Diary, Nov/Dec 1663 | Page 7

begun to talk of the Court, and he tells me how Mr.
Edward Montagu begins to show respect to him again after his
endeavouring to bespatter him all was, possible; but he is resolved
never to admit him into his friendship again. He tells me how he and
Sir H. Bennet, the Duke of Buckingham and his Duchesse, was of a
committee with somebody else for the getting of Mrs. Stewart for the
King; but that she proves a cunning slut, and is advised at Somerset
House by the Queene-Mother, and by her mother, and so all the plot is

spoiled and the whole committee broke. Mr. Montagu and the Duke of
Buckingham fallen a-pieces, the Duchesse going to a nunnery; and so
Montagu begins to enter friendship with my Lord, and to attend the
Chancellor whom he had deserted. My Lord tells me that Mr. Montagu,
among other things, did endeavour to represent him to the Chancellor's
sons as one that did desert their father in the business of my Lord of
Bristoll; which is most false, being the only man that hath several times
dined with him when no soul hath come to him, and went with him that
very day home when the Earl impeached him in the Parliament House,
and hath refused ever to pay a visit to my Lord of Bristoll, not so much
as in return to a visit of his. So that the Chancellor and my Lord are
well known and trusted one by another. But yet my Lord blames the
Chancellor for desiring to have it put off to the next Session of
Parliament, contrary to my Lord Treasurer's advice, to whom he swore
he would not do it: and, perhaps, my Lord Chancellor, for aught I see
by my Lord's discourse, may suffer by it when the Parliament comes to
sit. My Lord tells me that he observes the Duke of York do follow and
understand business very well, and is mightily improved thereby. Here
Mr. Pagett coming in I left my Lord and him, and thence I called my
wife and her maid Jane and by coach home and to my office, where late
writing some things against tomorrow, and so home to supper and to
bed. This morning Mr. Blackburne came to me to let me know that he
had got a lodging very commodious for his kinsman, and so he is ready
at my pleasure to go when I would bid him, and so I told him that I
would in a day or two send to speak with him and he and I would talk
and advise Will what to do, of which I am very glad.

7th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and Sir W. Pen
and I had a word or two, where by opposing him in not being willing to
excuse a mulct put upon the purser of the James, absent from duty, he
says, by his business and order, he was mighty angry, and went out of
the office like an asse discontented: At which I am never a whit sorry; I
would not have [him] think that I dare not oppose him, where I see
reason and cause for it. Home to dinner, and then by coach abroad
about several businesses to several places, among others to
Westminster Hall, where, seeing Howlett's daughter going out of the

other end of the Hall, I followed her if I would to have offered talk to
her and dallied with her a little, but I could not overtake her. Then
calling at Unthank's for something of my wife's not done, a pretty little
gentlewoman, a lodger there, came out to tell me that it was not yet
done, which though it vexed me yet I took opportunity of taking her by
the hand with the boot, and so found matter to talk a little the longer to
her, but I was ready to laugh at myself to see how my anger would not
operate, my disappointment coming to me by such a messenger.
Thence to Doctors' Commons and there consulted Dr. Turner about
some differences we have with the officers of the East India ships about
goods brought by them without paying freight, which we demand of
them. So home to my office, and there late writing letters, and so home
to supper and to bed, having got a scurvy cold by lying cold in my head
the last night. This day Captain Taylor brought me a piece of plate, a
little small state dish, he expecting that I should get him some
allowance for demorage
["'Demurrage' is the compensation due to a shipowner from a freighter
for unduly decaying his vessel in port beyond the time specified in the