Diary, March 1663/64 | Page 5

of Creed in his Secretaryship. For he tells me
that he is confident my Lord do not love him nor will trust him in any
secret matter, he is so cunning and crafty in all he do. So my wife and I
out of doors thinking to have gone to have seen a play, but when we
came to take coach, they tell us there are none this week, being the first
of Lent. But, Lord! to see how impatient I found myself within to see a
play, I being at liberty once a month to see one, and I think it is the best
method I could have taken. But to my office, did very much business
with several people till night, and so home, being unwilling to stay late

because of my eye which is not yet well of the rheum that is fallen
down into it, but to supper and to bed.

4th. Up, my eye being pretty well, and then by coach to my Lord
Sandwich, with whom I spoke, walking a good while with him in his
garden, which and the house is very fine, talking of my Lord
Peterborough's accounts, wherein he is concerned both for the foolery
as also inconvenience which may happen upon my Lord Peterborough's
ill-stating of his matters, so as to have his gaine discovered
unnecessarily. We did talk long and freely that I hope the worst is past
and all will be well. There were several people by trying a new-fashion
gun
[Many attempts to produce a satisfactory revolver were made in former
centuries, but it was not till the present one that Colt's revolver was
invented. On February 18th, 1661, Edward, Marquis of Worcester,
obtained Letters Patent for "an invencon to make certeyne guns or
pistolls which in the tenth parte of one minute of an houre may, with a
flaske contrived to that purpose, be re-charged the fourth part of one
turne of the barrell which remaines still fixt, fastening it as forceably
and effectually as a dozen thrids of any scrue, which in the ordinary
and usual way require as many turnes." On March 3rd, 1664, Abraham
Hill obtained Letters Patent for a "gun or pistoll for small shott,
carrying seaven or eight charges of the same in the stocke of the gun."]
brought my Lord this morning, to shoot off often, one after another,
without trouble or danger, very pretty. Thence to the Temple, and there
taking White's boat down to Woolwich, taking Mr. Shish at Deptford in
my way, with whom I had some good discourse of the Navy business.
At Woolwich discoursed with him and Mr. Pett about iron worke and
other businesses, and then walked home, and at Greenwich did observe
the foundation laying of a very great house for the King, which will
cost a great deale of money.
[Building by John Webb; now a part of Greenwich Hospital. Evelyn
wrote in his Diary, October 19th, 1661: "I went to London to visite my
Lord of Bristoll, having been with Sir John Denham (his Mates
surveyor) to consult with him about the placing of his palace at
Greenwich, which I would have had built between the river and the
Queene's house, so as a large cutt should have let in ye Thames like a

bay; but Sir John was for setting it in piles at the very brink of the water,
which I did not assent to and so came away, knowing Sir John to be a
better poet than architect, tho' he had Mr. Webb (Inigo Jones's man) to
assist him."]
So home to dinner, and my uncle Wight coming in he along with my
wife and I by coach, and setting him down by the way going to Mr.
Maes we two to my Lord Sandwich's to visit my Lady, with whom I
left my wife discoursing, and I to White Hall, and there being met by
the Duke of Yorke, he called me to him and discoursed a pretty while
with me about the new ship's dispatch building at Woolwich, and
talking of the charge did say that he finds always the best the most
cheape, instancing in French guns, which in France you may buy for 4
pistoles, as good to look to as others of 16, but not the service. I never
had so much discourse with the Duke before, and till now did ever fear
to meet him. He found me and Mr. Prin together talking of the Chest
money, which we are to blame not to look after. Thence to my Lord's,
and took up my wife, whom my Lady hath received with her old good
nature and kindnesse, and so homewards, and she home, I 'lighting by
the way, and upon the 'Change met