Diary, December 1664 | Page 8

a creature of FitzHarding's, as a fellow that
may be done with what he will, and, himself certainly pretending to be
Generall of the King's armies, when Monk dyeth, desires to have as few
great or wise men in employment as he can now, but such as he can put
in and keep under, which he do this coxcomb Fitzgerald. It seems, of
all mankind there is no man so led by another as the Duke is by Lord
Muskerry and this FitzHarding. insomuch, as when the King would
have him to be Privy-Purse, the Duke wept, and said, "But, Sir, I must
have your promise, if you will have my dear Charles from me, that if
ever you have occasion for an army again, I may have him with me;
believing him to be the best commander of an army in the world." But
Mr. Cholmly thinks, as all other men I meet with do, that he is a very
ordinary fellow. It is strange how the Duke also do love naturally, and
affect the Irish above the English. He, of the company he carried with
him to sea, took above two-thirds Irish and French. He tells me the
King do hate my Lord Chancellor; and that they, that is the King and
my Lord FitzHarding, do laugh at him for a dull fellow; and in all this
business of the Dutch war do nothing by his advice, hardly consulting
him. Only he is a good minister in other respects, and the King cannot
be without him; but, above all, being the Duke's father-in-law, he is
kept in; otherwise FitzHarding were able to fling down two of him.
This, all the wise and grave lords see, and cannot help it; but yield to it.
But he bemoans what the end of it may be, the King being ruled by
these men, as he hath been all along since his coming; to the razing all
the strong-holds in Scotland, and giving liberty to the Irish in Ireland,
whom Cromwell had settled all in one corner; who are now able, and it
is feared everyday a massacre again among them. He being gone I
abroad to the carrier's, to see some things sent away to my father
against Christmas, and thence to Moorfields, and there up and down to
several houses to drink to look for a place 'pour rencontrer la femme de
je sais quoi' against next Monday, but could meet none. So to the
Coffeehouse, where great talke of the Comet seen in several places; and
among our men at sea, and by my Lord Sandwich, to whom I intend to
write about it to-night. Thence home to dinner, and then to the office,

where all the afternoon, and in the evening home to supper, and then to
the office late, and so to bed. This night I begun to burn wax candles in
my closett at the office, to try the charge, and to see whether the smoke
offends like that of tallow candles.

16th. Up, and by water to Deptford, thinking to have met 'la femme de'
Bagwell, but failed, and having done some business at the yard, I back
again, it being a fine fresh morning to walk. Back again, Mr. Wayth
walking with me to Half-Way House talking about Mr. Castle's fine
knees lately delivered in. In which I am well informed that they are not
as they should be to make them knees, and I hope shall make good use
of it to the King's service. Thence home, and having dressed myself, to
the 'Change, and thence home to dinner, and so abroad by coach with
my wife, and bought a looking glasse by the Old Exchange, which
costs me L5 5s. and 6s. for the hooks. A very fair glasse. So toward my
cozen Scott's, but meeting my Lady Sandwich's coach, my wife turned
back to follow them, thinking they might, as they did, go to visit her,
and I 'light and to Mrs. Harman, and there staid and talked in her shop
with her, and much pleased I am with her. We talked about Anthony
Joyce's giving over trade and that he intends to live in lodgings, which
is a very mad, foolish thing. She tells me she hears and believes it is
because he, being now begun to be called on offices, resolves not to
take the new oathe, he having formerly taken the Covenant or
Engagement, but I think he do very simply and will endeavour for his
wife's sake to advise him therein. Thence to my cozen Scott's, and there
met my cozen Roger Pepys, and Mrs. Turner, and The. and Joyce, and
prated all the while, and so with the "corps" to church and heard a very
fine