Diary, October 1667 | Page 5

to my tailor's, and there, the coachman
desiring to go home to change his horses, we went with him into a
nasty end of all St. Giles's, and there went into a nasty room, a chamber
of his, where he hath a wife and child, and there staid, it growing dark
too, and I angry thereat, till he shifted his horses, and then home apace,
and there I to business late, and so home, to supper, and walk in the
garden with my wife and girle, with whom we are mightily pleased,
and after talking and supping, to bed. This noon, going home, I did call
on Will Lincolne and agree with him to carry me to Brampton.

4th. Up, and to White Hall to attend the Council about Commissioner
Pett's business, along with my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Pen, and in
the Robe-chamber the Duke of York come to us, the officers of the
Navy, and there did meet together about Navy business, where Sir W.
Coventry was with us, and among other things did recommend his
Royal Highness, now the prizes were disposing, to remember Sir John
Harman to the King, for some bounty, and also for my Lady Minnes,

which was very nobly done of him. Thence all of us to attend the
Council, where we were anon called on, and there was a long hearing
of Commissioner Pett, who was there, and there were the two Masters
Attendant of Chatham called in, who do deny their having any order
from Commissioner Pett about bringing up the great ships, which gives
the lie to what he says; but, in general, I find him to be but a weak, silly
man, and that is guilty of horrid neglect in this business all along. Here
broke off without coming to an issue, but that there should be another
hearing on Monday next. So the Council rose, and I staid walking up
and down the galleries till the King went to dinner, and then I to my
Lord Crew's to dinner; but he having dined, I took a very short leave,
confessing I had not dined; and so to an ordinary hard by the
Temple-gate, where I have heretofore been, and there dined--cost me
10d. And so to my Lord Ashly's, where after dinner Sir H. Cholmly,
Creed and I, with his Lordship, about Mr. Yeabsly's business, where
having come to agreement with him abating him L1000 of what he
demands for ships lost, I to Westminster, to Mrs. Martin's lodging,
whither I sent for her, and there hear that her husband is come from sea,
which is sooner than I expected; and here I staid and drank, and so did
toucher elle and away, and so by coach to my tailor's, and thence to my
Lord Crew's, and there did stay with him an hour till almost night,
discoursing about the ill state of my Lord Sandwich, that he can neither
be got to be called home, nor money got to maintain him there; which
will ruin his family. And the truth is, he do almost deserve it, for by all
relation he hath, in a little more than a year and a half, spent L20,000 of
the King's money, and the best part of L10,000 of his own; which is a
most prodigious expence, more than ever Embassador spent there, and
more than these Commissioners of the Treasury will or do allow. And
they demand an account before they will give him any more money;
which puts all his friends to a loss what to answer. But more money we
must get him, or to be called home. I offer to speak to Sir W. Coventry
about it; but my Lord will not advise to it, without consent of Sir G.
Carteret. So home, and there to see Sir W. Batten, who fell sick
yesterday morning: He is asleep: and so I could not see him; but in an
hour after, word is brought me that he is so ill, that it is believed he
cannot live till to-morrow, which troubles me and my wife mightily,
partly out of kindness, he being a good neighbour and partly because of

the money he owes me, upon our bargain of the late prize. So home and
to supper and to bed.

5th. Up, and to the Office; and there all the morning; none but my Lord
Anglesey and myself; but much surprized with the news of the death of
Sir W. Batten, who died this morning, having been but two days sick.
Sir W. Pen and I did dispatch a letter this morning to Sir W. Coventry,
to recommend Colonel Middleton, who we think a most honest and
understanding man, and fit for that place. Sir G. Carteret did