Diary, May/Jun 1663 | Page 9

with Mr.
Coventry, while he made himself ready, about several businesses of the
Navy, and afterwards, the Duke being gone out, he and I walked to
White Hall together over the Park, I telling him what had happened to
Tom Hater, at which he seems very sorry, but tells me that if it is not
made very publique, it will not be necessary to put him away at present,
but give him good caution for the time to come. However, he will
speak to the Duke about it and know his pleasure. Parted with him there,
and I walked back to St. James's, and was there at mass, and was forced
in the crowd to kneel down; and mass being done, to the King's Head
ordinary, whither I sent for Mr. Creed and there we dined, where many
Parliament- men; and most of their talk was about the news from
Scotland, that the Bishop of Galloway was besieged in his house by
some woman, and had like to have been outraged, but I know not how
he was secured; which is bad news, and looks just as it did in the
beginning of the late troubles. From thence they talked of rebellion; and
I perceive they make it their great maxime to be sure to master the City
of London, whatever comes of it or from it. After that to some other
discourse, and, among other things, talking of the way of ordinaries,
that it is very convenient, because a man knows what he hath to pay:
one did wish that, among many bad, we could learn two good things of
France, which were that we would not think it below the gentleman, or
person of honour at a tavern, to bargain for his meat before he eats it;
and next, to take no servant without certificate from some friend or
gentleman of his good behaviour and abilities. Hence with Creed into
St. James's Park, and there walked all the afternoon, and thence on foot
home, and after a little while at my office walked in the garden with my
wife, and so home to supper, and after prayers to bed. My brother Tom
supped with me, and should have brought my aunt Ellen with him; she

was not free to go abroad.

11th. Up betimes, and by water to Woolwich on board the Royall
James, to see in what dispatch she is to be carried about to Chatham. So
to the yard a little, and thence on foot to Greenwich, where going I was
set upon by a great dogg, who got hold of my garters, and might have
done me hurt; but, Lord, to see in what a maze I was, that, having a
sword about me, I never thought of it, or had the heart to make use of it,
but might, for want of that courage, have been worried. Took water
there and home, and both coming and going did con my lesson on my
Ruler to measure timber, which I think I can well undertake now to do.
At home there being Pembleton I danced, and I think shall come on to
do something in a little time, and after dinner by coach with Sir W. Pen
(setting down his daughter at Clerkenwell), to St. James's, where we
attended the Duke of York: and, among other things, Sir G. Carteret
and I had a great dispute about the different value of the pieces of eight
rated by Mr. Creed at 4s. and 5d., and by Pitts at 4s. and 9d., which was
the greatest husbandry to the King? he persisting that the greatest sum
was; which is as ridiculous a piece of ignorance as could be imagined.
However, it is to be argued at the Board, and reported to the Duke next
week; which I shall do with advantage, I hope. Thence to the Tangier
Committee, where we should have concluded in sending Captain
Cuttance and the rest to Tangier to deliberate upon the design of the
Mole before they begin to work upon it, but there being not a
committee (my Lord intending to be there but was taken up at my Lady
Castlemayne's) I parted and went homeward, after a little discourse
with Mr. Pierce the surgeon, who tells me that my Lady Castlemaine
hath now got lodgings near the King's chamber at Court; and that the
other day Dr. Clerke and he did dissect two bodies, a man and a woman;
before the King, with which the King was highly pleased. By water and
called upon Tom Trice by appointment with Dr. Williams, but the Dr.
did not come, it seems by T. Trice's desire, not thinking he should be at
leisure. However, in general we talked of our business, and I