Diary, Jun/Jul 1664 | Page 7

Trinity House. It seems they have with
much ado carried it for Sir G. Carteret against Captain Harrison, poor
man, who by succession ought to have been it, and most hands were for
him, but only they were forced to fright the younger Brethren by
requiring them to set their hands (which is an ill course) and then Sir G.
Carteret carryed it. Here was at dinner my Lord Sandwich, Mr.
Coventry, my Lord Craven, and others. A great dinner, and good
company. Mr. Prin also, who would not drink any health, no, not the
King's, but sat down with his hat on all the while;
[William Prynne had published in 1628 a small book against the
drinking of healths, entitled, "Healthes, Sicknesse; or a compendious
and briefe Discourse, prouing, the Drinking and Pledging of Healthes
to be sinfull and utterly unlawfull unto Christians . . . . wherein all
those ordinary objections, excuses or pretences, which are made to
justifie, extenuate, or excuse the drinking or pledging of Healthes are
likewise cleared and answered." The pamphlet was dedicated to
Charles I. as "more interessed in the theame and subject of this
compendious discourse then any other that I know," and "because your
Majestie of all other persons within your owne dominions, are most
dishonoured, prejudiced, and abused by these Healthes."]
but nobody took notice of it to him at all; but in discourse with the
Doctor he did declare himself that he ever was, and has expressed
himself in all his books for mixt communion against the Presbyterian
examination. Thence after dinner by water, my Lord Sandwich and all
us Tangier men, where at the Committee busy till night with great
confusion, and then by coach home, with this content, however, that I
find myself every day become more and more known, and shall one
day hope to have benefit by it. I found my wife a little better. A little to
my office, then home to supper and to bed.

7th. Up and to the office (having by my going by water without any
thing upon my legs yesterday got some pain upon me again), where all
the morning. At noon a little to the 'Change, and thence home to dinner,
my wife being ill still in bed. Thence to the office, where busy all the
afternoon till 9 at night, and so home to my wife, to supper, and to bed.

8th. All day before dinner with Creed, talking of many things, among
others, of my Lord's going so often to Chelsy, and he, without my
speaking much, do tell me that his daughters do perceive all, and do
hate the place, and the young woman there, Mrs. Betty Becke; for my
Lord, who sent them thither only for a disguise for his going thither,
will come under pretence to see them, and pack them out of doors to
the Parke, and stay behind with her; but now the young ladies are gone
to their mother to Kensington. To dinner, and after dinner till 10 at
night in my study writing of my old broken office notes in shorthand all
in one book, till my eyes did ake ready to drop out. So home to supper
and to bed.

9th. Up and at my office all the morning. At noon dined at home, Mr.
Hunt and his kinswoman (wife in the country), after dinner I to the
office, where we sat all the afternoon. Then at night by coach to attend
the Duke of Albemarle about the Tangier ship. Coming back my wife
spied me going home by coach from Mr. Hunt's, with whom she hath
gained much in discourse to-day concerning W. Howe's discourse of
me to him. That he was the man that got me to be secretary to my Lord;
and all that I have thereby, and that for all this I never did give him 6d.
in my life. Which makes me wonder that this rogue dare talk after this
manner, and I think all the world is grown false. But I hope I shall
make good use of it. So home to supper and to bed, my eyes aching
mightily since last night.

10th. Up and by water to White Hall, and there to a Committee of
Tangier, and had occasion to see how my Lord Ashworth--[Lord
Ashworth is probably a miswriting for Lord Ashley (afterwards Earl of
Shaftesbury).] --deports himself, which is very fine indeed, and it joys
my heart to see that there is any body looks so near into the King's
business as I perceive he do in this business of my Lord Peterborough's
accounts. Thence into the Parke, and met and walked with Captain
Sylas Taylor, my old acquaintance while I was of the Exchequer, and