claring they would advance no more, it being discoursed of in the House of Parliament for the King to issue out his privy-seals to them to command them to trust him, which gives them reason to decline trusting. We do not do the King any service, but rather abuse and betray his service by being here, and seeming to do something while we do not. Sir G. Carteret asked me whether 50 or £60 would do us any good; and when I told him the very women must have £200, he held up his eyes as if we had asked a million. The Duke of York did confess that he did not see how we could do anything without a present supply of £20,000, and so we broke up, and all parted. Nothing but distraction and confusion in the affairs of the Navy; which makes me wish, with all my heart, that I were well and quietly settled, with what little I have got, at Brampton, where I might live peaceably, and study, and pray for the good of the King and my country.

20th. Commissioner Middleton' says, that the fleet was in such a condition as to discipline, as if the Devil had commanded it; so much wickedness of all sorts. Enquiring how it come to pass that so many ships had miscarried this year, he tells me that he enquired: and the pilots do say, that they dare not do nor go but as the Captains will have them; and, if they offer to do otherwise, the Captains swear they will run them through. He says that he heard Captain Digby, my Lord of Bristoll's son, a young fellow that never was

2

1 Thomas Middleton, who had been made a Commissioner of the Navy in 1664.

2 Francis Digby, afterwards Colonel. He was killed in the seafight at Solebay.

says

but one year, if that, in the fleet, say that he did hope he should not see a tarpawlin' have the command of a ship within this twelve months. He observed, while he was on board the Admirall, when the fleet was at Portsmouth, that there was a faction there. Holmes commanded all on the Prince's side, and Sir Jeremy Smith on the Duke's; and every body that come did apply themselves to one side or other; and, when the Duke of Albemarle was gone away to come hither, then Sir Jeremy Smith did hang his head, and walked in the General's ship but like a private commander. He he was on board the Prince, when the news come of the burning of London: and all the Prince said was, that now Shipton's prophecy was out;2 and he heard a young commander presently swear, that a citizen's wife that would not take under half a piece before would be contented with half-a-crowne: and made mighty sport of it. My Lord Chancellor, the other day, did ask Sir G. Carteret how it come to pass that his friend Pepys do so much magnify the bad condition of the fleet. Sir G. Carteret tells me that he answered him, that I was but the mouth of the rest, and spoke what they have dictated to me; which did, as he says, presently take off his displeasure. With Sir G. Carteret home to dinner, with him my lady, and Mr. Ashburnham, the Cofferer. They talk that the Queene hath a great mind to alter her fashion, and to have the feet seen; which she loves mightily. I met with the King's declaracón about his proceedings with the King of Denmarke, and particularly the business of Bergen:

1 Sailor.

2 "Mother Shipton's Prophecies," often printed.

but it is so well writ, that, if it be true, the King of Denmarke is one of the most absolute wickedness in the world for a person of his quality. Met Mr. Povy by appointment, and he and I till late at night. evening of all accounts between us; but that which troubles me most is, that I am to refund to the ignoble Lord Peterborough what he had given us six months ago, because we did not supply him with money.

21st. To White Hall, and there attended the Cabinet, and was called in before the King, and then to give an account of our want of money for Tangier, and that which is no welcome thing to be the solicitor for, and to see how like an image the King sat, and could not speak one word when I had delivered myself, was very strange: only my Lord Chancellor did ask me whether I thought it was in nature at this time to help us to anything. So I was referred to another meeting of the Lords Commissioners for Tangier and my Lord Treasurer. Walking with Sir H. Cholmly long in the gallery, he told me, among many other things, how young Harry Killigrew is banished the Court lately for saying that my Lady Castlemaine was a little wanton when she was young. This she complained to the King of; and he sent to the Duke of York, whose servant he is, to turn him away. The Duke of York hath done it, but takes it ill of my Lady that he was not complained to first. She attended him to excuse it, but ill blood is made by it. Sir H. Cholmly tells me how Mr. Williamson stood in a little place to have come into the House of Commons, and they would not choose him they said, "No courtier." And, which is worse, Bab May went down in great state to Win

chelsea with the Duke of York's letters, not doubting to be chosen and there the people chose a private gentleman in spite of him, and cried out they would have no Court pimp to be their burgesse: which are things that bode very ill.

22nd. At the Temple Church, looking with pleasure on the monuments and epitaphs.

23rd. Sir W. Batten told me Sir R. Ford would accept of one-third of my profit of our private man-ofwar, and bear one-third of the charge, and be bound in the Admiralty, which I did like mightily of, and did draw up a writing as well as I could to that purpose. After dinner, down by water to Shadwell, to see Betty Mitchell, the first time I was ever in their new dwelling, since the fire.

24th. Holmes did last Sunday deliver in his articles to the King and Cabinet against Smith, and Smith has given in his answer, and lays his not accompanying the fleet to his pilot, who would not undertake to carry the ship further; which the pilot acknowledges. The thing is not accommodated, but only taken up, and both sides commanded to be quiet, but no peace like to be. The Duke of Albemarle is Smith's friend, and hath publickly swore that he would never go to sea again, unless Holmes's commission were taken from him. I find by Hayes' that they did expect great glory in coming home in so good condition as they did with the fleet; and therefore I the less wonder that the Prince was distasted with my discourse the other day about the sad state of the fleet. But it pleases me to hear that he did expect great thanks, and lays the fault of the want

1 Prince Rupert's secretary.

of it upon the fire, which deadened every thing, and the glory of his services. Called my wife, and, it being moonshine, took her into the garden, and there layed open our condition as to our estate, and the danger of my having it all' in the house at once, in case of any disorder or troubles in the State, and therefore resolved to remove part of it to Brampton, and part some whither else, and part in my own house, which is very necessary, and will tend to our safety, though I shall not think it safe out of my own sight.

25th. To Mrs. Pierce's, where she was making herself mighty fine to go to a great ball to-night at Court, being the Queene's birthday; so the ladies for this one day wear laces, but are to put them off again to-morrow. To Mrs. Williams's, where we met Knipp. I was glad to see the jade. Made her sing; and she told us they begin at both houses to act on Monday next. But I fear, after all this sorrow, their gains will be but little. Mrs. Williams says, the Duke's house will now be much the better of the two, because of their women; which I was glad to hear. The House of Parliament makes mighty little haste in settling the money; but they fall into faction, and libells have been found in the house. Among others, one yesterday, wherein they reckon up divers great sums to be given away by the King— £10,000 to Sir W. Coventry, for weare and teare, the point he stood upon to advance that sum by, for them to give the King: Sir G. Carteret £50,000 for something else I think supernumerarys; and so to Matt. Wren £5000 for passing the Canary Company's patent ; and so a great many other sums to other persons.

1 i.e., his money.