how the false fellow Commissioner. Pett was eager to have had Carcasses
business brought on to-day that he might give my Lord Bruncker (who hates
him, I am sure, and hath spoke as much against him to the King in my
hearing as any man) a cast of his office in pleading for his man Carcasse,
but I did prevent its being brought on to-day, and so broke up, and I home
to dinner, and after dinner with a little singing with some pleasure alone
with my poor wife, and then to the office, where sat all the afternoon
till late at night, and then home to supper and to bed, 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 I long to have him in town,
that I may see what can be done for him here; for I would fain do all I
can that I may have him live, and take pleasure in my doing well in the
world. This afternoon come Mrs. Lowther to me to the office, and there je
did toker ses mammailles and did baiser 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 Michell and
my pretty Betty and also Mercer, and very merry. A good dinner of roast
beef. After dinner I away to take water at the Tower, and thence to
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 hath reason, to see how
things are like to come all to naught, and it is very much that this
resolution of having of country Admirals should not come to his eares till
I told him the other day, so that I doubt who manages things. From him to
Margaret's Church, and there spied Martin, and home with her . . . . .
but fell out to see her expensefullness, having bought Turkey work,
chairs, &c. By and by away home, and there took out my wife, and the two
Mercers, and two of our mayds, Barker and Jane, and over the water to the
Jamaica House, where I never was before, and there the girls did run for
wagers over the bowling-green; and there, with much pleasure, spent
little, and so home, and they home, and I to read with 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 of Tangier;
a man of moderate understanding, not covetous, but a soldier of fortune,
and poor. Here comes Mr. Sanchy with an impertinent business to me of a
ticket, which I put off. But by and by comes Dr. Childe by appointment,
and sat with me all the morning making me bases and inward parts to
several songs that I desired of him, to my great content. Then dined, 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 I never saw it; I
forced to stand all the while close to the very door till 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, and Sir W. Coventry. The play
called "The Change of Crownes;" a play of Ned Howard's, the best that ever
I saw at that house, being a great play and serious; only Lacy did act the
country-gentleman come up to Court, who do abuse the Court with all the
imaginable wit and plainness about selling of places, and doing every
thing for money. The play took very much. Thence I to my new
bookseller's, and there bought "Hooker's Polity," 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 new Catch-book, that hath a great
many new fooleries in it. Then home, a little at the office, and then to
supper and to bed, mightily pleased with the new play.
16th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning, at noon home to
dinner, and thence in haste to carry my wife to see the new play I saw
yesterday, she not knowing it. But there, contrary to expectation, find
"The Silent Woman." However, in; and there Knipp come into the pit. I
took her by me, and here we met with Mrs. Horsley, the pretty woman--an
acquaintance of Mercer's, whose house is burnt. Knipp tells me the King
was so angry at the liberty taken by Lacy's, part to abuse him to his
face, that he commanded they should act no more, till Moone went and got
leave 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 more taken
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 ten new
plays. Thence with my wife and Knipp to Mrs. Pierce's, and saw her closet
again, and liked her picture. Thence took them all to the Cake-house, in
Southampton Market-place, where Pierce told us the story how, in good
earnest, [the King] is offended with the Duke of Richmond's marrying, and
Mrs. Stewart's sending the King his jewels again. As she tells it, it is
the noblest romance and example of a brave lady that ever 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 the trouble about some of
our prizes for L1400. So home to look on my new books 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 there this
year. In our way, in Tower Street, we saw Desbrough walking on foot: who
is now no more a prisoner, and looks well, and just as he used to do
heretofore. When we come to the Duke of York's I was spoke to by 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 it till dinner, and
then to work again a little, and then go away, and my wife being sent for
by me to the New Exchange I took her up, and there to 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, for which I was sorry afterwards,
though I love not the fellow, yet for his wife's sake), and saw a piece of
"Rollo," a play I like not much, but much good acting in it: the house
very empty. So away home, and I a little 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 to my chamber and there spent the night in reading my
new book, "Origines Juridiciales," 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 fleete
this year, but that the French will not, and that he hath given the answer
to the Dutch Embassador, saying that he is for the King of England's,
having an honourable peace, which, if true, is the best news we have had a
good while. At the office all the morning, and there pleased 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 to the 'Change a little,
and then home and to dinner, and then by coach with my wife to the Duke of
York's house, and there saw "The Wits," a play I formerly loved, and is
now corrected and enlarged: but, though I like the acting, yet I like not
much in the play now. The Duke of York and [Sir] W. Coventry gone to
Portsmouth, makes me thus to go to plays. So home, and to the office a
little and then home, where I find Goodgroome, and he and I did sing
several things over, and tried two or three grace parts in Playford's new
book, my wife pleasing me in singing her part of the things she knew,
which is a comfort to my very heart. So he being gone we to supper and to
bed.
19th. Up, and to the office all the morning, doing a great deal of
business. At noon to dinner betimes, and then my wife and I by coach to
the Duke's house, calling at Lovett's, where I find my Lady Castlemayne'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 heat of 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 for a
stage, and variety of dancing and musique, that ever I saw. So being very
much pleased, thence home by coach with young Goodyer and his own sister,
who offered us to go in their coach. A good-natured youth I believe he
is, but I fear will mind his pleasures too much. She is pretty, and a
modest, brown girle. Set us down, so my wife and I into the garden, a
fine moonshine evening, and there talking, and among other things she
tells me that she finds by W. Hewer that my people do observe my minding
my pleasure more than usual, which I confess, and am ashamed of, 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 about her son, the
Captain, when I did give her the best advice I could, to look out for some
land employment for him, a peace being at hand, when few ships will be
employed and very many, and these old Captains, to be provided for. Then
to other talk, and among the rest about Sir W. Pen's being to buy Wansted
House of Sir Robert Brookes, but has put him off again, 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 be hanged if ever he could mean to
buy that great house, that knows not how to furnish one that is not the
tenth part so big. Thence I to my chamber to write a little, and then to
bed, having got a mighty cold in my right eare and side of my throat, and
in much trouble with it almost all the night.
20th. Up, with much pain in my eare and palate. To the office out of
humour all the morning. At noon dined, and with my wife to the King's
house, but there found the bill torn down and no play acted, and so being
in the humour to see one, went to the Duke of York's house, and there saw
"The Witts" again, which likes me better than it did the other day, having
much wit in it. Here met with Mr. Rolt, who tells me the reason of no
play to-day at the King's house. That Lacy had been committed to the
porter's lodge for his acting his part in the late new play, and that
being thence released he come to the King's house, there met with Ned
Howard, the poet of the play, who congratulated his release; upon which
Lacy cursed him as that it was the fault of his nonsensical play that was
the cause of his ill usage. Mr. Howard did give him some reply; to which
Lacy [answered] him, that he was more a fool than a poet; upon which
Howard did give him a blow on the face with his glove; on which Lacy,
having a cane in his hand, did give him a blow over the pate. Here Rolt
and others that discoursed of it in the pit this afternoon did wonder that
Howard did not run him through, he being too mean a fellow to fight with.
But Howard did not do any thing but complain to the King of it; so the
whole house is silenced, and the gentry 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 any time seen, and so after the play
home and there wrote to my father, and then to walk in the garden with my
wife, resolving by the grace of God to see no more plays till Whitsuntide,
I having now seen a play every day this week till I have neglected my
business, and that I am ashamed of, being found so much absent; the Duke
of York and Sir W. Coventry having been out of town at Portsmouth did the
more embolden me thereto. So home, and having brought home with me from
Fenchurch Street a hundred of sparrowgrass,--[A form once so commonly used
for asparagus that it has found its way into dictionaries.]--cost 18d. We
had them and a little bit of salmon, which my wife had a mind to, cost 3s.
So to supper, 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 have
much used, as being formerly Sir W. Pen's coachman, coming to me by my
direction to see whether I would use him to-day or no, I took him to our
backgate to look upon the ground which is to be let there, where I have a
mind to buy enough to build a coach-house and stable; for I have had it
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 almost ashamed to be
seen in a hackney, and therefore if I can have the conveniency, I will
secure the ground at least till peace comes, that I do receive
encouragement to keep a coach, or else that I may part with the ground
again. The place I like very well, being close to my owne house, and so
resolve to go about it, and so home and with my wife to church, and then
to dinner, Mercer with us, with design to go to Hackney to 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 I did hear in my life;
then took coach and to Hackney church, where very full, and found much
difficulty to get pews, I offering the sexton money, and he could not help
me. So my wife and Mercer ventured into a pew, and I into another. A
knight and his lady very civil to me when they come, and the like to my
wife in hers, being Sir G. Viner and his lady--rich in jewells, but most
in beauty--almost the finest woman that ever I saw. That which we went
chiefly to see was the young ladies of the schools,--[Hackney was long
famous for its boarding schools.]--whereof there is great store, very
pretty; and also the organ, which is handsome, and tunes the psalm, and
plays with the people; which is mighty pretty, and makes me mighty earnest
to have a pair at our church, I having almost a mind to give them a pair,
if they would settle a maintenance on them for it. I am mightily taken
with them. 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 a little, which is mighty welcome, it having not rained in many
weeks, so that they say it makes the fields just now mighty sweet. So
with great pleasure home by night. Set down Mercer, and I to my chamber,
and there read a great deal in Rycaut's Turkey book with great pleasure,
and so eat and to bed. My sore throat still troubling me, but not so
much. This night I do come to full resolution of diligence for a good
while, and I hope God will give me the grace and wisdom to perform it.
22nd. Up pretty betimes, my throat better, and so drest me, and to White
Hall to see Sir W. Coventry, returned from Portsmouth, whom I am almost
ashamed to see for fear he should have been told how often I have been at
plays, but it is better to see him at first than afterward. So walked to
the Old Swan and drank at Michell's, and then to White Hall and over the
Park to St. James's to [Sir] W. Coventry, where well received, and good
discourse. He seems to be sure of a peace; that the King of France do 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, the first time I
have been therein; and it is very noble, and brave pictures of the ancient
and present nobility, never saw better. Thence with him to London, mighty
merry in the way. Thence home, and find the boy out of the 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 with linen she hath
been buying of. I then to dinner, and then down the river to Greenwich,
and the watermen would go no further. So I turned them off, giving them
nothing, and walked to Woolwich; there did some business, and met with
Captain Cocke and back with him. He tells me our peace is agreed on; we
are not to assist the Spanyard against the French for 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 paper laid him
at the Council-table, as was usual; and Sir Richard Browne did tell his
Majesty he would call the person whose work it was to provide it: who
being come, did tell his Majesty that he was but a poor man, and was out
L400 or L500 for it, which was as much as he is worth; and that he cannot
provide it any longer without money, having not received a penny since the
King's coming in. So the King spoke to my Lord Chamberlain; and many such
mementos the King do now-a-days meet withall, enough to make an ingenuous
man mad. I to Deptford, and there scolded with a master for his ship's
not being gone, and so home to the office and did business till my eyes
are sore again, and so home to sing, and then to bed, my eyes failing me
mightily:
23rd (St. George's-day). The feast being kept at White Hall, out of
design, as it is thought, to make the best countenance we can to the
Swede'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 is
brought me that young Michell is come to call my wife to his wife's
labour, and she went, and I at the office full of expectation what to hear
from poor Betty Michell. This morning much to do with Sir W. Warren, all
whose applications now are to Lord Bruncker, and I am against him now, not
professedly, but apparently in discourse, and will be. At noon home to
dinner, where alone, and after dinner to my musique papers, and by and by
comes in my wife, who gives me the good news that the 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 as I mightily pleased with
it. Then to the office to do things towards the post, and then my wife
and I set down at her mother's, and I up and down to do business, but did
little; and so to Mrs. Martin's, and there did hazer what I would con her,
and then called my wife and to little Michell's, where we saw the little
child, which I like mightily, being I allow very pretty, and asked her how
she did, being mighty glad of her doing well, and so home to the office,
and then to my chamber, and so to bed.
24th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Pen to St. James's, and there the Duke of
York was preparing to go to some further ceremonies about the Garter, that
he could give us no audience. Thence to Westminster Hall, the first day
of the Term, and there joyed Mrs. Michell, who is mightily pleased with my
wife's work yesterday, and so away to my barber's about my periwigg, and
then to the Exchange, there to meet Fenn about some money to be borrowed
of the office of the Ordnance to answer a great pinch. So home to dinner,
and in the afternoon met by agreement (being put on it by Harry Bruncker's
frighting us into a despatch of Carcasse's business) [Lord] Bruncker, T.
Harvey, [Sir] J. Minnes, [Sir] W. Batten, and I (Sir W. Pen keeping out of
the way still), where a great many high words from Bruncker, 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 right side, 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 the money 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 very resolute and proud, and
industrious. He told me what reformation they had 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 the
Board; and it is a good one: that no master of the Ordnance here shall
ever sell a place. He tells me they have not paid any increase of price
for any thing during this war, but in most have paid less; and at this day
have greater stores than they know where to lay, if there should be peace,
and than ever was any time this war. That they pay every man in course,
and have notice of the disposal of every farthing. Every man that they
owe money to has his share of every sum they receive; never borrowed all
this war but L30,000 by the King's express command, but do usually stay
till their assignments become payable in their own course, which is the
whole mystery, that they have had assignments for a fifth part of whatever
was assigned to the Navy. They have power of putting out and in of all
officers; are going upon a building that will cost them L12,000; that they
out of their stock of tallies have been forced to help the Treasurer of
the Navy at this great pinch. Then to talk of newes: that he thinks the
want of money hath undone the King, for the Parliament will never give the
King more money without calling all people to account, nor, as he
believes, will ever make war again, but they will manage it themselves:
unless, which I proposed, he would visibly become a severer inspector into
his own business and accounts, and that would gain upon the Parliament
yet: which he confesses and confirms as the only lift to set him upon his
legs, but says that it is 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 and ours, 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 understand the business and do it very well, and that he would
never desire a better. He do believe that the Parliament, if ever they
meet, will offer some alterations to the King, and will turn some of us
out, and I protest I think he is in the right that either they or the King
will be advised to some regulations, and therefore I ought to beware, as
it is easy for me to keep myself up if I will. He thinks that much of our
misfortune hath been for want of an active Lord Treasurer, and that such a
man as Sir W. Coventry would do the business thoroughly. This talk being
over, comes his boy and tells us [Sir] W. Coventry is come in, and so 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 he was
disheartened, and I do think that there is much in it, but Sir J. Duncomb
do charge him with mighty neglect in the pursuing of his business, and
that he do not look after it himself, but leaves it to Fenn, so that I do
perceive that they are resolved to scheme at bringing the business into a
better way of execution, and I think it needs, that is the truth of it.
So I away to Sir G. Carteret's lodgings about this money, and contrary to
expectation I find he hath prevailed with Legg on his own bond to lend him
L2000, which I am glad of, but, poor man, he little sees what observations
people do make upon his management, and he is not a man fit to be told
what one hears. Thence by water at 10 at night from Westminster Bridge,
having kissed little Frank, and so to the Old Swan, and walked home by
moonshine, and there to my chamber a while, and supper and to bed.