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Bunn did look over their draught of a bridge for Tangier； which will be brought by my desire to our office by them to…morrow。 To Westminster Hall； and there walked long with Creed。 He showed me our commission； wherein the Duke of York； Prince Rupert； Duke of Albemarle； Lord Peterborough； Lord Sandwich； Sir G。 Carteret； Sir William Compton； Mr。 Coventry； Sir R。 Ford； Sir William Rider； Mr。 Cholmley； Mr。 Povy； myself； and Captain Cuttance； in this order are joyned for the carrying on the service of Tangier。 He told me what great faction there is at Court； and above all； what is whispered； that young Crofts is lawful son to the King； the King being married to his mother。 How true this is； God knows； but I believe the Duke of York will not be fooled in this of three crowns。 Thence to White Hall； and walked long in the gardens； till （as they are commanded to all strange persons；） one come to tell us； we not being known； and being observed to walk there four or five houres； （which was not true； unless they count my walking there in the morning；） he was commanded to ask who we were； which being told； he excused his question； and was satisfied。 These things speake great fear and jealousys。
29th。 Sir G。 Carteret； who had been at the examining most of the late people that are clapped up； do say that he do not think that there hath been any great plotting among them； though they have a good will to it； and their condition is so poor； and silly； and low； that they do not fear them at all。
30th。 To my Lord Sandwich； who was up in his chamber and all alone； and did acquaint me with his business； which was； that our old acquaintance Mr。 Wade； （in Axe Yard） hath discovered to him 7000l。 hid in the Tower； of which he was to have two for discovery； my Lord himself two； and the King the other three； when it was found： and that the King's warrant runs for me on my Lord's part； and one Mr。 Lee for Sir Harry Bennet； to demand leave of the Lieutenant of the Tower for to make search。 After he had told me the whole business； I took leave： and at noon； comes Mr。 Wade with my Lord's letter。 So we consulted for me to go first to Sir H。 Bennet； who is now with many of the Privy Counsellors at the Tower； examining of their late prisoners； to advise with him when to begin。 So I went； and the guard at the Tower Gate； making me leave my sword at the gate； I was forced to stay so long in the ale…house close by； till my boy run home for my cloak； that my Lord Mayor that now is； Sir John Robinson； Lieutenant of the Tower； with all his company； was gone with their coaches to his house in Minchen Lane。 So my cloak being come； I walked thither： and there； by Sir G。 Carteret's means； did presently speak with Sir H。 Bennet； who did give me the King's warrant； for the paying of 2000l。 to my Lord； and other two to the discoverers。 After a little discourse； dinner come in； and I dined with them。 There was my Lord Mayor； my Lord Lauderdale； Mr。 Secretary Morris； to whom Sir H。 Bennet would give the upper hand； Sir Wm。 Compton； Sir G。 Carteret； and myself； and some other company； and a brave dinner。 After dinner； Sir H。 Bennet did call aside the Lord Mayor and me； and did break the business to him； who did not； nor durst appear the least averse to it； but did promise all assistance forthwith to set upon it。 So Mr。 Lee and I to our office； and there walked till Mr。 Wade and one Evett his guide did come； and W。 Griffin； and a porter with his pick…axes； &c。： and so they walked along with us to the Tower； and Sir H。 Bennet and my Lord Mayor did give us full power to fall to work。 So our guide demands a candle； and down into the cellars he goes； enquiring whether they were the same that Baxter alway had。 He went into several little cellars； and then went out a…doors to view； and to the Cole Harbour； but none did answer so well to the marks which was given him to find it by； as one arched vault。 Where； after a great deal of council whether to set upon it now； or delay for better and more full advice； to digging we went till almost eight o'clock at night； but could find nothing。 But； however； our guides did not at all seem discouraged； for that they being confident that the money is there they look for； but having never been in the cellars； they could not be positive to the place； and therefore will inform themselves more fully now they have been there； of the party that do advise them。 So locking the door after us； we left here to…night； and up to the Deputy Governor； （my Lord Mayor； and Sir H。 Bennet； with the rest of the company being gone an hour before；） and he do undertake to keep the key of the cellars； that none shall go down without his privity。 But； Lord！ to see what a young simple fantastick coxcombe is made Deputy Governor； would make me mad； and how he called out for his night…gowne of silk； only to make a show to us： and yet for half an hour I did not think he was the Deputy Governor； and so spoke not to him about the business； but waited for another man； but at last I broke our business to him； and he promising his care； we parted。 And Mr。 Lee and I by coach to White Hall； where I did give my Lord Sandwich a full account； of our proceedings； and some encouragement to hope for something hereafter。 This morning； walking with Mr。 Coventry in the garden； he did tell me how Sir G。 Carteret had carried the business of the Victuallers' money to be paid by himself； contrary to old practice； at which he is angry I perceive； but I believe means no hurt； but that things may be done as they ought。 He expects Sir George should not bespatter him privately； in revenge； not openly。 Against which he prepares to bedaube him； and swears he will do it from the beginning； from Jersey to this day。 But as to his own taking of too large fees or rewards for places that he had sold； he will prove that he was directed to it by Sir George himself among others。 And yet he did not deny Sir G。 Carteret his due； in saying that he is a man that do take the most pains； and gives himself the most to do business of any about the Court； without any desire of pleasure or divertisements： which is very true。 But which pleased me mightily； he said in these words； that he was resolved； whatever it cost him； to make an experiment； and see whether it was possible for a man to keep himself up in Court by dealing plainly and walking uprightly。 In the doing whereof if his ground do slip from under him； he will be contented： but he is resolved to try； and never to baulke taking notice of anything that is to the King's prejudice； let it fall where it will； which is a most brave resolution。 He was very free with me： and by my troth； I do see more reall worth in him than in most men that I do know。 I would not forget two passages of Sir J。 Minnes's at yesterday's dinner。 The one； that to the question how it comes to pass that there are no boars seen in London； but many sowes and pigs； it was answered； that the constable gets them a…nights。 The other； Thos。 Killigrew's way of getting to see plays when he was a boy。 He would go to the Red Bull； and when the man cried to the boys； 〃Who will go and be a devil； and he shall see the play for nothing？〃 then would he go in； and be a devil upon the stage； and so get to see plays。
31st。 I thank God I have no crosses； but only much business to trouble my mind with。 In all other things as happy a man as any in the world； for the whole world seems to smile upon me； and if my house were done that I could diligently follow my business； I would not doubt to do God； and the King； and myself good service。 And all I do impute almost wholly to my late temperance； since my making of my vowes against wine and plays； which keeps me most happily and contentfully to my business； which God continue！ Public matters are full of discontent； what with the sale of Dunkirke； and my Lady Castlemaine； and her faction at Court； though I know not what they would have more than to debauch the King； whom God preserve from it！ And then great plots are talked to be discovered； and all the prisons in towne full of ordinary people； taken from their meeting…places last Sunday。 But for certain some plots there hath been； though not brought to a head。
NOVEMBER