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!
ght from one's eyes; but hath got it done in silver very neat; and designs to give it me in thanks for my paying him his 100l。 in money for his service at Tangier; which was ordered him; but I do intend to force him to make me pay for it。 But I yet; without his direction; cannot tell how it is to be made use of。
29th。 To the Duke of York; where I did give a severe account of our proceedings; and what we found in the business of Sir W。 Jenings's demand of supernumeraries。 I thought it a good occasion to make an example of him; for he is a proud idle fellow; and it did meet with the Duke of York's acceptance and well…liking; and he did call him in after I had done; and did not only give him a soft rebuke; but condemns him to pay both their victuals and wages; or right himself of the purser。 This I was glad of; and so were all the rest of us; though I know I have made myself an immortal enemy by it。
31st (Lord's day)。 To church and there did hear the Doctor that is lately turned Divine; Dr。 Waterhouse。 He preaches in a devout manner; not elegant nor very persuasive; but seems to mean well; and that he would preach holily; and was mighty passionate against people that make a scoff of religion。
1668…69。 FEBRUARY 1。 Meeting Mr。 Povy; he and I away to Dancre's to speak something touching the pictures I am getting him to make for me; And thence he carried me to Mr。 Streeter's 'Robert Streater appointed Serjeant Painter at the Restoration。 Ob。 1680。' the famous history…painter over the way; whom I have often heard of; but did never see him before; and there I found him and Dr。 Wren and several virtuosos looking upon the paintings which he is making for the new Theatre at Oxford: and indeed they look as if they would be very fine; and the rest think better than those of Rubens in the Banqueting house: at White Hall; but I do not so fully think so。 But they will certainly be very noble; and I am mightily pleased to have the fortune to see this man and his work; which is very famous。 And he a very civil little man; and lame; but lives very handsomely。 So thence to my Lord Bellasses; and met him within: my business only to see a chimney…piece of Dancres doing in distemper; with egg to keep off the glaring of the light; which I must have done for my room: and indeed it is pretty; but I must confess I do think it is not altogether so beautiful as the oyle pictures; but I will have some of one and some of another。 So to the King's playhouse; thinking to have seen。 〃The Heyresse;〃 first acted on Saturday last: but when we come thither we find no play there; Kinaston; that did act a part therein in abuse to Sir Charles Sedley; being last night exceedingly beaten with sticks by two or three that saluted him; so as he is mightily bruised and forced to keep his bed。
2nd。 To dinner at noon; where I find Mr。 Sheres; and there made a short dinner; and carried him with us to the King's playhouse; where 〃The Heyresse;〃 notwithstanding Kinaston's being beaten; is acted: and they say the King is very angry with Sir Charles Sedley for his being beaten; but he do deny it。 But his part is done by Beeston; who is fain to read it out of a book all the while; and thereby spoils the part; and almost the play; it being one of the best parts in it: and though the design is in the first conception of it pretty good; yet it is but an indifferent play; wrote; they say; by my Lord Newcastle。 '〃The Heiress〃 does not appear in the list of the Duke of Newcastle's works; nor can I find any mention of it elsewhere。' But it was pleasant to see Beeston come in with others; supposing it to be dark; and yet he is forced to read his part by the light of the candles: and this I observing to a gentleman that sat by me; he was mightily pleased therewith; and spread it up and down。 But that that pleased me most in the play is the first song that Knipp sings (she singing three or four); and indeed it was very finely sung; so as to make the whole house clap her。
5th。 Betimes to Sir W。 Coventry's; meaning by my visit to keep fresh my interest in him。 And he tells me how it hath been talked that he was to go one of the Commissioners to Ireland; which he was resolved never to do unless directly commanded: for that to go thither while the Chief Secretary of State was his professed enemy; was to undo himself; and therefore it were better for him to venture being unhappy here; than to go further off to be undone by some obscure instructions; or whatever other way of mischief his enemy should cut out for him。 He mighty kind to me; and so parted。
6th。 To the King's playhouse; and there in an upper box (where come in Colonell Poynton and Moll Stacey; who is very fine; and by her wedding…ring I suppose he hath married her at last;) did see 〃The Moor of Venice:〃 but ill acted in most parts; Moone (which did a little surprise me) not acting Iago's part by much so well as Clun used to do: nor another Hart's; which was Cassio's; nor indeed Burt doing the Moor's so well as I once thought he did。 Thence home; and just at Holborne…conduit the bolt broke that holds the fore…wheels to the perch; and so the horses went away with them and left the coachman and us: but being near our coach…maker's; and we staying in a little ironmonger's shop; we were presently supplied with another。
8th。 To visit my Lord Sandwich; and there; while my Lord was dressing himself; did see a young Spaniard that he hath brought over with him dance; which he is admired for as the best dancer in Spain; and indeed he do with mighty mastery; but I do not like his dancing as well as the English; though my Lord commends it mightily。 But I will have him to my house; and show it my wife; Here I met with Mr。 Moore; who tells me the state of my Lord's accounts of his embassy; which I find not so good as I thought: for though it be passed the King and his Caball the (Committee for Foreign Affairs; as they are called;) yet they have cut off from 19;000l。 full 8000l。 and have now sent it to the Lords of the Treasury; who; though the Committee have allowed the rest; yet they are not obliged to abide by it。 So that I do fear this account may yet be long ere it be passed;much more ere that sum be paid。 I am sorry for the family。
9th。 To the King's playhouse; and there saw 〃The Island Princesse;〃 which I like mighty well as an excellent play: and here we find Kinaston to be well enough to act again; which he do very well; after his beating by Sir Charles Sedley's appointment。
10th。 To the plaisterer's at Charing Cross that casts heads and bodies in plaister; and there I had my whole face done; but I was vexed first to be forced to daub all my face over with pomatum。 Thus was the mold made; but when it came off there was little pleasure in it as it looks in the mold; nor any resemblance whatever there will be in the figure when I come to see it cast off。 To White Hall; where I staid till the Duke of York came from hunting; which he did by and by; and when dressed did come out to dinner; and there I waited。 And he did mightly magnify his sauce; which he did then eat with every thing; and said it was the best universal sauce in the world; it being taught him by the Spanish Embassador; made of some parsley and a dry toast; beat in a mortar together with vinegar; salt; and a little pepper: he eats it with flesh; or fowl; or fish。 And then he did now mightily commend some new sort of wine lately found out; called Navarr wine; which I tasted; and is; I think; good wine: but I did like better the notion of the sauce; and by and by did taste it; and liked it mightily。 After dinner I did what I went for; which was to get his consent that Balty might hold his Muster…master's place by deputy in his new employment which I design for him; about the Store…keeper's accounts; which the Duke of York did grant me; and I was mightily glad of it。
12th。 To wait on the Duke of York with the rest of us at the Robes; where the Duke of York did tell us that the King would have us prepare a draught of the present administration of the Navy; and what it was in the late times; in order to his being able to distinguish between the good and the bad; which I shall do; but to do it well will give me a great deal of tro