Diary, May 1660 | Page 7

the House of Lords. That my Lord is very
joyful that other countries do pay him the civility and respect due to
him; and that he do much rejoice to see that the King do resolve to
receive none of their assistance (or some such words), from them, he
having strength enough in the love and loyalty of his own subjects to
support him. That his Majesty had chosen the best place,
Scheveling,--[Schevingen, the port of the Hague]--for his embarking,
and that there is nothing in the world of which he is more ambitious,
than to have the honour of attending his Majesty, which he hoped
would be speedy. That he had commanded the vessel to attend at
Helversluce--[Hellevoetsluis, in South Holland] --till this gentleman
returns, that so if his Majesty do not think it fit to command the fleet
himself, yet that he may be there to receive his commands and bring
them to his Lordship. He ends his letter, that he is confounded with the
thoughts of the high expressions of love to him in the King's letter, and
concludes,
"Your most loyall, dutifull, faithfull and obedient subject and servant, E.
M."
The rest of the afternoon at ninepins. In the evening came a packet
from London, among the rest a letter from my wife, which tells me that
she has not been well, which did exceedingly trouble me, but my Lord
sending Mr. Cook at night, I wrote to her and sent a piece of gold
enclosed to her, and wrote also to Mrs. Bowyer, and enclosed a half
piece to her for a token. After supper at the table in the coach, my Lord
talking concerning the uncertainty of the places of the Exchequer to

them that had them now; he did at last think of an office which do
belong to him in case the King do restore every man to his places that
ever had been patent, which is to be one of the clerks of the signet,
which will be a fine employment for one of his sons. After all this
discourse we broke up and to bed.
In the afternoon came a minister on board, one Mr. Sharpe, who is
going to the King; who tells me that Commissioners are chosen both of
Lords and Commons to go to the King; and that Dr. Clarges
[Thomas Clarges, physician to the army, created a baronet, 1674, died
1695. He had been previously knighted; his sister Anne married
General Monk. "The Parliament also permitted General Monk to send
Mr. Clarges, his brother-in-law, accompanied with some officers of the
army, to assure his Majesty of the fidelity and obedience of the army,
which had made publick and solemn protestations thereof, after the
Letter and Declaration was communicated unto them by the
General."--Sir William Lowers Relation . . . of the Voiage and
Residence which . . . Charles the II. Hath made in Holland, Hague,
1660, folio.]
is going to him from the Army, and that he will be here to-morrow. My
letters at night tell me, that the House did deliver their letter to Sir John
Greenville, in answer to the King's sending, and that they give him
L500 for his pains, to buy him a jewel, and that besides the L50,000
ordered to be borrowed of the City for the present use of the King, the
twelve companies of the City do give every one of them to his Majesty,
as a present, L1000.

5th. All the morning very busy writing letters to London, and a packet
to Mr. Downing, to acquaint him with what had been done lately in the
fleet. And this I did by my Lord's command, who, I thank him, did of
himself think of doing it, to do me a kindness, for he writ a letter
himself to him, thanking him for his kindness to me. All the afternoon
at ninepins, at night after supper good musique, my Lord, Mr. North, I
and W. Howe. After that to bed. This evening came Dr. Clarges to Deal,
going to the King; where the towns-people strewed the streets with
herbes against his coming, for joy of his going. Never was there so
general a content as there is now. I cannot but remember that our
parson did, in his prayer to-night, pray for the long life and happiness

of our King and dread Soveraign, that may last as long as the sun and
moon endureth.

6th (Lord's day). This morning while we were at sermon comes in Dr.
Clarges and a dozen gentlemen to see my Lord, who, after sermon,
dined with him; I remember that last night upon discourse concerning
Clarges my Lord told me that he was a man of small
entendimiento.--[Entendimiento, Spanish: the understanding.]--This
afternoon there was