15th. A conference between the two Houses today; so I stayed:

and it was only to tell the Commons that the Lords' cannot agree

to the confining or sequestring of the Earle of Clarendon from

the Parliament, forasmuch as they do not specify any particular

crime which they lay upon him and call Treason. This the House

did receive, and so parted: at which, I hear the Commons are

like to grow very high, and will insist upon their privileges,

and the Lords will own theirs, though the Duke of Buckingham,

Bristoll, and others have been very high in the House of Lords to

have had him committed. This is likely to breed ill blood. The

King hath (as Mr. Moore says Sir Thomas Crewe told him) been

heard to say that the quarrel is not between my Lord Chancellor

and him, but his brother and him; which will make sad work among

us if that be once promoted, as to be sure it will, Buckingham

and Bristoll being now the only counsel the King follows, so as

Arlington and Coventry are come to signify little. He tells me

they are likely to fall upon my Lord Sandwich; but for my part

sometimes I am apt to think they cannot do him much harm, he

telling me that there is no great fear of the business of

Resumption. This day Poundy the waterman was with me, to let me

know that he was summoned to bear witness against me to Prince

Rupert's people (who have a commission to look after the business

of prize-goods), about the business of the prize-goods I was

concerned in: but I did desire him to speak all he knew, and not

to spare me, nor did promise nor give him any thing, but sent him

away with good words.

16th. Met Mr. Gregory, my old acquaintance, an understanding

gentleman; and he and I walked an hour together, talking of the

bad prospect of the times. And the sum of what I learn from him

is this: That the King is the most concerned in the world

against the Chancellor and all people that do not appear against

him, and therefore is angry with the Bishops, having said that he

had one Bishop on his side (Crofts), [Herbert Croft, Dean of

Hereford, elected Bishop of that see 1661.] and but one: that

Buckingham and Bristoll are now his only Cabinet Counsel; and

that, before the Duke of York fell sick, Buckingham was admitted

to the King of his Cabinet, and there stayed with him several

hours, and the Duke of York shut out. That it is plain that

there is dislike between the King and Duke of York, and that it

is to be feared that the House will go so far against the

Chancellor, that they must do something to undo the Duke of York,

or will not think themselves safe. That this Lord Vaughan that is

so great against the Chancellor, is one of the lewdest fellows of

the age, worse than Sir Charles Sedley; and that he was heard to

swear he would do my Lord Clarendon's business. [John Lord

Vaughan, eldest surviving son to Richard Earl of Carbery, whom he

succeeded. He was well versed in literature, and President of

the Royal Society from 1686 to 1689, and had been Governor of

Jamaica. He was amongst Dryden's earliest patrons Ob. 1712-13.]

That he do find that my Lord Clarendon hath more friends in both

Houses than he believes he would have, by reason that they do see

what are the hands that pull him down; which they do not like.

That Harry Coventry was scolded at by the King severely the other

day; and that his answer was, that if he must not speak what he

thought in this business in Parliament, he must not come thither.

And he says that by this very business Harry Coventry hath got

more fame and common esteem than any gentleman in England hath at

this day, and is an excellent and able person. That the King,

who not long ago did say of Bristoll, that he was a man able in

three years to get himself a fortune in any kingdom in the world,

and lose all again in three months, do now hug him and commend

his parts every where, above all the world. How fickle is this

man, and how unhappy we like to be! That he fears some furious

courses will be taken against the Duke of York; and that he hath

heard that it was designed, if they cannot carry matters against

the Chancellor, to impeach the Duke of York himself; which God

forbid! That Sir Edward Nicholas, whom he served while

Secretary, is one of the best men in the world, but hated by the

Queene-Mother, (for a service he did the old King against her

mind and her favourites;) and that she and my Lady Castlemaine

did make the King to lay him aside: but this man says that he is

one of the most heavenly and charitable men in the whole world.

That the House of Commons resolve to stand by their proceedings,

and have chosen a Committee to draw up the reason thereof to

carry to the Lords; which is likely to breed great heat between

them. That the Parliament, after all this, is likely to give the

King no money; and therefore, that it is to be wondered what

makes the King give way to so great extravagancies, which do all

tend to the making him less than he is, and so will every day

more and more: and by this means every creature is divided

against the other, that there never was so great an uncertainty

in England, of what would be the event of things, as at this

day; nobody being at ease, or safe. To White Hall; and there got

into the theatre room, and there heard both the vocall and

instrumentall musick. Here was the King and Queene, and some of

the ladies; among whom none more jolly than my Lady Buckingham,

her Lord being once more a great man.

19th. I was told this day that Lory Hide, [Laurence Hyde, Master

of the Robes, afterwards created Earl of Rochester.] second son

of my Lord Chancellor, did some time since in the House say, that

if he thought his father was guilty but of one of the things then

said against him, he would be the first that should call for

judgement against him: which Mr. Waller the poet did say was

spoke like the old Roman, like Brutus, for its greatness and

worthiness.

20th. This afternoon Mr. Mills told me how fully satisfactory my

first Report was to the House in the business of Chatham: which

I am glad to hear; and the more, for that I know that he is a

great creature of Sir R. Brookes's.

21st. Among other things of news I do hear, that upon the

reading of the House of Commons' Reasons of the manner of their

proceedings in the business of my Lord Chancellor, the Reasons

were so bad, that my Lord Bristoll himself did declare that he

would not stand, to what he had and did still advise the Lords to

concur to, upon any of the Reasons of the House of Commons; but

if it was put to the question whether it should be done on their

Reasons, he would be against them: and indeed it seems the

Reasons, however they come to escape the House of Commons (which

shows how slightly the greatest matters are done in this world,

and even in Parliaments), were none of them of strength, but the

principle of them untrue; they saying, that where any man is

brought before a Judge accused of Treason in general, without

specifying the particular, the Judge is obliged to commit him.

The question being put by the Lords to my Lord Keeper, he said

that quite the contrary was true. And then in the Sixth Article

(I will get a copy of them if I can) there are two or three

things strangely asserted to the diminishing of the King's power,

as is said at least; things that heretofore would not have been

heard of. But then the question being put among the Lords, as my

Lord Bristoll advised, whether, upon the whole matter and Reasons

that had been laid before them, they would commit my Lord

Clarendon, it was carried five to one against it; there being but

three Bishops against him, of whom Cosens [John Cosins, Master of

Peter House and Dean of Peterborough in the time of Charles I.;

afterwards Bishop of Durham. Ob. 1671-2, aged 78.] and Dr.

Reynolds [Edward Reynolds, Bishop of Norwich. Ob. 1676.] were

two, and I know not the third. This made the opposite Lords, as

Bristoll and Buckingham, so mad that they declared and protested

against it, speaking very broad that there was mutiny and

rebellion in the hearts of the Lords, and that they desired they

might enter their dissents, which they did do in great fury. So

that upon the Lords sending to the Commons, as I am told, to have

a conference for them to give their answer to the Commons'

Reasons, the Commons did desire a free conference: but the Lords

do deny it; and the reason is, that they hold not the Commons any

Court, but that themselves only are a Court, and the Chief Court

of Judicature, and therefore are not to dispute the laws and

method of their own Court with them that are none, and so will

not submit so much as to have their power disputed. And it is

conceived that much of this eagerness among the Lords do arise

from the fear some of them have that they may be dealt with in

the same manner themselves, and therefore to stand upon it now.

It seems my Lord Clarendon hath, as is said and believed, had his

coach and horses several times in his coach, ready to carry him

to the Tower, expecting a message to that purpose; but by this

means his case is like to be laid by. With Creed to a Tavern,

where Dean Wilkins and others: and good discourse; among the

rest, of a man that is a little frantic (that hath been a kind of

Minister, Dr. Wilkins saying that he hath read for him in his

church), that is poor and a debauched man, that the College have

hired for 20s. to have some of the blood of a sheep let into his

body; and it is to be done on Saturday next. They purpose to let

in about twelve ounces; which, they compute, is what will be let

in in a minute's time by a watch. On this occasion Dr. Whistler

told a pretty story related by Muffett, a good author, of Dr.

Cayus that built Caius College; that being very old, and living

only at that time upon woman's milk, he, while he fed upon the

milk of an angry fretful woman, was so himself; and then being

advised to take it of a good-natured patient woman, he did become

so beyond the common temper of his age.

22nd. Met with Cooling, my Lord Chamberlain's Secretary, and

from him learn the truth of all I heard last night; and

understand further, that this stiffness of the Lords is in no

manner of kindness to my Lord Chancellor, for he neither hath,

nor do, nor for the future can oblige any of them, but rather the

contrary; but that they do fear what the consequence may be to

themselves, should they yield in his case, as many of them have

reason. And more, he showed me how this is rather to the wrong

and prejudice of my Lord Chancellor, for that it is better for

him to come to be tried before the Lords, where he can have right

and make interest, than, when the Parliament is up, be committed

by the King, and tried by a Court on purpose made by the King of

what Lords the King pleases, who have a mind to have his head.

So that my Lord Cornbury himself, his son, (he tells me,) hath

moved that if they have Treason against my Lord of Clarendon,

that they would specify it and send it up to the Lords, that he

might come to his trial; so full of intrigues this business is!

Walked a good while in the Temple church, observing the plainness

of Selden's tomb, and how much better one of his executors hath,

who is buried by him.

23rd. Busy till late preparing things to fortify myself and

fellows against the Parliament; and particularly myself against

what I fear is thought, that I have suppressed the Order of the

Board by which the discharging the great ships at Chatham by

tickets was directed; whereas, indeed, there was no such Order.

25th. This morning Sir W. Pen tells me that the house was very

hot on Saturday last upon the business of liberty of speech in

the House and damned the vote in the beginning of the Long-

Parliament against it; so that he fears that there may be some

bad thing which they have a mind to broach, which they dare not

do without more security than they now have. God keep us, for

things look mighty ill!

26th. This evening comes to me to my closet at the office Sir

John Chichly, of his own accord, to tell me what he shall answer

to the Committee, when, as he expects, he shall be examined about

my Lord Sandwich; which is so little as will not hurt my Lord at

all, I know.

27th. Mr. Pierce comes to me, and there in general tells me, how

the King is now fallen in and become a slave to the Duke of

Buckingham, led by none but him, whom he (Mr. Pierce) swears he

knows do hate the very person of the King, and would as well, as

will certainly, ruin him. He do say, and I think is right, that

the King do in this do the most ungrateful part of a master to a

servant that ever was done, in this carriage of his to my Lord

Chancellor: that it may be the Chancellor may have faults, but

none such as these they speak of; that he do now really fear that

all is going to ruin, for he says he hears that Sir W. Coventry

hath been just before his sickness with the Duke of York, to ask

his forgiveness and peace for what he had done; for that he never

could foresee that what he meant so well, in the counselling to

lay by the Chancellor, should come to this.

30th. To Arundell House, to the election of officers [Of the

Royal Society.] for the next year; where I was near being chosen

of the Council, but am glad I was not, for I could not have

attended, though above all things I could wish it; and do take it

as a mighty respect to have been named there. Then to Cary

House, a house now of entertainment, next my Lord Ashly's; where

I have heretofore heard Common Prayer in the time of Dr. Mossum.

[Probably Robert Massum, D.D., Dean of Christ Church, Dublin; and

in 1666 made Bishop of Derry.] I was pleased to see the person

who had his blood taken out. He speaks well, and did this day

give the Society a relation thereof in Latin, saying that he

finds himself much better since, and as a new man; but he is

cracked a little in his head, though he speaks very reasonably,

and very well. He had but 20s. for his suffering it, and is to

have the same again tried upon him: the first sound man that

ever had it tried on him in England, and but one that we hear of

in France. My Lord Anglesy told me this day that he did believe

the House of Commons would the next week yield to the Lords; but

speaking with others this day, they conclude they will not, but

that rather the King will accommodate it by committing my Lord

Clarendon himself. I remember what Mr. Evelyn said, that he did

believe we should soon see ourselves fall into a Commonwealth

again.

DECEMBER 1, 1667. I to church: and in our pew there sat a great

lady, whom I afterwards understood to be my Lady Carlisle, [Anne,

daughter of Edward Lord Howard of Escrick, wife to Charles first

Earl of Carlisle.] a very fine woman indeed in person.

2nd. The Lords' answer is come down to the Commons, that they

are not satisfied in the Commons reasons; and so the Commons are

hot, and like to sit all day upon the business what to do herein,

most thinking that they will remonstrate against the Lords.

Thence to Lord Crewe's, and there dined with him; where, after

dinner, he took me aside and bewailed the condition of the

nation, now the King and his brother are at a distance about this

business of the Chancellor, and the two houses differing: and he

do believe that there are so many about the King like to be

concerned and troubled by the Parliament, that they will get him

to dissolve or prorogue the Parliament; and the rather, for that

the King is likely by this good husbandry of the Treasury to get

out of debt, and the Parliament is likely to give no money.

Among other things, my Lord Crewe did tell me with grief that he

hears that the King of late hath not dined nor supped with the

Queene, as he used of late to do. To Westminster Hall, where my

cosen Roger tells me of the high vote of the Commons this

afternoon, that the proceedings of the Lords in the case of my

Lord Clarendon are an obstruction to justice, and of ill

precedent to future times.

3rd. To Sir W. Coventry's, the first time I have seen him at his

new house since he came to lodge there. He tells me of the vote

for none of the House to be of the Commission for the Bill of

Accounts; which he thinks is so great a disappointment to Birch

and others that expected to be of it, that he thinks, could it

have been seen, there would not have been any Bill at all. We

hope it will be the better for all that are to account; it being

likely that the men, being few and not of the House will hear

reason. The main business I went about was about Gilsthrop, Sir

W. Batten's clerk; who being upon his death-bed, and now dead,

hath offered to make discoveries of the disorders of the Navy and

of 65,000l. damage to the King: which made mighty note in the

Commons House; and members appointed to go to him, which they

did; but nothing to the purpose got from him, but complaints of

false musters, and ships being refitted with victuals and stores

at Plymouth after they were fitted from other ports. But all

this to no purpose, nor more than we know and will owne. But the

best is, that this logger-head should say this, that understands

nothing of the Navy, nor ever would; and hath particularly

blemished his master by name among us. I told Sir W. Coventry of

my letter to Sir R. Brookes, and his answer to me. He advises

me, in what I write to him, to be as short as I can, and obscure,

saving in things fully plain; for that all that he do is to make

mischief; and that the greatest wisdom in dealing with the

Parliament in the world is to say little, and let them get out

what they can by force: which I shall observe. He declared to

me much of his mind to be ruled by his own measures, and not to

go so far as many would have him to the ruin of my Lord

Chancellor, and for which they do endeavour to do what they can

against Sir W. Coventry. "But," says he, "I have done my do in

helping to get him out of the administration of things, for which

he is not fit; but for his life or estate I will have nothing to

say to it: besides that, my duty to my master the Duke of York

is such, that I will perish before I will do any thing to

displease or disoblige him, where the very necessity of the

kingdom do not in my judgment call me." Home; and there met W.

Batelier, who tells me the first great, news, that my Lord

Chancellor is fled this day, and left a paper behind him for the

House of Lords, telling them the reason of his retiring,

complaining of a design for his ruin. But the paper I must get:

only the thing at present is great, and will put the King and

Commons to some new counsels certainly. Sir Richard Ford told us

this evening an odd story of the basenesse of the Lord Mayor, Sir

W. Bolton, in cheating the poor of the City (out of the

collections made for the people that were burned) of 1800l.; of

which he can give no account, and in which he hath forsworn

himself plainly, so as the Court of Aldermen have sequestered him

from their Court till he do bring in an account. He says also

that this day hath been made appear to them that the Keeper of

Newgate hath at this day made his house the only nursery of

rogues, prostitutes, pickpockets and thieves, in the world; where

they were bred and entertained and the whole society met; and

that for the sake of the Sheriffes they durst not this day commit

him, for fear of making him let out the prisoners but are fain to

go by artifice to deal with him. He tells me also, speaking of

the new street that is to be made from Guild Hall down to

Cheapside, that the ground is already most of it bought. And

tells me of one particular, of a man that hath a piece of ground

lying in the very middle of the street that must be; which, when

the street is cut out of it, there will remain ground enough, of

each side, to build a house to front the street. He demanded

700l. for the ground, and to be excused paying any thing for the

melioration of the rest of his ground that he was to keep. The

Court consented to give him 700l., only not to abate him the

consideration: which the man denied; but told them, and so they

agreed, that he would excuse the City the 700l., that he might

have the benefit of the melioration without paying any thing for

it. So much some will get by having the City burned! Ground by

this means, that was not worth 4d. a-foot before, will now, when

houses are built, be worth 15s. a-foot. But he tells me of the

common standard now reckoned on between man and man, in places

where there is no alteration of circumstances, but only the

houses burnt, there the ground, which with a house on it did

yield 100l. a year, is now reputed worth 33l. 6s. 8d.; and that

this is the common market-price between one man and another, made

upon a good and moderate medium.

4th. I hear that the House of Lords did send down the paper

which my Lord Clarendon left behind him, directed to the Lords,

to be seditious and scandalous; and the Commons have voted that

it be burned by the hands of the hangman, and that the King be

desired to agree to it. I do hear also that they have desired

the King to use means to stop his escape out of the nation. This

day Gilsthrop is buried, who hath made all the late discourse of

the great discovery of 65,000l. of which the King hath been

wronged.

6th. With Sir J. Minnes to the Duke of York, the first time that

I have seen him, or we waited on him, since his sickness: and

blessed be God, he is not at all the worse for the small-pox, but

is only a little weak yet. We did much business with him, and so

parted. My Lord Anglesy told me how my Lord Northampton [James

third Earl of Northampton, Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, and

constable of the Tower, Ob. 1681.] brought in a Bill into the

House of Lords yesterday, under the name of a Bill for the Honour

and Privilege of the House, and Mercy to my Lord Clarendon:

which, he told me, he opposed, saying that he was a man accused

of treason by the House of Commons, and mercy was not proper for

him, having not been tried yet, and so no mercy needful for him.

However, the Duke of Buckingham and others did desire that the

Bill, might be read; and it was for banishing my Lord Clarendon

from all his Majesty's dominions, and that it should be treason

to have him found in any of them: the thing is only a thing of

vanity, and to insult over him. By and by home with Sir J.

Minnes, who tells me that my Lord Clarendon did go away in a

Custom-house boat, and is now at Callis: and, I confess, nothing

seems to hang more heavy than his leaving of this unfortunate

paper behind him, that hath angered both Houses, and hath, I

think, reconciled them in that which otherwise would have broke

them in pieces: so that I do hence, and from Sir W. Coventry's

late example and doctrine to me, learn that on these sorts of

occasions there is nothing like silence; it being seldom any

wrong to a man to say nothing, but for the most part it is to say

any thing. Sir J. Minnes told me a story of Lord Cottington,

who, wanting a son, intended to make his nephew his heir, a

country boy; but did alter his mind upon the boy's being

persuaded by another young heir (in roguery) to crow like a cock

at my Lord's table, much company being there, and the boy having

a great trick at doing that perfectly. My Lord bade them take

away that fool from the table, and so gave over the thoughts of

making him his heir from this piece of folly. Captain Cocke

comes to me; and, among other discourse, tells me that he is told

that an impeachment against Sir W. Coventry will be brought in

very soon. He tells me that even those that are against my Lord

Chancellor and the Court in the House, do not trust nor agree one

with another. He tells me that my Lord Chancellor went away

about ten at night, on Saturday last, at Westminster; and took

boat at Westminster, and thence by a vessel to Callis, where he

believes he now is; and that the Duke of York and Mr. Wren knew

of it, and that himself did know of it on Sunday morning: that

on Sunday his coach, and people about it, went to Twittenham, and

the world thought that he had been there: that nothing but this

unhappy paper hath undone him, and that he doubts that this paper

hath lost him every where: that his withdrawing do reconcile

things so far as, he thinks, the heat of their fury will be over,

and that all will be made well between the two brothers: that

Holland do endeavour to persuade the King of France to break

peace with us: that the Dutch will, without doubt, have sixty

sail of ships out the next year: so knows not what will become

of us, but hopes the Parliament will find money for us to have a

fleet.

7th. Somebody told me this day that they hear that Thomson with

the wooden leg, and Wildman, the Fifth-Monarchy man (a great

creature of the Duke of Buckingham's), are in nomination to be

Commissioners, among others, upon the Bill of Accounts.

8th. To White Hall, where I saw the Duchesse of York (in a fine

dress of second mourning for her mother, being black edged with

ermin) go to make her first visit to the Queene since the Duke of

York's being sick; and by and by she being returned, the Queene

came and visited her. But it was pretty to observe that Sir W.

Coventry and I walking an hour and more together in the Matted

Gallery, he observed, and so did I, how the Duchesse, soon as she

spied him, turned her head a' one side. Here he and I walked

thus long, which we have not done a great while before. Our

discourse was upon every thing: the unhappiness of having our

matters examined by people that understand them not; that it is

better for us in the Navy to have men that do understand the

whole, and that are not passionate; that we that have taken the

most pains are called upon to answer for all crimes, while those

that, like Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, did sit and do

nothing, do lie still without any trouble: that if it were to

serve the King and kingdom again in a war, neither of us could do

more, though upon this experience we might do better than we did:

that the commanders, the gentlemen that could never be brought to

order, but undid all, are now the men that find fault and abuse

others: that it had been much better for the King to have given

Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten 1000l. a-year to have sat still,

than to have had them in this business this war: that the

serving a prince that minds not his business is most unhappy for

them that serve him well, and an unhappiness so great that he

declares he will never have more to do with a war under him.

That he hath papers which do flatly contradict the Duke of

Albemarle's Narrative; and that he hath been with the Duke of

Albemarle and showed him them, to prevent his falling into

another like fault: that the Duke of Albemarle seems to be able

to answer them; but he thinks that the Duke of Albemarle and the

Prince are contented to let their Narratives sleep, they being

not only contradictory in some things (as he observed about the

business of the Duke of Albemarle's being to follow the Prince

upon the dividing the fleet in case the enemy come out), but

neither of them to be maintained in others. That the business

the other night of my Lord Anglesy at the Council was happily got

over for my Lord, by his dexterous silencing it, and the rest not

urging it further; forasmuch as had the Duke of Buckingham come

in time enough and had got it by the end, he would have touched

him in it; Sir W. Coventry telling me that my Lord Anglesy did

with such impudence maintain the quarrel against the Commons and

some of the Lords, in the business of my Lord Clarendon, that he

believes there are enough would be glad but of this occasion to

be revenged of him. He tells me that he hears some of the

Thomsons are like to be of the Commission for the Accounts, and

Wildman, which he much wonders at, as having been a false fellow

to every body, and in prison most of the time since the King's

coming in. But he do tell me that the House is in such a

condition that nobody can tell what to make of them, and, he

thinks, they were never in before; that every body leads, and

nobody follows; and that he do now think that, since a great many

are defeated in their expectation of being of the Commission, now

they would put it into such hands as it shall get no credit from:

for if they do look to the bottom and see the King's case, they

think they are then bound to give the King money; whereas they

would be excused from that, and therefore endeavour to make this

business of the Accounts to signify little. Comes Captain Cocke

to me; and there he tells me, to my great satisfaction, that Sir

Robert Brookes did dine with him to-day; and that he told him,

speaking of me, that he would make me the darling of the House of

Commons, so much he is satisfied concerning me. And this Cocke

did tell me that I might give him thanks for it; and I do think

it may do me good, for he do happen to be held a considerable

person, of a young man, both for sobriety and ability.

9th. Comes Sir G. Carteret to talk with me, who seems to think

himself safe as to his particular, but do doubt what will become

of the whole kingdom, things being so broke in pieces. He tells

me that the King himself did the other day very particularly tell

the whole story of my Lord Sandwich's not following the Dutch

ships, with which he is charged; and shows the reasons of it to

be the only good course he could have taken, and do discourse it

very knowingly. This I am glad of, though, as the King is now,

his favour, for aught I see, serves very little in stead at this

day, but rather is an argument against a man; and the King do not

concern himself to relieve or justify any body, but is wholly

negligent of every body's concernment.

10th. The King did send a message to the House to-day that he

would adjourn them on the 17th instant to February; by which

time, at least, I shall have more respite to prepare things on my

own behalf and the office, against their return.

11th. I met Harris the player, and talked of "Catiline," which

is to be suddenly acted at the King's house; and there all agree

that it cannot be well done at that house, there not being good

actors enough: and Burt [Davies, says Burt, ranked in the list

of good actors without possessing superior talents.--DRAMATIC

MISCELLANIES.] acts Cicero, which they all conclude he will not

be able to do well. The King gives them 500l. for robes, there

being, as they say, to be sixteen scarlet robes. Comes Sir W.

Warren [I have been recently informed that Charles II., April 12,

1662, knighted a rich tradesman of Wapping, named WILLIAM WARREN;

and there is still in that parish a place called "SIR WILLIAM

WARREN'S SQUARE," perhaps built on the site of the knight's

residence.] to talk about some business of his and mine: and

he, I find, would have me not to think that the Parliament, in

the mind they are in, and having so many good offices in their

view to dispose of, will leave any of the King's officers in, but

will rout all, though I am likely to escape as well as any, if any

can escape. And I think he is in the right, and I do look for it

accordingly.

12th. My bookseller did give me a list of the twenty who were

mentioned for the Commission in Parliament for the Accounts: and

it is strange that of the twenty the Parliament could not think

fit to choose their nine, but were fain to add three that were

not in the list of the twenty, they being many of them factious

people and ringleaders in the late troubles; so that Sir John

Talbot did fly out and was very hot in the business of Wildman's

being named, and took notice how he was entertained in the bosom

of the Duke of Buckingham, a Privy-counsellor; and that it was

fit to be observed by the House, and punished. The men that I

know of the nine I like very well; that is, Mr. Pierrepoint, Lord

Brereton, [William, third Lord Brereton, of Leaghlin in Ireland,

M.P. for Cheshire, where he possessed an estate which he disposed

of on account of the exigences of the times, and his father's

losses in the cause of Charles I. He was educated at Breda, and

was an accomplished and amiable nobleman, and one of the Founders

of the Royal Society, Ob. 1679.] and Sir William Turner; and I

do think the rest are so too, but such as will not be able to do

this business as it ought to be to do any good with. Here I did

also see their votes against my Lord Chief Justice Keeling, that

his proceedings were illegal, and that he was a contemner of

Magna Charta, the great preserver of our lives, freedoms and

properties, and an introduction to arbitrary government; which is

very high language, and of the same sound with that in the year

1640. This day my Lord Chancellor's letter was burned at the

'Change.

13th. To Westminster, to the Parliament-door, to speak with

Roger: and here I saw my Lord Keeling go into the House to the

bar, to have his business heard by the whole House to-day; and a

great crowd of people to stare upon him. Here I hear that the

Lord's Bill for banishing and disabling my Lord Clarendon from

bearing any office, or being in the King's dominions, and it

being made felony for any to correspond with him but his own

children, is brought to the Commons; but they will not agree to

it, being not satisfied with that as sufficient, but will have a

Bill of Attainder brought in against him: but they make use of

this against the Lords, that they that would not think there was

cause enough to commit him without hearing, will have him

banished without hearing. By and by comes out my cosen Roger to

me, he being not willing to be in the House at the business of my

Lord Keeling, lest he should be called upon to complain against

him for his abusing him at Cambridge. Among other news it is now

fresh that the King of Portugall is deposed, and his brother made

King; and that my Lord Sandwich is gone from Madrid with great

honour to Lisbon, to make up at this juncture a peace to the

advantage, as the Spaniard would have it, of Spain. I wish it

may be for my Lord's honour, if it be so; but it seems my Lord is

in mighty estimation in Spain. With my cosen Roger to

Westminster Hall; and there we met the House rising: and they

have voted my Lord Chief Justice Keeling's proceedings illegal;

but that out of particular respect to him and the mediation of a

great many, they have resolved to proceed no further against him.

16th. To Westminster, where I find the House mighty busy upon a

petition against my Lord Gerard, which lays heavy things to his

charge, of his abusing the King in his Guards; and very hot the

House is upon it.

17th. This day I do hear at White Hall that the Duke of Monmouth

is sick, and in danger of the small-pox.

19th. To the office, where Commissioner Middleton first took his

place at the Board as Surveyor of the Navy; and indeed I think

will be an excellent officer, I am sure much beyond what his

predecessor was. This evening the King by message (which he

never did before) hath passed several Bills, among others that

for the Accounts and for banishing my Lord Chancellor, and hath

adjourned the House to February; at which I am glad, hoping in

this time to get leisure to state my Tangier Accounts, and to

prepare better for the Parliament's enquiries. Here I hear how

the House of Lords with great severity, if not tyranny, have

proceeded against poor Carr, who only erred in the manner of the

presenting his petition against my Lord Gerard, it being first

printed before it was presented: which was, it seems, by

Colonell Sands's going into the country, into whose hands he had

put it: the poor man is ordered to stand in the pillory two or

three times, and to have his eares cut, and be imprisoned I know

not how long. But it is believed that the Commons, when they

meet, will not be well pleased with it; and they have no reason,

I think.

21st. The Nonconformists are mighty high, and their meetings

frequented and connived at; and they do expect to have their day

now soon; for my Lord of Buckingham is a declared friend to them,

and even to the Quakers, who had very good words the other day

from the King himself: and, what is more, the Archbishop of

Canterbury [Gilbert Sheldon.] is called no more to the Caball,

nor, by the way, Sir W. Coventry: which I am sorry for, the

Caball at present being, as he says, the King, and Duke of

Buckingham, and Lord Keeper, the Duke of Albemarle, and Privy

Seale. The Bishops differing from the King in the late business

in the House of Lords, have caused this and what is like to

follow, for every body is encouraged now-a-days to speak, and

even to preach (as I have heard one of them), as bad things

against them as ever in the year 1640; which is a strange change.

23rd. I to the Exchange; and there I saw Carr stand in the

pillory for the business of my Lord Gerard; and there hear by

Creed that the Bishops of Winchester [George Morley.] and of

Rochester, [John Dolben.] and the Dean of the Chapel, and some

other great prelates, are suspended: and a cloud upon the

Archbishop ever since the late business in the House of Lords;

and I believe it will be a heavy blow to the Clergy.

24th. By coach to St. James's, it being about six at night; my

design being to see the ceremonys, this night being the eve of

Christmas, at the Queene's chapel. I got in almost up to the

rail, and with a good deal of patience staid from nine at night

to two in the morning in a very great crowd: and there expected

but found nothing extraordinary, there being nothing but a high

masse. The Queene was there, and some high-ladies. All being

done, I was sorry for my coming, and missing of what I expected;

which was, to have had a child born and dressed there, and a

great deal of do; but we broke up, and nothing like it done. And

there I left people receiving the Sacrament: and the Queene

gone, and ladies; only my Lady Castlemaine, who looked prettily

in her night-clothes. And so took my coach, which waited; and

drank some burnt wine at the Rose Tavern door while the

constables came, and two or three bellmen went by, it being a

fine light moonshine morning: and so home round the City.

26th. With my wife to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The

Surprizall;" [A comedy, by Sir Robert Howard.] which did not

please me to-day, the actors not pleasing me; and especially

Nell's acting of a serious part, which she spoils. I hear this

day that Mrs. Stewart do at this day keep a great court at

Somerset House with her husband the Duke of Richmond, she being

visited for her beauty's sake by people as the Queene is at

nights; and they say also that she is likely to go to Court;

again, and there put my Lady Castlemaine's nose out of joynt.

27th. A Committee of Tangier met; the Duke of York there. And

there I did discourse over to them their condition as to money;

which they were all mightily as I could desire satisfied with,

but the Duke of Albemarle, who takes the part of the Guards

against us in our supplies of money; which is an odd

consideration for a dull, heavy blockhead as he is, understanding

no more of either than a goose: but the ability and integrity of

Sir W. Coventry, in all the King's concernments, I do and must

admire. After the Committee, Sir W. Coventry tells me that the

businesse of getting the Duchesse of Richmond to Court is broke

off, the Duke not suffering it; and thereby great trouble is

brought among the people that endeavoured it, and thought they

had compassed it. But Lord! to think that at this time the King

should mind no other cares but these! We tells me that my Lord

of Canterbury is a mighty stout man, and a man of a brave, high

spirit, and cares not for this disfavour that he is under at

Court, knowing that the King cannot take away his profits during

his life, and therefore do not value it.

28th. To the King's house, and there saw "The Mad Couple;" which

is but an ordinary play; but only Nell's and Hart's mad parts are

most excellent done, but especially her's: which makes it a

miracle to me to think how ill she do any serious part, as the

other day, just like a fool or changeling; and, in a mad part, do

beyond all imitation almost. It pleased us mightily to see the

natural affection of a poor woman, the mother of one of the

children brought on the stage: the child crying she by force got

upon the stage, and took up her child and carried it away off of

the stage from Hart. Many fine faces here to-day. I am told to-

day, which troubles me, that great complaint is made upon the

'Change, among our merchants, that the very Ostend little

pickaroon men-of-war do offer violence to our merchant-men and

search them, beat our masters, and plunder them, upon pretence of

carrying Frenchmen's goods.

29th. At night comes Mrs. Turner to see us; and there, among

other talk, she tells me that Mr. William Pen, who is lately come

over from Ireland, is a Quaker again, or some very melancholy

thing; that he cares for no company, nor comes into any which is

a pleasant thing, after his being abroad so long, and his father

such a hypocritical rogue, and at this time an atheist.

30th. Sir G. Carteret and I alone did talk of the ruinous

condition we are in, the King being going to put out of the

Council so many able men; such as my Lord Anglesy, Ashly, Hollis,

Secretary Morrice (to bring in Mr. Trevor, [John Trevor, knighted

by Charles II. who made him Secretary of State, 1668, which

office he held till his death in 1672.]) and the Archbishop of

Canterbury and my Lord Bridgewater. He tells me that this is

true, only the Duke of York do endeavour to hinder it, and the

Duke of York himself did tell him so; that the King and the Duke

of York do not in company disagree, but are friendly; but that

there is a core in their hearts, he doubts, which is not to be

easily removed; for these men so suffer only for their constancy

to the Chancellor, or at least from the King's ill-will against

him. He do suggest that something is intended for the Duke of

Monmouth, and, it may be, against the Queene also: that we are

in no manner sure against an invasion the next year: that the

Duke of Buckingham do rule all now, and the Duke of York comes

indeed to the Caball, but signifies little there. That this new

faction do not endure, nor the King; Sir W. Coventry; but yet

that he is so usefull that they cannot be without him; but that

he is not now called to the Caball. That my Lord of Buckingham,

Bristoll, and Arlington do seem to agree in these things; but

that they do not in their hearts trust one another, but do drive

several ways all of them. In short, he do bless himself that he

is no more concerned in matters now; and the hopes he hath of

being at liberty, when his accounts are over, to retire into the

country. That he do give over the kingdom for wholly lost. This

day I got a little rent in my new fine camlett cloak with the

latch of Sir G. Carteret's door; but it is darned up at my

tailor's, that it will be no great blemish to it; but it troubled

me. I could not but observe that Sir Philip Carteret [Sir G.

Carteret's eldest son, mentioned before, who had been knighted.]

would fain have given me my going into a play; but yet when he

came to the door he had no money to pay for himself I having

refused to accept of it for myself, but was fain; and I perceive

he is known there, and do run upon the score for plays, which is

a shame; but I perceive always he is in want of money. In the

pit I met with Sir Ch. North (formerly Mr. North, who was with my

Lord at sea); and he, of his own accord, was so silly as to tell

me he is married; and for her quality, being a Lord's daughter,

[Catherine, daughter to William Lord Grey of Warke, and widow of

Sir Edward Moseley.] (my Lord Grey) and person and beauty, and

years and estate and disposition, he is the happiest man in the

world. I am sure he is an ugly fellow; but a good scholar and

sober gentleman; and heir to his father, now Lord North, the old

Lord being dead.

31st. 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!

JANUARY 1, 1667-8. Dined with my Lord Crewe, with whom was Mr.

Browne, Clerk of the House of Lords, and Mr. John Crewe. Here

was mighty good discourse, as there is always: and among other

things my Lord Crewe did turn to a place in the Life of Sir

Philip Sidney, wrote by Sir Fulke Greville, which do foretell the

present condition of this nation, in relation to the Dutch, to

the very degree of a prophecy, and is so remarkable that I am

resolved to buy one of them, it being quite through a good

discourse. Here they did talk much of the present cheapness of

corne, even to a miracle; so as their farmers can pay no rent,

but do fling up their lands; and would pay in corne: but (which

I did observe to my Lord, and he liked well of it) our gentry are

grown so ignorant in every thing of good husbandry that they know

not how to bestow this corne; which, did they understand but a

little trade, they would be able to joyne together and know what

markets there are abroad, and send it thither, and thereby ease

their tenants and be able to pay themselves. They did talk much

of the disgrace the Archbishop is fallen under with the King, and

the rest of the Bishops also. Thence I after dinner to the Duke

of York's playhouse, and there saw "Sir Martin Mar-all;" which I

have seen so often, and yet am mightily pleased with it, and

think it mighty witty, and the fullest of proper matter for mirth

that; ever was writ; and I do clearly see that they do improve in

their acting of it. Here a mighty company of citizens,

prentices, and others; and it makes me observe, that when I began

first to be able to bestow a play on myself, I do not remember

that I saw so many by half of the ordinary prentices and mean

people in the pit at 2s. 6d. a-piece as now; I going for several

years no higher than the 12d. and then the 18d. places, though I

strained hard to go in then when I did: so much the vanity and

prodigality of the age is to be observed in this particular.

Thence I to White Hall, and there walked up and down the house a

while, and do hear nothing of any thing done further in this

business of the change of Privy-counsellors: only I hear that

Sir G. Savile, [Of Rufford, co. Notts, Bart.; created Lord Savile

of Eland, and Viscount Halifax, 1668, Earl of Halifax, 1679, and

Marquis of Halifax, 1682. Ob. 1695.] one of the Parliament

Committee of nine for examining the Accounts, is by the King made

a Lord, the Lord Halifax; which, I believe, will displease the

Parliament. By and by I met with Mr. Brisband; and having it in

my mind this Christmas to do (what I never can remember that I

did) go to see the gaming at the groome-porters (I having in my

coming from the playhouse stepped into the two Temple-halls, and

there saw the dirty prentices and idle people playing; wherein I

was mistaken, in thinking to have seen gentlemen of quality

playing there), he did lead me thither; where, after staying an

hour, they began to play, at about eight at night. And to see

the formality of the groome-porter, who is their judge of all

disputes in play and all quarrels that may arise therein, and how

his under-officers are there to observe true play at each table,

and to give new dice, is a consideration I never could have

thought had been in the world, had I not now seen it. And so I

having enough for once, refusing to venture, though Brisband

pressed me hard, went away.

2nd. Attended the King and the Duke of York in the Duke of

York's lodgings, with the rest of the officers and many of the

commanders of the fleet, and some of our master shipwrights, to

discourse the business of having the topmasts of ships made to

lower abaft of the mainmast; a business I understand not, and so

can give no good account; but I do see that by how much greater

the Council and the number of counsellors is, the more confused

the issue is of their councils; so that little was said to the

purpose regularly, and but little use was made of it, they coming

to a very broken conclusion upon it to make trial in a ship or

two. From this they fell to other talk about the fleet's

fighting this late war, and how the King's ships have been

shattered; though the King said that the world would not have it

that above ten or twenty ships in any fight did do any service,

and that this hath been told so to him himself by ignorant

people. The Prince, who was there, was mightily surprised at it,

and seemed troubled; but the King told him that it was only

discourse of the world. But Mr. Wren whispered me in the eare,

and said that the Duke of Albemarle had put it into his Narrative

for the House, that not above twenty-five ships fought in the

engagement wherein he was, but that he was advised to leave it

out; but this he did write from sea, I am sure, or words to that

effect: and did displease many commanders, among others Captain

Batts, who the Duke of York said was a very stout man, all the

world knew; and that another was brought into his ship that; had

been turned out of his place when he was a boatswain, not long

before, for being a drunkard. This the Prince [Rupert.] took

notice of, and would have been angry, I think, but they let their

discourse fall: but the Duke of York was earnest in it. And the

Prince said to me, standing by me, "If they will turn out every

man that will be drunk, they must turn out all the commanders in

the fleet. What is the matter if he be drunk, so when he comes

to fight he do his work? At least, let him be punished for his

drunkenness, and not put out of his command presently." This he

spoke very much concerned for this idle fellow, one Greene.

After this the King began to tell stories of the cowardice of the

Spaniards in Flanders, when he was there, at the siege of Mardike

and Dunkirke; which was very pretty, though he tells them but

meanly. To Westminster Hall, and there staid a little: and then

home, and by the way did find with difficulty the Life of Sir

Philip Sidney. And the bookseller told me that he had sold four

within this week or two, which is more than ever he sold in all

his life of them; and he could not imagine what should be the

reason of it: but I suppose it is from the same reason of

people's observing of this part therein, touching his prophecying

our present condition here in England in relation to the Dutch,

which is very remarkable. It is generally believed that France

is endeavouring a firmer league with us than the former, in order

to his going on with his business against Spain the next year;

which I am, and so every body else is, I think, very glad of, for

all our fear is of his invading us. This day at White Hall I

overheard Sir W. Coventry propose to the King his ordering of

some particular thing in the Wardrobe, which was of no great

value; but yet, as much as it was, it was of profit to the King

and saving to his purse. The King answered to it with great

indifferency, as a thing that it was no great matter whether it

was done or no. Sir W. Coventry answered; "I see your Majesty do

not remember the old English proverb, 'He that will not stoop for

a pin, will never be worth a pound.'" And so they parted, the

King bidding him do as he would; which, methought, was an answer

not like a King that did intend ever to do well.

4th. It seems worth remembering that this day I did hear my Lord

Anglesy at the table, speaking touching this new Act for

Accounts, say that the House of Lords did pass it because it was

a senseless, impracticable, ineffectual, and foolish Act; and

that my Lord Ashly having shown that it was so to the House of

Lords, the Duke of Buckingham did stand up and told the Lords

that they were beholden to my Lord Ashly, that having first

commended them for a most grave and honourable assembly, he

thought it fit for the House to pass this Act for Accounts

because it was a foolish and simple Act; and it seems it was

passed with but a few in the House, when it was intended to have

met in a grand Committee upon it. And it seems that in itself it

is not to be practised till after this session of Parliament, by

the very words of the Act, which nobody regarded, and therefore

cannot come in force yet, unless the next meeting they do make a

new Act for the bringing it into force sooner; which is a strange

omission. But I perceive my Lord Anglesy do make a mere

laughing-stock of this act, as a thing that can do nothing

considerable, for all its great noise.

5th. The business of putting out of some of the Privy-council is

over, the King being at last advised to forbear it; for whereas

he did design it to make room for some of the House of Commons

that are against him, thereby to gratify them, it is believed

that it will but so much the more fret the rest that are not

provided for, and raise a new stock of enemies by them that are

displeased; and it goes for a pretty saying of my Lord Anglesy's

up and down the Court, that he should lately say to one of the

great promoters of this putting him and others out of the

Council, "Well, and what are we to look for when we are outed?

Will all things be set right in the nation?" The other said that

he did believe that many things would be mended: "But," says my

Lord, "will you and the rest of you be contented to be hanged if

you do not redeem all our misfortunes and set all right, if the

power be put into your hands?" The other answered, No, he would

not undertake that. "Why then," says my Lord, "I and the rest of

us that you are labouring to put out will be contented to be

hanged if we do not recover all that is past, if the King will

put the power into our hands and adhere wholly to our advice."

7th. To the Nursery; but the house did not act to-day; and so I

to the other two playhouses into the pit to gaze up and down, and

there did by this means for nothing see an act in "The Schoole of

Compliments" at the Duke of York's house, and "Henry the Fourth"

at the King's house; but not liking either of the plays, I took

my coach again, and home.

8th. To White Hall, and by coach home, taking up Mr. Prin at the

Court gate (it raining), and setting him down at the Temple: and

by the way did ask him about the manner of holding of

Parliaments, and whether the number of Knights and Burgesses were

always the same? And, he says that the latter were not; but

that, for aught he can find, they were sent up at the discretion

at first of the Sheriffes, to whom the writs are sent to send up

generally the Burgesses and citizens of their county; and he do

find that heretofore the Parliament-men being paid by the

country, several burroughs have complained of the Sheriffes

putting them to the charge of sending up Burgesses; which is a

very extraordinary thing to me, that knew not this, but thought

that the number had been known, and always the same.

10th. To White Hall; and there to wait on the Duke of York with

the rest of my brethren, which we did a little in the King's

green-room while the King was in Council: and in this room we

found my Lord Bristoll walking alone; which wondering at while

the Council was sitting, I was answered that as being a

Catholique he could not be of the Council; which I did not

consider before. This day I received a letter from my father,

and another from my cosen Roger Pepys, who have had a view of

Jackson's evidences of his estate, and do mightily like of the

man and his condition and estate, and do advise me to accept of

the match for my sister, and to finish it soon as I can; and he

do it so as I confess I am contented to have it done, and so give

her her portion.

11th. To the King's house, to see "The Wildgoose Chase." [By

Beaumont and Fletcher.] In this play I met with nothing

extraordinary at all, but very dull inventions and designs.

Knipp came and sat by us, and her talk pleased me a little, she

tells me how Miss Davis is for certain going away from the Duke's

house, the King being in love with her; and a house is taken for

her, and furnishing; and she hath a ring given her already worth

600l.: that the King did send several times for Nelly, and she

was with him; and I am sorry for it, and can hope for no good to

the State from having a Prince so devoted to his pleasure. She

told me also of a play shortly coming upon the stage of Sir

Charles Sedley's, which, she thinks, will be called "The

Wandering Ladys," a comedy that she thinks will be most pleasant;

and also another play, called "The Duke of Lorane:" besides

"Catiline," which she thinks, for want of the clothes which the

King promised them, will not be acted for a good while.

14th. To my bookseller, Martin, and there did receive my book I

expected of China, a most excellent book with rare cuts; and

there fell into discourse with him about the burning of Paul's

when the City was burned, his house being in the church-yard.

And he tells me that it took fire first upon the end of a board

that among others was laid upon the roof instead of lead, the

lead being broke off, and thence down lower and lower: but that

the burning of the goods under St. Fayth's arose from the goods

taking fire in the church-yard, and so got into St. Fayth's

church; and that they first took fire from the Draper's side, by

some timber of the houses that were burned falling into the

church. He says that one warehouse of books was saved under

Paul's; and there were several dogs found burned among the goods

in the churchyard, and but one man, which was an old man, that

said he would go and save a blanket which he had in the church,

and being weak the fire overcame him. He says that most of the

booksellers do design to fall a-building again the next year; but

that the Bishop of London do use them most basely, worse than any

other landlords, and says he will be paid to this day the rent,

or else he will not come to treat with them for the time to come;

and will not, on that condition either, promise them in any thing

how he will use them; and the Parliament sitting, he claims his

privilege, and will not be cited before the Lord Chief Justice as

others are there, to be forced to a fair dealing. Thence by

coach to Mrs. Pierce's, where my wife is; and there they fell to

discourse of the last night's work at Court, where the ladies and

Duke of Monmouth and others acted. "The Indian Emperour;"

wherein they told me these things most remarkable: That not any

woman but the Duchesse of Monmouth and Mrs. Cornwallis did any

thing but like fools and stocks, but that these two did do most

extraordinary well: that not any man did any thing well but

Captain Olrigran, [SIC. ORIG.] who spoke and did well, but above

all things did dance most incomparably. That she did sit near

the players of the Duke's house; among the rest Miss Davis, who

is the most impertinent slut, she says, in the world; and the

more, now the King do show her countenance; and is reckoned his

mistress, even to the scorne of the whole world; the King gazing

on her, and my Lady Castlemaine being melancholy and out of

humour, all the play not smiling once. The King, it seems, hath

given her a ring of 700l. which she shows to every body, and owns

that the King did give it her; and he hath furnished a house in

Suffolke-street most richly for her; which is a most infinite

shame. It seems she is a bastard of Colonell Howard, my Lord

Berkshire, and that he hath got her for the King: but Pierce

says that she is a most homely jade as ever she saw, though she

dances beyond any thing in the world. She tells me that the

Duchesse of Richmond do not yet come to the Court, nor hath seen

the King, nor will not, nor do he own his desire of seeing her;

but hath used means to get her to Court, but they do not take.

15th. This afternoon my Lord Anglesy tells us that it is voted

in Council to have a fleet of 50 ships out: but it is only a

disguise for the Parliament to get some money by; but it will not

take, I believe.

16th. Lord Anglesy tells us again that a fleet is to be set out;

and that it is generally, he hears, said that it is but a Spanish

rhodomontado; and that he saying so just now to the Duke of

Albemarle, who came to town last night (after the thing was

ordered,) he told him a story of two seamen: one wished all the

guns of the ship were his, and that they were silver; and says

the other, "You are a fool, for if you can have it for wishing,

why do you not wish them gold?" "So," says he, "if a

rhodomontado will do any good, why do you not say 100 ships?"

And it is true; for the Dutch and French are said to make such

preparations as 50 sail will do no good. Mightily pleased with

Mr. Gibson's talking; he telling me so many good stories relating

to the war and practices of commanders which I will find a time

to recollect; and he will be an admirable help to my writing a

history of the Navy, if ever I do.

17th. Much discourse of the duell yesterday between the Duke of

Buckingham, Holmes, and one Jenkins, on one side, and my Lord of

Shrewsbury, [Francis, eleventh Earl of Shrewsbury, died of his

wounds March 16th following.] Sir John Talbot, [Sir John Talbot,

a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, M.P. for Knaresborough.] and

one Bernard Howard [Bernard Howard, eighth son of Henry Frederic

Earl of Arundel.] on the other side: and all about; my Lady

Shrewsbury, [Anna Maria, daughter of Robert Earl of Cardigan, the

Duke of Buckingham's mistress, and said to have held his horse,

in the habit of a page, while he was fighting with her husband.

She married, secondly, George Rodney Bridges, son of Sir Thomas

Bridges of Keynsham, Somerset, and died April 20, 1702.] who is

at this time, and hath for a great while been, a mistress to the

Duke of Buckingham. And so her husband challenged him, and they

met yesterday in a close near Barne-Elmes and there fought: and

my Lord Shrewsbury is run through the body, from the right breast

through the shoulder; and Sir John Talbot all along up one of his

armes; and Jenkins killed upon the place, and the rest all in a

little measure wounded. This will make the world think that the

King hath good counsellors about him, when the Duke of

Buckingham, the greatest man about him, is a fellow of no more

sobriety than to fight about a mistress. And this may prove a

very bad accident to the Duke of Buckingham, but that my Lady

Castlemaine do rule all at this time as much as ever she did, and

she will, it is believed, keep all matters well with the Duke of

Buckingham: though this is a time that the King will be very

backward, I suppose, to appear in such a business. And it is

pretty to hear how the King had some notice of this challenge a

week or two ago, and did give it to my Lord Generall to confine

the Duke, or take security that he should not do any such thing

as fight: and the Generall trusted to the King that he, sending

for him, would do it; and the King trusted to the Generall. And

it is said that my Lord Shrewsbury's case is to be feared, that

he may die too; and that may make it much worse for the Duke of

Buckingham: and I shall not be much sorry for it, that we may

have some sober man come in his room to assist in the Government.

Creed tells me of Mr. Harry Howard's giving the Royall Society a

piece of ground next to his house to build a college on: which

is a most generous act. And he tells me he is a very fine

person, and understands and speaks well; and no rigid Papist

neither, but one that would not have a Protestant servant leave

his religion, which he was going to do, thinking to recommend

himself to his master by it; saying, that he had rather have an

honest Protestant than a knavish Catholique. I was not called in

to the Council and therefore home, first informing myself that my

Lord Hinchingbroke hath been married this week to my Lord

Burlington's daughter: so that that great business is over; and

I am mighty glad of it, though I am not satisfied that I have not

a favour sent me.

19th. Lord Shrewsbury is likely to do well.

20th. To Drumbleby's the pipe-maker, there to advise about the

making of a flageolet to go low and soft; and he do show me a way

which do do, and also a fashion of having two pipes of the same

note fastened together, so as I can play on one, and then echo it

upon the other; which is mighty pretty. So to my Lord Crewe's to

dinner; where we hear all the good news of our making a league

now with Holland against the French Power coming over them or us:

which is the first good act that hath been done a great while,

and done secretly and with great seeming wisdom; and is certainly

good for us at this time, while we are in no condition to resist

the French, if he should come over hither: and then a little

time of peace will give us time to lay up something, which these

Commissioners of the Treasury are doing; and the world do begin

to see that they will do the King's work for him, if he will let

them. My Lord told a good story of Mr. Newman, the Minister in

New England, who wrote the Concordance, of his foretelling his

death and preaching a funeral sermon, and did at last bid the

angels do their office, and died. It seems there is great

presumption that there will be a Toleration granted: so that the

Presbyterians do hold up their heads; but they will hardly trust

the King or the Parliament what to yield them, though most of the

sober party be for some kind of allowance to be given them. Lord

Gerard is likely to meet with ill, the next sitting of

Parliament, about Carr being set in the pillory; and I am glad of

it. And it is mighty acceptable to the world to hear, that among

other reductions the King do reduce his Guards: which do please

mightily.

21st. Comes news from Kate Joyce that, if I would see her

husband alive, I must come presently. So I to him, and and his

breath rattled in the throate; and they did lay pigeons to his

feet, and all despair of him. It seems on Thursday last he went

sober and quiet to Islington, and behind one of the inns (the

White Lion) did fling himself into a pond: was spied by a poor

woman, and got out by some people, and set on his head and got to

life: and so his wife and friends sent for. He confessed his

doing the thing, being led by the Devil; and do declare his

reason to be his trouble in having forgot to serve God as he

ought since he came to his new employment: [He kept a tavern.]

and I believe that, and the sense of his great loss by the fire,

did bring him to it; for he grew sick, and worse and worse to

this day. The friends that were there being now in fear that the

goods and estate would be seized on, though he lived all this

while, because of his endeavouring to drown himself, my cosen did

endeavour to remove what she could of plate out of the house, and

desired me to take my flagons; which I did, but in great fear all

the way of being seized; though there was no reason for it, he

not being dead. So with Sir D. Gauden to Guild Hall to advise

with the Towne-Clerke about the practice of the City and nation

in this case: and he thinks it cannot be found selfe-murder; but

if it be, it will fall, all the estate, to the King. So I to my

cosen's again; where I no sooner come but find that he was

departed. So at their entreaty I presently to White Hall, and

there find Sir W. Coventry; and he carried me to the King, the

Duke of York being with him, and there told my story which I had

told him; and the King, without more ado, granted that, if it was

found, the estate should be to the widow and children: which

indeed was every great courtesy, for people are looking out for

the estate.

22nd. At noon with any Lord Brouncker to Sir D. Gauden's, at the

Victualling-office, to dinner, where I have not dined since he

was Sheriffe. He expected us: and a good dinner, and much good

company; and a fine house, and especially two rooms very fine, he

hath built there. His lady a good lady; but my Lord led himself

and me to a great absurdity in kissing all the ladies, but the

finest of all the company, leaving her out I know not how; and I

was loath to do it, since he omitted it. Here little Chaplin

dined, who is like to be Sheriffe the next year; and a pretty

humoured little man he is: and Mr. Talents the younger, of

Magdalene College, Chaplain to the Sheriffe; which I was glad to

see, though not much acquainted with him.

23rd. At the office all the morning; and at noon find the Bishop

of Lincolne [Dr. William Fuller, translated from Limerick 1667.]

come to dine with us; and after him comes Mr. Brisband. And

there mighty good company. But the Bishop a very extraordinary

good-natured man, and one that is mightily pleased, as well as I

am, that I live so near Bugden, [At Brampton.] the seat of his

bishopricke, where he is like to reside; and indeed I am glad of

it. In discourse we think ourselves safe for this year, by this

league with Holland; which pleases every body, and, they say,

vexes France; insomuch that De l'Estrade, the French Embassador

in Holland, when he heard it, told the States that he would have

them not forget that his master is in the head of 100,000 men,

and is but 28 years old; which was a great speech. The Bishop

tells me he thinks that the great business of Toleration will

not, notwithstanding this talk, be carried this Parliament; nor

for the King's taking away the Deans' and Chapters' lands to

supply his wants, they signifying little to him if he had them

for his present service.

27th. Mr. Povy do tell me how he is like to lose his 400l. a-

year pension of the Duke of York, which he took in consideration

of his place that was taken from him. He tells me the Duchesse

is a devil against him, and do now come like Queene Elizabeth,

and sits with the Duke of York's Council, and sees what they do;

and she crosses out this man's wages and prices as she sees fit

for saving money: but yet, he tells me, she reserves 5000l. a-

gear for her own spending; and my Lady Peterborough by and by

tells me that the Duchesse do lay up mightily jewells.

28th. To White Hall; and by and by the Duke of York comes, and

we had a little meeting, Anglesy, W. Pen, and I there, and none

else: and, among other things, did discourse of the want of

discipline in the fleet; which the Duke of York confessed, and

yet said that he while he was there did keep it in a good

measure, but that it was now lost when he was absent; but he will

endeavour to have it again. That he did tell the Prince and Duke

of Albemarle they would lose all order by making such and such

men commanders, which they would because they were stout men: he

told them it was a reproach to the nation, as if there were no

sober men among us, that were stout to be had. That they did put

out some men for cowards that the Duke of York had put in, but;

little before, for stout men; and would now, were he to go to sea

again, entertain them in his own division to choose: and did put

in an idle fellow, Greene, who was hardly thought fit for a

boatswain by him; they did put him from being a lieutenant to a

captain's place of a second-rate ship; as idle a drunken fellow,

he said, as any was in the fleet. That he will now desire the

King to let him be what he is, that is, Admirall; and he will put

in none but those that he hath great reason to think well of:

and particularly says that though he likes Colonel Legg well, yet

his son that was, he knows not how, made a captain after he had

been but one voyage at sea, he should go to sea another

apprenticeship before ever he gives him a command. We did tell

him of the many defects and disorders among the captains, and I

prayed we might do it in writing to him; which he liked; and I am

glad of an opportunity of doing it. My wife this day hears from

her father and mother: they are in France, at Paris; he, poor

good man! thankful for my small charities to him.

29th. To Sir W. Coventry. He tells me he hath no friends in the

whole Court but my Lord Keeper and Sir John Duncomb. They have

reduced the charges of Ireland about 70,000l. a-year, and thereby

cut off good profits from my Lord Lieutenant; which will make a

new enemy, but he cares not. He tells me that Townsend, of the

Wardrobe, is the veriest knave and bufflehead that over he saw.

30th. I first heard that my cosen Pepys, of Salisbury Court, was

Marshall to my Lord Coke when he was Lord Chief Justice; which

beginning of his I did not know to be so low; but so it was, it

seems.

31st. Up; and by coach, with W. Griffin with me, and our

Contract-books, to Durham Yard, to the Commissioners for

Accounts; the first time I ever was there; and staid awhile

before I was admitted to them. I did observe a great many people

attending about complaints of seamen concerning tickets, and

among others Mr. Carcasse, and Mr. Martin my purser. And I

observe a fellow, one Collins, is there, who is employed by these

Commissioners particularly to hold an office in Bishopsgate-

street, or somewhere thereabouts, to receive complaints of all

people about tickets: and I believe he will have work enough.

Presently I was called in; where I found the whole number of

Commissioners, and was there received with great respect and

kindness; and did give them great satisfaction, making it my

endeavour to inform them what it was they were to expect from me,

and what was the duty of other people; this being my only way to

preserve myself, after all my pains and trouble. They did ask

many questions, and demanded other books of me, which I did give

them very ready and acceptable answers to; and, upon the whole, I

do observe they go about their business like men resolved to go

through with it, and in a very good method, like men of

understanding. They have Mr. Jessop their secretary: and it is

pretty to see that they are fain to find out an old-fashioned man

of Cromwell's to do their business for them, as well as the

Parliament to pitch upon such for the most part in the lowest of

people that were brought into the House for Commissioners. I

went away giving and receiving great satisfaction: and so to

White Hall, to the Commissioners of the Treasury; where waiting

some time I there met with Colonell Birch: and he and I fell

into discourse; and I did give him thanks for his kindness to me

in the Parliament-house, both before my face and behind my back.

He told me that he knew me to be a man of the old way of taking

pains, and did always endeavour to do me right, and prevent any

thing that was moved that might tend to my injury; which I was

obliged to him for, and thanked him. Thence to talk of other

things, and the want of money: and he told me of the general

want of money in the country; that land sold for nothing, and the

many pennyworths he knows of lands and houses upon them, with

good titles in his country, at 16 years' purchase: "And," says

he, "though I am in debt, yet I have a mind to one thing, and

that is a Bishop's lease:" but said, "I will yet choose such a

lease before any other, because I know they cannot stand, and

then it will fall into the King's hands, and I in possession

shall have an advantage by it." Says he, "I know they must fall,

and they are now near it, taking all the ways they can to undo

themselves, and showing us the way:" and thereupon told me a

story of the present quarrel between the Bishop [John Hacket.]

and Dean [Henry Greswold, A.M.] of Coventry and Lichfield; the

former of whom did excommunicate the latter, and caused his

excommunication to be read in the church while he was there; and

after it was read, the Dean made the service be gone through

with, though himself an excommunicate was present (which is

contrary to the Canon), and said he would justify the quire

therein against the Bishop: and so they are at law in the Arches

about it; which is a very pretty story. He tells me that the

King is for Toleration, though the Bishops be against it; and

that he do not doubt but it will be carried in Parliament: but

that he fears some will stand for the tolerating of Papists with

the rest; and that he knows not what to say, but rather thinks

that the sober party will be without it rather than have it upon

those terms; and I do believe so. It is observed, and is true,

in the late fire of London, that the fire burned just as many

parish-churches as there were hours from the beginning to the end

of the fire; and next, that there were just as many churches left

standing as there were taverns left standing in the rest of the

City that was not burned, being, I think, thirteen in all of

each: which is pretty to observe.

FEBRUARY 1, 1667-8. To the office till past two o'clock; where

at the Board some high words passed between Sir W. Pen and I,

begun by me, and yielded to by him, I being in the right in

finding fault with him for his neglect of duty. Home, my head

mighty full of business now on my hands: viz. of finishing my

Tangier Accounts; of auditing my last year's accounts; of

preparing answers to the Commissioners of Accounts; of drawing up

several important letters to the Duke of York and the

Commissioners of the Treasury; the marrying of my sister; the

building of a coach and stables against summer, and the setting

many things in the office right: and the drawing up a new form

of Contract with the Victualler of the Navy, and several other

things, which pains, however, will go through with.

5th. Mr. Moore mightily commends my Lord Hinchingbroke's match

and lady, though he buys her 10,000l. dear, by the jointure and

settlement his father makes her; and says that the Duke of York

and Duchesse of York did come to see them in bed together on

their wedding-night, and how my Lord had fifty pieces of gold

taken out of his pocket that night after he was in bed. He tells

me that an Act of Comprehension is likely to pass this Parliament

for admitting of all persuasions in religion to the public

observation of their particular worship, but in certain places,

and the persons therein concerned to be listed of this or that

church; which, it is thought, will do them more hurt than good,

and make them not own their persuasion. He tells me that there

is a pardon passed to the Duke of Buckingham, my Lord of

Shrewsbury and the rest, for the late duell and murder; which he

thinks a worse fault than any ill use my late Lord Chancellor

ever put the great Seal to, and will be so thought by the

Parliament, for them to be pardoned without bringing them to any

trial: and that my Lord Privy-seale therefore would not have it

pass his hand, but made it go by immediate warrant; or at least

they knew that he would not pass it, and so did direct it to go

by immediate warrant, that it might not come to him. He tells me

what a character my Lord Sandwich hath sent over of Mr.

Godolphin; [Sidney Godolphin, Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles

II.; made a Commissioner of the Treasury 1678-9, and in 1684

created Baron Godolphin.] as the worthiest man, and such a

friend to him as he may be trusted in any thing relating to him

in the world; as one whom, he says, he hath infallible assurances

that he will remaine his friend: which is very high, but indeed

they say the gentleman is a fine man.

6th. Sir H. Cholmly tells me how the Parliament (which is to

meet again to-day) are likely to fall heavy on the business of

the Duke of Buckingham's pardon; and I shall be glad of it: and

that the King hath put out of the Court the two Hides, my Lord

Chancellor's two sons, and also the Bishops of Rochester [John

Dolben.] and Winchester [George Morley.] the latter of whom

should have preached before him yesterday, being Ash-Wednesday,

and had sermon ready, but was put by; which is great news. My

wife being gone before, I to the Duke of York's playhouse; where

a new play of Etheridge's, called "She would if she could;" and

though I was there by two o'clock, there was 1000 people put back

that could not have room in the pit; and I at last, because my

wife was there, made shift to get into the 18d. box, and there

saw: but, Lord! how full was the house, and how silly the play,

there being nothing in the world good in it, and few people

pleased in it. The King was there; but I sat mightily behind,

and could see but little, and hear not all. The play being done,

I into the pit to look for my wife, it being dark and raining;

but could not find her, and so staid going between the two doors

and through the pit an hour and half, I think, after the play was

done; the people staying there till the rain was over, and to

talk one with another. And among the rest here was the Duke of

Buckingham to-day openly sat in the pit; and there I found him

with my Lord Buckhurst, and Sedley, and Etheridge the poet; the

last of whom I did hear mightily find fault with the actors, that

they were out of humour and had not their parts perfect, and that

Harris did do nothing, nor could so much as sing a ketch in it;

and so was mightily concerned: while all the rest did through

the whole pit blame the play as a silly, dull thing, though there

was something very roguish and witty; but the design of the play

and end mighty insipid. At last I did find my wife.

7th. Met my cosen Roger Pepys, (the Parliament meeting yesterday

and adjourned to Monday next;) and here he tells me that Mr.

Jackson my sister's servant is come to town, and hath this day

suffered a recovery on his estate in order to the making her a

settlement. There is a great triall between my Lord Gerard and

Carr to-day, who is indicted for his life at the King's Bench for

running from his colours; but all do say that my Lord Gerard,

though he designs the ruin of this man, will not get any thing by

it. Met my cosen Roger again, and Mr. Jackson, who is a plain

young man, handsome enough for her, [Paulina Peps.] one of no

education nor discourse, but of few words, and one altogether

that, I think, will please me well enough. My cosen had got me

to give the odd sixth 100l. presently, which I intended to keep

to the birth of the first child: and let it go--I shall be eased

of the care. So there parted, my mind pretty well satisfied with

this plain fellow for my sister; though I shall, I see, have no

pleasure nor content in him, as if he had been a man of reading

and parts, like Cumberland.

8th. The great talk is of Carr's coming off in all his trials,

to the disgrace of my Lord Gerard to that degree, and the ripping

up of so many notorious rogueries and cheats of my Lord's, that

my Lord, it is thought, will be ruined: and above all do show

the madness of the House of Commons, who rejected the petition of

this poor man by a combination of a few in the House; and, much

more, the base proceedings (just the epitome of all our publick

managements in this age) of the House of Lords, that ordered him

to stand in the pillory for those very things, without hearing

and examining what he hath now, by the seeking of my Lord Gerard

himself, cleared himself of in open Court, to the gaining himself

the pity of all the world, and shame for ever to my Lord Gerard.

10th. Made a visit to Mr. Godolphin at his chamber; and I do

find him a very pretty and able person, a man of very fine parts,

and of infinite zeal to my Lord Sandwich; and one that says, he

is (he believes) as wise and able a person as any prince in the

world hath. He tells me that he meets with unmannerly usage by

Sir Robert Southwell, [He was knighted and sent as Envoy

Extraordinary to Portugal 1666, and with the same rank to

Brussels in 1671. He became afterwards Clerk to the Privy

Council and was five times elected President of the Royal

Society. Ob. 1702, aged 60.] in Portugall, who would sign with

him in his negociations there, being a forward young man; but

that my Lord mastered him in that point, it being ruled for my

Lord here at a hearing of a Committee of the Council. He says

that if my Lord can compass a peace between Spain and Portugall,

and hath the doing of it and the honour himself, it will be a

thing of more honour than ever any man had, and of as much

advantage. Thence to Westminster Hall, where the Hall mighty

full: and, among other things, the House begins to sit to-day,

and the King came. But before the King's coming the House of

Commons met; and upon information given them of a Bill intended

to be brought in as common report said, for Comprehension, they

did mightily and generally inveigh against it, and did vote that

the King should be desired by the House, and the message

delivered by the Privy-counsellors of the House, that the laws

against breakers of the Act for Uniformity should be put in

execution: and it was moved in the House that if any people had

a mind to bring any new laws into the House about religion, they

might come as a proposer of new laws did in Athens, with ropes

about their necks. By and by the King comes to the Lords' House,

and there tells them of his league with Holland, and the

necessity of a fleet, and his debts; and, therefore, want of

money; and his desire that they would think of some way to bring

in all his Protestant subjects to a right understanding and peace

one with another; meaning the Bill of Comprehension. The Commons

coming to their House, it was moved that the vote passed this

morning might be suspended, because of the King's Speech, till

the House was full and called over, two days hence: but it was

denied, so furious they are against this Bill; and thereby a

great blow either given to the King or Presbyters, or, which is

the rather of the two, to the House itself, by denying a thing

desired by the King, and so much desired by much the greater part

of the nation. Whatever the consequence be, if the King be a man

of any stomach and heat, all do believe that he will resent this

vote. Read over and agreed upon the deed of settlement to our

minds: my sister to have 600l. presently, and she to be

joyntured in 60l. per annum; wherein I am very well satisfied.

11th. To Pemberton's [Francis Pemberton, afterwards knighted,

and made Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench 1679.] chamber.

It was pretty here to see the heaps of money upon this lawyer's

table; and more, to see how he had not since last night spent any

time upon our business, but begun with telling us that we were

not at all concerned in that Act; which was a total mistake, by

his not having read over the Act at all.

12th. My cosen Roger told me the pleasant passage of a fellow's

bringing a bag of letters to-day into the lobby of the House,

where he left them, and withdrew himself without observation.

The bag being opened, the letters were found all of one size, and

directed with one hand: a letter to most of the Members of the

House. The House was acquainted with it, and voted they should

be brought in and one opened by the Speaker; wherein if he found

any thing unfit to communicate, to propose a Committee to be

chosen for it. The Speaker opening one, found it only a case

with a libell in it, printed: a satire most sober and bitter as

ever I read; and every letter was the same. So the House fell a-

scrambling for them like boys; and my cosen Roger had one

directed to him, which he lent me to read.

13th. Mr. Brisband tells me in discourse that Tom Killigrew hath

a fee out of the Wardrobe for cap and bells, under the title of

the King's Foole or Jester; and may revile or jeere any body, the

greatest person without offence, by the privilege of his place.

This morning Sir G. Carteret come to the office to see and talk

with me: and he assures me that to this day the King is the most

kind man to my Lord Sandwich in the whole world; that he himself

do not now mind any publick business, but suffers things to go on

at Court as they will, he seeing all likely to come to ruin:

that this morning the Duke of York sent to him to come to make up

one of a Committee of the Council for Navy Affairs; upon which,

when he came, he told the Duke of York that he was none of them:

which shows how things are now-a-days ordered, that there should

be a Committee for the Navy, and the Lord Admirall knows not the

persons of it; and that Sir G. Carteret and my Lord Anglesy

should be left out of it, and men wholly improper put into it. I

do hear of in hands that there is great difference at this day

between my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry; which I am sorry

for.

14th. I to my office to perfect my Narrative about prize-goods;

and did carry it to the Commissioners of Accounts, who did

receive it with great kindness, and express great value of and

respect to me: and my heart is at rest that it is lodged there

in so full truth and plainness, though it may hereafter prove

some loss to me. But here I do see they are entered into many

enquiries about prizes, by the great attendance of commanders and

others before them; which is a work I am not sorry for. Thence I

away, with my head busy but my heart at pretty good ease, to

visit Colonell Thomson, one of the Committee of Accounts; who

among the rest is mighty kind to me, and is likely to mind our

business more than any; and I would be glad to have a good

understanding with him. Thence after dinner to White Hall to

attend the Duke of York; where I did let him know too the

troublesome life we lead, and particularly myself, by being

obliged to such attendances every day as I am, on one Committee

or other. And I do find the Duke of York himself troubled, and

willing not to be troubled with occasions of having his name used

among the Parliament though he himself do declare that he did

give directions to Lord Brouncker to discharge the men at Chatham

by ticket, and will own it if the House call for it, but not

else. Thence I attended the King and Council, and some of the

rest of us, in a business to be heard about the value of a ship

of one Dorrington's. And it was pretty to observe how Sir W.

Pen, making use of this argument against the validity of an oath,

against the King, being made by the master's mate of the ship,

who was but a fellow of about 23 years of age; the master of the

ship, against whom we pleaded, did say that he did think himself

at that age capable of being master's mate of any ship; and do

know that he, Sir W. Pen, was so himself; and in no better degree

at that age himself: which word did strike Sir W. Pen mad, and

made him open his mouth no more; and I saw the King and Duke of

York wink at one another at it. This done, we into the Gallery;

and there I walked with several people, and among others my Lord

Brouncker; who I do find under much trouble still about the

business of the tickets, his very case being brought in, as is

said, this day in the Report of the miscarriages. And he seems

to lay much of it on me, which I did clear and satisfy him in;

and would be glad with all my heart to serve him in, and have

done it more than he hath done for himself, he not deserving the

least blame, but commendations, for this. I met with my cosen

Roger Pepys and Creed; and from them understand that the report

was read to-day of the Miscarriages, wherein my Lord Sandwich is

named about the business I mentioned this morning; but I will be

at rest, for it can do him no hurt. Our business of tickets is

soundly up, and many others; so they went over them again, and

spent all the morning on the first, which is the dividing of the

fleet; wherein hot work was, and that among great men, Privy-

counsellors, and, they say, Sir W. Coventry; but I do not much

fear it, but do hope that it will show a little of the Duke of

Albemarle and the Prince to have been advisers in it: but

whereas they ordered that the King's Speech should be considered

to-day, they took no notice of it at all, but are really come to

despise the King in all possible ways of showing it. And it was

the other day a strange saying, as I am told by my cosen Roger

Pepys, in the House, when it was moved that the King's Speech

should be considered, that though the first part of the Speech,

meaning the league that is there talked of, be the only good

publick thing that hath been done since the King come into

England, yet it might bear with being put off to consider till

Friday next, which was this day. Secretary Morrice did this day

in the House, when they talked of intelligence, say that he was

allowed but 700l. a-year for intelligence; whereas in Cromwell's

time he did allow 70,000l. a-year for it; and was confirmed

therein by Colonell. Birch, who said that thereby Cromwell

carried the secrets of all the princes of Europe at his girdle.

The House is in a most broken condition; nobody adhering to any

thing, but reviling and finding fault: and now quite mad at the

Undertakers, as they are commonly called, Littleton, Lord

Vaughan, Sir R. Howard, and others that are brought over to the

Court, and did undertake to get the King money: but they despise

and will not hear them in the House; and the Court do as much,

seeing that they cannot be useful to them, as was expected. In

short, it is plain that the King will never be able to do any

thing with this Parliament; and that the only likely way to do

better (for it cannot do worse) is to break this and call another

Parliament; and some do think that it is intended. I was told

to-night that my Lady Castlemaine is so great a gamester as to

have won 15,000l. in one night, and lost 25,000l. in another

night at play, and hath played 1000l. and 1500l. at a cast.

16th. Mr. Hollier [He was a Surgeon.] dined with my wife and

me. Much discourse about the bad state of the Church, and how

the Clergy are come to be men of no worth in the world; and, as

the world do now generally discourse, they must be reformed: and

I believe the Hierarchy will in a little time be shaken, whether

they will or no; the King being offended with them and set upon

it, as I hear.

17th. Great high words in the House on Saturday last upon the

first part of the Committee's Report about the dividing of the

fleet; wherein some would have the counsels of the King to be

declared, and the reasons of them, and who did give them; where

Sir W. Coventry laid open to them the consequences of doing that,

that the King would never have any honest and wise men ever to be

of his Council. They did here in the House talk boldly of the

King's bad Counsellors, and how they must all be turned out, and

many others, and better brought in: and the proceedings of the

Long-Parliament in the beginning of the war were called to

memory; and the King's bad intelligence was mentioned, wherein

they were bitter against my Lord Arlington, saying, among other

things, that whatever Morrice's was, who declared he had but

750l. a-year allowed him for intelligence, the King paid too dear

for my Lord Arlington's in giving him 10,000l. and a Barony for

it. Sir W. Coventry did here come to his defence in the business

of the letter that was sent to call back Prince Rupert after he

was divided from the fleet, wherein great delay was objected; but

he did show that he sent it at one in the morning, when the Duke

of York did give him the instructions after supper that night,

and did clear himself well of it; only it was laid as a fault,

which I know not how he removes, of not sending it by an express,

but by the ordinary post; it coming not to Sir Philip Honiwood's

hand at Portsmouth till four in the afternoon that day, being

about fifteen or sixteen hours in going. The dividing of the

fleet however is, I hear, voted a miscarriage, and the not

building a fortification at Sheernesse: and I have reason every

hour to expect that they will vote the like of our paying men off

by ticket; and what the consequence of that will be, I know not.

18th. Sir W. Coventry and I did look over the list of

commanders, and found that we could presently recollect thirty-

seven commanders that have been killed in actuall service this

war. He tells me that Sir Fr. Hollis is the main man that hath

prosecuted him hitherto in the business of dividing the fleet,

saying vainly that the want of that letter to the Prince hath

given him that that he shall remember it by to his grave, meaning

the loss of his arme [Vide Note June 10, 1667.] when, God knows,

he is as idle and insignificant a fellow as ever came into the

fleet. I well remember what in mirth he said to me this morning,

when upon this discourse he said if ever there was another Dutch

war they should not find a Secretary; "Nor," said I, "a Clerk of

the Acts, for I see the reward of it; and, thank God, I have

enough of my own to buy me a book and a good fiddle, and I have a

good wife;"--"Why," says he, "I have enough to buy me a good

book, and shall not need a fiddle because I have never a one of

your good wives." This morning the House is upon a Bill, brought

in to-day by Sir Richard Temple, for obliging the King to call

Parliaments every three years; or if he fail, for others to be

obliged to do it, and to keep him from a power of dissolving any

Parliament in less than forty days after their first day of

sitting: which is such a Bill as do speak very high proceedings

to the lessening of the King; and this they will carry, and

whatever else they desire, before they will give any money; and

the King must have money, whatever it cost him. I to see Kate

Joyce; where I find her and her friends in great ease of mind,

the Jury having this day given in their verdict that her husband

died of a fever. Some opposition there was, the foreman pressing

them to declare the cause of the fever, thinking thereby to

obstruct it; but they did adhere to their verdict, and would give

no reason: so all trouble is now over, and she safe in her

estate.

19th. In the evening to White Hall; where I find Sir W. Coventry

a great while with the Duke of York in the King's drawing-room,

they two talking together all alone; which did mightily please

me. I do hear how La Roche, a French captain, who was once

prisoner here, being with his ship at Plymouth, hath played some

freakes there, for which his men being beat out of the town, he

hath put up a flag of defiance, and also somewhere there about

did land with his men and go a mile into the country, and did

some prank; which sounds pretty odd to our disgrace, but we are

in condition now to bear any thing. But, blessed be God! all

the Court is full of good news of my Lord Sandwich having made a

peace between Spain and Portugall; which is mighty great news,

and above all to my Lord's honour more than any thing he ever

did; and yet I do fear it will not prevail to secure him in

Parliament against incivilities there.

20th. The House most of the morning upon the business of not

prosecuting the first victory: which they have voted one of the

greatest miscarriages of the whole war, though they cannot lay

the fault any where yet, because Harman is not come home. Dined,

and by one o'clock to the King's house: a new play, "The Duke of

Lerma," of Sir Robert Howard's: where the King and Court was;

and Knipp and Nell spoke the prologue most excellently,

especially Knipp, who spoke beyond any creature I ever heard.

The play designed to reproach our King with his mistresses, that

I was troubled for it, and expected it should be interrupted; but

it ended all well, which salved all.

21st. The House this day is still as backward for giving any

money as ever, and do declare they will first have an account of

the disposals of the last Poll-bill, and eleven months' tax. And

it is pretty odde that the very first sum mentioned in the

account brought in by Sir Robert Long of the disposal of the

Poll-bill money is 5000l. to my Lord Arlington for intelligence;

which was mighty unseasonable, so soon after they had so much

cried out against his want of intelligence. The King do also own

but 250,000l. or thereabouts yet paid on the Poll-bill, and that

he hath charged 350,000l. upon it. This makes them mad; for that

the former Poll-bill, that was so much less in its extent than

the last, which took in all sexes and qualities, did come to

350,000l. Upon the whole, I perceive they are like to do nothing

in this matter to please the King, or relieve the State, be the

case never so pressing; and therefore it is thought by a great

many that the King cannot be worse if he should dissolve them;

but there is nobody dares advise it, nor do he consider any thing

himself. My cosen Roger Pepys showed me Granger's written

confession, of his being forced by imprisonment, &c. by my Lord

Gerard, most barbarously to confess his forging of a deed in

behalf of Fitton, in the great case between him and my Lord

Gerard; which business is under examination, and is the foulest

against my Lord Gerard that ever any thing in the world was, and

will, all do believe, ruine him; and I shall be glad of it.

22nd. To the Duke's playhouse, and there saw "Alblemanazar,"

[Albumazar, a comedy, by Tomkins of Trin. Coll. Cambridge.] an

old play, this the second time of acting. It is said to have

been the ground of B. Jonson's "Alchymist;" but, saving the

ridiculousnesse of Angell's part, which is called Trinkilo, I do

not see any thing extraordinary in it, but was indeed wary of it

before it was done. The King here; and indeed all of us pretty

merry at the mimique tricks of Trinkilo.

23rd. 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 manner 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 afraid of any thing 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 Sir G. Carteret to White Hall;

where 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.

Going back again, Sir R. Brookes overtook us coming to town; who

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 afraid 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 him. This evening my wife did with great pleasure

show 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 150l. 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. Meeting Dr. Gibbons, [Christopher Gibbons, Organist to the

King and of Westminster abbey. He was admitted Doctor of Music

at Oxford 1664, and died 1676.] he and I to see an organ at the

Dean of Westminster's lodgings at the abby, the Bishop of

Rochester's; [John Dolben; afterwards translated to York.] where

he lives like a great prelate, his lodgings being very good;

though at present under great disgrace at Court, being put by his

Clerks of the Closet's place. I saw his lady, of whom the TERROE

FILIUS of Oxford was once so merry; 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 I will not have it. To the

Nursery, 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. I was prettily served this day

at the playhouse-door; where, giving six shillings into the

fellow's hand for three of us, 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.

28th. 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 300,000l., 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

270,000l. to keep the fleet abroad, wherein we demanded nothing

for setting and fitting of them out, which will cost almost

200,000l. 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. [M.P. for Ludlow ; and in 1663 elected Speaker

which office he resigned on account of ill health. He was

successively King's Serjeant, Chief Justice of Chester and a

Justice of the Common Pleas; created a Baronet 1686, and ob.

1697.] 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.

27th. With my wife to the King's House to see "The Virgin

Martyr," [A Tragedy, by Massinger.] 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 Beck 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 musique 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. 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, although 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 Colonell 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 cosen Roger, whom I

went to: and he and I to his lodgings. And there he did tell me

the same over again; and how 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 what 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 show all the zeal on this

occasion.

29th. They tell me how Sir Thomas Allen hath taken the

Englishmen out of La Roche's ship, 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 every body do think a war will follow; and then in

what a case we shall be for want of money, nobody knows. Wrote

to my father, and sent him Colvill's note for 600l. for my

sister's portion.

MARCH 1, 1667-8. Lord's day. Up very betimes, and by coach to

Sir W. Coventry's; and there largely carrying with me all my

notes and papers, did run over our whole defence in the business

of tickets, in order to the answering the House on Thursday next;

and I do think, unless they be set without reason to ruin us, we

shall make a good defence. I find him in great anxiety, though

he will not discover it, in the business of the proceedings of

Parliament; and would as little as is possible have his name

mentioned in our discourse to them. And particularly the

business of selling places is now upon his hand to defend himself

in; wherein I did help him in his defence about the flag-maker's

place, which is named in the House. We did here do the like

about the complaint of want of victuals in the fleet in the year

1666, which will lie upon me to defend also.

2nd. Mr. Moore was with me, and do tell me, and so W. Hewer

tells me, he hears this morning that all the town is full of the

discourse that the officers of the Navy shall be all turned out,

but honest Sir John Minnes; who, God knows, is fitter to have

been turned out himself than any of us, doing the King more hurt;

by his dotage and folly than all the rest can do by their

knavery, if they had a mind to it. This day I have the news that

my sister was married on Thursday last to Mr. Jackson; so that

work is, I hope, well over.