The Diary of Samuel Pepys
by
Samuel Pepys
Part 14 out of 18
the King bade him, but presently commands all his friends to be
silent in the business of the Chancellor, and they were so: but
that the Chancellor hath done all that is possible to provoke the
King, and to bring himself to lose his head, by enraging of
people. To the Duke of York's house; and I was vexed to see
Young (who is but a bad actor at best) act Macbeth, in the room
of Betterton, who, poor man! is sick.
17th. The Parliament run on mighty furiously, having yesterday
been almost all the morning complaining against some high
proceedings of my Lord Chief Justice Keeling, that the gentlemen
of the country did complain against him in the House, and run
very high. It is the man that did fall out with my cosen Roger
Pepys, once at the Assizes there, and would have laid him by the
heels; but, it seems, a very able lawyer. This afternoon my Lord
Anglesy tells us that the House of Commons have this morning run
into the enquiry in many things; as, the sale of Dunkirke, the
dividing of the fleet the last year, the business of the prizes
with my Lord Sandwich, and many other things: so that now they
begin to fall close upon it, and God knows what will be the end
of it, but a Committee they have chosen to enquire into the
miscarriages of the war.
18th. To White Hall, and there attended the Duke of York; but
first we find him to spend above an hour in private in his closet
with Sir W. Coventry; which I was glad to see, that there is so
much confidence between them. By and by we were called in. The
Duke of York considering that the King had a mind for Spragg to
command the Rupert, which would not be well, by turning out
Hubbard, who is a good man, said he did not know whether he did
so well conforme as at this time to please the people and
Parliament, Sir W. Coventry answered, and the Duke of York
merrily agreed to it, that it was very hard to know what it was
that the Parliament would call conformity at this time.
19th. Full of my desire of seeing my Lord Orrery's new play this
afternoon at the King's house, "The Black Prince," the first time
it is acted; where, though we came by two o'clock, yet there was
no room in the pit, but were forced to go into one of the upper
boxes, at 4s. a piece, which is the first time I ever sat in a
box in my life. And in the same box came by and by, behind me,
my Lord Barkeley and his lady; but I did not turn my face to them
to be known, so that I was excused from giving them my seat. And
this pleasure I had, that from this place the scenes do appear
very fine indeed, and much better than in the pit. The house
infinite full, and the King and Duke of York there. The whole
house was mightily pleased all along till the reading of a
letter, which was so long and so unnecessary that they frequently
began to laugh, and to hiss twenty times, that had it not been
for the King's being there, they had certainly hissed it off the
stage.
20th (Lord's day). Up, and put on my new tunique of velvett;
which is very plain, but good. This morning is brought to me an
order for the presenting the Committee of Parliament to-morrow
with a list of the commanders and ships' names of all the fleets
set out since the war, and particularly of those ships which are
divided from the fleet with Prince Rupert; which gives me
occasion to see that they are busy after that business, and I am
glad of it. This afternoon comes to me Captain O'Bryan, about a
ship that the King hath given him; and he and I to talk of the
Parliament. And he tells me that the business of the Duke of
York's slackening sail in the first fight, at the beginning of
the war, is brought into question, and Sir W. Penn and Captain
Cox are to appear to-morrow about it; and it is thought will at
last be laid upon Mr. Brouncker's giving orders from the Duke of
York (which the Duke of York do not own) to Captain Cox to do it;
but it seems they do resent this very highly, and are mad in
going through all business, where they can lay any fault. I am
glad to hear that in the world I am as kindly spoke of as any
body; for, for aught I see, there is bloody work like to be, Sir
W. Coventry having been forced to produce a letter in Parliament,
wherein the Duke of Albemarle did from Sheernesse write in what
good posture all things were at Chatham, and that they were so
well placed that he feared no attempt of the enemy: so that,
among other things, I do see every body is upon his own defence,
and spares not to blame another to defend himself; and the same
course I shall take. But God knows where it will end! Pelling
tells me that my Lady Duchesse Albemarle was at Mrs. Turner's
this afternoon (she being ill,) and did there publickly talk of
business, and of our office; and that she believed that I was
safe, and had done well; and so, I thank God, I hear every body
speaks of me; and indeed I think, without vanity, I may expect to
be profited rather than injured by this inquiry which the
Parliament makes into business.
21st. To Westminster, and up to the lobby, where many commanders
of the fleet were, and Captain Cox, and Mr. Pierce the Surgeon;
the last of whom hath been in the House, and declared that he
heard Brouncker advise and give arguments to Cox: for the safety
of the Duke of York's person to shorten sail, that they might not
be in the middle of the enemy in the morning alone; and Cox
denying to observe his advice, having received the Duke of York's
commands over night to keep within gun-shot (as they then were)
of the enemy, Brouncker did go to Harman, and used the same
arguments, and told him that he was sure it would be well
pleasing to the King that care should be taken of not endangering
the Duke of York; and, after much persuasion, Harman was heard to
say, "Why, if it must be, then lower the topsail." and so did
shorten sail, to the loss, as the Parliament will have it, of the
greatest victory that ever was, and which would have saved all
the expence of blood and money, and honour, that followed; and
this they do resent, so as to put it to the question, whether
Brouncker should not be carried to the Tower: who do confess
that, out of kindness to the Duke of York's safety, he did advise
that they should do so, but did not use the Duke of York's name
therein; and so it was only his error in advising it, but; the
greatest theirs in taking it contrary to order. At last it ended
that it should be suspended till Harman comes home; and then the
Parliament-men do all tell me that it will fall heavy, and, they
think, be fatal to Brouncker or him. Sir W. Pen tells me, he was
gone to bed, having been all day labouring, and then not able to
stand, of the gout, and did give order for the keeping the sails
standing as they then were all night. But, which I wonder at, he
tells me that he did not know the next day that they had
shortened sail, nor ever did enquire into it till about ten days
ago, that this began to be mentioned; and indeed it is charged
privately as a fault on the Duke of York, that, he did not
presently examine the reason of the breach of his orders, and
punish it. But Cox tells me that he did finally refuse it; and
what prevailed with Harman he knows not, and do think that we
might have done considerable service on the enemy the next day,
if this had not been done. Thus this business ended to-day,
having kept them till almost two o'clock: and then I by coach
with Sir W. Pen as far as St. Clement's talking of this matter,
and there set down; and I walked to Sir G. Carteret's, and there
dined with him and several Parliament-men, who, I perceive, do
all look upon it as a thing certain that the Parliament will
enquire into every thing, and will be very severe where they can
find any fault. Sir W. Coventry, I hear, did this day make a
speech, in apology for his reading the letter of the Duke of
Albemarle, concerning the good condition which Chatham was in
before the enemy came thither; declaring his simple intention
therein without prejudice to my Lord. And I am told that he was
also with the Duke of Albemarle yesterday to excuse it; but this
day I do hear, by some of Sir W. Coventry's friends, that they
think he hath done himself much injury by making this man and his
interest so much his enemy. After dinner I away to Westminster,
and up to the Parliament house, and there did wait with great
patience till seven at night to be called in to the Committee,
who sat all this afternoon examining the business of Chatham; and
at last was called in, and told that the least they expected from
us Mr. Wren had promised them, and only bade me to bring all my
fellow-officers thither to-morrow afternoon. Sir Robert Brookes
in the chair: methinks a sorry fellow to be there, because a
young man; and yet he seems to speak very well. I gone thence,
my cosen Pepys comes out to me, and walks in the Hall with me,
and bids me prepare to answer to every thing; for they do seem to
lay the business of Chatham upon the Commissioners of the Navy,
and they are resolved to lay the fault heavy somewhere, and to
punish it: and prays me to prepare to save myself, and gives me
hints what; to prepare against; which I am obliged to him for.
This day I did get a list of the fourteen particular miscarriages
which are already before the Committee to be examined, wherein,
besides two or three that will concern this office much, there
are those of the prizes, and that of Bergen, and not following
the Dutch ships, against my Lord Sandwich; that I fear will ruin
him, unless he hath very good luck, or they may be in better
temper before he can come to be charged: but my heart is full of
fear for him and his family. I hear that they do prosecute the
business against my Lord Chief Justice Keeling with great
severity.
22nd. Slept but ill all the last part of the night, for fear of
this day's success in Parliament: therefore up, and all of us
all the morning close, till almost two o'clock, collecting all we
had to say and had done from the beginning, touching the safety
of the River Medway and Chatham. And having done this, and put
it into order, we away, I not having time to eat my dinner; and
so all in my Lord Brouncker's coach, (that is to say, Brouncker,
W. Pen, T. Hater, and myself,) talking of the other great matter
with which they charge us, that is, of discharging men by ticket,
in order to our defence in case that should be asked. We came to
the Parliament-door, and there, after a little waiting till the
Committee was sat, we were, the House being very full, called in:
(Sir W. Pen went in and sat as a Member: and my Lord Brouncker
would not at first go in, expecting to have a chair set for him,
and his brother had bid him not go in till he was called for;
but, after a few words, I had occasion to mention him, and so he
was called in, but without any more chair or respect paid him
than myself:) and so Brouncker, and T. Hater, and I were there to
answer: and I had a chair brought me to lean my books upon; and
so did give them such an account, in a series of the whole
business that had passed the office touching the matter, and so
answered all questions given me about it, that I did not perceive
but they were fully satisfied with me and the business as to our
office: and then Commissioner Pett (who was by at all my
discourse, and this held till within an hour after candle-light,
for I had candles brought in to read my papers by) was to answer
for himself, we having lodged all matters with him for execution.
But, Lord! what a tumultuous thing this Committee is, for all
the reputation they have of a great council, is a strange
consideration; there being as impertinent questions, and as
disorderly proposed, as any man could make. But Commissioner
Pett of all men living did make the weakest defence of himself:
nothing to the purpose, nor to satisfaction, nor certain; but
sometimes one thing and sometimes another, sometimes for himself
and sometimes against him; and h;s greatest failure was (that I
observed) from his considering whether the question propounded
was his part to answer or no, and the thing to be done was his
work to do: the want of which distinction will overthrow him;
for he concerns himself in giving an account of the disposal of
the boats, which he had no reason at all to do, or take any blame
upon him for them. He charged the not carrying up of "The
Charles" upon the Tuesday to the Duke of Albemarle; but I see the
House is mighty favourable to the Duke of Albemarle, and would
give little weight to it. And something of want of armes he
spoke, which Sir J. Duncomb answered with great imperiousness and
earnestness; but, for all that, I do see the House is resolved to
be better satisfied in the business of the unreadiness of
Sheernesse, and want of armes and ammunition there and every
where; and all their officers were here to-day attending, but
only one called in, about armes for boats to answer Commissioner
Pett. None of my brethren said anything but me there: but only
two or three silly words my Lord Brouncker gave in answer to one
question about the number of men that were in the King's Yard at
the time. At last the House dismissed us, and shortly after did
adjourn the debate till Friday next: and my cosen Pepys did come
out and joy me in my acquitting myself so well, and so did
several others, and my fellow officers all very briske to see
themselves so well acquitted; which makes me a little proud, but
yet not secure but we may yet meet with a back-blow which we see
not.
23rd. To White Hall, there to attend the Duke of York; but came
a little too late, and so missed it: only spoke with him, and
heard him correct my Lord Barkeley who fell foul on Sir Edward
Spragg, (who, it seems, said yesterday to the House, that if the
officers of the Ordnance had done as much work at Sheernesse in
ten weeks as "The Prince" did in ten days, he could have defended
the place against the Dutch): but the Duke of York told him that
every body must have liberty at this time to make their own
defence, though it be to the charging of the fault upon any
other, so it be true; so I perceive the whole world is at work in
blaming one another. Thence Sir W. Pen and I back into London;
and there saw the King, with his kettle-drums and trumpets, going
to the Exchange to lay the first stone of the first pillar of the
new building of the Exchange; which, the gates being shut, I
could not get in to see; so with Sir W. Pen to Captain Cocke's,
and then again toward Westminster; but in my way stopped at the
Exchange and got in, the King being newly gone; and there find
the bottom of the first pillar laid. And here was a shed set up,
and hung with tapestry, and a canopy of state, and some good
victuals and wine, for the King, who, it seems, did it; [i.e.,
Laid the stone.] and so a great many people, as Tom Killigrew
and others of the Court, there. I do find Mr. Gauden in his
gowne as Sheriffe, and understand that the King hath this morning
knighted him upon the place (which I am mightily pleased with);
and I think the other Sheriffe, who is Davis, [He became
afterwards Lord Mayor.] the little fellow, my school-fellow the
bookseller, who was one of Audley's executors, and now become
Sheriffe; which is a strange turn, methinks. To Westminster
Hall, where I came just as the House rose; and there in the Hall
met with Sir W. Coventry, who is in pain to defend himself in the
business of tickets, it being said that the paying of the ships
at Chatham by ticket was by his direction. He says the House was
well satisfied with my Report yesterday; and so several others
told me in the Hall that my Report was very good and
satisfactory, and that I have got advantage by it in the House:
I pray God it may prove so! To the King's playhouse, and saw
"The Black Prince;" which is now mightily bettered by that long
letter being printed, and so delivered to every body at their
going in, and some short reference made to it in the play. But
here to my great satisfaction I did see my Lord Hinchingbroke and
his mistress (with her father and mother); and I am mightily
pleased with the young lady, being handsome enough, and indeed to
my great liking, as I would have her. This day it was moved in
the House that a day might be appointed to bring in an
impeachment against the Chancellor, but it was decried as being
irregular; but that if there was ground for complaint, it might
be brought to the Committee for miscarriages, and, if they
thought good, to present it to the House; and so it was carried.
They did also vote this day thanks to be given to the Prince and
Duke of Albemarle, for their care and conduct in the last year's
war; which is a strange act: but, I know not how, the blockhead
Albemarle hath strange luck to be loved, though he be (and every
man must know it) the heaviest man in the world, but stout and
honest to his country. This evening late, Mr. Moore come to me
to prepare matters for my Lord Sandwich's defence; wherein I can
little assist, but will do all I can; and am in great fear of
nothing but the damned business of the prizes, but I fear my Lord
will receive a cursed deal of trouble by it.
25th. Up, and to make our answer ready for the Parliament this
afternoon, to show how Commissioner Pett was singly concerned in
the execution of all orders at Chatham, and that we did properly
lodge all orders with him. Thence with Sir W. Pen to the
Parliament Committee, and there I had no more matters asked me.
The Commissioners of the Ordnance, being examined with all
severity and hardly used, did go away with mighty blame; and I am
told by every body that it is likely to stick mighty hard upon
them: at which every body is glad, because of Duncomb's pride,
and their expecting to have the thanks of the House; whereas they
have deserved, as the Parliament apprehends, as bad as bad can
be. Here is great talk of an impeachment brought in against my
Lord Mordaunt, and that another will be brought in against my
Lord Chancellor in a few days. Here I understand for certain
that they have ordered that my Lord Arlington's letters, and
Secretary Morrice's letters of intelligence, be consulted about
the business of the Dutch fleet's coming abroad; and I do hear
how Birch is the man that do examine and trouble every body with
his questions.
26th. Mrs. Pierce tells me that the two Marshalls at the King's
house are Stephen Marshall's the great Presbyterian's daughters:
and that Nelly and Beck Marshall falling out the other day, the
latter called the other my Lord Buckhurst's mistress. Nell
answered her, "I was but one man's mistress, though I was brought
up in a brothel to fill strong water to the gentlemen; and you
are a mistress to three or four, though a Presbyter's praying
daughter!"
27th. This evening come Sir J. Minnes to me, to let me know that
a Parliament-man hath been with him to tell him that the
Parliament intend to examine him particularly about Sir W.
Coventry's selling of places, and about my Lord Brouncker's
discharging the ships at Chatham by ticket: for the former of
which I am more particularly sorry, that that business of Sir W.
Coventry should come up again; though this old man tells me, and
I believe, that he can say nothing to it.
28th. Sir W. Coventry says he is so well armed to justify
himself in every thing, unless in the old business of selling
places, when be says every body did; and he will now not be
forward to tell his own story, as he hath been; but tells me he
is grown wiser, and will put them to prove any thing, and he will
defend himself: that he is weary of public employment; and
neither ever designed, nor will ever, if his commission were
brought to him wrapt in gold, accept of any single place in the
State, as particularly Secretary of State: which, he says, the
world discourses Morrice is willing to resign.
29th. To Westminster Hall, the House sitting all this day about
the method of bringing in the charge against my Lord Chancellor;
and at last resolved for a Committee to draw up the heads.
30th. To the Parliament-house: where, after the Committee was
sat, I was called in: and the first thing was upon the complaint
of a dirty slut that was there, about a ticket which she had
lost, and had applied herself to me for another. I did give them
a short and satisfactory answer to that; and so they sent her
away, and were ashamed of their foolery, in giving occasion to
500 seamen and seamen's wives to come before them, as there were
this afternoon.
31st. I to Westminster; and there at the lobby do hear by
Commissioner Pett, to my great amazement, that he is in worse
condition than before, by the coming in of the Duke of
Albemarle's and Prince Rupert's Narratives this day; wherein the
former do most severely lay matters upon him, so as the House
this day have, I think, ordered him to the Tower again, or
something like it: so that the poor man is likely to be
overthrown, I doubt, right or wrong, so infinite fond they are of
any thing the Duke of Albemarle says or writes to them! I did
then go down, and there met with Colonell Reames and cosen Roger
Pepys: and there they do tell me how the Duke of Albemarle and
the Prince have laid blame on a great many, and particularly on
our office in general; and particularly for want of provision,
wherein I shall come to be questioned again in that business
myself; which do trouble me. But my cosen Pepys and I had much
discourse alone: and he do bewail the constitution of this
House, and says there is a direct caball and faction as much as
is possible between those for and against the Chancellor, and so
in other factions, that there is nothing almost done honestly and
with integrity; only some few, he says, there are, that do keep
out of all plots and combinations, and when their time comes will
speak and see right done if possible; and that he himself is
looked upon to be a man that will be of no faction, and so they
do shun to make him: and I am glad of it. He tells me that he
thanks God that he never knew what it was to be tempted to be a
knave in his life, till he did come into the House of Commons,
where there is nothing done but by passion, and faction, and
private interest. I espied Sir D. Gauden's coach, and so went
out of mine into his; and there had opportunity to talk of the
business of victuals, which the Duke of Albemarle and Prince did
complain that they were in want of the last year: but we do
conclude we shall be able to show quite the contrary of that;
only it troubles me that we must come to contend with these great
persons, which will overrun us.
NOVEMBER 1, 1667. I this morning before chapel visited Sir G.
Carteret, who is vexed to see how things are likely to go, but
cannot help it, and yet seems to think himself mighty safe. I
also visited my Lord Hinchingbroke, at his chamber at White Hall;
where I found Mr. Turner, Moore, and Creed talking of my Lord
Sandwich, whose case I doubt is but bad, and, I fear, will not
escape being worse. To the King's playhouse, and there saw a
silly play and an old one, "The Taming Of a Shrew."
2nd. To the King's playhouse, and there saw "Henry the Fourth;"
and, contrary to expectation, was pleased in nothing more than in
Cartwright's speaking of Falstaffe's speech about "What is
Honour?" [William Cartwright, one of Killigrew's Company at the
original establishment of Drury-lane. By his will, dated 1686,
he left his books, pictures, and furniture to Dulwich College,
where his portrait still remains.] The house full of Parliament-
men, it being holyday with them: and it was observable how a
gentleman of good habit sitting just before us, eating of some
fruit in the midst of the play, did drop down as dead, being
choked; but with much ado Orange Mall did thrust her finger down
his throat, and brought him to life again.
4th. To Westminster; and there landing at the New Exchange
stairs, I to Sir W. Coventry: and there he read over to me the
Prince's and Duke of Albemarle's Narratives; wherein they are
very severe against him and our office. But Sir W. Coventry do
contemn them; only that their persons and qualities are great,
and so I do perceive he is afraid of them, though he will not
confess it. But he do say that, if he can get out of these
briars, he will never trouble himself with Princes nor Dukes
again. He finds several things in their Narratives which are
both inconsistent and foolish, as well as untrue. Sir H. Cholmly
owns Sir W. Coventry, in his opinion, to be one of the worthiest
men in the nation, as I do really think he is. He tells me he do
think really that they will cut off my Lord Chancellor's head,
the Chancellor at this day having as much pride as is possible to
those few that venture their fortunes by coming to see him; and
that the Duke of York is troubled much, knowing that those that
fling down the Chancellor cannot stop there, but will do
something to him, to prevent his having it in his power hereafter
to avenge himself and father-in-law upon them. And this Sir H.
Cholmly fears may be by divorcing the Queene and getting another,
or declaring the Duke of Monmouth legitimate: which God forbid!
He tells me he do verily believe that there will come in an
impeachment of High Treason against my Lord of Ormond; among
other things, for ordering the quartering of soldiers in Ireland
on free quarters; which, it seems, is High Treason in that
country, and was one of the things that lost the Lord Strafford
his head, and the law is not yet repealed; which, he says, was a
mighty oversight of him not to have repealed (which he might with
ease have done), or have justified himself by an Act.
7th. At noon resolved with Sir W. Pen to go to see "The
Tempest," an old play of Shakespeare's, acted, I hear, the first
day, And so my wife, and girl, and W. Hewer by themselves, and
Sir W. Pen and I afterwards by ourselves: and forced to sit in
the side balcony over against the musique-room at the Duke's
House, close by my Lady Dorset [Frances, daughter of Lionel Earl
of Middlesex, wife of Richard fifth Earl of Dorset.] and a great
many great ones. The house mighty full; the King and Court
there: and the most innocent play that ever I saw; and a curious
piece of musique in an echo of half sentences, the echo repeating
the former half while the man goes on to the latter; which is
mighty pretty. The play has no great wit, but yet good above
ordinary plays.
9th. The House very busy, and like to be so all day, about my
Lord Chancellor's impeachment, whether Treason or not.
10th. To White Hall, to speak with Sir W. Coventry; and there,
beyond all we looked for do hear that the Duke of York hath got
and is full of the small-pox. And so we to his lodgings; and
there find most of the family going to St. James's, and the
gallery-doors locked up, that nobody might pass to nor fro: and
so a sad house, I am sorry to see. I am sad to consider the
effects of his death if he should miscarry; but Dr. Frazier tells
me that he is in as good condition as a man can be in his case.
They appeared last night: it seems he was let blood on Friday.
11th. Sir G. Carteret and I towards the Temple in coach
together; and there he did tell me how the King do all he can in
the world to overthrow my Lord Chancellor, and that notice is
taken of every man about the King that is not seen to promote the
ruine of the Chancellor; and that this being another great day in
his business, he dares not but be there. He tells me that as
soon as Secretary Morrice brought the Great Seale from my Lord
Chancellor, Bab. May fell upon his knees and catched the King
about the legs, and joyed him, and said that this was the first
time that ever he could call him King of England, being freed
from this great man: which was a most ridiculous saying. And he
told me that when first my Lord Gerard, a great while ago, came
to the King, and told him that the Chancellor did say openly that
the King was a lazy person and not fit to govern (which is now
made one of the things in people's mouths against the
Chancellor,) "Why," says the King, "that is no news, for he hath
told me so twenty times, and but the other day he told me so;"
and made matter of mirth at it: but yet this light discourse is
likely to prove bad to him.
12th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning; and
there hear that the Duke of York do yet do very well with his
small-pox: pray God he may continue to do so! This morning
also, to my astonishment, I hear that yesterday my Lord
Chancellor, to another of his Articles, that of betraying the
King's councils to his enemies, is voted to have matter against
him for an impeachment of High Treason, and that this day the
impeachment is to be carried up to the House of Lords: which is
very high, and I am troubled at it; for God knows what will
follow, since they that do this must do more to secure themselves
against any that will revenge this, if it ever come in their
power!
13th. To Westminster: where I find the House sitting, and in a
mighty heat about Commissioner Pett, that they would have him
impeached, though the Committee have yet brought in but part of
their Report: and this heat of the House is much heightened by
Sir Thomas Clifford telling them, that he was the man that did,
out of his own purse, employ people at the out-ports to prevent
the King of Scotts to escape after the battle of Worcester. The
house was in a great heat all this day about it; and at last it
was carried, however, that it should be referred back to the
Committee to make further enquiry. By and by I met with Mr.
Wren, who tells me that the Duke of York is in as good
condition as is possible for a man in his condition of the small-
pox. He, I perceive, is mightily concerned in the business of my
Lord Chancellor, the impeachment against whom is gone up to the
House of Lords; and great differences there are in the Lords'
House about it, and the Lords are very high one against another.
This day Mr. Chichly told me, with a seeming trouble, that the
House have stopped his son Jack (Sir John) his going to France,
that he may be a witness against my Lord Sandwich: which do
trouble me, though he can, I think, say little.
15th. A conference between the two Houses today; so I stayed:
and it was only to tell the Commons that the Lords' cannot agree
to the confining or sequestring of the Earle of Clarendon from
the Parliament, forasmuch as they do not specify any particular
crime which they lay upon him and call Treason. This the House
did receive, and so parted: at which, I hear the Commons are
like to grow very high, and will insist upon their privileges,
and the Lords will own theirs, though the Duke of Buckingham,
Bristoll, and others have been very high in the House of Lords to
have had him committed. This is likely to breed ill blood. The
King hath (as Mr. Moore says Sir Thomas Crewe told him) been
heard to say that the quarrel is not between my Lord Chancellor
and him, but his brother and him; which will make sad work among
us if that be once promoted, as to be sure it will, Buckingham
and Bristoll being now the only counsel the King follows, so as
Arlington and Coventry are come to signify little. He tells me
they are likely to fall upon my Lord Sandwich; but for my part
sometimes I am apt to think they cannot do him much harm, he
telling me that there is no great fear of the business of
Resumption. This day Poundy the waterman was with me, to let me
know that he was summoned to bear witness against me to Prince
Rupert's people (who have a commission to look after the business
of prize-goods), about the business of the prize-goods I was
concerned in: but I did desire him to speak all he knew, and not
to spare me, nor did promise nor give him any thing, but sent him
away with good words.
16th. Met Mr. Gregory, my old acquaintance, an understanding
gentleman; and he and I walked an hour together, talking of the
bad prospect of the times. And the sum of what I learn from him
is this: That the King is the most concerned in the world
against the Chancellor and all people that do not appear against
him, and therefore is angry with the Bishops, having said that he
had one Bishop on his side (Crofts), [Herbert Croft, Dean of
Hereford, elected Bishop of that see 1661.] and but one: that
Buckingham and Bristoll are now his only Cabinet Counsel; and
that, before the Duke of York fell sick, Buckingham was admitted
to the King of his Cabinet, and there stayed with him several
hours, and the Duke of York shut out. That it is plain that
there is dislike between the King and Duke of York, and that it
is to be feared that the House will go so far against the
Chancellor, that they must do something to undo the Duke of York,
or will not think themselves safe. That this Lord Vaughan that is
so great against the Chancellor, is one of the lewdest fellows of
the age, worse than Sir Charles Sedley; and that he was heard to
swear he would do my Lord Clarendon's business. [John Lord
Vaughan, eldest surviving son to Richard Earl of Carbery, whom he
succeeded. He was well versed in literature, and President of
the Royal Society from 1686 to 1689, and had been Governor of
Jamaica. He was amongst Dryden's earliest patrons Ob. 1712-13.]
That he do find that my Lord Clarendon hath more friends in both
Houses than he believes he would have, by reason that they do see
what are the hands that pull him down; which they do not like.
That Harry Coventry was scolded at by the King severely the other
day; and that his answer was, that if he must not speak what he
thought in this business in Parliament, he must not come thither.
And he says that by this very business Harry Coventry hath got
more fame and common esteem than any gentleman in England hath at
this day, and is an excellent and able person. That the King,
who not long ago did say of Bristoll, that he was a man able in
three years to get himself a fortune in any kingdom in the world,
and lose all again in three months, do now hug him and commend
his parts every where, above all the world. How fickle is this
man, and how unhappy we like to be! That he fears some furious
courses will be taken against the Duke of York; and that he hath
heard that it was designed, if they cannot carry matters against
the Chancellor, to impeach the Duke of York himself; which God
forbid! That Sir Edward Nicholas, whom he served while
Secretary, is one of the best men in the world, but hated by the
Queene-Mother, (for a service he did the old King against her
mind and her favourites;) and that she and my Lady Castlemaine
did make the King to lay him aside: but this man says that he is
one of the most heavenly and charitable men in the whole world.
That the House of Commons resolve to stand by their proceedings,
and have chosen a Committee to draw up the reason thereof to
carry to the Lords; which is likely to breed great heat between
them. That the Parliament, after all this, is likely to give the
King no money; and therefore, that it is to be wondered what
makes the King give way to so great extravagancies, which do all
tend to the making him less than he is, and so will every day
more and more: and by this means every creature is divided
against the other, that there never was so great an uncertainty
in England, of what would be the event of things, as at this
day; nobody being at ease, or safe. To White Hall; and there got
into the theatre room, and there heard both the vocall and
instrumentall musick. Here was the King and Queene, and some of
the ladies; among whom none more jolly than my Lady Buckingham,
her Lord being once more a great man.
19th. I was told this day that Lory Hide, [Laurence Hyde, Master
of the Robes, afterwards created Earl of Rochester.] second son
of my Lord Chancellor, did some time since in the House say, that
if he thought his father was guilty but of one of the things then
said against him, he would be the first that should call for
judgement against him: which Mr. Waller the poet did say was
spoke like the old Roman, like Brutus, for its greatness and
worthiness.
20th. This afternoon Mr. Mills told me how fully satisfactory my
first Report was to the House in the business of Chatham: which
I am glad to hear; and the more, for that I know that he is a
great creature of Sir R. Brookes's.
21st. Among other things of news I do hear, that upon the
reading of the House of Commons' Reasons of the manner of their
proceedings in the business of my Lord Chancellor, the Reasons
were so bad, that my Lord Bristoll himself did declare that he
would not stand, to what he had and did still advise the Lords to
concur to, upon any of the Reasons of the House of Commons; but
if it was put to the question whether it should be done on their
Reasons, he would be against them: and indeed it seems the
Reasons, however they come to escape the House of Commons (which
shows how slightly the greatest matters are done in this world,
and even in Parliaments), were none of them of strength, but the
principle of them untrue; they saying, that where any man is
brought before a Judge accused of Treason in general, without
specifying the particular, the Judge is obliged to commit him.
The question being put by the Lords to my Lord Keeper, he said
that quite the contrary was true. And then in the Sixth Article
(I will get a copy of them if I can) there are two or three
things strangely asserted to the diminishing of the King's power,
as is said at least; things that heretofore would not have been
heard of. But then the question being put among the Lords, as my
Lord Bristoll advised, whether, upon the whole matter and Reasons
that had been laid before them, they would commit my Lord
Clarendon, it was carried five to one against it; there being but
three Bishops against him, of whom Cosens [John Cosins, Master of
Peter House and Dean of Peterborough in the time of Charles I.;
afterwards Bishop of Durham. Ob. 1671-2, aged 78.] and Dr.
Reynolds [Edward Reynolds, Bishop of Norwich. Ob. 1676.] were
two, and I know not the third. This made the opposite Lords, as
Bristoll and Buckingham, so mad that they declared and protested
against it, speaking very broad that there was mutiny and
rebellion in the hearts of the Lords, and that they desired they
might enter their dissents, which they did do in great fury. So
that upon the Lords sending to the Commons, as I am told, to have
a conference for them to give their answer to the Commons'
Reasons, the Commons did desire a free conference: but the Lords
do deny it; and the reason is, that they hold not the Commons any
Court, but that themselves only are a Court, and the Chief Court
of Judicature, and therefore are not to dispute the laws and
method of their own Court with them that are none, and so will
not submit so much as to have their power disputed. And it is
conceived that much of this eagerness among the Lords do arise
from the fear some of them have that they may be dealt with in
the same manner themselves, and therefore to stand upon it now.
It seems my Lord Clarendon hath, as is said and believed, had his
coach and horses several times in his coach, ready to carry him
to the Tower, expecting a message to that purpose; but by this
means his case is like to be laid by. With Creed to a Tavern,
where Dean Wilkins and others: and good discourse; among the
rest, of a man that is a little frantic (that hath been a kind of
Minister, Dr. Wilkins saying that he hath read for him in his
church), that is poor and a debauched man, that the College have
hired for 20s. to have some of the blood of a sheep let into his
body; and it is to be done on Saturday next. They purpose to let
in about twelve ounces; which, they compute, is what will be let
in in a minute's time by a watch. On this occasion Dr. Whistler
told a pretty story related by Muffett, a good author, of Dr.
Cayus that built Caius College; that being very old, and living
only at that time upon woman's milk, he, while he fed upon the
milk of an angry fretful woman, was so himself; and then being
advised to take it of a good-natured patient woman, he did become
so beyond the common temper of his age.
22nd. Met with Cooling, my Lord Chamberlain's Secretary, and
from him learn the truth of all I heard last night; and
understand further, that this stiffness of the Lords is in no
manner of kindness to my Lord Chancellor, for he neither hath,
nor do, nor for the future can oblige any of them, but rather the
contrary; but that they do fear what the consequence may be to
themselves, should they yield in his case, as many of them have
reason. And more, he showed me how this is rather to the wrong
and prejudice of my Lord Chancellor, for that it is better for
him to come to be tried before the Lords, where he can have right
and make interest, than, when the Parliament is up, be committed
by the King, and tried by a Court on purpose made by the King of
what Lords the King pleases, who have a mind to have his head.
So that my Lord Cornbury himself, his son, (he tells me,) hath
moved that if they have Treason against my Lord of Clarendon,
that they would specify it and send it up to the Lords, that he
might come to his trial; so full of intrigues this business is!
Walked a good while in the Temple church, observing the plainness
of Selden's tomb, and how much better one of his executors hath,
who is buried by him.
23rd. Busy till late preparing things to fortify myself and
fellows against the Parliament; and particularly myself against
what I fear is thought, that I have suppressed the Order of the
Board by which the discharging the great ships at Chatham by
tickets was directed; whereas, indeed, there was no such Order.
25th. This morning Sir W. Pen tells me that the house was very
hot on Saturday last upon the business of liberty of speech in
the House and damned the vote in the beginning of the Long-
Parliament against it; so that he fears that there may be some
bad thing which they have a mind to broach, which they dare not
do without more security than they now have. God keep us, for
things look mighty ill!
26th. This evening comes to me to my closet at the office Sir
John Chichly, of his own accord, to tell me what he shall answer
to the Committee, when, as he expects, he shall be examined about
my Lord Sandwich; which is so little as will not hurt my Lord at
all, I know.
27th. Mr. Pierce comes to me, and there in general tells me, how
the King is now fallen in and become a slave to the Duke of
Buckingham, led by none but him, whom he (Mr. Pierce) swears he
knows do hate the very person of the King, and would as well, as
will certainly, ruin him. He do say, and I think is right, that
the King do in this do the most ungrateful part of a master to a
servant that ever was done, in this carriage of his to my Lord
Chancellor: that it may be the Chancellor may have faults, but
none such as these they speak of; that he do now really fear that
all is going to ruin, for he says he hears that Sir W. Coventry
hath been just before his sickness with the Duke of York, to ask
his forgiveness and peace for what he had done; for that he never
could foresee that what he meant so well, in the counselling to
lay by the Chancellor, should come to this.
30th. To Arundell House, to the election of officers [Of the
Royal Society.] for the next year; where I was near being chosen
of the Council, but am glad I was not, for I could not have
attended, though above all things I could wish it; and do take it
as a mighty respect to have been named there. Then to Cary
House, a house now of entertainment, next my Lord Ashly's; where
I have heretofore heard Common Prayer in the time of Dr. Mossum.
[Probably Robert Massum, D.D., Dean of Christ Church, Dublin; and
in 1666 made Bishop of Derry.] I was pleased to see the person
who had his blood taken out. He speaks well, and did this day
give the Society a relation thereof in Latin, saying that he
finds himself much better since, and as a new man; but he is
cracked a little in his head, though he speaks very reasonably,
and very well. He had but 20s. for his suffering it, and is to
have the same again tried upon him: the first sound man that
ever had it tried on him in England, and but one that we hear of
in France. My Lord Anglesy told me this day that he did believe
the House of Commons would the next week yield to the Lords; but
speaking with others this day, they conclude they will not, but
that rather the King will accommodate it by committing my Lord
Clarendon himself. I remember what Mr. Evelyn said, that he did
believe we should soon see ourselves fall into a Commonwealth
again.
DECEMBER 1, 1667. I to church: and in our pew there sat a great
lady, whom I afterwards understood to be my Lady Carlisle, [Anne,
daughter of Edward Lord Howard of Escrick, wife to Charles first
Earl of Carlisle.] a very fine woman indeed in person.
2nd. The Lords' answer is come down to the Commons, that they
are not satisfied in the Commons reasons; and so the Commons are
hot, and like to sit all day upon the business what to do herein,
most thinking that they will remonstrate against the Lords.
Thence to Lord Crewe's, and there dined with him; where, after
dinner, he took me aside and bewailed the condition of the
nation, now the King and his brother are at a distance about this
business of the Chancellor, and the two houses differing: and he
do believe that there are so many about the King like to be
concerned and troubled by the Parliament, that they will get him
to dissolve or prorogue the Parliament; and the rather, for that
the King is likely by this good husbandry of the Treasury to get
out of debt, and the Parliament is likely to give no money.
Among other things, my Lord Crewe did tell me with grief that he
hears that the King of late hath not dined nor supped with the
Queene, as he used of late to do. To Westminster Hall, where my
cosen Roger tells me of the high vote of the Commons this
afternoon, that the proceedings of the Lords in the case of my
Lord Clarendon are an obstruction to justice, and of ill
precedent to future times.
3rd. To Sir W. Coventry's, the first time I have seen him at his
new house since he came to lodge there. He tells me of the vote
for none of the House to be of the Commission for the Bill of
Accounts; which he thinks is so great a disappointment to Birch
and others that expected to be of it, that he thinks, could it
have been seen, there would not have been any Bill at all. We
hope it will be the better for all that are to account; it being
likely that the men, being few and not of the House will hear
reason. The main business I went about was about Gilsthrop, Sir
W. Batten's clerk; who being upon his death-bed, and now dead,
hath offered to make discoveries of the disorders of the Navy and
of 65,000l. damage to the King: which made mighty note in the
Commons House; and members appointed to go to him, which they
did; but nothing to the purpose got from him, but complaints of
false musters, and ships being refitted with victuals and stores
at Plymouth after they were fitted from other ports. But all
this to no purpose, nor more than we know and will owne. But the
best is, that this logger-head should say this, that understands
nothing of the Navy, nor ever would; and hath particularly
blemished his master by name among us. I told Sir W. Coventry of
my letter to Sir R. Brookes, and his answer to me. He advises
me, in what I write to him, to be as short as I can, and obscure,
saving in things fully plain; for that all that he do is to make
mischief; and that the greatest wisdom in dealing with the
Parliament in the world is to say little, and let them get out
what they can by force: which I shall observe. He declared to
me much of his mind to be ruled by his own measures, and not to
go so far as many would have him to the ruin of my Lord
Chancellor, and for which they do endeavour to do what they can
against Sir W. Coventry. "But," says he, "I have done my do in
helping to get him out of the administration of things, for which
he is not fit; but for his life or estate I will have nothing to
say to it: besides that, my duty to my master the Duke of York
is such, that I will perish before I will do any thing to
displease or disoblige him, where the very necessity of the
kingdom do not in my judgment call me." Home; and there met W.
Batelier, who tells me the first great, news, that my Lord
Chancellor is fled this day, and left a paper behind him for the
House of Lords, telling them the reason of his retiring,
complaining of a design for his ruin. But the paper I must get:
only the thing at present is great, and will put the King and
Commons to some new counsels certainly. Sir Richard Ford told us
this evening an odd story of the basenesse of the Lord Mayor, Sir
W. Bolton, in cheating the poor of the City (out of the
collections made for the people that were burned) of 1800l.; of
which he can give no account, and in which he hath forsworn
himself plainly, so as the Court of Aldermen have sequestered him
from their Court till he do bring in an account. He says also
that this day hath been made appear to them that the Keeper of
Newgate hath at this day made his house the only nursery of
rogues, prostitutes, pickpockets and thieves, in the world; where
they were bred and entertained and the whole society met; and
that for the sake of the Sheriffes they durst not this day commit
him, for fear of making him let out the prisoners but are fain to
go by artifice to deal with him. He tells me also, speaking of
the new street that is to be made from Guild Hall down to
Cheapside, that the ground is already most of it bought. And
tells me of one particular, of a man that hath a piece of ground
lying in the very middle of the street that must be; which, when
the street is cut out of it, there will remain ground enough, of
each side, to build a house to front the street. He demanded
700l. for the ground, and to be excused paying any thing for the
melioration of the rest of his ground that he was to keep. The
Court consented to give him 700l., only not to abate him the
consideration: which the man denied; but told them, and so they
agreed, that he would excuse the City the 700l., that he might
have the benefit of the melioration without paying any thing for
it. So much some will get by having the City burned! Ground by
this means, that was not worth 4d. a-foot before, will now, when
houses are built, be worth 15s. a-foot. But he tells me of the
common standard now reckoned on between man and man, in places
where there is no alteration of circumstances, but only the
houses burnt, there the ground, which with a house on it did
yield 100l. a year, is now reputed worth 33l. 6s. 8d.; and that
this is the common market-price between one man and another, made
upon a good and moderate medium.
4th. I hear that the House of Lords did send down the paper
which my Lord Clarendon left behind him, directed to the Lords,
to be seditious and scandalous; and the Commons have voted that
it be burned by the hands of the hangman, and that the King be
desired to agree to it. I do hear also that they have desired
the King to use means to stop his escape out of the nation. This
day Gilsthrop is buried, who hath made all the late discourse of
the great discovery of 65,000l. of which the King hath been
wronged.
6th. With Sir J. Minnes to the Duke of York, the first time that
I have seen him, or we waited on him, since his sickness: and
blessed be God, he is not at all the worse for the small-pox, but
is only a little weak yet. We did much business with him, and so
parted. My Lord Anglesy told me how my Lord Northampton [James
third Earl of Northampton, Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, and
constable of the Tower, Ob. 1681.] brought in a Bill into the
House of Lords yesterday, under the name of a Bill for the Honour
and Privilege of the House, and Mercy to my Lord Clarendon:
which, he told me, he opposed, saying that he was a man accused
of treason by the House of Commons, and mercy was not proper for
him, having not been tried yet, and so no mercy needful for him.
However, the Duke of Buckingham and others did desire that the
Bill, might be read; and it was for banishing my Lord Clarendon
from all his Majesty's dominions, and that it should be treason
to have him found in any of them: the thing is only a thing of
vanity, and to insult over him. By and by home with Sir J.
Minnes, who tells me that my Lord Clarendon did go away in a
Custom-house boat, and is now at Callis: and, I confess, nothing
seems to hang more heavy than his leaving of this unfortunate
paper behind him, that hath angered both Houses, and hath, I
think, reconciled them in that which otherwise would have broke
them in pieces: so that I do hence, and from Sir W. Coventry's
late example and doctrine to me, learn that on these sorts of
occasions there is nothing like silence; it being seldom any
wrong to a man to say nothing, but for the most part it is to say
any thing. Sir J. Minnes told me a story of Lord Cottington,
who, wanting a son, intended to make his nephew his heir, a
country boy; but did alter his mind upon the boy's being
persuaded by another young heir (in roguery) to crow like a cock
at my Lord's table, much company being there, and the boy having
a great trick at doing that perfectly. My Lord bade them take
away that fool from the table, and so gave over the thoughts of
making him his heir from this piece of folly. Captain Cocke
comes to me; and, among other discourse, tells me that he is told
that an impeachment against Sir W. Coventry will be brought in
very soon. He tells me that even those that are against my Lord
Chancellor and the Court in the House, do not trust nor agree one
with another. He tells me that my Lord Chancellor went away
about ten at night, on Saturday last, at Westminster; and took
boat at Westminster, and thence by a vessel to Callis, where he
believes he now is; and that the Duke of York and Mr. Wren knew
of it, and that himself did know of it on Sunday morning: that
on Sunday his coach, and people about it, went to Twittenham, and
the world thought that he had been there: that nothing but this
unhappy paper hath undone him, and that he doubts that this paper
hath lost him every where: that his withdrawing do reconcile
things so far as, he thinks, the heat of their fury will be over,
and that all will be made well between the two brothers: that
Holland do endeavour to persuade the King of France to break
peace with us: that the Dutch will, without doubt, have sixty
sail of ships out the next year: so knows not what will become
of us, but hopes the Parliament will find money for us to have a
fleet.
7th. Somebody told me this day that they hear that Thomson with
the wooden leg, and Wildman, the Fifth-Monarchy man (a great
creature of the Duke of Buckingham's), are in nomination to be
Commissioners, among others, upon the Bill of Accounts.
8th. To White Hall, where I saw the Duchesse of York (in a fine
dress of second mourning for her mother, being black edged with
ermin) go to make her first visit to the Queene since the Duke of
York's being sick; and by and by she being returned, the Queene
came and visited her. But it was pretty to observe that Sir W.
Coventry and I walking an hour and more together in the Matted
Gallery, he observed, and so did I, how the Duchesse, soon as she
spied him, turned her head a' one side. Here he and I walked
thus long, which we have not done a great while before. Our
discourse was upon every thing: the unhappiness of having our
matters examined by people that understand them not; that it is
better for us in the Navy to have men that do understand the
whole, and that are not passionate; that we that have taken the
most pains are called upon to answer for all crimes, while those
that, like Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, did sit and do
nothing, do lie still without any trouble: that if it were to
serve the King and kingdom again in a war, neither of us could do
more, though upon this experience we might do better than we did:
that the commanders, the gentlemen that could never be brought to
order, but undid all, are now the men that find fault and abuse
others: that it had been much better for the King to have given
Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten 1000l. a-year to have sat still,
than to have had them in this business this war: that the
serving a prince that minds not his business is most unhappy for
them that serve him well, and an unhappiness so great that he
declares he will never have more to do with a war under him.
That he hath papers which do flatly contradict the Duke of
Albemarle's Narrative; and that he hath been with the Duke of
Albemarle and showed him them, to prevent his falling into
another like fault: that the Duke of Albemarle seems to be able
to answer them; but he thinks that the Duke of Albemarle and the
Prince are contented to let their Narratives sleep, they being
not only contradictory in some things (as he observed about the
business of the Duke of Albemarle's being to follow the Prince
upon the dividing the fleet in case the enemy come out), but
neither of them to be maintained in others. That the business
the other night of my Lord Anglesy at the Council was happily got
over for my Lord, by his dexterous silencing it, and the rest not
urging it further; forasmuch as had the Duke of Buckingham come
in time enough and had got it by the end, he would have touched
him in it; Sir W. Coventry telling me that my Lord Anglesy did
with such impudence maintain the quarrel against the Commons and
some of the Lords, in the business of my Lord Clarendon, that he
believes there are enough would be glad but of this occasion to
be revenged of him. He tells me that he hears some of the
Thomsons are like to be of the Commission for the Accounts, and
Wildman, which he much wonders at, as having been a false fellow
to every body, and in prison most of the time since the King's
coming in. But he do tell me that the House is in such a
condition that nobody can tell what to make of them, and, he
thinks, they were never in before; that every body leads, and
nobody follows; and that he do now think that, since a great many
are defeated in their expectation of being of the Commission, now
they would put it into such hands as it shall get no credit from:
for if they do look to the bottom and see the King's case, they
think they are then bound to give the King money; whereas they
would be excused from that, and therefore endeavour to make this
business of the Accounts to signify little. Comes Captain Cocke
to me; and there he tells me, to my great satisfaction, that Sir
Robert Brookes did dine with him to-day; and that he told him,
speaking of me, that he would make me the darling of the House of
Commons, so much he is satisfied concerning me. And this Cocke
did tell me that I might give him thanks for it; and I do think
it may do me good, for he do happen to be held a considerable
person, of a young man, both for sobriety and ability.
9th. Comes Sir G. Carteret to talk with me, who seems to think
himself safe as to his particular, but do doubt what will become
of the whole kingdom, things being so broke in pieces. He tells
me that the King himself did the other day very particularly tell
the whole story of my Lord Sandwich's not following the Dutch
ships, with which he is charged; and shows the reasons of it to
be the only good course he could have taken, and do discourse it
very knowingly. This I am glad of, though, as the King is now,
his favour, for aught I see, serves very little in stead at this
day, but rather is an argument against a man; and the King do not
concern himself to relieve or justify any body, but is wholly
negligent of every body's concernment.
10th. The King did send a message to the House to-day that he
would adjourn them on the 17th instant to February; by which
time, at least, I shall have more respite to prepare things on my
own behalf and the office, against their return.
11th. I met Harris the player, and talked of "Catiline," which
is to be suddenly acted at the King's house; and there all agree
that it cannot be well done at that house, there not being good
actors enough: and Burt [Davies, says Burt, ranked in the list
of good actors without possessing superior talents.--DRAMATIC
MISCELLANIES.] acts Cicero, which they all conclude he will not
be able to do well. The King gives them 500l. for robes, there
being, as they say, to be sixteen scarlet robes. Comes Sir W.
Warren [I have been recently informed that Charles II., April 12,
1662, knighted a rich tradesman of Wapping, named WILLIAM WARREN;
and there is still in that parish a place called "SIR WILLIAM
WARREN'S SQUARE," perhaps built on the site of the knight's
residence.] to talk about some business of his and mine: and
he, I find, would have me not to think that the Parliament, in
the mind they are in, and having so many good offices in their
view to dispose of, will leave any of the King's officers in, but
will rout all, though I am likely to escape as well as any, if any
can escape. And I think he is in the right, and I do look for it
accordingly.
12th. My bookseller did give me a list of the twenty who were
mentioned for the Commission in Parliament for the Accounts: and
it is strange that of the twenty the Parliament could not think
fit to choose their nine, but were fain to add three that were
not in the list of the twenty, they being many of them factious
people and ringleaders in the late troubles; so that Sir John
Talbot did fly out and was very hot in the business of Wildman's
being named, and took notice how he was entertained in the bosom
of the Duke of Buckingham, a Privy-counsellor; and that it was
fit to be observed by the House, and punished. The men that I
know of the nine I like very well; that is, Mr. Pierrepoint, Lord
Brereton, [William, third Lord Brereton, of Leaghlin in Ireland,
M.P. for Cheshire, where he possessed an estate which he disposed
of on account of the exigences of the times, and his father's
losses in the cause of Charles I. He was educated at Breda, and
was an accomplished and amiable nobleman, and one of the Founders
of the Royal Society, Ob. 1679.] and Sir William Turner; and I
do think the rest are so too, but such as will not be able to do
this business as it ought to be to do any good with. Here I did
also see their votes against my Lord Chief Justice Keeling, that
his proceedings were illegal, and that he was a contemner of
Magna Charta, the great preserver of our lives, freedoms and
properties, and an introduction to arbitrary government; which is
very high language, and of the same sound with that in the year
1640. This day my Lord Chancellor's letter was burned at the
'Change.
13th. To Westminster, to the Parliament-door, to speak with
Roger: and here I saw my Lord Keeling go into the House to the
bar, to have his business heard by the whole House to-day; and a
great crowd of people to stare upon him. Here I hear that the
Lord's Bill for banishing and disabling my Lord Clarendon from
bearing any office, or being in the King's dominions, and it
being made felony for any to correspond with him but his own
children, is brought to the Commons; but they will not agree to
it, being not satisfied with that as sufficient, but will have a
Bill of Attainder brought in against him: but they make use of
this against the Lords, that they that would not think there was
cause enough to commit him without hearing, will have him
banished without hearing. By and by comes out my cosen Roger to
me, he being not willing to be in the House at the business of my
Lord Keeling, lest he should be called upon to complain against
him for his abusing him at Cambridge. Among other news it is now
fresh that the King of Portugall is deposed, and his brother made
King; and that my Lord Sandwich is gone from Madrid with great
honour to Lisbon, to make up at this juncture a peace to the
advantage, as the Spaniard would have it, of Spain. I wish it
may be for my Lord's honour, if it be so; but it seems my Lord is
in mighty estimation in Spain. With my cosen Roger to
Westminster Hall; and there we met the House rising: and they
have voted my Lord Chief Justice Keeling's proceedings illegal;
but that out of particular respect to him and the mediation of a
great many, they have resolved to proceed no further against him.
16th. To Westminster, where I find the House mighty busy upon a
petition against my Lord Gerard, which lays heavy things to his
charge, of his abusing the King in his Guards; and very hot the
House is upon it.
17th. This day I do hear at White Hall that the Duke of Monmouth
is sick, and in danger of the small-pox.
19th. To the office, where Commissioner Middleton first took his
place at the Board as Surveyor of the Navy; and indeed I think
will be an excellent officer, I am sure much beyond what his
predecessor was. This evening the King by message (which he
never did before) hath passed several Bills, among others that
for the Accounts and for banishing my Lord Chancellor, and hath
adjourned the House to February; at which I am glad, hoping in
this time to get leisure to state my Tangier Accounts, and to
prepare better for the Parliament's enquiries. Here I hear how
the House of Lords with great severity, if not tyranny, have
proceeded against poor Carr, who only erred in the manner of the
presenting his petition against my Lord Gerard, it being first
printed before it was presented: which was, it seems, by
Colonell Sands's going into the country, into whose hands he had
put it: the poor man is ordered to stand in the pillory two or
three times, and to have his eares cut, and be imprisoned I know
not how long. But it is believed that the Commons, when they
meet, will not be well pleased with it; and they have no reason,
I think.
21st. The Nonconformists are mighty high, and their meetings
frequented and connived at; and they do expect to have their day
now soon; for my Lord of Buckingham is a declared friend to them,
and even to the Quakers, who had very good words the other day
from the King himself: and, what is more, the Archbishop of
Canterbury [Gilbert Sheldon.] is called no more to the Caball,
nor, by the way, Sir W. Coventry: which I am sorry for, the
Caball at present being, as he says, the King, and Duke of
Buckingham, and Lord Keeper, the Duke of Albemarle, and Privy
Seale. The Bishops differing from the King in the late business
in the House of Lords, have caused this and what is like to
follow, for every body is encouraged now-a-days to speak, and
even to preach (as I have heard one of them), as bad things
against them as ever in the year 1640; which is a strange change.
23rd. I to the Exchange; and there I saw Carr stand in the
pillory for the business of my Lord Gerard; and there hear by
Creed that the Bishops of Winchester [George Morley.] and of
Rochester, [John Dolben.] and the Dean of the Chapel, and some
other great prelates, are suspended: and a cloud upon the
Archbishop ever since the late business in the House of Lords;
and I believe it will be a heavy blow to the Clergy.
24th. By coach to St. James's, it being about six at night; my
design being to see the ceremonys, this night being the eve of
Christmas, at the Queene's chapel. I got in almost up to the
rail, and with a good deal of patience staid from nine at night
to two in the morning in a very great crowd: and there expected
but found nothing extraordinary, there being nothing but a high
masse. The Queene was there, and some high-ladies. All being
done, I was sorry for my coming, and missing of what I expected;
which was, to have had a child born and dressed there, and a
great deal of do; but we broke up, and nothing like it done. And
there I left people receiving the Sacrament: and the Queene
gone, and ladies; only my Lady Castlemaine, who looked prettily
in her night-clothes. And so took my coach, which waited; and
drank some burnt wine at the Rose Tavern door while the
constables came, and two or three bellmen went by, it being a
fine light moonshine morning: and so home round the City.
26th. With my wife to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The
Surprizall;" [A comedy, by Sir Robert Howard.] which did not
please me to-day, the actors not pleasing me; and especially
Nell's acting of a serious part, which she spoils. I hear this
day that Mrs. Stewart do at this day keep a great court at
Somerset House with her husband the Duke of Richmond, she being
visited for her beauty's sake by people as the Queene is at
nights; and they say also that she is likely to go to Court;
again, and there put my Lady Castlemaine's nose out of joynt.
27th. A Committee of Tangier met; the Duke of York there. And
there I did discourse over to them their condition as to money;
which they were all mightily as I could desire satisfied with,
but the Duke of Albemarle, who takes the part of the Guards
against us in our supplies of money; which is an odd
consideration for a dull, heavy blockhead as he is, understanding
no more of either than a goose: but the ability and integrity of
Sir W. Coventry, in all the King's concernments, I do and must
admire. After the Committee, Sir W. Coventry tells me that the
businesse of getting the Duchesse of Richmond to Court is broke
off, the Duke not suffering it; and thereby great trouble is
brought among the people that endeavoured it, and thought they
had compassed it. But Lord! to think that at this time the King
should mind no other cares but these! We tells me that my Lord
of Canterbury is a mighty stout man, and a man of a brave, high
spirit, and cares not for this disfavour that he is under at
Court, knowing that the King cannot take away his profits during
his life, and therefore do not value it.
28th. To the King's house, and there saw "The Mad Couple;" which
is but an ordinary play; but only Nell's and Hart's mad parts are
most excellent done, but especially her's: which makes it a
miracle to me to think how ill she do any serious part, as the
other day, just like a fool or changeling; and, in a mad part, do
beyond all imitation almost. It pleased us mightily to see the
natural affection of a poor woman, the mother of one of the
children brought on the stage: the child crying she by force got
upon the stage, and took up her child and carried it away off of
the stage from Hart. Many fine faces here to-day. I am told to-
day, which troubles me, that great complaint is made upon the
'Change, among our merchants, that the very Ostend little
pickaroon men-of-war do offer violence to our merchant-men and
search them, beat our masters, and plunder them, upon pretence of
carrying Frenchmen's goods.
29th. At night comes Mrs. Turner to see us; and there, among
other talk, she tells me that Mr. William Pen, who is lately come
over from Ireland, is a Quaker again, or some very melancholy
thing; that he cares for no company, nor comes into any which is
a pleasant thing, after his being abroad so long, and his father
such a hypocritical rogue, and at this time an atheist.
30th. Sir G. Carteret and I alone did talk of the ruinous
condition we are in, the King being going to put out of the
Council so many able men; such as my Lord Anglesy, Ashly, Hollis,
Secretary Morrice (to bring in Mr. Trevor, [John Trevor, knighted
by Charles II. who made him Secretary of State, 1668, which
office he held till his death in 1672.]) and the Archbishop of
Canterbury and my Lord Bridgewater. He tells me that this is
true, only the Duke of York do endeavour to hinder it, and the
Duke of York himself did tell him so; that the King and the Duke
of York do not in company disagree, but are friendly; but that
there is a core in their hearts, he doubts, which is not to be
easily removed; for these men so suffer only for their constancy
to the Chancellor, or at least from the King's ill-will against
him. He do suggest that something is intended for the Duke of
Monmouth, and, it may be, against the Queene also: that we are
in no manner sure against an invasion the next year: that the
Duke of Buckingham do rule all now, and the Duke of York comes
indeed to the Caball, but signifies little there. That this new
faction do not endure, nor the King; Sir W. Coventry; but yet
that he is so usefull that they cannot be without him; but that
he is not now called to the Caball. That my Lord of Buckingham,
Bristoll, and Arlington do seem to agree in these things; but
that they do not in their hearts trust one another, but do drive
several ways all of them. In short, he do bless himself that he
is no more concerned in matters now; and the hopes he hath of
being at liberty, when his accounts are over, to retire into the
country. That he do give over the kingdom for wholly lost. This
day I got a little rent in my new fine camlett cloak with the
latch of Sir G. Carteret's door; but it is darned up at my
tailor's, that it will be no great blemish to it; but it troubled
me. I could not but observe that Sir Philip Carteret [Sir G.
Carteret's eldest son, mentioned before, who had been knighted.]
would fain have given me my going into a play; but yet when he
came to the door he had no money to pay for himself I having
refused to accept of it for myself, but was fain; and I perceive
he is known there, and do run upon the score for plays, which is
a shame; but I perceive always he is in want of money. In the
pit I met with Sir Ch. North (formerly Mr. North, who was with my
Lord at sea); and he, of his own accord, was so silly as to tell
me he is married; and for her quality, being a Lord's daughter,
[Catherine, daughter to William Lord Grey of Warke, and widow of
Sir Edward Moseley.] (my Lord Grey) and person and beauty, and
years and estate and disposition, he is the happiest man in the
world. I am sure he is an ugly fellow; but a good scholar and
sober gentleman; and heir to his father, now Lord North, the old
Lord being dead.
31st. Thus ends the year, with great happiness to myself and
family as to health and good condition in the world, blessed be
God for it! only with great trouble to my mind in reference to
the publick, there being little hopes left but that the whole
nation must in a very little time be lost, either by troubles at
home, the Parliament being dissatisfied, and the King led into
unsettled councils by some about him, himself considering little,
and divisions growing between the King and Duke of York; or else
by foreign invasion, to which we must submit if any at this bad
point of time should come upon us, which the King of France is
well able to do. These thoughts, and some cares upon me,
concerning my standing in this office when the Committee of
Parliament shall come to examine our Navy matters, which they
will now shortly do. I pray God they may do the kingdom service
therein, as they will have sufficient opportunity of doing it!
JANUARY 1, 1667-8. Dined with my Lord Crewe, with whom was Mr.
Browne, Clerk of the House of Lords, and Mr. John Crewe. Here
was mighty good discourse, as there is always: and among other
things my Lord Crewe did turn to a place in the Life of Sir
Philip Sidney, wrote by Sir Fulke Greville, which do foretell the
present condition of this nation, in relation to the Dutch, to
the very degree of a prophecy, and is so remarkable that I am
resolved to buy one of them, it being quite through a good
discourse. Here they did talk much of the present cheapness of
corne, even to a miracle; so as their farmers can pay no rent,
but do fling up their lands; and would pay in corne: but (which
I did observe to my Lord, and he liked well of it) our gentry are
grown so ignorant in every thing of good husbandry that they know
not how to bestow this corne; which, did they understand but a
little trade, they would be able to joyne together and know what
markets there are abroad, and send it thither, and thereby ease
their tenants and be able to pay themselves. They did talk much
of the disgrace the Archbishop is fallen under with the King, and
the rest of the Bishops also. Thence I after dinner to the Duke
of York's playhouse, and there saw "Sir Martin Mar-all;" which I
have seen so often, and yet am mightily pleased with it, and
think it mighty witty, and the fullest of proper matter for mirth
that; ever was writ; and I do clearly see that they do improve in
their acting of it. Here a mighty company of citizens,
prentices, and others; and it makes me observe, that when I began
first to be able to bestow a play on myself, I do not remember
that I saw so many by half of the ordinary prentices and mean
people in the pit at 2s. 6d. a-piece as now; I going for several
years no higher than the 12d. and then the 18d. places, though I
strained hard to go in then when I did: so much the vanity and
prodigality of the age is to be observed in this particular.
Thence I to White Hall, and there walked up and down the house a
while, and do hear nothing of any thing done further in this
business of the change of Privy-counsellors: only I hear that
Sir G. Savile, [Of Rufford, co. Notts, Bart.; created Lord Savile
of Eland, and Viscount Halifax, 1668, Earl of Halifax, 1679, and
Marquis of Halifax, 1682. Ob. 1695.] one of the Parliament
Committee of nine for examining the Accounts, is by the King made
a Lord, the Lord Halifax; which, I believe, will displease the
Parliament. By and by I met with Mr. Brisband; and having it in
my mind this Christmas to do (what I never can remember that I
did) go to see the gaming at the groome-porters (I having in my
coming from the playhouse stepped into the two Temple-halls, and
there saw the dirty prentices and idle people playing; wherein I
was mistaken, in thinking to have seen gentlemen of quality
playing there), he did lead me thither; where, after staying an
hour, they began to play, at about eight at night. And to see
the formality of the groome-porter, who is their judge of all
disputes in play and all quarrels that may arise therein, and how
his under-officers are there to observe true play at each table,
and to give new dice, is a consideration I never could have
thought had been in the world, had I not now seen it. And so I
having enough for once, refusing to venture, though Brisband
pressed me hard, went away.
2nd. Attended the King and the Duke of York in the Duke of
York's lodgings, with the rest of the officers and many of the
commanders of the fleet, and some of our master shipwrights, to
discourse the business of having the topmasts of ships made to
lower abaft of the mainmast; a business I understand not, and so
can give no good account; but I do see that by how much greater
the Council and the number of counsellors is, the more confused
the issue is of their councils; so that little was said to the
purpose regularly, and but little use was made of it, they coming
to a very broken conclusion upon it to make trial in a ship or
two. From this they fell to other talk about the fleet's
fighting this late war, and how the King's ships have been
shattered; though the King said that the world would not have it
that above ten or twenty ships in any fight did do any service,
and that this hath been told so to him himself by ignorant
people. The Prince, who was there, was mightily surprised at it,
and seemed troubled; but the King told him that it was only
discourse of the world. But Mr. Wren whispered me in the eare,
and said that the Duke of Albemarle had put it into his Narrative
for the House, that not above twenty-five ships fought in the
engagement wherein he was, but that he was advised to leave it
out; but this he did write from sea, I am sure, or words to that
effect: and did displease many commanders, among others Captain
Batts, who the Duke of York said was a very stout man, all the
world knew; and that another was brought into his ship that; had
been turned out of his place when he was a boatswain, not long
before, for being a drunkard. This the Prince [Rupert.] took
notice of, and would have been angry, I think, but they let their
discourse fall: but the Duke of York was earnest in it. And the
Prince said to me, standing by me, "If they will turn out every
man that will be drunk, they must turn out all the commanders in
the fleet. What is the matter if he be drunk, so when he comes
to fight he do his work? At least, let him be punished for his
drunkenness, and not put out of his command presently." This he
spoke very much concerned for this idle fellow, one Greene.
After this the King began to tell stories of the cowardice of the
Spaniards in Flanders, when he was there, at the siege of Mardike
and Dunkirke; which was very pretty, though he tells them but
meanly. To Westminster Hall, and there staid a little: and then
home, and by the way did find with difficulty the Life of Sir
Philip Sidney. And the bookseller told me that he had sold four
within this week or two, which is more than ever he sold in all
his life of them; and he could not imagine what should be the
reason of it: but I suppose it is from the same reason of
people's observing of this part therein, touching his prophecying
our present condition here in England in relation to the Dutch,
which is very remarkable. It is generally believed that France
is endeavouring a firmer league with us than the former, in order
to his going on with his business against Spain the next year;
which I am, and so every body else is, I think, very glad of, for
all our fear is of his invading us. This day at White Hall I
overheard Sir W. Coventry propose to the King his ordering of
some particular thing in the Wardrobe, which was of no great
value; but yet, as much as it was, it was of profit to the King
and saving to his purse. The King answered to it with great
indifferency, as a thing that it was no great matter whether it
was done or no. Sir W. Coventry answered; "I see your Majesty do
not remember the old English proverb, 'He that will not stoop for
a pin, will never be worth a pound.'" And so they parted, the
King bidding him do as he would; which, methought, was an answer
not like a King that did intend ever to do well.
4th. It seems worth remembering that this day I did hear my Lord
Anglesy at the table, speaking touching this new Act for
Accounts, say that the House of Lords did pass it because it was
a senseless, impracticable, ineffectual, and foolish Act; and
that my Lord Ashly having shown that it was so to the House of
Lords, the Duke of Buckingham did stand up and told the Lords
that they were beholden to my Lord Ashly, that having first
commended them for a most grave and honourable assembly, he
thought it fit for the House to pass this Act for Accounts
because it was a foolish and simple Act; and it seems it was
passed with but a few in the House, when it was intended to have
met in a grand Committee upon it. And it seems that in itself it
is not to be practised till after this session of Parliament, by
the very words of the Act, which nobody regarded, and therefore
cannot come in force yet, unless the next meeting they do make a
new Act for the bringing it into force sooner; which is a strange
omission. But I perceive my Lord Anglesy do make a mere
laughing-stock of this act, as a thing that can do nothing
considerable, for all its great noise.
5th. The business of putting out of some of the Privy-council is
over, the King being at last advised to forbear it; for whereas
he did design it to make room for some of the House of Commons
that are against him, thereby to gratify them, it is believed
that it will but so much the more fret the rest that are not
provided for, and raise a new stock of enemies by them that are
displeased; and it goes for a pretty saying of my Lord Anglesy's
up and down the Court, that he should lately say to one of the
great promoters of this putting him and others out of the
Council, "Well, and what are we to look for when we are outed?
Will all things be set right in the nation?" The other said that
he did believe that many things would be mended: "But," says my
Lord, "will you and the rest of you be contented to be hanged if
you do not redeem all our misfortunes and set all right, if the
power be put into your hands?" The other answered, No, he would
not undertake that. "Why then," says my Lord, "I and the rest of
us that you are labouring to put out will be contented to be
hanged if we do not recover all that is past, if the King will
put the power into our hands and adhere wholly to our advice."
7th. To the Nursery; but the house did not act to-day; and so I
to the other two playhouses into the pit to gaze up and down, and
there did by this means for nothing see an act in "The Schoole of
Compliments" at the Duke of York's house, and "Henry the Fourth"
at the King's house; but not liking either of the plays, I took
my coach again, and home.
8th. To White Hall, and by coach home, taking up Mr. Prin at the
Court gate (it raining), and setting him down at the Temple: and
by the way did ask him about the manner of holding of
Parliaments, and whether the number of Knights and Burgesses were
always the same? And, he says that the latter were not; but
that, for aught he can find, they were sent up at the discretion
at first of the Sheriffes, to whom the writs are sent to send up
generally the Burgesses and citizens of their county; and he do
find that heretofore the Parliament-men being paid by the
country, several burroughs have complained of the Sheriffes
putting them to the charge of sending up Burgesses; which is a
very extraordinary thing to me, that knew not this, but thought
that the number had been known, and always the same.
10th. To White Hall; and there to wait on the Duke of York with
the rest of my brethren, which we did a little in the King's
green-room while the King was in Council: and in this room we
found my Lord Bristoll walking alone; which wondering at while
the Council was sitting, I was answered that as being a
Catholique he could not be of the Council; which I did not
consider before. This day I received a letter from my father,
and another from my cosen Roger Pepys, who have had a view of
Jackson's evidences of his estate, and do mightily like of the
man and his condition and estate, and do advise me to accept of
the match for my sister, and to finish it soon as I can; and he
do it so as I confess I am contented to have it done, and so give
her her portion.
11th. To the King's house, to see "The Wildgoose Chase." [By
Beaumont and Fletcher.] In this play I met with nothing
extraordinary at all, but very dull inventions and designs.
Knipp came and sat by us, and her talk pleased me a little, she
tells me how Miss Davis is for certain going away from the Duke's
house, the King being in love with her; and a house is taken for
her, and furnishing; and she hath a ring given her already worth
600l.: that the King did send several times for Nelly, and she
was with him; and I am sorry for it, and can hope for no good to
the State from having a Prince so devoted to his pleasure. She
told me also of a play shortly coming upon the stage of Sir
Charles Sedley's, which, she thinks, will be called "The
Wandering Ladys," a comedy that she thinks will be most pleasant;
and also another play, called "The Duke of Lorane:" besides
"Catiline," which she thinks, for want of the clothes which the
King promised them, will not be acted for a good while.
14th. To my bookseller, Martin, and there did receive my book I
expected of China, a most excellent book with rare cuts; and
there fell into discourse with him about the burning of Paul's
when the City was burned, his house being in the church-yard.
And he tells me that it took fire first upon the end of a board
that among others was laid upon the roof instead of lead, the
lead being broke off, and thence down lower and lower: but that
the burning of the goods under St. Fayth's arose from the goods
taking fire in the church-yard, and so got into St. Fayth's
church; and that they first took fire from the Draper's side, by
some timber of the houses that were burned falling into the
church. He says that one warehouse of books was saved under
Paul's; and there were several dogs found burned among the goods
in the churchyard, and but one man, which was an old man, that
said he would go and save a blanket which he had in the church,
and being weak the fire overcame him. He says that most of the
booksellers do design to fall a-building again the next year; but
that the Bishop of London do use them most basely, worse than any
other landlords, and says he will be paid to this day the rent,
or else he will not come to treat with them for the time to come;
and will not, on that condition either, promise them in any thing
how he will use them; and the Parliament sitting, he claims his
privilege, and will not be cited before the Lord Chief Justice as
others are there, to be forced to a fair dealing. Thence by
coach to Mrs. Pierce's, where my wife is; and there they fell to
discourse of the last night's work at Court, where the ladies and
Duke of Monmouth and others acted. "The Indian Emperour;"
wherein they told me these things most remarkable: That not any
woman but the Duchesse of Monmouth and Mrs. Cornwallis did any
thing but like fools and stocks, but that these two did do most
extraordinary well: that not any man did any thing well but
Captain Olrigran, [SIC. ORIG.] who spoke and did well, but above
all things did dance most incomparably. That she did sit near
the players of the Duke's house; among the rest Miss Davis, who
is the most impertinent slut, she says, in the world; and the
more, now the King do show her countenance; and is reckoned his
mistress, even to the scorne of the whole world; the King gazing
on her, and my Lady Castlemaine being melancholy and out of
humour, all the play not smiling once. The King, it seems, hath
given her a ring of 700l. which she shows to every body, and owns
that the King did give it her; and he hath furnished a house in
Suffolke-street most richly for her; which is a most infinite
shame. It seems she is a bastard of Colonell Howard, my Lord
Berkshire, and that he hath got her for the King: but Pierce
says that she is a most homely jade as ever she saw, though she
dances beyond any thing in the world. She tells me that the
Duchesse of Richmond do not yet come to the Court, nor hath seen
the King, nor will not, nor do he own his desire of seeing her;
but hath used means to get her to Court, but they do not take.
15th. This afternoon my Lord Anglesy tells us that it is voted
in Council to have a fleet of 50 ships out: but it is only a
disguise for the Parliament to get some money by; but it will not
take, I believe.
16th. Lord Anglesy tells us again that a fleet is to be set out;
and that it is generally, he hears, said that it is but a Spanish
rhodomontado; and that he saying so just now to the Duke of
Albemarle, who came to town last night (after the thing was
ordered,) he told him a story of two seamen: one wished all the
guns of the ship were his, and that they were silver; and says
the other, "You are a fool, for if you can have it for wishing,
why do you not wish them gold?" "So," says he, "if a
rhodomontado will do any good, why do you not say 100 ships?"
And it is true; for the Dutch and French are said to make such
preparations as 50 sail will do no good. Mightily pleased with
Mr. Gibson's talking; he telling me so many good stories relating
to the war and practices of commanders which I will find a time
to recollect; and he will be an admirable help to my writing a
history of the Navy, if ever I do.
17th. Much discourse of the duell yesterday between the Duke of
Buckingham, Holmes, and one Jenkins, on one side, and my Lord of
Shrewsbury, [Francis, eleventh Earl of Shrewsbury, died of his
wounds March 16th following.] Sir John Talbot, [Sir John Talbot,
a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, M.P. for Knaresborough.] and
one Bernard Howard [Bernard Howard, eighth son of Henry Frederic
Earl of Arundel.] on the other side: and all about; my Lady
Shrewsbury, [Anna Maria, daughter of Robert Earl of Cardigan, the
Duke of Buckingham's mistress, and said to have held his horse,
in the habit of a page, while he was fighting with her husband.
She married, secondly, George Rodney Bridges, son of Sir Thomas
Bridges of Keynsham, Somerset, and died April 20, 1702.] who is
at this time, and hath for a great while been, a mistress to the
Duke of Buckingham. And so her husband challenged him, and they
met yesterday in a close near Barne-Elmes and there fought: and
my Lord Shrewsbury is run through the body, from the right breast
through the shoulder; and Sir John Talbot all along up one of his
armes; and Jenkins killed upon the place, and the rest all in a
little measure wounded. This will make the world think that the
King hath good counsellors about him, when the Duke of
Buckingham, the greatest man about him, is a fellow of no more
sobriety than to fight about a mistress. And this may prove a
very bad accident to the Duke of Buckingham, but that my Lady
Castlemaine do rule all at this time as much as ever she did, and
she will, it is believed, keep all matters well with the Duke of
Buckingham: though this is a time that the King will be very
backward, I suppose, to appear in such a business. And it is
pretty to hear how the King had some notice of this challenge a
week or two ago, and did give it to my Lord Generall to confine
the Duke, or take security that he should not do any such thing
as fight: and the Generall trusted to the King that he, sending
for him, would do it; and the King trusted to the Generall. And
it is said that my Lord Shrewsbury's case is to be feared, that
he may die too; and that may make it much worse for the Duke of
Buckingham: and I shall not be much sorry for it, that we may
have some sober man come in his room to assist in the Government.
Creed tells me of Mr. Harry Howard's giving the Royall Society a
piece of ground next to his house to build a college on: which
is a most generous act. And he tells me he is a very fine
person, and understands and speaks well; and no rigid Papist
neither, but one that would not have a Protestant servant leave
his religion, which he was going to do, thinking to recommend
himself to his master by it; saying, that he had rather have an
honest Protestant than a knavish Catholique. I was not called in
to the Council and therefore home, first informing myself that my
Lord Hinchingbroke hath been married this week to my Lord
Burlington's daughter: so that that great business is over; and
I am mighty glad of it, though I am not satisfied that I have not
a favour sent me.
19th. Lord Shrewsbury is likely to do well.
20th. To Drumbleby's the pipe-maker, there to advise about the
making of a flageolet to go low and soft; and he do show me a way
which do do, and also a fashion of having two pipes of the same
note fastened together, so as I can play on one, and then echo it
upon the other; which is mighty pretty. So to my Lord Crewe's to
dinner; where we hear all the good news of our making a league
now with Holland against the French Power coming over them or us:
which is the first good act that hath been done a great while,
and done secretly and with great seeming wisdom; and is certainly
good for us at this time, while we are in no condition to resist
the French, if he should come over hither: and then a little
time of peace will give us time to lay up something, which these
Commissioners of the Treasury are doing; and the world do begin
to see that they will do the King's work for him, if he will let
them. My Lord told a good story of Mr. Newman, the Minister in
New England, who wrote the Concordance, of his foretelling his
death and preaching a funeral sermon, and did at last bid the
angels do their office, and died. It seems there is great
presumption that there will be a Toleration granted: so that the
Presbyterians do hold up their heads; but they will hardly trust
the King or the Parliament what to yield them, though most of the
sober party be for some kind of allowance to be given them. Lord
Gerard is likely to meet with ill, the next sitting of
Parliament, about Carr being set in the pillory; and I am glad of
it. And it is mighty acceptable to the world to hear, that among
other reductions the King do reduce his Guards: which do please
mightily.
21st. Comes news from Kate Joyce that, if I would see her
husband alive, I must come presently. So I to him, and and his
breath rattled in the throate; and they did lay pigeons to his
feet, and all despair of him. It seems on Thursday last he went
sober and quiet to Islington, and behind one of the inns (the
White Lion) did fling himself into a pond: was spied by a poor
woman, and got out by some people, and set on his head and got to
life: and so his wife and friends sent for. He confessed his
doing the thing, being led by the Devil; and do declare his
reason to be his trouble in having forgot to serve God as he
ought since he came to his new employment: [He kept a tavern.]
and I believe that, and the sense of his great loss by the fire,
did bring him to it; for he grew sick, and worse and worse to
this day. The friends that were there being now in fear that the
goods and estate would be seized on, though he lived all this
while, because of his endeavouring to drown himself, my cosen did
endeavour to remove what she could of plate out of the house, and
desired me to take my flagons; which I did, but in great fear all
the way of being seized; though there was no reason for it, he
not being dead. So with Sir D. Gauden to Guild Hall to advise
with the Towne-Clerke about the practice of the City and nation
in this case: and he thinks it cannot be found selfe-murder; but
if it be, it will fall, all the estate, to the King. So I to my
cosen's again; where I no sooner come but find that he was
departed. So at their entreaty I presently to White Hall, and
there find Sir W. Coventry; and he carried me to the King, the
Duke of York being with him, and there told my story which I had
told him; and the King, without more ado, granted that, if it was
found, the estate should be to the widow and children: which
indeed was every great courtesy, for people are looking out for
the estate.
22nd. At noon with any Lord Brouncker to Sir D. Gauden's, at the
Victualling-office, to dinner, where I have not dined since he
was Sheriffe. He expected us: and a good dinner, and much good
company; and a fine house, and especially two rooms very fine, he
hath built there. His lady a good lady; but my Lord led himself
and me to a great absurdity in kissing all the ladies, but the
finest of all the company, leaving her out I know not how; and I
was loath to do it, since he omitted it. Here little Chaplin
dined, who is like to be Sheriffe the next year; and a pretty
humoured little man he is: and Mr. Talents the younger, of
Magdalene College, Chaplain to the Sheriffe; which I was glad to
see, though not much acquainted with him.
23rd. At the office all the morning; and at noon find the Bishop
of Lincolne [Dr. William Fuller, translated from Limerick 1667.]
come to dine with us; and after him comes Mr. Brisband. And
there mighty good company. But the Bishop a very extraordinary
good-natured man, and one that is mightily pleased, as well as I
am, that I live so near Bugden, [At Brampton.] the seat of his
bishopricke, where he is like to reside; and indeed I am glad of
it. In discourse we think ourselves safe for this year, by this
league with Holland; which pleases every body, and, they say,
vexes France; insomuch that De l'Estrade, the French Embassador
in Holland, when he heard it, told the States that he would have
them not forget that his master is in the head of 100,000 men,
and is but 28 years old; which was a great speech. The Bishop
tells me he thinks that the great business of Toleration will
not, notwithstanding this talk, be carried this Parliament; nor
for the King's taking away the Deans' and Chapters' lands to
supply his wants, they signifying little to him if he had them
for his present service.
27th. Mr. Povy do tell me how he is like to lose his 400l. a-
year pension of the Duke of York, which he took in consideration
of his place that was taken from him. He tells me the Duchesse
is a devil against him, and do now come like Queene Elizabeth,
and sits with the Duke of York's Council, and sees what they do;
and she crosses out this man's wages and prices as she sees fit
for saving money: but yet, he tells me, she reserves 5000l. a-
gear for her own spending; and my Lady Peterborough by and by
tells me that the Duchesse do lay up mightily jewells.
28th. To White Hall; and by and by the Duke of York comes, and
we had a little meeting, Anglesy, W. Pen, and I there, and none
else: and, among other things, did discourse of the want of
discipline in the fleet; which the Duke of York confessed, and
yet said that he while he was there did keep it in a good
measure, but that it was now lost when he was absent; but he will
endeavour to have it again. That he did tell the Prince and Duke
of Albemarle they would lose all order by making such and such
men commanders, which they would because they were stout men: he
told them it was a reproach to the nation, as if there were no
sober men among us, that were stout to be had. That they did put
out some men for cowards that the Duke of York had put in, but;
little before, for stout men; and would now, were he to go to sea
again, entertain them in his own division to choose: and did put
in an idle fellow, Greene, who was hardly thought fit for a
boatswain by him; they did put him from being a lieutenant to a
captain's place of a second-rate ship; as idle a drunken fellow,
he said, as any was in the fleet. That he will now desire the
King to let him be what he is, that is, Admirall; and he will put
in none but those that he hath great reason to think well of:
and particularly says that though he likes Colonel Legg well, yet
his son that was, he knows not how, made a captain after he had
been but one voyage at sea, he should go to sea another
apprenticeship before ever he gives him a command. We did tell
him of the many defects and disorders among the captains, and I
prayed we might do it in writing to him; which he liked; and I am
glad of an opportunity of doing it. My wife this day hears from
her father and mother: they are in France, at Paris; he, poor
good man! thankful for my small charities to him.
29th. To Sir W. Coventry. He tells me he hath no friends in the
whole Court but my Lord Keeper and Sir John Duncomb. They have
reduced the charges of Ireland about 70,000l. a-year, and thereby
cut off good profits from my Lord Lieutenant; which will make a
new enemy, but he cares not. He tells me that Townsend, of the
Wardrobe, is the veriest knave and bufflehead that over he saw.
30th. I first heard that my cosen Pepys, of Salisbury Court, was
Marshall to my Lord Coke when he was Lord Chief Justice; which
beginning of his I did not know to be so low; but so it was, it
seems.
31st. Up; and by coach, with W. Griffin with me, and our
Contract-books, to Durham Yard, to the Commissioners for
Accounts; the first time I ever was there; and staid awhile
before I was admitted to them. I did observe a great many people
attending about complaints of seamen concerning tickets, and
among others Mr. Carcasse, and Mr. Martin my purser. And I
observe a fellow, one Collins, is there, who is employed by these
Commissioners particularly to hold an office in Bishopsgate-
street, or somewhere thereabouts, to receive complaints of all
people about tickets: and I believe he will have work enough.
Presently I was called in; where I found the whole number of
Commissioners, and was there received with great respect and
kindness; and did give them great satisfaction, making it my
endeavour to inform them what it was they were to expect from me,
and what was the duty of other people; this being my only way to
preserve myself, after all my pains and trouble. They did ask
many questions, and demanded other books of me, which I did give
them very ready and acceptable answers to; and, upon the whole, I
do observe they go about their business like men resolved to go
through with it, and in a very good method, like men of
understanding. They have Mr. Jessop their secretary: and it is
pretty to see that they are fain to find out an old-fashioned man
of Cromwell's to do their business for them, as well as the
Parliament to pitch upon such for the most part in the lowest of
people that were brought into the House for Commissioners. I
went away giving and receiving great satisfaction: and so to
White Hall, to the Commissioners of the Treasury; where waiting
some time I there met with Colonell Birch: and he and I fell
into discourse; and I did give him thanks for his kindness to me
in the Parliament-house, both before my face and behind my back.
He told me that he knew me to be a man of the old way of taking
pains, and did always endeavour to do me right, and prevent any
thing that was moved that might tend to my injury; which I was
obliged to him for, and thanked him. Thence to talk of other
things, and the want of money: and he told me of the general
want of money in the country; that land sold for nothing, and the
many pennyworths he knows of lands and houses upon them, with
good titles in his country, at 16 years' purchase: "And," says
he, "though I am in debt, yet I have a mind to one thing, and
that is a Bishop's lease:" but said, "I will yet choose such a
lease before any other, because I know they cannot stand, and
then it will fall into the King's hands, and I in possession
shall have an advantage by it." Says he, "I know they must fall,
and they are now near it, taking all the ways they can to undo
themselves, and showing us the way:" and thereupon told me a
story of the present quarrel between the Bishop [John Hacket.]
and Dean [Henry Greswold, A.M.] of Coventry and Lichfield; the
former of whom did excommunicate the latter, and caused his
excommunication to be read in the church while he was there; and
after it was read, the Dean made the service be gone through
with, though himself an excommunicate was present (which is
contrary to the Canon), and said he would justify the quire
therein against the Bishop: and so they are at law in the Arches
about it; which is a very pretty story. He tells me that the
King is for Toleration, though the Bishops be against it; and
that he do not doubt but it will be carried in Parliament: but
that he fears some will stand for the tolerating of Papists with
the rest; and that he knows not what to say, but rather thinks
that the sober party will be without it rather than have it upon
those terms; and I do believe so. It is observed, and is true,
in the late fire of London, that the fire burned just as many
parish-churches as there were hours from the beginning to the end
of the fire; and next, that there were just as many churches left
standing as there were taverns left standing in the rest of the
City that was not burned, being, I think, thirteen in all of
each: which is pretty to observe.
FEBRUARY 1, 1667-8. To the office till past two o'clock; where
at the Board some high words passed between Sir W. Pen and I,
begun by me, and yielded to by him, I being in the right in
finding fault with him for his neglect of duty. Home, my head
mighty full of business now on my hands: viz. of finishing my
Tangier Accounts; of auditing my last year's accounts; of
preparing answers to the Commissioners of Accounts; of drawing up
several important letters to the Duke of York and the
Commissioners of the Treasury; the marrying of my sister; the
building of a coach and stables against summer, and the setting
many things in the office right: and the drawing up a new form
of Contract with the Victualler of the Navy, and several other
things, which pains, however, will go through with.
5th. Mr. Moore mightily commends my Lord Hinchingbroke's match
and lady, though he buys her 10,000l. dear, by the jointure and
settlement his father makes her; and says that the Duke of York
and Duchesse of York did come to see them in bed together on
their wedding-night, and how my Lord had fifty pieces of gold
taken out of his pocket that night after he was in bed. He tells
me that an Act of Comprehension is likely to pass this Parliament
for admitting of all persuasions in religion to the public
observation of their particular worship, but in certain places,
and the persons therein concerned to be listed of this or that
church; which, it is thought, will do them more hurt than good,
and make them not own their persuasion. He tells me that there
is a pardon passed to the Duke of Buckingham, my Lord of
Shrewsbury and the rest, for the late duell and murder; which he
thinks a worse fault than any ill use my late Lord Chancellor
ever put the great Seal to, and will be so thought by the
Parliament, for them to be pardoned without bringing them to any
trial: and that my Lord Privy-seale therefore would not have it
pass his hand, but made it go by immediate warrant; or at least
they knew that he would not pass it, and so did direct it to go
by immediate warrant, that it might not come to him. He tells me
what a character my Lord Sandwich hath sent over of Mr.
Godolphin; [Sidney Godolphin, Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles
II.; made a Commissioner of the Treasury 1678-9, and in 1684
created Baron Godolphin.] as the worthiest man, and such a
friend to him as he may be trusted in any thing relating to him
in the world; as one whom, he says, he hath infallible assurances
that he will remaine his friend: which is very high, but indeed
they say the gentleman is a fine man.
6th. Sir H. Cholmly tells me how the Parliament (which is to
meet again to-day) are likely to fall heavy on the business of
the Duke of Buckingham's pardon; and I shall be glad of it: and
that the King hath put out of the Court the two Hides, my Lord
Chancellor's two sons, and also the Bishops of Rochester [John
Dolben.] and Winchester [George Morley.] the latter of whom
should have preached before him yesterday, being Ash-Wednesday,
and had sermon ready, but was put by; which is great news. My
wife being gone before, I to the Duke of York's playhouse; where
a new play of Etheridge's, called "She would if she could;" and
though I was there by two o'clock, there was 1000 people put back
that could not have room in the pit; and I at last, because my
wife was there, made shift to get into the 18d. box, and there
saw: but, Lord! how full was the house, and how silly the play,
there being nothing in the world good in it, and few people
pleased in it. The King was there; but I sat mightily behind,
and could see but little, and hear not all. The play being done,
I into the pit to look for my wife, it being dark and raining;
but could not find her, and so staid going between the two doors
and through the pit an hour and half, I think, after the play was
done; the people staying there till the rain was over, and to
talk one with another. And among the rest here was the Duke of
Buckingham to-day openly sat in the pit; and there I found him
with my Lord Buckhurst, and Sedley, and Etheridge the poet; the
last of whom I did hear mightily find fault with the actors, that
they were out of humour and had not their parts perfect, and that
Harris did do nothing, nor could so much as sing a ketch in it;
and so was mightily concerned: while all the rest did through
the whole pit blame the play as a silly, dull thing, though there
was something very roguish and witty; but the design of the play
and end mighty insipid. At last I did find my wife.
7th. Met my cosen Roger Pepys, (the Parliament meeting yesterday
and adjourned to Monday next;) and here he tells me that Mr.
Jackson my sister's servant is come to town, and hath this day
suffered a recovery on his estate in order to the making her a
settlement. There is a great triall between my Lord Gerard and
Carr to-day, who is indicted for his life at the King's Bench for
running from his colours; but all do say that my Lord Gerard,
though he designs the ruin of this man, will not get any thing by
it. Met my cosen Roger again, and Mr. Jackson, who is a plain
young man, handsome enough for her, [Paulina Peps.] one of no
education nor discourse, but of few words, and one altogether
that, I think, will please me well enough. My cosen had got me
to give the odd sixth 100l. presently, which I intended to keep
to the birth of the first child: and let it go--I shall be eased
of the care. So there parted, my mind pretty well satisfied with
this plain fellow for my sister; though I shall, I see, have no
pleasure nor content in him, as if he had been a man of reading
and parts, like Cumberland.
8th. The great talk is of Carr's coming off in all his trials,
to the disgrace of my Lord Gerard to that degree, and the ripping
up of so many notorious rogueries and cheats of my Lord's, that
my Lord, it is thought, will be ruined: and above all do show
the madness of the House of Commons, who rejected the petition of
this poor man by a combination of a few in the House; and, much
more, the base proceedings (just the epitome of all our publick
managements in this age) of the House of Lords, that ordered him
to stand in the pillory for those very things, without hearing
and examining what he hath now, by the seeking of my Lord Gerard
himself, cleared himself of in open Court, to the gaining himself
the pity of all the world, and shame for ever to my Lord Gerard.
10th. Made a visit to Mr. Godolphin at his chamber; and I do
find him a very pretty and able person, a man of very fine parts,
and of infinite zeal to my Lord Sandwich; and one that says, he
is (he believes) as wise and able a person as any prince in the
world hath. He tells me that he meets with unmannerly usage by
Sir Robert Southwell, [He was knighted and sent as Envoy
Extraordinary to Portugal 1666, and with the same rank to
Brussels in 1671. He became afterwards Clerk to the Privy
Council and was five times elected President of the Royal
Society. Ob. 1702, aged 60.] in Portugall, who would sign with
him in his negociations there, being a forward young man; but
that my Lord mastered him in that point, it being ruled for my
Lord here at a hearing of a Committee of the Council. He says
that if my Lord can compass a peace between Spain and Portugall,
and hath the doing of it and the honour himself, it will be a
thing of more honour than ever any man had, and of as much
advantage. Thence to Westminster Hall, where the Hall mighty
full: and, among other things, the House begins to sit to-day,
and the King came. But before the King's coming the House of
Commons met; and upon information given them of a Bill intended
to be brought in as common report said, for Comprehension, they
did mightily and generally inveigh against it, and did vote that
the King should be desired by the House, and the message
delivered by the Privy-counsellors of the House, that the laws
against breakers of the Act for Uniformity should be put in
execution: and it was moved in the House that if any people had
a mind to bring any new laws into the House about religion, they
might come as a proposer of new laws did in Athens, with ropes
about their necks. By and by the King comes to the Lords' House,
and there tells them of his league with Holland, and the
necessity of a fleet, and his debts; and, therefore, want of
money; and his desire that they would think of some way to bring
in all his Protestant subjects to a right understanding and peace
one with another; meaning the Bill of Comprehension. The Commons
coming to their House, it was moved that the vote passed this
morning might be suspended, because of the King's Speech, till
the House was full and called over, two days hence: but it was
denied, so furious they are against this Bill; and thereby a
great blow either given to the King or Presbyters, or, which is
the rather of the two, to the House itself, by denying a thing
desired by the King, and so much desired by much the greater part
of the nation. Whatever the consequence be, if the King be a man
of any stomach and heat, all do believe that he will resent this
vote. Read over and agreed upon the deed of settlement to our
minds: my sister to have 600l. presently, and she to be
joyntured in 60l. per annum; wherein I am very well satisfied.
11th. To Pemberton's [Francis Pemberton, afterwards knighted,
and made Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench 1679.] chamber.
It was pretty here to see the heaps of money upon this lawyer's
table; and more, to see how he had not since last night spent any
time upon our business, but begun with telling us that we were
not at all concerned in that Act; which was a total mistake, by
his not having read over the Act at all.
12th. My cosen Roger told me the pleasant passage of a fellow's
bringing a bag of letters to-day into the lobby of the House,
where he left them, and withdrew himself without observation.
The bag being opened, the letters were found all of one size, and
directed with one hand: a letter to most of the Members of the
House. The House was acquainted with it, and voted they should
be brought in and one opened by the Speaker; wherein if he found
any thing unfit to communicate, to propose a Committee to be
chosen for it. The Speaker opening one, found it only a case
with a libell in it, printed: a satire most sober and bitter as
ever I read; and every letter was the same. So the House fell a-
scrambling for them like boys; and my cosen Roger had one
directed to him, which he lent me to read.
13th. Mr. Brisband tells me in discourse that Tom Killigrew hath
a fee out of the Wardrobe for cap and bells, under the title of
the King's Foole or Jester; and may revile or jeere any body, the
greatest person without offence, by the privilege of his place.
This morning Sir G. Carteret come to the office to see and talk
with me: and he assures me that to this day the King is the most
kind man to my Lord Sandwich in the whole world; that he himself
do not now mind any publick business, but suffers things to go on
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