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oved that the Chimney…money might be taken from the King； and an equal revenue of something else might be found for the King； and people be enjoyned to buy off this tax of Chimney…money for ever at eight years' purchase； which will raise present money； as they think； 1；600；000l。； and the State be eased of an ill burthen； and the King be supplied of something as good or better for his use。 The House seems to like this； and put off the debate to to…morrow。
17th。 The Court is all full of vests； only my Lord St。 Albans not pinked； but plain black； and they say the King says the pinking upon whites makes them look too much like magpyes； and therefore hath bespoke one of plain velvet。
18th。 To Lovett's house； where I stood godfather。 But it was pretty that； being a Protestant； a man stood by and was my proxy to answer for me。 A priest christened it； and the boy's name is Samuel。 The ceremonies many； and some foolish。 The priest in a gentleman's dress； more than my own： but is a Capuchin； one of the Queen…mother's priests。 He did give my proxy and the woman proxy； （my Lady Bills； ＇Probably the widow of Sir Thomas Pelham； who re…married John Bills； Esq； of Caen Wood； and retained the title derived from her first husband with the name of her second。＇ absent； had a proxy also；） good advice to bring up the child； and at the end that he ought never to marry the child nor the godmother； nor the godmother the child or the godfather： but； which is strange； they say the mother of the child and the godfather may marry。 By and by the Lady Bills come in； a well… bred but crooked woman。 The poor people of the house had good wine； and a good cake； and she a pretty woman in her lying…in dress。 It cost me near 40s。 the whole christening： to midwife 20s。； nurse 10s。； maid 2s。 6d。； and the coach 5s。 The business of buying off the Chimney…money is passed in the House； and so the King to be satisfied some other way； and the King supplied with the money raised by this purchasing off of the chimnies。
19th。 Nothing but distraction and confusion in the affairs of the Navy； which makes me wish with all my heart； that I were well and quietly settled with what little I have got at Brampton； where I might live peaceably； and study； and pray for the good of the King and my country。
20th。 Commissioner Middleton ＇Thomas Middleton； made a Commissioner of the Navy； 1664。＇ says； that the fleet was in such a condition； as to discipline； as if the Devil had commanded it； so much wickedness of all sorts。 Enquiring how it came to pass that so many ships had miscarried this year； he tells me that he enquired； and the pilots do say； that they dare not do nor go but as the Captains will have them； and if they offer to do otherwise； the Captains swear they will run them through。 He says that he heard Captain Digby （my Lord of Bristoll's son； a young fellow that never was but one year； if that； in the fleet；） say that he did hope he should not see a tarpawlin ＇Tarpawlin； a sailor。＇ have the command of a ship within this twelve months。 He observed while he was on board the Admirall； when the fleet was at Portsmouth； that there was a faction there。 Holmes commanded all on the Prince's side； and Sir Jeremy Smith on the Duke's； and every body that come did apply themselves to one side or other； and when the Duke of Albemarle was gone away to come hither； then Sir Jeremy Smith did hang his head； and walked in the General's ship but like a private commander。 He says he was on board the Prince； when the news come of the burning of London； and all the Prince said was； that now Shipton's prophecy was out； and he heard a young commander presently swear； that a citizen's wife that would not take under half a piece before； would be contented with half…a…crowne： and made mighty sport of it。 My Lord Chancellor the other day did ask Sir G。 Carteret how it come to pass that his friend Pepys do so much magnify the bad condition of the fleet。 Sir G。 Carteret tells me that he answered him； that I was but the mouth of the rest； and spoke what they have dictated to me； which did； as he says； presently take off his displeasure。 They talk that the Queene hath a great mind to alter her fashion； and to have the feet seen； which she loves mightily。
21st。 Sir H。 Cholmly tells me how Mr。 Williamson stood in a little place to have come into the House of Commons； and they would not choose him； they said； 〃No courtier。〃 And which is worse； Bab May went down in great state to Winchelsea with the Duke of York's letters； not doubting to be chosen； and there the people chose a private gentleman in spite of him； and cried out they would have no Court pimp to be their burgesse； which are things that bode very ill。
24th。 Holmes did last Sunday deliver in his articles to the King and Cabinet against Smith； and Smith hath given in his answer； and lays his not accompanying the fleet to his pilot； who would not undertake to carry the ship further； which the pilot acknowledges。 The thing is not accommodated； but only taken up； and both sides commanded to be quiet； but no peace like to be。 The Duke of Albemarle is Smith's friend； and hath publickly sworn that he would never go to sea again； unless Holmes's commission were taken from him。 I find by Hayes ＇Prince Rupert's secretary。＇ that they did expect great glory in coming home in so good condition as they did with the fleet； and therefore I the less wonder that the Prince was distasted with my discourse the other day about the sad state of the fleet。 But it pleases me to hear that he did expect great thanks； and lays the fault of the want； of it upon the fire； which deadened every thing； and the glory of his services。
25th。 To Mrs。 Pierce's； where she was making herself mighty fine to go to a great ball to…night at Court； being the Queene's birth…day； so the ladies for this one day wear laces； but are to put them off again to…morrow； To Mrs。 Williams's； where we met Knipp。 I was glad to see the jade。 Made her sing； and she told us they begin at both houses to act on Monday next。 But I fear after all this sorrow； their gains will be but little。 Mrs。 Williams says； the Duke's house will now be much the better of the two； because of their women； which I was glad to hear。
27th。 The two Houses begin to be troublesome： the Lords to have quarrels one with another。 My Lord Duke of Buckingham having said to the Lord Chancellor （who is against the passing of the Bill for prohibiting the bringing over of Irish cattle；） that whoever was against the Bill； was there led to it by an Irish interest； or an Irish understanding； which is as much as to say be is a fool； this bred heat from my Lord Chancellor； and something he said did offend my Lord of Ossory （my Lord Duke of Ormond's son；） and they two had hard words； upon which the latter sends a challenge to the former； of which the former complains to the House； and so the business is to be heard on Monday next。 Then as to the Commons； some ugly knives； like poignards； to stab people with； about two or three hundred of them were brought in yesterday to the House； found in one of the houses rubbish that was burned； and said to be the house of a Catholique。 This and several