other things, comes in Mr. Carcasse, and after many arguings against it,
did offer security as was desired, but who should this be but Mr. Powell,
that is one other of my Lord Bruncker's clerks; and I hope good use will
be made of it. But then he began to fall foul upon the injustice of the
Board, which when I heard I threatened him with being laid by the heels,
which my Lord Bruncker took up as a thing that I could not do upon the
occasion he had given, but yet did own that it was ill said of him. I
made not many words of it, but have let him see that I can say what I will
without fear of him, and so we broke off, leaving the bond to be drawn by
me, which I will do in the best manner I can. At noon, this being Holy
Thursday, that is, Ascension Day, when the boys go on procession round the
parish, we were to go to the Three Tuns' Tavern, to dine with the rest of
the parish; where all the parish almost was, Sir Andrew Rickard and
others; and of our house, J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and myself; and
Mr. Mills did sit uppermost at the table. Here we were informed that the
report of our Embassadors being ill received in their way to Bredah is not
true, but that they are received with very great civility, which I am glad
to hear. But that that did vex me was that among all us there should come
in Mr. Carcasse to be a guest for his money (5s. a piece) as well as any
of us. This did vex me, and I would have gone, and did go to my house,
thinking to dine at home, but I was called away from them, and so we sat
down, and to dinner. Among other things Sir John Fredericke and Sir R.
Ford did talk of Paul's School, which, they tell me, must be taken away;
and then I fear it will be long before another place, as they say is
promised, is found; but they do say that the honour of their company is
concerned in the doing of it, and that it is a thing that they are obliged
to do. Thence home, and to my office, where busy; anon at 7 at night I
and my wife and Sir W. Pen in his coach to Unthanke's, my wife's tailor,
for her to speak one word, and then we to my Lord Treasurer's, where I
find the porter crying, and suspected it was that my Lord is dead; and,
poor Lord! we did find that he was dead just now; and the crying of the
fellow did so trouble me, that considering I was not likely to trouble him
any more, nor have occasion to give any more anything, I did give him 3s.;
but it may be, poor man, he hath lost a considerable hope by the death of
his Lord, whose house will be no more frequented as before, and perhaps I
may never come thither again about any business. There is a good man
gone: and I pray God that the Treasury may not be worse managed by the
hand or hands it shall now be put into; though, for certain, the slowness,
though he was of great integrity, of this man, and remissness, have gone
as far to undo the nation, as anything else that hath happened; and yet,
if I knew all the difficulties that he hath lain under, and his instrument
Sir Philip Warwicke, I might be brought to another mind. Thence we to
Islington, to the Old House, and there eat and drank, and then it being
late and a pleasant evening, we home, and there to my chamber, and to bed.
It is remarkable that this afternoon Mr. Moore come to me, and there,
among other things, did tell me how Mr. Moyer, the merchant, having
procured an order from the King and Duke of York and Council, with the
consent of my Lord Chancellor, and by assistance of Lord Arlington, for
the releasing out of prison his brother, Samuel Moyer, who was a great man
in the late times in Haberdashers'-hall, and was engaged under hand and
seal to give the man that obtained it so much in behalf of my Lord
Chancellor; but it seems my Lady Duchess of Albemarle had before
undertaken it for so much money, but hath not done it. The Duke of
Albemarle did the next day send for this Moyer, to tell him, that
notwithstanding this order of the King and Council's being passed for
release of his brother, yet, if he did not consider the pains of some
friends of his, he would stop that order. This Moyer being an honest,
bold man, told him that he was engaged to the hand that had done the thing
to give him a reward; and more he would not give, nor could own any
kindness done by his Grace's interest; and so parted. The next day Sir
Edward Savage did take the said Moyer in tax about it, giving ill words of
this Moyer and his brother; which he not being able to bear, told him he
would give to the person that had engaged him what he promised, and not
any thing to any body else; and that both he and his brother were as
honest men as himself, or any man else; and so sent him going, and bid him
do his worst. It is one of the most extraordinary cases that ever I saw
or understood; but it is true. This day Mr. Sheply is come to town and to
see me, and he tells me my father is very well only for his pain, so that
he is not able to stir; but is in great pain. I would to God that he were
in town that I might have what help can be got for him, for it troubles me
to have him live in that condition of misery if I can help it.
17th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning upon some accounts of
Mr. Gawden's, and at noon to the Three Tuns to dinner with Lord Bruncker,
Sir J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and T. Harvy, where very merry, and my
Lord Bruncker in appearance as good friends as ever, though I know he has
a hatred to me in heart. After dinner to my house, where Mr. Sheply
dined, and we drank and talked together. He, poor man, hath had his arm
broke the late frost, slipping in going over Huntingdon Bridge. He tells
me that jasper Trice and Lewes Phillips and Mr. Ashfield are gone from
Brampton, and he thinks chiefly from the height of Sir J. Bernard's
carriage, who carries all things before him there, which they cannot bear
with, and so leave the town, and this is a great instance of the advantage
a man of the law hath over all other people, which would make a man to
study it a little. Sheply being gone, there come the flageolet master,
who having had a bad bargain of teaching my wife by the year, she not
practising so much as she should do, I did think that the man did deserve
some more consideration, and so will give him an opportunity of 20s. a
month more, and he shall teach me, and this afternoon I begun, and I think
it will be a few shillings well spent. Then to Sir R. Viner's with 600
pieces of gold to turn into silver, for the enabling me to answer Sir G.
Carteret's L3000; which he now draws all out of my hand towards the paying
for a purchase he hath made for his son and my Lady Jemimah, in
Northamptonshire, of Sir Samuel Luke, in a good place; a good house, and
near all her friends; which is a very happy thing. Thence to St. James's,
and there spoke with Sir W. Coventry, and give him some account of some
things, but had little discourse with him, there being company with him,
and so directly home again and then to my office, doing some business, and
so to my house, and with my wife to practice on the flageolet a little,
and with great pleasure I see she can readily hit her notes, but only want
of practice makes her she cannot go through a whole tune readily. So to
supper and to bed.
18th. Up, and all the morning at the office, and then to dinner, and
after dinner to the office to dictate some letters, and then with my wife
to Sir W. Turner's to visit The., but she being abroad we back again home,
and then I to the office, finished my letters, and then to walk an hour in
the garden talking with my wife, whose growth in musique do begin to
please me mightily, and by and by home and there find our Luce drunk, and
when her mistress told her of it would be gone, and so put up some of her
things and did go away of her accord, nobody pressing her to it, and the
truth is, though she be the dirtiest, homeliest servant that ever I kept,
yet I was sorry to have her go, partly through my love to my servants, and
partly because she was a very drudging, working wench, only she would be
drunk. But that which did a little trouble me was that I did hear her
tell her mistress that she would tell her master something before she was
aware of her that she would be sorry to have him know; but did it in such
a silly, drunken manner, that though it trouble me a little, yet not
knowing what to suspect she should know, and not knowing well whether she
said it to her mistress or Jane, I did not much think of it. So she gone,
we to supper and to bed, my study being made finely clean.
19th (Lord's day). Up, and to my chamber to set some papers in order, and
then, to church, where my old acquaintance, that dull fellow, Meriton,
made a good sermon, and hath a strange knack of a grave, serious delivery,
which is very agreeable. After church to White Hall, and there find Sir
G. Carteret just set down to dinner, and I dined with them, as I intended,
and good company, the best people and family in the world I think. Here
was great talk of the good end that my Lord Treasurer made; closing his
owne eyes and setting his mouth, and bidding adieu with the greatest
content and freedom in the world; and is said to die with the cleanest
hands that ever any Lord Treasurer did. After dinner Sir G. Carteret and
I alone, and there, among other discourse, he did declare that he would be
content to part with his place of Treasurer of the Navy upon good terms.
I did propose my Lord Belasses as a man likely to buy it, which he
listened to, and I did fully concur and promote his design of parting with
it, for though I would have my father live, I would not have him die
Treasurer of the Navy, because of the accounts which must be uncleared at
his death, besides many other circumstances making it advisable for him to
let it go. He tells me that he fears all will come to naught in the
nation soon if the King do not mind his business, which he do not seem
likely to do. He says that the Treasury will be managed for a while by a
Commission, whereof he thinks my Lord Chancellor for the honour of it, and
my Lord Ashly, and the two Secretaries will be, and some others he knows
not. I took leave of him, and directly by water home, and there to read
the life of Mr. Hooker, which pleases me as much as any thing I have read
a great while, and by and by comes Mr. Howe to see us, and after him a
little Mr. Sheply, and so we all to talk, and, Mercer being there, we some
of us to sing, and so to supper, a great deal of silly talk. Among other
things, W. Howe told us how the Barristers and Students of Gray's Inne
rose in rebellion against the Benchers the other day, who outlawed them,
and a great deal of do; but now they are at peace again. They being gone,
I to my book again, and made an end of Mr. Hooker's Life, and so to bed.
20th. Up betimes, and comes my flagelette master to set me a new tune,
which I played presently, and shall in a month do as much as I desire at
it. He being gone, I to several businesses in my chamber, and then by
coach to the Commissioners of Excise, and so to Westminster Hall, and
there spoke with several persons I had to do with. Here among other news,
I hear that the Commissioners for the Treasury were named by the King
yesterday; but who they are nobody could tell: but the persons are the
Lord Chancellor, the two Secretaries, Lord Ashly, and others say Sir W.
Coventry and Sir John Duncomb, but all conclude the Duke of Albemarle; but
reports do differ, but will be known in a day or two. Having done my
business, I then homeward, and overtook Mr. Commander; so took him into a
coach with me, and he and I into Lincoln's Inne Fields, there to look upon
the coach-houses to see what ground is necessary for coach-house and
horses, because of that that I am going about to do, and having satisfied
myself in this he and I to Mr. Hide's to look upon the ground again behind
our house, and concluded upon his going along with us to-morrow to see
some stables, he thinking that we demand more than is necessary. So away
home, and then, I, it being a broken day, and had power by my vows, did
walk abroad, first through the Minorys, the first time I have been over
the Hill to the postern-gate, and seen the place, since the houses were
pulled down about that side of the Tower, since the fire, to find where my
young mercer with my pretty little woman to his wife lives, who lived in
Lumbard streete, and I did espy them, but took no notice now of them, but
may do hereafter. Thence down to the Old Swan, and there saw Betty
Michell, whom I have not seen since her christening. But, Lord! how
pretty she is, and looks as well as ever I saw her, and her child (which I
am fain to seem very fond of) is pretty also, I think, and will be.
Thence by water to Westminster Hall, and there walked a while talking at
random with Sir W. Doyly, and so away to Mrs. Martin's lodging, who was
gone before, expecting me, and there je hazer what je vellem cum her and
drank, and so by coach home (but I have forgot that I did in the morning
go to the Swan, and there tumbling of la little fille, son uncle did
trouver her cum su neckcloth off, which I was ashamed of, but made no
great matter of it, but let it pass with a laugh), and there spent the
evening with my wife at our flagelets, and so to supper, and after a
little reading to bed. My wife still troubled with her cold. I find it
everywhere now to be a thing doubted whether we shall have peace or no,
and the captain of one of our ships that went with the Embassadors do say,
that the seamen of Holland to his hearing did defy us, and called us
English dogs, and cried out against peace, and that the great people there
do oppose peace, though he says the common people do wish it.
21st. Up and to the office, where sat all the morning. At noon dined at
home with my wife and find a new girle, a good big girle come to us, got
by Payne to be our girle; and his daughter Nell we make our cook. This
wench's name is Mary, and seems a good likely maid. After dinner I with
Mr. Commander and Mr. Hide's brother to Lincolne's Inne Fields, and there
viewed several coach-houses, and satisfied ourselves now fully in it, and
then there parted, leaving the rest to future discourse between us. Thence
I home; but, Lord! how it went against my heart to go away from the very
door of the Duke's play-house, and my Lady Castlemayne's coach, and many
great coaches there, to see "The Siege of Rhodes." I was very near making
a forfeit, but I did command myself, and so home to my office, and there
did much business to my good content, much better than going to a play,
and then home to my wife, who is not well with her cold, and sat and read
a piece of Grand Cyrus in English by her, and then to my chamber and to
supper, and so to bed. This morning the Captain come from Holland did
tell us at the board what I have said he reported yesterday. This evening
after I come from the office Mrs. Turner come to see my wife and me, and
sit and talk with us, and so, my wife not being well and going to bed,
Mrs. Turner and I sat up till 12 at night talking alone in my chamber, and
most of our discourse was of our neighbours. As to my Lord Bruncker, she
says how Mrs. Griffin, our housekeeper's wife, hath it from his maid, that
comes to her house often, that they are very poor; that the other day Mrs.
Williams was fain to send a jewell to pawn; that their maid hath said
herself that she hath got L50 since she come thither, and L17 by the
payment of one bill; that they have a most lewd and nasty family here in
the office, but Mrs. Turner do tell me that my Lord hath put the King to
infinite charge since his coming thither in alterations, and particularly
that Mr. Harper at Deptford did himself tell her that my Lord hath had of
Foly, the ironmonger, L50 worth in locks and keys for his house, and that
it is from the fineness of them, having some of L4 and L5 a lock, such as
is in the Duke's closet; that he hath several of these; that he do keep
many of her things from her of her own goods, and would have her bring a
bill into the office for them; that Mrs. Griffin do say that he do not
keep Mrs. Williams now for love, but need, he having another whore that he
keeps in Covent Garden; that they do owe money everywhere almost for every
thing, even Mrs. Shipman for her butter and cheese about L3, and after
many demands cannot get it. Mrs. Turner says she do believe their coming
here is only out of a belief of getting purchase by it, and that their
servants (which was wittily said of her touching his clerks) do act only
as privateers, no purchase, no pay. And in my conscience she is in the
right. Then we fell to talk of Sir W. Pen, and his family and rise. She
[Mrs. Turner] says that he was a pityfull [fellow] when she first knew
them; that his lady was one of the sourest, dirty women, that ever she
saw; that they took two chambers, one over another, for themselves and
child, in Tower Hill; that for many years together they eat more meals at
her house than at their own; did call brothers and sisters the husbands
and wives; that her husband was godfather to one, and she godmother to
another (this Margaret) of their children, by the same token that she was
fain to write with her own hand a letter to Captain Twiddy, to stand for a
godfather for her; that she brought my Lady, who then was a dirty
slattern, with her stockings hanging about her heels, so that afterwards
the people of the whole Hill did say that Mrs. Turner had made Mrs. Pen a
gentlewoman, first to the knowledge of my Lady Vane, Sir Henry's lady, and
him to the knowledge of most of the great people that then he sought to,
and that in short his rise hath been his giving of large bribes, wherein,
and she agrees with my opinion and knowledge before therein, he is very
profuse. This made him General; this got him out of the Tower when he was
in; and hath brought him into what he is now, since the King's coming in:
that long ago, indeed, he would drink the King's health privately with Mr.
Turner; but that when he saw it fit to turn Roundhead, and was offered by
Mr. Turner to drink the King's health, he answered "No;" he was changed,
and now, he that would make him drink the King's health, or any health but
the Protector's and the State's, or to that purpose, he would be the first
man should sheath his sword in his guts. That at the King's coming in, he
did send for her husband, and told him what a great man Sir W. Coventry
was like to be, and that he having all the records in his hands of the
Navy, if he would transcribe what was of most present use of the practice
of the Navy, and give them him to give Sir W. Coventry from him, it would
undoubtedly do his business of getting him a principal officer's place;
that her husband was at L5 charge to get these presently writ; that Sir W.
Pen did give them Sir W. Coventry as from himself, which did set him up
with W. Coventry, and made him what he is, and never owned any thing of
Mr. Turner in them; by which he left him in the lurch, though he did
promise the Duke of Albemarle to do all that was possible, and made no
question of Mr. Turner's being what he desired; and when afterwards, too,
did propose to him the getting of the Purveyor's place for him, he did
tell Mr. Turner it was necessary to present Sir W. Coventry 100 pieces,
which he did, and W. Coventry took 80 of them: so that he was W.
Coventry's mere broker, as Sir W. Batten and my Lady did once tell my Lady
Duchess of Albemarle, in the case of Mr. Falconer, whom W. Pen made to
give W. Coventry L200 for his place of Clerk of the Rope Yard of Woolwich,
and to settle L80 a year upon his daughter Pegg, after the death of his
wife, and a gold watch presently to his wife. Mrs. Turner do tell me that
my Lady and Pegg have themselves owned to her that Sir W. Coventry and Sir
W. Pen had private marks to write to one another by, that when they in
appearance writ a fair letter in behalf of anybody, that they had a little
mark to show they meant it only in shew: this, these silly people did
confess themselves of him. She says that their son, Mr. William Pen, did
tell her that his father did observe the commanders did make their
addresses to me and applications, but they should know that his father
should be the chief of the office, and that she hath observed that Sir W.
Pen never had a kindness to her son, since W. Pen told her son that he had
applied himself to me. That his rise hath been by her and her husband's
means, and that it is a most inconceivable thing how this man can have the
face to use her and her family with the neglect that he do them. That he
was in the late war a most devilish plunderer, and that got him his
estate, which he hath in Ireland, and nothing else, and that he hath
always been a very liberal man in his bribes, that upon his coming into
this part of the Controller's business wherein he is, he did send for T.
Willson and told him how against his knowledge he was put in, and had so
little wit as to say to him, "This will make the pot boyle, will it not,
Mr. Willson? will it not make the pot boyle?" and do offer him to come in
and do his business for him, and he would reward him. This Mr. Willson
did come and tell her presently, he having been their servant, and to this
day is very faithful to them. That her husband's not being forward to
make him a bill for Rere Admirall's pay and Generall's pay both at the
same time after he was first made Generall did first give him occasion of
keeping a distance from him, since which they have never been great
friends, Pen having by degrees been continually growing higher and higher,
till now that he do wholly slight them and use them only as servants.
Upon the whole, she told me stories enough to confirm me that he is the
most false fellow that ever was born of woman, and that so she thinks and
knows him to be.