Diary, May/Jun 1665 | Page 8

to supper and to bed, weary.

17th. Up, and by appointment to a meeting of Sir John Lawson and Mr.
Cholmly's atturney and Mr. Povy at the Swan taverne at Westminster to
settle their business about my being secured in the payment of money
to Sir J. Lawson in the other's absence. Thence at Langford's, where I
never was since my brother died there. I find my wife and Mercer,
having with him agreed upon two rich silk suits for me, which is fit for
me to have, but yet the money is too much, I doubt, to lay out
altogether; but it is done, and so let it be, it being the expense of the
world that I can the best bear with and the worst spare. Thence home,
and after dinner to the office, where late, and so home to supper and to
bed. Sir J. Minnes and I had an angry bout this afternoon with
Commissioner Pett about his neglecting his duty and absenting himself,
unknown to us, from his place at Chatham, but a most false man I every
day find him more and more, and in this very full of equivocation. The
fleete we doubt not come to Harwich by this time. Sir W. Batten is
gone down this day thither, and the Duchesse of Yorke went down
yesterday to meet the Duke.

18th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes to the Duke of Albemarle, where we
did much business, and I with good content to myself; among other
things we did examine Nixon and Stanesby, about their late running
from two Dutchmen;
[Captain Edward Nixon, of the "Elizabeth," and Captain John Stanesby,
of the "Eagle." John Lanyon wrote to the Navy Commissioners from
Plymouth, May 16th: "Understands from the seamen that the conduct
of Captains Nixon and Stanesby in their late engagement with two
Dutch capers was very foul; the night they left the Dutch, no lights
were put out as formerly, and though in sight of them in the morning,
they still kept on their way; the Eagle lay by some time, and both the

enemy's ships plied on her, but finding the Elizabeth nearly out of sight
she also made sail; it is true the wind and sea were high, but there were
no sufficient reasons for such endeavours to get from them." ("Calendar
of State Papers," Domestic, 1664-65, p. 367). Both captains were tried;
Nixon was condemned to be shot but Stanesby was cleared, and
Charnock asserts that he was commander the "Happy Return" in 1672.]
for which they are committed to a vessel to carry them to the fleete to
be tried. A most fowle unhandsome thing as ever was heard, for plain
cowardice on Nixon's part. Thence with the Duke of Albemarle in his
coach to my Lord Treasurer, and there was before the King (who ever
now calls me by my name) and Lord Chancellor, and many other great
Lords, discoursing about insuring of some of the King's goods, wherein
the King accepted of my motion that we should; and so away, well
pleased. To the office, and dined, and then to the office again, and
abroad to speak with Sir G. Carteret; but, Lord! to see how fraile a man
I am, subject to my vanities, that can hardly forbear, though pressed
with never so much business, my pursuing of pleasure, but home I got,
and there very busy very late. Among other things consulting with Mr.
Andrews about our Tangier business, wherein we are like to meet with
some trouble, and my Lord Bellasses's endeavour to supplant us, which
vexes my mind; but, however, our undertaking is so honourable that we
shall stand a tug for it I think. So home to supper and to bed.

19th. Up, and to White Hall, where the Committee for Tangier met, and
there, though the case as to the merit of it was most plain and most of
the company favourable to our business, yet it was with much ado that I
got the business not carried fully against us, but put off to another day,
my Lord Arlington being the great man in it, and I was sorry to be
found arguing so greatly against him. The business I believe will in the
end be carried against us, and the whole business fall; I must therefore
endeavour the most I can to get money another way. It vexed me to see
Creed so hot against it, but I cannot much blame him, having never
declared to him my being concerned in it. But that that troubles me
most is my Lord Arlington calls to me privately and asks me whether I
had ever said to any body that I desired to leave this employment,
having not