Diary, Mar/Apr 1664/65 | Page 8

a noble present of two large silver candlesticks
and snuffers, and a slice to keep them upon, which indeed is very
handsome. At night come Mr. Andrews with L36, the further fruits of
my Tangier contract, and so to bed late and weary with business, but in
good content of mind, blessing God for these his benefits.

17th. Up and to my office, and then with Sir W. Batten to St. James's,
where many come to take leave, as was expected, of the Duke, but he
do not go till Monday. This night my Lady Wood died of the small-pox,
and is much lamented among the great persons for a good-natured
woman and a good wife, but for all that it was ever believed she was as
others are. The Duke did give us some commands, and so broke up, not
taking leave of him. But the best piece of newes is, that instead of a
great many troublesome Lords, the whole business is to be left with the
Duke of Albemarle to act as Admirall in his stead; which is a thing that
do cheer my heart. For the other would have vexed us with attendance,
and never done the business. Thence to the Committee of Tangier,
where the Duke a little, and then left us and we staid. A very great
Committee, the Lords Albemarle, Sandwich, Barkely, Fitzharding,
Peterborough, Ashley, Sir Thos. Ingram, Sir G. Carteret and others.
The whole business was the stating of Povy's accounts, of whom to say
no more, never could man say worse himself nor have worse said of
him than was by the company to his face; I mean, as to his folly and
very reflecting words to his honesty. Broke up without anything but
trouble and shame, only I got my businesses done to the signing of two
bills for the Contractors and Captain Taylor, and so come away well
pleased, and home, taking up my wife at the 'Change, to dinner. After
dinner out again bringing my wife to her father's again at Charing Cross,
and I to the Committee again, where a new meeting of trouble about
Povy, who still makes his business worse and worse, and broke up with

the most open shame again to him, and high words to him of disgrace
that they would not trust him with any more money till he had given an
account of this. So broke up. Then he took occasion to desire me to step
aside, and he and I by water to London together. In the way, of his
owne accord, he proposed to me that he would surrender his place of
Treasurer' to me to have half the profit. The thing is new to me; but the
more I think the more I like it, and do put him upon getting it done by
the Duke. Whether it takes or no I care not, but I think at present it may
have some convenience in it. Home, and there find my wife come home
and gone to bed, of a cold got yesterday by water. At the office
Bellamy come to me again, and I am in hopes something may be got by
his business. So late home to supper and bed.

18th. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon to the
'Change, and took Mr. Hill along with me to Mr. Povy's, where we
dined, and shewed him the house to his good content, and I expect
when we meet we shall laugh at it. But I having business to stay, he
went away, and Povy and Creed and I to do some business upon Povy's
accounts all the afternoon till late at night, where, God help him! never
man was so confounded, and all his people about him in this world as
he and his are. After we had done something [to the] purpose we broke
up, and Povy acquainted me before Creed (having said something of it
also this morning at our office to me) what he had done in speaking to
the Duke and others about his making me Treasurer, and has carried it a
great way, so as I think it cannot well be set back. Creed, I perceive,
envies me in it, but I think as that will do me no hurte, so if it did I am
at a great losse to think whether it were not best for me to let it wholly
alone, for it will much disquiett me and my business of the Navy,
which in this warr will certainly be worth all my time to me. Home,
continuing in this doubtfull condition what to think of it, but God
Almighty do his will in it for the best. To my office, where