Diary, Jun/Jul/Aug 1661 | Page 6

have me
go to Mr. Townsend, whom he had ordered to discover to me the whole
mystery of the Wardrobe, and none else but me, and that he will make
me deputy with him for fear that he should die in my Lord's absence, of
which I was glad. Then to the Cook's with Mr. Shepley and Mr. Creed,
and dined together, and then I went to the Theatre and there saw
Bartholomew Faire, the first time it was acted now a-days. It is a most
admirable play and well acted, but too much prophane and abusive.
From thence, meeting Mr. Creed at the door, he and I went to the
tobacco shop under Temple Bar gate, and there went up to the top of
the house and there sat drinking Lambeth ale a good while. Then away
home, and in my way called upon Mr. Rawlinson (my uncle Wight
being out of town), for his advice to answer a letter of my uncle Robert,
wherein he do offer me a purchase to lay some money upon, that joynes
upon some of his own lands, and plainly telling me that the reason of

his advice is the convenience that it will give me as to his estate, of
which I am exceeding glad, and am advised to give up wholly the
disposal of my money to him, let him do what he will with it, which I
shall do. So home and to bed.

9th (Lord's day). This day my wife put on her black silk gown, which is
now laced all over with black gimp lace, as the fashion is, in which she
is very pretty. She and I walked to my Lady's at the Wardrobe, and
there dined and was exceeding much made of. After dinner I left my
wife there, and I walked to Whitehall, and then went to Mr. Pierce's and
sat with his wife a good while (who continues very pretty) till he came,
and then he and I, and Mr. Symons (dancing master), that goes to sea
with my Lord, to the Swan tavern, and there drank, and so again to
White Hall, and there met with Dean Fuller, and walked a great while
with him; among other things discoursed of the liberty the Bishop (by
name the of Galloway) takes to admit into orders any body that will;
among others, Roundtree, a simple mechanique that was a person
[parson ?] formerly in the fleet. He told me he would complain of it. By
and by we went and got a sculler, and landing him at Worcester House,
I and W. Howe, who came to us at Whitehall, went to the Wardrobe,
where I met with Mr. Townsend, who is very willing he says to
communicate anything for my Lord's advantage to me as to his
business. I went up to Jane Shore's towre, and there W. Howe and I
sang, and so took my wife and walked home, and so to bed. After I
came home a messenger came from my Lord to bid me come to him
tomorrow morning.

10th. Early to my Lord's, who privately told me how the King had
made him Embassador in the bringing over the Queen.
[Katherine of Braganza, daughter of John IV. of Portugal, born 1638,
married to Charles II., May 21st, 1662. After the death of the king she
lived for some time at Somerset House, and then returned to Portugal,
of which country she became Regent in 1704 on the retirement of her
brother Don Pedro. She died December 31st, 1705.]
That he is to go to Algier, &c., to settle the business, and to put the fleet
in order there; and so to come back to Lisbone with three ships, and
there to meet the fleet that is to follow him. He sent for me, to tell me

that he do intrust me with the seeing of all things done in his absence as
to this great preparation, as I shall receive orders from my Lord
Chancellor and Mr. Edward Montagu. At all which my heart is above
measure glad; for my Lord's honour, and some profit to myself, I hope.
By and by, out with Mr. Shepley Walden, Parliament-man for
Huntingdon, Rolt, Mackworth, and Alderman Backwell, to a house
hard by, to drink Lambeth ale. So I back to the Wardrobe, and there
found my Lord going to Trinity House, this being the solemn day of
choosing Master, and my Lord is chosen, so he dines there to-day. I
staid and dined with my Lady; but after we were set, comes in some
persons of condition, and so the children and I rose and dined by
ourselves, all the children and I, and were very merry and they mighty
fond of me.