited them to dine with me to-morrow, and so to Mrs. Martin's lodging,
who come to town last night, and there je did hazer her, she having been a
month, I think, at Portsmouth with her husband, newly come home from the
Streights. But, Lord! how silly the woman talks of her great
entertainment there, and how all the gentry come to visit her, and that
she believes her husband is worth L6 or L700, which nevertheless I am glad
of, but I doubt they will spend it a fast. Thence home, and after dinner
my wife and I to the Duke of York's playhouse, and there, in the side
balcony, over against the musick, did hear, but not see, a new play, the
first day acted, "The Roman Virgin," an old play, and but ordinary, I
thought; but the trouble of my eyes with the light of the candles did
almost kill me. Thence to my Lord Sandwich's, and there had a promise
from Sidney to come and dine with me to-morrow; and so my wife and I home
in our coach, and there find my brother John, as I looked for, come to
town from Ellington, where, among other things, he tell me the first news
that my [sister Jackson] is with child, and fat gone, which I know not
whether it did more trouble or please me, having no great care for my
friends to have children; though I love other people's. So, glad to see
him, we to supper, and so to bed.
13th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, it being a rainy foul
day. But at noon comes my Lord Hinchingbroke, and Sidney, and Sir Charles
Harbord, and Roger Pepys, and dined with me; and had a good dinner, and
very merry with; us all the afternoon, it being a farewell to Sidney; and
so in the evening they away, and I to my business at the Office and so to
supper, and talk with my brother, and so to bed.
14th. Up, and to St. James's to the Duke of York, and thence to White
Hall, where we met about office business, and then at noon with Mr. Wren
to Lambeth, to dinner with the Archbishop of Canterbury; the first time I
was ever there and I have long longed for it; where a noble house, and
well furnished with good pictures and furniture, and noble attendance in
good order, and great deal of company, though an ordinary day; and
exceeding great cheer, no where better, or so much, that ever I think I
saw, for an ordinary table: and the Bishop mighty kind to me, particularly
desiring my company another time, when less company there. Most of the
company gone, and I going, I heard by a gentleman of a sermon that was to
be there; and so I staid to hear it, thinking it serious, till by and by
the gentleman told me it was a mockery, by one Cornet Bolton, a very
gentleman-like man, that behind a chair did pray and preach like a
Presbyter Scot that ever I heard in my life, with all the possible
imitation in grimaces and voice. And his text about the hanging up their
harps upon the willows: and a serious good sermon too, exclaiming against
Bishops, and crying up of my good Lord Eglinton, a till it made us all
burst; but I did wonder to have the Bishop at this time to make himself
sport with things of this kind, but I perceive it was shewn him as a
rarity; and he took care to have the room-door shut, but there were about
twenty gentlemen there, and myself, infinitely pleased with the novelty.
So over to White Hall, to a little Committee of Tangier; and thence
walking in the Gallery, I met Sir Thomas Osborne, who, to my great
content, did of his own accord fall into discourse with me, with so much
professions of value and respect, placing the whole virtue of the Office
of the Navy upon me, and that for the Comptroller's place, no man in
England was fit for it but me, when Sir J. Minnes, as he says it is
necessary, is removed: but then he knows not what to do for a man in my
place; and in discourse, though I have no mind to the other, I did bring
in Tom Hater to be the fittest man in the world for it, which he took good
notice of. But in the whole I was mightily pleased, reckoning myself now
fifty per cent. securer in my place than I did before think myself to be.
Thence to Unthanke's, and there find my wife, but not dressed, which vexed
me, because going to the Park, it being a most pleasant day after
yesterday's rain, which lays all the dust, and most people going out
thither, which vexed me. So home, sullen; but then my wife and I by
water, with my brother, as high as Fulham, talking and singing, and
playing the rogue with the Western barge-men, about the women of Woolwich,
which mads them, an so back home to supper and to bed.
15th. Up, and at the Office all the morning. Dined at home and Creed
with me home, and I did discourse about evening some reckonings with him
in the afternoon; but I could not, for my eyes, do it, which troubled me,
and vexed him that would not; but yet we were friends, I advancing him
more without it, and so to walk all the afternoon together in the garden;
and I perceive still he do expect a change in of matters, especially as to
religion, and fits himself for it by professing himself for it in his
discourse. He gone, I to my business at my Office, and so at night home
to supper, and to bed.
16th (Lord's day). My wife and I at church, our pew filled with Mrs.
Backewell, and six more that she brought with her, which vexed me at her
confidence. Dined at home and W. Batelier with us, and I all the
afternoon drawing up a foul draught of my petition to the Duke of York,
about my eyes, for leave to spend three or four months out of the Office,
drawing it so as to give occasion to a voyage abroad which I did, to my
pretty good liking; and then with my wife to Hyde Park, where a good deal
of company, and good weather, and so home to supper and to bed.
17th. Up, and to several places doing business, and the home to dinner,
and then my wife and I and brother John by coach to the King's playhouse,
and saw "The Spanish Curate" revived, which is a pretty good play, but my
eyes troubled with seeing it, mightily. Thence carried them and Mr.
Gibson, who met me at my Lord Brouncker's with a fair copy of my petition,
which I thought to shew the Duke of York this night, but could not, and
therefore carried them to the Park, where they had never been, and so home
to supper and to bed. Great the news now of the French taking St.
Domingo, in Spaniola, from the Spaniards, which troubles us, that they
should have it, and have the honour of taking it, when we could not.
18th. Up, and to St. James's and other places, and then to the office,
where all the morning. At noon home and dined in my wife's chamber, she
being much troubled with the tooth-ake, and I staid till a surgeon of hers
come, one Leeson, who hath formerly drawn her mouth, and he advised her to
draw it: so I to the Office, and by and by word is come that she hath
drawn it, which pleased me, it being well done. So I home, to comfort
her, and so back to the office till night, busy, and so home to supper and
to bed.
19th. With my coach to St. James's; and there finding the Duke of York
gone to muster his men, in Hyde Park, I alone with my boy thither, and
there saw more, walking out of my coach as other gentlemen did, of a
soldier's trade, than ever I did in my life: the men being mighty fine,
and their Commanders, particularly the Duke of Monmouth; but me-thought
their trade but very easy as to the mustering of their men, and the men
but indifferently ready to perform what was commanded, in the handling of
their arms. Here the news was first talked of Harry Killigrew's being
wounded in nine places last night, by footmen, in the highway, going from
the Park in a hackney-coach towards Hammersmith, to his house at Turnham
Greene: they being supposed to be my Lady Shrewsbury's men, she being by,
in her coach with six horses; upon an old grudge of his saying openly that
he had lain with her. Thence by and by to White Hall, and there I waited
upon the King and Queen all dinner-time, in the Queen's lodgings, she
being in her white pinner and apron, like a woman with child; and she
seemed handsomer plain so, than dressed. And by and by, dinner done, I
out, and to walk in the Gallery, for the Duke of York's coming out; and
there, meeting Mr. May, he took me down about four o'clock to Mr.
Chevins's lodgings, and all alone did get me a dish of cold chickens, and
good wine; and I dined like a prince, being before very hungry and empty.
By and by the Duke of York comes, and readily took me to his closet, and
received my petition, and discoursed about my eyes, and pitied me, and
with much kindness did give me his consent to be absent, and approved of
my proposition to go into Holland to observe things there, of the Navy;
but would first ask the King's leave, which he anon did, and did tell me
that the King would be a good master to me, these were his words, about my
eyes, and do like of my going into Holland, but do advise that nobody
should know of my going thither, but pretend that I did go into the
country somewhere, which I liked well. Glad of this, I home, and thence
took out my wife, and to Mr. Holliard's about a swelling in her cheek, but
he not at home, and so round by Islington and eat and drink, and so home,
and after supper to bed. In discourse this afternoon, the Duke of York
did tell me that he was the most amazed at one thing just now, that ever
he was in his life, which was, that the Duke of Buckingham did just now
come into the Queen's bed-chamber, where the King was, and much mixed
company, and among others, Tom Killigrew, the father of Harry, who was
last night wounded so as to be in danger of death, and his man is quite
dead; and [Buckingham] there in discourse did say that he had spoke with
some one that was by (which all the world must know that it must be his
whore, my Lady Shrewsbury), who says that they did not mean to hurt, but
beat him, and that he did run first at them with his sword; so that he do
hereby clearly discover that he knows who did it, and is of conspiracy
with them, being of known conspiracy with her, which the Duke of York did
seem to be pleased with, and said it might, perhaps, cost him his life in
the House of Lords; and I find was mightily pleased with it, saying it was
the most impudent thing, as well as the most foolish, that ever he knew
man do in all his life.
20th. Up and to the Office, where all the morning. At noon, the whole
Office--Brouncker, J. Minnes, T. Middleton, Samuel Pepys, and Captain Cox
to dine with the Parish, at the Three Tuns, this day being Ascension-day,
where exceeding good discourse among the merchants, and thence back home,
and after a little talk with my wife, to my office did a great deal of
business, and so with my eyes might weary, and my head full of care how to
get my accounts and business settled against my journey, home to supper,
and bed. Yesterday, at my coming home, I found that my wife had, on a
sudden, put away Matt upon some falling out, and I doubt my wife did call
her ill names by my wife's own discourse; but I did not meddle to say
anything upon it, but let her go, being not sorry, because now we may get
one that speaks French, to go abroad with us.
21st. I waited with the Office upon the Duke of York in the morning.
Dined at home, where Lewis Phillips the friend of his, dined with me. In
the afternoon at the Office. In the evening visited by Roger Pepys and
Philip Packer and so home.
22nd. Dined at home, the rest of the whole day at office.
23rd (Lord's day). Called up by Roger Pepys and his son who to church
with me, and then home to dinner. In the afternoon carried them to
Westminster, and myself to James's, where, not finding the Duke of York,
back home, and with my wife spent the evening taking the ayre about
Hackney, with great pleasure, and places we had never seen before.
24th. To White Hall, and there all the morning, and they home, and giving
order for some business and setting my brother to making a catalogue of my
books, I back again to W. Hewer to White Hall, where I attended the Duke
of York and was by him led to [the King], who expressed great sense of my
misfortune in my eyes, and concernment for their recovery; and accordingly
signified, not only his assent to desire therein, but commanded me to give
them rest summer, according to my late petition to the Duke of York. W.
Hewer and I dined alone at the Swan; and thence having thus waited on the
King, spent till four o'clock in St. James's Park, when I met my wife at
Unthanke's, and so home.
25th. Dined at home; and the rest of the day, morning and afternoon, at
the Office.
26th. To White Hall, where all the morning. Dined with Mr. Chevins, with
Alderman Backewell, and Spragg. The Court full of the news from Captain
Hubbert, of "The Milford," touching his being affronted in the Streights,
shot at, and having eight men killed him by a French man-of-war, calling
him "English dog," and commanding him to strike, which he refused, and, as
knowing himself much too weak for him, made away from him. The Queen, as
being supposed with child, fell ill, so as to call for Madam Nun, Mr.
Chevins's sister, and one of her women, from dinner from us; this being
the last day of their doubtfulness touching her being with child; and they
were therein well confirmed by her Majesty's being well again before
night. One Sir Edmund Bury Godfry, a woodmonger and justice of Peace in
Westminster, having two days since arrested Sir Alexander Frazier for
about L30 in firing, the bailiffs were apprehended, committed to the
porter's lodge, and there, by the King's command, the last night severely
whipped; from which the justice himself very hardly escaped, to such an
unusual degree was the King moved therein. But he lies now in the lodge,
justifying his act, as grounded upon the opinion of several of the judges,
and, among others, my Lord Chief-Justice; which makes the King very angry
with the Chief-Justice, as they say; and the justice do lie and justify
his act, and says he will suffer in the cause for the people, and do
refuse to receive almost any nutriment. The effects of it may be bad to
the Court. Expected a meeting of Tangier this afternoon, but failed. So
home, met by my wife at Unthanke's.!
27th. At the office all the morning, dined at home, Mr. Hollier with me.
Presented this day by Mr. Browne with a book of drawing by him, lately
printed, which cost me 20s. to him. In the afternoon to the Temple, to
meet with Auditor Aldworth about my interest account, but failed meeting
him. To visit my cozen Creed, and found her ill at home, being with
child, and looks poorly. Thence to her husband, at Gresham College, upon
some occasions of Tangier; and so home, with Sir John Bankes with me, to
Mark Lane.
28th. To St. James's, where the King's being with the Duke of York
prevented a meeting of the Tangier Commission. But, Lord! what a deal of
sorry discourse did I hear between the King and several Lords about him
here! but very mean methought. So with Creed to the Excise Office, and
back to White Hall, where, in the Park, Sir G. Carteret did give me an
account of his discourse lately, with the Commissioners of Accounts, who
except against many things, but none that I find considerable; among
others, that of the Officers of the Navy selling of the King's goods, and
particularly my providing him with calico flags, which having been by
order, and but once, when necessity, and the King's apparent profit,
justified it, as conformable to my particular duty, it will prove to my
advantage that it be enquired into. Nevertheless, having this morning
received from them a demand of an account of all monies within their
cognizance, received and issued by me, I was willing, upon this hint, to
give myself rest, by knowing whether their meaning therein might reach
only to my Treasurership for Tangier, or the monies employed on this
occasion. I went, therefore, to them this afternoon, to understand what
monies they meant, where they answered me, by saying, "The eleven months'
tax, customs, and prizemoney," without mentioning, any more than I
demanding, the service they respected therein; and so, without further
discourse, we parted, upon very good terms of respect, and with few words,
but my mind not fully satisfied about the monies they mean. At noon Mr.
Gibson and I dined at the Swan, and thence doing this at Brook house, and
thence caking at the Excise Office for an account of payment of my tallies
for Tangier, I home, and thence with my wife and brother spent the evening
on the water, carrying our supper with us, as high as Chelsea; so home,
making sport with the Westerne bargees, and my wife and I singing, to my
great content.
29th. The King's birth-day. To White Hall, where all very gay; and
particularly the Prince of Tuscany very fine, and is the first day of his
appearing out of mourning, since he come. I heard the Bishop of
Peterborough' preach but dully; but a good anthem of Pelham's. Home to
dinner, and then with my wife to Hyde Park, where all the evening; great
store of company, and great preparations by the Prince of Tuscany to
celebrate the night with fire-works, for the King's birth-day. And so
home.
30th (Whitsunday). By water to White Hall, and thence to Sir W. Coventry,
where all the morning by his bed-side, he being indisposed. Our discourse
was upon the notes I have lately prepared for Commanders' Instructions;
but concluded that nothing will render them effectual, without an
amendment in the choice of them, that they be seamen, and not gentleman
above the command of the Admiral, by the greatness of their relations at
Court. Thence to White Hall, and dined alone with Mr. Chevins his sister:
whither by and by come in Mr. Progers and Sir Thomas Allen, and by and by
fine Mrs. Wells, who is a great beauty; and there I had my full gaze upon
her, to my great content, she being a woman of pretty conversation.
Thence to the Duke of York, who, with the officers of the Navy, made a
good entrance on my draught of my new Instructions to Commanders, as well
expressing general [views] of a reformation among them, as liking of my
humble offers towards it. Thence being called by my wife, Mr. Gibson and
I, we to the Park, whence the rain suddenly home.