1668-69. FEBRUARY 1. Meeting Mr. Povy, he and I away to

Dancre's to speak something touching the pictures I am getting

him to make for me, And thence he carried me to Mr. Streeter's

[Robert Streater appointed Serjeant Painter at the Restoration.

Ob. 1680.] the famous history-painter over the way, whom I have

often heard of, but did never see him before; and there I found

him and Dr. Wren and several virtuosos looking upon the paintings

which he is making for the new Theatre at Oxford: and indeed they

look as if they would be very fine, and the rest think better

than those of Rubens in the Banqueting house: at White Hall, but

I do not so fully think so. But they will certainly be very

noble; and I am mightily pleased to have the fortune to see this

man and his work, which is very famous. And he a very civil

little man, and lame, but lives very handsomely. So thence to my

Lord Bellasses, and met him within: my business only to see a

chimney-piece of Dancres doing in distemper, with egg to keep off

the glaring of the light, which I must have done for my room: and

indeed it is pretty, but I must confess I do think it is not

altogether so beautiful as the oyle pictures; but I will have

some of one and some of another. So to the King's playhouse,

thinking to have seen. "The Heyresse," first acted on Saturday

last: but when we come thither we find no play there; Kinaston,

that did act a part therein in abuse to Sir Charles Sedley, being

last night exceedingly beaten with sticks by two or three that

saluted him, so as he is mightily bruised and forced to keep his

bed.

2nd. To dinner at noon, where I find Mr. Sheres; and there made

a short dinner, and carried him with us to the King's playhouse,

where "The Heyresse," notwithstanding Kinaston's being beaten, is

acted: and they say the King is very angry with Sir Charles

Sedley for his being beaten, but he do deny it. But his part is

done by Beeston, who is fain to read it out of a book all the

while, and thereby spoils the part, and almost the play, it being

one of the best parts in it: and though the design is in the

first conception of it pretty good, yet it is but an indifferent

play; wrote, they say, by my Lord Newcastle. ["The Heiress" does

not appear in the list of the Duke of Newcastle's works, nor can

I find any mention of it elsewhere.] But it was pleasant to see

Beeston come in with others, supposing it to be dark, and yet he

is forced to read his part by the light of the candles: and this

I observing to a gentleman that sat by me, he was mightily

pleased therewith, and spread it up and down. But that that

pleased me most in the play is the first song that Knipp sings

(she singing three or four); and indeed it was very finely sung,

so as to make the whole house clap her.

5th. Betimes to Sir W. Coventry's, meaning by my visit to keep

fresh my interest in him. And he tells me how it hath been

talked that he was to go one of the Commissioners to Ireland,

which he was resolved never to do unless directly commanded: for

that to go thither while the Chief Secretary of State was his

professed enemy, was to undo himself; and therefore it were

better for him to venture being unhappy here, than to go further

off to be undone by some obscure instructions, or whatever other

way of mischief his enemy should cut out for him. He mighty kind

to me; and so parted.

6th. To the King's playhouse, and there in an upper box (where

come in Colonell Poynton and Moll Stacey, who is very fine, and

by her wedding-ring I suppose he hath married her at last,) did

see "The Moor of Venice:" but ill acted in most parts, Moone

(which did a little surprise me) not acting Iago's part by much

so well as Clun used to do: nor another Hart's, which was

Cassio's; nor indeed Burt doing the Moor's so well as I once

thought he did. Thence home; and just at Holborne-conduit the

bolt broke that holds the fore-wheels to the perch, and so the

horses went away with them and left the coachman and us: but

being near our coach-maker's, and we staying in a little

ironmonger's shop, we were presently supplied with another.

8th. To visit my Lord Sandwich; and there, while my Lord was

dressing himself, did see a young Spaniard that he hath brought

over with him dance, which he is admired for as the best dancer

in Spain, and indeed he do with mighty mastery; but I do not like

his dancing as well as the English, though my Lord commends it

mightily. But I will have him to my house, and show it my wife,

Here I met with Mr. Moore, who tells me the state of my Lord's

accounts of his embassy, which I find not so good as I thought:

for though it be passed the King and his Caball the (Committee

for Foreign Affairs, as they are called,) yet they have cut off

from 19,000l. full 8000l. and have now sent it to the Lords of

the Treasury, who, though the Committee have allowed the rest,

yet they are not obliged to abide by it. So that I do fear this

account may yet be long ere it be passed,--much more ere that sum

be paid. I am sorry for the family.

9th. To the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Island

Princesse," which I like mighty well as an excellent play: and

here we find Kinaston to be well enough to act again; which he do

very well, after his beating by Sir Charles Sedley's appointment.

10th. To the plaisterer's at Charing Cross that casts heads and

bodies in plaister; and there I had my whole face done; but I was

vexed first to be forced to daub all my face over with pomatum.

Thus was the mold made; but when it came off there was little

pleasure in it as it looks in the mold, nor any resemblance

whatever there will be in the figure when I come to see it cast

off. To White Hall, where I staid till the Duke of York came

from hunting, which he did by and by, and when dressed did come

out to dinner; and there I waited. And he did mightly magnify

his sauce, which he did then eat with every thing, and said it

was the best universal sauce in the world, it being taught him by

the Spanish Embassador; made of some parsley and a dry toast,

beat in a mortar together with vinegar, salt, and a little

pepper: he eats it with flesh, or fowl, or fish. And then he did

now mightily commend some new sort of wine lately found out,

called Navarr wine; which I tasted, and is, I think, good wine:

but I did like better the notion of the sauce, and by and by did

taste it, and liked it mightily. After dinner I did what I went

for; which was to get his consent that Balty might hold his

Muster-master's place by deputy in his new employment which I

design for him, about the Store-keeper's accounts; which the Duke

of York did grant me, and I was mightily glad of it.

12th. To wait on the Duke of York with the rest of us at the

Robes; where the Duke of York did tell us that the King would

have us prepare a draught of the present administration of the

Navy, and what it was in the late times, in order to his being

able to distinguish between the good and the bad; which I shall

do, but to do it well will give me a great deal of trouble. Here

we showed him Sir J. Minnes's propositions about balancing Store-

keeper's accounts; and I did show him Hosier's, which did please

him mightily, and he will have it showed the Council and King

anon to be put in practice. Thence to the Treasurer's and I and

Sir J. Minnes and Mr. Tippets down to the Lords Commissioners of

the Treasury, and there had a hot debate from Sir Thomas Clifford

and my Lord Ashly (the latter of whom, I hear, is turning about

as fast as he can to the Duke Buckingham's side, being in danger

it seems of being otherwise out of play, which would not be

convenient for him,) against Sir W. Coventry and Sir J. Duncomb;

who did uphold our office: against an accusation of our

Treasurers, who told the Lords that they found that we had run

the King in debt 50,000l. or more, more than the money appointed

for the year would defray; which they declared like fools, and

with design to hurt us, though the thing is in itself ridiculous.

But my Lord Ashly and Clifford did most horribly cry out against

the want of method in the office. At last it came that it should

be put in writing what they had to object; but I was devilish mad

at it, to see us thus wounded by our own members. Attended with

Lord Brouncker the King and Council about the proposition of

balancing Store-keeper's accounts; and there presented Hosier's

book, and it was mighty well resented [Resent, to take WELL or

ill,--Johnson.] and approved of. So the Council being up, we to

the Queene's side with the King and Duke of York: and the Duke of

York did take me out to talk of our Treasurers, whom he is mighty

angry with; and I perceive he is mighty desirous to bring in as

many good motions of profit and reformation in the Navy as he can

before the Treasurers do light upon them, they being desirous, it

seems, to be thought the great reformers; and the Duke of York do

well. But to my great joy he is mighty open to me in every

thing; and by this means I know his whole mind, and shall be able

to secure myself if he stands. Here to-night I understand by my

Lord Brouncker, that at last it is concluded on by the King and

Buckingham that my Lord of Ormond shall not hold his government

of Ireland; which is a great stroke to show the power of

Buckingham and the poor spirit of the King, and little hold that

any man can have of him. Home, and there Pelling hath got W.

Pen's book against the Trinity. I got my wife to read it to me;

and I find it so well writ as, I think, it is too good for him

ever to have writ it; and it is a serious sort of book, and not

fit for every body to read.

14th (Lord's day). Up, and by coach to Sir W. Coventry: and

there he tells me he takes no more care for any thing more than

in the Treasury; and that that being done, be goes to cards and

other delights, as plays, and in the summer-time to bowles. But

here he did show me two or three old books of the Navy of my Lord

Northumberland's [Algernon Percy, tenth Earl of Northumberland,

made Lord High Admiral 1635.] times, which he hath taken many

good notes out of, for justifying the Duke of York and us in many

things, wherein perhaps precedent will be necessary to produce.

Thence to White Hall, where the Duke of York expected me; and in

his closet Wren and I. He did tell me how the King hath been

acquainted with the Treasurers' discourse at the Lords

Commissioners of the Treasury the other day, and is dissatisfied

with our running him in debt; which I removed. And he did carry

me to the King, and I did satisfy him also: but his satisfaction

is nothing worth, it being easily got and easily removed. But I

do purpose to put it in writing, that shall make the Treasurers

ashamed. But the Duke of York is horrid angry against them; and

he hath cause, for they do work all they can to bring dishonour

upon his management, as do plainly appear in all they do. Having

done with the Duke of York, who do repose all in me, I with Mr.

Wren to his chamber to talk; where he observed, that these people

are all of them a broken sort of people that have not much to

lose, and therefore will venture all to make their fortunes

better: that Sir Thomas Osborne is a beggar, having 11 or 1200l.

a-year, but owes above 10,000l. The Duke of Buckingham's

condition is shortly this: that he hath about 19,600l. a-year, of

which he pays away about 7000l. a-year in interest, about 2000l.

in fee-farm rents to the King, about 6000l. in wages and

pensions, and the rest to live upon and pay taxes for the whole.

Wren says, that for the Duke of York to stir in this matter, as

his quality might justify, would but make all things worse, and

that therefore he must bend and suger all till time works it out:

that he fears they will sacrifice the Church, and that the King

will take any thing (and so he holds up his head a little

longer), and then break in pieces. But Sir W. Coventry did to-

day mightily magnify my late Lord Treasurer for a wise and solid,

though infirm man: and among other things, that when he hath said

it was impossible in nature to find this or that sum of money,

and my Lord Chancellor hath made sport of it, and told the King

that when my Lord hath said it was impossible, yet he hath made

shift to find it, and that was by Sir G. Carteret's getting

credit, my Lord did once in his hearing say thus, which he

magnifies as a great saying--that impossible would be found

impossible at last; meaning that the King would run himself out

beyond all his credit and funds, and then we should too late find

it impossible; which is, he says, now come to pass.

15th. To the plaisterer's, and there saw the figure of my face

taken from the mould; and it is most admirably like, and I will

have another made before I take it away. At the 'Change I did at

my bookseller's shop accidentally fall into talk with Sir Samuel

Tuke [Sir Samuel Tuke, of Cressing Temple, Essex, Bart. was a

Colonel in Charles the First's army, and cosen to Mr. Evelyn. He

died at Somerset-house, January, 1673.] about trees and Mr.

Evelyn's garden; and I do find him, I think, a little conceited,

but a man of very fine discourse as any I ever heard almost;

which I was mighty glad of. In Suffolk-street lives Moll Davies;

and we did see her coach come for her to her door, a mighty

pretty fine coach. To White Hall; and there, by means of Mr.

Cooling, did get into the play, the only one we have seen this

winter: it was "The Five Hours' Adventure:" but I sat so far I

could not hear well, nor was there any pretty woman that I did

see but my wife, who sat in my Lady Fox's pew with her. The

house very full; and late before done, so that it was past eleven

before we got home.

17th. The King dining yesterday at the Dutch Embassador's, after

dinner they drank and were pretty merry; and among the rest of

the King's company there was that worthy fellow my Lord of

Rochester, and Tom Killigrew, whose mirth and raillery offended

the former so much, that he did give Tom Killigrew a box on the

ear in the King's presence; which do give much offence to the

people here at Court to see how cheap the King makes himself, and

the more, for that the King hath not only passed by the thing and

pardoned it to Rochester already, but this very morning the King

did publicly walk up and down, and Rochester I saw with him as

free as ever, to the King's everlasting shame to have so idle a

rogue his companion. How Tom Killigrew takes it, I do not hear.

I do also this day hear that my Lord Privy-Seale do accept to go

Lieutenant into Ireland; but whether it be true or no, I cannot

tell. To Colonel Middleton's to the burial of his wife, where we

were all invited, and much more company, and had each of us a

ring. At church there was my Lord Brouncker and Mrs. Williams in

our pew, the first time they were ever there, or that I knew that

either of them would go to church.

19th. This morning, among other things, talking with Sir W.

Coventry, I did propose to him my putting in to serve in

Parliament, if there should, as the world begins to expect, be a

new one chose. He likes it mightily, both for the King's and

service's sake, and the Duke of York's, and will propound it to

the Duke of York: and I confess, if there be one, I would be glad

to be in.

22nd. In the evening to White Hall, and there did without much

trouble get into the playhouse, finding a good place among the

Ladies of Honour, and all of us sitting in the pit; and then by

and by came the King and Queene, and they began "Bartholomew-

fair." But I like no play here so well as at the common

playhouse; besides that, my eyes being very ill since last Sunday

and this day se'nnight, I was in mighty pain to defend myself now

from the light of the candles. after the play done, we met with

W. Batelier and W. Hewer and Talbot Pepys, [Of Impington, Ob.

1681, aet. suae 35.] and they followed us in a hackney-coach:

and we all stopped at Hercules' Pillars; and there I did give

them the best supper I could, and pretty merry; and so home

between eleven and twelve at night.

23rd. To Westminster Abbey, and there did see all the tombs very

finely, having one with us alone (there being other company this

day to see the tombs, it being Shrove-Tuesday:) and here we did

see, by particular favour, the body of Queen Katherine of Valois;

and I had the upper part of her body in my hands, and I did kiss

her mouth, reflecting upon it that I did kiss a queene, and that

this was my birth-day, thirty-six years old, that I did kiss a

queene. But here this man, who seems to understand well, tells

me that the saying is not true that she was never buried, for she

was buried; only when Henry the Seventh built his chapel, she was

taken up and laid in this wooden coffin; but I did there see that

in it the body was buried in a leaden one, which remains under

the body to this day.

25th. To the Duke of York's house, and there before one, but the

house infinite full; where by and by the King and Court come, it

being a new play, or an old one new vamped by Shadwell, called

"The Royall Shepherdesse;" [A tragi-comedy, altered by Thomas

Shadwell from a comedy written by Mr. Fountain, called "The

Rewards of Virtue."] but the silliest for words and design, and

every thing, that ever I saw in my whole life, there being

nothing in the world pleasing in it, but a good martiall dance of

pikemen, where Harris and another do handle their pikes in a

dance to admiration; but never less satisfied with a play in my

life.

26th. To the King's playhouse, and saw "The Faithfull

Shepherdesse." But, Lord! what an empty house, there not being,

as I could tell the people, so many as to make up above 10l. in

the whole house! But I plainly discern the musick is the better,

by how much the house the emptier.

1668-9. MARCH 1. I do hear that my Lady Paulina Montagu did die

yesterday! at which I went to my Lord's lodgings, but he is shut

up with sorrow, and so not to be spoken with: and therefore I

returned, and to Westminster Hall, where I have not been, I

think, in some months. And here the Hall was very full, the King

having by Commission to some Lords this day prorogued the

Parliament till the 19th of October next; at which I am glad,

hoping to have time to go over to France this year. But I was

most of all surprised this morning by my Lord Bellasses, who by

appointment met me at Auditor Wood's at the Temple, and tells me

of a duell designed between the Duke of Buckingham and my Lord

Halifax, or Sir W. Coventry; the challenge being carried by Harry

Saville, but prevented by my Lord Arlington, and the King told of

it: and this was all the discourse at Court this day. But I

meeting Sir W. Coventry in the Duke of York's chamber, he would

not own it to me, but told me he was a man of too much peace to

meddle with fighting; and so it rested: but the talk is full in

the town of the business. Thence, having walked some turns with

my cosen Pepys, and most people by their discourse believing that

this Parliament will never sit more, I away. I did bring home a

piece of my face cast in plaister, for to make a visard upon for

my eyes.

2nd. My wife this day put on first her French gown, called a

Sac, which becomes her very well.

3rd. To White Hall, where W. Hewer met me; and he and I took a

turn in St. James's Park, and in the Mall did meet Sir W.

Coventry and Sir J. Duncomb, and did speak, with them about some

business, before the Lords of the Treasury: but I did find them

more than usually busy, though I knew not then the reason of it,

though I guessed it by what followed next day. Thence to

Dancre's the painter's and there saw my picture of Greenwich,

finished to my very good content, though this manner of distemper

do make the figures not so pleasing as in oyle. To the Duke of

York's playhouse, and there saw an old play, the first time acted

these forty years, called "The Lady's Tryall," [A tragedy, by

John Ford.] acted only by the young people of the house but the

house very full. To the New Exchange, and so called at my cousin

Turner's, and there meeting Mr. Bellwood, did hear how my Lord

Mayor being invited this day to dinner at the Reader's at the

Temple, and endeavoring to carry his sword up, the students did

pull it down, and forced him to go and stay all the day in a

private Counsellor's chamber until the Reader himself could get

the young gentlemen to dinner; and then my Lord Mayor did retreat

out of the Temple by stealth, with his sword up. This do make

great heat among the students; and my Lord Mayor did send to the

King, and also I hear that Sir Richard Browne did cause the drums

to beat for the Train-bands; but all is over, only I hear that

the students do resolve to try the Charter of the City. So we

home, and betimes to bed, and slept well all night.

4th. To White Hall, where in the first Court I did meet Sir

Jeremy Smith, who did tell me that Sir W. Coventry was just now

sent to the Tower, about the business of the challenging the Duke

of Buckingham, and so was also Harry Saville to the Gate-house;

which, as he is a gentleman, and of the Duke of York's

Bedchamber, I heard afterwards that the Duke of York is mightily

incensed at, and do appear very high to the King that he might

not be sent thither, but to the Tower, this being done only in

contempt of him. This news of Sir W. Coventry did strike me to

the heart, and with reason, for by this and my Lord of Ormond's

business I do doubt that the Duke of Buckingham will be so

flushed that he will not stop at any thing, but be forced to do

any thing now, as thinking it not safe to end here; and, Sir W.

Coventry being gone, the King will have no good Counsellor left,

nor the Duke of York any sure friend to stick to him; nor any

good man will remain to advise what is good. This, therefore, do

heartily trouble me, as any thing that ever I heard. So up into

the House, and met with several people; but the Committee did not

meet. And the whole House I find full of the business of Sir W.

Coventry's, and most men very sensible of the cause and effects

of it. So, meeting with my Lord Bellasses, he told me the

particulars of this matter; that it arises about a quarrel which

Sir W. Coventry had with the Duke of Buckingham, about a design

between him and Sir Robert Howard to bring him into a play at the

King's house; which W. Coventry not enduring, did by H. Saville

send a letter to the Duke of Buckingham, that he had a desire to

speak with him. Upon which the Duke of Buckingham did bid Holmes

(his champion ever since my Lord Shrewsbury's business) go to him

to do the business; but H. Saville would not tell it to any but

himself, and therefore did go presently to the Duke of

Buckingham, and told him that his uncle Coventry was a person of

honour, and was sensible of his Grace's liberty taken of abusing

him, and that he had a desire of satisfaction, and would fight

with him. But that here they were interrupted by my Lord

Chamberlain's coming in, who was commanded to go to bid the Duke

of Buckingham to come to the King, Holmes having discovered it.

He told me that the King did last night at the Council ask the

Duke of Buckingham, upon his honour, whether he received any

challenge from W. Coventry? which he confessed that he had; and

then the King asking W. Coventry, he told him that he did not

owne what the Duke of Buckingham had said, though it was not fit

for him to give him a direct contradiction. But, being by the

King put upon declaring the truth upon his honour, be answered

that he had understood that many hard questions had upon this

business been moved to some lawyers, and that therefore he was

unwilling to declare any thing that might from his own mouth

render him obnoxious to his Majesty's displeasure, and therefore

prayed to be excused: which the King did think fit to interpret

to be a confession, and so gave warrant that night for his

commitment to the Tower. Being very much troubled at this, I

away by coach homewards, and directly to the Tower, where I find

him in one Mr. Bennet's house, son to Major Bayly, one of the

Officers of the Ordnance, in the Bricke Tower: where I find him

busy with my Lord Halifax and his brother; so I would not stay to

interrupt them, but only to give him comfort and offer my service

to him, which he kindly and cheerfully received, only owning his

being troubled for the King his master's displeasure, which I

suppose is the ordinary form and will of persons in this

condition. And so I parted with great content that I had so

earlily seen him there; and so, going out, did meet Sir Jer.

Smith going to meet me, who had newly been with Sir W. Coventry.

And so he and I by water to Redriffe, and so walked to Deptford,

where I have not been, I think, these twelve months: and there to

the Treasurer's house, where the Duke of York is, and his

Duchesse; and there we find them at dinner in the great room,

unhung: and there was with them my Lady Duchesse of Monmouth, the

Countess of Falmouth, Castlemaine, Henrietta Hide, [Henrietta,

fifth daughter to the Earl of Burlington, married Laurence Hyde

afterwards Earl of Rochester.] my Lady Hinchingbroke's sister,

and my Lady Peterborough. And after dinner Sir Jer. Smith and I

were invited down to dinner with some of the Maids of Honour,

namely, Mrs. Ogle, [Anne Ogle.] Blake, [Mary, daughter of

Colonel Blague, married Sir Thomas Yarborough. VID. "MEMOIRES DE

GRAMMONT."] and Howard, [Dorothy Howard.] (which did me good to

have the honour to dine with and look on); and the mother of the

Maids, and Mrs. Howard, the mother of the Maid of Honour of that

name, and the Duke's housekeeper here. Here was also Monsieur

Blancfort, Sir Richard Powell, Colonell Villers, Sir Jonathan

Trelawny, [Eldest son of Sir John Trelawney, who was created a

Baronet 1628. He served with credit in 1672 under Marshal

Turenne and was afterwards made Governor of Plymouth by King

William, for his good conduct in Ireland.] and others. And here

drank most excellent, and great variety, and plenty of wines,

more than I have drank at once these seven years, but yet did me

no great hurt. Having dined very merrily, and understanding by

Blancfort how angry the Duke of York was about their offering to

send Saville to the Gate-house among the rogues; and then,

observing how this company, both the ladies and all, are of a

gang, and did drink a health to the union of the two brothers,

and talking of others as their enemies, they parted, and so we

up: and there I did find the Duke of York and Duchesse with all

the great ladies sitting upon a carpet on the ground, there being

no chairs, playing at "I love my love with an A, because he is so

and so; and I hate him with an A, because of this and that:" and

some of them, but particularly the Duchesse herself and my Lady

Castlemaine, were very witty. This done, they took barge, and I

with Sir J. Smith to Captain Cox's; and there to talk, and left

them.

5th. After dinner I to the Tower, where I find Sir W. Coventry

with abundance of company with him; and after sitting awhile and

hearing some merry discourse, and, among others, of Mr.

Brouncker's being this day summoned to Sir William Morton [Made a

Justice of the King's Bench 1665. Ob. 1672.] one of the Judges,

to give in security for his good behaviour upon his words the

other day to Sir John Morton, [M.P. for Weymouth in 1680.] a

Parliament-man, at White Hall, who had heretofore spoke very

highly against Brouncker in the House, I away, and to Aldgate.

6th. Before the office I stepped to Sir W. Coventry at the

Tower, and there had a great deal of discourse with him; among

others, of the King's putting him out of the Council yesterday,

with which he is well contented, as with what else they can strip

him of, he telling me, and so hath long, that he is weary and

surfeited of business. But he joins with me in his fears that

all will go to naught, as matters are now managed. He told me

the matter of the play that was intended for his abuse, wherein

they foolishly and sillily bring in two tables like that which he

hath made with a round hole In the middle in his closet to turn

himself in; [Vide Diary, July 4, 1668, where Sir W. C.'s round

table is described.] and he is to be in one of them as master,

and Sir J. Duncomb in the other, as his man or imitator: and

their discourse in those tables about the disposing of their

books and papers very foolish. But that that he is offended

with, is his being made so contemptible, as that any should dare

to make a gentleman a subject for the mirth of the world: and

that therefore he had told Tom Killigrew that he should tell his

actors, whoever they were, that did offer at any thing like

representing him, that he would not complain to my Lord

Chamberlain, which was too weak, nor get him beaten, as Sir

Charles Sedley is said to have done; but that he would cause his

nose to be cut. He told me how that the Duke of Buckingham did

himself some time since desire to join with him, of all men in

England, and did bid him propound to himself to be Chief Minister

of State, saying that he would bring it about, but that he

refused to have any thing to do with any faction; and that the

Duke of Buckingham did, within these few days, say that, of all

men in England, he would have chosen Sir W. Coventry to have

joined entire with. He tells me that he fears their prevailing

against the Duke of York; and that their violence will force them

to it, as being already beyond his pardon. He repeated to me

many examples of challengings of Privy-counsellers and others;

but never any proceeded against with that severity which he is,

it never amounting with others to more than a little confinement.

He tells me of his being weary of the Treasury, and of the folly,

ambition, and desire of popularity of Sir Thomas Clifford; and

yet the rudeness of his tongue and passions, when angry.

7th (Lord's day). To the Tower to see Sir W. Coventry, who had

H. Jermin and a great many more with him, and more while I was

there came in: so that I do hear that there was not less than

sixty coaches there yesterday and the other day; which I hear

also that there is great exception taken at by the King, and the

Duke of Buckingham, but it cannot be helped. I to White Hall,

and there hear that there are letters come from Sir Thomas Allen,

that he hath made some kind of peace with Argier; upon which the

King and Duke of York, being to go out of town to-morrow, are met

at my Lord Arlington's: so I there, and by Mr. Wren was desired

to stay to see if there were occasion for their speaking with me,

which I did, walking without, with Charles Porter, talking of a

great many things: and I perceive all the world is against the

Duke of Buckingham's acting thus high, and do prophecy nothing

but ruin from it. But he do well observe that the church lands

cannot certainly come to much, if the King shall be persuaded to

take them, they being leased out for long leases. By and by

after two hours' stay they rose, having, as Wren tells me,

resolved upon sending six ships to the Streights forthwith, not

being contented with the peace upon the terms they demand; which

are, that all our ships, where any Turks or Moores shall be found

slaves, shall be prizes; which will imply that they must be

searched, I hear that to-morrow the King and Duke of York set out

for Newmarket, by three in the morning, to some foot and horse-

races; to be abroad ten or twelve days. So I without seeing the

Duke of York; but Mr. Wren showed me the order of Council about

the balancing Store-keeper's accounts, passed the Council in the

very terms I drew it, only I did put in my name as he that

presented the book of Hosier's preparing, and that is left out, I

mean my name; which is no great matter.

8th. To White Hall, from whence the King and the Duke of York

went by three in the morning, and had the misfortune to be

overset with the Duke of York, the Duke of Monmouth, and the

Prince, [Rupert.] at the King's gate in Holborne; and the King

all dirty, but no hurt. How it come to pass I know not, but only

it was dark, and the torches did not, they say, light the coach

as they should do. I thought this morning to have seen my Lord

Sandwich before he went out of town, but I came half an hour too

late; which troubles me, I having not seen him since my Lady Pall

died. And so to the Privy-Seal office, to examine what records I

could find there for my help in the great business I am put upon

of defending the present constitution of the Navy; but there

could not have liberty without order from him that is in present,

waiting, Mr. Bickerstaffe, who is out of town.

9th. Up, and to the Tower; and there find Sir W. Coventry alone

writing down his journall, which, he tells me, he now keeps of

the material things; upon which I told him, (and he is the only

man I ever told it to, I think,) that I kept it most strictly

these eight or ten years; and I am sorry almost that I told it

him, it not being necessary, nor maybe convenient, to have it

known. Here he showed me the petition he had sent to the King by

my Lord Keeper; which was not to desire any admittance to

employment, but submitting himself therein humbly to his Majesty;

but prayed the removal of his displeasure, and that he might be

set free. He tells me that my Lord Keeper did acquaint the King

with the substance of it, not showing him the petition; who

answered, that he was disposing of his employments, and when that

was done he might be led to discharge him: and this is what he

expects, and what he seems to desire. But by this discourse he

was pleased to take occasion to show me and read to me his

account, which he hath kept by him under his own hand, of all his

discourse and the King's answers to him upon the great business

of my Lord Clarendon, and how he had first moved the Duke of York

with it twice at good distance, one after another, but without

success; showing me thereby the simplicity and reasons of his so

doing, and the manner of it; and the King's accepting it, telling

him that he was not satisfied in his management, and did discover

some dissatisfaction against him for his opposing the laying

aside of my Lord Treasurer at Oxford, which was a secret the King

had not discovered. And really I was mighty proud to be privy to

this great transaction, it giving me great conviction of the

noble nature and ends of Sir W. Coventry in it, and

considerations in general of the consequences of great men's

actions, and the uncertainty of their estates, and other very

serious considerations.

11th. Up, and to Sir W. Coventry to the Tower; who tells me that

he hears that the Commission is gone down to the King with a

blank to fill for his place in the Treasury: and he believes it

will be filled with one of our Treasurers of the Navy, but which

he knows not, but he believes it will be Osborne. We walked down

to the stone-walk, which is called, it seems, my Lord of

Northumberland's walk, being paved by some one of that title that

was prisoner there; and at the end of it there is a piece of iron

upon the wall with his arms upon it, and holes to put in a peg

for every turn they make upon that walk.

12th. With great content spent all the morning looking over the

Navy accounts of several years, and the several patents of the

Treasurers. W. Hewer carried me to Nott's, the famous bookbinder

that bound for my Lord Chancellor's library: and here I did take

occasion for curiosity to bespeak a book to be bound, only that I

might have one of his binding.

13th. That which put me in good humour both at noon and night,

is the fancy that I am this day made a captain of one of the

King's ships, Mr. Wren having this day sent me the Duke of York's

commission to be Captain of "The Jerzy," in order to my being of

a Court-martiall for examining the loss of "The Defyance" and

other things; which do give me occasion of much mirth, and may be

of some use to me, at least I shall get a little money for the

time I have it; it being designed that I must really be a captain

to be able to sit in this Court.

15th. Up, and by water with W. Hewer to the Temple; and thence

to the Rolls, where I made enquiry for several rolls, and was

soon informed in the manner of it: and so spent the whole

morning with W. Hewer, he taking little notes in short hand,

while I hired a clerk there to read to me about twelve or more

several rolls which I did call for. And it was great pleasure to

me to see the method wherein their rolls are kept; that when the

master of the office, one Mr. Case, do call for them, (who is a

man that I have heretofore known by coming to my Lord

Sandwich's,) he did most readily turn to them. At noon they shut

up; and W. Hewer and I did walk to the Cocke, at the end of

Suffolke-street, where I never was, a great ordinary mightily

cried up, and there bespoke a pullet: which, while dressing, he

and I walked into St. James's Park, and thence back and dined

very handsome with good soup and a pullet for 4s. 6d. the whole.

Thence back to the Rolls, and did a little more business: and so

by water to White Hall, whither I went to speak with Mr.

Williamson (that if he hath any papers relating to the Navy I

might see them, which he promises me.) And so by water home with,

great content for what I have this day found, having got almost

as much as I desire of the history of the Navy, from 1618 to

1642, when the King and Parliament fell out.

16th. Comes to me Mr. Evelyn of Deptford, a worthy good man, and

dined with me (but a bad dinner): who is grieved for and speaks

openly to me his thoughts of the times, and our ruin approaching;

and all by the folly of the King. His business to me was about

some ground of his at Deptford, next to the King's yard: and

after dinner we parted. To Woolwich, where I saw, but did not go

on board, my ship "The Jerzy," she lying at the wharf under

repair. But my business was to speak with Ackworth about some

old things and passages in the Navy, for my information therein,

in order to my great business now of stating the history of the

Navy. This I did; and upon the whole do find that the late

times, in all their management, were not more husbandly than we;

and other things of good content to me. Thence to Greenwich by

water, and there landed at the King's house, which goes on slow,

but is very pretty. I to the Park, there to see the prospect of

the hill, to judge of Dancre's picture which he hath made thereof

for me; and I do like it very well: and it is a very pretty

place. Thence to Deptford, but staid not, Unthwayte being out of

the way. And so home, and then to the King's Tavern (Morrice's)

and staid till W. Hewer fetched his uncle Blackburn by

appointment to me, to discourse of the business of the Navy in

the late times; and he did do it by giving me a most exact

account in writing of the several turns in the Admiralty and Navy

of the persons employed therein, from the beginning of the King's

leaving the Parliament to his son's coming in, to my great

content; and now I am fully informed in all I at present desire.

We fell to other talk; and I find by him that the Bishops must

certainly fall, and their hierarchy; these people have got so

much ground upon the King and kingdom as is not to be got again

from them: and the Bishops do well deserve it. But it is all

the talk, I find, that Dr. Wilkins, my friend, Bishop of Chester,

shall be removed to Winchester and be Lord Treasurer. Though

this be foolish talk, yet I do gather that he is a mighty rising

man, as being a Latitudinarian, and the Duke of Buckingham his

great friend.

18th. Up, and to see Sir W. Coventry, and walked with him a good

while in the stone-walk: and brave discourse about my Lord

Chancellor and his ill managements and mistakes, and several

things of the Navy.

19th. Sir Thomas Clifford did speak to me, as desirous that I

would some time come and confer with him about the Navy; which I

am glad of, but will take the direction of the Duke of York

before I do it, though I would be glad to do something to secure

myself, if I could, in my employment. Thence to the

plaisterer's, and took my face and my Lord Duke of Albemarle's

home with me by coach, they being done to my mind; and mighty

glad I am of understanding this way of having the pictures of any

friends. After dinner with Commissioner Middleton and Kempthorne

to a Court-martiall, to which, by virtue of my late captainship,

I am called, the first I was ever at; where many commanders, and

Kempthorne president. Here was tried a difference between Sir L.

Van Hemskirke, the Dutch captain who commands "The Nonsuch,"

built by his direction, and his lieutenant; a drunken kind of

silly business. We ordered the lieutenant to ask him pardon, and

have resolved to lay before the Duke of York what concerns the

captain, which was striking of his lieutenant and challenging him

to fight, which comes not within any article of the laws

martiall. But upon discourse the other day with Sir W. Coventry

I did advise Middleton, and he and I did forbear to give

judgment, but after the debate did withdraw into another cabin,

(the Court being held in one of the yachts, which was on purpose

brought up over against St. Katherine's) it being to be feared

that this precedent of our being made captains in order to the

trying of the loss of "The Defyance," wherein we are the proper

persons to enquire into the want of instructions while ships do

lie in harbour, might be hereafter made of evil use, by putting

the Duke of Buckingham, or any of these rude fellows that now are

uppermost, to make packed Courts by captains made on purpose to

serve their turns. The other cause was of the loss of the

Providence at Tangier, where the captain's being by chance on

shore may prove very inconvenient to him, for example's sake,

though the man be a good man, and one whom for Norwood's sake I

would be kind to; but I will not offer any thing to the excusing

such a miscarriage. He is at present confined till he can bring

better proofs on his behalf of the reasons of his being on shore.

So Middleton and I away to the office; and there I late busy,

making my people, as I have done lately, to read Mr. Holland's

Discourse of the Navy, and what other things I can get to inform

me fully in all. And here late, about eight at night, comes Mr.

Wren to me, who had been at the Tower to visit Sir W. Coventry.

He came only to see how matters go, and tells me as a secret,

that the last night the Duke of York's closet was broken open,

and his cabinets, and shut again one of them; that the rogue that

did it hath left plate and a watch behind him, and therefore they

fear that it was only for papers, which looks like a very

malicious business in design to hurt the Duke of York; but they

cannot know that till the Duke of York comes to town about the

papers, and therefore make no words of it. He gone, I to work

again, and then to supper home, and to bed.

20th. Up, and to the Tower to Sir W. Coventry, and there walked

with him alone on the stone-walk till company came to him; and

there about the business of the Navy discoursed with him, and

about my Lord Chancellor and Treasurer; that they were against

the war at first, declaring, as wise men and statesmen, at first

to the King, that they thought it fit to have a war with them at

some time or other, but that it ought not to be till we found the

Crowns of Spain and France together by the eares, the want of

which did ruin our war. But then he told me that a great while

before the war my Lord Chancellor did speak of a war with some

heat as a thing to be desired, and did it upon a belief that he

could with his own speeches make the Parliament give what money

he pleased, and do what he would, or would make the King desire;

but he found himself soon deceived of the Parliament, they having

a long time before his removal been cloyed with his speeches and

good words, and being come to hate him. Sir W. Coventry did tell

me it as the wisest thing that ever was said to the King by any

statesman of his time, and it was by my Lord Treasurer that is

dead, whom, I find, he takes for a very great statesman,--that

when the King did show himself forward for passing the Act of

Indemnity, he did advise the King that he would hold his hand in

doing it till he had got his power restored that had been

diminished by the late times, and his revenue settled in such a

manner as he might depend on himself without resting upon

Parliaments, and then pass it. But my Lord Chancellor, who

thought he could have the command of Parliaments for ever,

because for the King's sake they were awhile willing to grant all

the King desired, did press for its being done; and so it was,

and the King from that time able to do nothing with the

Parliament almost. Mightily pleased with the news brought me to-

night; that the King and Duke of York are come back this

afternoon, and no sooner come but a warrant was sent to the Tower

for the releasing Sir W. Coventry: which do put me in some hopes

that there may be in this absence some accommodation made between

the Duke of York and the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Arlington.

21st. To White Hall, in a scull; where to the Duke of York's

dressing-room, and there met Harry Saville, and do understand

that Sir W. Coventry is come to his house last night. I

understand by Mr. Wren that his friends having by Secretary

Trevor and my Lord Keeper applied to the King upon his first

coming home, and a promise made that he should be discharged this

day, my Lord Arlington did anticipate them by sending a warrant

presently for his discharge; which looks a little like kindness,

or a desire of it; which God send! though I fear the contrary.

However, my heart is glad that he is out. Thence up and down the

House. Met Mr. May, who tells me the story of his being put by

Sir John Denham's place (of Surveyor of the King's Works, who, it

seems, is lately dead) by the unkindness of the Duke of

Buckingham, who hath brought in Dr. Wren. Though, he tells me,

he hath been his servant for twenty years together in all his

wants and dangers, saving him from want of bread by his care and

management, and with a promise of having his help in his

advancement, and an engagement under his hand for 1000l. not yet

paid, and yet the Duke of Buckingham is so ungrateful as to put

him by: which is an ill thing though Dr. Wren is a worthy man.

But he tells me that the King is kind to him, and hath promised

him a pension of 300l. a year out of the Works; which will be of

more content to him than the place, which under their present

wants of money is a place that disobliges most people, being not

able to do what they desire to their lodgings. Here meeting with

Sir R. Cholmly and Povy, they tell me that my Lord Middleton is

resolved in the caball that he shall not go to Tangier; and that

Sir Edward Harlow, whom I know not, is propounded to go, who was

Governor of Dunkirke, and, they say, a most worthy brave man;

which I shall be very glad of. News lately come of the Algerines

taking 13,000l. in money out of one of our Company's East India

ships outward-bound, which will certainly make the war last;

which I am sorry for, being so poor as we are, and broken in

pieces.

22nd. Up, and by water with W. Hewer to White Hall, there to

attend the Lords of the Treasury; but before they sat, I did make

a step to see Sir W. Coventry at his house, where, I bless God,

he is come again; but in my way I met him, and so he took me into

his coach and carried me to White Hall, and there set me down,

where he ought not, at least he hath not yet leave to come, nor

hath thought fit yet to ask it, hearing that Harry Saville is not

only denied to kiss the King's hand, but the King being asked it

by the Duke of York, the King did deny it, and directed that he

shall not receive him to wait upon him in his chamber till

further orders. Sir W. Coventry told me that he was going to

visit Sir John Trevor, who hath been kind to him; and he showed

me a long list of all his friends that he must this week make

visits to, that came to visit him in the Tower: and seems mighty

well satisfied with his being out of business, but I hope he will

not long be so; at least, I do believe that all must go to rack

if the King do not come to see the want of such a servant.

Thence to the Treasury-chamber, and there all the morning to my

great grief put to do Sir G. Downing's work of dividing the

Customes for this year between the Navy, the Ordnance, and

Tangier: but it did so trouble my eyes, that I had rather have

given 20l. than have had it to do; but I did thereby oblige Sir

Thomas Clifford and Sir J. Duncomb, and so am glad of the

opportunity to recommend myself to the former, for the latter I

need not, he loving me well already: at it till noon, here being

several of my brethren with me, but doing nothing, but I all.

But this day I did also represent to our Treasurers, which was

read here, a state of the charge of the Navy, and what the

expence of it this year would likely be; which is done so as will

appear well done and to my honour, for so the Lords did take it;

and I oblige the Treasurers by doing it at their request. I to

look over my papers for the East India Company against the

afternoon: which done, I with them to White Hall, and there to

the Treasury-chamber, where the East India Company and three

Counsellors pleaded against me alone for three or four hours,

till seven at night, before the Lords; and the Lords did give me

the conquest on behalf of the King, but could not come to any

conclusion, the Company being stiff; and so I think we shall go

to law with them. This done, and my eyes mighty bad with this

day's work, I to Mr. Wren's, and then up to the Duke of York, and

there with Mr. Wren did propound to him my going to Chatham to-

morrow with Commissioner Middleton, and so this week to make the

pay there, and examine the business of "The Defyance" being lost.

23rd. I took coach with Commissioner Middleton, Captain Tinker,

and Mr. Huchinson, and out towards Chatham, and dined at

Dartford, where we staid an hour or two, it being a cold day; and

so on, and got to Chatham just at night, with very good discourse

by the way, but mostly of matters of religion, wherein Huchinson

his vein lies.

24th. To the Hill house, and there did give order for a coach to

be made ready; and got Mr. Gibson, whom I carried with me, to go

with me and Mr. Coney, the surgeon, towards Maydstone; which I

had a mighty mind to see. A mighty cold and windy, but clear

day; and had the pleasure of seeing the Medway running winding up

mightily, and a very fine country: and I went a little out of

the way to have visited Sir John Bankes, but he at London; but

here I had a sight of his seat and house, [The Friary in

Aylesford parish, now the property of the Earl of Aylesford,

whose ancestor Heneage Finch married the eldest daughter and co-

heiress of Sir John Bankes.] the outside, which is an old abbey

just like Hinchingbroke, and as good at least, and mightily

finely placed by the river; and he keeps the grounds about it,

and walls and the house, very handsome: I was mightily pleased

with the sight of it. Thence to Maydstone, which I had a mighty

mind to see, having never been there; and walked all up and down

the town, and up to the top of the steeple and had a noble view,

and then down again: and in the town did see an old man beating

of flax, and did step into the barn and give him money, and saw

that piece of husbandry, which I never saw; and it is very

pretty. In the street also I did buy and send to our inne, the

Bell, a dish of fresh fish. And so having walked all round the

town, and found it very pretty as most towns I ever saw, though

not very big, and people of good fashion in it, we to our inne

and had a good dinner; and a barber came to me and there trimmed

me, that I might be clean against night to go to Mrs. Allen. And

so staying till four o'clock we set out, I alone in the coach

going and coming: and in our way back I light out of the way to

see a Saxon monument, as they say, of a King, which is of three

stones standing upright, and a great round one lying on them, of

great bigness, although not so big as those on Salisbury Plain.

But certainly it is a thing of great antiquity, and I am mightily

glad to see it: it is near to Alesford, where Sir John Bankes

lives. So homeward to Chatham, Captain Allen's, and there light.

25th. Up, and by and by, about eight o'clock, came Rear-Admirall

Kempthorne and seven captains more, by the Duke of York's order,

as we expected, to hold the Court-martiall about the loss of "The

Defyance." And so presently we by boat to "The Charles," which

lies over-against Upner Castle; and there I did manage the

business, the Duke of York having by special order directed them

to take the assistance of Commissioner Middleton and me,

forasmuch as there might be need of advice in what relates to the

government of the ships in harbour. And so I did lay the law

open to them, and rattle the master-attendants out of their wits

almost; and made the trial last till seven at night, not eating a

bit all the day; only when he had done examination, and I given

my thoughts that the neglect of the gunner of the ship was as

great as I thought any neglect could be, which might by the law

deserve death, but Commissioner Middleton did declare that he was

against giving the sentence of death, we withdrew, as not being

of the Court, and so left them to do what they pleased: and

while they were debating it, the boatswain of the ship did bring

us out of the kettle a piece of hot salt beef, and some brown

bread and brandy; and there we did make a little meal, but so

good as I never would desire to eat better meat while I live,

only I would have cleaner dishes. By and by they had, done, and

called us down from the quarterdeck; and there we find they do

sentence that the gunner of "The Defyance" should stand upon "The

Charles" three hours with his fault writ upon his breast, and

with a halter about his neck, and so be made incapable of any

service. The truth is, the man do seem, and is, I believe, a good

man; but his neglect, in trusting a girl to carry fire into his

cabin, is not to be pardoned. This being done, we took boat and

home; and there a good supper was ready for us, which should have

been our dinner. The captains, desirous to be at London, went

away presently for Gravesend, to get thither by this night's

tide. And so we to supper, it having been a great snowy and

mighty cold, foul day; and so after supper to bed.

26th. Up, and with Middleton all the morning at the Docke,

looking over the store-houses and Commissioner Pett's house, in

order to Captain Cox's coming to live there in his stead as

Commissioner. But it is a mighty pretty house; and pretty to see

how every thing is said to be out of repair for this new man,

though 10l. would put it into as good condition in every thing as

it ever was in, so free every body is of the King's money! And

so to dinner at the Hill-house; and after dinner till eight at

night close, Middleton and I, examining the business of Mr. Pett

about selling a boat; and we find him a very knave; and some

other quarrels of his, wherein to justify himself he hath made

complaints of others. This being done, we to supper, and so to

talk, Commissioner Middleton being mighty good company upon a

journey; and so to bed.

27th. We took coach again, and got home about six at night.

29th. Up, and by water to White Hall; and there to the Duke of

York to show myself after my journey to Chatham, but did no

business to-day with him: only after gone from him, I to Sir T.

Clifford's; and there, after an hour's waiting, he being alone in

his closet, I did speak with him, and give him the account he

gave me to draw up, and he did like it very well: and then fell

to talk of the business of the Navy; and giving me good words,

did fall foul of the constitution, and did then discover his

thoughts, that Sir J. Minnes was too old, and so was Colonell

Middleton, and that my Lord Brouncker did mind his mathematics

too much. I did not give much encouragement to that of finding

fault with my fellow-officers; but did stand up for the

constitution, and did say that what faults there were in our

office would be found not to arise from the constitution, but

from the failures of the officers in whose hands it was. This he

did seem to give good ear to; but did give me of myself very good

words, which pleased me well, though I shall not build upon them

any thing. Thence home; and after dinner by water with Tom down

to Greenwich, he reading to me all the way coming and going my

collections out of the Duke of York's old manuscript of the Navy,

which I have bound up, and do please me mightily. At Greenwich I

came to Captain Cocke's, where the house full of company at the

burial of James Temple, who it seems hath been dead these five

days. Here I had a very good ring, which I did give my wife as

soon as I came home. I spent my time there walking in the garden

talking with James Pierce; who tells me that he is certain that

the Duke of Buckingham had been with his wenches all the time

that he was absent, which was all the last week, nobody knowing

where he was. The great talk is of the King's being hot of late

against Conventicles, and to see whether the Duke of Buckingham's

being returned will turn the King, which will make him very

popular; and some think it is his plot to make King thus, to show

his power in the making him change his mind. But Pierce did tell

me that the King did certainly say, that he that took one stone

from the Church did take two from his Crown. By and by the

corpse came out; and I with Sir Richard Browne and Mr. Evelyn in

their coach to the church, where Mr. Plume preached. [Thomas

Plume, D.D., Vicar of Greenwich 1662, and installed Archdeacon of

Rochester 1679. Ob, 1704.]

30th. Up, and to Sir W. Coventry, to see and discourse with him;

and he tells me that he hath lately been with my Lord Keeper, and

had much discourse about the Navy: and particularly he tells me

that he finds they are divided touching me and my Lord Brouncker;

some are for removing, and some for keeping us. He told my Lord

Keeper that it should cost the King 10,000l. before he had made

another as fit to serve him in the Navy as I am; which though I

believe it is true, yet I am much pleased to have that character

given me by Sir W. Coventry, whatever be the success of it. But

I perceive they do think that I know too much, and shall impose

upon whomever shall come next, and therefore must be removed;

though he tells me that Sir T. Clifford is inclined well enough

to me, and Sir T. Osborne, by what I have lately done, I suppose.

This news is but what I ought not to be much troubled for,

considering my incapacity, in regard to my eyes, to continue long

at this work.

31st. Up, and by water to Sir W. Coventry's, there to talk with

him about business of the Navy, and received from him direction

what to advise the Duke of York at this time; which was to submit

and give way to the King's naming a man or two that the people

about him have a mind should be brought into the Navy, and

perhaps that may stop their fury in running further against the

whole: and this, he believes, will do it. After much discourse

with him, I walked out with him into St. James's Park; where,

being afraid to be seen with him, (he having not leave yet to

kiss the King's hand, but notice taken, as I hear, of all that go

to him,) I did take the pretence of my attending the Tangier

Committee to take my leave, though to serve him I should, I

think, stick at nothing. At the Committee this morning my Lord

Middleton declares at last his being ready to go, as soon as ever

money can be made ready to pay the garrison: and so I have

orders to get money, but how soon I know not. Thence to

Dancre's, and there saw our pictures which are in doing: and I

did choose a view of Rome instead of Hampton Court; and mightily

pleased I shall be in them. Here were Sir Charles Cotterell and

his son bespeaking something: both ingenious men, I hear.

Thence my wife and I to the Park; and pretty store of company;

and so home with great content. And so ends the month, my mind

in pretty good content for all things but the designs on foot to

bring alterations in the office, which trouble me.

APRIL 1. 1669. Up, and with Colonell Middleton (at the desire of

Rear-Admiral Kempthorne the president, for our assisting them) to

the Court-Martiall on board a yacht in the River here to try the

business of the purser's complaints, (Baker against Trevanion,

his commander, of "The Dartmouth.") But, Lord! to see what

wretched doings there were among all the commanders to ruin the

purser, and defend the captain in all his rogueries, be it to the

prejudice of the King or purser, no good man could bear! I

confess I was pretty high, which the young gentlemen commanders

did not like: and Middleton did the same. But could not bring

it to any issue this day, sitting till two o'clock; and therefore

we, being sent for, went to Sir W. Pen's by invitation to dine.

At my cosen Turner's, and there we staid awhile and talked: and

particularly here we met with Dr. Ball, the parson of the Temple,

who did tell me a great many pretty stories about the manner of

the parsons being paid for their preaching at Paul's heretofore

and now, and the ground of the lecture; and heretofore for the

names of the founders thereof, which were many, at some 5s. some

8s. per annum towards it: and had their names read in the pulpit

every sermon among those holy persons that the Church do order a

collect for giving God thanks for.

2nd. To White Hall, and there to the Duke of York's lodgings;

whither he, by and by, by his appointment came: and alone with

him an hour in his closet, telling him mine and Sir W. Coventry's

advice touching the present posture of the Navy, as the Duke of

Buckingham and the rest do now labour to make changes therein;

and that it were best for him to suffer the King to be satisfied

with the bringing in of a man or two whom they desire. I did

also give the Duke of York a short account of the history of the

Navy as to our office, wherewith he was very well satisfied: but

I do find that he is pretty stiff against their bringing in of

men against his mind, as the Treasurers were, and particularly

against Child's coming in, because he is a merchant. After much

discourse with him we parted: and the Council sat while I staid

waiting for his telling me when I should be ready to give him a

written account of the administration of the Navy, which caused

me to wait the whole afternoon, till night. In the mean time,

stepping to the Duchesse of York's side to speak with Lady

Peterborough, I did see the young Duchesse, a little child in

hanging sleeves, dance most finely, so as almost to ravish me,

her ears were so good. Taught by a Frenchman that did heretofore

teach the King, and all the King's children, and the Queene-

Mother herself, who do still dance well.

3rd. Up, and to the Council of War again with Middleton: but

the proceedings of the commanders so devilishly bad, and so

professedly partial to the captain, that I could endure it no

longer, but took occasion to pretend business at the office,

and away, and Colonell Middleton with me, who was of the same

mind, and resolved to declare our minds freely to the Duke of

York about it.

4th. After dinner with Sir J. Minnes and T. Middleton to White

Hall, by appointment; and at my Lord Arlington's the office did

attend the King and caball, to discourse of the further quantity

of victuals fit to be declared for, which was 2000 men for six

months; and so without more ado or stay there, hearing no news

but that Sir Thomas Allen is to be expected every hour at home

with his fleet, or news of his being gone back to Algier. The

Queene-Mother hath been of late mighty ill, and some fears of her

death.

5th. Went five or six miles towards Branford, where the Prince

of Tuscany, [Cosmo de' Medici, who succeeded his father Ferdinand

in the Dukedom of Tuscany 1670. His Tour in England has been

recently published.] who comes into England only to spend money

and see our country, comes into the town to-day, and is much

expected; and we met him, but the coach passing by apace we could

not see much of him, but he seems a very jolly and good comely

man.

6th. Middleton and I did in plain terms acquaint the Duke of

York what we thought and had observed in the late Court-martiall;

which the Duke of York did give ear to, and though he thinks not

fit to revoke what is already done in this case by a Court-

martiall, yet it shall bring forth some good laws in the

behaviour of captains to their under-officers for the time to

come.

7th. To the Lords of the Treasury, where all the morning, and

settled matters to their liking about the assignments on the

Customes between the Navy-office and Victualler, and to that end

spent most of the morning there with D. Gauden. I to the

Council-chamber, and there heard the great complaint of the City,

tried against the gentlemen of the Temple for the late riot, as

they would have it, when my Lord Mayor was there. But, upon

hearing the whole business, the City was certainly to blame to

charge them in this manner as with a riot; but; the King and

Council did forbear to determine any thing in it, till the other

business of the title and privilege be decided, which is now

under dispute at law between them,--whether the Temple be within

the liberty of the City or no. But I was sorry to see the City

so ill advised as to complain in a thing where their proofs were

so weak.

8th. Up, and to White Hall to the King's side to find Sir T.

Clifford, where the Duke of York came and found me; which I was

sorry for, for fear he should think I was making friends on that

side. But I did put it off the best I could, my being there; and

so by and by had opportunity alone to show Sir T. Clifford the

fair account I had drawn up of the Customes, which he liked, and

seemed mightily pleased with me; and so away to the Excise-

office, to do a little business there: and so to the office,

where all the morning.

9th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and there with the Board

attended the Duke of York, and Sir Thomas Allen with us (who came

to town yesterday;) and it is resolved another fleet shall go to

the Streights forthwith, and he command it. But his coming home

is mighty hardly talked on by the merchants, for leaving their

ships there to the mercy of the Turks: but of this more in my

White-book. To the Excise-office, and to several places; among

others to Mr. Faythorne's, to have seen an instrument which he

was said to have of drawing perspectives, but he had it not; but

here I did see his work house, and the best things of his doing

he had by him.

10th. After dinner comes Mr. Seamour to visit me, a talking

fellow; but I hear by him that Captain Trevanion do give it out

every where that I did over-rule the whole Court-martiall against

him, so long as I was there. And perhaps I may receive at this

time some wrong by it; but I care not, for what I did was out of

my desire to do justice.

11th. To Loton the landscape-drawer, a Dutchman, living in St.

James's Market; but there saw no good pictures. But by accident

he did direct us to a painter that was then in the house with

him, a Dutchman, newly come over, one Evereest, [Probably Simon

Varelst a Dutch flower-painter, who practised his art with much

success in England about this time.] who took us to his lodging

close by, and did show us a little flower-pot of his drawing, the

finest thing that ever, I think, I saw in my life; the drops of

dew hanging on the leaves, so as I was forced again and again to

put my finger to it, to feel whether my eyes were deceived or no.

He do ask 70l. for it: I had the vanity to bid him 20l. But a

better picture I never saw in my whole life; and it is worth

going twenty miles to see it. Thence, leaving Balty there, I

took my wife to St. James's, and there carried her to the

Queene's chapel, the first time I ever did it; and heard

excellent musick, but not so good as by accident I did hear there

yesterday as I went through the Park from White Hall to see Sir

W. Coventry, which I have forgot to set down in my Journal

yesterday. And going out of the chapel I did see the Prince of

Tuscany come out, a comely black fat man, in a mourning-suit; and

my wife and I did see him this afternoon through a window in this

chapel. All that Sir W. Coventry yesterday did tell me new was,

that the King would not yet give him leave to come to kiss his

hand; and he do believe that he will not in a great while do it,

till those about him shall see fit: which I am sorry for.

Thence to the Park, my wife and I: and here Sir W. Coventry did

first see me and my wife in a coach of our own; and so did also

this night the Duke of York, who did eye my wife mightily. But I

begin to doubt that my being so much seen in my own coach at this

time may be observed to my prejudice; but I must venture it now.

So home, and so set down my Journal, with the help of my left eye

through my tube, for fourteen days past; which is so much as I

hope I shall not run in arrear again, but the badness of my eyes

do force me to it.

12th. The whole office attended the Duke of York at his meeting

with Sir Thomas Allen and several flag-officers, to consider of

the manner of managing the war with Algier; and it being a thing

I was wholly silent in, I did only observe; and find that their

manner of discourse on this weighty affair was very mean and

disorderly, the Duke of York himself being the man that I thought

spoke most to the purpose. By water to the Bear-garden, and

there happened to sit by Sir Fretcheville Hollis, who is still

full of his vain-glorious and prophane talk. Here we saw a prize

fought between a soldier and a country-fellow, one Warrel, who

promised the least in his looks, and performed the most of valour

in his boldness and evenness of mind, and smiles in all he did,

that ever I saw; and we were all both deceived and infinitely

taken with him. He did soundly beat the soldier, and cut him

over the head. Thence back to White Hall, mightily pleased all

of us with this sight, and particularly this fellow, as a most

extraordinary man for his temper and evenness in fighting. This

evening coming home we overtook Alderman Backewell's coach and

his lady, and followed them to their house, and there made them

the first visit, where they received us with extraordinary

civility, and owning the obligation. But I do, contrary to my

expectation, find her something a proud and vain-glorious woman,

in telling the number of her servants and family and expences.

He is also so, but he was ever of that strain. But here he

showed me the model of his houses that he is going to build in

Cornhill and Lumbard-street; but he hath purchased so much there

that it looks like a little town, and must have cost him a great

deal of money.

13th. I by hackney-coach to the Spittle, and heard a piece of a

dull sermon to my Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and thence saw them

all take horse and ride away, which I have not seen together many

a day: their wives also went in their coaches. And indeed the

sight was mighty pleasing. Thence took occasion to go back to a

milliner's in Fenchurch-street, whose name I understand to be

Clerke; and there her husband inviting me up to the balcony to

see the show go by to dinner at Clothworkers'-hall I did go up,

and there saw it go by.

14th. To the Duke of Yorks playhouse, and there saw "The

Impertinents," a play which pleases me well still; but it is with

great trouble that I now see a play because of my eyes, the light

of the candles making it very troublesome to me. After the play

to Creed's. They do here talk mightily of my Lady Paulina making

a very good end, and being mightily religious in her life-time;

and she hath left many good notes of sermons and religion wrote

with her own hand, which nobody ever knew of: which I am glad

of; but she was always a peevish lady.

17th. To Sir W. Coventry's, reading over first my draught of the

administration of the Navy, which he do like very well; and so

fell to talk of his late disgrace, and how basely and in what a

mean manner the Duke of Buckingham hath proceeded against him,--

not like a man of honour. He tells me that the King will not

give other answer, about his coming to kiss his hands, than "Not

yet." But he says that this that he desires of kissing the

King's hand is only to show to the world that he is not a

discontent, and not in any desire to come again into play, though

I do perceive that he speaks this with less earnestness than

heretofore; and this it may be is, from what he told me lately,

that the King is offended at what is talked, that he hath

declared himself desirous not to have to do with any employment

more. But he do tell me that the leisure he hath yet had do not

at all begin to be burden some to him, he knowing how to spend

his time with content to himself; and that he hopes shortly to

contract his expence, so as that he shall not be under any

straits in that respect neither; and so seems to be in very good

condition of content. Thence I away over the Park it being now

night, to White Hall: and there in the Duchesse's chamber do

find the Duke of York; and upon my offer to speak with him, he

did come to me and withdrew to his closet, and there did hear and

approve my paper of the Administration of the Navy, only did bid

me alter these words, "upon the rupture between the late King and

the Parliament," to these, "the beginning of the late Rebellion;"

giving it me as but reason to show that it was with the Rebellion

that the Navy was put by out of its old good course into that of

a Commission. Having done this, we fell to other talk; he with

great confidence telling me how matters go among our adversaries,

in reference to the Navy, and that he thinks they do begin to

flag: but then beginning to talk in general of the excellency of

old constitutions, he did bring out of his cabinet, and made me

read it, an extract out of a book of my late Lord of

Northumberland's, so prophetic of the business of Chatham as is

almost miraculous. I did desire, and he did give it me to copy

out; which pleased me mightily.

18th. To my office again to examine the fair draught; and so

borrowing Sir J. Minnes's coach, he going with Colonell

Middleton, I to White Hall, where we all met and did sign it.

And then to my Lord Arlington's, where the King and the Duke of

York and Prince Rupert, as also Ormond and the two secretaries,

with my Lord Ashly and Sir T. Clifford, were. And there by and

by being called in, Mr. Williamson did read over our paper, which

was in a letter to the Duke of York, bound up in a book with the

Duke of York's Book of Instructions. He read it well; and after

read, we were bid to withdraw, nothing being at all said to it.

And by and by we were called in again, and nothing said to that

business; but another begun about the state of this year's action

and our wants of money, as I had stated the same lately to our

Treasurers; which I was bid, and did largely, and with great

content open. And having so done, we all withdrew, and left them

to debate our supply of money; to which being called in, and

referred to attend on the Lords of the Treasury, we all departed.

And I only staid in the House till the Council rose; and then to

the Duke of York in the Duchesse's chamber, where he told me that

the book was there left with my Lord Arlington for any of the

Lords to view that had a mind, and to prepare and present to the

King what they had to say in writing to any part of it; which is

all we can desire, and so that rested. The Duke of York then

went to other talk; and by and by comes the Prince of Tuscany to

visit him and the Duchesse; and find that he do still remain

incognito, and so intends to do all the time he stays here, for

avoiding trouble to the King and himself, and expence also to

both.

20th. At noon comes my guest Mr. Hugh May, and with him Sir

Henry Capell, my old Lord Capell's son, and Mr. Parker. And I

had a pretty dinner for them; and both before and after dinner

had excellent discourse; and showed them my closet and my office,

and the method of it, to their great content: and more

extraordinary manly discourse and opportunity of showing myself,

and learning from others, I have not in ordinary discourse had in

my life, they being all persons of worth, but especially Sir H.

Capell, whose being a Parliament-man, and hearing my discourse in

the Parliament-house, hath, as May tells me, given him a long

desire to know and discourse with me. In the afternoon we walked

to the Old Artillery-ground near the Spitalfields, where I never

was before, but now by Captain Deane's invitation did go to see

his new gun tryed, this being the place where the officers of the

Ordnance do try all their great guns: and when we came, did find

that the trial had been made, and they going away, with

extraordinary report of the proof of his gun, which, from the

shortness and bigness, they do call Punchinello. But I desired

Colonell Legg to stay and give us a sight of her performance;

which he did, and there, in short, against a gun more than as

long and as heavy again, and charged with as much powder again,

she carried the same bullet as strong to the mark, and nearer and

above the mark at a point blank than theirs, and is more easily

managed, and recoyles no more than that; which is a thing so

extraordinary as to be admired for the happiness of his

invention, and to the great regret of the old gunners and

officers of the Ordnance that were there, only Colonell Legg did

do her much right in his report of her, and so having seen this

great and first experiment we all parted, I seeing my guests into

a hackney-coach, and myself, with Captain Deane, taking a

hackney-coach, did go out towards Bow, and went as far as

Stratford, and all the way talking of this invention, and he

offering me a third of the profit of it; which, for aught I know,

or do at present think, may prove matter considerable to us; for

either the King will give him a reward for it if he keeps it to

himself, or he will give us a patent to make our profit of it;

and no doubt but it will be of profit to merchantmen and others

to have guns of the same force at half the charge. This was our

talk; and then to talk of other things, of the Navy in general:

and, among other things, he did tell me that he do hear how the

Duke of Buckingham hath a spite at me, which I knew before, but

value it not; and he tells me that Sir T. Allen is not my friend:

but for all this I am not much troubled, for I know myself so

usefull that, as I believe, they will not part with me; so I

thank God my condition is such that I can retire and be able to

live with comfort, though not with abundance.

21st. To Auditor Wood's, and met my Lord Bellasses upon some

business of his accounts. Attended the Duke of York a little,

being the first time of my waiting on him at St. James's this

summer, whither he is now newly gone. And thence walked to White

Hall; and so by and by to the Council-chamber, and heard a

remarkable cause pleaded between the Farmers of the Excise of

Wiltshire, in complaint against the Justices of Peace of

Salisbury: and Sir H. Finch was for the former. But, Lord! to

see how he did with his admirable eloquence order the matter, is

not to be conceived almost: so pleasant a thing it is to hear

him plead! after dinner by water to White Hall, where the Duke

of York did meet our office, and went with us to the Lords

Commissioners of the Treasury: and there we did go over all the

business of the state I had drawn up of this year's action and

expence; which I did do to their satisfaction, and convincing

them of the necessity of providing more money, if possible, for

us. Thence the Duke of York being gone, I did there stay walking

with Sir H. Cholmly in the Court, talking of news; where he told

me that now the great design of the Duke of Buckingham is to

prevent the meeting, since he cannot bring about with the King

the dissolving of this Parliament, that the King may not need it;

and therefore my Lord St. Alban's is hourly expected with great

offers of a million of money to buy our breach with the Dutch;

and this, they do think, may tempt the King to take the money,

and thereby be out of a necessity of calling the Parliament

again, which these people dare not suffer to meet again: but

this he doubts, and so do I, that it will be the ruin of the

nation if we fall out with Holland.

22nd. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon

home to dinner, and Captain Deane with us; and very good

discourse, and particularly about my getting a book for him to

draw up his whole theory of shipping; which at my desire he hath

gone far in, and hath shown me what he hath done therein to

admiration. I did give him a parallelogram, which he is mightily

taken with. And so after dinner to the office, where all the

afternoon till night late, and then home.

23rd. To the Council-chamber, and heard two or three causes;

among others that of the complaint of Sir Philip Howard and

Watson, the inventors, as they pretend, of the business of

varnishing and lacker-worke, against the Company of Painters, who

take upon them to do the same thing; where I saw a great instance

of the weakness of a young Counsel they used to such an audience,

against the Solicitor-generall and two more able Counsel used to

it. Though he had the right of his side, and did prevail for

what he pretended to against the rest, yet it was with much

disadvantage and hazard. Here I also heard Mr. Papillion make

his defence to the King against some complaints of the Farmers of

Excise; but it was so weak, and done only by his own seeking,

that it was to his injury more than profit, and made his case the

worse, being ill-managed, and in a cause against the King.

25th (Lord's day). Up, and to my office awhile, and thither

comes Lead with my vizard, with a tube fastened within both eyes;

which, with the help which he prompts me to, of a glass in the

tube, do content me mightily. W. How came and dined with us; and

then I to my office, he being gone, to write down my Journal for

the last twelve days: and did it with the help of my vizard and

tube fixed to it, and do find it mighty manageable, but how

helpfull to my eyes this trial will show me. So abroad with my

wife in the afternoon to the Park, where very much company, and

the weather very pleasant. I carried my wife to the Lodge, the

first time this year, and there in our coach eat a cheesecake and

drank a tankard of milk. I showed her this day also first the

Prince of Tuscany, who was in the Park, and many very fine

ladies.

26th, after dinner comes Colonell Macknachan, one that I see

often at Court, a Scotchman, but know him not; only he brings me

a letter from my Lord Middleton, who, he says, is in great

distress for 500l. to relieve my Lord Morton [William, ninth Earl

of Morton, who had married Lord Middleton's daughter Grizel.]

with (but upon what account I know not;) and he would have me

advance it without order upon his pay for Tangier; which I was

astonished at, but had the grace to deny him with an excuse. And

so he went away, leaving me a little troubled that I was thus

driven on a sudden to do any thing herein: but Creed coming just

now to see me, be approves of what I have done. A great fire

happened in Durham-yard last night, burning the house of one Lady

Hungerford, who was to come to town to it this night; and so the

house is burned, new furnished, by carelessness of the girl sent

to take off a candle from a bunch of candles, which she did by

burning it off and left the rest, as is supposed, on fire. The

King and Court were here, it seems;, and stopped the fire by

blowing up of the next house. The King and Court; went out of

town to Newmarket this morning betimes, for a week.

28th. Up, and was called upon by Sir H. Cholmly to discourse

about some accounts of his of Tangier: and then to other talk.

And I find by him that it is brought almost to effect, the late

endeavours of the Duke of York and Duchesse, the Queene-Mother,

and my Lord St. Alban's together with some of the contrary

faction, as my Lord Arlington, that for a sum of money we shall

enter into a league with the King of France, wherein, he says, my

Lord Chancellor is also concerned; and that he believes that in

the doing hereof it is meant that he shall come in again, and

that this sum of money will so help the King as that he will not

need the Parliament; and that in that regard it will be forwarded

by the Duke of Buckingham and his faction, who dread the

Parliament. But hereby must leave the Dutch, and that I doubt

will undo us; and Sir H. Cholmly says he finds W. Coventry do

think the like. My Lady Castlemaine is instrumental in this

matter, and, he says, never more great with the King than she is

now. But this is a thing that will make the Parliament and

kingdom mad, and will turn to our ruine; for with this money the

King shall wanton away his time in pleasures, and think nothing

of the main till it be too late. This morning Mr. Sheres sent me

in two volumes, Marian his History of Spaine in Spanish, an

excellent book; and I am much obliged to him for it.

30th. Up, and by coach to the coachmaker's; and there I do find

a great many ladies sitting in the body of a coach that must be

ended by to-morrow, (they were my Lady Marquess of Winchester,

[Isabella, daughter of William Viscount Stafford, third wife to

James fifth Marquis of Winchester.] Bellasses, [John Lord

Bellassis was thrice married: first, to Jane, daughter of Sir

Robert Boteler, of Woodhall, Knt.; secondly, to Ann, daughter of

Sir Robert Crane, of Chilton, Suffolk; thirdly, to Lady Anne

Powlet, daughter of John, fourth Marquis of Winchester. The lady

here mentioned was the second or third wife; probably the

latter.] and other great ladies,) eating of bread and butter,

and drinking ale. I to my coach, which is silvered over, but no

varnish yet laid on, so I put it in a way of doing; and my self

about other business, and particularly to see Sir W. Coventry,

with whom I talked a good while to my great content: and so to

other places, among others, to my tailor's; and then to the

belt-maker's, where my belt cost me 55s. of the colour of my new

suit; and here understanding that the mistress of the house, an

oldish woman in a hat, hath some water good for the eyes, she did

dress me, making my eyes smart most horribly, and did give me a

little glass of it, which I will use, and hope it will do me

good. So to the cutler's, and there did give Tom, who was with

me all day, a sword cost me 12s. and a belt of my owne ; and sent

my own silver-hilt sword agilding against to-morrow. This

morning I did visit Mr. Oldenburgh, and did see the instrument

for perspective made by Dr. Wren, of which I have one making by

Browne; and the sight of this do please me mightily. At noon my

wife came to me at my tailor's, and I sent her home, and myself

and Tom dined at Hercules Pillars; and so about our business

again, and particularly to Lilly's, the varnisher, about my

prints, whereof some of them are pasted upon the boards, and to

my full content. Thence to the frame-maker's, one Norris, in

Long Acre; who showed me several forms of frames, which were

pretty, in little bits of mouldings to choose patterns by. This

done, I to my coachmaker's; and there vexed to see nothing yet

done to my coach, at three in the afternoon; but I set it in

doing, and stood by till eight at night, and saw the painter

varnish it, which is pretty to see how every doing it over do

make it more and more yellow: and it dries as fast in the sun as

it can be laid on almost; and most coaches are now-a-days done

so, and it is very pretty when laid on well, and not too pale as

some are, even to show the silver. Here I did make the workmen

drink, and saw my coach cleaned and oyled; and staying among poor

people there in the ally, did hear them call their fat child

Punch, which pleased me mightily, that word being become a word

of common use for all that is thick and short.

May 1, 1669. Up betimes. My wife extraordinary fine with her

flowered tabby gown that she made two years ago, now laced

exceeding pretty; and indeed was fine all over. And mighty

earnest to go, though the day was very lowering; and she would

have me put on my fine suit, which I did. And so anon we went

alone through the town with our new liveries of serge, and the

horses' manes and tails tied with red ribbons, and the standards

thus gilt with varnish, and all clean, and green reines, that

people did mightily look upon us; and the truth is, I did not see

any coach more pretty, though more gay, than ours all the day;

the day being unpleasing, though the Park full of coaches, but

dusty, and windy, and cold, and now and then a little dribbling

of rain; and what made it worse, there were so many hackney

coaches as spoiled the sight of the gentlemen's; and so we had

little pleasure.

2nd (Lord's day). Up, and by water to White Hall, and there

visited my Lord Sandwich, who, after about two months' absence at

Hinchingbroke, came to town last night. I saw him; and he was

very kind: and I am glad he is so, I having not wrote to him all

the time, my eyes indeed not letting me. Here with Sir Charles

Harbord and my Lord Hinchingbroke and Sidney, and we looked upon

the picture of Tangier, designed by Charles Harbord and drawn by

Dancre, which my Lord Sandwich admires, as being the truest

picture that ever he saw in his life: and it is indeed very

pretty, and I will be at the cost of having one of them. Thence

with them to White Hall, and there walked out the sermon with one

or other; and then saw the Duke of York, and he talked to me a

little; and so away back by water home.

3rd. Up, and coach to my Lord Brouncker's, where Sir G. Carteret

did meet Sir J. Minnes and me, to discourse upon Mr. Deering's

business, who was directed in the time of the war to provide

provisions at Hamburgh, by Sir G. Carteret's direction; and now

Sir G. Carteret is afraid to own it, it being done without

written order. But by our meeting we do all begin to recollect

enough to preserve Mr. Deering, which I think, poor silly man! I

shall be glad of, it being too much he should suffer for

endeavouring to serve us. Thence to St. James's, where the Duke

of York was playing in the Pell Mell; and so he called me to him

most part of the time that he played, which was an hour, and

talked alone to me; and, among other things, tells me how the

King will not yet be got to name any body in the room of Pen, but

puts it off for three or four days: from whence he do collect

that they are brewing something for the Navy, but what he knows

not; but I perceive is vexed that things should go so, and he

hath reason; for he told me that it is likely they will do in

this as in other things--resolve first, and consider it and the

fitness of it afterwards. Thence to White Hall, and met with

Creed, and discoursed of matters; and I perceive by him that he

makes no doubt but that all will turn to the old religion, for

these people cannot hold things in their hands, nor prevent its

coming to that; and by his discourse he fits himself for it, and

would have my Lord Sandwich do so too, and me. After a little

talk with him, and particularly about the ruinous condition of

Tangier, which I have a great mind to lay before the Duke of

York, but dare not because of his great kindness to Lord

Middleton, before it be too late, we parted, and I homeward; but

called at Povy's, and there he stopped me to dinner, there being

Mr. Williamson, the Lieutenant of the Tower, Mr. Child, and

several others. And after dinner Povy and I together to talk of

Tangier; and he would have me move the Duke of York in it, for

it concerns him particularly more than any, as being the head of

us; and I do think to do it.

5th. To St. James's, and thence with the Duke of York to White

Hall, where the Board waited on him all the morning; and so at

noon with Sir Thomas Allen, and Sir Edward Scott [Sir Edward

Scott, made LL.D, at Oxford 1677.] and Lord Carlingford, to the

Spanish Embassador's, where I dined the first time. The olio not

so good as Shere's. There was at the table himself and a Spanish

Countess, a good, comely, and witty lady; three Fathers, and us.

Discourse good and pleasant. And here was an Oxford scholar, in

Doctor of Laws' gowne, sent from the College where the Embassador

lay when the Court was there, to salute him before his return to

Spain. This man, though a gentle sort of scholar, yet sat like a

fool for want of French or Spanish, but knew only Latin, which he

spoke like an Englishman, to one of the Fathers. And by and by

he and I to talk; and the company very merry at my defending

Cambridge against Oxford; and I made much use of my French and

Spanish here, to my great content. But the dinner not

extraordinary at all, either quantity or quality.

7th. Up, and by coach to Sir W. Coventry's; and there to talk

with him a great deal with great content. And so to the Duke of

York, having a great mind to speak to him about Tangier; but when

I came to it, his interest for my Lord Middleton is such that I

dared not.

8th. After dinner all the afternoon within, with Mr. Hater,

Gibson, and W. Hewer, reading over and drawing up new things in

the Instructions of Commanders, which will be good, and I hope to

get them confirmed by the Duke of York; though I perceive nothing

will effectually perfect them but to look over the whole body of

the Instructions of all the officers of a ship, and make them all

perfect together. This being done, comes my bookseller, and

brings me home hound my collection of papers, about my Addresse

to the Duke of York in August, which makes me glad, it being that

which shall do me more right many years hence than perhaps all I

ever did in my life: and therefore I do, both for my own and the

King's sake, value it much. By and by also comes Browne, the

mathematical instrument-maker, and brings me home my instrument

for perspective, made according to the description of Dr. Wren's

in the late Transactions; and he hath made it, I think, very

well, and that I believe will do the thing, and therein gives me

great content; but I have, I fear, all the content that must be

received by my eyes, which are almost lost.

10th. To White Hall, where the Duke of York met the office, and

there discoursed of several things, particularly the Instructions

of Commanders of ships. But here happened by chance a discourse

of the Council of Trade, against which the Duke of York is

mightily displeased, and particularly Mr. Child, against whom he

speaking hardly, Captain Cox did second the Duke of York, by

saying that he was talked on for an unfayre dealer with masters

of ships about freight: to which Sir T. Littleton very hotly and

foolishly replied presently, that he never heard any honest man

speak ill of Child; to which the Duke of York did make a smart

reply, and was angry: so as I was sorry to hear it come so far,

and that I, by seeming to assent to Cox, might be observed too

much by Littleton, though I said nothing aloud, for this must

breed great heart-burnings. After this meeting done, the Duke of

York took the Treasurers into his closet to chide them, as Mr.

Wren tells me; for that my Lord Keeper did last night at the

Council say, when nobody was ready to say anything against the

constitution of the Navy, that he did believe the Treasurers of

the Navy had something to say; which was very foul on their part,

to be parties against us. They being gone, Mr. Wren took boat,

thinking to dine with my Lord of Canterbury; [Gilbert Sheldon.]

but when we came to Lambeth, the gate was shut, which is strictly

done at twelve o'clock, and nobody comes in afterwards; so we

lost our labour, and therefore back to White Hall, and thence

walked to my Lord Crewe, whom I have not seen since he was sick,

which is eight months ago, I think; and there dined with him. He

is mightily broke. A stranger, a country gentleman, was with

him; and he pleased with my discourse accidentally about the

decay of gentlemen's families in the country, telling us that the

old rule was, that a family might remain fifty miles from London

one hundred years, one hundred miles from London two hundred

years, and so farther or nearer London more or less years. He

also told us that he hath heard his father say, that in his time

it was so rare for a country gentleman to come to London, that

when he did come, he used to make his will before he set out.

Thence to St. James's, and there met the Duke of York; who told

me with great content that he did now think he should master our

adversaries, for that; the King did tell him that he was

satisfied in the constitution of the Navy, but that it was well

to give these people leave to object against it, which they

having not done, he did give order to give warrant to the Duke of

York to direct Sir Jeremy Smith to be a Commissioner of the Navy

in the room of Pen; which, though he be an impertinent fellow,

yet I am glad of it, it showing that the other side is not so

strong as it was: and so in plain terms the Duke of York did

tell me, that they were every day losing ground; and particularly

that he would take care to keep out Child: at all which I am

glad, though yet I dare not think myself secure: but the King

may yet be wrought upon by these people to bring changes in our

office, and remove us ere it be long. To White Hall to a

Committee of Tangier, where I see all things going to rack in the

business of the Corporation, and consequently in the place, by

Middleton's going. Thence walked a little with Creed, who tells

me he hears how fine my horses and coach are, and advises me to

avoid being noted for it; which I was vexed to hear taken notice

of, being what I feared; and Povy told me of my gold-laced

sleeves in the Park yesterday which vexed me also, so as to

resolve never to appear in Court with them, but presently to have

them taken off, as it is fit I should.

11th. My wife up by four o'clock, to go to gather May-dew. Some

trouble at-Court for fear of the Queene's miscarrying; she being,

as they all conclude, far gone with child.

12th. My brother John tells me the first news that my sister

Jackson is with child and far gone.

13th. At noon comes my Lord Hinchingbroke, and Sidney, and Sir

Charles Harbord, and Roger Pepys, and dined with me; and had a

good dinner, and very merry with us all the afternoon, it being a

farewell to Sidney.

14th. At noon to dinner with Mr. Wren to Lambeth, with the

Archbishop of Canterbury; the first time I was ever there, and I

have long longed for it. Where a noble house, and well furnished

with good pictures and furniture, and noble attendance in good

order, and a great deal of company though an ordinary day; and

exceeding great cheer, no where better, or so much, that ever I

think I saw for an ordinary table: and the Bishop mighty kind to

me particularly, desiring my company another time when less

company there. Most of the company gone, and I going, I heard by

a gentleman of a sermon that was to be there; and so I staid to

hear it, thinking it serious, till by and by the gentleman told

me it was a mockery, by one Cornet Bolton a very gentleman-like

man, that behind a chair did pray and preach like a Presbyter

Scot, with all the possible imitation in grimaces and voice. And

his text about the hanging up their harps upon the willows: and

a serious good sermon too, exclaiming against Bishops, and crying

up of my good Lord Eglington, till it made us all burst; but I

did wonder to have the Bishop at this time to make himself sport

with things of this kind, but I perceive it was shown him as a

rarity. And he took care to have the room-door shut, but there

were about twenty gentlemen there: and myself infinitely pleased

with the novelty. So over to White Hall to a little Committee of

Tangier; and thence walking in the Gallery, I met Sir Thomas

Osborne, who, to my great content did of his own accord fall into

discourse with me, with such professions of value and respect,

placing the whole virtue of the office of the Navy upon me, and

that for the Controller's place no man in England was fit for it

but me, when Sir J. Minnes, as he says it is necessary, is

removed: but then knows not what to do for a man in my place;

and in discourse, though I have no mind to the other, did bring

in Tom Hater to be the fittest man in the world for it, which, he

took good notice of. But in the whole I was mightily pleased,

reckoning myself fifty per cent. securer in my place than I did

before think myself to be. By water with my brother as high as

Fulham, talking and singing, and playing the rogue with the

Western bargemen about the women of Woolwich; which mads them.

16th. I all the afternoon drawing up a foul draught of my

petition to the Duke of York about my eyes, for leave to spend

three or four months out of the office, drawing it so as to give

occasion to a voyage abroad; which I did to my pretty good

liking. And then with my wife to Hyde Park, where a good deal of

company and good weather.

17th. Great news now of the French taking St. Domingo, in

Spaniola, from the Spaniards; which troubles us, that they should

have got it, and have the honour of taking it, when we could not.

19th. With my coach to St. James's; and there finding the Duke

of York gone to muster his men in Hyde Park, I alone with my boy

thither, and there saw more, walking out of my coach as other

gentlemen did, of a soldier's trade than ever I did in my life:

the men being mighty fine, and their Commanders, particularly the

Duke of Monmouth; but methought their trade but very easy as to

the mustering of their men, and the men but indifferently ready

to perform what was commanded in the handling of their arms.

Here the news was first talked of Harry Killigrew's being wounded

in nine places last night by footmen in the highway, going from

the Park in a hackney coach towards Hammersmith, to his house at

Turnham Greene; they being supposed to be my Lady Shrewsbury's

men, she being by in her coach with six horses; upon an old

grudge of his saying openly that he had intrigued with her.

Thence by and by to White Hall, and there I waited upon the King

and Queene all dinner time in the Queene's lodgings, she being in

her white pinner, and appearing like a woman with child; and she

seemed handsomer plain so than dressed. And by and by dinner

done, I out and to walk in the Gallery, for the Duke of York's

coming out; and there meeting Mr. May, he took me down about four

o'clock to Mr. Chevin's lodgings, and all alone did get me a dish

of cold chickens and good wine; and I dined like a prince, being

before very hungry and empty. By and by the Duke of York comes,

and readily took me to his closet, and received my petition, and

discoursed about my eyes, and pitied me, and with much kindness

did give me his consent to be absent, and approved of my

proposition to go into Holland to observe things there of the

Navy; but would first ask the King's leave, which he anon did,

and did tell me that the King would be a good master to me,

(these were his words about my eyes,) and do like of my going

into Holland, but do advise that nobody should know of my going

thither, and that I should pretend to go into the country

somewhere; which I liked well. In discourse this afternoon, the

Duke of York did tell me that he was the most amazed at one thing

just now that ever he was in his life; which was, that the Duke

of Buckingham did just now come into the Queene's bed-chamber,

where the King was, with much mixed company, and, among others,

Tom Killigrew, the father of Harry, who was last night wounded so

as to be in danger of death, and his man is quite dead; and there

did say that he had spoke with some one that was by, (which

person all the world must know must be his mistress, my Lady

Shrewsbury,) who says that they did not mean to hurt, but beat

him, and that he did run first at them with his sword; so that he

do hereby clearly discover that he knows who did it, and is of

conspiracy with them, being of known conspiracy with her; which

the Duke of York did seem to be pleased with, and said it might

perhaps cost him his life in the House of Lords; and I find was

mightily pleased with it, saying it was the most impudent thing,

as well as the most foolish, that ever he knew man do in all his

life.

20th. With my eyes mighty weary, and my head full of care how to

get my accounts and business settled against my journey, home to

supper, and to bed.

24th. To White Hall, where I attended the Duke of York, and was

by him led to the King, who expressed great sense of my

misfortune in my eyes, and concernment for their recovery; and

accordingly signified, not only his assent to my desire therein,

but; commanded me to give them rest this summer, according to my

late petition to the Duke of York.

26th. To White Hall, where all the morning. Dined with Mr.

Chevins, with Alderman Backewell, and Spragg. The Court full of

the news from Captain Hubbert of "The Milford," touching his

being affronted in the Streights, shot at, and having eight men

killed him by a French man-of-war, calling; him "English dog,"

and commanding him to strike; which he refused, and, as knowing

himself much too weak for him, made away from him. The Queen, as

being supposed with child, fell ill, so as to call for Madam Nun,

Mr. Chevins' sister, and one of her women, from dinner from us;

this being the last day of their doubtfulness touching her being

with child, and they were therein well confirmed by her Majesty's

being well again before night. One Sir Edmund Bury Godfry,

[Supposed to have been murdered by the Papists, October 17th,

1678, when he was found pierced with his own sword, and with

several marks of violence on his body.] a woodmonger and Justice

of Peace in Westminster, having two days since arrested Sir

Alexander Frazier for about 30l. in firing, the bailiffs were

apprehended, committed to the porter's lodge, and there, by the

King's command, the last night, severely whipped; from which the

Justice himself very hardly escaped, (to such an unusual degree

was the King moved therein.) But he lies, now in the lodge,

justifying his act, as grounded upon the opinion of several of

the Judges, and, among others, my Lord Chief-Justice; which makes

the King very angry with the Chief-Justice, as they say; and the

Justice do lie and justify his act, and says he will suffer in

the cause for the people, and do refuse to receive almost any

nutriment. The effects of it may be bad to the Court.

28th. To St. James's, where the King's being with the Duke of

York prevented a meeting of the Tangier Commission. But Lord!

what a deal of sorry discourse did I hear between the King and

several Lords about him here! but very mean, methought. So with

Creed to the Excise-office, and back to White Hall, where, in the

Park, Sir G. Carteret did give an account of his discourse lately

with the Commissioners of Accounts, who except against many

things, but none that I find considerable; among others, that of

the officers of the Navy selling of the King's goods, and

particularly my providing him with calico flags; which having

been by order, and but once, when necessity and the King's

apparent profit justified it as conformable to my particular

duty, it will prove to my advantage that it be enquired into.

Nevertheless, having this morning received from them a demand of

an account of all monies within their cognizance received and

issued by me, I was willing upon this hint to give myself rest,

by knowing whether their meaning therein might reach only to my

Treasurership for Tangier, or the monies employed on this

occasion I went therefore to them this afternoon to understand

what monies they meant; where they answered me by saying, "The

eleven months' tax, customs, and prize money," without mentioning

(any more or than I demanding) the service they respected

therein: and so without further discourse we parted upon very

good terms of respect, and with few words, but my mind not fully

satisfied about the monies they mean.

29th. The King's birth-day. To White Hall, where all very gay;

and particularly the Prince of Tuscany very fine, and is the

first day of his appearing out of mourning since he came. I

heard the Bishop of Peterborough [Joseph Henshaw. Ob. 1678.]

preach but dully; but a good anthem of Pelham's. Home to dinner,

and then with my wife to Hyde Park, where all the evening: great

store of company, and great preparations by the Prince of Tuscany

to celebrate the night with fire-works, for the King's birthday.

And so home.

30th (Whitsunday). By water to White Hall, and thence to Sir W.

Coventry, where all the morning by his bed-side, he being

indisposed. Our discourse was upon the notes I have lately

prepared for Commanders' Instructions; but concluded that nothing

will render them effectual without an amendment in the choice of

them, that they be seamen, and not gentlemen above the command of

the Admiral, by the greatness of their relations at Court.

Thence to White Hall, and dined with Mr. Chevins and his sister:

whither by and by came in Mr. Progers and Sir Thomas Allen, and

by and by fine Mrs. Wells, who is a great beauty; and there I had

my full gaze upon her, to my great content, she being a woman of

pretty conversation. Thence to the Duke of York, who, with the

officers of the Navy, made a good entrance on my draught of my

new Instructions to Commanders, as well expressing his Generalls

of a reformation among them, as liking of my humble offers

towards it. Thence being called by my wife, we to the Park;

whence the rain sent us suddenly home.

31st. Up very betimes, and continued all the morning with W.

Hewer, upon examining and stating my accounts, in order to the

fitting myself to go abroad beyond sea, which the ill condition

of my eyes and my neglect for a year or two hath kept me behind-

hand in, and so as to render it very difficult now and

troublesome to my mind to do it; but I this day made a

satisfactory entrance therein. Had another meeting with the Duke

of York at White Hall on yesterday's work, and made a good

advance: and so being called by my wife, we to the Park, Mary

Batelier, and a Dutch gentleman, a friend of hers, being with us.

Thence to "The World's End," a drinking house by the Park; and

there merry, and so home late. And thus ends all that I doubt I

shall ever be able to do with my own eyes in the keeping of my

Journall, I being not able to do it any longer having done now so

long as to undo my eyes almost every time that I take a pen in my

hand; and therefore, whatever comes of it, I must forbear: and

therefore resolve, from this time forward to have it kept by my

people in long-hand, and must be contented to set down no more

than is fit for them and all the world to know; or if there be

any thing, I must endeavour to keep a margin in my book open, to

add here and there a note in short-hand with my own hand. And so

I betake myself to that course, which is almost as much as to see

myself go into my grave: for which, and all the discomforts that

will accompany my being blind, the good God prepare me!

S.P. May 31, 1669.