The Diary of Samuel Pepys
by
Samuel Pepys

Part 6 out of 18



have eat this year, off the tree where the King himself had been
gathering some this morning. Deane tells me that Mr. Pett did
to-day, that my Lord Bristoll told the King that he will impeach
the Chancellor of High Treason: but I find that my Lord Bristoll
hath undone himself already in everybody's opinion, and now he
endeavours to raise dust to put out other men's eyes, as well as
his own; but I hope it will not take, in consideration merely
that it is hard for a Prince to spare an experienced old officer,
be he never so corrupt; though I hope this man is not so, as some
report him to be. He tells me that Don John is yet alive, and
not killed, as was said, in the great victory against the
Spaniards in Portugall of late.

9th. Sir W. Pen tells me, my Lady Castlemaine was at Court, for
all this talk this week; but it seems the King is stranger than
ordinary to her.

10th. I met Pierce the chirurgeon, who tells me that for certain
the King is grown colder to my Lady Castlemaine than ordinary,
and that he believes he begins to love the Queene, and do make
much of her, more than he used to do. Mr. Coventry tells me that
my Lord Bristoll hath this day impeached my Lord Chancellor in
the House of Lords of High Treason. The chief of the articles
are these: 1st. That he should be the occasion of the peace
made with Holland lately upon such disadvantageous terms, and
that he was bribed to it. 2nd. That Dunkirke was also sold by
his advice chiefly, so much to the damage of England. 3rd. That
he had 6000l. given him for the drawing-up or promoting of the
Irish declaration lately, concerning the division of the lands
there. 4th. He did carry on the design of the Portugall match,
so much to the prejudice of the Crown of England, notwithstanding
that he knew the Queene is not capable of bearing children. 5th.
That the Duke's marrying of his daughter was a practice of his,
thereby to raise his family; and that it was done by indiscreet
courses. 6th. As to the breaking-off of the match with Parma,
in which he was employed at the very time when the match with
Portugall was made up here, which he took as a great slur to him,
and so it was; and that, indeed, is the chief occasion of all
this fewde. 7th. That he hath endeavoured to bring in Popery,
and wrote to the Pope for a cap for a subject of the King of
England's (my Lord Aubigny [Brother to the Duke of Lennox, and
Almoner to the King.]); and some say that he lays it to the
Chancellor, that a good Protestant Secretary, (Sir Edward
Nicholas) was laid aside, and a Papist, Sir H. Bennet, put in his
room: which is very strange, when the last of these two is his
own creature, and such an enemy accounted to the Chancellor, that
they never did nor do agree; and all the world did judge the
Chancellor to be falling from the time that Sir H. Bennet was
brought in, Besides my Lord Bristoll being a Catholique himself,
all this is very strange. These are the main of the Articles.
Upon which my Lord Chancellor desired the noble Lord that brought
in these Articles, would sign to them with his hand; which my
Lord Bristoll did presently. Then the House did order that the
Judges should, against Monday next, bring in their opinion,
Whether these articles are treason, or no? and next, they would
know, Whether they were brought in regularly or no, without leave
of the Lords' House?

11th. By barge to St. Mary's Creeke; where Commissioner Pett,
(doubtful of the growing greatnesse of Portsmouth by the finding
of those creekes there,) do design a wett docke at no great
charge, and yet no little one; he thinks towards 10,000l. And
the place, indeed, is likely to be a very fit place, when the
King hath money to do it with.

13th. I walked to the Temple; and there, from my cousin Roger,
hear that the Judges have this day brought in their answer to the
Lords, That the articles against my Lord Chancellor are not
Treason; and to-morrow they are to bring in their arguments to
the House for the same. This day also the King did send by my
Lord Chamberlain to the Lords; to tell them from him, that the
most of the articles against my Lord Chancellor he himself knows
to be false. I met the Queene-Mother walking in the Pell Mell,
led by my Lord St. Alban's. And finding many coaches at the
Gate, I found upon enquiry that the Duchesse is brought to bed of
a boy; and hearing that the King and Queene are rode abroad with
the Ladies of Honour to the Parke, and seeing a great crowd of
gallants staying here to see their return, I also staid walking
up and down. By and by the King and Queene, who looked in this
dress (a white laced waistcoate and a crimson short pettycoate,
and her hair dressed A LA NEGLIGENCE) mighty pretty; and the King
rode hand in hand with her. Here was also my Lady Castlemaine
rode among the rest of the ladies; but the King took, methought,
no notice of her; nor when she light, did any body press (as she
seemed to expect, and staid for it,) to take her down, but was
taken down by her own gentlemen. She looked mighty out of
humour, and had a yellow plume in her hat, (which all took notice
of,) and yet is very handsome, but very melancholy: nor did any
body speak to her, or she so much as smile or speak to any body.
I followed them up into White Hall, and into the Queene's
presence, where all the ladies walked, talking and fiddling with
their hats and feathers, and changing and trying one another's by
one another's heads, and laughing. But it was the finest sight
to me, considering their great beautys, and dress, that ever I
did see in all my life. But, above all, Mrs. Stewart in this
dresse, with her hat cocked and a red plume, with her sweet eye,
little Roman nose, and excellent taille, is now the greatest
beauty I ever saw, I think, in my life; and, if ever woman can,
do exceed my Lady Castlemaine, at least in this dress: nor do I
wonder if the King changes, which I verily believe is the reason
of his coldness to my Lady Castlemaine.

14th. This day I hear the Judges, according to order yesterday,
did bring into the Lords' House their reasons of their judgments
in the business between my Lord Bristoll and the Chancellor; and
the Lords do concur with the Judges that the articles are not
Treason, nor regularly brought into the House, and so voted that
a Committee should be chosen to examine them; but nothing to be
done therein till the next sitting of this Parliament, (which is
likely to be adjourned in a day or two,) and in the mean time the
two Lords to remain without prejudice done to either of them.

15th. Captain Grove come and dined with me. He told me of
discourse very much to my honour, both as to my care and ability,
happening at the Duke of Albemarle's table the other day, both
from the Duke and the Duchesse themselves; and how I paid so much
a year to him whose place it was of right, and that Mr. Coventry
did report this of me.

21st. This day the Parliament kept a fast for the present
unseasonable weather.

22nd. To my Lord Crewe's. My Lord not being come home, I met
and staid below with Captn. Ferrers, who was come to wait upon my
Lady Jemimah to St. James's, she being one of the four ladies
that hold up the mantle at the christening this afternoon of the
Duke's child (a boy). In discourse of the ladies at Court,
Captn. Ferrers tells me that my Lady Castlemaine is now as great
again as ever she was; and that her going away was only a fit of
her own upon some slighting words of the King, so that she called
for her coach at a quarter an hour's warning, and went to
Richmond; and the King the next morning, under pretence of going
a-hunting, went to see her and make friends, and never was a-
hunting at all. After which she came back to Court, and commands
the King as much as ever, and hath and doth what she will. No
longer ago than last night, there was a private entertainment
made for the King and Queene at the Duke of Buckingham's, and she
was not invited: but being at my Lady Suffolk's, [Barbara,
second wife of James Earl of Suffolk, eldest daughter of Sir
Edward Villiers, and widow of Sir Richard Wentworth. She died
Dec. 1681, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth, who married Sir
Thomas Felton, Bart.] her aunt's (where my Lady Jemimah and Lord
Sandwich dined,) yesterday, she was heard to say, "Well, much
good may it do them, and for all that I will be as merry as
they:" and so she went home and caused a great supper to be
prepared. And after the King had been with the Queene at
Wallingford House, [Wallingford House stood on the site of the
present Admiralty: it originally belonged to the Knollys family,
and during the Protectorate the office for granting passes to
persons going abroad was kept there.] he come to my Lady
Castlemaine's, and was there all night, and my Lord Sandwich with
him. He tells me he believes that, as soon as the King can get a
husband for Mrs. Stewart, however, my Lady Castlemaine's nose
will be out of joynt; for that she comes to be in great esteem,
and is more handsome than she. Wotten tells me the reason of
Harris's [Joseph Harris, a celebrated actor, who first appeared
at the Theatre in Lincoln's inn Fields, 1662. He probably died
or left the stage about 1679.] going from Sir Wm. Davenant's
house is, that he grew very proud and demanded 20l. for himself
extraordinary, more than Betterton or any body else, upon every
new play, and 10l. upon every revive which with other things Sir
W. Davenant would not give him, and so he swore he would never
act there more, in expectation of being received in the other
House; but the King will not suffer it, upon Sir W. Davenant's
desire that he would not, for then he might shut up house, and
that is true. We tells me that his going is at present a great
loss to the House, and that he fears he hath a stipend from the
other House privately. He tells me that the fellow grew very
proud of late, the King and every body else crying him up so
high, and that above Betterton he being a more ayery man, as he
is indeed. But yet Betterton, he says, they all say do act some
parts that none but himself can do. I hear that the Moores have
made some attaques upon the outworks of Tangier; but my Lord
Teviott, with the loss of about; 200 men, did beat them of and
killed many of them. To-morrow the King and Queene for certain
go down to Tunbridge. But the King comes back again against
Monday to raise the Parliament.

25th. Having intended this day to go to Banstead Downes to see a
famous race, I sent Will. to get himself ready to go with me:
but I hear it is put off, because the Lords do sit in Parliament
to-day. After some debate, Creed and I resolved to go to
Clapham, to Mr. Gauden's. [Dennis Gauden, Victualler to the
Navy; subsequently knighted when Sheriff of London.] When I come
there, the first thing was to show me his house, which is almost
built. I find it very regular and finely contrived, and the
gardens and offices about it as convenient and as full of good
variety as ever I saw in my life. It is true he hath been
censured for laying out so much money; but he tells me that he
built it for his brother, who is since dead, (the Bishop [Of
Exeter.]) who when he should come to be Bishop of Winchester,
which he was promised, (to which bishopricke at present there is
no house), he did intend to dwell here. By and by to dinner, and
in comes Mr. Creed; I saluted his lady and the young ladies, and
his sister, the Bishop's widow; who was, it seems, Sir W.
Russel's daughter, the Treasurer of the Navy; who I find to be
very well-bred, and a woman of excellent discourse. Towards the
evening we bade them adieu! and took horse; being resolved that,
instead of the race which fails us, we would go to Epsom. When
we come there we could hear of no lodging the town so full; but
which was better, I went toward Ashsted, and there we got a
lodging in a little hole we could not stand upright in. While
supper was getting I walked up and down behind my cosen Pepys's
house that was, which I find comes little short of what I took it
to be when I was a little boy.

26th (Lord's day). Up and to the Wells, where a great store of
citizens, which was the greatest part of the company, though
there were some others of better quality. Thence I walked to Mr.
Minnes's house, and thence to Durdan's and walked within the
Court Yard and to the Bowling-green, where I have seen so much
mirth in my time; but now no family in it, (my Lord Barkeley,
whose it is, being with his family at London.) Then rode through
Epsom, the whole town over, seeing the various companys that were
there walking; which was very pleasant to see how they are there
without knowing what to do, but only in the morning to drink
waters. But Lord! to see how many I met there of citizens, that
I could not have thought to have seen there; that they had ever
had it in their heads or purses to go down thither. We went
through Nonesuch Parke to the house, and there viewed as much as
we could of the outside, and looked through the great gates, and
found a noble court; and altogether believe it to have been a
very noble house, and a delicate parke about it, where just now
there was a doe killed for the King to carry up to Court.

27th. We rode hard home, and see up our horses at Fox Hall, and
I by water (observing the King's barge attending his going to the
House this day) home, it being about one o'clock. By water to
Westminster, and there come most luckily to the Lords' House, as
the House of Commons were going into the Lords' House, and there
I crowded in along with the Speaker, and got to stand close
behind him, where he made his speech to the King (who sat with
his crown on and robes, and so all the Lords in their robes, a
fine sight); wherein he told his Majesty what they have done this
Parliament, and now offered for his royall consent. The greatest
matters were a bill for the Lord's day, (which it seems the Lords
have lost, and so cannot be passed, at which the Commons are
displeased.) The bills against Conventicles and Papists (but it
seems the Lords have not passed them), and giving his Majesty
four entire subsidys; which last, with about twenty smaller Acts,
were passed with this form: The Clerk of the House reads the
title of the bill, and then looks at the end and there finds
(writ by the King I suppose) "Le Roy le veult," and that he
reads. And to others he reads, "Soit fait comme vous desirez."
And to the Subsidys as well that for the Commons, I mean the
layety, as for the Clergy, the King writes, "Le Roy remerciant
les Seigneurs et Prelats et accepte leur benevolences." The
Speaker's speech was far from any oratory, but was as plain
(though good matter) as any thing could be, and void of
elocution. After the bills passed, the King, sitting on his
throne, with his speech writ in a paper which he held in his lap,
and scarce looked off of it all the time he made his speech to
them, giving them thanks for their subsidys, of which, had he not
need, he would not have asked or received them; and that need,
not from any extravagancys of his, he was sure, in any thing, but
the disorders of the times compelling him to be at greater charge
than he hoped for the future, by their care in their country, he
should be: and that for his family expenses and others, he would
labour however to retrench in many things convenient, and would
have all others to do so too. He desired that nothing of old
faults should be remembered, or severity for the same used to any
in the country, it being his desire to have all forgot as well as
forgiven. But, however, to use all care in suppressing any
tumults, &c.; assuring them that the restless spirits of his and
their adversaries have great expectations of something to be done
this summer. And promised that though the Acts about
Conventicles and Papists, were not ripe for passing this
Sessions, yet he would take care himself that neither of them
should in this intervall be encouraged to the endangering of the
peace; and that at their next meeting he would himself prepare
two bills for them concerning them. So he concluded, that for
the better proceeding of justice he did think fit to make this a
Sessions, and to prorogue them to the 16th of March next. His
speech was very plain, nothing at all of spirit in it, nor spoke
with any; but rather on the contrary imperfectly, repeating many
times his words though he read all: which I am sorry to see, it
having not been hard for him to have got all the speech without
booke. So they all went away, the King out of the House at the
upper end, he being by and by to go to Tunbridge to the Queene;
and I in the Painted Chamber spoke with my Lord Sandwich while he
was putting off his robes, who tells me he will now hasten down
into the country. By water to White Hall, and walked over the
Parke to St. James's, but missed Mr. Coventry; and so out again,
and there the Duke was coming along the Pell-Mell. It being a
little darkish, I staid not to take notice of him, but went
directly back again. And in our walk over the Parke, one of the
Duke's footmen come running behind us, and come looking just in
our faces to see who we were, and went back again. What his
meaning is I know not, but was fearful that I might not go far
enough with my hat off.

29th. To Deptford, reading by the way a most ridiculous play, a
new one, called "The Politician cheated." [A comedy by Alexander
Green.]

30th. To Woolwich, and there come Sir G. Carteret, and then by
water back to Deptford, where we dined with him at his house. I
find his little daughter Betty, [Her name was Caroline.
Elizabeth died unmarried.] that was in hanging sleeves but a
month or two ago, and is a very little young child, married, and
to whom, but to young Scott, [Thomas, eldest son of Sir Thomas
Scott, of Scott's Hall, in the parish of Smeeth, Kent.] son to
Madam Catharine Scott, [Prince Rupert was supposed to have
intrigued with Mrs. Scott, and was probably the father of the
child.] that was so long in law, and at whose trial I was with
her husband; he pleading that it was unlawfully got and would not
own it, but it seems a little before his death he did owne the
child, and hath left him his estate, not long since. So Sir G.
Carteret hath struck up of a sudden a match with him for his
little daughter. He hath about 2000l. per annum; and it seems
Sir G. C. hath by this means over-reached Sir H. Bennet, who did
endeavour to get this gentleman for a sister of his. By this
means Sir G. Carteret hath married two daughters this year both
very well. [The other daughter was Anne, wife of Sir Nicholas
Slaning, K.B.] The towne talk this day is of nothing but the
great foot-race run this day on Banstead Downes, between Lee, the
Duke of Richmond's footman, and a tyler, a famous runner. And
Lee hath beat him; though the King and Duke of York and all men
almost did bet three or four to one upon the tyler's head.

31st. To the Exchange, where I met Dr. Pierce, who tells me of
his good luck to get to be groom of the Privy-Chamber to the
Queene, and without my Lord Sandwich's help, but only by his good
fortune, meeting a man that hath let him have his right for a
small matter, about 60l. for which he can every day have 400l.
But he tells me my Lord bath lost much honour in standing so long
and so much for that coxcomb Pickering, and at last not carrying
it for him; but hath his name struck out by the King and Queene
themselves after he had been in ever since the Queene's coming.
But he tells me he believes that either Sir H. Bennet, my Lady
Castlemaine, or Sir Charles Barkeley had received some money for
the place, and so the King could not disappoint them, but was
forced to put out this fool rather than a better man. And I am
sorry to hear what he tells me that Sir Charles Barkeley hath
still such power over the King, as to be able to fetch him from
the Council-table to my Lady Castlemaine when he pleases. He
tells me also, as a friend, the great injury that he thinks I do
myself by being so severe in the Yards, and contracting the ill-
will of the whole Navy for those offices, singly upon myself.
Now I discharge a good conscience therein, and I tell him that no
man can (nor do he say any say it,) charge me with doing wrong;
but rather do as many good offices as any man. They think, he
says, that I have a mind to get a good name with the King and
Duke, who he tells me do not consider any such thing; but I shall
have as good thanks to let all alone, and do as the rest. But I
believe the contrary; and yet I told him I never go to the Duke
alone, as others do, to talk of my own services. However, I will
make use of his council, and take some course to prevent having
the single ill-will of the office. Mr. Grant showed me letters
of Sir William Petty's, wherein he says, that his vessel which he
hath built upon two keeles, (a modell whereof, built for the
King, he showed me) hath this month won a wager of 50l. in
sailing between Dublin and Holyhead with the pacquett-boat, the
best ship or vessel the King hath there; and he offers to lay
with any vessel in the world. It is about thirty ton in burden,
and carries thirty men, with good accommodation, (as much more as
any ship of her burden,) and so any vessel of this figure shall
carry more men, with better accommodation by half, than any other
ship. This carries also ten guns, of about five tons weight. In
their coming back from Holyhead they started together, and this
vessel come to Dublin by five at night, and the pacquett-boat not
before eight the next morning; and when they come they did
believe that this vessel had been drowned, or at least behind,
not thinking she could have lived in that sea. Strange things
are told of this vessel, and he concludes his letter with this
position, "I only affirm that the perfection of sayling lies in
my principle, finde it out who can."

AUGUST 8, 1663. I with Mr. Coventry down to the water-side,
talking, wherein I see so much goodness and endeavours of doing
the King service, that I do more and more admire him.

9th. To church, and heard Mr. Mills (who is lately returned out
of the country, and it seems was fetched in by many of the
parishioners, with great state,) preach upon the authority of the
ministers, upon these words, "We are therefore embassadors of
Christ." Wherein, among other high expressions, he said, that
such a learned man used to say, that if a minister of the word
and an angell should meet him together, he would salute the
minister first; which methought was a little too high. This day
I begun to make use of the silver pen (Mr. Coventry did give me,)
in writing of this sermon, taking only the heads of it in Latin,
which I shall, I think, continue to do.

10th. To the Committee of Tangier, where my Lord Sandwich, my
Lord Peterborough, (whom I have not seen before since his coming
back,) Sir W. Compton, and Mr. Povy. Our discourse about
supplying my Lord Teviott with money, wherein I am sorry to see,
though they do not care for him, yet they are willing to let him
for civility and compliment only have money also without
expecting any account of it; and he being such a cunning fellow
as he is, the King is like to pay dear for our courtier's
ceremony. Thence by coach with my Lords Peterborough and
Sandwich to my Lord Peterborough's house; and there, after an
hour's looking over some fine books of the Italian buildings,
with fine cuts, and also my Lord Peterborough's bowes and arrows,
of which he is a great lover, we sat down to dinner, my Lady
[Penelope, daughter of Barnabas, Earl of Thomond, Countess of
Peterborough.] coming down to dinner also, and there being Mr.
Williamson, [Joseph Williamson, Keeper of the Paper Office at
White Hall, and in 1665 made Under Secretary of State, and soon
afterwards knighted: and in 1674 he became Secretary of State,
which situation he retained four years. He represented Thetford
and Rochester in several Parliaments, and was in 1678 President
of the Royal Society. Ob. 1701.] that belongs to Sir H. Bennet,
whom I find a pretty understanding and accomplished man, but a
little conceited. Yesterday, I am told, that Sir J. Lenthall,
[Son to the Speaker, and Governor of Windsor Castle under
Cromwell. Ob. 1681.] in Southwarke did apprehend about one
hundred Quakers, and other such people, and hath sent some of
them to the gaole at Kingston, it being now the time of the
Assizes. Dr. Pierce tells me the Queene is grown a very
debonnaire lady; but my Lady Castlemaine, who rules the King in
matters of state, and do what she list with him, he believes is
now falling quite out of favour. After the Queene is come back
she goes to the Bath, and so to Oxford, where great
entertainments are making for her. This day I am told that my
Lord Bristoll hath warrants issued out against him, to have
carried him to the Tower, but he is fled away or hid himself. So
much the Chancellor hath got the better of him.

13th. Met with Mr. Hoole [William, son of Robert Hoole of
Walkeringham, admitted of Magdalene College June 1648.] my old
acquaintance of Magdalene, and walked with him an hour in the
Parke, discoursing chiefly of Sir Samuel Morland, whose lady
[Susanne de Milleville, daughter of Daniel de Milleville, Baron
of Boessen in France, naturalized 1662. When she died I cannot
learn, but Sir Samuel Morland survived a second and a third wife,
both buried in Westminster Abbey.] is gone into France. It
seems he buys ground and a farm in that country, and lays out
money upon building, and God knows what! so that most of the
money he sold his pension of 500l. per annum for to Sir Arthur
Slingsby, [A younger son of Sir Guildford Slingsby, Comptroller
of the Navy, knighted by Charles II., and afterwards created a
Baronet at Brussels 1657, which title has long been extinct.] is
believed is gone. It seems he hath very great promises from the
King, and Boole hath seen some of the King's letters, under his
own hand, to Morland, promising him great things; (and among
others, the order of the Garter, as Sir Samuel says,) but his
lady thought it below her to ask any thing at the King's first
coming, believing the King would do it of himself, when as Hoole
do really think if he had asked to be Secretary of State at the
King's first coming, he might have had it. And the other day at
her going into France, she did speak largely to the King herself,
how her husband hath failed of what his Majesty had promised, and
she was sure intended him; and the King did promise still, as he
is a King and a gentleman, to be as good as his word in a little
time, to a tittle: but I never believe it.

21st. Meeting with Mr. Creed he told me how my Lord Teviott hath
received another attacque from Guyland at Tangier with 10,000
men, and at last, as is said, is come, after a personal treaty
with him, to a good understanding and peace with him.

23rd. To church, and so home to my wife; and with her read "Iter
Boreale," [Robert Wild, a Nonconformist Divine, published a poem
in 1660, upon Monk's march from Scotland to London, called "Iter
Boreale," and Wood mentions three others of the same name by
Eades, Corbett, and Marten, it having been a favourite subject at
that time.] a poem, made first at the King's coming home; but I
never read it before, and now like it pretty well, but not so as
it was cried up.

24th. At my Lord Sandwich's, where I was a good while alone with
my Lord; and I perceive he confides in me and loves me as he uses
to do, and tells me his condition, which is now very well; all I
fear is that he will not live within compass. There come to him
this morning his prints of the river Tagus and the City of
Lisbon, which he measured with his own hand, and printed by
command of the King. My Lord pleases himself with it, but
methinks it ought to have been better done than by Jobing.
Besides I put him upon having some took off upon white sattin,
which he ordered presently. I offered my lord my accounts, and
did give him up his old bond for 500l. and took a new one of him
for 700l., which I am by lending him more money to make up: and
am glad of it.

25th. This noon going to the Exchange, I met a fine fellow with
trumpets before him in Leadenhall-street, and upon enquiry I find
that he is the clerke of the City Market; and three or four men
carried each of them an arrow of a pound weight in their hands.
It seems this Lord Mayor [Sir John Frederic.] begins again an old
custome, that upon the three first days of Bartholomew Fayre, the
first, there is a match of wrestling, which was done, and the
Lord Mayor there and the Aldermen in Moorefields yesterday:
second day, shooting: and to-morrow hunting, And this officer of
course is to perform this ceremony of riding through the city, I
think to proclaim or challenge any to shoot. It seems the people
of the faire cry out upon it as a great hindrance to them.

26th. To White Hall, where the Court full of waggons and horses,
the King and Court going this day out towards the Bath. Pleased
to see Captn. Hickes come to me with a list of all the officers
of Deptford Yard, wherein he, being a high old Cavalier, do give
me an account of every one of them to their reproach in all
respects, and discovers many of their knaverys; and tells me, and
so I thank God I hear every where, that my name is up for a good
husband to the King, and a good man, for which I bless God; and
that he did this by particular direction of Mr. Coventry.

28th. Cold all night and this morning, and a very great frost
they say abroad, which is much, having had no summer at all
almost.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1663. To dinner with my Lord Mayor and the
Aldermen, and a very great dinner and most excellent venison, but
it almost made me sick by not daring to drink wine. After dinner
into a withdrawing room; and there we talked, among other things,
of the Lord Mayor's sword. They tell me this sword is at least a
hundred or two hundred years old; and another that he hath, which
is called the Black Sword, which the Lord Mayor wears when he
mournes, but properly is their Lenten sword to wear upon Good
Friday and other Lent days, is older than that. Mr. Lewellin,
lately come from Ireland, tells me how the English interest falls
mightily there, the Irish party being too great, so that most of
the old rebells are found innocent, and their lands, which were
forfeited and bought or given to the English, are restored to
them; which gives great discontent there among the English.
Going through the City, my Lord Mayor told me how the piller set
up by Exeter House is only to show where the pipes of water run
to the City; and observed that this City is as well watered as
any city in the world, and that the bringing of water to the City
hath cost it first and last above 300,000l.; but by the new
building, and the building of St. James's by my Lord St. Albans,
which is now about (and which the City stomach I perceive highly,
but dare not oppose it,) were it now to be done, it would not be
done for a million of money.

4th. To Westminster Hall, and there bought the first news books
of L'Estrange's writing, he beginning this week; and makes,
methinks, but a simple beginning. [Roger L'Estrange, author of
numerous pamphlets and periodical papers. He was Licenser of the
Press to Charles II. and his successor; and M.P. for Winchester
in James II.'s Parliament. Ob. 1704 aged 88.] This day I read a
Proclamation for calling in and commanding every body to
apprehend my Lord Bristoll.

5th. I did inform myself well in things relating to the East
Indys; both of the country, and the disappointment the King met
with the last voyage, by the knavery of the Portugall Viceroy,
and the inconsiderableness of the place of Bombaim, [Bombay.] if
we had had it. But, above all things, it seems strange to me
that matters should not be understood before they went out; and
also that such a thing as this, which was expected to be one of
the best parts of the Queene's portion, should not be better
understood; it being, if we had it, but a poor place, and not
really so as was described to our King in the draught of it, but
a poor little island; whereas they made the King and Lord
Chancellor, and other learned men about the King, believe that
that, and other islands which are near it, were all one piece;
and so the draught was drawn and presented to the King, and
believed by the King, and expected to prove so when our men come
thither; but it is quite otherwise.

12th. Up betimes, and by water to White Hall: and thence to Sir
Philip Warwick, and there had half an hour's private discourse
with him: and did give him some good satisfaction in our Navy
matters, and he also me, as to the money paid and due to the
Navy; so as he makes me assured by particulars, that Sir G.
Carteret is paid within 80,000l. every farthing that we owe to
this day, nay to Michaelmas day next have demanded; and that, I
am sure is above 50,000l. more than truly our expences have been,
whatever is become of the money. Home with great content that I
have thus begun an acquaintance with him, who is a great man, and
a man of as much business as any man in England; which I will
endeavour to deserve and keep.

22nd. This day the King and Queene are to come to Oxford. I
hear my Lady Castlemaine is for certain gone to Oxford to meet
him, having lain within here at home this week or two, supposed
to have miscarried; but for certain is as great in favour as
heretofore; at least Mrs. Sarah at my Lord's, who hears all from
their own family, do say so. Every day brings news of the
Turke's advance into Germany, to the awakening of all the
Christian Princes thereabouts, and possessing himself of Hungary.

24th. I went forth by water to Sir Philip Warwick's, where I was
with him a pretty while; and in discourse he tells me, and made
it appear to me that the King cannot be in debt to the Navy at
this time 5000l.; and it is my opinion that Sir G. Carteret do
owe the King money, and yet the whole Navy debt paid. Hence I
parted, being doubtful of myself that I have not spoke with the
gravity and weight that I ought to do in so, great a business.
But I rather hope it is my doubtfulness of myself, and the haste
which he was in, some very great personages waiting for him
without, while he was with me, that made him willing to be gone.

28th. To White Hall, where Sir J. Minnes and I did spend an hour
in the Gallery, looking upon the pictures, in which he hath some
judgement. And by and by the Commissioners for Tangier met: and
there my Lord Teviott, together with Captain Cuttance, Captain
Evans, and Jonas Moore, sent to that purpose, did bring us a
brave draught of the Mole to be built there; and report that it
is likely to be the most considerable place the King of England
hath in the world; and so I am apt to think it will. After
discourse of this, and of supplying the garrison with some more
horse, we rose; and Sir J. Minnes and I home again, finding the
street about our house full, Sir R. Ford beginning his shrievalty
to-day: and, what with his and our houses being new painted, the
street begins to look a great deal better than it did, and more
gracefull. News that the King comes to town for certain on
Thursday next from his great progress.

30th. In the afternoon by water to White Hall, to the Tangier
Committee; where my Lord Teviott; which grieves me to see that
his accounts being to be examined by us, there are none of the
great men at the Board that in compliment will except against any
thing in them, and so none of the little persons dare do it: so
the King is abused.

OCTOBER 5, 1663. My Lord Sandwich sent a messenger to know
whether the King intends to come to Newmarket, as is talked, that
he may be ready to entertain him at Hinchingbroke.

12th. At St. James's we attended the Duke all of us. And there,
after my discourse, Mr. Coventry of his own accord begun to tell
the Duke how he found that discourse abroad did run to his
prejudice about the fees that he took, and how he sold places and
other things; wherein he desired to appeal to his Highness,
whether he did any thing more than what his predecessors did, and
appealed to us all. So Sir G. Carteret did answer that some fees
were heretofore taken, but what he knows not; only that selling
of places never was nor ought to be countenanced. So Mr.
Coventry very hotly answered to Sir G. Carteret, and appealed to
himself whether he was not one of the first that put him upon
looking after this business of fees, and that he told him that
Mr. Smith should say that he made 50001. the first year, and he
believed he made 7000l. This Sir G. Carteret denied, and said,
that if he did say so he told a lie, for he could not, nor did
know, that ever he did make that profit of his place; but that he
believes he might say, 2500l. the first year. Mr. Coventry
instanced in another thing, particularly wherein Sir G. Carteret
did advise with him about the selling of the auditor's place of
the stores, when in the beginning there was an intention of
creating such an office. This he confessed, but with some
lessening of the tale Mr. Coventry told, it being only for a
respect to my Lord FitzHarding. [Sir Charles Berkeley, mentioned
before, created Lord Berkeley of Rathdown and Viscount
Fitzharding in Ireland, second son to Sir Charles Berkeley of
Bruton, co. Somerset; afterwards made an English peer by the
titles of Lord Botetourt and Earl of Falmouth, and killed in the
great sea-fight, June 1685.] In fine, Mr. Coventry did put into
the Duke's hand a list of above 250 places that he did give
without receiving one farthing, so much as his ordinary fees for
them, upon his life and oath; and that since the Duke's
establishment of fees he had never received one token more of any
man; and that in his whole life he never conditioned or
discoursed of any consideration from any commanders since he come
to the Navy. And afterwards, my Lord Barkeley merrily
discoursing that he wished his profit greater than it was, and
that he did believe that he had got 50,000l. since he come in,
Mr. Coventry did openly declare that his Lordship, or any of us,
should have not only all he had got, but all that he had in the
world, (and yet he did not come a beggar into the Navy, nor would
yet he thought to speak in any contempt of his Royall Highness's
bounty,) and should have a year to consider of it too, for
25,000l. The Duke's answer was, that he wished we all had made
more profit than we had of our places, and that we had all of us
got as much as one man below stayres in the Court, which he
presently named, and it was Sir George Lane. [One of the Clerks
of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Marquis of Ormond.]

13th. I find at Court, that either the King is doubtful of some
disturbance, or else would seem so, (and I have reason to hope it
is no worse,) by his commanding little commanders of castles, &c.
to repair to their charges; and mustering the Guards the other
day himself, where he found reason to dislike their condition to
my Lord Gerard, finding so many absent men, or dead pays. My
Lady Castlemaine, I hear, is in as great favour as ever, and the
King supped with her the very first night he come from Bath: and
last night and the night before supped with her; when there being
a chine of beef to roast, and the tide rising into their kitchen
that it could not be roasted there, and the cook telling her of
it, she answered "Zounds! she must set the house on fire but it
should be roasted!" So it was carried to Mrs. Sarah's husband's,
and there it was roasted.

After dinner my wife and I, by Mr. Rawlinson's conduct, to the
Jewish Synagogue: where the men and boys In their vayles, and
the women behind a lettice out of sight; and some things stand
up, which I believe is their law, in a press to which all coming
in do bow; and at the putting on their vayles do say something,
to which others that hear the Priest do cry Amen, and the party
do kiss his vayle. Their service all in a singing way, and in
Hebrew. And anon their Laws that they take out of the press are
carried by several men, four or five several burthens in all, and
they do relieve one another; and whether it is that every one
desires to have the carrying of it, thus they carried it round
about the room while such a service is singing. And in the end
they had a prayer for the King, in which they pronounced his name
in Portugall; but the prayer, like the rest, in Hebrew. But,
Lord! to see the disorder, laughing, sporting, and no attention,
but confusion in all their service, more like brutes than people
knowing the true God, would make a man forswear ever seeing them
more: and indeed I never did see so much, or could have imagined
there had been any religion in the whole world so absurdly
performed as this.

17th. Some discourse of the Queene's being very sick, if not
dead, the Duke and Duchesse of York being sent for betimes this
morning to come to White Hall to her.

18th. The parson, Mr. Mills, I perceive, did not know whether to
pray for the Queene or no, and so said nothing about her; which
makes me fear she is dead. But enquiring of Sir J. Minnes, he
told me that he heard she was better last night.

19th. Waked with a very high wind, and said to my wife, "I pray
God I hear not of the death of any great person, this wind is so
high! fearing that the Queene might be dead. So up; and going
by coach with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes to St. James's,
they tell me that Sir W. Compton, who it is true had been a
little sickly for a week or fortnight, but was very well upon
Friday at night last at the Tangier Committee with us, was
dead,--died yesterday: at which I was most exceedingly
surprised, he being, and so all the world saying that he was, one
of the worthyest men and best officers of State now in England;
and so in my conscience he was: of the best temper, valour,
ability of mind, integrity, worth, fine person, and diligence of
any one man he hath left behind him in the three kingdoms; and
yet not forty years old, or if so, that is all. I find the sober
men of the Court troubled for him; and yet not so as to hinder or
lessen their mirth, talking, laughing, and eating, drinking, and
doing every thing else, just as if there was no such thing.

Coming to St. James's, I hear that the Queene did sleep five
hours pretty well to-night, and that she waked and gargled her
mouth, and to sleep again; but that her pulse beats fast, beating
twenty to the King's or my Lady Suffolk's eleven; but not so
strong as it was. It seems she was so ill as to be shaved and
pidgeons put to her feet, and to have the extreme unction given
her by the priests, who were so long about it that the doctors
were angry. The King they all say is most fondly disconsolate
for her, and weeps by her, which makes her weep; which one this
day told me he reckons a good sign, for that it carries away some
rheume from the head. To the Coffee-house in Cornhill; where
much talk about the Turke's proceedings, and that the plague is
got to Amsterdam, brought by a ship from Argier; and it is also
carried to Hambrough. The Duke says the King purposes to forbid
any of their ships coming into the river. The Duke also told us
of several Christian commanders (French) gone over to the Turkes
to serve them; and upon enquiry I find that the King of France do
by this aspire to the Empire, and so to get the Crowne of Spayne
also upon the death of the King, which is very probable, it
seems.

20th. This evening at my Lord's lodgings Mrs. Sarah talking with
my wife and I how the Queene do, and how the King tends her being
so ill. She tells that the Queene's sickness is the spotted
fever; that she was as full of the spots as a leopard: which is
very strange that it should be no more known; but perhaps it is
not so. And that the King do seem to take it much to heart, for
that he hath wept before her; but, for all that, that he hath not
missed one night since she was sick, of supping with my Lady
Castlemaine; which I believe is true, for she says that her
husband hath dressed the suppers every night; and I confess I saw
him myself coming through the street dressing up a great supper
to-night, which Sarah says is also for the King and her; which is
a very strange thing.

22nd. This morning, hearing that the Queene grows worse again, I
sent to stop the making of my velvet cloak, till I see whether
she lives or dies.

23rd. The Queene slept pretty well last night, but her fever
continues upon her still. It seems she hath never a Portuguese
doctor here.

24th. The Queene is in a good way of recovery; and Sir Francis
Pridgeon, [Vertue (according to Walpole) had seen a portrait of
Dr. Prujeon painted by Streater, and a print of "Opinion sitting
on a tree," thus inscribed: "Viro clariss, Dno. Francisco
Prujeano Medico, omnium bonarum artium et elegantiarum fautori et
admiratori summo; D.D. D.H. Peacham." He was President of the
College of Physicians, 1653.] hath got great honour by it, it
being all imputed to his cordiall, which in her dispaire did give
her rest, and brought her to some hopes of recovery. It seems
that, after much talk of troubles and a plot, something is found
in the North that a party was to rise, and some persons that were
to command it, as I find in a letter that Mr. Coventry read to-
day about it from those parts.

26th. Dr. Pierce tells me that the Queene is in a way to be
pretty well again, but that her delirium in her head continues
still; that she talks idle not by fits, but always, which in some
lasts a week after so high a fever, in some more, and in some for
ever; that this morning she talked mightily that she was brought
to bed, and that she wondered that she should be delivered
without pin and without being sick, and that she was troubled
that her boy was but an ugly boy. But the King being by, said
"No, it is a very pretty boy."--" Nay," says she, "if it be like
you it is a fine boy indeed, and I would be very well pleased
with it." They say that the Turkes go on apace, and that my Lord
Castlehaven [The eldest son of the infamous Earl of Castlehaven,
had a new creation to his father's forfeited titles, in 1634, and
died c.p. 1684. He had served with distinction under the Duke of
Ormond, and afterwards joined Charles II. at Paris.] is going to
raise 10,000 men here for to go against him; that the King of
France do offer to assist the Empire upon condition that he may
be their Generalissimo, and the Dolphin chosen King of the
Romans: and it is said that the King of France do occasion this
difference among the Christian Princes of the Empire, which gives
the Turke such advantages. They say also that the King of Spayne
is making all imaginable force against Portugall again.

27th. Mr. Coventry tells me to-day that the Queene had a very
good night last night; but yet it is strange that still she raves
and talks of little more than of her having of children, and
fancys now that she hath three children, and that the girle is
very like the King. And this morning about five o'clock, the
physician feeling her pulse, thinking to be better able to judge,
she being still and asleep, waked her, and the first word she
said was, "How do the children?"

29th. To Guild Hall; and meeting with Mr. Proby, (Sir R. Ford's
son,) and Lieutenant-Colonel Baron, a City commander, we went up
and down to see the tables; where under every salt there was a
bill of fare, and at the end of the table the persons proper for
the table. Many were the tables, but none in the Hall but the
Mayor's and the Lords of the Privy Council that had napkins or
knives, which was very strange. We went into the Buttry, and
there stayed and talked, and then into the Hall again: and there
wine was offered and they drunk, I only drinking some hypocras,
which do not break my vowe, it being to the best of my present
judgement, only a mixed compound drink, and not any wine. If I
am mistaken, God forgive me! but I hope and do think I am not.
By and by met with Creed; and we, with the others, went within
the several Courts, and there saw the tables prepared for the
Ladies and Judges and Bishops: all great sign of a great dinner
to come. By and by about one o'clock, before the Lord Mayor
come, come into the Hall, from the room where they were first led
into, the Lord Chancellor (Archbishop before him,) with the Lords
of the Council, and other Bishopps, and they to dinner. Anon
comes the Lord Mayor, who went up to the lords, and then to the
other tables to bid wellcome; and so all to dinner. I set near
Proby, Baron, and Creed at the Merchant Strangers' table; where
ten good dishes to a messe, with plenty of wine of all sorts, of
which I drunk none; but it was very unpleasing that we had no
napkins nor change of trenchers, and drunk out of earthen
pitchers and wooden dishes. It happened that after the lords had
half dined, come the French Embassador up to the lords' table,
where he was to have sat; he would not sit down nor dine with the
Lord Mayor, who was not yet come, nor have a table to himself,
which was offered; but in a discontent went away again. After I
had dined, I and Creed rose and went up and down the house, and
up to the ladys' room, and there stayed gazing upon them. But
though there were many and fine, both young and old, yet I could
not discern one handsome face there; which was very strange. I
expected musique, but there was none but only trumpets and drums,
which displeased me. The dinner, it seems, is made by the Mayor
and two Sheriffs for the time being, the Lord Mayor paying one
half, and they the other. And the whole, Proby says, is reckoned
to come to about 7 or 800l. at most. The Queene mends apace,
they say; but yet talks idle still.

30th. To my great sorrow find myself 43l. worse than I was the
last month, which was then 760l. and now it is but 717l. But it
hath chiefly arisen from my layings-out in clothes for myself and
wife; viz. for her about 12l. and for myself 55l., or
thereabouts: having made myself a velvet cloak, two new cloth
skirts, black, plain both; a new shag gown, trimmed with gold
buttons and twist, with a new hat, and silk tops for my legs, and
many other things, being resolved, henceforward to go like
myself. And also two perriwiggs, one whereof costs me 3l. and
the other 40s. I have worn neither yet, but will begin next
week, God willing. The Queene continues light-headed, but in
hopes to recover. The plague is much in Amsterdam, and we in
fear of it here, which God defend. The Turke goes on mighty in
the Emperor's dominions, and the Princes cannot agree among
themselves how to go against him.

NOVEMBER 2, 1663. Up, and by coach to White Hall, and there in
the long matted Gallery I find Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes,
and Sir W. Batten; and by and by comes the King to walk there
with three or four with him; and soon as he saw us, says he,
"Here is the Navy Office," and there walked twenty turns the
length of the gallery, talking, methought, but ordinary talk. By
and by come the Duke, and he walked, and at last they went into
the Duke's lodgings. The King staid so long that we could not;
discourse with the Duke, and so we parted. I heard the Duke say
that he was going to wear a perriwigg; and they say the King also
will. I never till this day observed that the King is mighty
gray,

6th. Lord Sandwich tells me how Mr. Edward Montagu begins to
show respect to him again after his endeavouring to bespatter him
all was possible; but he is resolved never to admit him into his
friendship again. He tells me how he and Sir H. Bennet, the Duke
of Buckingham and his Duchesse, was of a committee with somebody
else for the getting of Mrs. Stewart for the King; but that she
proves a cunning slut, and is advised at Somerset House by the
Queene-Mother, and by her mother, and so all the plot is spoiled
and the whole committee broke, Mr. Montagu and the Duke of
Buckingham fallen a-pieces, the Duchesse going to a nunnery; and
so Montagu begins to enter friendship with my Lord, and to attend
the Chancellor whom he had deserted. My Lord tells me that Mr.
Montagu, among other things, did endeavour to represent him to
the Chancellor's sons as one that did desert their father in the
business of my Lord of Bristoll; which is most false, being the
only man that hath several times dined with him when no soul hath
come to him, and went with him that very day home when the Earl
impeached him in the Parliament House, and hath refused ever to
pay a visit to my Lord of Bristoll, not so much as in return to a
visit of his. So that the Chancellor and my Lord are well known
and trusted one by another. But yet my Lord blames the
Chancellor for desiring to have it put off to the next Sessions
of Parliament, contrary to my Lord Treasurer's advice, to whom he
swore he would not do it: and, perhaps, my Lord ChanceIlor, for
ought I see by my Lord's discourse, may suffer by it when the
Parliament comes to sit. My Lord tells me that he observes the
Duke of York do follow and understand business very well, and is
mightily improved thereby.

8th. To church, where I found that my coming in a perriwigg did
not prove so strange as I was afraid it would, for I thought that
all the church would presently have cast their eyes all upon me.

9th. To the Duke, where, when we come into his closet, he told
us that; Mr. Pepys was so altered with his new perriwigg that he
did not know him. So to our discourse, and among and above other
things we were taken up in talkings upon Sir J. Lawson's coming
home, he being come to Portsmouth; and Captain Berkely is come to
town with a letter from the Duana of Algier to the King, wherein
they do demand again the searching of our ships and taking out of
strangers, and their goods; and that what English ships are taken
without the Duke's pass they will detain (though it be flat
contrary to the words of the peace,) as prizes, till they do hear
from our King, which they advise him may be speedy. And this
they did the very next day after they had received with great joy
the Grand Seignor's confirmation of the Peace from Constantinople
by Captain Berkely; so that there is no command nor certainty to
be had of these people. The King is resolved to send his will by
a fleet of ships; and it is thought best and speediest to send
these very ships that are now come home, five sail of good ships,
back again after cleaning, victualling, and paying them. But it
is a pleasant thing to think how their Basha, Shavan Aga, did
tear his hair to see the soldiers order things thus; for (just
like his late predecessors,) when they see the evil of war with
England, then for certain they complain to the Grand Seignor of
him, and cut his head off: this he is sure of, and knows as
certain. Thence to Westminster Hall, where I met with Mr.
Pierce, surgeon: and among other things he asked me seriously
whether I knew any thing of my Lord's being out of favour with
the King; and told me, that for certain the King do take mighty
notice of my Lord's living obscurely in a corner not like
himself, and becoming the honour that he is come to. I was sorry
to hear, and the truth is, from my Lord's discourse among his
people (which I am told) of the uncertainty of princes' favour,
and his melancholy keeping from Court, I am doubtful of some such
thing; but I seemed wholly strange to him in it, but will make my
use of it. We told me also how loose the Court is, nobody
looking after business, but every man his lust and gain; and how
the King is now become besotted upon Mrs Stewart, that he gets
into corners, and will be with her half an hour together kissing
her to the observation of all the world; and she now stays by
herself and expects it, as my Lady Castlemaine did used to do; to
whom the King, he says, is still kind, so as now and then he goes
to her as he believes; but with no such fondness as he used to
do. But yet it is thought that this new wench is so subtle, that
it is verily thought if the Queene had died, he would have
married her. Mr. Blackburne and I fell to talk of many things,
wherein he was very open to me: first, in that of religion, he
makes it greater matter of prudence for the King and Council to
suffer liberty of conscience; and imputes the loss of Hungary to
the Turke from the Emperor's denying them this liberty of their
religion. He says that many pious ministers of the word of God,
some thousands of them, do now beg their bread: and told me how
highly the present clergy carry themselves every where so as that
they are hated and laughed at by every body; among other things,
for their excommunications, which they send upon the least
occasions almost that can be. And I am convinced in my
judgement, not only from his discourse, but my thoughts in
general, that the present clergy will never heartily go down with
the generality of the commons of England; they have been so used
to liberty and freedom, and they are so acquainted with the pride
and debauchery of the present clergy. He did give me many
stories of the affronts which the clergy receive in all places of
England from the gentry and ordinary persons of the parish. He
do tell me what the City thinks of General Monk, as of a most
perfidious man that hath betrayed every body, and the King also;
who, as he thinks, and his party, and so I have heard other good
friends of the King say, it might have been better for the King
to have had his hands a little bound for the present, than be
forced to bring such a crew of poor people about him, and be
liable to satisfy the demands of every one of them. He told me
that to his knowledge, (being present at every meeting at the
Treaty at the Isle of Wight,) that the old King did confess
himself over-ruled and convinced in his judgement against the
Bishopps, and would have suffered and did agree to exclude the
service out of the churches, nay his own chapell; and that he did
always say, that this he did not by force, for that he would
never abate one inch by any violence; but what he did was out of
his reason and judgement. He tells me that the King by name,
with all his dignities, is prayed for by them that they call
Fanatiques, as heartily and powerfully as in any of the other
churches that are thought better: and that, let the King think
what he will, it is them that must help him in the day of warr.
For so generally they are the most substantiall sort of people,
and the soberest; and did desire me to observe it to my Lord
Sandwich, among other things, that of all the old army now you
cannot see a man begging about the streets; but what? You shall
have this captain turned a shoemaker; the lieutenant, a baker;
this a brewer; that a haberdasher; this common soldier, a porter;
and every man in his apron and frock, &c., as if they had never
done anything else: whereas the other go with their belts and
swords, swearing and cursing, and stealing; running into people's
houses, by force oftentimes, to carry away something; and this is
the difference between the temper of one and the other; and
concludes (and I think: with some reason,) that the spirits of
the old parliament soldiers are so quiet and contented with God's
providences, that the King is safer from any evil meant him by
them one thousand times more than from his own discontented
Cavalier. And then to the publick management of business: it is
done, as he observes, so loosely and so carelessly, that the
kingdom can never be happy with it, every man looking after
himself, and his own lust and luxury; and that half of what money
the Parliament gives the King is not so much as gathered. And to
the purpose he told me how the Bellamys (who had some of the
northern counties assigned them for their debt for the petty
warrant victnalling) have often complained to him that they
cannot get it collected, for that nobody minds, or if they do,
they won't pay it in. Whereas (which is a very remarkable
thing,) he hath been told by some of the Treasurers at Warr here
of late, to whom the most of the 120,000l. monthly was paid, that
for most months the payments were gathered so duly, that they
seldom had so much or more than 40s. or the like short in the
whole collection; whereas now the very Commissioners for
Assessments and other publick payments are such persons, and
those that they choose in the country so like themselves, that
from top to bottom there is not a man carefull of any thing, or
if he be, is not solvent; that what between the beggar and the
knave, the King is abused the best part of all his revenue. We
then talked of the Navy, and of Sir W. Pen's rise to be a
general. We told me he was always a conceited man, and one that
would put the best side outward, but that it was his pretence of
sanctity that brought him into play. Lawson, and Portman, and
the fifth-monarchy men, among whom he was a great brother,
importuned that he might be general; and it was pleasant to see
how Blackburne himself did act it, how when the Commissioners of
the Admiralty would enquire of the captains and admirals of such
and such men, how they would with a sigh and casting up the eyes
say, "such a man fears the Lord," or, "I hope such a man hath the
Spirit of God." But he tells me that there was a cruel articling
against Pen after one fight, for cowardice, in putting himself
within a coyle of cables, of which he had much ado to acquit
himself: and by great friends did it, not without remains of
guilt, but that his brethren had a mind to pass it by, and Sir H.
Vane did advise him to search his heart, and see whether this
fault or a greater sin was not the occasion of this so great
tryall. And he tells me, that what Pen gives out about
Cromwell's sending and entreating him to go to Jamaica, is very
false; he knows the contrary; besides, the Protector never was a
man that needed to send for any man, specially such a one as he,
twice. He tells me that the business of Jamaica did miscarry
absolutely by his pride, and that when he was in the Tower he
would cry like a child. And that just upon the turne, when Monk
was come from the North to the City, and did begin to think of
bringing in the King, Pen was then turned Quaker. That Lawson
was never counted any thing but only a seaman, and a stout man,
but a false man, and that now he appears the greatest hypocrite
in the world. And Pen the same. He tells me that it is much
talked of, that the King intends to legitimate the Duke of
Monmouth; and that neither he, nor his friends of his persuasion,
have any hopes of getting their consciences at Liberty but by God
Almighty's turning of the King's heart, which they expect, and
are resolved to live and die in quiet hopes of it; but never to
repine, or act any thing more than by prayers towards it. And
that not only himself but; all of them have, and are willing at
any time to take the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy. Mr.
Blackburne observed further to me, some certain notice that he
had of the present plot; so much talked of; that he was told by
Mr. Rushworth, [John Rushworth, Clerk assistant to the House of
Commons, and author of the Historical Collections. Ob. 1690.]
how one Captain Oates, a great discoverer, did employ several to
bring and seduce others into a plot, and that one of his agents
met with one that would not listen to him, nor conceal what he
had offered him, but so detected the trapan. He also did much
insist upon the cowardice and corruption of the King's guards and
militia.

11th. At noon to the Coffee-house, were with Dr. Allen some good
discourse about physick and chymistry. And among other things, I
telling him what Dribble the German Doctor do offer of an
instrument to sink ships; he tells me that which is more strange,
that something made of gold, which they call in chymistry AURUM
FULMINANS, a grain, I think he said, of it put into a silver
spoon and fired, will give a blow like a musquett, and strike a
hole through the silver spoon downward, without the least force
upward; and this he can make a cheaper experiment of, he says,
with iron prepared.

15th. This day being our Queene's birthday, the guns of the
Tower went all off; and in the evening the Lord Mayor sent from
church to church to order the constables to cause bonfires to be
made in every street, which methinks is a poor thing to be forced
to be commanded.

19th. With Sir G. Carteret to my Lord Treasurer, to discourse
with him about Mr. Gauden's having of money, and to offer to him
whether it would not be necessary, Mr. Gauden's credit being so
low as it is, to take security of him if he demands any great
sum, such as 20,000l. which now ought to be paid him upon his
next year's declaration. Which is a sad thing, that being
reduced to this by us, we should be the first to doubt his
credit; but so it is. However, it will be managed with great
tenderness to him. My Lord Treasurer we found in his bed-
chamber, being laid up of the goute. I find him a very ready
man, and certainly a brave servant to the King: he spoke so
quick and sensible of the King's charge. Nothing displeased me
in him but his long nails, which he lets grow upon a pretty thick
white short hand, that it troubled me to see them. In our way
Sir G. Carteret told me there is no such thing likely yet as a
Dutch war, neither they nor we being in condition for it, though
it will come certainly to that in some time, our interests lying
the same way, that is to say, in trade. But not yet.

20th. A great talk there is to-day of a crush between some of
the Fanatiques up in arms and the King's men in the North; but
whether true I know not yet.

22nd. At chapel I had room in the Privy Seale pew with other
gentlemen, and there heard Dr. Killigrew preach. [Henry,
youngest son of Sir Robert Killigrew, D.D., Prebendary of
Westminster, and Master of the Savoy, and author of some plays
and sermons. His daughter Anne was the celebrated poetess.] The
anthem was good after sermon, being the fifty-first psalme, made
for five voices by one of Captn. Cooke's boys, a pretty boy. And
they say there are four or five of them that can do as much. And
here I first perceived that the King is a little musicall, and
kept good time with his hand all along the anthem.

23rd. With Alderman Backewell talking of the new money, which he
says will never be counterfeited, he believes; but it is so
deadly inconvenient for telling, it is so thick, and the edges
are made to turn up.

26th. The plague, it seems, grows more and more at Amsterdam;
and we are going upon making of all ships coming from thence and
Hambrough, or any other infected places, to perform their
Quarantine (for thirty days as Sir Rd. Browne expressed it in the
order of the Council, contrary to the import of the word, though
in the general acceptation it signifies now the thing, not the
time spent in doing it) in Holehaven, a thing never done by us
before.

28th. To Paul's Church Yard, and there looked upon the second
part of Hudibras, which I buy not, but borrow to read, to see if
it be as good as the first, which the world cried so mightily up,
though it hath not a good liking in me, though I had tried but
twice or three times reading to bring myself to think it witty.
To-day for certain I am told how in Holland publickly they have
pictured our King with reproach. One way is with his pockets
turned the wrong side outward, hanging out empty; another with
two courtiers picking of his pockets; and a third, leading of two
ladies, while other abuse him; which amounts to great contempt.

29th (Lord's day). This morning I put on my best black cloth
suit, trimmed with scarlett ribbon, very neat, with my cloak
lined with velvett, and a new beaver, which altogether is very
noble, with my black silk knit canons I bought a month ago.

30th. At White Hall Sir W. Pen and I met the Duke in the matted
Gallery, and there he discoursed with us; and by and by my Lord
Sandwich come and stood by, and talked; but it being St.
Andrew's, and a collar-day, he went to the Chapel, and we parted.

DECEMBER 1, 1663. After dinner I to Guild Hall to hear a trial
at King's Bench, before Lord Chief Justice Hide, [Sir Robert
Hyde. Ob. 1665.] about the insurance of a ship; and it was
pleasant to see what mad sort of testimonys the seamen did give,
and could not be got to speak in order: and then their terms
such as the Judge could not understand; and to hear how sillily
the Counsel and Judge would speak as to the terms necessary in
the matter, would make one laugh: and above all, a Frenchman
that was forced to speak in French, and took an English oath he
did not; understand, and had an interpreter sworn to tell us what
he said, which was the best testimony of all.

3rd. This day Sir G. Carteret did tell us at the table, that the
Navy (excepting what is due to the Yards upon the quarter now
going on, and what few bills he hath not heard of,) is quite out
of debt; which is extraordinary good news, and upon the 'Change
to hear how our credit goes as good as any merchant's upon the
'Change is a joyfull thing to consider, which God continue! I am
sure the King will have the benefit of it, as well as we some
peace and creditt.

7th. I hear there was the last night the greatest tide that ever
was remembered in England to have been in this river: all White
Hall having been drowned. At White Hall; and anon the King and
Duke and Duchesse come to dinner in the vane-roome, where I never
saw them before; but it seems since the tables are done, he dines
there all-together. The Queene is pretty well, and goes out of
her chamber to her little chapel in the house. The King of
France, they say is hiring of sixty sail of ships of the Dutch,
but it is not said for what design.

8th. To White Hall, where a great while walked with my Lord
Teviott, whom I find a most carefull, thoughtfull, and cunning
man, as I also ever took him to be. He is this day bringing in
an account where he makes the King debtor to him 10,000l. already
on the garrison of Tangier account; but yet demands not ready
money to pay it, but offers such ways of paying it out of the
sale of old decayed provisions as will enrich him finely.

10th. To St. Paul's Church Yard, to my bookseller's, and could
not tell whether to lay out my money for books of pleasure, as
plays, which my nature was most earnest in; but at last, after
seeing Chaucer, Dugdale's History of Paul's, Stow's London,
Gesner, History of Trent, besides Shakespeare, Jonson, and
Beaumont's plays, I at last chose Dr. Fuller's Worthys, the
Cabbala or Collections of Letters of State, and a little book,
Delices de Hollande, with another little book or two, all of good
use or serious pleasure; and Hudibras, both parts, the book now
in greatest fashion for drollery, though I cannot, I confess, see
enough where the wit lies. My mind being thus settled, I went by
link home, and so to my office, and to read in Rushworth; and so
home to supper and to-bed. Calling at Wotton's, my shoemaker's,
to-day, he tells me that Sir H. Wright is dying and that Harris
is come to the Duke's house again; and of a rare play to be acted
this week of Sir William Davenant's. The story of Henry the
Eighth with all his wives.

11th. At the Coffee-house I went and sat by Mr. Harrington, and
some East country merchants, and talking of the country above
Quinsborough, [Perhaps Mr. Harrington invented the name of this
place, and the account of the country.] and thereabouts, he told
us himself that for fish, none there the poorest body will buy a
dead fish, but must be alive, unless it be in the winter; and
then they told us the manner of putting their nets into the
water. Through holes made in the thick ice, they will spread a
net of half a mile long; and he hath known a hundred and thirty
and a hundred and seventy barrels of fish taken at one draught.
And then the people come with sledges upon the ice, with snow at
the bottome, and lay the fish in and cover them with snow, and so
carry them to market. And he hath seen when the said fish have
been frozen in the sledge, so as he hath taken a fish and broke
a-pieces, so hard it hath been; and yet the same fishes taken out
of the snow, and brought into a hot room, still be alive and leap
up and down. Swallows are often brought up in their nets out of
the mudd from under water, hanging together to some twigg or
other, dead in ropes, and brought to the fire will come to life.
Fowl killed in December (Alderman Barker said) he did buy, and
putting into the box under his sledge, did forget to take them
out to eate till Aprill next, and they then were found there, and
were through the frost as sweet and fresh and eat as well as at
first killed. Young beares appear there; their flesh sold in
market as ordinarily as beef here, and is excellent sweet meat.
They tell us that beares there do never hurt any body, but fly
away from you, unless you pursue and set upon them; but wolves do
much mischief. Mr. Harrington told us how they do to get so much
honey as they send abroad. They make hollow a great fir-tree,
leaving only a small slitt down straight in one place, and this
they close up again, only leave a little hole, and there the bees
go in and fill the bodys of those trees as full of wax and honey
as they can hold; and the inhabitants at times go and open the
slit, and take what they please without killing the bees, and so
let them live there still and make more. Fir trees are always
planted close together, because of keeping one another from the
violence of the windes, and when a fellit is made, they leave
here and there a grown tree to preserve the young ones coming up.
The great entertainment and sport of the Duke of Corland, and the
princes thereabouts, is hunting; which is not with dogs as we,
but he appoints such a day, and summonses all the country people
as to a campagnia; and by several companies gives every one their
circuit, and they agree upon a place where the toyle is to be
set; and so making fires every company as they go, they drive all
the wild beasts, whether bears, wolves, foxes, swine, and stags,
and roes, into the toyle; and there the great men have their
stands in such and such places, and shoot at what they have a
mind to, and that is their hunting. They are not very populous
there, by reason that people marry women seldom till they are
towards or above thirty; and men thirty or forty, or more
oftentimes, years old. Against a public hunting the Duke sends
that no wolves be killed by the people; and whatever harm they
do, the Duke makes it good to the person that suffers it: as Mr.
Harrington instanced in a house were he lodged, where a wolfe
broke into a hog-stye, and bit three or four great pieces off of
the back of the hog, before the house could come to help it; and
the man of the house told him that there were three or four
wolves thereabouts that did them great hurt; but it was no
matter, for the Duke was to make it good to him, otherwise he
would kill them.

12th. We had this morning a great dispute between Mr. Gauden,
Victualler of the Navy, and Sir J. Lawson, and the rest of the
Commanders going against Argier, about their fish and keeping of
Lent; which Mr. Gauden so much insists upon to have it observed,
as being the only thing that makes up the loss of his dear
bargain all the rest of the year. This day I heard my Lord
Barkeley tell Sir G. Carteret that he hath letters from France
that the King hath emduked twelve Dukes, only to show his power,
and to crush his nobility, who he said he did see had heretofore
laboured to cross him. And this my Lord Barkeley did mightily
magnify, as a sign of a brave and vigorous mind that what he saw
fit to be done he dares do.

14th. To the Duke, where I heard a large discourse between one
that goes over an agent from the King to Legorne and thereabouts,
to remove the inconveniences his ships are put to by denial of
pratique; which is a thing that is now-a-days made use of only as
a cheat, for a man may buy a bill of health for a piece of eight,
and my enemy may agree with the Intendent of the Sante for ten
pieces of eight or so, that he shall not give me a bill of
health, and so spoil me in my design, whatever it be. This the
King will not endure, and so resolves either to have it removed,
or to keep all ships from coming in, or going out there, so long
as his ships are stayed for want hereof. But among other things,
Lord! what an account did Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten make
of the pulling down and burning of the head of the Charles, where
Cromwell was placed with people under his horse, and Peter, as
the Duke called him, is praying to him; and Sir J. Minnes would
needs infer the temper of the people from their joy at the doing
of this and their building a gibbet for the hanging of his head
up, when, God knows, it is even the flinging away of 100l. out of
the King's purse, to the building of another, which it seems must
be a Neptune. To the King's Head ordinary, and there dined among
a company of fine gentlemen; some of them discoursed of the King
of France's greatness, and how he is come to make the Princes of
the Blood to take place of all foreign Embassadors, which it
seems is granted by them of Venice and other States, and expected
from my Lord Hollis, [Denzil Hollis, second son of John, first
Earl of Clare, created in 1661 Baron Hollis of Ifield, afterwards
Plenipotentiary for the Treaty of Breda. Ob. 1679-80, aged 82.]
our King's Embassador there; and that either upon that score or
something else he hath not had his entry yet in Paris, but hath
received several affronts, and among others his harnesse cut, and
his gentlemen of his horse killed, which will breed bad blood if
true. They say also that the King of France hath hired
threescore ships of Holland, and forty of the Swede, but nobody
knows what to do: but some great designs he hath on foot;
against the next year.

2lst. To Shoe Lane to see a cocke-fighting at a new pit there, a
spot I was never at in my life: but Lord! to see the strange
variety of people, from Parliament-man (by name Wildes, that was
Deputy Governor of the Tower when Robinson was Lord Mayor) to the
poorest 'prentices, bakers, brewers, butchers, draymen, and what
not; and all these fellows one with, another cursing and betting.
I soon had enough of it. It is strange to see how people of this
poor rank, that look as if they had not bread to put in their
mouths, shall bet three or four pounds at a time, and lose it,
and yet bet as much the next battle, so that one of them will
lose 10 or 20l. at a meeting. Thence to my Lord Sandwich's,
where I find him within with Captain Cooke and his boys, Dr.
Childe, Mr. Madge, and Mallard, playing and singing over my
Lord's anthem which he hath made to sing in the King's Chapel:
my Lord took me into the withdrawing room to hear it, and indeed
it sounds very pretty, and is a good thing, I believe to be made
by him, and they all commend it.

22nd. I hear for certain that my Lady Castlemaine is turned
Papist, which the Queene for all do not much like, thinking that
she do it not for conscience sake. ["Le marriage du Chevalier de
Grammont," (says the Count d'Estrades in a letter written to his
Royal Master, Louis XIV. about this time.) "et la conversion de
Madame de Castlemaine se sont publiez le meme jour: et le Roy
d'Angleterre estant tant prie par les parents de la Dame
d'aporter quelque obstacle a cette action, repondit galamment que
pour l'ame des Dames, il ne s'en meloit point."] I heard to-day
of a great fray lately between Sir H. Finch's coachman, who
struck with his whip a coachman of the King's, to the loss of one
of his eyes; at which the people of the Exchange seeming to laugh
and make sport with some words of contempt to him, my Lord
Chamberlin did come from the King to shut up the 'Change, and by
the help of a justice, did it; but upon petition to the King it
was opened again. At noon I to Sir R. Ford's, where Sir Richard
Browne and I met upon the freight of a barge sent to France to
the Duchesse of Orleans; and here by discourse I find they
greatly cry out against the choice of Sir John Cutler to be
treasurer of Paul's, upon condition that he gives 1500l. towards
it; and it seems he did give it upon condition that he might be
Treasurer for the work, which, they say will be worth three times
as much money: and talk as if his being chosen to the office
will make people backward to give, but I think him as likely a
man as either of them, and better.

28th. Walking through White Hall I heard the King was gone to
play at Tennis, so I down to the New Tennis Court, and saw him
and Sir Arthur Slingsby play against my Lord of Suffolke and my
Lord Chesterfield. The King beat three, and lost two sets, they
all, and he particularly playing well, I thought. Thence went
and spoke with the Duke of Albemarle about his wound at Newhall,
but I find him a heavy dull man, methinks, by his answers to me.

3lst. The Queene after a long and sore sickness is become well
again; and the King minds his mistress a little too much, if it
pleased God! but I hope all things will go well, and in the Navy
particularly, wherein I shall do my duty whatever comes of it.
The great talk is the design of the King of France, whether
against the Pope or King of Spain nobody knows; but a great and a
most promising Prince he is, and all the Princes of Europe have
their eye upon him. The Turke very far entered into Germany, and
all that part of the world at a loss what to expect from his
proceedings. Myself, blessed be God! in a good way, and design
and resolution of sticking to my business to get a little money
with, doing the best service I can to the King also; which God
continue! So ends the old year.

JANUARY 1, 1663-4. At the Coffee-house, where much talking about
a very rich widow, young and handsome, of one Sir Nicholas
Gold's, a merchant, lately fallen, and of great courtiers that;
already look after her: her husband not dead a week yet. She is
reckoned worth 80,000l. Went to the Duke's house, the first play
I have been at these six months, according to my last vowe, and
here saw the so much cried-up play of "Henry the Eighth;" which,
though I went with resolution to like it, is so simple a thing
made up of a great many patches, that, besides the shows and
processions in it, there is nothing in the world good or well
done.

4th. I to my Lord Sandwich's lodgings, but he not being up, I to
the Duke's chamber, and there by and by to his closet, where
since his lady was ill, a little red bed of velvet is brought for
him to lie alone, which is a very pretty one. After doing
business here, I to my Lord's again, and there spoke with him,
and he seems now almost friends again as he used to be. Here
meeting Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, he told me among other Court
news, how the Queene is very well again; and that she speaks now
very pretty English, and makes her sense out now and then with
pretty phrazes: as among others this is mightily cried up; that,
meaning to say that she did not like such a horse so well as the
rest, he being too prancing and full of tricks, she said he did
make too much vanity. To the Tennis Court, and there saw the
King play at Tennis and others: but to see how the King's play
was extolled without any cause at all, was a loathsome sight,
though sometimes, indeed, he did play very well and deserved to
be commended; but such open flattery is beastly. Afterwards to
St. James's Park, seeing people play at Pell Mell; where it
pleased me mightily to hear a gallant, lately come from France,
swear at one of his companions for suffering his man (a spruce
blade) to be so saucy as to strike a ball while his master was
playing on the Mall.

6th. This morning I began a practice which I find by the ease I
do it with that I shall continue, it saving me money and time;
that is, to trimme myself with a razer; which pleases me
mightily.

8th. We had great pleasure this afternoon; among other things,
to talk of our old passages together in Cromwell's time; and how
W. Symons did make me laugh and wonder to-day when he told me how
he had made shift to keep in, in good esteem and employment,
through eight governments in one year, (the year 1659, which were
indeed, and he did name them all) and then failed unhappy in the
ninth, viz. that, of the King's coming in. He made good to me
the story which Luellin did tell me the other day, of his wife
upon her death-bed; how she dreamt of her uncle Scobell, and did
foretell, from some discourse she had with him, that she should
die four days thence, and not sooner, and did all along say so,
and did so. Upon the 'Change a great talk there was of one Mr.
Tryan, an old man, a merchant in Lyme-Streete, robbed lest night,
(his man and maid being gone out after he was a-bed) and gagged
and robbed of 1050l. in money and about 4000l. in jewells, which
he had in his house as security for money. It is believed that
his man is guilty of confederacy, by their ready going to his
secret till in the desk, wherein the key of his cash-chest lay.

9th. By discourse with my wife thought upon inviting my Lord
Sandwich to a dinner shortly. It will cost me at least ten or
twelve pounds; but, however, some arguments of prudence I have,
which I shall think again upon before I proceed to that expence.

10th. All our discourse to-night was about Mr. Tryan's late
being robbed and that Colonel Turner, (a mad, swearing, confident
fellow, well known by all, and by me,) one much indebted to this
man for his very livelihood, was the man that either did or
plotted it; and, the money and things are found in his hand, and
he and his wife now in Newgate for it: of which we are all glad,
so very a known rogue he was.

11th. By invitation to St. James's; where, at Mr. Coventry's
chamber, I dined with my Lord Barkeley, Sir G. Carteret, Sir
Edward Turner, [Speaker of the House of Commons, and afterwards
Solicitor-general, and Lord Chief Baron. Ob. 1675.] Sir Ellis
Layton, [D. C. L., brother to R. Leighton, Bishop of Dumblane,
and had been Secretary to the Duke of York.] and one Mr.
Seymour, a fine gentleman: where admirable good discourse of all
sorts, pleasant and serious. This morning I stood by the King
arguing with a pretty Quaker woman, that delivered to him a
desire of hers in writing. The King showed her Sir J. Minnes, as
a man the fittest for her quaking religion; she modestly saying
nothing till he begun seriously to discourse with her, arguing
the truth of his spirit against hers; she replying still with
these words, "O King!" and thou'd all along. The general talk of
the towne still is of Colonel Turner, about the robbery; who it
is thought, will be hanged. I heard the Duke of York tell
to-night, how letters are come that fifteen are condemned for the
late plot by the Judges at York; and, among others, Captain
Oates, against whom it was proved that he drew his sword at his
going out, and flinging away the scabbard, said that he would
either return victor or be hanged.

18th. By coach to the 'Change, after having been at the Coffee
house, where I hear Turner [Vide State Trials.] is found guilty
of felony and burglary: and strange stories of his confidence at
the barr, but yet great indignation in his arguing. All desirous
of his being hanged.

20th. My Lord Sandwich did seal a lease for the house he is now
taking in Lincoln's Inn Fields, which stands him in 250l. per
annum rent. Sir Richard Ford told me that Turner is to be hanged
to-morrow, and with what impudence he hath carried, out his
trial; but that last night, when he brought him news of his
death, he began to be sober and shed some tears, and he hopes
will die a penitent; he having already confessed all the thing,
but says it was partly done for a joke, and partly to get an
occasion of obliging the old man by his care in getting him his
things again, he having some hopes of being the better by him in
his estate at his death. Mr. Pierce tells me that, my Lady
Castlemaine is not at all set by by the King, but that he do doat
upon Mrs. Stewart only; and that to the leaving out all business
in the world, and to the open slighting of the Queene: that he
values not who sees him or stands by him while he dailies with
her openly; and then privately in her chamber below, where the
very sentrys observe his going in and out; and that so commonly,
that the Duke or any of the nobles, when they would ask where the
King is, they will ordinarily say, "Is the King above, or below?"
meaning with Mrs Stewart: that the King do not openly disown my
Lady Castlemaine but that she comes to Court; but that my Lord
FitzHarding and the Hambletons, [Geoge Hamilton, and the Count
Antoine Hamilton, author of the Memoires de Grammont.] and
sometimes my Lord Sandwich, they say, intrigue with her. But he
says my Lord Sandwich will lead her from her lodgings in the
darkest and obscurest manner, and leave her at the entrance into
the Queene's lodgings, that he might be the least observed: that
the Duke of Monmouth the King do still doat on beyond measure,
insomuch that the King only, the Duke of York, and Prince Rupert,
and the Duke of Monmouth, do now wear deep mourning, that is,
long cloaks, for the Duchesse of Savoy: so that he mourns as a
Prince of the Blood, while the Duke of York do no more, and all
the nobles of the land not so much; which gives great offence,
and he sees the Duke of York do consider. But that the Duke of
York do give himself up to business, and is like to prove a noble
prince; and so indeed I do from my heart think he will. He says
that it is believed, as well as hoped, that care is taken to lay
up a hidden treasure of money by the King against a bad day. I
pray God it be so!

21st. Up, and after sending my wife to my aunt Wright's to get a
place to see Turner hanged, I to the 'Change; and seeing people
flock in the City, I enquired, and found that Turner was not yet
hanged. And so I went among them to Leadenhall Street, at the
end of Lyme Street, near where the robbery was done; and to St.
Mary Axe, where he lived. And there I got for a shilling to
stand upon the wheel of a cart, in great pain, above an hour
before the execution was done; he delaying the time by long
discourses and prayers one after another, in hopes of a reprieve;
but none come, and at last was flung off the ladder in his cloak.
A comely-looked man he was, and kept his countenance to the end:
I was sorry to see him. It was believed there were at least 12
or 14,000 people in the street.

22nd. To Deptford, and there viewed Sir W. Petty's vessel; which
hath an odd appearance, but not such as people do make of it.

26th. Tom Killigrew told us of a fire last night in my Lady
Castlemaine's lodging, where she bid 40l. for one to adventure
the fetching of a cabinet out, which at last was got to be done;
and the fire at last quenched without doing much wrong.

27th. At the Coffee-house, where I sat with Sir G. Ascue [A
distinguished naval officer before and after the Restoration; but
he never went to sea subsequently to the action in 1666, when he
was taken prisoner.] and Sir William Petty, who in discourse is,
methinks, one of the most rational men that ever I heard speak
with a tongue, having all his notions the most distinct and
clear. To Covent Garden, to buy a maske at the French House,
Madam Charett's, for my wife; in the way observing the street
full of coaches at the new play, at "The Indian Queene;" ["The
Indian Queen," a tragedy in heroic verse, by Sir Robert Howard
and Mr Dryden.] which for show, they say, exceeds Henry the
Eighth. Called to see my brother Tom, who was not at home,
though they say he is in a deep consumption, and will not live
two months.

30th. This evening I tore some old papers; among others, a
romance which (under the title of "Love a Cheate") I begun ten
years ago at Cambridge: and reading it over to-night, I liked it
very well, and wondered a little at myself at my vein at that
time when I wrote it, doubting that I cannot do so well now if I
would try.

FEBRUARY 1, 1663-64. I hear how two men last night, justling for
the wall about the new Exchange, did kill one another, each
thrusting the other through; one of them of the King's Chapel,
one Cave, and the other a retayner of my Lord Generall
Middleton's. Thence to White Hall; where, in the Duke's chamber,
the King come and stayed an hour or two laughing at Sir W. Petty,
who was there about his boat; and at Gresham College in general:
at which poor Petty was, I perceive, at some loss; but did argue
discreetly, and bear the unreasonable follies of the King's
objections and other bystanders with great discretion; and
offered to take oddes against the King's best boates: but the
King would not lay, but cried him down with words only. Gresham
College he mightily laughed at, for spending time only in
weighing of ayre, and doing nothing else since they sat. Mr.
Pierce tells me how the King, coming the other day to his Theatre
to see "The Indian Queene," (which he commends for a very fine
thing,) my Lady Castlemaine was in the next box before he come;
and leaning over other ladies awhile to whisper with the King,
she rose out of the box and went into the King's, and set herself
on the King's right hand, between the King and the Duke of York:
which, he swears, put the King himself, as well as every body
else, out of countenance; and believes that she did it only to
show the world that she is not out of favour yet, as was
believed. To the King's Theatre, and there saw "The Indian
Queen" acted; which indeed is a most pleasant show, and beyond my
expectation; the play good, but spoiled with the ryme, which
breaks the sense. But above my expectation most, the eldest
Marshall [Anne Marshall, a celebrated actress, and her youngest
sister Becke, so frequently mentioned in the Diary, were, I
believe, the daughters of a Presbyterian Minister; but very
little seems to be known about their history. One of them is
erroneously stated, in the notes to the Memoires de Grammont, and
Davies' Dramatic Miscellanies, to have become Lord Oxford's
mistress; for Mr. Pepys uniformly calls the Marshalls by their
proper name, and only speaks of the other lady as "the first or
old Roxalana, who had quitted the stage."--VIDE Feb. 18, 1661-2,
and Dec. 27, in the same year.] did do her part most excellently
well as I ever heard woman in my life; but her voice is not so
sweet as Ianthe's: [Malone says, in his HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH
STAGE, that Mrs. Mary Saunderson performed Ianthe in Davenant's
play of the Siege of Rhodes, at the first opening of his theatre,
April 1662. She married Betterton the following year, and lived
till 1712, having filled almost all the female characters in
Shakespeare with great success. It is probable, therefore, that
she was the person alluded to here, and frequently mentioned
afterwards, without any more particular designation.] but,
however, we come home mightily contented. Here we met Mr.
Pickering; and he tells me that the business runs high between
the Chancellor and my Lord Bristoll against the Parliament; and
that my Lord Lauderdale and Cooper open high against the
Chancellor; which I am sorry for.

3rd. In Covent Garden to-night, going to fetch my wife, I
stopped at the great Coffee-house there, where I never was
before: where Dryden the poet (I knew at Cambridge), and all the
wits of the town, and Harris the player, and Mr. Hoole of our
College. And had I had time then, or could at other times, it
will be good coming thither, for there, I perceive, is very witty
and pleasant discourse. But I could not tarry, and as it was
late, they were all ready to go away.

4th. To St. Paul's School, and up to hear the upper form
examined; and there was kept by very many of the Mercers,
Clutterbucke, [Probably Alderman Clutterbuck, one of the proposed
Knights of the Royal Oak for Middlesex. There was a Sir Thomas
Clutterbuck of London, CIRCITER 1670.] Barker, Harrington, and
others; and with great respect used by them all, and had a noble
dinner. Here they tell me, that in Dr. Colett's [Dean of St.
Paul's, and founder of the School.] will he says that he would
have a Master found for the School that hath good skill in Latin,
and (if it could be) one that had some knowledge of the Greeke;
so little was Greeke known here at that time. Dr. Wilkins [John
Wilkins, warden of Wadham College, and afterwards Dean of Rippon,
consecrated Bishop of Chester 1668; Ob. 1672. He was a learned
theologian, and well versed in Mathematics and Natural,
Philosophy.] and one Mr. Smallwood, Posers.

8th. Mr. Pierce told me how the King still do doat upon his
women, even beyond all shame: and that the good Queene will of
herself stop before she goes sometimes into her dressing-room,
till she knows whether the King be there, for fear he should be,
as she hath sometimes taken him, with Mrs. Stewart; and that some
of the best parts of the Queene's joynture are, contrary to
faith, and against the opinion of my Lord Treasurer and his
Council, bestowed or rented, I know not how, to my Lord
Fitzhardinge and Mrs. Stewart, and others of that crew; that the
King do doat infinitely upon the Duke of Monmouth, apparently as
one that he intends to have succeed him. God knows what will be
the end of it!

9th. Great talk of the Dutch proclaiming themselves in India,
Lords of the Southern Seas, and denying traffick to all ships but
their own, upon pain of confiscation: which makes our merchants
mad. Great doubt of two ships of ours, the Greyhound and
another, very rich, coming from the Streights, for fear of the
Turkes. Matters are made up between the Pope and the King of
France; so that now all the doubt is, what the French will do
with their armies.

10th. I did give my wife's brother 10s. and a coat that I had by
me, a close-bodied, light-coloured cloth coat, with a gold
edgeing in each seam, that was the lace of my wife's best
pettycoat that she had when I married her. He is going into
Holland to seek his fortune.

15th. To White Hall, to the Duke: where he first put on a
periwigg to-day: but methought his hair cut short in order
thereto did look very prettily of itself, before he put on his
periwigg. Great news of the arrivall of two rich ships, the
Greyhound and another, which they were mightily afraid of, and
great insurance given. This afternoon Sir Thomas Chamberlin [Son
of William Chamberlayne, an English Judge, and created a Baronet
1642.] come to the office to me, and showed me several letters
from the East Indys, showing the height that the Dutch are come
to there, showing scorn to all the English, even in our only
Factory there at Surat, beating several men, and hanging the
English standard St. George under the Dutch flag in scorn:
saying, that whatever their masters do or say at home, they will
do what they list, and be masters of all the world there; and
have so proclaimed themselves Soveraine of all the South Seas;
which certainly our King cannot endure, if the Parliament will
give him money. But I doubt and yet do hope they will not yet,
till we are more ready for it.

17th. Mr. Pierce tells me of the King's giving of my Lord
FitzHarding two leases which belong indeed to the Queene, worth
20,000l. to him; and how people do talk of it.

19th. Mr. Cutler come, and walked and talked with me a great
while; and then to the 'Change together; and it being early, did
tell me several excellent examples of men raised upon the 'Change
by their great diligence and saving; as also his own fortune, and
how credit grew upon him; that when he was not really worth
1,100l., he had credit for 100,000l.; of Sir W. Rider how he
rose; and others. By and by joyned with us Sir John Bankes; [An
opulent merchant, residing in Lincoln's Inn Fields.] who told us
several passages of the East India Company; and how in every
case, when there was due to him and Alderman Mico 64,000l. from
the Dutch for injury done to them in the East Indys, Oliver
presently after the peace, they delaying to pay them the money,
sent them word, that if they did not pay them by such a day, he
would grant letters of mark to those merchants against them; by
which they were so fearful of him, they did presently pay the
money every farthing. Took my wife; and taking a coach, went to
visit; my Ladys Jemimah and Paulina Montagu, and Mrs. Elizabeth
Pickering, [Lord Sandwich's niece.] whom we found at their
father's new house in Lincolne's Fields; but the house all in
dirt. They received us well enough; but I did not endeavour to
carry myself over familiarly with them: and so after a little
stay, there coming in presently after us my Lady Aberguenny
[Probably Mary, daughter of Thomas Clifford, Esq., of Dunton
Walet, Essex, wife to George, ninth Lord Abergavenny.] and other
ladies, we back again by coach.

22nd. This evening come Mr. Alsopp the King's brewer, with whom
I spent an hour talking and bewailing the posture of things at
present; the King led away by half-a-dozen men, that none of his
serious servants and friends can come at him. These are
Lauderdale, Buckingham, Hamilton, FitzHarding, (to whom he hath,
it seems, given 12,000l. per annum in the best part of the King's
estate); and that the old Duke of Buckingham could never get of
the King. Projers is another, [Edward Progers, Esq., the King's
Valet-de-Chambre, and the confidant of his amours. Ob. 1713,
aged ninety-six.] and Sir H. Bennett. He loves not the Queene
at all, but is rather sullen to her; and she, by all reports,
incapable of children. He is so fond of the Duke of Monmouth,
that every body admires it; and he says that the Duke hath said,
that he would be the death of any man that says the King was not
married to his mother: though Alsopp says, it is well known that
she was a common strumpet before the King was acquainted with
her. But it seems, he says, that the King is mighty kind to
these his bastard children; and at this day will go at midnight
to my Lady Castlemaine's nurses, and take the child and dance it
in his arms: that he is not likely to have his tables up again
in his house, for the crew that are about him will not have him
come to common view again, but keep him obscurely among
themselves. He hath this night, it seems, ordered that the Hall
(which there is a ball to be in to-night before the King) be
guarded, as the Queene-Mother's is, by his Horse Guards; whereas
heretofore they were by the Lord Chamberlain or Steward, and
their people. But it is feared they will reduce all to the
soldiery, and all other places be taken away; and what is worst
of all, will alter the present militia, and bring all to a flying
army. That my Lord Lauderdale, being Middleton's enemy, [John
Earl of Middleton, General of the Forces in Scotland.] and one
that scorns the Chancellor even to open affronts before the King,
hath got the whole power of Scotland into his hand; whereas the
other day he was in a fair way to have had his whole estate, and
honour, and life, voted away from him. That the King hath done
himself all imaginable wrong in the business of my Lord Antrim,
[Randall, second Earl, and first Marquis of Antrim. Ob. 1673.]
in Ireland; who, though he was the head of rebels, yet he by his
letter owns to have acted by his father's and mother's and his
commissions: but it seems the truth is, he hath obliged himself
upon the clearing of his estate, to settle it upon a daughter of
the Queene-Mother's (by my Lord Germin, [Earl of St. Albans.] I
suppose,) in marriage be it to whom the Queene pleases: which is
a sad story. It seems a daughter of the Duke of Lenox's was, by
force, going to be married the other day at Somerset House, to
Harry Germin; but she got away and run to the King, and he says
he will protect her. She is, it seems, very near akin to the
King. Such mad doings there are every day among them! There was
a French book in verse, the other day, translated and presented
to the Duke of Monmouth in such a high stile, that the Duke of
York, he tells me, was mightily offended at it. The Duke of
Monmouth's mother's brother hath a place at Court; and being a
Welchman, (I think he told me,) will talk very broad of the
King's being married to his sister. The King did the other day,
at the Council, commit my Lord Digby's [George, Lord Digby, 2nd
Earl of Bristol, who had been Secretary of State in 1643; but by
changing his religion while abroad, at the instigation of Don
John of Austria, incapacitated himself from being restored to
that office; and in consequence of the disappointment, which he
imputed to the interference of the Lord Chancellor, conspired and
effected his ruin. He was installed K.G. in 1661, and died
1676.] chaplin, and steward, and another servant, who went upon
the process begun there against their lord, to swear that they
saw him at church, and receive the Sacrament as a Protestant,
(which, the Judges said, was sufficient to prove him such in the
eye of the law); the King, I say, did commit them all to the
Gate-house, notwithstanding their pleading their dependance upon
him, and the faith they owed him as their lord, whose bread they
eat. And that the King should say, that he would soon see
whether he was King, or Digby. That the Queene-mother had outrun
herself in her expences, and is now come to pay very ill, or run
in debt the money being spent that she received for leases. He
believes there is not any money laid up in bank, as I told him
some did hope; but he says, from the best informers he can assure
me there is no such thing, nor any body that should look after
such a thing; and that there is not now above 80,000l. of the
Dunkirke money left in stock. That Oliver the year when he spent
1,400,000l. in the Navy did spend in the whole expence of the
kingdom 2,600,000l. That all the Court are mad for a Dutch war;
but both he and I did concur, that it was a thing rather to be
dreaded than hoped for; unless by the French King's falling upon
Flanders, they and the Dutch should be divided. That our
Embassador had, it is true, an audience; but in the most
dishonourable way that could be; for the Princes of the Blood
(though invited by our Embassador, which was the greatest
absurdity that ever Embassador committed these 400 years) were
not there; and so were not said to give place to our King's
Embassador. And that our King did openly say, the other day in
the Privy Chamber, that he would not be hectored out of his right
and pre-eminences by the King of France, as great as he was.
That the Pope is glad to yield to a peace with the French (as the
news-book says,) upon the basest terms that ever was. That the
talk which these people about our King, that I named before,
have, is to tell him how neither priviledge of Parliament nor
City is any thing; but that his will is all, and ought to be so:
and their discourse, it seems, when they are alone, is so base
and sordid, that it makes the eares of the very gentlemen of the
back stairs (I think he called them) to tingle to hear it spoke
in the King's hearing; and that must be very bad indeed. That my
Lord Digby did send to Lisbon a couple of priests, to search out
what they could against the Chancellor concerning the match, as
to the point of his knowing before-hand that the Queene was not
capable of bearing children; and that something was given her to
make her so. But as private as they were, when they come thither
they were clapped up prisoners. That my Lord Digby endeavours
what he can to bring the business into the House of Commons,
hoping there to master the Chancellor, there being many enemies
of his there: but I hope the contrary. That whereas the late
King did mortgage Clarendon [Clarendon Park near Salisbury.] to
somebody for 20,000l., and this to have given it to the Duke of
Albemarle, and he sold it to my Lord Chancellor, whose title of
Earldome is fetched from thence; the King hath this day sent his
order to the Privy Seale for the payment of this 20,000l. to my
Lord Chancellor, to clear the mortgage. Ireland in a very
distracted condition about the hard usage which the Protestants
meet with, and the too good which the Catholiques. And from all
together, God knows my heart, I expect nothing but ruin can
follow, unless things are better ordered in a little time.

23rd. This day, by the blessing of God, I have lived thirty-one
years in the world: and, by the grace of God, I find myself not
only in good health in every thing, and particularly as to the
stone, but only pain upon taking cold, and also in a fair way of
coming to a better esteem and estate in the world, than ever I
expected. But I pray God give me a heart to fear a fall, and to
prepare for it.

24th (Ash Wednesday). To the Queene's chapel, where I staid and
saw their masse, till a man come and bid me go out or kneel down:
so I did go out. And thence to Somerset House; and there into
the chapel, where Monsieur d'Espagne [Probably author of a small
volume called "Shibboleth, ou, Reformation de quelques Passages
de la Bible, per Jean d'Espagne; Ministre du St. Evangile," in
the Pepysian Collection, printed 1653, and dedicated to
Cromwell.] used to preach. But now it is made very fine, and
was ten times more crouded than the Queene's chapel at St.
James's: which I wonder at. Thence down to the garden of
Somerset House, and up and down the new building, which in every
respect will be mighty magnificent and costly.

27th. Sir Martin Noell told us the dispute between him, as
farmer of the Additional Duty, and the East India Company,
whether callico be linnen or no: which he says it is, having
been ever esteemed so: they say it is made of cotton woole, and
grows upon trees, not like flax or hemp. But it was carried
against the Company, though they stand out against the verdict.

28th (Lord's day). Up and walked to Paul's; and by chance it was
an extraordinary day for the Readers of the Inns of Court and all
the Students to come to church, it being an old ceremony not used
these twenty-five years, upon the first Sunday in Lent.
Abundance there was of Students, more than there was room to seat
but upon forms, and the Church mighty full. One Hawkins
preached, an Oxford man. A good sermon upon these words: "But
the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable." Both
before and after sermon I was most impatiently troubled at the
Quire, the worst that; ever I heard. But what was extraordinary,
the Bishop of London, [Humphrey Henchman translated from
Salisbury, September 1663. Ob. 1675.] who sat there in a pew,
made a' purpose for him by the pulpitt, do give the last blessing
to the congregation; which was, he being a comely old man, a very
decent thing, methought. The Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir J.
Robinson, would needs have me by coach home with him, where the
officers of his regiment dined with him. After dinner to chapel
in the Tower with the Lieutenant, with the keyes carried before
us, and the Warders and Gentleman-porter going before us. And I
sat with the Lieutenant in his pew, in great state. None, it
seems, of the prisoners in the Tower that are there now, though
they may, will come to prayers there.

29th. To Sir Philip Warwick, who showed me many excellent
collections of the state of the Revenue in former Kings' and the
late times, and the present. He showed me how the very
assessments between 1643 and 1659, which were taxes, (besides
Excise, Customes, Sequestrations, Decimations, King and Queene's
and Church Lands, or any thing else but just the Assessments,)
come to above fifteen millions. He showed me a discourse of his
concerning the Revenues of this and foreign States. How that of
Spayne was great but divided with his kingdoms, and so come to
little. How that of France did, and do much exceed ours before
for quantity; and that it is at the will of the Prince to tax
what he will upon his people; which is not here. That the
Hollanders have the best manner of tax, which is only upon the
expence of provisions, by an excise; and do conclude that no
other tax is proper for England but a pound-rate, or excise upon
the expence of provisions. He showed me every particular sort of
payment away of money, since the King's coming in, to this day;
and told me, from one to one, how little he hath received of
profit from most of them: and I believe him truly. That the
1,200,000l. which the Parliament with so much ado did first vote
to give the King, and since hath been re-examined by several
committees of the present Parliament, is yet above 300,000l.
short of making up really to the King the 1,200,000l. as by
particulars he showed me. And in my Lord Treasurer's excellent
letter to the King upon this subject, he tells the King how it
was the spending more than the revenue that did give the first
occasion of his fathers ruine, and did since to the rebels; who,
he says, just like Henry the Eighth, had great and sudden
increase of wealth, but yet by overspending both died poor: and
further tells the King how much of this 1,200,000l. depends upon
the life of the Prince, and so must be renewed by Parliament
again to his successor; which is seldom done without parting with
some of the prerogatives of the Crowne; or if denied and he
persists to take it of the people, it gives occasion to a civill
war, which did in the late business of tonnage and poundage prove
fatal to the Crowne. He showed me how many ways the Lord
Treasurer did take before he moved the King to farme the Customes
in the manner he do, and the reasons that moved him to do it. He
showed me a very excellent argument to prove, that our importing
lesse than we export, do not impoverish the kingdom, according to
the received opinion: which, though it be a paradox, and that I
do not remember the argument, yet methought there was a great
deal in what he said. And upon the whole I find him a most exact
and methodicall man, and of great industry: and very glad that
he thought fit to show me all this; though I cannot easily guess
the reason why he should do it to me, unless from the plainness
that he sees I use to him in telling him how much the King may
suffer for our want of understanding the case of our Treasury.

MARCH 2, 1663-64. This morning Mr. Burgby, one of the writing
clerks belonging to the Council, a knowing man, complains to me
how most of the Lords of the Council do look after themselves and
their own ends, and none the public, unless Sir Edward Nicholas.
Sir G. Carteret is diligent, but for all his own ends and profit.
My Lord Privy Seale, a destroyer of every body's business, and do
no good at all to the public. The Archbishop of Canterbury
[Gilbert Sheldon.] speaks very little, nor do much, being now
come to the highest pitch that he can expect. He tells me, that
he believes that things will go very high against the Chancellor
by Digby, and that bad things will be proved. Talks much of his
neglecting the King; and making the King to trot every day to
him, when he is well enough to go to visit his cosen Chief-
Justice Hide, but not to the Council or King. He commends my
Lord of Ormond mightily in Ireland; but cries out cruelly of Sir
G. Lane for his corruption; and that he hath done my Lord great
dishonour by selling of places here, which are now all taken
away, and the poor wretches ready to starve. But nobody almost
understands or judges of business better than the King, if he
would not be guilty of his father's fault to be doubtfull of
himself and easily be removed from his own opinion. That my Lord
Lauderdale is never from the King's care nor council, and that he
is a most cunning fellow. Upon the whole, that he finds things
go very bad every where; and even in the Council nobody minds the
public.

4th. There were several people trying a new-fashion gun brought
my Lord Peterborough this morning, to shoot off often, one after
another, without trouble or danger. At Greenwich I observed the
foundation laying of a very great house for the King, which will
cost a great deal of money.

10th. At the Privy Seale I enquired, and found the Bill come for
the Corporation of the Royall Fishery: whereof the Duke of York
is made present Governor, and severall other very great persons,
to the number of thirty-two, made his assistants for their lives:
whereof, by my Lord Sandwich's favour, I am one: and take it not
only as a matter of honour, but that, that may come to be of
profit to me.

14th. To White Hall; and in the Duke's chamber, while he was
dressing, two persons of quality that were there did tell his
Regal Highness how the other night, in Holborne, about midnight,
being at cards, a link-boy come by and run into the house, and


 


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