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ne； even to a miracle； so as their farmers can pay no rent； but do fling up their lands； and would pay in corne： but （which I did observe to my Lord； and he liked well of it） our gentry are grown so ignorant in every thing of good husbandry that they know not how to bestow this corne； which； did they understand but a little trade； they would be able to joyne together and know what markets there are abroad； and send it thither； and thereby ease their tenants and be able to pay themselves。 They did talk much of the disgrace the Archbishop is fallen under with the King； and the rest of the Bishops also。 Thence I after dinner to the Duke of York's playhouse； and there saw 〃Sir Martin Mar…all；〃 which I have seen so often； and yet am mightily pleased with it； and think it mighty witty； and the fullest of proper matter for mirth that； ever was writ； and I do clearly see that they do improve in their acting of it。 Here a mighty company of citizens； prentices； and others； and it makes me observe； that when I began first to be able to bestow a play on myself； I do not remember that I saw so many by half of the ordinary prentices and mean people in the pit at 2s。 6d。 a…piece as now； I going for several years no higher than the 12d。 and then the 18d。 places； though I strained hard to go in then when I did： so much the vanity and prodigality of the age is to be observed in this particular。 Thence I to White Hall； and there walked up and down the house a while； and do hear nothing of any thing done further in this business of the change of Privy…counsellors： only I hear that Sir G。 Savile； ＇Of Rufford； co。 Notts； Bart。； created Lord Savile of Eland； and Viscount Halifax； 1668； Earl of Halifax； 1679； and Marquis of Halifax； 1682。 Ob。 1695。＇ one of the Parliament Committee of nine for examining the Accounts； is by the King made a Lord； the Lord Halifax； which； I believe； will displease the Parliament。 By and by I met with Mr。 Brisband； and having it in my mind this Christmas to do （what I never can remember that I did） go to see the gaming at the groome…porters （I having in my coming from the playhouse stepped into the two Temple…halls； and there saw the dirty prentices and idle people playing； wherein I was mistaken； in thinking to have seen gentlemen of quality playing there）； he did lead me thither； where； after staying an hour； they began to play； at about eight at night。 And to see the formality of the groome…porter； who is their judge of all disputes in play and all quarrels that may arise therein； and how his under…officers are there to observe true play at each table； and to give new dice； is a consideration I never could have thought had been in the world； had I not now seen it。 And so I having enough for once； refusing to venture； though Brisband pressed me hard； went away。
2nd。 Attended the King and the Duke of York in the Duke of York's lodgings； with the rest of the officers and many of the commanders of the fleet； and some of our master shipwrights； to discourse the business of having the topmasts of ships made to lower abaft of the mainmast； a business I understand not； and so can give no good account； but I do see that by how much greater the Council and the number of counsellors is； the more confused the issue is of their councils； so that little was said to the purpose regularly； and but little use was made of it； they coming to a very broken conclusion upon it to make trial in a ship or two。 From this they fell to other talk about the fleet's fighting this late war； and how the King's ships have been shattered； though the King said that the world would not have it that above ten or twenty ships in any fight did do any service； and that this hath been told so to him himself by ignorant people。 The Prince； who was there； was mightily surprised at it； and seemed troubled； but the King told him that it was only discourse of the world。 But Mr。 Wren whispered me in the eare； and said that the Duke of Albemarle had put it into his Narrative for the House； that not above twenty…five ships fought in the engagement wherein he was； but that he was advised to leave it out； but this he did write from sea； I am sure； or words to that effect： and did displease many commanders； among others Captain Batts； who the Duke of York said was a very stout man； all the world knew； and that another was brought into his ship that； had been turned out of his place when he was a boatswain； not long before； for being a drunkard。 This the Prince ＇Rupert。＇ took notice of； and would have been angry； I think； but they let their discourse fall： but the Duke of York was earnest in it。 And the Prince said to me； standing by me； 〃If they will turn out every man that will be drunk； they must turn out all the commanders in the fleet。 What is the matter if he be drunk； so when he comes to fight he do his work？ At least； let him be punished for his drunkenness； and not put out of his command presently。〃 This he spoke very much concerned for this idle fellow； one Greene。 After this the King began to tell stories of the cowardice of the Spaniards in Flanders； when he was there； at the siege of Mardike and Dunkirke； which was very pretty； though he tells them but meanly。 To Westminster Hall； and there staid a little： and then home； and by the way did find with difficulty the Life of Sir Philip Sidney。 And the bookseller told me that he had sold four within this week or two； which is more than ever he sold in all his life of them； and he could not imagine what should be the reason of it： but I suppose it is from the same reason of people's observing of this part therein； touching his prophecying our present condition here in England in relation to the Dutch； which is very remarkable。 It is generally believed that France is endeavouring a firmer league with us than the former； in order to his going on with his business against Spain the next year； which I am； and so every body else is； I think； very glad of； for all our fear is of his invading us。 This day at White Hall I overheard Sir W。 Coventry propose to the King his ordering of some particular thing in the Wardrobe； which was of no great value； but yet； as much as it was； it was of profit to the King and saving to his purse。 The King answered to it with great indifferency； as a thing that it was no great matter whether it was done or no。 Sir W。 Coventry answered； 〃I see your Majesty do not remember the old English proverb； 'He that will not stoop for a pin； will never be worth a pound。'〃 And so they parted； the King bidding him do as he would； which； methought； was an answer not like a King that did intend ever to do well。
4th。 It seems worth remembering that this day I did hear my Lord Anglesy at the table； speaking touching this new Act for Accounts； say that the House of Lords did pass it because it was a senseless； impracticable； ineffectual； and foolish Act； and that my Lord Ashly having shown that it was so to the House of Lords； the Duke of Buckingham did stand up and told the Lords that they were beholden to my Lord Ashly； that having first commended them for a most grave and honourable assembly； he thought it fit for the House to pass this Act for Accounts because it was a foolish and simple Act； and it seems it was passed with but a few in the House； when it was intended to have met in a grand Committee upon it。 And it seems that in itself it is not to be practised till after this session of Parliament； by the very words of the Act； which nobody regarded； and therefore cannot come in force yet； unless the next meeting they do make a new Act for the bringing it into force sooner； which is a strange omission。 But I perceive my Lord Anglesy do make a mere laughing…stock of this act； as a thing that can do nothing considerable； for all its great noise。
5th。 The business of putting out of some of the Privy…council is over； the King being at last advised to forbear it； for whereas he did design it to make room for some of the House of Commons that are against him； thereby to gratify them； it is believed that it will but so much the more fret the rest that are not provided for； and raise a new stock of enemies by them that are displeased； and it goes for a pretty saying of my