Diary, March 1667/68 | Page 8

being about him, wherein the Barons of
England, from many good arguments, very well expressed in the part
he read out of, do demand precedence in England of all noblemen of
either of the King's other two kingdoms, be their title what it will; and
did shew that they were in England reputed but as Commoners, and sat
in the House of Commons, and at conferences with the Lords did stand
bare. It was mighty worth my hearing: but the King did only say that he
would consider of it, and so dismissed them. Thence Brouncker and I to
the Committee of Miscarriages sitting in the Court of Wards, expecting
with Sir D. Gawden to have been heard against Prince Rupert's
complaints for want of victuals. But the business of Holmes's charge
against Sir Jer. Smith, which is a most shameful scandalous thing for
Flag officers to accuse one another of, and that this should be heard
here before men that understand it not at all, and after it hath been
examined and judged in before the King and Lord High Admirall and
other able seamen to judge, it is very hard. But this business did keep
them all the afternoon, so we not heard but put off to another day.

Thence, with the Lieutenant of the Tower, in his coach home; and there,
with great pleasure, with my wife, talking and playing at cards a
little--she, and I, and W. Hewer, and Deb., and so, after a little supper, I
to bed.

7th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, at noon home to
dinner, where Mercer with us, and after dinner she, my wife, Deb., and
I, to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Spanish Gipsys," the
second time of acting, and the first that I saw it. A very silly play, only
great variety of dances, and those most excellently done, especially one
part by one Hanes, only lately come thither from the Nursery, an
understanding fellow, but yet, they say, hath spent L1000 a-year before
he come thither. This day my wife and I full of thoughts about Mrs.
Pierces sending me word that she, and my old company, Harris and
Knipp, would come and dine with us next Wednesday, how we should
do-to receive or put them off, my head being, at this time, so full of
business, and my wife in no mind to have them neither, and yet I desire
it. Come to no resolution tonight. Home from the playhouse to the
office, where I wrote what I had to write, and among others to my
father to congratulate my sister's marriage, and so home to supper a
little and then to bed.

8th (Lord's day). At my sending to desire it, Sir J. Robinson, Lieutenant
of the Tower, did call me with his coach, and carried me to White Hall,
where met with very many people still that did congratulate my speech
the other day in the House of Commons, and I find all the world almost
rings of it. Here spent the morning walking and talking with one or
other, and among the rest with Sir W. Coventry, who I find full of care
in his own business, how to defend himself against those that have a
mind to choke him; and though, I believe, not for honour and for the
keeping his employment, but for his safety and reputation's sake, is
desirous to preserve himself free from blame, and among other mean
ways which himself did take notice to me to be but a mean thing he
desires me to get information against Captain Tatnell, thereby to
diminish his testimony, who, it seems, hath a mind to do W. Coventry
hurt: and I will do it with all my heart; for Tatnell is a very rogue. He
would be glad, too, that I could find anything proper for his taking

notice against Sir F. Hollis. At noon, after sermon, I to dinner with Sir
G. Carteret to Lincoln's Inn Fields, where I find mighty deal of
company--a solemn day for some of his and her friends, and dine in the
great dining-room above stairs, where Sir G. Carteret himself, and I,
and his son, at a little table by, the great table being full of strangers.
Here my Lady Jem. do promise to come, and bring my Lord
Hinchingbroke and his lady some day this week, to dinner to me, which
I am glad of. After dinner, I up with her husband, Sir Philip Carteret, to
his closet, where, beyond expectation, I do find many pretty things,
wherein he appears to be ingenious, such as in painting, and drawing,
and making of watches, and such kind of things, above my expectation;
though, when all is done, he