Diary, May 1660 | Page 6

Proclamation, I returned to the Nazeby, where my Lord was much
pleased to hear how all the fleet took it in a transport of joy, showed me
a private letter of the King's to him, and another from the Duke of York
in such familiar style as to their common friend, with all kindness
imaginable. And I found by the letters, and so my Lord told me too,
that there had been many letters passed between them for a great while,
and I perceive unknown to Monk. And among the rest that had carried
these letters Sir John Boys is one, and that Mr. Norwood, which had a
ship to carry him over the other day, when my Lord would not have me
put down his name in the book. The King speaks of his being courted
to come to the Hague, but do desire my Lord's advice whither to come
to take ship. And the Duke offers to learn the seaman's trade of him, in
such familiar words as if Jack Cole and I had writ them. This was very
strange to me, that my Lord should carry all things so wisely and
prudently as he do, and I was over joyful to see him in so good

condition, and he did not a little please himself to tell me how he had
provided for himself so great a hold on the King.
After this to supper, and then to writing of letters till twelve at night,
and so up again at three in the morning. My Lord seemed to put great
confidence in me, and would take my advice in many things. I perceive
his being willing to do all the honour in the world to Monk, and to let
him have all the honour of doing the business, though he will many
times express his thoughts of him to be but a thick-sculled fool. So that
I do believe there is some agreement more than ordinary between the
King and my Lord to let Monk carry on the business, for it is he that
must do the business, or at least that can hinder it, if he be not flattered
and observed. This, my Lord will hint himself sometimes. My Lord, I
perceive by the King's letter, had writ to him about his father,
Crew,--[When only seventeen years old, Montagu had married Jemima,
daughter of John Crew, created afterwards Baron Crew of Stene.]--and
the King did speak well of him; but my Lord tells me, that he is afeard
that he hath too much concerned himself with the Presbyterians against
the House of Lords, which will do him a great discourtesy.

4th. I wrote this morning many letters, and to all the copies of the vote
of the council of war I put my name, that if it should come in print my
name maybe at it. I sent a copy of the vote to Doling, inclosed in this
letter:
"SIR,
"He that can fancy a fleet (like ours) in her pride, with pendants loose,
guns roaring, caps flying, and the loud 'Vive le Roys,' echoed from one
ship's company to another, he, and he only, can apprehend the joy this
inclosed vote was received with, or the blessing he thought himself
possessed of that bore it, and is
"Your humble servant."
About nine o'clock I got all my letters done, and sent them by the
messenger that came yesterday. This morning came Captain Isham on
board with a gentleman going to the King, by whom very cunningly,
my Lord tells me, he intends to send an account of this day's and
yesterday's actions here, notwithstanding he had writ to the Parliament
to have leave of them to send the King the answer of the fleet. Since
my writing of the last paragraph, my Lord called me to him to read his

letter to the King, to see whether I could find any slips in it or no. And
as much of the letter' as I can remember, is thus:
"May it please your Most Excellent Majesty," and so begins.
"That he yesterday received from General Monk his Majesty's letter
and direction; and that General Monk had desired him to write to the
Parliament to have leave to send the vote of the seamen before he did
send it to him, which he had done by writing to both Speakers; but for
his private satisfaction he had sent it thus privately (and so the copy of
the proceedings yesterday was sent him), and that this come by a
gentleman that came this day on board, intending to wait upon his
Majesty, that he is my Lord's countryman, and one whose friends have
suffered much on his Majesty's behalf. That my Lords Pembroke and
Salisbury are put out of