Diary, July 1667 | Page 6

it. This cause
being over, the Trinity House men, whom I did not expect to meet,
were called in, and there Sir W. Pen made a formal speech in answer to
a question of the King's, whether the lying of the sunk ships in the river
would spoil the river. But, Lord! how gingerly he answered it, and with
a deal of do that he did not know whether it would be safe as to the
enemy to have them taken up, but that doubtless it would be better for
the river to have them taken up. Methought the Council found them
answer like fools, and it ended in bidding them think more of it, and
bring their answer in writing. Thence I to Westminster Hall, and there
hear how they talk against the present management of things, and
against Sir W. Coventry for his bringing in of new commanders and
casting out the old seamen, which I did endeavour to rectify Mrs.
Michell and them in, letting them know that he hath opposed it all his
life the most of any man in England. After a deal of this tittle tattle, I to
Mrs. Martin's, and there she was gone in before, but when I come,
contrary to my expectation, I find her all in trouble, and what was it for
but that I have got her with child . . . . and is in exceeding grief, and
swears that the child is mine, which I do not believe, but yet do comfort
her that either it cannot be so, or if it be that I will take care to send for
her husband, though I do hardly see how I can be sure of that, the ship
being at sea, and as far as Scotland, but however I must do it, and shall
find some way or other of doing it, though it do trouble me not a little.
Thence, not pleased, away to White Hall to Mr. Williamson, and by
and by my Lord Arlington about Mr. Lanyon's business, and it is pretty
to see how Mr. Williamson did altogether excuse himself that my
business was not done when I come to my Lord and told him my
business; "Why," says my Lord, "it hath been done, and the King
signed it several days ago," and so it was and was in Mr. Williamson's
hands, which made us both laugh, and I in innocent mirth, I remember,
said, it is pretty to see in what a condition we are that all our matters
now-a-days are undone, we know not how, and done we know not
when. He laughed at it, but I have since reflected on it, and find it a
severe speech as it might be taken by a chief minister of state, as indeed
Mr. Williamson is, for he is indeed the Secretary. But we fell to other

pleasant talk, and a fine gentleman he is, and so gave him L5 for his fee,
and away home, and to Sir W. Batten's to talk a little, and then to the
office to do a little business, and so home to supper and read myself
asleep, and then to bed.

4th. Up, and, in vain expecting Sir R. Ford's calling on me, I took coach
and to the Sessions-house, where I have a mind to hear Bazill Fielding's
case--[See May 9th, 1667]--tried; and so got up to the Bench, my Lord
Chief-Justice Keeling being Judge. Here I stood bare, not challenging,
though I might well enough, to be covered. But here were several fine
trials; among others, several brought in for making it their trade to set
houses on fire merely to get plunder; and all proved by the two little
boys spoken of yesterday by Sir R. Ford, who did give so good account
of particulars that I never heard children in my life. And I confess,
though I was unsatisfied with the force given to such little boys, to take
away men's lives, yet, when I was told that my Lord Chief- Justice did
declare that there was no law against taking the oath of children above
twelve years old, and then heard from Sir R. Ford the good account
which the boys had given of their understanding the nature and
consequence of an oath, and now my own observation of the sobriety
and readiness of their answers, further than of any man of any rank that
come to give witness this day, though some men of years and learning,
I was a little amazed, and fully satisfied that they ought to have as
much credit as the rest. They proved against several, their consulting
several times at a bawdy-house in Moore-Fields, called the Russia
House, among many other rogueries, of setting houses