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！
The King of France was given out to be poisoned and dead； but it proves to be the meazles： and he is well； or likely to be soon well again。 I find myself growing in the esteem and credit that I have in the office； and I hope falling to my business again will confirm me in it。
JUNE 1； 1663。 The Duke having been a…hunting to…day； and so lately come home and gone to bed； we could not see him； and we walked away。 And I with Sir J。 Minnes to the Strand May…pole； and there light out of his coach； and walked to the New Theatre； which； since the King's players are gone to the Royal one； is this day begun to be employed by the fencers to play prizes at。 And here I come and saw the first prize I ever saw in my life： and it was between one Mathews； who did beat at all weapons； and one Westwicke； who was soundly cut several times both in the head and legs； that he was all over blood： and other deadly blows they did give and take in very good earnest； till Westwicke was in a sad pickle。 They fought at eight weapons； three boutes at each weapon。 This being upon a private quarrel； they did it in good earnest； and I felt one of the swords； and found it to be very little； if at all blunter on the edge； than the common swords are。 Strange to see what a deal of money is flung to them both upon the stage between every boute。 This day I hear at Court of the great plot which was lately discovered in Ireland； made among the Presbyters and others； designing to cry up the Covenant； and to secure Dublin Castle and other places； and they have debauched a good part of the army there； promising them ready money。 Some of the Parliament there； they say； are guilty； and some withdrawn upon it； several persons taken； and among others a son of Scott's； that was executed here for the King's murder。 What reason the King hath； I know not； but it seems he is doubtfull of Scotland： and this afternoon； when I was there； the Council was called extraordinary； and they were opening the letter this last post's coming and going between Scotland and us and other places。 The King of France is well again。
2nd。 To St。 James's； to Mr。 Coventry； where I had an hour's private talk with him concerning his own condition； at present being under the censure of the House； being concerned with others in the Bill for selling of offices。 He tells me； that though he thinks himself to suffer much in his fame hereby； yet he values nothing more of evil to hang over him； for that it is against no statute； as is pretended； nor more than what his predecessors time out of mind have taken； and that so soon as he found himself to be in an errour； he did desire to have his fees set； which was done； and since that time he hath not taken a token more。 He undertakes to prove； that he did never take a token of any captain to get him employed in his life beforehand； or demanded any thing： and for the other accusation； that the Cavaliers are not employed； he looked over the list of them now in the service； and of the twenty…seven that are employed； thirteen have been heretofore always under the King； two neutralls； and the other twelve men of great courage； and such as had either the King's particular command or great recommendation to put them in； and none by himself。 Besides that； he sees it is not the King's nor Duke's opinion that the whole party of the late officers should be rendered desperate。 And lastly； he confesses that the more of the Cavaliers are put in； the less of discipline hath followed in the fleet； and that； whenever there comes occasion； it must be the old ones that must do any good。 He tells me； that he cannot guess whom all this should come from； but he suspects Sir G。 Carteret； as I also do； at least that he is pleased with it。 But he tells me that he will bring Sir G。 Carteret to be the first adviser and instructor of him what is to make his place of benefit to him； telling him that Smith did make his place worth 5000l。 and he believed 7000l。 to him the first year； besides something else greater than all this； which he forbore to tell me。 It seems one Sir Thomas Tomkins ＇M。P。 for Weobly； and one of the proposed Knights of the Royal Oak； for Herefordshire。＇ of the House； that makes many mad motions； did bring it into the House； saying that a letter was left at his lodgings； subscribed by one Benson； （which is a feigned name； for there is no such in the Navy；） telling how many places in the Navy have been sold。 And by another letter； left in the same manner since； nobody appearing； he writes him that there is one Hughes and another Butler （both rogues； that have for their roguery been turned out of their places；） that will swear that Mr。 Coventry did sell their places and other things。 I offered him my service； and will with all my heart serve him； but he tells me he do not think it convenient to meddle； or to any purpose。 To Westminster Hall； where I hear more of the plot from Ireland； which it seems hath been hatching； and known to the Lord Lieutenant a great while； and kept close till within three days that it should have taken effect。
4th。 In the Hall a good while； where I heard that this day the Archbishop of Canterbury； Juxon； ＇William Juxon； made Bishop of London 1633； translated to Canterbury； 1660。＇ a man well spoken of by all for a good man； is dead； and the Bishop of London ＇Gilbert Sheldon； who did succeed him。＇ is to have his seat。 The match between Sir J。 Cutts ＇Of Childerley near Cambridge。＇ and my Lady Jemimah； ＇Lady Jemimah Montagu； daughter to the Earl of Sandwich。＇ he says； is likely to go on； for which I am glad。 In the Hall to…day Dr。 Pierce tells me that the Queene begins to be briske； and play like other ladies； and is quite another woman from what she was。 It may be； it may make the King like her the better； and forsake his two mistresses my Lady Castlemaine and Stewart。 ＇Spelt indiscriminately in the MS Stuart； Steward； and Stewart。＇
6th。 To York House； where the Russia Embassador do lie； and there I saw his people go up and down louseing themselves： they are all in a great hurry； being to be gone the beginning of next week。 But that that pleased me best； was the remains of the noble soul of the late Duke of Buckingham appearing in his house； in every place； in the door…cases and the windows。 Sir John Hebden； the Russia Resident； did tell me how he is vexed to see things at Court ordered as they are by nobody that attends to business； but every man himself or his pleasures。 He cries up my Lord Ashley to be almost the only man that he sees to look after business； and with the ease and mastery； that he wonders at him。 He cries out against the King's dealing so much with goldsmiths； and suffering himself to have his purse kept and commanded by them。 He tells me also with what exact care and order the States of Holland's stores are kept in their Yards； and every thing managed there by their builders with such husbandry as is not imaginable； which I will endeavour to understand further。
7th。 Mrs。 Turner； who is often at Court； do tell me to…day that for certain the Queene hath much changed her humour； and is become very pleasant and sociable as any； and they say is with child； or believed to be so。 After church to Sir W。 Batten's； where my Lady Batten enveighed mightily against the German Princesse； and I as high in the defence of her wit and spirit； and glad that she is cleared at the sessions。
12th。 To the Royal Theatre； and there saw 〃The Committee；〃 ＇〃The Committee；〃 a comedy； by Sir Robert Howard。＇ a merry but indifferent play； only Lacey's part； an Irish footman； is beyond imagination。 Here I saw my Lord Falconbridge； ＇Thos。 Bellasses Viscount Falconberg； frequently called Falconbridge； married Mary； third daughter of Oliver Cromwell。 She died 1712。＇ and his Lady； my Lady Mary Cromwell； who looks as well as I have known her； and well clad： but when the House began to fill she put on her vizard； and so kept it on all the play； which of late is become a great fashion among the ladies； which hides their whole face。 So to the Exchange； to buy things with my wife； among others； a vizard for herself。
13th。 To the Royal Theatre； and in our way saw my Lady Castlemaine； who； I fear； is not so handsome as