Diary, Mar/Apr 1665/66 | Page 6

him, which shall be
to-morrow, God willing. So to bed.

7th. Up betimes, and to St. James's, thinking Mr. Coventry had lain
there; but he do not, but at White Hall; so thither I went and had as
good a time as heart could wish, and after an houre in his chamber
about publique business he and I walked up, and the Duke being gone
abroad we walked an houre in the Matted Gallery: he of himself begun
to discourse of the unhappy differences between him and my Lord of
Sandwich, and from the beginning to the end did run through all
passages wherein my Lord hath, at any time, gathered any
dissatisfaction, and cleared himself to me most honourably; and in truth,
I do believe he do as he says. I did afterwards purge myself of all
partiality in the business of Sir G. Carteret, (whose story Sir W.
Coventry did also run over,) that I do mind the King's interest,
notwithstanding my relation to him; all which he declares he firmly
believes, and assures me he hath the same kindnesse and opinion of me
as ever. And when I said I was jealous of myself, that having now come
to such an income as I am, by his favour, I should not be found to do as
much service as might deserve it; he did assure me, he thinks it not too
much for me, but thinks I deserve it as much as any man in England.
All this discourse did cheer my heart, and sets me right again, after a

good deal of melancholy, out of fears of his disinclination to me, upon
the differences with my Lord Sandwich and Sir G. Carteret; but I am
satisfied throughly, and so went away quite another man, and by the
grace of God will never lose it again by my folly in not visiting and
writing to him, as I used heretofore to do. Thence by coach to the
Temple, and it being a holyday, a fast-day, there 'light, and took water,
being invited, and down to Greenwich, to Captain Cocke's, where dined,
he and Lord Bruncker, and Matt. Wren, Boltele, and Major Cooper,
who is also a very pretty companion; but they all drink hard, and, after
dinner, to gaming at cards. So I provoked my Lord to be gone, and he
and I to Mr. Cottle's and met Mrs. Williams (without whom he cannot
stir out of doors) and there took coach and away home. They carry me
to London and set me down at the Temple, where my mind changed
and I home, and to writing and heare my boy play on the lute, and a
turne with my wife pleasantly in the garden by moonshine, my heart
being in great peace, and so home to supper and to bed. The King and
Duke are to go to-morrow to Audly End, in order to the seeing and
buying of it of my Lord Suffolke.

8th. Up betimes and to the office, where all the morning sitting and did
discover three or four fresh instances of Sir W. Pen's old cheating
dissembling tricks, he being as false a fellow as ever was born. Thence
with Sir. W. Batten and Lord Bruncker to the White Horse in Lumbard
Streete to dine with Captain Cocke, upon particular business of canvas
to buy for the King, and here by chance I saw the mistresse of the
house I have heard much of, and a very pretty woman she is indeed and
her husband the simplest looked fellow and old that ever I saw. After
dinner I took coach and away to Hales's, where my wife is sitting; and,
indeed, her face and necke, which are now finished, do so please me
that I am not myself almost, nor was not all the night after in writing of
my letters, in consideration of the fine picture that I shall be master of.
Thence home and to the office, where very late, and so home to supper
and to bed.

9th. Up, and being ready, to the Cockpitt to make a visit to the Duke of
Albemarle, and to my great joy find him the same man to me that [he
has been] heretofore, which I was in great doubt of, through my

negligence in not visiting of him a great while; and having now set all
to rights there, I am in mighty ease in my mind and I think shall never
suffer matters to run so far backward again as I have done of late, with
reference to my neglecting him and Sir W. Coventry. Thence by water
down to Deptford, where I met my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Batten by
agreement, and to measuring Mr. Castle's new