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15-16 DECEMBER 1666

3
4    16. Lords day. Lay long, talking with my wife in bed. Then
5up with great content, and to my chamber to set right a picture
6or two - Lovett having sent me yesterday Santa Clara's head
7varnished, which is very fine. And now my closet is so full
8stored and so fine, as I would never desire to have it better.
9    Dined without any strangers with me - which I do not like
10on Sundays. Then after dinner by water to Westminster to see
11Mrs. Martin, whom I found up in her chamber and ready to go
12abroad. I sat there with her and her husband and others a pretty
13while; and then away to White-hall and there walked up and
14down to the Queen's side, and there saw my dear Lady Castlemayne,
15who continues admirable methinks - and I do not hear
16but that the King is the same to her still as ever. Anon to
17chapel, by the King's closet, and heard a very good Anthemne.
18Then with Lord Brouncker to Sir W. Coventry's chamber,
19and there we sat with him and talked. He is weary of anything
20to do, he says, in the Navy. He tells us this Committee of
21Accounts will enquire sharply into our office; and (speaking
22of Sir J. Mennes) he says he will not bear anybody's faults but
23his own. He discoursed as bad of Sir W. Batten almost. And
24cries out upon the discipline of the fleet, which is lost. And
25that there is not, in any of the fourth-rates and under, scarce
26left one Sea-Comander, but all young gentlemen. And which
27troubles him, he hears that the gentlemen do give out that in two
28or three years a Tarpawlin shall not dare to look after being better
29then a Boatswain - which he is troubled at, and with good
30reason. And at this day Sir Robt. Holmes is mightily troubled
31that his brother doth not command in chief, but is commanded

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32by Captain Hannum - who, Sir W. Coventry says he believes
33to be at least of as good blood - is a longer bred seaman - an
34elder officer, and an elder commander. But such is Sir R.
35Holmes's pride, as never to be stopped - he being greatly troubled
36at my Lord Brouncker's late discharging all his men and officers
37but the standing-officers at Chatham; and so are all other
38Commanders, and a very great cry hath been to the King from
39them all in my Lord's absence. But Sir W. Coventry doth
40undertake to defend it, and my Lord Brouncker got ground by
41it I believe - who is angry at Sir W. Batten and W. Penn's bad
42words concerning it. And I have made it worse by telling him
43that they refuse to sign to a paper which he and I signed on
44Saturday to declare the reason of his actions - which Sir W.
45Coventry likes, and would have it sent him and he will sign it -
46which pleases me well.
47    So we parted, and I with Lord Brouncker to Sir P. Neale's
48chamber, and there sat and talked awhile - Sir Edwd. Walker
49being there, and telling us how he hath lost many fine Rowles of
50antiquity in Heraldry by the late fire, but hath saved the most of
51his papers. Here was also Dr. Wallis, the famous scholar and
52mathematician; but he promises little.

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53    Left them, and in the dark and cold home by water; and so to
54supper and to read, and so to bed - my eyes being better today -
55and I cannot impute it to anything but by my being much in
56the dark tonight, for I plainly find that it is only excess of light
57that makes my eyes sore.
58    This afternoon I walked with Lord Brouncker into the park,
59and there talked of the times. And he doth think that the King
60sees that he cannot never have much more money or good from
61this Parliament, and that therefore he may hereafter dissolve
62them. That as soon as he hath the money settled, he believes a
63peace will be clapped up; and that there are overtures of a
64peace - which, if such as the Lord Chancellor can excuse, he will
65take. For it is the Chancellors interest, he says, to bring peace
66again, for in peace he can do all and command all; but in war he
67cannot, because he understands not the nature of the war - as to
68the management thereof. He tells me he doth not believe that
69the Duke of York will go to sea again, though there are a great
70many about the King that would be glad of any occasion to take
71him out of the world - he standing in their ways; and seemed to
72mean the Duke of Monmouth - who spends his time the most
73viciously and idly of any man, nor will be fit for anything -
74yet he speaks as if it were not impossible but the King would
75own him for his son, and that there was a marriage between his
76mother and him - which God forbid should be, if it be not true;
77nor will the Duke of York easily be gulled in it. But this, put
78to our other distractions, makes things appear very sad, and
79likely to be the occasion of much confusion in a little time.
80And my Lord Brouncker seems to say that nothing can help
81us but the King's making a peace as soon as he hath this money;
82and thereby putting himself out of debt, and so becoming a good
83husband; and then he will neither need this, nor any other
84Parliament till he can have one to his mind. For no Parliament
85can, as he says, be kept long good - but they will spoil one
86another. And that therefore it hath been the practice of kings

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87to tell Parliaments what he hath for them to do, and give them so
88long time to do it in, and no longer.
89    Harry Kembe, one of our messengers, is lately dead.
90
91    17. Up, and several people to speak with me. Then comes
92Mr. Caesar, and then Goodgroome, and what with one and the
93other, nothing but Musique with me this morning, to my great
94content; and the more to see that God Almighty hath put me
95into condition to bear the charge of all this. So out to the
96Change I, and did a little business; and then home, where they
97two musicians and Mr. Cooke came to see me - and Mercer, to
98go along with my wife this afternoon to a play. To dinner,
99and then our company all broke up, and I to my chamber to do
100several things - among other things, to write a letter to my Lord
101Sandwich, it being one of the burdens upon my mind that I
102have not writ to him since he went into Spain. But now I do
103intend to give him a brief account of our whole year's action
104since he went, which will make amends. My wife well home in
105the evening from the play; which I was glad of, it being cold and
106dark, and she having her necklace of pearl on, and none but
107Mercer with her. Spent the evening in fitting my books, to
108have the number set upon each in order to my having an
109Alphabet of my whole, which will be of great ease to me. This
110day Captain Batters came from sea in his Fireshipp, and came to
111see me, poor man, as his patron - and a poor painful wretch he
112is as can be. After supper, to bed.

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113    18. Up and to the office, where I hear the ill news that poor
114Batters, that hath been born and bred a seaman, and brought up
115his ship from sea but yesterday, was, going down from me to his
116ship, drownded in the Thames - which is a sad fortune, and doth
117make me afeared, and will do, more then ever I was.
118    At noon dined at home; and then by coach to my Lord
119Bellasses, but not at home; so to Westminster hall, where the
120Lords are sitting still. I to see Mrs. Martin, who is very well,
121and intends to go abroad tomorrow after her childbed. She
122doth tell me that this child did come la meme jour that it ought
123to hazer after my avoir ete con elle before her marido did venir
124home. And she would now have done anything cum ego ;
125and did endeavour, but su cosa stava mala , which did empescar .
126Thence to the Swan, and there I sent for Sarah and mighty merry
127we were, but contra my will were very far from hazer algo .
128So to Sir Rob. Viner's about my plate, and carried home another
129dozen of plates, which makes my stock of plates up 2 1/2 dozen.
130And at home find Mr. Tho. Andrews, with whom I stayed and
131talked a little, and invited him to dine with me at Christmas;
132and then I to the office, and there late doing business, and so
133home and to bed - sorry for poor Batters.
134
135    19. Up and by water to White-hall, and there with the
136Duke of York did our usual business. But nothing but complaints
137of want of money, without success, and Sir W. Coventry's
138complaint of the defects of our office (endeed Sir J. Mennes's),
139without any amendment. And he tells us so plainly of the
140committee of Parliament's resolution to enquire home into all
141our managements, that it makes me resolve to be wary and to do
142all things betimes to be ready for them. Thence, going away,

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143met Mr. Hingston the Organist (my old acquaintance) in the
144Court, and I took him to the Dogg tavern and got him to set me
145a bass to my It is decreed , which I think will go well; but he
146commends the song, not knowing the words, but says the ayre
147is good, and believes the words are plainly expressed. He is of
148my mind, against having of eighths unnecessarily in composition.
149This did all please me mightily. Then to talk of the
150King's family: he says many of the Musique are ready to starve,
151they being five years behindhand for their wages. Nay,
152Evens, the famous man upon the Harp, having not his equal in
153the world, did the other day die for mere want, and was fain
154to be buried at the almes of the parish - and carried to his grave
155in the dark at night, without one Linke, but that Mr Hingston
156met it by chance and did give 12d to buy two or three links.
157He says all must come to ruin at this rate, and I believe
158him.
159    Thence I up to the Lords' House to enquire for Lord Bellasses;
160and there hear how at a conference this morning between the
161two Houses, about the business of the Canary Company - my
162Lord Buckingham leaning rudely over my Lord Marquis of
163Dorchester, my Lord Dorchester removed his elbow. Duke of
164Buckingham asked whether he was uneasy. Dorchester replied,
165"Yes", and that he durst not do this, were he anywhere else.
166Buckingham replied, yes he would, and that he was a better man
167then himself. Dorchester answered that he lyed. With this,
168Buckingham struck off his hat, and took him by his periwigg
169and pulled it a-t'other-side, and held him. My Lord Chamberlain
170and others interposed. And upon coming into the House,

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171the Lords did order them both to the Tower, whither they are to
172go this afternoon.
173    I down into the Hall, and there the Lieutenant of the Tower
174took me with him and would have me to the Tower to dinner;
175where I dined - at the head of his table next his lady - who is
176comely, and seeming sober and stately, but very proud and very
177cunning, or I am mistaken - and wanton too. This day's work
178will bring the Lieutenant of the Tower 350l. But a strange
179conceited, vain man he is, that ever I met withal, in his own
180praise - as I have heretofore observed of him. Thence home, and
181upon Tower hill saw about 3 or 400 seamen get together; and
182one, standing upon a pile of bricks, made his sign with his handkercher
183upon his stick, and called all the rest to him, and several
184shouts they gave. This made me afeared, so I got home as fast
185as I could - and hearing of no present hurt, did go to Sir Robt.
186Viners about my plate again; and coming home, do hear of
1871000 seamen said in the streets to be in armes. So in great
188fear home, expecting to find a tumult about our house, and was
189doubtful of my riches there - but I thank God, I found all well.
190But by and by Sir W. Batten and Sir R Ford do tell me that
191the seamen have been at some prisons to release some seamen,

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192and that the Duke of Albemarle is in armes, and all the Guards at
193the other end of the town; and the Duke of Albemarle is gone
194with some forces to Wapping to quell the seamen - which is a
195thing of infinite disgrace to us.
196    I sat long, talking with them. And among other things, Sir
197R. Ford did make me understand how the House of Commons is a
198beast not to be understood - it being impossible to know beforehand
199the success almost of any small plain thing - there being so
200many to think and speak to any business, and they of so uncertain
201minds and interests and passions.
202    He did tell me, and so did Sir W. Batten, how Sir Allen
203Brodericke and Sir Allen Apsly did come drunk the other day
204into the House, and did both speak for half an hour together, and
205could not be either laughed or pulled or bid to sit down and
206hold their peace - to the great contempt of the King's servants and
207cause - which I am aggrieved at with all my heart.
208    We were full in discourse of the sad state of our times. And
209the horrid shame brought on the King's service by the just
210clamours of the poor seamen. And that we must be undone in
211a little time.
212    Home, full of trouble on these considerations. And among
213other things, I to my chamber and there to ticket a good part
214of my books, in order to the Numbring of them - for my easy
215finding them to read, as I have occasion.
216    So to supper and to bed - with my heart full of trouble.
217
218    20. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning.
219And here, among other things, came Captain Cocke, and I did
220get him to sign me a note for the 100l, to pay for the plate he

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221doth present me with, which I am very glad of. At noon
222home to dinner, where was Balty come; who is well again,
223and the most recovered in his countenance that ever I did see.
224Here dined with me also Mrs. Batters, poor woman, now left a
225sad widow by the drowning of her husband the other day.
226I pity her, and will do her what kindness I can; yet I observe
227something of ill-nature in myself, more then should be: that I
228am colder towards her in my charity then I should be to one so
229painful as he and she have been, and full of kindness to their
230power to my wife and I. After dinner out with Balty, setting
231him down at the Maypole in the Strand; and then I to my Lord
232Bellasses, and there spoke with Mr. Moone about some business;
233and so away home to my business at the office, and then home to
234supper and to bed, after having finished the putting of little
235papers upon my books, to be numbered hereafter.

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236

[#xpath1(ancestor::TEI//sourceDesc//biblStruct[2]/monogr/editor): JULY 1667]

237    1. Up betimes about 4 a-clock, waked by a damned noise
238between a sow gelder and a cow and a dog, nobody after we were
239up being able to tell us what it was. After being ready, we took
240coach; and being very sleepy, drouzed most part of the way to
241gravesend; and there light and down to the new Battery which
242are like to be very fine, and there did hear a plain fellow cry
243out upon the folly of the King's officers above, to spend so much
244money in works at Woolwich and Deptford and sinking of good
245ships loaden with goods, when if half the charge had been laid
246out here, it would have secured all that, and this place too, before
247now - and I think it is not only true in this, but that the best of
248the actions of us all are so silly, that the meanest people do begin
249to see through them and contemn them. "Besides," says he,
250"they spoil the river by it." Then informed ourselfs where we
251might have some Creame, and they guided us to one Goody
252Best's, a little out of the town towards London-road; and thither
253we went with the Coach and find it a mighty clean, plain house,
254and had a dish of very good cream to our liking; and so away
255presently, very merry, and fell to reading of the several Advices
256to a Painter , which made us good sport; and endeed, are very
257witty; and Creed did also repeat to me some of the substance of
258letters of old Burleigh in Queen Elizabeth's time which he hath of
259late read in the printed Cabbala , which is a very fine style at this
260day and fit to be imitated. With this, and talking and laughing

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261at the folly of our maisters in the management of things at this
262day, we got home by noon, where all well. And then to dinner,
263and after dinner both of us laid down upon the Couch and chairs
264and to sleep; which I did for an hour or two, and then to the
265office, where I am sorry to hear that Sir J. Mennes is likely to die
266this night or tomorrow. I forgot to set down that we met this
267morning upon the road with Mrs. Williams, going down to my
268Lord Brouncker; we bowed without speaking one to another,
269but I am ashamed at the folly of the man, to have her down at
270this serious busy time, when the town and country is full of
271people and full of censure, and against him perticularly. At Sir
272W. Batten's my Lady tells me that she hears for certain that my
273Lord's maid of his lodgings here doth give out that Mrs. Williams
274hath been fain of late to sell her best clothes and Jewells to get a
275little money upon - which is a sad condition. Thence to the
276office and did write to my Lord Brouncker to give me a little
277satisfaction about the certainty of the Chaines being broke, which
278I begin to doubt, and the more from Sir W Pen's discourse;
279it is worth while to read my letter to him entered in my letter
280book. Home in the evening to supper; and so pretty betimes,
281about 10 a-clock, to bed, and slept well. This day letters are
282come that my sister is very ill.
283
284    2. Up, and put on my new silk Camelott suit, made of my
285cloak, and suit now made into a vest. So to the office, where
286W. Penn and myself and Sir T. Harvy met, the first time we have
287had a meeting since the coming of the Dutch upon the coast.
288Our only business (for we have little else to do, nobody being
289willing to trust us for anything) was to speak with the owners of

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290six merchantmen which we have been taking up this fortnight,
291and are yet in no readiness, they not fitting their ships without
292money advanced to them, we owing them for what their ships
293have earned the last year. So everything stands still for money,
294while we want money to pay for some of the most necessary
295things that we promised ready money for in the heighth of our
296wants - as grapnells, &c.; at noon home to dinner; and after
297dinner, my wife and Jane (mighty fine the girle) to go to see
298Jane's old mistress, who was to see her, and did see my wife the
299other day. And it is pleasant to hear with what kindness her old
300mistress speaks of this girl, and how she would still have her,
301and how the wench cried when she told her that she must come
302to her old mistress, my wife. They gone, I to my chamber,
303and there dallied a little with my maid Nell to touch her thing,
304but nothing more. And so to the office, where busy till night;
305and then comes Mrs. Turner and walks with me in the garden,
306to talk with me about her husband's business and to tell me how
307she hears at the other end of the town how bad our office is
308spoken of by the King and Prince and Duke of Albemarle;
309and that there is not a good word said of any of us but of me,
310and me they do all speak mightily of - which, whether true or no,
311I am mighty glad to hear. But from all put together that I hear
312from other people, I am likely to pass as well as anybody. So
313she gone, comes my wife and to walk in the garden, Sir J. Mennes
314being still ill and so keeping us from singing; and by and by
315Sir W Pen came and walked with us, and gave us a bottle of
316cider; and so we home to supper, and I to read myself asleep
317and so to bed. (This day I am told that poor Tooker is dead,
318a very painful poor man as ever I knew.)
319
320    3. Up, and within most of the morning, my tailor's boy
321coming to alter something in my new suit I put on yesterday.

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322Then to the office and did business, and then (my wife being a
323little ill of those in the bed) I to Sir W. Batten's and dined,
324and there comes in Sir Rd. Ford and tells us how he hath been
325at the Session's-house, and there it is plain that there is a combination
326of rogues in the town that do make it their business to set
327houses on fire, and that one house they did set on fire in Aldersgate-street
328last Easter, and that this is proved by two young
329men, whom one of them debauched by degrees to steal their
330father's plate and clothes, and at last to be of their company, and
331they had their places to take up what goods were flung into the
332streets out of the windows when the houses were on fire; and
333this is like to be proved to a great number of rogues, whereof
334five are already found, and some found guilty this day. One of
335these boys is the son of a Mountagu, of my Lord Manchester's
336family; but whose son, he could not tell me. This is a strange
337thing methinks, but I am glad that it is proved so true and
338discovered. So home, and to enter my Journall of my late
339journy to this hour; and then to the office - where to do a little
340business; and then by water to White-hall (calling at Michells
341in my way, but the rogue would not invite me in, I having a mind
342para ver his wife); and there to the Council-chamber to deliver a
343letter to their Lordships about the state of the six merchantmen
344which we have been so long fitting out. When I came, the
345King and the whole tableful of Lords were hearing of a pitiful
346cause of a complaint of an old man, with a great gray beard,
347against his son, for not allowing himself something to live on;
348and at last came to the ordering the son to allow his father 10l a
349year. This cause lasted them near two hours; which methinks,
350at this time to be the work of the Council-board of England, is a

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351scandalous thing, and methought Sir W. Coventry to me did own
352as much. Here I find all the news is the enemy's landing 3000
353men near Harwich, and attacquing Langnerfort and being beat
354off thence with our great guns, killing some of their men and
355they leaving their lathers behind them; but we had no Horse
356in the way on Suffolke side, otherwise we might have galled
357their Foot. The Duke of York is gone down thither this day,
358while the Generall sat sleeping this afternoon at the Counciltable.
359The news so much talked of this Exchange, of a peace,
360I find by Sir Rd. Browne arises from a letter the Swedes agent
361hath received from Bredah, and showed at Court today, that
362they are come very near it, but I do not find anybody here
363relying on it. This cause being over, the Trinity-house men,
364whom I did not expect to meet, were called in; and there Sir
365W Pen made a formal speech in answer to a Question of the
366King's, whether the lying of the sunk ships in the River would
367spoil the River; but Lord, how gingerly he answered it, and with
368a deal of do, that he did not know whether it would be safe as to
369the enemy to have them taken up, but that doubtless it would be
370better for the River to have them taken up. Methought the
371Council found them answer like fools, and it ended in bidding
372them think more of it and bring their answer in writing. Thence
373I to Westminster-hall and there hear how they talk against the
374present management of things, and against Sir W. Coventry for

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375his bringing in of new commanders and casting out the old seamen;
376which I did endeavour to rectify Mr. Michell and them in,
377letting them know that he hath opposed it all his life, the most
378of any man in England. After a deal of this bibble babble, I to
379Mrs. Martins and there she was gone in before; but when I
380came, contrary to my expectation, I find her all in trouble, and
381what was it for but that I have got her with child, for those do
382not venir upon her as they should have done; and is in exceeding
383grief, and swears that the child is mine; which I do not
384believe, but yet do comfort her that either it cannot be so; or
385if it be, that I will take care to send for her husband, though I do
386hardly see how I can be sure of that, the ship being at sea and as
387far as Scotland; but however, I must do it, and shall find some
388way or other of doing it, though it doth trouble me not a little.
389Thence, not pleased, away to White-hall to Mr. Williamson and
390by and by my Lord Arlington about Mr. Lanyon's business;
391and it is pretty to see how Mr. Williamson did altogether excuse
392himself that my business was not done, and when I came to my
393Lord and told him my business, - "Why," says my Lord, "it hath
394been done, and the King signed it several days ago;" and so it
395was, and was in Mr. Williamson's hand, which made us both
396laugh; and I in innocent mirth, I remember, said, "It is pretty to
397see in what a condition we are, that all our matters nowadays
398are undone we know not how, and done we know not when."
399He laughed at it, but I have since reflected on it and find it a
400severe speech, as it might be taken by a chief minister of state,
401as endeed Mr. Williamson is, for he is endeed the Secretary.
402But we fell to other pleasant talk, and a fine gentleman he is; and
403so gave him 5l for his fee, and away home and to Sir W. Batten's
404to talk a little; and then to the office to do a little business, and so
405home to supper and to read myself asleep, and then to bed.

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406    4. Up; and in vain expecting Sir Rd. Ford's calling on me,
407I took coach and to the Sessions-house, where I have a mind to
408hear Bazill Fielding's case tried; and so got up to the Bench,
409my Lord Chief Justice Keeling being Judge. Here I stood bare,
410not challenging, though I might well enough, to be covered.
411But here was several fine trials. Among others, several brought
412in for making it their trade to set houses on fire, merely to get
413plunder, and all proved by the two little boys spoken of yesterday
414by Sir R. Ford, who did give so good account of perticulars that
415I never heard children in my life; and I confess, though I was
416unsatisfied with the force given to such little boys to take away
417men's lives, yet when I was told that my Lord Chief-Justice did
418declare that there was no law against taking the oath of children
419above twelve years old, and then heard from Sir R. Ford the
420good account which the boys had given of their understanding
421the nature and consequence of an oath, and now my own observation
422of the sobriety and readiness of their answers, further then
423of any man of any rank that came to give witness this day, though
424some men of years and learning, I was a little amazed, and fully
425satisfied that they ought to have as much credit as the rest.
426They proved against several, their consulting several times at a
427bawdy-house in Moore-Fields called the Russia House, among
428many other rogueries, of setting houses on fire, that they might
429gather the goods that were flung into the streets; and it is worth
430considering how unsafe it is to have children play up and down
431this lewd town, for these two boys, one is my Lady Mountagus
432(I know not what Lady Mountagu) son and the other of good
433condition, were playing in Moore-Fields, and one rogue, Gabr.
434Holmes, did come to them and teach them to drink, and then to
435bring him plate and clothes from their fathers' houses and carry
436him into their houses, and leaving open the doors for him; and
437at last were made of their conspiracy, and were at the very burning

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438of this house in Aldersgate-street on Easter Sunday at night
439last, and did gather up goods as they had resolved before. And
440this Gabriel Holmes did advise to have had two houses set on
441fire, one after another, that while they were quenching of one,
442they might be burning another.