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Hampton Court； where the Queene hath used her very civilly； and my lady tells me is a most pretty woman。 Yesterday （Sir R。 Ford told me） the aldermen of the City did attend her in their habits； and did present her with a gold cupp and 1000l。 in gold therein。 But； he told me； that they are so poor in their Chamber； that they were fain to call two or three aldermen to raise fines to make up this sum。
4th。 Povy ＇Thomas Povy； M。P。 for Bosiney； 1658 and Treasurer for Tangier。 Evelyn mentions his house in Lincoln's Inn…fields； and he appears； from an ancient plan of Whitehall Palace； to have had apartments there。＇ and Sir W。 Batten and I by water to Woolwich； and there saw an experiment made of Sir R。 Ford's Holland's yarne； （about which we have lately had so much stir； and I have much concerned myself for our rope…maker； Mr。 Hughes； who represented it so bad；） and we found it to be very bad； and broke sooner than； upon a fair triall； five threads of that against four of Riga yarne； and also that some of it had old stuffe that had been tarred； covered over with new hempe； which is such a cheat as hath not been heard of。
7th。 To the office。 I find Mr。 Coventry is resolved to do much good； and to enquire into all the miscarriages of the office。 At noon with him and Sir W。 Batten to dinner at Trinity House； where； among others； Sir J。 Robinson； Lieutenant of the Tower； was； who says that yesterday Sir H。 Vane had a full hearing at the King's Bench； and is found guilty； and that he did never hear any man argue more simply than he in all his life； and so others say。 Sent for to Sir G。 Carteret's。 I perceive； as； he told me； were it not that Mr。 Coventry had already feathered his nest in selling of places； he do like him very well； and hopes great good from him。 But he complains so of lack of money； that my heart is very sad； under the apprehension of the fall of the office。
10th。 All the morning much business； and great hopes of bringing things； by Mr。 Coventry's means； to a good condition in the office。
12th。 I tried on my riding cloth suit with close knees； the first that ever I had； and I think they will be very convenient。 At the office all the morning。 Among other businesses； I did get a vote signed by all； concerning my issuing of warrants； which they did not smell the use I intend to make of it； but it is to plead for my clerks to have their right of giving out all the warrants。 A great difference happened between Sir G。 Carteret and Mr。 Coventry； about passing the Victualler's account； and whether Sir George is to pay the Victualler his money； or the Exchequer； Sir George claiming it to be his place to save his three…pences。 It ended in anger； and I believe will come to be a question before the King and Council。
13th。 Up by 4 o'clock in the morning； and read Cicero's Second Oration against Cataline； which pleased me exceedingly： and more I discern therein than ever I thought was to be found in him； but I perceive it was my ignorance； and that he is as good a writer as ever I read in my life。 By and by to Sir G。 Carteret's； to talk with him about yesterday's difference at the office； and offered my service to look into my old books or papers that I have； that may make for him。 He was well pleased therewith； and did much inveigh against Mr。 Coventry； telling me how he had done him service in the Parliament； when Prin had drawn up things against him for taking of money for places； that he did at his desire； and upon his letters； keep him off from doing it。 And many other things he told me； as how the King was beholden to him； and in what a miserable condition his family would be； if he should die before he hath cleared his accounts。 Upon the whole； I do find that he do much esteem of me； and is my friend。
14th。 About 11 o'clock； having a room got ready for us； we all went out to the Tower…hill； and there； over against the scaffold； made on purpose this day； saw Sis Henry Vane brought。 A very great press of people。 He made a long speech； many times interrupted by the Sheriffe and others there； and they would have taken his paper out of his hand； but he would not let it go。 But they caused all the books of those that writ after him to be given the Sheriffe； and the trumpets were brought under the scaffold that he might not be heard。 Then he prayed； and so fitted himself； and received the blow； but the scaffold was so crowded that we could not see it done。 But Boreman； who had been upon the scaffold； told us； that first he began to speak of the irregular proceeding against him； that he was； against Magna Charta； denied to have his exceptions against the indictment allowed； and that there he was stopped by the Sheriffe。 Then he drew out his paper of notes； and begun to tell them first his life； that he was born a gentleman； he had been； till he was seventeen years old； a good fellow； but then it pleased God to lay a foundation of grace in his heart； by which he was persuaded； against his worldly interest； to leave all preferment and go abroad； where he might serve God with more freedom。 Then he was called home； and made a member of the Long Parliament； where he never did； to this day； any thing against his conscience； but all for the glory of God。 Here he would have given them an account of the proceedings of the Long Parliament； but they so often interrupted him； that at last he was forced to give over： and so fell into prayer for England in generall； then for the churches in England； and then for the City of London： and so fitted himself for the block； and received the blow。 He had a blister； or issue； upon his neck； which he desired them not to hurt： he changed not his colour or speech to the last； but died justifying himself and the cause he had stood for； and spoke very confidently of his being presently at the right hand of Christ； and in all things appeared the most resolved man that ever died in that manner； and showed more of heate than cowardize； but yet with all humility and gravity。 One asked him why he did not pray for the King。 He answered； 〃You shall see I can pray for the King： I pray God bless him！〃 The King had given his body to his friends； and； therefore； he told them that he hoped they would be civil to his body when dead； and desired they would let him die like a gentleman and a Christian； and not crowded and pressed as he was。 So to the office a little； and to the Trinity…house； and there all of us to dinner； and to the office again all the afternoon till night。 This day； I hear； my Lord Peterborough is come unexpected from Tangier； to give the King an account of the place； which； we fear； is in none of the best condition。 We had also certain news to…day that the Spaniard is before Lisbone with thirteen sayle； six Dutch； and the rest his own ships； which will； I fear； be ill for Portugall。 I writ a letter of all this day's proceedings to my Lord； at Hinchingbroke。
18th。 Up early； and after reading a little in Cicero； to my office。 To my Lord Crewe's and dined with him； where I hear the courage of Sir H。 Vane at his death is talked on every where as a miracle。 I walked to Lilly's； the painter's； ＇Peter Lely； the celebrated painter； afterwards knighted。 Ob。 1680。＇ where I saw among other rare things； the Duchesse of York； her whole body； sitting in state in a chair； in white sattin； and another of the King's； that is not finished； most rare things。 I did give the fellow something that showed them us； and promised to come some other time； and he would show me Lady Castlemaine's； which I could not then see； it being locked up！ Thence to Wright's； the painter's： ＇Michael Wright； a native of Scotland； and portrait… painter of some note； settled in London。＇ but； Lord！ the difference that is between their two works。
20th。 Drew up the agreement between the King and Sir John Winter ＇Secretary and Chancellor to the Queen Dowager。＇ about the Forrest of Deane； and having done it； he come himself； （I did not know him to be the Queene's Secretary before； but observed him to be a man of fine parts）； and we read it； and both liked it well； That done； I turned to the Forrest of Deane； in Speede's Mapps； and there he showed me how it lies； and the Sea…bayly； with th