按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
nd here fell into the acquaintance of my Lord Arlington； whose creature he is； and never from him； a man of virtue； and comely； and good parts enough； and hath come into his place with a great grace； though with a great skip over the heads of a great many； as Chichly and Denham； and some Lords that did expect it。 By the way； he tells me that of all the great men of England there is none that endeavours more to raise those that he takes into favour than my Lord Arlington； and that on that score he is much more to be made one's patron than my Lord Chancellor； who never did； nor never will do any thing； but for money。 Certain news of the Dutch being abroad on our coast with twenty…four great ships。 Met my Lady Newcastle going with her coaches and footmen all in velvet： herself （whom I never saw before）； as I have heard her often described （for all the town… talk is now…a…days of her extravagancies）； with her velvet…cap； her hair about her ears； many black patches； because of pimples about her mouth； naked…necked； without any thing about it； and a black just…au…corps。 She seemed to me a very comely woman： but I hope to see more of her on May…day。
28th。 To Deptford； and there I walked down the Yard； Shish and Cox with me； and discoursed about cleaning of the wet docke； and heard （which I had before） how； when the docke was made； a ship of near 500 tons was there found； a ship supposed of Queene Elizabeth's time； and well wrought； with a great deal of stone shot in her of eighteen inches diameter； which was shot then in use： and afterwards meeting with Captain Perriman and Mr。 Castle at Half…way Tree； they tell me of stone…shot of thirty…six inches diameter； which they shot out of mortar…pieces。
29th。 I hear that the Duke of Cambridge； the Duke of York's son； ＇James； second son to the Duke of York。 Born 1663； and created Duke of Cambridge that year。＇ is very sick； and my Lord Treasurer very bad of the stone； and hath been so some days。 Sir G。 Carteret tells me my Lord Arlington hath done like a gentleman by him in all things。 He says； if my Lord were here； he were the fittest man to be Lord Treasurer of any man in England； and he thinks it might be compassed； for he confesses that the King's matters do suffer through the inability of this man； who is likely to die； and he will propound him to the King。 It will remove him from his place at sea； and the King will have a good place to bestow。 He says to me； that he could wish when my Lord comes that he would think fit to forbear playing as a thing below him； and which will lessen him； as it do my Lord St。 Albans； in the King's esteem： and as a great secret tells me that he hath made a match for my Lord Hinchingbroke to a daughter of my Lord Burlington's； ＇Richard Boyle second Earl of Cork； created Earl of Burlington； 1663。＇ where there is great alliance； 10；000l。 portion； a civil family； and relation to my Lord Chancellor； whose son hath married one of the daughters： and that my Lord Chancellor do take it with very great kindness； so that he do hold himself obliged by it。 My Lord Sandwich hath referred it to my Lord Crewe； Sir G。 Carteret； and Mr。 Montagu； to end it。 My Lord Hinchingbroke and the ladies know nothing yet of it。 It will； I think； be very happy。
30th； I met with Mr。 Pierce； and he tells me the Duke of Cambridge is very ill and full of spots about his body； that Dr。 Frazier knows not what to think of it。
MAY 1。 1667。 To Westminster； in the way meeting many milk…maids with their garlands upon their pails； dancing with a fiddler before them； and saw pretty Nelly ＇Nell Gwynne。＇ standing at her lodgings' door in Drury…lane in her smock sleeves and bodice； looking upon one： she seemed a mighty pretty creature。 My Lord Crewe walked with me； giving me an account of the meeting of the Commissioners for Accounts； whereof he is one。 How some of the gentlemen； Garraway； Littleton； and others； did scruple at their first coming there； being called thither to act； as Members of Parliament； which they could not do by any authority but that of the Parliament； and therefore desired the King's direction in it； which was sent for by my Lord Bridgewater； who brought answer； very short； that the King expected they should obey his Commission。 Then they went on and observed upon a power to be given them of administering and framing an oath； which they thought they could not do by any power but Act of Parliament； and the whole Commission did think fit to have the Judges' opinion in it； and so drawing up their scruples in writing they all attended the King； who told them he would send to the Judges to be answered； and did so； who have； my Lord tells me； met three times about it； not knowing what answer to give it： and they have met this week； doing nothing but expecting the solution of the Judges in this point。 My Lord tells me he do believe this Commission will do more hurt than good： it may undo some accounts； if these men shall think fit； but it can never clear an account； for he must come into the Exchequer for all this。 Besides； it is a kind of inquisition that hath seldom ever been granted in England： and he believes it will never； besides； give any satisfaction to the People or Parliament； but be looked upon as a forced； packed business of the King； especially if these Parliament…men that are of it shall not concur with them； which he doubts they will not； and therefore wishes much that the King would lay hold of this fit occasion and let the Commission fall。 Then to talk of my Lord Sandwich； whom my Lord Crewe hath a great desire might get to be Lord Treasurer if the present Lord should die； as it is believed he will in a little time； and thinks he can have no competitor but my Lord Arlington； who； it is given out； desires it： but my Lord thinks not； for that the being Secretary do keep him a greater interest with the King than the other would do； at least do believe that if my Lord would surrender him his Wardrobe place； it would be a temptation to Arlington to assist my Lord in getting the Treasurer's。 I did object to my Lord that it would be no place of content； nor safety； nor honour for my Lord； the State being so indigent as it is； and the King so irregular； and those about him； that my Lord must be forced to part with any thing to answer his warrants； and that； therefore； I do believe the King had rather have a man that may be one of his vicious caball； than a sober man that will mind the publick； that so they may sit at cards and dispose of the revenue of the kingdom。 This my Lord was moved at； and said he did not indeed know how to answer it； and bid me think of it； and so said he himself would also do。 He do mightily cry out of the bad management of our monies； the King having had so much given him； and yet when the Parliament do find that the King should have 900；000l。 in his purse by the best account of issues they have yet seen； yet we should report in the Navy a debt due from the King of 900；000l。： which I did confess I doubted was true in the first； and knew to be true in the last； and did believe that there was some great miscarriages in it： which he owned to believe also； saying； that at this rate it is not in the power of the kingdom to make a war； nor answer the King's wants。 Thence away to the King's playhouse； and saw 〃Love in a Maze：〃 ＇Downes mentions this play； which was never printed； nor is the author known。＇ but a sorry play； only Lacy's clowne's part； which he did most admirably indeed； and I am glad to find the rogue at liberty again。 Here was but little； and that ordinary company。 We sat at the upper bench next the boxes； and I find it do pretty well； and have the advantage of seeing and hearing the great people； which may be pleasant when there is good store。 Now was only Prince Rupert and my Lord Lauderdale； and my Lord ； ＇Probaby Craven。＇ the naming of whom puts me in mind of my seeing at Sir Robert Viner's two or three great silver flagons； made with inscriptions as gifts of the King to such and such persons of quality as did stay in town the late great plague； for the keeping things in order in the town。 Thence Sir W。 Pen and I in his coach Tiburne way into the Park； where a horrid dust； and number of coache