Diary, Jun/Jul 1664 | Page 9

I did so jeer him that I made him get
every thing ready, and left Taylor and H. Russell to quicken him, and
so away and I by water on to White Hall, where I met his Royal
Highnesse at a Tangier Committee about this very thing, and did there
satisfy him how things are, at which all was pacified without any
trouble, and I hope may end well, but I confess I am at a real trouble for
fear the rogue should not do his work, and I come to shame and losse of
the money I did hope justly to have got by it. Thence walked with Mr.
Coventry to St. James's, and there spent by his desire the whole
morning reading of some old Navy books given him of old Sir John
Cooke's by the Archbishop of Canterbury that now is; wherein the
order that was observed in the Navy then, above what it is now, is very
observable, and fine things we did observe in our reading. Anon to

dinner, after dinner to discourse of the business of the Dutch warr,
wherein he tells me the Dutch do in every particular, which are but few
and small things that we can demand of them, whatever cry we unjustly
make, do seem to offer at an accommodation, for they do owne that it is
not for their profit to have warr with England. We did also talk of a
History of the Navy of England, how fit it were to be writ; and he did
say that it hath been in his mind to propose to me the writing of the
History of the late Dutch warr, which I am glad to hear, it being a thing
I much desire, and sorts mightily with my genius; and, if well done,
may recommend me much. So he says he will get me an order for
making of searches to all records, &c., in order thereto, and I shall take
great delight in doing of it. Thence by water down to the Tower, and
thither sent for Mr. Creed to my house, where he promised to be, and
he and I down to the ship, and find all things in pretty good order, and I
hope will end to my mind. Thence having a gaily down to Greenwich,
and there saw the King's works, which are great, a-doing there, and so
to the Cherry Garden, and so carried some cherries home, and after
supper to bed, my wife lying with me, which from my not being
thoroughly well, nor she, we have not done above once these two or
three weeks.

14th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and had great
conflict about the flags again, and am vexed methought to see my Lord
Berkely not satisfied with what I said, but however I stop the King's
being abused by the flag makers for the present. I do not know how it
may end, but I will do my best to preserve it. So home to dinner, and
after dinner by coach to Kensington. In the way overtaking Mr. Laxton,
the apothecary, with his wife and daughters, very fine young lasses, in a
coach; and so both of us to my Lady Sandwich, who hath lain this
fortnight here at Deane Hodges's. Much company came hither to-day,
my Lady Carteret, &c., Sir William Wheeler and his lady, and, above
all, Mr. Becke, of Chelsy, and wife and daughter, my Lord's mistress,
and one that hath not one good feature in her face, and yet is a fine lady,
of a fine taille, and very well carriaged, and mighty discreet. I took all
the occasion I could to discourse with the young ladies in her company
to give occasion to her to talk, which now and then she did, and that
mighty finely, and is, I perceive, a woman of such an ayre, as I wonder

the less at my Lord's favour to her, and I dare warrant him she hath
brains enough to entangle him. Two or three houres we were in her
company, going into Sir H. Finche's garden, and seeing the fountayne,
and singing there with the ladies, and a mighty fine cool place it is,
with a great laver of water in the middle and the bravest place for
musique I ever heard. After much mirthe, discoursing to the ladies in
defence of the city against the country or court, and giving them
occasion to invite themselves to-morrow to me to dinner, to my venison
pasty, I got their mother's leave, and so good night, very well pleased
with my day's work, and, above all, that I have seen my Lord's
mistresse. So home to supper, and a little at my office,