Diary, Apr/May 1668 | Page 5

I home; and there find
my wife not yet come home from Deptford, he she hath been all this
day to see her mother, but she come and by, and so to talk, and supper,
and to bed. This night I did bring home from the King's potticary's, in
White Hall by Mr. Cooling's direction, a water that he says did him
mighty good for his eyes. I pray God it may do me good; but, by his
description, his disease was the same as mine, and this do encourage
me to use it.

3rd. Up, and to the Council of War again, with Middleton: but the
proceedings of the Commanders so devilishly bad, and so professedly
partial to the Captain, that I could endure it no longer, but took
occasion to pretend business at the Office, and away, and Colonel
Middleton with me, who was of the same mind, and resolved to declare
our minds freely to the Duke of York about it. So to the office, where
we sat all the morning. Then home to dinner, and so back to the office,

where busy late till night, and so home to supper and to bed.

4th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, where Alderman Backewell's wife,
by my invitation with my head, come up with her mother, and sat with
us, and after sermon I did walk with them home, and there left them,
and home to dinner, and after dinner with Sir J. Minnes and T.
Middleton to White Hall, by appointment; and at my Lord Arlington's
the Office did attend the King and Cabal, to discourse the further
quantity of victuals fit to be declared for, which was 2,000 men for six
months; and so without more ado or stay, there, hearing no news but
that Sir Thomas Allen is to be expected every hour at home with his
fleete, or news of his being gone back to Algier, and so home, where
got my wife to read to me; and so after supper to bed. The
Queen-Mother hath been of late mighty ill, and some fears of her death.

5th. Up, and by coach, it being very cold, to White Hall, expecting a
meeting of Tangier, but it did not. But, however, did wait there all the
morning, and, among other things, I spent a little time with Creed
walking in the garden, and talking about our Office, and Child's coming
in to be a Commissioner; and, being his friend, I did think he might do
me a kindness to learn of him what the Duke of Buckingham and the
faction do design touching me, and to instil good words concerning me,
which he says, and I believe he will: and it is but necessary; for I have
not a mind indeed at this time to be put out of my Office, if I can make
any shift that is honourable to keep it; but I will not do it by deserting
the Duke of York. At noon by appointment comes Mr. Sheres, and he
and I to Unthanke's, where my wife stays for us in our coach, and Betty
Turner with her; and we to the Mulberry Garden, where Sheres is to
treat us with a Spanish Olio,
[An olio is a mixed dish of meat and vegetables, and, secondarily,
mixture or medley.]
by a cook of his acquaintance that is there, that was with my Lord in
Spain: and without any other company, he did do it, and mighty nobly;
and the Olio was indeed a very noble dish, such as I never saw better,
or any more of. This, and the discourse he did give us of Spain, and
description of the Escuriall, was a fine treat. So we left other good
things, that would keep till night, for a collation; and, with much

content, took coach again, and went five or six miles towards Branford,
the Prince of Tuscany, who comes into England only to spend money
and see our country, comes into the town to-day, and is much expected;
and we met him, but the coach passing by apace, we could not see
much of him but he seems a very jolly and good comely man. By the
way, we overtook Captain Ferrers upon his fine Spanish horse, and he
is a fine horse indeed; but not so good, I think, as I have seen some. He
did ride by us most of the way, and with us to the Park, and there left us,
where we passed the evening, and meeting The. Turner, Talbot, W.
Batelier, and his sister, in a coach, we anon took them with us to the
Mulberry Garden; and there, after a walk, to supper upon what was left
at noon; and very good;