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e; that he do appoint a fleet to go to the Northward to try to meet them coming home round: which God send! Thence to White Hall; where the King seeing me; did come to me; and calling me by name; did discourse with me about the ships in the River: and this is the first time that ever I knew the King did know me personally; so that hereafter I must not go thither; but with expectation to be questioned; and to be ready to give good answers。
19th。 Up by five o'clock; and by water to White Hall; and there took coach; and with Mr。 Moore to Chelsy; where; after all my fears what doubts and difficulties my Lord Privy Seale 'John Lord Roberts。' would make at my Tangier Privy Seale; he did pass it at first reading; without my speaking with him。 And then called me in; and was very civil to me。 I passed my time in contemplating (before I was called in) the picture of my Lord's son's lady; a most beautiful woman; and most like to Mrs。 Butler。 Thence very much joyed to London back again; and found out Mr。 Povy; told him this; and then went and left my Privy Seale at my Lord Treasurer's; and so to the 'Change; and thence to Trinity… house; where a great dinner of Captain Crisp; who is made an Elder Brother。 And so; being very pleasant at dinner; away home; Creed with me; and there met Povy; and we to Gresham College。
20th。 This night I am told the first play is played in White Hall noon…hall; which is now turned to a house of playing。
23rd。 To White Hall chapel; and heard the famous young Stillingfleete; 'Edward Stillingfleet; a most learned Divine; consecrated Bishop of Worcester; 1689; Ob。 1699。' whom I knew at Cambridge; and he is now newly admitted one of the King's chaplains。 And was presented; they say; to my Lord Treasurer for St。 Andrew's Holborn; where he is now minister; with these words: that they (the Bishops of Canterbury; London; and another) believed he is the ablest young man to preach the Gospel of any since the Apostles。 He did make a most plain; honest; good; grave sermon; in the most unconcerned and easy yet substantial manner; that ever I heard in my life; upon the words of Samuel to the people; 〃Fear the Lord in truth with all your heart; and remember the great things that he hath done for you。〃 It being proper to this day; the day of the King's Coronation。 Thence to the Cocke…pitt; and there walked an hour with my Lord Duke of Albemarle alone in his garden; where he expressed in great words his opinion of me; that I was the right hand of the Navy here; nobody but I taking any care of any thing therein; so that he should not know what could be done without me。 At which I was (from him) not a little proud。
28th。 Down the River to visit the victualling…ships; where I find all out of order。 And come home to dinner; and then to write a letter to the; Duke of Albemarle about them; and carried it myself to the Council…chamber; and when they rose; my Lord Chancellor passing by stroked me on the head; and told me that the Board had read my letter; and taken order for the punishing of the watermen for not appearing on board the ships。 And so did the King afterwards; who do now know me so well; that he never sees me but he speaks to me about our Navy business。
30th。 Thus I end this month in great content as to my estate and gettings: in much trouble as to the pains I have taken; and the rubs I expect to meet with; about the business of Tangier。 The fleet; with about 106 ships upon the coast of Holland; in sight of the Dutch; within the Texel。 Great fears of the sicknesse here in the City; it being said that two or three houses are already shut up。 God preserve us all!
MAY 1; 1665。 I met my Lord Brouncker; Sir Robert Murrey; Dean Wilkins; and Mr。 Hooke; going by coach to Colonel Blunt's to dinner。 'Wricklesmarsh; in the parish of Charlton; which belonged; in 1617; to Edward Blount; Esq。; whose family alienated it towards the end of the seventeenth century。 The old mansion was pulled down by Sir Gregory Page; Bart。; who erected a magnificent stone structure on the site; which; devolving to his great nephew; Sir Gregory Page Turner; shared the same fate as the former house; having been sold in lots in 1784。' So they stopped and took me with them。 Landed at the Tower…wharf; and thence by water to Greenwich; and there coaches met us; and to his house; a very stately sight for situation and brave plantations; and among others; a vine…yard; the first that ever I did see。 No extraordinary dinner; nor any other entertainment good; but afterwards to the tryal of some experiments about making of coaches easy。 And several we tried; but one did prove mighty easy; (not here for me to describe; but the whole body of the coach lies upon one long spring;) and we all; one after another; rid in it; and it is very fine and likely to take。 Thence to Deptford; and in to Mr。 Evelyn's; which is a most beautiful place; 'Says…Court; the well…known residence of John Evelyn; Esq。' but it being dark and late; I staid not; but Dean Wilkins and Mr。 Hooke and I; walked to Redriffe; and noble discourse all day long did please me。
3rd。 My Lord Chief…Justice Hide did die suddenly this week; a day or two ago; of an apoplexy。
5th。 After dinner; to Mr。 Evelyn's; he being abroad; we walked in his garden; and a lovely noble ground he hath indeed。 And among other rarities; a hive of bees; so as being hived in glass; you may see the bees making their honey and combs mighty pleasantly。
10th。 To the Cocke…pitt; where the Duke did give Sir W。 Batten and me an account of the late taking of eight ships; and of his intent to come back to the Gunfleete with the fleet presently; which creates us much work and haste therein; against the fleet comes。 And thence to the Guard in Southwarke; there to get some soldiers; by the Duke's order; to go keep pressmen on board our ships。
14th。 To church; it being Whit…sunday; my wife very fine in a new yellow bird's…eye hood; as the fashion is now。 I took a coach; and to Wemstead; the house where Sir H。 Mildmay died; and now Sir Robert Brookes lives; having bought it of the Duke of York; it being forfeited to him。 'Sir Robert Brookes; Lord of the Manor of Wanstead; from 1662 to 1687。 M。P。 for Aldborough in Suffolk。 He afterwards retired to France; and died there in bad circumstances。 From a letter among the PEPYS MSS。; Sir Robert Brookes appears to have been drowned in the river at Lyons。' A fine seat; but an old…fashioned house; and being not full of people looks flatly。
17th。 The Duchesse of York went down yesterday to meet the Duke。
18th。 To the Duke of Albemarle; where we did examine Nixon and Stanesby; about their late running from two Dutchmen; for which they were committed to a vessel to carry them to the fleet to be tried。 A most fowle unhandsome thing as ever was heard; for plain cowardice on Nixon's part。
23rd。 Late comes Sir Arthur Ingram 'Sir Arthur Ingram; Knight; of Knottingley; Surveyor of the Customs at Hull。' to my office; to tell me; that; by letters from Amsterdam of the 18th of this month; the Dutch fleet; being about 100 men…of…war; besides fire… ships; &c。; did set out upon the 13th and 14th inst。 Being divided into seven squadrons; vi