Diary, Oct/Nov 1664 | Page 8

keep it in any extraordinary
manner. But bless God for our long lives and loves and health together,
which the same God long continue, I wish, from my very heart!

11th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. My wife this
morning went, being invited, to my Lady Sandwich, and I alone at

home at dinner, till by and by Luellin comes and dines with me. He
tells me what a bawdy loose play this "Parson's Wedding" is, that is
acted by nothing but women at the King's house, and I am glad of it.
Thence to the Fishery in Thames Street, and there several good
discourses about the letting of the Lotterys, and, among others, one Sir
Thomas Clifford, whom yet I knew not, do speak very well and neatly.
Thence I to my cozen Will Joyce to get him to go to Brampton with me
this week, but I think he will not, and I am not a whit sorry for it, for
his company both chargeable and troublesome. So home and to my
office, and then to supper and then to my office again till late, and so
home, with my head and heart full of business, and so to bed. My wife
tells me the sad news of my Lady Castlemayne's being now become so
decayed, that one would not know her; at least far from a beauty, which
I am sorry for. This day with great joy Captain Titus told us the
particulars of the French's expedition against Gigery upon the Barbary
Coast, in the Straights, with 6,000 chosen men. They have taken the
Fort of Gigery, wherein were five men and three guns, which makes the
whole story of the King of France's policy and power to be laughed at.

12th. This morning all the morning at my office ordering things against
my journey to-morrow. At noon to the Coffeehouse, where very good
discourse. For newes, all say De Ruyter is gone to Guinny before us.
Sir J. Lawson is come to Portsmouth; and our fleete is hastening all
speed: I mean this new fleete. Prince Rupert with his is got into the
Downes. At home dined with me W. Joyce and a friend of his. W.
Joyce will go with me to Brampton. After dinner I out to Mr. Bridges,
the linnen draper, and evened with (him) for 100 pieces of callico, and
did give him L208 18s., which I now trust the King for, but hope both
to save the King money and to get a little by it to boot. Thence by water
up and down all the timber yards to look out some Dram timber, but
can find none for our turne at the price I would have; and so I home,
and there at my office late doing business against my journey to clear
my hands of every thing for two days. So home and to supper and bed.

13th. After being at the office all the morning, I home and dined, and
taking leave of my wife with my mind not a little troubled how she
would look after herself or house in my absence, especially, too,

leaving a considerable sum of money in the office, I by coach to the
Red Lyon in Aldersgate Street, and there, by agreement, met W. Joyce
and Tom Trice, and mounted, I upon a very fine mare that Sir W.
Warren helps me to, and so very merrily rode till it was very darke, I
leading the way through the darke to Welling, and there, not being very
weary, to supper and to bed. But very bad accommodation at the Swan.
In this day's journey I met with Mr. White, Cromwell's chaplin that was,
and had a great deale of discourse with him. Among others, he tells me
that Richard is, and hath long been, in France, and is now going into
Italy. He owns publiquely that he do correspond, and return him all his
money. That Richard hath been in some straits at the beginning; but
relieved by his friends. That he goes by another name, but do not
disguise himself, nor deny himself to any man that challenges him. He
tells me, for certain, that offers had been made to the old man, of
marriage between the King and his daughter, to have obliged him, but
he would not.
[The Protector wished the Duke of Buckingham to marry his daughter
Frances. She married, 1. Robert Rich, grandson and heir to Robert, Earl
of Warwick, on November 11th, 1657, who died in the following
February; 2. Sir John Russell, Bart. She died January 27th, 1721-22,
aged eighty-four. In T. Morrice's life of Roger, Earl of Orrery, prefixed
to Orrery's "State Letters" (Dublin, 1743, vol. i.,