Diary, Mar/Apr 1661/62 | Page 7

man, with a long grey beard and ordinary grey
clothes," entered the inn and begged for a private interview. He then
fell on his knees, and pulling off his disguise, discovered himself to be
Mr. Downing, then ambassador from Cromwell to the States-General.
He informed Charles that the Dutch had guaranteed to the English
Commonwealth to deliver him into their hands should he ever set foot
in their territory. This warning probably saved Charles's liberty.--M.
B.]

13th. All day, either at the office or at home, busy about business till
late at night, I having lately followed my business much, I find great
pleasure in it, and a growing content.

14th. At the office all the morning. At noon Sir W. Pen and I making a
bargain with the workmen about his house, at which I did see things not
so well contracted for as I would have, and I was vexed and made him
so too to see me so critical in the agreement. Home to dinner. In the
afternoon came the German Dr. Kuffler,
[This is the secret of Cornelius van Drebbel (1572-1634), which is
referred to again by Pepys on November 11th, 1663. Johannes Siberius
Kuffler was originally a dyer at Leyden, who married Drebbel's
daughter. In the "Calendar of State Papers, Domestic," 1661-62 (p.
327), is the following entry: "Request of Johannes Siberius Kuffler and
Jacob Drebble for a trial of their father Cornelius Drebble's secret of
sinking or destroying ships in a moment; and if it succeed, for a reward

of L10,000. The secret was left them by will, to preserve for the
English crown before any other state." Cornelius van Drebbel settled in
London, where he died. James I. took some interest in him, and is said
to have interfered when he was in prison in Austria and in danger of
execution.]
to discourse with us about his engine to blow up ships. We doubted not
the matter of fact, it being tried in Cromwell's time, but the safety of
carrying them in ships; but he do tell us, that when he comes to tell the
King his secret (for none but the Kings, successively, and their heirs
must know it), it will appear to be of no danger at all. We concluded
nothing; but shall discourse with the Duke of York to-morrow about it.
In the afternoon, after we had done with him, I went to speak with my
uncle Wight and found my aunt to have been ill a good while of a
miscarriage, I staid and talked with her a good while. Thence home,
where I found that Sarah the maid had been very ill all day, and my
wife fears that she will have an ague, which I am much troubled for.
Thence to my lute, upon which I have not played a week or two, and
trying over the two songs of "Nulla, nulla," &c., and "Gaze not on
Swans," which Mr. Berkenshaw set for me a little while ago, I find
them most incomparable songs as he has set them, of which I am not a
little proud, because I am sure none in the world has them but myself,
not so much as he himself that set them. So to bed.

15th. With Sir G. Carteret and both the Sir Williams at Whitehall to
wait on the Duke in his chamber, which we did about getting money for
the Navy and other things. So back again to the office all the morning.
Thence to the Exchange to hire a ship for the Maderas, but could get
none. Then home to dinner, and Sir G. Carteret and I all the afternoon
by ourselves upon business in the office till late at night. So to write
letters and home to bed. Troubled at my maid's being ill.

16th (Lord's day). This morning, till churches were done, I spent going
from one church to another and hearing a bit here and a bit there. So to
the Wardrobe to dinner with the young Ladies, and then into my Lady's
chamber and talked with her a good while, and so walked to White Hall,
an hour or two in the Park, which is now very pleasant. Here the King
and Duke came to see their fowl play. The Duke took very civil notice

of me. So walked home, calling at Tom's, giving him my resolution
about my boy's livery. Here I spent an hour walking in the garden with
Sir W. Pen, and then my wife and I thither to supper, where his son
William is at home not well. But all things, I fear, do not go well with
them; they look discontentedly, but I know not what ails them.
Drinking of cold small beer here I fell