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upon the gittarr； which he now commends above all musique in the world。 As an infinite secret； my Lord tells me； the factions are high between the King and the Duke； and all the Court are in an uproar with their loose amours； the Duke of York being in love desperately with Mrs。 Stewart。 Nay； that the Duchesse herself is fallen in love with her new Master of the Horse； one Harry Sidney； ＇Younger son of Robert Earl of Leicester； created Earl of Romney； 1694。 He was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland； Master of the Ordnance； and Warden of the Cinque Ports in the reign of King William。 Ob。 1704； unmarried。＇ and another； Harry Savill。 ＇Henry Saville； some time one of the Grooms of the Bedchamber to the Duke of York。＇ So that God knows what will be the end of it。 And that the Duke is not so obsequious as he need to be； but very high of late； and would be glad to be in the head of an army as Generall； and that it is said that he do propose to go and command under the King of Spayne； in Flanders。 That his amours to Mrs。 Stewart are told the King。 So that all is like to be nought among them。
22nd。 I was very glad to hear that the plague is come very low； that is； the whole under 1000； and the plague 800 and odd： and great hopes of a further decrease； because of this day's being a very exceeding hard frost； and continues freezing。 This day the first of the Oxford Gazettes come out； which is very pretty； full of news； and no folly in it。 Wrote by Williamson。 It pleased me to have it demonstrated； that a purser without professed cheating is a professed loser； twice as much as he gets。
23rd。 Captn。 Cuttance tells me how W。 How is laid by the heels； and confined to the Royall Katharin； and his things all seized。
24th。 To the 'Change； where very busy with several people； and mightily glad to see the 'Change so full； and hopes of another abatement still the next week。 Visited Mr。 Evelyn； where most excellent discourse with him； among other things he showed me a lieger of a Treasurer of the Navy； his great grandfather； just 100 years old； which I seemed mighty fond of； and he did present me with it； which I take as a great rarity； and he hopes to find me more； older than it。 He also showed us several letters of the old Lord of Leicester's ＇There are some letters and papers answering to this description in the Pepysian Library； and amongst them an account of the Coroner's Inquest held upon the Countess of Leicester at Cumnor。＇ in Queen Elizabeth's time； under the very hand…writing of Queen Elizabeth； and Queen Mary； Queen of Scotts； and others； very venerable names。 But； Lord！ how poorly； methinks； they wrote in those days； and in what plain uncut paper。
27th。 With Sir G。 Carteret； who tells me that my Lord hath received still worse and worse usage from some base people about the Court。 But the King is very kind； and the Duke do not appear the contrary； and my Lord Chancellor swore to him 〃by I will not forsake my Lord of Sandwich。〃 I into London； it being dark night； by a hackny coach； the first I have durst to go in many a day； and with great pain now for fear。 But it being unsafe to go by water in the dark and frosty cold； and unable being weary with my morning walk to go on foot； this was my only way。 Few people yet in the streets； nor shops open； here and there twenty in a place almost； though not above five or six o'clock at night。
30th。 Great joy we have this week in the weekly Bill； it being come to 544 in all； and but 333 of the plague so that we are encouraged to get to London soon as we can。 And my father writes as great news of joy to them； that he saw York's waggon go again this week to London； and full of passengers； and tells me that my aunt Bell hath been dead of the plague these seven weeks。
December 3； 1665。 To Captn。 Cocke's； and there dined with him； and Colonell Wyndham； a worthy gentleman； whose wife was nurse to the present King； and one that while she lived governed him and every thing else； as Cocke says； as a minister of state； the old King putting mighty weight and trust upon her。 They talked much of matters of State and persons； and particularly how my Lord Barkeley hath all along been a fortunate； though a passionate and but weak man as to policy； but as a kinsman brought in and promoted by my Lord of St。 Alban's； and one that is the greatest vapourer in the world； this Colonell Wyndham says； and to whom only； with Jacke Ashburne ＇This should be Ashburnham。＇ and Colonel Legg； ＇William Legge； Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles I。； and father to the first Lord Dartmouth。 He was M。P。 for Southampton。 Ob； 1672。＇ the King's removal to the Isle of Wight from Hampton Court was communicated； and （though betrayed by their knavery； or at best by their ignorance； insomuch that they have all solemnly charged one another with their failures therein； and have been at daggers…drawing publickly about it。） yet now none greater friends in the world。
4th。 Upon the 'Change to…day Colvill tells me； from Oxford； that the King in person hath justified my Lord Sandwich to the highest degree； and is right in his favour to the uttermost。
6th。 Up betimes； it being fast…day； and by water to the Duke of Albemarle； who come to town from Oxford last night。 He is mighty brisk； and very kind to me； and asks my advice principally in every thing。 He surprises me with the news that my Lord Sandwich goes Embassador to Spayne speedily； though I know not whence this arises； yet I am heartily glad of it。 The King hath done my Lord Sandwich all the right imaginable； by showing him his countenance before all the world on every occasion； to remove thoughts of discontent； and he is to go Embassador； and the Duke of York is made generall of all forces by land and sea and the Duke of Albemarle； lieutenant…generall。
8th。 To White Hall； where we found Sir G。 Carteret with the Duke； and also Sir G。 Downing； whom I had not seen in many years before。 He greeted me very kindly； and I him； though methinks I am touched that it should be said that he was my master heretofore； as doubtless he will。
9th。 My Lord Brouncker and I dined with the Duke of Albemarle。 At table the Duchesse； a very ill…looked woman； complaining of her Lord's going to sea the next year； said these cursed words： 〃If my Lord had been a coward he had gone to sea no more： it may be then he might have been excused； and made an embassador；〃 （meaning my Lord Sandwich）。 This made me mad； and I believed she perceived my countenance change； and blushed herself very much。 I was in hopes others had not minded it； but my Lord Brouncker； after we were come away； took notice of the words to me； with displeasure。
11th。 That I may remember it the more particularly； I thought fit to insert this memorandum of Temple's discourse this night with me； which I took in writing from his mouth。 Before the Harp and Crosse money was cried down； he and his fellow goldsmiths did make some particular trials what proportion that money bore to the old King's money； and they found that generally it come to； one with another； about 25l。 in every 100l。 Of this money there was upon the calling of it in； 650；000l。 at least brought into the Tower； and from thence he computes that the whole money of England must be full 16；250；000l。 But for all this believes that there is about 30；000；000l。； he supposing that about the King's coming in （when he begun to observe the quantity of the new money） people begun to be fearful of this money's being cried down； and so picked it out and set it a…going as fast as they could； to be rid of it； and he thinks 30；000；000l。 the rather； because if there were but 16；250；000l。 the King having 2；000；000l。 every year； would have the whole money of the kingdom in his hands in eight years。 He tells me about 350；000l。 sterling was coined out of the French money； the proceeds of Dunkirke； so that； with what was coined of the Cross money； there is new coined about 1；000；000l。 besides the gold； which is guessed at 500；000l。 He tells me； that； though the King did deposit the French money in pawn all the while for the 350；000l。 he was forced to borrow thereupon till the tools could be made for the new Minting in the present form。 Yet the interest he p