Diary, May 1667 | Page 9

up. Then home to dinner, where W. Hewer dined with us, and
he and I after dinner to discourse of Carcasses business, wherein I
apparently now do manage it wholly against my Lord Bruncker, Sir W.
Pen, like a false rogue, shrinking out of the collar, Sir J. Minnes, afoot,
being easily led either way, and Sir W. Batten, a malicious fellow that
is not able to defend any thing, so that the whole odium must fall on me,
which I will therefore beware how I manage that I may not get enemies
to no purpose. It vexes me to see with what a company I am mixed, but
then it pleases me to see that I am reckoned the chief mover among
them, as they do, confess and esteem me in every thing. Thence to the
office, and did business, and then by coach to St. James's again, but [Sir]
W. Coventry not within, so I wrote something to him, and then straight
back again and to Sir W. Batten's, and there talked with him and [Sir] J.
Minnes, who are mighty hot in Carcasses business, but their judgment's
not to be trusted. However, I will go through with it, or otherwise we
shall be all slaves to my Lord Bruncker and his man's impudence. So to
the office a little, and then home to supper and to bed, after hearing my
wife sing, who is manifestly come to be more musical in her eare than
ever I thought she could have been made, which rejoices me to the
heart, for I take great delight now to hear her sing.

8th. Up pretty betimes and out of doors, and in Fen Church street met
Mr. Lovett going with a picture to me, but I could not stand to
discourse or see it, but on to the next hackney coach and so to Sir W.
Coventry, where he and I alone a while discoursing of some businesses
of the office, and then up to the Duke of York to his chamber with my
fellow brethren who are come, and so did our usual weekly business,
which was but little to-day, and I was glad that the business of Carcasse
was not mentioned because our report was not ready, but I am resolved
it shall against the next coming to the Duke of York. Here was
discourse about a way of paying our old creditors which did please me,
there being hopes of getting them comprehended within the 11 months
Tax, and this did give occasion for Sir G. Carteret's and my going to Sir
Robert Long to discourse it, who do agree that now the King's Council

do say that they may be included in the Act, which do make me very
glad, not so much for the sake of the poor men as for the King, for it
would have been a ruin to him and his service not to have had a way to
have paid the debt. There parted with Sir G. Carteret and into
Westminster Hall, where I met with Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I to Sir
Ph. Warwicke's to speak a little about our Tangier business, but to little
purpose, my Lord Treasurer being so ill that no business can be done.
Thence with Sir H. Cholmly to find out Creed from one lodging to
another, which he hath changed so often that there is no finding him,
but at last do come to his lodging that he is entering into this day, and
do find his goods unlading at the door, by Scotland Yard, and there I
set down Sir H. Cholmly, and I away to the 'Change, where spoke
about several things, and then going home did meet Mr. Andrews our
neighbour, and did speak with him to enquire about the ground behind
our house, of which I have a mind to buy enough to make a stable and
coach-house; for I do see that my condition do require it, as well as that
it is more charge to my purse to live as I do than to keep one, and
therefore I am resolved before winter to have one, unless some
extraordinary thing happens to hinder me. He promises me to look after
it for me, and so I home to dinner, where I find my wife's flageolette
master, and I am so pleased with her proceeding, though she hath lost
time by not practising, that I am resolved for the, encouragement of the
man to learn myself a little for a month or so, for I do foresee if God
send my wife and I to live, she will become very good company for me.
He gone, comes Lovett with my little print of my dear Lady
Castlemayne varnished,