to the objections made to Taylor, and adds: "Thinks the King will
not easily consent to his rejection, as he is a man of great
abilities and dispatch, and was formerly laid aside at Chatham on
the Duchess of Albemarle's earnest interposition for another. He is
a fanatic, it is true, but all hands will be needed for the work cut
out; there is less danger of them in harbour than at sea, and profit
will convert most of them" ("Calendar of State Papers," Domestic,
1664-65, p. 68).]
and Colonell Middleton, the first to be Commissioner for Harwich and the
latter for Portsmouth, I away to the 'Change, and there did very much
business, so home to dinner, and Mr. Duke, our Secretary for the Fishery,
dined with me. After dinner to discourse of our business, much to my
content, and then he away, and I by water among the smiths on the other
side, and to the alehouse with one and was near buying 4 or 5 anchors, and
learned something worth my knowing of them, and so home and to my office,
where late, with my head very full of business, and so away home to supper
and to bed.
5th. Up and to the office, where all the morning, at noon to the 'Change,
and thence home to dinner, and so with my wife to the Duke's house to a
play, "Macbeth," a pretty good play, but admirably acted. Thence home;
the coach being forced to go round by London Wall home, because of the
bonefires; the day being mightily observed in the City. To my office late
at business, and then home to supper, and to bed.
6th (Lord's day). Up and with my wife to church. Dined at home. And I
all the afternoon close at my office drawing up some proposals to present
to the Committee for the Fishery to-morrow, having a great good intention
to be serviceable in the business if I can. At night, to supper with my
uncle Wight, where very merry, and so home. To prayers and to bed.
7th. Up and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, where mighty thrusting
about the Duke now upon his going. We were with him long. He advised us
to follow our business close, and to be directed in his absence by the
Committee of the Councell for the Navy. By and by a meeting of the
Fishery, where the Duke was, but in such haste, and things looked so
superficially over, that I had not a fit opportunity to propose my paper
that I wrote yesterday, but I had chewed it to Mr. Gray and Wren before,
who did like it most highly, as they said, and I think they would not
dissemble in that manner in a business of this nature, but I see the
greatest businesses are done so superficially that I wonder anything
succeeds at all among us, that is publique. Thence somewhat vexed to see
myself frustrated in the good I hoped to have done and a little reputation
to have gained, and thence to my barber's, but Jane not being in the way I
to my Lady Sandwich's, and there met my wife and dined, but I find that I
dine as well myself, that is, as neatly, and my meat as good and
well-dressed, as my good Lady do, in the absence of my Lord. Thence by
water I to my barber's again, and did meet in the street my Jane, but
could not talk with her, but only a word or two, and so by coach called my
wife, and home, where at my office late, and then, it being washing day,
to supper and to bed.
8th. Up and to the office, where by and by Mr. Coventry come, and after
doing a little business, took his leave of us, being to go to sea with the
Duke to-morrow. At noon, I and Sir J. Minnes and Lord Barkeley (who with
Sir J. Duncum, and Mr. Chichly, are made Masters of the Ordnance), to the
office of the Ordnance, to discourse about wadding for guns. Thence to
dinner, all of us to the Lieutenant's of the Tower; where a good dinner,
but disturbed in the middle of it by the King's coming into the Tower: and
so we broke up, and to him, and went up and down the store-houses and
magazines; which are, with the addition of the new great store-house, a
noble sight. He gone, I to my office, where Bagwell's wife staid for me,
and together with her a good while, to meet again shortly. So all the
afternoon at my office till late, and then to bed, joyed in my love and
ability to follow my business. This day, Mr. Lever sent my wife a pair of
silver candlesticks, very pretty ones. The first man that ever presented
me, to whom I have not only done little service, but apparently did him
the greatest disservice in his business of accounts, as Purser-Generall,
of any man at the board.
9th. Called up, as I had appointed, by H. Russell, between two and three
o'clock, and I and my boy Tom by water with a gally down to the Hope, it
being a fine starry night. Got thither by eight o'clock, and there, as
expected, found the Charles, her mainmast setting. Commissioner Pett
aboard. I up and down to see the ship I was so well acquainted with, and
a great worke it is, the setting so great a mast. Thence the Commissioner
and I on board Sir G. Ascue, in the Henery, who lacks men mightily, which
makes me think that there is more believed to be in a man that hath
heretofore been employed than truly there is; for one would never have
thought, a month ago, that he would have wanted 1000 men at his heels.
Nor do I think he hath much of a seaman in him: for he told me, says he,
"Heretofore, we used to find our ships clear and ready, everything to our
hands in the Downes. Now I come, and must look to see things done like a
slave, things that I never minded, nor cannot look after." And by his
discourse I find that he hath not minded anything in her at all. Thence
not staying, the wind blowing hard, I made use of the Jemmy yacht and
returned to the Tower in her, my boy being a very droll boy and good
company. Home and eat something, and then shifted myself, and to White
Hall, and there the King being in his Cabinet Council (I desiring to speak
with Sir G. Carteret), I was called in, and demanded by the King himself
many questions, to which I did give him full answers. There were at this
Council my Lord Chancellor, Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Treasurer, the
two Secretarys, and Sir G. Carteret. Not a little contented at this
chance of being made known to these persons, and called often by my name
by the King, I to Mr. Pierces to take leave of him, but he not within, but
saw her and made very little stay, but straight home to my office, where I
did business, and then to supper and to bed. The Duke of York is this day
gone away to Portsmouth.
10th. Up, and not finding my things ready, I was so angry with Besse as
to bid my wife for good and all to bid her provide herself a place, for
though she be very good-natured, she hath no care nor memory of her
business at all. So to the office, where vexed at the malice of Sir W.
Batten and folly of Sir J. Minnes against Sir W. Warren, but I prevented,
and shall do, though to my own disquiet and trouble. At noon dined with
Sir W. Batten and the Auditors of the Exchequer at the Dolphin by Mr.
Wayth's desire, and after dinner fell to business relating to Sir G.
Carteret's account, and so home to the office, where Sir W. Batten begins,
too fast, to shew his knavish tricks in giving what price he pleases for
commodities. So abroad, intending to have spoke with my Lord Chancellor
about the old business of his wood at Clarendon, but could not, and so
home again, and late at my office, and then home to supper and bed. My
little girle Susan is fallen sicke of the meazles, we fear, or, at least,
of a scarlett feavour.
11th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten to the Council Chamber
at White Hall, to the Committee of the Lords for the Navy, where we were
made to wait an houre or two before called in. In that time looking upon
some books of heraldry of Sir Edward Walker's making, which are very fine,
there I observed the Duke of Monmouth's armes are neatly done, and his
title, "The most noble and high-born Prince, James Scott, Duke of
Monmouth, &c.;" nor could Sir J. Minnes, nor any body there, tell whence
he should take the name of Scott? And then I found my Lord Sandwich, his
title under his armes is, "The most noble and mighty Lord, Edward, Earl of
Sandwich, &c." Sir Edward Walker afterwards coming in, in discourse did
say that there was none of the families of princes in Christendom that do
derive themselves so high as Julius Caesar, nor so far by 1000 years, that
can directly prove their rise; only some in Germany do derive themselves
from the patrician familys of Rome, but that uncertainly; and, among other
things, did much inveigh against the writing of romances, that 500 years
hence being wrote of matters in general, true as the romance of Cleopatra,
the world will not know which is the true and which the false. Here was a
gentleman attending here that told us he saw the other day (and did bring
the draught of it to Sir Francis Prigeon) of a monster born of an
hostler's wife at Salisbury, two women children perfectly made, joyned at
the lower part of their bellies, and every part perfect as two bodies, and
only one payre of legs coming forth on one side from the middle where they
were joined. It was alive 24 hours, and cried and did as all hopefull
children do; but, being showed too much to people, was killed. By and by
we were called in, where a great many lords: Annesly in the chair. But,
Lord! to see what work they will make us, and what trouble we shall have
to inform men in a business they are to begin to know, when the greatest
of our hurry is, is a thing to be lamented; and I fear the consequence
will be bad to us. Thence I by coach to the 'Change, and thence home to
dinner, my head akeing mightily with much business. Our little girl
better than she was yesterday. After dinner out again by coach to my Lord
Chancellor's, but could not speak with him, then up and down to seek Sir
Ph. Warwicke, Sir G. Carteret, and my Lord Berkely, but failed in all, and
so home and there late at business. Among other things Mr. Turner making
his complaint to me how my clerks do all the worke and get all the profit,
and he hath no comfort, nor cannot subsist, I did make him apprehend how
he is beholding to me more than to any body for my suffering him to act as
Pourveyour of petty provisions, and told him so largely my little value of
any body's favour, that I believe he will make no complaints again a good
while. So home to supper and to bed, after prayers, and having my boy and
Mercer give me some, each of them some, musique.
12th. Up, being frighted that Mr. Coventry was come to towne and now at
the office, so I run down without eating or drinking or washing to the
office and it proved my Lord Berkeley. There all the morning, at noon to
the 'Change, and so home to dinner, Mr. Wayth with me, and then to the
office, where mighty busy till very late, but I bless God I go through
with it very well and hope I shall.
13th (Lord's day). This morning to church, where mighty sport, to hear
our clerke sing out of tune, though his master sits by him that begins and
keeps the tune aloud for the parish. Dined at home very well, and spent
all the afternoon with my wife within doors, and getting a speech out of
Hamlett, "To bee or not to bee,"' without book. In the evening to sing
psalms, and in come Mr. Hill to see me, and then he and I and the boy
finely to sing, and so anon broke up after much pleasure, he gone I to
supper, and so prayers and to bed.
14th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, to the Lords of the
Admiralty, and there did our business betimes. Thence to Sir Philip
Warwicke about Navy business: and my Lord Ashly; and afterwards to my Lord
Chancellor, who is very well pleased with me, and my carrying of his
business. And so to the 'Change, where mighty busy; and so home to
dinner, where Mr. Creed and Moore: and after dinner I to my Lord
Treasurer's, to Sir Philip Warwicke there, and then to White Hall, to the
Duke of Albemarle, about Tangier; and then homeward to the Coffee-house to
hear newes. And it seems the Dutch, as I afterwards found by Mr.
Coventry's letters, have stopped a ship of masts of Sir W. Warren's,
coming for us in a Swede's ship, which they will not release upon Sir G.
Downing's claiming her: which appears as the first act of hostility; and
is looked upon as so by Mr. Coventry. The Elias,' coming from New England
(Captain Hill, commander), is sunk; only the captain and a few men saved.
She foundered in the sea. So home, where infinite busy till 12 at night,
and so home to supper and to bed.
15th. That I might not be too fine for the business I intend this day, I
did leave off my fine new cloth suit lined with plush and put on my poor
black suit, and after office done (where much business, but little done),
I to the 'Change, and thence Bagwell's wife with much ado followed me
through Moorfields to a blind alehouse, and there I did caress her and eat
and drink, and many hard looks and sooth the poor wretch did give me, and
I think verily was troubled at what I did, but at last after many
protestings by degrees I did arrive at what I would, with great pleasure,
and then in the evening, it raining, walked into town to where she knew
where she was, and then I took coach and to White Hall to a Committee of
Tangier, where, and every where else, I thank God, I find myself growing
in repute; and so home, and late, very late, at business, nobody minding
it but myself, and so home to bed, weary and full of thoughts. Businesses
grow high between the Dutch and us on every side.
16th. My wife not being well, waked in the night, and strange to see how
dead sleep our people sleep that she was fain to ring an hour before any
body would wake. At last one rose and helped my wife, and so to sleep
again. Up and to my business, and then to White Hall, there to attend the
Lords Commissioners, and so directly home and dined with Sir W. Batten and
my Lady, and after dinner had much discourse tending to profit with Sir W.
Batten, how to get ourselves into the prize office
[The Calendars of State Papers are full of references to
applications for Commissionerships of the Prize Office. In
December, 1664, the Navy Committee appointed themselves the
Commissioners for Prize Goods, Sir Henry Bennet being appointed
comptroller, and Lord Ashley treasurer.]
or some other fair way of obliging the King to consider us in our
extraordinary pains. Then to the office, and there all the afternoon very
busy, and so till past 12 at night, and so home to bed. This day my wife
went to the burial of a little boy of W. Joyce's.
17th. Up and to my office, and there all the morning mighty busy, and
taking upon me to tell the Comptroller how ill his matters were done, and
I think indeed if I continue thus all the business of the office will come
upon me whether I will or no. At noon to the 'Change, and then home with
Creed to dinner, and thence I to the office, where close at it all the
afternoon till 12 at night, and then home to supper and to bed. This day
I received from Mr. Foley, but for me to pay for it, if I like it, an iron
chest, having now received back some money I had laid out for the King,
and I hope to have a good sum of money by me, thereby, in a few days, I
think above L800. But when I come home at night, I could not find the way
to open it; but, which is a strange thing, my little girle Susan could
carry it alone from one table clear from the ground and set upon another,
when neither I nor anyone in my house but Jane the cook-mayde could do it.
18th. Up and to the office, and thence to the Committee of the Fishery at
White Hall, where so poor simple doings about the business of the Lottery,
that I was ashamed to see it, that a thing so low and base should have any
thing to do with so noble an undertaking. But I had the advantage this
day to hear Mr. Williamson discourse, who come to be a contractor with
others for the Lotterys, and indeed I find he is a very logicall man and a
good speaker. But it was so pleasant to see my Lord Craven, the
chaireman, before many persons of worth and grave, use this comparison in
saying that certainly these that would contract for all the lotteries
would not suffer us to set up the Virginia lottery for plate before them,
"For," says he, "if I occupy a wench first, you may occupy her again your
heart out you can never have her maidenhead after I have once had it,"
which he did more loosely, and yet as if he had fetched a most grave and
worthy instance. They made mirth, but I and others were ashamed of it.
Thence to the 'Change and thence home to dinner, and thence to the office
a good while, and thence to the Council chamber at White Hall to speake
with Sir G. Carteret, and here by accident heard a great and famous cause
between Sir G. Lane and one Mr. Phill. Whore, an Irish business about Sir
G. Lane's endeavouring to reverse a decree of the late Commissioners of
Ireland in a Rebells case for his land, which the King had given as
forfeited to Sir G. Lane, for whom the Sollicitor did argue most angell
like, and one of the Commissioners, Baron, did argue for the other and for
himself and his brethren who had decreed it. But the Sollicitor do so pay
the Commissioners, how four all along did act for the Papists, and three
only for the Protestants, by which they were overvoted, but at last one
word (which was omitted in the Sollicitor's repeating of an Act of
Parliament in the case) being insisted on by the other part, the
Sollicitor was put to a great stop, and I could discern he could not tell
what to say, but was quite out. Thence home well pleased with this
accident, and so home to my office, where late, and then to supper and to
bed. This day I had a letter from Mr. Coventry, that tells me that my
Lord Brunkard is to be one of our Commissioners, of which I am very glad,
if any more must be.
19th. All the morning at the office, and without dinner down by galley up
and down the river to visit the yards and ships now ordered forth with
great delight, and so home to supper, and then to office late to write
letters, then home to bed.
20th (Lord's day). Up, and with my wife to church, where Pegg Pen very
fine in her new coloured silk suit laced with silver lace. Dined at home,
and Mr. Sheply, lately come to town, with me. A great deal of ordinary
discourse with him. Among other things praying him to speak to Stankes to
look after our business. With him and in private with Mr. Bodham talking
of our ropeyarde stores at Woolwich, which are mighty low, even to
admiration. They gone, in the evening comes Mr. Andrews and sings with
us, and he gone, I to Sir W. Batten's, where Sir J. Minnes and he and I to
talk about our letter to my Lord Treasurer, where his folly and simple
confidence so great in a report so ridiculous that he hath drawn up to
present to my Lord, nothing of it being true, that I was ashamed, and did
roundly and in many words for an houre together talk boldly to him, which
pleased Sir W. Batten and my Lady, but I was in the right, and was the
willinger to do so before them, that they might see that I am somebody,
and shall serve him so in his way another time. So home vexed at this
night's passage, for I had been very hot with him, so to supper and to
bed, out of order with this night's vexation.
21st. Up, and with them to the Lords at White Hall, where they do single
me out to speake to and to hear, much to my content, and received their
commands, particularly in several businesses. Thence by their order to
the Attorney General's about a new warrant for Captain Taylor which I
shall carry for him to be Commissioner in spite of Sir W. Batten, and yet
indeed it is not I, but the ability of the man, that makes the Duke and
Mr. Coventry stand by their choice. I to the 'Change and there staid long
doing business, and this day for certain newes is come that Teddiman hath
brought in eighteen or twenty Dutchmen, merchants, their Bourdeaux fleete,
and two men of wary to Portsmouth.
[Captain Sir Thomas Teddiman (or Tyddiman) had been appointed
Rear-Admiral of Lord Sandwich's squadron of the English fleet. In a
letter from Sir William Coventry to Secretary Bennet, dated November
13th, 1664, we read, "Rear Admiral Teddeman with four or five ships
has gone to course in the Channel, and if he meet any refractory
Dutchmen will teach them their duty" ("Calendar of State Papers,"
Domestic, 1664.-65, p. 66).]
And I had letters this afternoon, that three are brought into the Downes
and Dover; so that the warr is begun: God give a good end to it! After
dinner at home all the afternoon busy, and at night with Sir W. Batten and
Sir J. Minnes looking over the business of stating the accounts of the
navy charge to my Lord Treasurer, where Sir J. Minnes's paper served us in
no stead almost, but was all false, and after I had done it with great
pains, he being by, I am confident he understands not one word in it. At
it till 10 at night almost. Thence by coach to Sir Philip Warwicke's, by
his desire to have conferred with him, but he being in bed, I to White
Hall to the Secretaries, and there wrote to Mr. Coventry, and so home by
coach again, a fine clear moonshine night, but very cold. Home to my
office awhile, it being past 12 at night; and so to supper and to bed.
22nd. At the office all the morning. Sir G. Carteret, upon a motion of
Sir W. Batten's, did promise, if we would write a letter to him, to shew
it to the King on our behalf touching our desire of being Commissioners of
the Prize office. I wrote a letter to my mind and, after eating a bit at
home (Mr. Sheply dining and taking his leave of me), abroad and to Sir G.
Carteret with the letter and thence to my Lord Treasurer's; wherewith Sir
Philip Warwicke long studying all we could to make the last year swell as
high as we could. And it is much to see how he do study for the King, to
do it to get all the money from the Parliament all he can: and I shall be
serviceable to him therein, to help him to heads upon which to enlarge the
report of the expense. He did observe to me how obedient this Parliament
was for awhile, and the last sitting how they begun to differ, and to carp
at the King's officers; and what they will do now, he says, is to make
agreement for the money, for there is no guess to be made of it. He told
me he was prepared to convince the Parliament that the Subsidys are a most
ridiculous tax (the four last not rising to L40,000), and unequall. He
talks of a tax of Assessment of L70,000 for five years; the people to be
secured that it shall continue no longer than there is really a warr; and
the charges thereof to be paid. He told me, that one year of the late
Dutch warr cost L1,623,000. Thence to my Lord Chancellor's, and there
staid long with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, to speak with my lord
about our Prize Office business; but, being sicke and full of visitants,
we could not speak with him, and so away home. Where Sir Richard Ford did
meet us with letters from Holland this day, that it is likely the Dutch
fleete will not come out this year; they have not victuals to keep them
out, and it is likely they will be frozen before they can get back.
Captain Cocke is made Steward for sick and wounded seamen. So home to
supper, where troubled to hear my poor boy Tom has a fit of the stone, or
some other pain like it. I must consult Mr. Holliard for him. So at one
in the morning home to bed.
23rd. Up and to my office, where close all the morning about my Lord
Treasurer's accounts, and at noon home to dinner, and then to the office
all the afternoon very busy till very late at night, and then to supper
and to bed. This evening Mr. Hollyard came to me and told me that he hath
searched my boy, and he finds he hath a stone in his bladder, which
grieves me to the heart, he being a good-natured and well-disposed boy,
and more that it should be my misfortune to have him come to my house. Sir
G. Carteret was here this afternoon; and strange to see how we plot to
make the charge of this warr to appear greater than it is, because of
getting money.