Diary, April 1667 | Page 6

to the helping on of the war, or no; and, if it were,
how then could this be denied? which put them all into another stound;
and it is true, God forgive us! Thence to the chappell, and there, by
chance, hear that Dr. Crew is to preach; and so into the organ-loft,
where I met Mr. Carteret, and my Lady Jemimah, and Sir Thomas
Crew's two daughters, and Dr. Childe played; and Dr. Crew did make a
very pretty, neat, sober, honest sermon; and delivered it very readily,
decently, and gravely, beyond his years: so as I was exceedingly taken
with it, and I believe the whole chappell, he being but young; but his
manner of his delivery I do like exceedingly. His text was, "But seeke
ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things
shall be added unto you." Thence with my Lady to Sir G. Carteret's
lodgings, and so up into the house, and there do hear that the Dutch
letters are come, and say that the Dutch have ordered a passe to be sent
for our Commissioners, and that it is now upon the way, coming with a
trumpeter blinded, as is usual. But I perceive every body begins to
doubt the success of the treaty, all their hopes being only that if it can
be had on any terms, the Chancellor will have it; for he dare not come
before a Parliament, nor a great many more of the courtiers, and the
King himself do declare he do not desire it, nor intend it but on a strait;
which God defend him from! Here I hear how the King is not so well
pleased of this marriage between the Duke of Richmond and Mrs.
Stewart, as is talked; and that he [the Duke] by a wile did fetch her to
the Beare, at the Bridge-foot, where a coach was ready, and they are
stole away into Kent, without the King's leave; and that the King hath
said he will never see her more; but people do think that it is only a
trick. This day I saw Prince Rupert abroad in the Vane-room, pretty
well as he used to be, and looks as well, only something appears to be
under his periwigg on the crown of his head. So home by water, and
there find my wife gone abroad to her tailor's, and I dined alone with W.

Hewer, and then to the office to draw up a memorial for the Duke of
York this afternoon at the Council about Lanyon's business. By and by
we met by appointment at the office upon a reference to Carcasses
business to us again from the Duke of York, but a very confident
cunning rogue we have found him at length. He carried himself very
uncivilly to Sir W. Batten this afternoon, as heretofore, and his silly
Lord [Bruncker] pleaded for him, but all will not nor shall not do for
ought he shall give, though I love the man as a man of great parts and
ability. Thence to White Hall by water (only asking Betty Michell by
the way how she did), and there come too late to do any thing at the
Council. So by coach to my periwigg maker's and tailor's, and so home,
where I find my wife with her flageolet master, which I wish she would
practise, and so to the office, and then to Sir W. Batten's, and then to
Sir W. Pen's, talking and spending time in vain a little while, and then
home up to my chamber, and so to supper and to bed, vexed at two or
three things, viz. that my wife's watch proves so bad as it do; the ill
state of the office; and Kingdom's business; at the charge which my
mother's death for mourning will bring me when all paid.

4th. Up, and going down found Jervas the barber with a periwigg which
I had the other day cheapened at Westminster, but it being full of nits,
as heretofore his work used to be, I did now refuse it, having bought
elsewhere. So to the office till noon, busy, and then (which I think I
have not done three times in my life) left the board upon occasion of a
letter of Sir W. Coventry, and meeting Balty at my house I took him
with me by water, and to the Duke of Albemarle to give him an account
of the business, which was the escaping of some soldiers for the
manning of a few ships now going out with Harman to the West Indies,
which is a sad consideration that at the very beginning of the year and
few ships abroad we should be in such want of