Diary, Mar/Apr 1664/65 | Page 6

Sir J. Lawson hath a great
loss in this of so many good chosen men, and many relations among
them. I went to the 'Change, where the news taken very much to heart.
So home to dinner, and Mr. Moore with me. Then I to Gresham
College, and there saw several pretty experiments, and so home and to
my office, and at night about I I home to supper and to bed.

9th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the afternoon. At noon to
dinner at home, and then abroad with my wife, left her at the New
Exchange and I to Westminster, where I hear Mrs. Martin is brought to
bed of a boy and christened Charles, which I am very glad of, for I was
fearful of being called to be a godfather to it. But it seems it was to be
done suddenly, and so I escaped. It is strange to see how a liberty and
going abroad without purpose of doing anything do lead a man to what
is bad, for I was just upon going to her, where I must of necessity [have]
broken my oath or made a forfeit. But I did not, company being (I
heard by my porter) with her, and so I home again, taking up my wife,
and was set down by her at Paule's Schoole, where I visited Mr.
Crumlum at his house; and, Lord! to see how ridiculous a conceited
pedagogue he is, though a learned man, he being so dogmaticall in all
he do and says. But among other discourse, we fell to the old discourse
of Paule's Schoole; and he did, upon my declaring my value of it, give
me one of Lilly's grammars of a very old impression, as it was in the
Catholique times, which I shall much set by. And so, after some small
discourse, away and called upon my wife at a linen draper's shop
buying linen, and so home, and to my office, where late, and home to

supper and to bed. This night my wife had a new suit of flowered
ash-coloured silke, very noble.

10th. Up, and to the office all the morning. At noon to the 'Change,
where very hot, people's proposal of the City giving the King' another
ship for "The London," that is lately blown up, which would be very
handsome, and if well managed, might be done; but I fear if it be put
into ill hands, or that the courtiers do solicit it, it will never be done.
Home to dinner, and thence to the Committee of Tangier at White Hall,
where my Lord Barkely and Craven and others; but, Lord! to see how
superficially things are done in the business of the Lottery, which will
be the disgrace of the Fishery, and without profit. Home, vexed at my
loss of time, and thereto my office. Late at night come the two
Bellamys, formerly petty warrant Victuallers of the Navy, to take my
advice about a navy debt of theirs for the compassing of which they
offer a great deal of money, and the thing most just. Perhaps I may
undertake it, and get something by it, which will be a good job. So
home late to bed.

11th. Up and to the office, at noon home to dinner, and to the office
again, where very late, and then home to supper and to bed. This day
returned Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes from Lee Roade, where they
have been to see the wrecke of "The London," out of which, they say,
the guns may be got, but the hull of her will be wholly lost, as not being
capable of being weighed.

12th (Lord's day). Up, and borrowing Sir J. Minnes's coach, to my Lord
Sandwich's, but he was gone abroad. I sent the coach back for my wife,
my Lord a second time dining at home on purpose to meet me, he
having not dined once at home but those times since his coming from
sea. I sat down and read over the Bishop of Chichester's' sermon upon
the anniversary of the King's death, much cried up, but, methinks, but a
mean sermon. By and by comes in my Lord, and he and I to talke of

many things in the Navy, one from another, in general, to see how the
greatest things are committed to very ordinary men, as to parts and
experience, to do; among others, my Lord Barkeley. We talked also of
getting W. Howe to be put into the Muster-Mastershipp in the roome of
Creed, if Creed will give way, but my Lord do it without any great
gusto, calling Howe a proud coxcomb in passion. Down to dinner,
where my