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！
Board that in compliment will except against any thing in them； and so none of the little persons dare do it： so the King is abused。
OCTOBER 5； 1663。 My Lord Sandwich sent a messenger to know whether the King intends to come to Newmarket； as is talked； that he may be ready to entertain him at Hinchingbroke。
12th。 At St。 James's we attended the Duke all of us。 And there； after my discourse； Mr。 Coventry of his own accord begun to tell the Duke how he found that discourse abroad did run to his prejudice about the fees that he took； and how he sold places and other things； wherein he desired to appeal to his Highness； whether he did any thing more than what his predecessors did； and appealed to us all。 So Sir G。 Carteret did answer that some fees were heretofore taken； but what he knows not； only that selling of places never was nor ought to be countenanced。 So Mr。 Coventry very hotly answered to Sir G。 Carteret； and appealed to himself whether he was not one of the first that put him upon looking after this business of fees； and that he told him that Mr。 Smith should say that he made 50001。 the first year； and he believed he made 7000l。 This Sir G。 Carteret denied； and said； that if he did say so he told a lie； for he could not； nor did know； that ever he did make that profit of his place； but that he believes he might say； 2500l。 the first year。 Mr。 Coventry instanced in another thing； particularly wherein Sir G。 Carteret did advise with him about the selling of the auditor's place of the stores； when in the beginning there was an intention of creating such an office。 This he confessed； but with some lessening of the tale Mr。 Coventry told； it being only for a respect to my Lord FitzHarding。 ＇Sir Charles Berkeley； mentioned before； created Lord Berkeley of Rathdown and Viscount Fitzharding in Ireland； second son to Sir Charles Berkeley of Bruton； co。 Somerset； afterwards made an English peer by the titles of Lord Botetourt and Earl of Falmouth； and killed in the great sea…fight； June 1685。＇ In fine； Mr。 Coventry did put into the Duke's hand a list of above 250 places that he did give without receiving one farthing； so much as his ordinary fees for them； upon his life and oath； and that since the Duke's establishment of fees he had never received one token more of any man； and that in his whole life he never conditioned or discoursed of any consideration from any commanders since he come to the Navy。 And afterwards； my Lord Barkeley merrily discoursing that he wished his profit greater than it was； and that he did believe that he had got 50；000l。 since he come in； Mr。 Coventry did openly declare that his Lordship； or any of us； should have not only all he had got； but all that he had in the world； （and yet he did not come a beggar into the Navy； nor would yet he thought to speak in any contempt of his Royall Highness's bounty；） and should have a year to consider of it too； for 25；000l。 The Duke's answer was； that he wished we all had made more profit than we had of our places； and that we had all of us got as much as one man below stayres in the Court； which he presently named； and it was Sir George Lane。 ＇One of the Clerks of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Marquis of Ormond。＇
13th。 I find at Court； that either the King is doubtful of some disturbance； or else would seem so； （and I have reason to hope it is no worse；） by his commanding little commanders of castles； &c。 to repair to their charges； and mustering the Guards the other day himself； where he found reason to dislike their condition to my Lord Gerard； finding so many absent men； or dead pays。 My Lady Castlemaine； I hear； is in as great favour as ever； and the King supped with her the very first night he come from Bath： and last night and the night before supped with her； when there being a chine of beef to roast； and the tide rising into their kitchen that it could not be roasted there； and the cook telling her of it； she answered 〃Zounds！ she must set the house on fire but it should be roasted！〃 So it was carried to Mrs。 Sarah's husband's； and there it was roasted。
After dinner my wife and I； by Mr。 Rawlinson's conduct； to the Jewish Synagogue： where the men and boys In their vayles； and the women behind a lettice out of sight； and some things stand up； which I believe is their law； in a press to which all coming in do bow； and at the putting on their vayles do say something； to which others that hear the Priest do cry Amen； and the party do kiss his vayle。 Their service all in a singing way； and in Hebrew。 And anon their Laws that they take out of the press are carried by several men； four or five several burthens in all； and they do relieve one another； and whether it is that every one desires to have the carrying of it； thus they carried it round about the room while such a service is singing。 And in the end they had a prayer for the King； in which they pronounced his name in Portugall； but the prayer； like the rest； in Hebrew。 But； Lord！ to see the disorder； laughing； sporting； and no attention； but confusion in all their service； more like brutes than people knowing the true God； would make a man forswear ever seeing them more： and indeed I never did see so much； or could have imagined there had been any religion in the whole world so absurdly performed as this。
17th。 Some discourse of the Queene's being very sick； if not dead； the Duke and Duchesse of York being sent for betimes this morning to come to White Hall to her。
18th。 The parson； Mr。 Mills； I perceive； did not know whether to pray for the Queene or no； and so said nothing about her； which makes me fear she is dead。 But enquiring of Sir J。 Minnes； he told me that he heard she was better last night。
19th。 Waked with a very high wind； and said to my wife； 〃I pray God I hear not of the death of any great person； this wind is so high！ fearing that the Queene might be dead。 So up； and going by coach with Sir W。 Batten and Sir J。 Minnes to St。 James's； they tell me that Sir W。 Compton； who it is true had been a little sickly for a week or fortnight； but was very well upon Friday at night last at the Tangier Committee with us； was dead；died yesterday： at which I was most exceedingly surprised； he being； and so all the world saying that he was； one of the worthyest men and best officers of State now in England； and so in my conscience he was： of the best temper； valour； ability of mind； integrity； worth； fine person； and diligence of any one man he hath left behind him in the three kingdoms； and yet not forty years old； or if so； that is all。 I find the sober men of the Court troubled for him； and yet not so as to hinder or lessen their mirth； talking； laughing； and eating； drinking； and doing every thing else； just as if there was no such thing。
Coming to St。 James's； I hear that the Queene did sleep five hours pretty well to…night； and that she waked and gargled her mouth； and to sleep again； but that her pulse beats fast； beating twenty to the King's or my Lady Suffolk's eleven； but not so strong as it was。 It seems she was so ill as to be shaved and pidgeons put to her feet； and to have the extreme unction given her by the priests； who were so long about it that the doctors were angry。 The King they all say is most fondly disconsolate for her； and weeps by her； which makes her weep； which one this day told me he reckons a good sign； for that it carries away some rheume from the head。 To the Coffee…house in Cornhill； where much talk about the Turke's proceedings； and that the plague is got to Amsterdam； brought by a ship from Argier； and it is also carried to Hambrough。 The Duke says the King purposes to forbid any of their ships coming into the river。 The Duke also told us of several Christian commanders （French） gone over to the Turkes to serve them； and upon enquiry I find that the King of France do by this aspire to the Empire； and so to get the Crowne of Spayne also upon the death of the King； which is very probable； it seems。
20th。 This evening at my Lord's lodgings Mrs。 Sarah talking with my wife and I how the Queene do； and how the King tends her being so ill。 She tells that the Queene's sickness is the spotted fever； that she was as