menconed, 19 and 20 Car. II., c. I. The commissioners were
empowered to call before them all Treasurers, Receivers,
Paymasters, Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy and
Ordnance respectively, Pursers, Mustermasters and Clerks of the
Cheque, Accomptants, and all Officers and Keepers of his Majesties
Stores and Provisions for Warr as well for Land as Sea, and all
other persons whatsoever imployed in the management of the said Warr
or requisite for the discovery of any frauds relating thereunto,"
&c., &c. ("Statutes of the Realm," vol. v., pp. 624,627).]
which do give the greatest power to these people, as they report that have
read it (I having not yet read it, and indeed its nature is such as I have
no mind to go about to read it, for fear of meeting matter in it to
trouble me), that ever was given to any subjects, and too much also. After
dinner with my wife and girl to Unthanke's, and there left her, and I to
Westminster, and there to Mrs. Martin's, and did hazer con elle what I
desired, and there did drink with her, and find fault with her husband's
wearing of too fine clothes, by which I perceive he will be a beggar, and
so after a little talking I away and took up my wife again, and so home
and to the office, where Captain Perryman did give me an account, walking
in the garden, how the seamen of England are discouraged by want of money
(or otherwise by being, as he says, but I think without cause, by their
being underrated) so far as that he thinks the greatest part are gone
abroad or going, and says that it is known that there are Irish in the
town, up and down, that do labour to entice the seamen out of the nation
by giving them L3 in hand, and promise of 40s. per month, to go into the
King of France's service, which is a mighty shame, but yet I believe is
true. I did advise with him about my little vessel, "The Maybolt," which
he says will be best for me to sell, though my employing her to Newcastle
this winter, and the next spring, for coles, will be a gainful trade, but
yet make me great trouble, but I will think of it, and so to my office,
ended my letters, and so home to supper and to bed, good friends with my
wife. Thus ends the year, with great happiness to myself and family as to
health and good condition in the world, blessed be God for it! only with
great trouble to my mind in reference to the publick, there being little
hopes left but that the whole nation must in a very little time be lost,
either by troubles at home, the Parliament being dissatisfied, and the
King led into unsettled councils by some about him, himself considering
little, and divisions growing between the King and Duke of York; or else
by foreign invasion, to which we must submit if any, at this bad point of
time, should come upon us, which the King of France is well able to do.
These thoughts, and some cares upon me, concerning my standing in this
Office when the Committee of Parliament shall come to examine our Navy
matters, which they will now shortly do. I pray God they may do the
kingdom service therein, as they will have sufficient opportunity of doing
it!
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
A gainful trade, but yet make me great trouble
Every body leads, and nobody follows
Lady Castlemayne's nose out of joynt
Make a man wonder at the good fortune of such a fool
Mr. William Pen a Quaker again
Run over their beads with one hand, and point and play and talk
Silence; it being seldom any wrong to a man to say nothing
Speaks rarely, which pleases me mightily
Sport to me to see him so earnest on so little occasion
Supper and to bed without one word one to another
Voyage to Newcastle for coles