Diary, 1668 N.S. Complete | Page 6

leave it out; but this he did write from sea, I am
sure, or words to that effect: and did displease many commanders,
among others, Captain Batts, who the Duke of York said was a very
stout man, all the world knew; and that another was brought into his
ship that had been turned out of his place when he was a boatswain, not
long before, for being a drunkard. This the Prince took notice of, and
would have been angry, I think, but they let their discourse fall: but the
Duke of York was earnest in it. And the Prince said to me, standing by
me, "God damn me, if they will turn out every man that will be drunk,
they must turn out all the commanders in the fleete. What is the matter
if he be drunk, so when he comes to fight he do his work? At least, let
him be punished for his drunkenness, and not put out of his command
presently." This he spoke, very much concerned for this idle fellow,
one Greene. After this the King began to tell stories of the cowardice of
the Spaniards in Flanders, when he was there, at the siege of Mardike
and Dunkirke; which was very pretty, though he tells them but meanly.
This being done I to Westminster Hall, and there staid a little: and then
home, and by the way did find with difficulty the Life of Sir Philip
Sidney (the book I mentioned yesterday). And the bookseller told me
that he had sold four, within this week or two, which is more than ever
he sold in all his life of them; and he could not imagine what should be
the reason of it: but I suppose it is from the same reason of people's
observing of this part therein, touching his prophesying our present
condition here in England in relation to the Dutch, which is very
remarkable. So home to dinner, where Balty's wife is come to town; she
come last night and lay at my house, but being weary was gone to bed
before I come home, and so I saw her not before. After dinner I took
my wife and her girl out to the New Exchange, and there my wife
bought herself a lace for a handkercher, which I do give her, of about

L3, for a new year's gift, and I did buy also a lace for a band for myself,
and so home, and there to the office busy late, and so home to my
chamber, where busy on some accounts, and then to supper and to bed.
This day my wife shows me a locket of dyamonds worth about L40,
which W. Hewer do press her to accept, and hath done for a good while,
out of his gratitude for my kindness and hers to him. But I do not like
that she should receive it, it not being honourable for me to do it; and
so do desire her to force him to take it back again, he leaving it against
her will yesterday with her. And she did this evening force him to take
it back, at which she says he is troubled; but, however, it becomes me
more to refuse it, than to let her accept of it. And so I am well pleased
with her returning it him. It is generally believed that France is
endeavouring a firmer league with us than the former, in order to his
going on with his business against Spayne the next year; which I am,
and so everybody else is, I think, very glad of, for all our fear is, of his
invading us. This day, at White Hall, I overheard Sir W. Coventry
propose to the King his ordering of some particular thing in the
Wardrobe, which was of no great value; but yet, as much as it was, it
was of profit to the King and saving to his purse. The King answered to
it with great indifferency, as a thing that it was no great matter whether
it was done or no. Sir W. Coventry answered: "I see your Majesty do
not remember the old English proverb, 'He that will not stoop for a pin,
will never be worth a pound.'" And so they parted, the King bidding
him do as he would; which, methought, was an answer not like a King
that did intend ever to do well.

3rd. At the office all the morning with Mr. Willson and my clerks,
consulting again about a new contract with the Victualler of the Navy,
and at noon home to dinner, and then to the office again, where busy all
the afternoon preparing something for the Council about Tangier this
evening. So about five o'clock away