Carteret, I by water over to Southwarke, and so walked to the Falkon, on
the Bank-side, and there got another boat, and so to Westminster, where I
would have gone into the Swan; but the door was locked; and the girl could
not let me in, and so to Wilkinson's in King Street, and there wiped my
shoes, and so to Court, where sermon not yet done I met with Brisband; and
he tells me, first, that our business of tickets did come to debate
yesterday, it seems, after I was gone away, and was voted a miscarriage in
general. He tells me in general that there is great looking after places,
upon a presumption of a great many vacancies; and he did shew me a fellow
at Court, a brother of my Lord Fanshaw's, a witty but rascally fellow,
without a penny in his purse, that was asking him what places there were
in the Navy fit for him, and Brisband tells me, in mirth, he told him the
Clerke of the Acts, and I wish he had it, so I were well and quietly rid
of it; for I am weary of this kind of trouble, having, I think, enough
whereon to support myself. By and by, chapel done, I met with Sir W.
Coventry, and he and I walked awhile together in the Matted Gallery; and
there he told me all the proceedings yesterday: that the matter is found,
in general, a miscarriage, but no persons named; and so there is no great
matter to our prejudice yet, till, if ever, they come to particular
persons. He told me Birch was very industrious to do what he could, and
did, like a friend; but they were resolved to find the thing, in general,
a miscarriage; and says, that when we shall think fit to desire its being
heard, as to our own defence, it will be granted. He tells me how he
hath, with advantage, cleared himself in what concerns himself therein, by
his servant Robson, which I am glad of. He tells me that there is a
letter sent by conspiracy to some of the House, which he hath seen, about
the matter of selling of places, which he do believe he shall be called
upon to-morrow for: and thinks himself well prepared to defend himself in
it; and then neither he, nor his friends for him, are afeard of anything
to his prejudice. Thence by coach, with Brisband, to Sir G. Carteret's, in
Lincoln's Inn Fields, and there dined: a good dinner and good company; and
after dinner he and I alone, discoursing of my Lord Sandwich's matters;
who hath, in the first business before the House, been very kindly used
beyond expectation, the matter being laid by, till his coming home and old
Mr. Vaughan did speak for my Lord, which I am mighty glad of. The
business of the prizes is the worst that can be said, and therein I do
fear something may lie hard upon him; but, against this, we must prepare
the best we can for his defence. Thence with G. Carteret to White Hall,
where I, finding a meeting of the Committee of the Council for the Navy,
his Royal Highness there, and Sir W. Pen, and, some of the Brethren of the
Trinity House to attend, I did go in with them; and it was to be informed
of the practice heretofore, for all foreign nations, at enmity one with
another, to forbear any acts of hostility to one another, in the presence
of any of the King of England's ships, of which several instances were
given: and it is referred to their further enquiry, in order to the giving
instructions accordingly to our ships now, during the war between Spain
and France. Would to God we were in the same condition as heretofore, to
challenge and maintain this our dominion! Thence with W. Pen homeward,
and quite through to Mile End, for a little ayre; the days being now
pretty long, but the ways mighty dirty, and here we drank at the Rose, the
old house, and so back again, talking of the Parliament and our trouble
with them and what passed yesterday. Going back again, Sir R. Brookes
overtook us coming to town; who hath played the jacke with us all, and is
a fellow that I must trust no more, he quoting me for all he hath said in
this business of tickets; though I have told him nothing that either is
not true, or I afeard to own. But here talking, he did discourse in this
stile: "We,"--and "We" all along,--"will not give any money, be the
pretence never so great, nay, though the enemy was in the River of Thames
again, till we know what is become of the last money given;" and I do
believe he do speak the mind of his fellows, and so let them, if the King
will suffer it. He gone, we home, and there I to read, and my belly being
full of my dinner to-day, I anon to bed, and there, as I have for many
days, slept not an hour quietly, but full of dreams of our defence to the
Parliament and giving an account of our doings. This evening, my wife did
with great pleasure shew me her stock of jewells, encreased by the ring
she hath made lately as my Valentine's gift this year, a Turky stone' set
with diamonds: and, with this and what she had, she reckons that she hath
above L150 worth of jewells, of one kind or other; and I am glad of it,
for it is fit the wretch should have something to content herself with.
24th. Up, and to my office, where most of the morning, entering my
journal for the three days past. Thence about noon with my wife to the
New Exchange, by the way stopping at my bookseller's, and there leaving my
Kircher's Musurgia to be bound, and did buy "L'illustre Bassa," in four
volumes, for my wife. Thence to the Exchange and left her; while meeting
Dr. Gibbons there, he and I to see an organ at the Dean of Westminster's
lodgings at the Abby, the Bishop of Rochester's; where he lives like a
great prelate, his lodgings being very good; though at present under great
disgrace at Court, being put by his Clerk of the Closet's place. I saw
his lady, of whom the 'Terrae Filius' of Oxford was once so merry;
[A scholar appointed to make a satirical and jesting speech at an
Act in the University of Oxford. Mr. Christopher Wordsworth gives,
in his "Social Life at the English Universities in the Eighteenth
Century," 1874, a list of terra-filii from 1591 to 1713 (pp. 296-
298, 680). The 'terrae filius' was sometimes expelled the
university on account of the licence of his speech. The practice
was discontinued early in the eighteenth century.]
and two children, whereof one a very pretty little boy, like him, so fat
and black. Here I saw the organ; but it is too big for my house, and the
fashion do not please me enough; and therefore will not have it. Thence
to the 'Change back again, leaving him, and took my wife and Deb. home,
and there to dinner alone, and after dinner I took them to the
Nursery,--[Theatre company of young actors in training.]--where none of us
ever were before; where the house is better and the musique better than we
looked for, and the acting not much worse, because I expected as bad as
could be: and I was not much mistaken, for it was so. However, I was
pleased well to see it once, it being worth a man's seeing to discover the
different ability and understanding of people, and the different growth of
people's abilities by practise. Their play was a bad one, called
"Jeronimo is Mad Again," a tragedy. Here was some good company by us, who
did make mighty sport at the folly of their acting, which I could not
neither refrain from sometimes, though I was sorry for it. So away hence
home, where to the office to do business a while, and then home to supper
and to read, and then to bed. I was prettily served this day at the
playhouse-door, where, giving six shillings into the fellow's hand for us
three, the fellow by legerdemain did convey one away, and with so much
grace faced me down that I did give him but five, that, though I knew the
contrary, yet I was overpowered by his so grave and serious demanding the
other shilling, that I could not deny him, but was forced by myself to
give it him. After I come home this evening comes a letter to me from
Captain Allen, formerly Clerk of the Ropeyard at Chatham, and whom I was
kind to in those days, who in recompense of my favour to him then do give
me notice that he hears of an accusation likely to be exhibited against me
of my receiving L50 of Mason, the timber merchant, and that his wife hath
spoke it. I am mightily beholden to Captain Allen for this, though the
thing is to the best of my memory utterly false, and I do believe it to be
wholly so, but yet it troubles me to have my name mentioned in this
business, and more to consider how I may be liable to be accused where I
have indeed taken presents, and therefore puts me on an enquiry, into my
actings in this kind and prepare against a day of accusation.
25th. Up, having lain the last night the first night that I have lain
with my wife since she was last ill, which is about eight days. To the
office, where busy all the morning. At noon comes W. Howe to me, to
advise what answer to give to the business of the prizes, wherein I did
give him the best advice I could; but am sorry to see so many things,
wherein I doubt it will not be prevented but Sir Roger Cuttance and Mr.
Pierce will be found very much concerned in goods beyond the distribution,
and I doubt my Lord Sandwich too, which troubles me mightily. He gone I
to dinner, and thence set my wife at the New Exchange, and I to Mr.
Clerke, my solicitor, to the Treasury chamber, but the Lords did not sit,
so I by water with him to the New Exchange, and there we parted, and I
took my wife and Deb. up, and to the Nursery, where I was yesterday, and
there saw them act a comedy, a pastorall, "The Faythful Shepherd," having
the curiosity to see whether they did a comedy better than a tragedy; but
they do it both alike, in the meanest manner, that I was sick of it, but
only for to satisfy myself once in seeing the manner of it, but I shall
see them no more, I believe. Thence to the New Exchange, to take some
things home that my wife hath bought, a dressing-box, and other things for
her chamber and table, that cost me above L4, and so home, and there to
the office, and tell W. Hewer of the letter from Captain Allen last night,
to give him caution if any thing should be discovered of his dealings with
anybody, which I should for his sake as well, or more than for my own, be
sorry for; and with great joy I do find, looking over my memorandum books,
which are now of great use to me, and do fully reward me for all my care
in keeping them, that I am not likely to be troubled for any thing of the
kind but what I shall either be able beforehand to prevent, or if
discovered, be able to justify myself in, and I do perceive, by Sir W.
Warren's discourse, that they [the House] do all they can possibly to get
out of him and others, what presents they have made to the Officers of the
Navy; but he tells me that he hath denied all, though he knows that he is
forsworn as to what relates to me. So home to supper and to bed.
26th. Up, and by water to Charing Cross stairs, and thence to W. Coventry
to discourse concerning the state of matters in the Navy, where he
particularly acquainted me with the trouble he is like to meet with about
the selling of places, all carried on by Sir Fr. Hollis, but he seems not
to value it, being able to justify it to be lawful and constant practice,
and never by him used in the least degree since he upon his own motion did
obtain a salary of L500 in lieu thereof. Thence to the Treasury Chamber
about a little business, and so home by coach, and in my way did meet W.
Howe going to the Commissioners of Accounts. I stopped and spoke to him,
and he seems well resolved what to answer them, but he will find them very
strict, and not easily put off: So home and there to dinner, and after
dinner comes W. Howe to tell me how he sped, who says he was used civilly,
and not so many questions asked as he expected; but yet I do perceive
enough to shew that they do intend to know the bottom of things, and where
to lay the great weight of the disposal of these East India goods, and
that they intend plainly to do upon my Lord Sandwich. Thence with him by
coach and set him down at the Temple, and I to Westminster Hall, where, it
being now about six o'clock, I find the House just risen; and met with Sir
W. Coventry and the Lieutenant of the Tower, they having sat all day; and
with great difficulty have got a vote for giving the King L300,000, not to
be raised by any land-tax. The sum is much smaller than I expected, and
than the King needs; but is grounded upon Mr. Wren's reading our estimates
the other day of L270,000, to keep the fleete abroad, wherein we demanded
nothing for setting and fitting of them out, which will cost almost
L200,000, I do verily believe: and do believe that the King hath no cause
to thank Wren for this motion. I home to Sir W. Coventry's lodgings, with
him and the Lieutenant of the Tower, where also was Sir John Coventry, and
Sir John Duncomb, and Sir Job Charleton. And here a great deal of good
discourse: and they seem mighty glad to have this vote pass, which I did
wonder at, to see them so well satisfied with so small a sum, Sir John
Duncomb swearing, as I perceive he will freely do, that it was as much as
the nation could beare. Among other merry discourse about spending of
money, and how much more chargeable a man's living is now more than it was
heretofore, Duncomb did swear that in France he did live of L100 a year
with more plenty, and wine and wenches, than he believes can be done now
for L200, which was pretty odd for him, being a Committee-man's son, to
say. Having done here, and supped, where I eat very little, we home in
Sir John Robinson's coach, and there to bed.
27th. All the morning at the office, and at noon home to dinner, and
thence with my wife and Deb. to the King's House, to see "The Virgin
Martyr," the first time it hath been acted a great while: and it is mighty
pleasant; not that the play is worth much, but it is finely acted by Becke
Marshall. But that which did please me beyond any thing in, the whole
world was the wind-musique when the angel comes down, which is so sweet
that it ravished me, and indeed, in a word, did wrap up my soul so that it
made me really sick, just as I have formerly been when in love with my
wife; that neither then, nor all the evening going home, and at home, I
was able to think of any thing, but remained all night transported, so as
I could not believe that ever any musick hath that real command over the
soul of a man as this did upon me: and makes me resolve to practice
wind-musique, and to make my wife do the like.
28th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing business, and
after dinner with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, where we and the rest of us
presented a great letter of the state of our want of money to his Royal
Highness. I did also present a demand of mine for consideration for my
travelling-charges of coach and boat-hire during the war, which, though
his Royal Highness and the company did all like of, yet, contrary to my
expectation, I find him so jealous now of doing any thing extraordinary,
that he desired the gentlemen that they would consider it, and report
their minds in it to him. This did unsettle my mind a great while, not
expecting this stop: but, however, I shall do as well, I know, though it
causes me a little stop. But that, that troubles me most is, that while
we were thus together with the Duke of York, comes in Mr. Wren from the
House, where, he tells us, another storm hath been all this day almost
against the Officers of the Navy upon this complaint,--that though they
have made good rules for payment of tickets, yet that they have not
observed them themselves, which was driven so high as to have it urged
that we should presently be put out of our places: and so they have at
last ordered that we shall be heard at the bar of the House upon this
business on Thursday next. This did mightily trouble me and us all; but
me particularly, who am least able to bear these troubles, though I have
the least cause to be concerned in it. Thence, therefore, to visit Sir H.
Cholmly, who hath for some time been ill of a cold; and thence walked
towards Westminster, and met Colonel Birch, who took me back to walk with
him, and did give me an account of this day's heat against the Navy
Officers, and an account of his speech on our behalf, which was very good;
and indeed we are much beholden to him, as I, after I parted with him, did
find by my cozen Roger, whom I went to: and he and I to his lodgings. And
there he did tell me the same over again; and how much Birch did stand up
in our defence; and that he do see that there are many desirous to have us
out of the Office; and the House is so furious and passionate, that he
thinks nobody can be secure, let him deserve never so well. But now, he
tells me, we shall have a fair hearing of the House, and he hopes justice
of them: but, upon the whole, he do agree with me that I should hold my
hand as to making any purchase of land, which I had formerly discoursed
with him about, till we see a little further how matters go. He tells me
that that made them so mad to-day first was, several letters in the House
about the Fanatickes, in several places, coming in great bodies, and
turning people out of the churches, and there preaching themselves, and
pulling the surplice over the Parsons' heads: this was confirmed from
several places; which makes them stark mad, especially the hectors and
bravadoes of the House, who shew all the zeal on this occasion. Having
done with him, I home vexed in my mind, and so fit for no business, but
sat talking with my wife and supped with her; and Nan Mercer come and sat
all the evening with us, and much pretty discourse, which did a little
ease me, and so to bed.
29th. Up, and walked to Captain Cocke's, where Sir G. Carteret promised
to meet me and did come to discourse about the prize-business of my Lord
Sandwich's, which I perceive is likely to be of great ill consequence to
my Lord, the House being mighty vehement in it. We could say little but
advise that his friends should labour to get it put off, till he comes. We
did here talk many things over, in lamentation of the present posture of
affairs, and the ill condition of all people that have had anything to do
under the King, wishing ourselves a great way off: Here they tell me how
Sir Thomas Allen hath taken the Englishmen out of "La Roche," and taken
from him an Ostend prize which La Roche had fetched out of our harbours;
and at this day La Roche keeps upon our coasts; and had the boldness to
land some men and go a mile up into the country, and there took some goods
belonging to this prize out of a house there; which our King resents, and,
they say, hath wrote to the King of France about; and everybody do think a
war will follow; and then in what a case we shall be for want of money,
nobody knows. Thence to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at
noon home to dinner, and to the office again in the afternoon, where we
met to consider of an answer to the Parliament about the not paying of
tickets according to our own orders, to which I hope we shall be able to
give a satisfactory answer, but that the design of the House being
apparently to remove us, I do question whether the best answer will
prevail with them. This done I by coach with my wife to Martin, my
bookseller's, expecting to have had my Kercher's Musurgia, but to my
trouble and loss of trouble it was not done. So home again, my head full
of thoughts about our troubles in the office, and so to the office. Wrote
to my father this post, and sent him now Colvill's--[The Goldsmith.]--note
for L600 for my sister's portion, being glad that I shall, I hope, have
that business over before I am out of place, and I trust I shall be able
to save a little of what I have got, and so shall not be troubled to be at
ease; for I am weary of this life. So ends this month, with a great deal
of care and trouble in my head about the answerings of the Parliament, and
particularly in our payment of seamen by tickets.
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
Being very poor and mean as to the bearing with trouble
Bite at the stone, and not at the hand that flings it
Burned it, that it might not be among my books to my shame
Come to see them in bed together, on their wedding-night
Fear what would become of me if any real affliction should come
Force a man to swear against himself
L'escholle des filles, a lewd book
Live of L100 a year with more plenty, and wine and wenches
No pleasure--only the variety of it