Diary, July 1665 | Page 7

our marrying business, I parted,
and by coach to several places, among others to see my Lord Brunkerd,
who is not well, but was at rest when I come. I could not see him, nor
had much mind, one of the great houses within two doors of him being
shut up: and, Lord! the number of houses visited, which this day I
observed through the town quite round in my way by Long Lane and
London Wall. So home to the office, and thence to Sir W. Batten, and
spent the evening at supper; and, among other discourse, the rashness
of Sir John Lawson, for breeding up his daughter so high and proud,
refusing a man of great interest, Sir W. Barkeley, to match her with a
melancholy fellow, Colonell Norton's' son, of no interest nor good
nature nor generosity at all, giving her L6000, when the other would
have taken her with two; when he himself knew that he was not worth
the money himself in all the world, he did give her that portion, and is
since dead, and left his wife and two daughters beggars, and the other
gone away with L6000, and no content in it, through the ill qualities of
her father-in-law and husband, who, it seems, though a pretty woman,
contracted for her as if he had been buying a horse; and, worst of all, is
now of no use to serve the mother and two little sisters in any stead at
Court, whereas the other might have done what he would for her: so
here is an end of this family's pride, which, with good care, might have
been what they would, and done well. Thence, weary of this discourse,
as the act of the greatest rashness that ever I heard of in all my little
conversation, we parted, and I home to bed. Sir W. Pen, it seems, sailed
last night from Solebay with, about sixty sail of ship, and my Lord
Sandwich in "The Prince" and some others, it seems, going after them
to overtake them, for I am sure my Lord Sandwich will do all possible
to overtake them, and will be troubled to the heart if he do it not.

7th. Up, and having set my neighbour, Mr. Hudson, wine coopers, at
work drawing out a tierce of wine for the sending of some of it to my
wife, I abroad, only taking notice to what a condition it hath pleased
God to bring me that at this time I have two tierces of Claret, two
quarter casks of Canary, and a smaller vessel of Sack; a vessel of Tent,
another of Malaga, and another of white wine, all in my wine cellar
together; which, I believe, none of my friends of my name now alive
ever had of his owne at one time. To Westminster, and there with Mr.
Povy and Creed talking of our Tangier business, and by and by I drew
Creed aside and acquainted him with what Sir G. Carteret did tell me
about Backewell the other day, because he hath money of his in his
hands. So home, taking some new books, L5 worth, home to my great
content. At home all the day after busy. Some excellent discourse and
advice of Sir W. Warren's in the afternoon, at night home to look over
my new books, and so late to bed.

8th. All day very diligent at the office, ended my letters by 9 at night,
and then fitted myself to go down to Woolwich to my wife, which I did,
calling at Sir G. Carteret's at Deptford, and there hear that my Lady
Sandwich is come, but not very well. By 12 o'clock to Woolwich,
found my wife asleep in bed, but strange to think what a fine night I
had down, but before I had been one minute on shore, the mightiest
storm come of wind and rain that almost could be for a quarter of an
houre and so left. I to bed, being the first time I come to her lodgings,
and there lodged well.

9th (Lord's day). Very pleasant with her and among my people, while
she made her ready, and, about 10 o'clock, by water to Sir G. Carteret,
and there find my Lady [Sandwich] in her chamber, not very well, but
looks the worst almost that ever I did see her in my life. It seems her
drinking of the water at Tunbridge did almost kill her before she could
with most violent physique get it out of her body again. We are
received with most extraordinary kindnesse by my Lady Carteret and
her children, and dined most nobly. Sir G. Carteret went to Court this
morning. After dinner I took occasion to have much