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the diary of samuel pepys-第166章
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g undone; there being nothing in our power to do that is necessary for the saving us: a lazy Prince; no Council; no money; no reputation at home or abroad。 He says that to this day the King do follow the women as much as ever he did; that the Duke of York hath not got Mrs。 Middleton; as I was told the other day: but says that he wants not her; for he hath others; and hath always had; and that he hath known them brought through the Matted Gallery at White Hall into his closet; nay; he hath come out of his wife's bed; and gone to others laid in bed for him: that Mr。 Brouncker is not the only pimp; but that the whole family are of the same strain; and will do any thing to please him: that; besides the death of the two Princes lately; the family is in horrible disorder by being in debt by spending above 60;000l。 per annum; when he hath not 40;000l。: that the Duchesse is not only the proudest woman in the world; but the most expensefull; and that the Duke of York's marriage with her hath undone the kingdom; by making the Chancellor so great above reach; who otherwise would have been but an ordinary man to have been dealt with by other people; and he would have been careful of managing things well; for fear of being called to account; whereas now he is secure; and hath let things run to rack; as they now appear。 That at a certain time Mr。 Povy did carry him an account of the state of the Duke of York's estate; showing in faithfullness how he spent more than his estate would bear; by above 20;000l。 per annum; and asked my Lord's opinion of it; to which he answered; that no man that loved the King or kingdom durst own the writing of that paper: at which Povy was started; and reckoned himself undone for this good service; and found it necessary then to show it to the Duke of York's Commissioners; who read; examined; and approved of it; so as to cause it to be put into form; and signed it; and gave it to the Duke。 Now the end of the Chancellor was; for fear that his daughter's ill housewifery should be condemned。 He tells me that the other day; upon this ill news of the Dutch being upon us; White Hall was shut up; and the Council called and sat close; (and; by the way he do assure me; from the mouth of some Privy… councillors; that at this day the Privy…council in general do know no more what the state of the kingdom as to peace and war is; than he or I; nor who manages it; nor upon whom it depends;) and there my Lord Chancellor did make a speech to them; saying that they knew well that he was no friend to the war from the beginning; and therefore had concerned himself little in; nor could say much to it; and a great deal of that kind to discharge himself of the fault of the war。 Upon which my Lord Anglesy rose up and told his Majesty that he thought their coming now together was not to enquire who was or was not the cause of the war; but to enquire what was or could be done in the business of making a peace; and in whose hands that was; and where it was stopped or forwarded; and went on very highly to have all made open to them: (and; by the way; I remember that Captain Cocke did the other day tell me that this Lord Anglesy hath said within few days; that he would willingly give 10;000l。 of his estate that he was well secured of the rest; such apprehensions he hath of the sequel of things; as giving all over for lost。) He tells me; (speaking of the horrid effeminacy of the King;) that the King hath taken ten times more care and pains in making friends between my Lady Castlemaine and Mrs。 Stewart; when they have fallen out; than ever he did to save his kingdom; nay; that upon any falling out between my Lady Castlemaine's nurse and her women; my Lady hath often said she would make the King to make them friends; and they would be friends and be quiet; which the King hath been fain to do: that the King is; at this day; every night in Hyde Park with the Duchesse of Monmouth; or with my Lady Castlemaine: that he is concerned of late by my Lord Arlington in the looking after some buildings that he is about in Norfolke; 'At Euston Hall in Suffolk; on the borders of Norfolk。' where my Lord is laying out a great deal of money; and that he (Mr。 Povy;) considering the unsafeness of laying out money at such a time as this; and; besides; the enviousness of the particular county as well as all the kingdom to find him building and employing workmen; while all the ordinary people of the country are carried down to the sea… sides for securing the land; he thought it becoming him to go to my Lord Arlington (Sir Thomas Clifford by) and give it as his advice to hold his hands a little; but my Lord would not; but would have him go on; and so Sir Thomas Clifford advised also; which one would think (if he were a statesman) should be a sign of his foreseeing that all shall do well。 He tells me that there is not so great confidence between any two men of power in the nation at this day; that he knows of; as between my Lord Arlington and Sir Thomas Clifford; and that it arises by accident only; there being no relation nor acquaintance between them; but only Sir Thomas Clifford's coming to him and applying himself to him for favours; when he came first up to town to be a Parliament…man。
25th。 Up; and with Sir W。 Pen in his new chariot (which indeed is plain; but pretty and more fashionable in shape than any coach he hath; and yet do not cost him; harness and all; above 32l。) to White Hall; where staid a very little: and thence to St。 James's to Sir W。 Coventry; whom I have not seen since before the coming of the Dutch into the River; nor did indeed know how well to go to see him; for shame either to him or me; or both of us; to find ourselves in so much misery。 I find that he and his fellow… Treasurers are in the utmost want of money; and do find fault with Sir G。 Carteret; that having kept the mystery of borrowing money to himself so long; (to the ruin of the nation; as Sir W。 Coventry said in words to Sir W。 Pen and me;) he should now lay it aside and come to them for money for every penny he hath; declaring that he can raise no more: which; I confess do appear to me the most like ill…will of any thing that I have observed of Sir W。 Coventry; when he himself did tell us on another occasion at the same time; that the bankers who used to furnish them money are not able to lend a farthing; and he knows well enough that that was all the mystery Sir G。 Carteret did use; that is; only his credit with them。 He told us the masters and owners of two ships that I had complained of; for not readily setting forth their ships which we had taken up to make men…of…war; had been yesterday with the King and Council; and had made their case so well understood; that the King did owe them for what they had earned the last year; and that they could not set them out again without some money or stores out of the King's Yard; the latter of which Sir W。 Coventry said must be done; for that they were not able to raise money for them; though it was but 200l。 a ship: which do show us our condition to be so bad; that I am in a total despair of ever having the nation do well。 After that talking awhile; and all out of heart with stories of want of seamen; and seamen's running away; and their demanding a month's advance; and our being forced to give seamen 3s。 a…day to go hence to work at Chatham; and other things that show nothing but destruction upon us; for it is certain that; as it now is; the seamen of England; in my conscience; would; if they could; go over and serve the King of France or Holland rather than us。 Up to the Duke of York to his chamber; where he seems to be pretty easy; and now and then merry; but yet one may perceive in all their minds there is something of trouble and care; and with good reason。 Thence to White Hall; with Sir W。 Pen; by chariot; and there in the Court met with my Lord Anglesy: and he to talk with Sir W。 Pen; and told him of the masters of ships being with the Council yesterday; and that we were not in condition; though the men were willing; to furnish them with 200l。 of money (already due to them as earned by them the last year) to enable them to set out their ships again this year for the King: which he is amazed at; and when I told
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