Diary, Oct/Nov 1664 | Page 7

matter by it. So home to bed, being weary and cold, but contented that I
have made an end of that business.

9th (Lord's day). Lay pretty long, but however up time enough with my
wife to go to church. Then home to dinner, and Mr. Fuller, my
Cambridge acquaintance, coming to me about what he was with me
lately, to release a waterman, he told me he was to preach at Barking
Church; and so I to heare him, and he preached well and neatly. Thence,
it being time enough, to our owne church, and there staid wholly
privately at the great doore to gaze upon a pretty lady, and from church
dogged her home, whither she went to a house near Tower hill, and I
think her to be one of the prettiest women I ever saw. So home, and at
my office a while busy, then to my uncle Wight's, whither it seems my
wife went after sermon and there supped, but my aunt and uncle in a
very ill humour one with another, but I made shift with much ado to
keep them from scolding, and so after supper home and to bed without
prayers, it being cold, and to-morrow washing day.

10th. Up and, it being rainy, in Sir W. Pen's coach to St. James's, and
there did our usual business with the Duke, and more and more
preparations every day appear against the Dutch, and (which I must
confess do a little move my envy) Sir W. Pen do grow every day more
and more regarded by the Duke,
["The duke had decided that the English fleet should consist of three
squadrons to be commanded by himself, Prince Rupert, and Lord
Sandwich, from which arrangement the two last, who were land
admirals; had concluded that Penn would have no concern in this fleet.
Neither the duke, Rupert, nor Sandwich had ever been engaged in an
encounter of fleets . . . . Penn alone of the four was familiar with all
these things. By the duke's unexpected announcement that he should
take Penn with him into his own ship, Rupert and Sandwich at once
discovered that they would be really and practically under Penn's

command in everything."]
because of his service heretofore in the Dutch warr which I am
confident is by some strong obligations he hath laid upon Mr. Coventry;
for Mr. Coventry must needs know that he is a man of very mean parts,
but only a bred seaman: Going home in coach with Sir W. Batten he
told me how Sir J. Minnes by the means of Sir R. Ford was the last
night brought to his house and did discover the reason of his so long
discontent with him, and now they are friends again, which I am sorry
for, but he told it me so plainly that I see there is no thorough
understanding between them, nor love, and so I hope there will be no
great combination in any thing, nor do I see Sir J. Minnes very fond as
he used to be. But: Sir W. Batten do raffle still against Mr. Turner and
his wife, telling me he is a false fellow, and his wife a false woman,
and has rotten teeth and false, set in with wire, and as I know they are
so, so I am glad he finds it so. To the Coffee-house, and thence to the
'Change, and therewith Sir W. Warren to the Coffee-house behind the
'Change, and sat alone with him till 4 o'clock talking of his businesses
first and then of business in general, and discourse how I might get
money and how to carry myself to advantage to contract no envy and
yet make the world see my pains; which was with great content to me,
and a good friend and helpe I am like to find him, for which God be
thanked! So home to dinner at 4 o'clock, and then to the office, and
there late, and so home to supper and to bed, having sat up till past
twelve at night to look over the account of the collections for the
Fishery, and the loose and base manner that monies so collected are
disposed of in, would make a man never part with a penny in that
manner, and, above all, the inconvenience of having a great man,
though never so seeming pious as my Lord Pembroke is. He is too great
to be called to an account, and is abused by his servants, and yet
obliged to defend them for his owne sake. This day, by the blessing of
God, my wife and I have been married nine years: but my head being
full of business, I did not think of it to