Diary, August 1667 | Page 7

gilt coach, and so parted;
and presently come to us Mr. Andrews, whom I had not seen a good

while, who, as other merchants do, do all give over any hopes of things
doing well, and so he spends his time here most, playing at bowles.
After dining together at the coach- side, we with great pleasure home,
and so to the office, where I despatched my business, and home to
supper, and to bed.

9th. Up, and betimes with Sir H. Cholmly upon some accounts of
Tangier, and then he and I to Westminster, to Mr. Burges, and then
walked in the Hall, and he and I talked, and he do really declare that he
expects that of necessity this kingdom will fall back again to a
commonwealth, and other wise men are of the same mind: this family
doing all that silly men can do, to make themselves unable to support
their kingdom, minding their lust and their pleasure, and making their
government so chargeable, that people do well remember better things
were done, and better managed, and with much less charge under a
commonwealth than they have been by this King, and do seem to
resolve to wind up his businesses and get money in his hand against the
turn do come. After some talk I by coach and there dined, and with us
Mr. Batelier by chance coming in to speak with me, and when I come
home, and find Mr. Goodgroome, my wife's singing-master, there I did
soundly rattle him for neglecting her so much as he hath done--she not
having learned three songs these three months and more. After dinner
my wife abroad with Mrs. Turner, and I to the office, where busy all the
afternoon, and in the evening by coach to St. James's, and there met Sir
W. Coventry; and he and I walked in the Park an hour. And then to his
chamber, where he read to me the heads of the late great dispute
between him and the rest of the Commissioners of the Treasury, and
our new Treasurer of the Navy where they have overthrown him the
last Wednesday, in the great dispute touching his having the payment
of the Victualler, which is now settled by Council that he is not to have
it and, indeed, they have been most just, as well as most severe and
bold, in the doing this against a man of his quality; but I perceive he do
really make no difference between any man. He tells me this day it is
supposed the peace is ratified at Bredah, and all that matter over. We
did talk of many retrenchments of charge of the Navy which he will put
in practice, and every where else; though, he tells me, he despairs of
being able to do what ought to be done for the saving of the kingdom,

which I tell him, as indeed all the world is almost in hopes of, upon the
proceeding of these gentlemen for the regulating of the Treasury, it
being so late, and our poverty grown so great, that they want where to
set their feet, to begin to do any thing. He tells me how weary he hath
for this year and a half been of the war; and how in the Duke of York's
bedchamber, at Christ Church, at Oxford, when the Court was there, he
did labour to persuade the Duke to fling off the care of the Navy, and
get it committed to other hands; which, if he had done, would have
been much to his honour, being just come home with so much honour
from sea as he did. I took notice of the sharp letter he wrote, which he
sent us to read yesterday, to Sir Edward Spragg, where he is very plain
about his leaving his charge of the ships at Gravesend, when the enemy
come last up, and several other things: a copy whereof I have kept. But
it is done like a most worthy man; and he says it is good, now and then,
to tell these gentlemen their duties, for they need it. And it seems, as he
tells me, all our Knights are fallen out one with another, he, and Jenings,
and Hollis, and (his words were) they are disputing which is the coward
among them; and yet men that take the greatest liberty of censuring
others! Here, with him, very late, till I could hardly get a coach or link
willing to go through the ruines; but I do, but will not do it again, being,
indeed, very dangerous. So home and to supper, and bed, my head most
full of an answer I have drawn this noon to the Committee of the
Council to whom Carcasses business