Diary, August 1668 | Page 9

all the thing, and them, in league. She in love, and he hath got her to
promise him to marry, and he is now cold in it, so that I must rid my
hands of them, which troubles me, and the more because my head is
now busy upon other greater things. I am vexed also to be told by W.

Hewer that he is summoned to the Commissioners of Accounts about
receiving a present of L30 from Mr. Mason, the timber merchant,
though there be no harm in it, that will appear on his part, he having
done them several lawful kindnesses and never demanded anything, as
they themselves have this day declared to the Commissioners, they
being forced up by the discovery of somebody that they in confidence
had once told it to. So to supper vexed and my head full of care, and so
to bed.

20th. Betimes at my business again, and so to the office, and dined with
Brouncker and J. Minnes, at Sir W. Pen's at a bad pasty of venison, and
so to work again, and at it till past twelve at night, that I might get my
great letter
[In the Pepysian Library is a MS. (No. 2242), entitled, "Papers
conteyning my addresse to his Royall Highnesse James Duke of Yorke,
Lord High Admirall of England, &c., by letter dated the 20th of August,
1668, humbly tendering him my advice touching the present State of
the Office of the Navy, with his Royall Highness's proceedings upon
the same, and their result."]
to the Duke of York ready against to-morrow, which I shall do, to my
great content. So to bed.

21st. Up betimes, and with my people again to work, and finished all
before noon: and then I by water to White Hall, and there did tell the
Duke of York that I had done; and he hath to my great content desired
me to come to him at Sunday next in the afternoon, to read it over, by
which I have more time to consider and correct it. So back home and to
the 'Change, in my way calling at Morris', my vintner's, where I love to
see su moher, though no acquaintance accostais this day con her. Did
several things at the 'Change, and so home to dinner. After dinner I by
coach to my bookseller's in Duck Lane, and there did spend a little time
and regarder su moher, and so to St. James's, where did a little ordinary
business; and by and by comes Monsieur Colbert, the French
Embassador, to make his first visit to the Duke of York, and then to the
Duchess: and I saw it: a silly piece of ceremony, he saying only a few
formal words. A comely man, and in a black suit and cloak of silk,
which is a strange fashion, now it hath been so long left off: This day I

did first see the Duke of York's room of pictures of some Maids of
Honour, done by Lilly: good, but not like.
[The set of portraits known as "King Charles's Beauties," formerly in
Windsor Castle, but now at Hampton Court.--B.]
Thence to Reeves's, and bought a reading-glass, and so to my
bookseller's again, there to buy a Book of Martyrs,
[The popular name of John Fox's "Acts and Monuments," first
published in 1562-63.]
which I did agree for; and so, after seeing and beginning acquaintance
con his femme, but very little, away home, and there busy very late at
the correcting my great letter to the Duke of York, and so to bed.

22nd. Up betimes, at it again with great content, and so to the Office,
where all the morning, and did fall out with W. Pen about his slight
performance of his office, and so home to dinner, fully satisfied that
this Office must sink or the whole Service be undone. To the office all
the afternoon again, and then home to supper and to bed, my mind
being pretty well at ease, my great letter being now finished to my full
content; and I thank God I have opportunity of doing it, though I know
it will set the Office and me by the ears for ever. This morning Captain
Cocke comes, and tells me that he is now assured that it is true, what he
told me the other day, that our whole Office will be turned out, only me,
which, whether he says true or no, I know not, nor am much concerned,
though I should be better contented to have it thus than otherwise. This
afternoon, after I was weary in my business of the office, I went forth
to the 'Change, thinking to have spoke with Captain Cocke, but he was
not