gone to Mr. Crew's, where I found him well, only had got some corns upon
his foot which was not well yet. My Lord told me how the ship that
brought the Princess and him (The Tredagh) did knock six times upon the
Kentish Knock,
[A shoal in the North Sea, off the Thames mouth, outside the Long
Sand, fifteen miles N.N.E. of the North Foreland. It measures seven
miles north-eastward, and about two miles in breadth. It is partly
dry at low water. A revolving light was set up in 1840.]
which put them in great fear for the ship; but got off well. He told me
also how the King had knighted Vice-Admiral Lawson and Sir Richard
Stayner. From him late and by coach home, where the plasterers being at
work in all the rooms in my house, my wife was fain to make a bed upon the
ground for her and me, and so there we lay all night.
26th. Office day. That done to the church, to consult about our gallery.
So home to dinner, where I found Mrs. Hunt, who brought me a letter for me
to get my Lord to sign for her husband, which I shall do for her. At home
with the workmen all the afternoon, our house being in a most sad pickle.
In the evening to the office, where I fell a-reading of Speed's Geography
for a while. So home thinking to have found Will at home, but he not
being come home but gone somewhere else I was very angry, and when he came
did give him a very great check for it, and so I went to bed.
27th. To my Lord at Mr. Crew's, and there took order about some business
of his, and from thence home to my workmen all the afternoon. In the
evening to my Lord's, and there did read over with him and Dr. Walker my
lord's new commission for sea, and advised thereupon how to have it drawn.
So home and to bed.
28th (Office day). This morning Sir W. Batten and Col. Slingsby went with
Col. Birch and Sir Wm. Doyly to Chatham to pay off a ship there. So only
Sir W. Pen and I left here in town. All the afternoon among my workmen
till 10 or 11 at night, and did give them drink and very merry with them,
it being my luck to meet with a sort of drolling workmen on all occasions.
To bed.
29th. All day at home to make an end of our dirty work of the plasterers,
and indeed my kitchen is now so handsome that I did not repent of all the
trouble that I have been put to, to have it done. This day or yesterday,
I hear, Prince Rupert
[This is the first mention in the Diary of this famous prince, third
son of Frederick, Prince Palatine of the Rhine, and Elizabeth,
daughter of James I., born December 17th, 1619. He died at his
house in Spring Gardens, November 29th, 1682.]
is come to Court; but welcome to nobody.
30th (Lord's day). To our Parish church both forenoon and afternoon all
alone. At night went to bed without prayers, my house being every where
foul above stairs.
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Boy up to-night for his sister to teach him to put me to bed
Diana did not come according to our agreement
Drink at a bottle beer house in the Strand
Finding my wife's clothes lie carelessly laid up
Formerly say that the King was a bastard and his mother a whore
Hand i' the cap
Hired her to procure this poor soul for him
I fear is not so good as she should be
I was angry with her, which I was troubled for
I was exceeding free in dallying with her, and she not unfree
Ill all this day by reason of the last night's debauch
King do tire all his people that are about him with early rising
Kissed them myself very often with a great deal of mirth
My luck to meet with a sort of drolling workmen on all occasions
Show many the strangest emotions to shift off his drink
Upon the leads gazing upon Diana