present dispute at London that is like to be at the beginning of the
Parliament, about the House of Lords, who do resolve to sit with the
Commons, as not thinking themselves dissolved yet. Which, whether it be
granted or no, or whether they will sit or no, it will bring a great many
inconveniences. His letter I keep, it being a very well writ one.
22d (Easter Sunday). Several Londoners, strangers, friends of the
Captains, dined here, who, among other things told us, how the King's Arms
are every day set up in houses and churches, particularly in Allhallows
Church in Thames-street, John Simpson's church, which being privately done
was, a great eye-sore to his people when they came to church and saw it.
Also they told us for certain, that the King's statue is making by the
Mercers' Company (who are bound to do it) to set up in the Exchange.
After sermon in the afternoon I fell to writing letters against to-morrow
to send to London. After supper to bed.
23rd. All the morning very busy getting my packet ready for London, only
for an hour or two had the Captain and Mr. Sheply in my cabin at the
barrel of pickled oysters that the Captain did give me on Saturday last.
After dinner I sent Mr. Dunn to London with the packet. This afternoon I
had 40s. given me by Captain Cowes of the Paradox.' In the evening the
first time that we had any sport among the seamen, and indeed there was
extraordinary good sport after my Lord had done playing at ninepins. After
that W. Howe and I went to play two trebles in the great cabin below,
which my Lord hearing, after supper he called for our instruments, and
played a set of Lock's, two trebles, and a base, and that being done, he
fell to singing of a song made upon the Rump, with which he played himself
well, to the tune of "The Blacksmith." After all that done, then to bed.
["The Blacksmith" was the same tune as "Green Sleeves." The
earliest known copy of "The Praise of the Blacksmith" is in "An
Antidote against Melancholy," 1661. See "Roxburghe Ballads," ed.
W. Chappell, 1872, vol. ii. p. 126. (Ballad Society:)]
24th. This morning I had Mr. Luellin and Mr. Sheply to the remainder of
my oysters that were left yesterday. After that very busy all the
morning. While I was at dinner with my Lord, the Coxon of the
Vice-Admiral came for me to the Vice-Admiral to dinner. So I told my Lord
and he gave me leave to go. I rose therefore from table and went, where
there was very many commanders, and very pleasant we were on board the
London, which hath a state-room much bigger than the Nazeby, but not so
rich. After that, with the Captain on board our own ship, where we were
saluted with the news of Lambert's being taken, which news was brought to
London on Sunday last. He was taken in Northamptonshire by Colonel
Ingoldsby, at the head of a party, by which means their whole design is
broke, and things now very open and safe. And every man begins to be
merry and full of hopes. In the afternoon my Lord gave a great large
character to write out, so I spent all the day about it, and after supper
my Lord and we had some more very good musique and singing of "Turne
Amaryllis," as it is printed in the song book, with which my Lord was very
much pleased. After that to bed.
25th. All the morning about my Lord's character. Dined to-day with
Captain Clerke on board the Speaker (a very brave ship) where was the
Vice-Admiral, Rear-Admiral, and many other commanders. After dinner home,
not a little contented to see how I am treated, and with what respect made
a fellow to the best commanders in the Fleet. All the afternoon finishing
of the character, which I did and gave it my Lord, it being very
handsomely done and a very good one in itself, but that not truly
Alphabetical. Supped with Mr. Sheply, W. Howe, &c. in Mr. Pierce, the
Purser's cabin, where very merry, and so to bed. Captain Isham came
hither to-day.
26th. This day came Mr. Donne back from London, who brought letters with
him that signify the meeting of the Parliament yesterday. And in the
afternoon by other letters I hear, that about twelve of the Lords met and
had chosen my Lord of Manchester' Speaker of the House of Lords (the young
Lords that never sat yet, do forbear to sit for the present); and Sir
Harbottle Grimstone, Speaker for the House of Commons. The House of Lords
sent to have a conference with the House of Commons, which, after a little
debate, was granted. Dr. Reynolds' preached before the Commons before
they sat. My Lord told me how Sir H. Yelverton (formerly my
school-fellow) was chosen in the first place for Northamptonshire and Mr.
Crew in the second. And told me how he did believe that the Cavaliers
have now the upper hand clear of the Presbyterians. All the afternoon I
was writing of letters, among the rest one to W. Simons, Peter Luellin and
Tom Doling, which because it is somewhat merry I keep a copy of. After
that done Mr. Sheply, W. Howe and I down with J. Goods into my Lord's
storeroom of wine and other drink, where it was very pleasant to observe
the massy timbers that the ship is made of. We in the room were wholly
under water and yet a deck below that. After that to supper, where Tom
Guy supped with us, and we had very good laughing, and after that some
musique, where Mr. Pickering beginning to play a bass part upon the viall
did it so like a fool that I was ashamed of him. After that to bed.
27th. This morning Burr was absent again from on board, which I was
troubled at, and spoke to Mr. Pierce, Purser, to speak to him of it, and
it is my mind. This morning Pim [the tailor] spent in my cabin, putting a
great many ribbons to a suit. After dinner in the afternoon came on board
Sir Thomas Hatton and Sir R. Maleverer going for Flushing; but all the
world know that they go where the rest of the many gentlemen go that every
day flock to the King at Breda.
[The King arrived at Breda on the 14th April. Sir W. Lower writes
("Voiage and Residence of Charles II. in Holland," p. 5): "Many
considerations obliged him to depart the territories under the
obedience of the King of Spain in this conjuncture of affairs."]
They supped here, and my Lord treated them as he do the rest that go
thither, with a great deal of civility. While we were at supper a packet
came, wherein much news from several friends. The chief is that, that I
had from Mr. Moore, viz. that he fears the Cavaliers in the House will be
so high, that the others will be forced to leave the House and fall in
with General Monk, and so offer things to the King so high on the
Presbyterian account that he may refuse, and so they will endeavour some
more mischief; but when I told my Lord it, he shook his head and told me,
that the Presbyterians are deceived, for the General is certainly for the
King's interest, and so they will not be able to prevail that way with
him. After supper the two knights went on board the Grantham, that is to
convey them to Flushing. I am informed that the Exchequer is now so low,
that there is not L20 there, to give the messenger that brought the news
of Lambert's being taken; which story is very strange that he should lose
his reputation of being a man of courage now at one blow, for that he was
not able to fight one stroke, but desired of Colonel Ingoldsby several
times for God's sake to let him escape. Late reading my letters, my mind
being much troubled to think that, after all our hopes, we should have any
cause to fear any more disappointments therein. To bed. This day I made
even with Mr. Creed, by sending him my bill and he me my money by Burr
whom I sent for it.
28th. This morning sending a packet by Mr. Dunne to London. In the
afternoon I played at ninepins with Mr. Pickering, I and Mr. Pett against
him and Ted Osgood, and won a crown apiece of him. He had not money
enough to pay me. After supper my Lord exceeding merry, and he and I and
W. Howe to sing, and so to bed.
29th (Sunday). This day I put on first my fine cloth suit made of a cloak
that had like to have been [dirted] a year ago, the very day that I put it
on. After sermon in the morning Mr. Cook came from London with a packet,
bringing news how all the young lords that were not in arms against the
Parliament do now sit. That a letter is come from the King to the House,
which is locked up by the Council 'till next Tuesday that it may be read
in the open House when they meet again, they having adjourned till then to
keep a fast tomorrow. And so the contents is not yet known. L13,000 of
the L20,000 given to General Monk is paid out of the Exchequer, he giving
L12 among the teller clerks of Exchequer. My Lord called me into the
great cabin below, where I opened my letters and he told me that the
Presbyterians are quite mastered by the Cavaliers, and that he fears Mr.
Crew did go a little too far the other day in keeping out the young lords
from sitting. That he do expect that the King should be brought over
suddenly, without staying to make any terms at all, saying that the
Presbyterians did intend to have brought him in with such conditions as if
he had been in chains. But he shook his shoulders when he told me how
Monk had betrayed him, for it was he that did put them upon standing to
put out the lords and other members that came not within the
qualifications, which he [Montagu] did not like, but however he [Monk] had
done his business, though it be with some kind of baseness. After dinner
I walked a great while upon the deck with the chyrurgeon and purser, and
other officers of the ship, and they all pray for the King's coming, which
I pray God send.
30th. All the morning getting instructions ready for the Squadron of
ships that are going to-day to the Streights, among others Captain
Teddiman, Curtis, and Captain Robert Blake to be commander of the whole
Squadron. After dinner to ninepins, W. Howe and I against Mr. Creed and
the Captain. We lost 5s. apiece to them. After that W. Howe, Mr. Sheply
and I got my Lord's leave to go to see Captain Sparling. So we took boat
and first went on shore, it being very pleasant in the fields; but a very
pitiful town Deal is. We went to Fuller's (the famous place for ale), but
they have none but what was in the vat. After that to Poole's, a tavern
in the town, where we drank, and so to boat again, and went to the
Assistance, where we were treated very civilly by the Captain, and he did
give us such music upon the harp by a fellow that he keeps on board that I
never expect to hear the like again, yet he is a drunken simple fellow to
look on as any I ever saw. After that on board the Nazeby, where we found
my Lord at supper, so I sat down and very pleasant my Lord was with Mr.
Creed and Sheply, who he puzzled about finding out the meaning of the
three notes which my Lord had cut over the chrystal of his watch. After
supper some musique. Then Mr. Sheply, W. Howe and I up to the
Lieutenant's cabin, where we drank, and I and W. Howe were very merry, and
among other frolics he pulls out the spigot of the little vessel of ale
that was there in the cabin and drew some into his mounteere, and after he
had drank, I endeavouring to dash it in his face, he got my velvet
studying cap and drew some into mine too, that we made ourselves a great
deal of mirth, but spoiled my clothes with the ale that we dashed up and
down. After that to bed very late with drink enough in my head.
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
Cavaliers have now the upper hand clear of the Presbyterians
Resolve to have the doing of it himself, or else to hinder it
Strange thing how I am already courted by the people