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he Navy； and giving me good words； did fall foul of the constitution； and did then discover his thoughts； that Sir J。 Minnes was too old； and so was Colonell Middleton； and that my Lord Brouncker did mind his mathematics too much。 I did not give much encouragement to that of finding fault with my fellow…officers； but did stand up for the constitution； and did say that what faults there were in our office would be found not to arise from the constitution； but from the failures of the officers in whose hands it was。 This he did seem to give good ear to； but did give me of myself very good words； which pleased me well； though I shall not build upon them any thing。 Thence home； and after dinner by water with Tom down to Greenwich； he reading to me all the way coming and going my collections out of the Duke of York's old manuscript of the Navy； which I have bound up； and do please me mightily。 At Greenwich I came to Captain Cocke's； where the house full of company at the burial of James Temple； who it seems hath been dead these five days。 Here I had a very good ring； which I did give my wife as soon as I came home。 I spent my time there walking in the garden talking with James Pierce； who tells me that he is certain that the Duke of Buckingham had been with his wenches all the time that he was absent； which was all the last week； nobody knowing where he was。 The great talk is of the King's being hot of late against Conventicles； and to see whether the Duke of Buckingham's being returned will turn the King； which will make him very popular； and some think it is his plot to make King thus； to show his power in the making him change his mind。 But Pierce did tell me that the King did certainly say； that he that took one stone from the Church did take two from his Crown。 By and by the corpse came out； and I with Sir Richard Browne and Mr。 Evelyn in their coach to the church； where Mr。 Plume preached。 ＇Thomas Plume； D。D。； Vicar of Greenwich 1662； and installed Archdeacon of Rochester 1679。 Ob； 1704。＇
30th。 Up； and to Sir W。 Coventry； to see and discourse with him； and he tells me that he hath lately been with my Lord Keeper； and had much discourse about the Navy： and particularly he tells me that he finds they are divided touching me and my Lord Brouncker； some are for removing； and some for keeping us。 He told my Lord Keeper that it should cost the King 10；000l。 before he had made another as fit to serve him in the Navy as I am； which though I believe it is true； yet I am much pleased to have that character given me by Sir W。 Coventry； whatever be the success of it。 But I perceive they do think that I know too much； and shall impose upon whomever shall come next； and therefore must be removed； though he tells me that Sir T。 Clifford is inclined well enough to me； and Sir T。 Osborne； by what I have lately done； I suppose。 This news is but what I ought not to be much troubled for； considering my incapacity； in regard to my eyes； to continue long at this work。
31st。 Up； and by water to Sir W。 Coventry's； there to talk with him about business of the Navy； and received from him direction what to advise the Duke of York at this time； which was to submit and give way to the King's naming a man or two that the people about him have a mind should be brought into the Navy； and perhaps that may stop their fury in running further against the whole： and this； he believes； will do it。 After much discourse with him； I walked out with him into St。 James's Park； where； being afraid to be seen with him； （he having not leave yet to kiss the King's hand； but notice taken； as I hear； of all that go to him；） I did take the pretence of my attending the Tangier Committee to take my leave； though to serve him I should； I think； stick at nothing。 At the Committee this morning my Lord Middleton declares at last his being ready to go； as soon as ever money can be made ready to pay the garrison： and so I have orders to get money； but how soon I know not。 Thence to Dancre's； and there saw our pictures which are in doing： and I did choose a view of Rome instead of Hampton Court； and mightily pleased I shall be in them。 Here were Sir Charles Cotterell and his son bespeaking something： both ingenious men； I hear。 Thence my wife and I to the Park； and pretty store of company； and so home with great content。 And so ends the month； my mind in pretty good content for all things but the designs on foot to bring alterations in the office； which trouble me。
APRIL 1。 1669。 Up； and with Colonell Middleton （at the desire of Rear…Admiral Kempthorne the president； for our assisting them） to the Court…Martiall on board a yacht in the River here to try the business of the purser's complaints； （Baker against Trevanion； his commander； of 〃The Dartmouth。〃） But； Lord！ to see what wretched doings there were among all the commanders to ruin the purser； and defend the captain in all his rogueries； be it to the prejudice of the King or purser； no good man could bear！ I confess I was pretty high； which the young gentlemen commanders did not like： and Middleton did the same。 But could not bring it to any issue this day； sitting till two o'clock； and therefore we； being sent for； went to Sir W。 Pen's by invitation to dine。 At my cosen Turner's； and there we staid awhile and talked： and particularly here we met with Dr。 Ball； the parson of the Temple； who did tell me a great many pretty stories about the manner of the parsons being paid for their preaching at Paul's heretofore and now； and the ground of the lecture； and heretofore for the names of the founders thereof； which were many； at some 5s。 some 8s。 per annum towards it： and had their names read in the pulpit every sermon among those holy persons that the Church do order a collect for giving God thanks for。
2nd。 To White Hall； and there to the Duke of York's lodgings； whither he； by and by； by his appointment came： and alone with him an hour in his closet； telling him mine and Sir W。 Coventry's advice touching the present posture of the Navy； as the Duke of Buckingham and the rest do now labour to make changes therein； and that it were best for him to suffer the King to be satisfied with the bringing in of a man or two whom they desire。 I did also give the Duke of York a short account of the history of the Navy as to our office； wherewith he was very well satisfied： but I do find that he is pretty stiff against their bringing in of men against his mind； as the Treasurers were； and particularly against Child's coming in； because he is a merchant。 After much discourse with him we parted： and the Council sat while I staid waiting for his telling me when I should be ready to give him a written account of the administration of the Navy； which caused me to wait the whole afternoon； till night。 In the mean time； stepping to the Duchesse of York's side to speak with Lady Peterborough； I did see the young Duchesse； a little child in hanging sleeves； dance most finely； so as almost to ravish me； her ears were so good。 Taught by a Frenchman that did heretofore teach the King； and all the King's children； and the Queene… Mother herself； who do still dance well。
3rd。 Up； and to the Council of War again with Middleton： but the proceedings of the commanders so devilishly bad； and so professedly partial to the captain； that I could endure it no longer； but took occasion to pretend business at the office； and away； and Colonell Middleton with me； who was of the same mind； and resolved to declare our minds freely to the Duke of York about it。
4th。 After dinner with Sir J。 Minnes and T。 Middleton to White Hall； by appointment； and at my Lord Arlington's the office did attend the King and caball； to discourse of the further quantity of victuals fit to be declared for； which was 2000 men for six months； and so without more ado or stay there； hearing no news but that Sir Thomas Allen is to be expected every hour at home with his fleet； or news of his being gone back to Algier。 The Queene…Mother hath been of late mighty ill； and some fears of her death。
5th。 Went five or six miles towards Branford； where the Prince of Tuscany； ＇Cosmo de' Medici； who succeeded his father Ferdinand in the Dukedom of Tusca