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！
being seized on by his creditors among his other goods after his death； Cooper himself says that he did buy it and give 25l。 out of his purse for it； for what he was to have had but 30l。 To White Hall and Westminster； where I find the Parliament still bogling about the raising of this money。 And every body's mouth full now； and Mr。 Wren himself tells me that the Duke of York declares to go to sea himself this year； and I perceive it is only on this occasion of distaste of the Parliament against W。 Pen's going； and to prevent the Prince's： but I think it is mighty hot counsel for the Duke of York at this time to go out of the way； but； Lord！ what pass are all our matters come to！ At noon by appointment to Cursitor's…alley in Chancery…lane； to meet Captain Cocke and some other creditors the Navy； and their Counsel （Pemberton； North； Offly； and Charles Porter）； and there dined and talked of the business of the assignments on the Exchequer of the 1；250；000l。 on behalf of our creditors； and there I do perceive that the Counsel had heard of my performance in the Parliament…house lately； and did value me and what I said accordingly。 At dinner we had a great deal of good discourse about Parliament； their number being uncertain； and always at the will of the King to encrease as he saw reason to erect a new borough。 But all concluded that the bane of the Parliament hath been the leaving off the old custom of the places allowing wages to those that served them in Parliament； by which they chose men that understood their business and would attend it； and they could expect an account from； which now they cannot： and so the Parliament is become a company of men unable to give account for the interest of the place they serve for。 Thence； the meeting of the Counsel with the King's Counsel this afternoon being put off by reason of the death of Serjeant Maynard's lady； ＇John Maynard； an eminent lawyer； made Serjeant to Cromwell in 1653； and afterwards King's Serjeant by Charles II。； who knighted him； In 1663 he was chosen Member for Berealston； and sat in every Parliament till the Revolution。 Ob。 1690； aged 88。＇ I to White Hall； where the Parliament was to wait on the King； and they did： and he did think fit to tell them that they might expect to be adjourned at Whitsuntide； and that they might make haste to raise their money； but this； I fear； will displease them； who did expect to sit as long as they pleased。
APRIL 2； 1668。 With Lord Brouncker to the Royall Society； where they had just done； but there I was forced to subscribe to the building of a college； and did give 40l。； and several others did subscribe； some greater and some less sums； but several I saw hang off： and I doubt it will spoil the Society； for it breeds faction and ill…will； and becomes burdensome to some that cannot or would not do it。
3rd。 As soon as we had done with the Duke of York we did attend the Council； and were there called in； and did hear Mr。 Sollicitor make his report to the Council in the business of a complaint against us； for having prepared certificates on the Exchequer for the further sum of 50；000l。； which he did in a most excellent manner of words； but most cruelly severe against us； and so were some of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury； as men guilty of a practice with the tradesmen； to the King's prejudice。 I was unwilling to enter into a contest with them； but took advantage of two or three words last spoke； and brought it to a short issue in good words； that if we had the King's order to hold our hands； we would； which did end the matter： and they all resolved we should have it； and so it ended。 And so we away； I vexed that I did not speak more in a cause so fit to be spoke in； and wherein we had so much advantage； but perhaps I might have provoked the Sollicitor and the Commissioners of the Treasury； and therefore since I am not sorry that I forebore。 This day I hear that Prince Rupert and Holmes do go to sea： and by this there is a seeming friendship and peace among our great seamen； but the devil a bit there is any love among them； or can be。
4th； I did attend the Duke of York； and he did carry us to the King's lodgings： but he was asleep in his closet； so we stayed in the green…roome； where the Duke of York did tell us what rules he had of knowing the weather； and did now tell us we should have rain before to…morrow （it having been a dry season for some time）； and so it did rain all night almost； and pretty rules he hath； and told Brouncker and me some of them； which were such as no reason can readily be given for them。 By and by the King comes out： and then to talk of other things； about the Quakers not swearing； and how they do swear in the business of a late election of a Knight of the Shire of Hartfordshire in behalf of one they have a mind to have； and how my Lord of Pembroke says he hath heard the Quaker at the tennis…court swear to himself when he loses； and told us what pretty notions my Lord Pembroke hath of the first chapter of Genesis； and a great deal of such fooleries； which the King made mighty mockery at。
5th。 I hear that eight of the ringleaders in the late tumults of the prentices at Easter are condemned to die。
6th。 The King and Duke of York themselves in my absence did call for some of the Commissioners of the Treasury and give them directions about the business of the certificates； which I； despairing to do any thing on a Sunday； and not thinking that they would think of it themselves； did rest satisfied with； and stayed at home all yesterday； leaving it to do something in this day： but I find that the King and Duke of York had been so pressing in it； that my Lord Ashly was more forward with the doing of it this day than I could have been。 And so I to White Hall with Alderman Backewell in his coach； with Mr。 Blany； my Lord's Secretary； and there did draw up a rough draught of what order I would have； and did carry it in； and had it read twice and approved of before my Lord Ashly and three more of the Commissioners of the Treasury； and then went up to the Council… chamber； where the Duke of York and Prince Rupert； and the rest of the Committee of the Navy； were sitting： and I did get some of them to read it there； and they would have had it passed presently； but Sir John Nichollas desired they would first have it approved by a full council； and therefore a Council Extraordinary was readily summoned against the afternoon； and； the Duke of York run presently to the King； as if now they were really set to mind their business； which God grant！ Mr。 Montagu did tell me how Mr。 Vaughan in that very room did say that I was a great man； and had great understanding； and I know not what； which； I confess； I was a little proud of； if I may believe him。 Here I do hear as a great secret that the King； and Duke of York and Duchesse； and my lady Castlemaine； are now all agreed in a strict league； and all things like to go very current； and that it is not impossible to have my Lord Clarendon in time here again。 But I do hear that my Lady Castlemaine is horribly vexed at the late libell； the petition of the poor prostitutes about the town whose houses were pulled down the other day。 I have got one of them； and it is not very witty； but devilish severe against her and the King： and I wonder how it durst be printed and spread abroad； which shows that the times are loose； and come to a great disregard of the King； or Court； or Govermment。 To the Park； and then to the House； and there at the door eat and drank； whither came my Lady Kerneagy ＇Carnegie。＇ of whom Creed tells me more particulars： how her Lord； finding her and the Duke of York at the King's first coming in； too kind； did get it out of her that he did dishonour him； and did take the most pernicious and full piece of revenge that ever I heard of； and he at this day owns it with great glory； and looks upon the Duke of York and the world with great content in the ampleness of his revenge。 ＇VIDE Memoires de Grammont。＇ This day in the afternoon； stepping with the Duke of York into St。 James's Park； it rained； and I was forced to lend the Duke of York my cloak； which he wore through the Park。
7th。 To the King's playhouse； and there saw 〃The Engl