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man； that they say made an excellent sermon。 He was by birth a Catholique； and a great gallant； having 1500l。 per annum patrimony； and is a Knight Barronet： was turned from his persuasion by the late Archbishop Laud。 He and the Bishop of Exeter； Dr。 Ward； are the two Bishops that the King do say he cannot have bad sermons from。 Here I met with Sir H。 Cholmly； who tells me； that undoubtedly my Lord Bellasses do go no more to Tangier； and that he do believe he do stand in a likely way to go governor； though he sees and showed me a young silly lord （one Lord Allington ＇William 2nd Baron Allington of Killard； Ireland； created an English Peer 1682； which title was extinct 1692。 He was thrice married。＇） who hath offered a great sum of money to go； and will put hard for it； he having a fine lady； and a great man would be glad to have him out of the way。 The King is very kind to my Lord Sandwich； and did himself observe to him （Sir G。 Carteret） how those very people （meaning the Prince； and Duke of Albemarle） are punished in the same kind as they did seek to abuse my Lord Sandwich。
18th。 Comes my old good friend Mr。 Richard Cumberland ＇Richard Cumberland educated at St。 Paul's School； and Magdalene College； Cambridge； made Bishop of Peterborough 1691。 Ob。 1718； aged 86。＇ to see me； being newly come to town； whom I have not seen almost； if not quite these seven years。 In a plain country…parson's dress。 I could not spend much time with him； but prayed him to come with his brother； who was with him； to dine with me to…day； which he did do： and I had a great deal of his good company； and a most excellent person he is as any I know； and one that I am sorry should be lost and buried in a little country town； and would be glad to remove him thence； and the truth is； if he would accept of my sister's fortune； I should give 100l。 more with him than to a man able to settle her four times as much as I fear he is able to do。 Comes Captain Jenifer to me； a great servant of my Lord Sandwich's； who tells me that he do hear for certain； though I do not yet believe it； that Sir W。 Coventry is to be Secretary of State； and my Lord Arlington Lord Treasurer。 I only wish that the latter were as fit for the latter office as the former is for the former； and more fit than my Lord Arlington。 Anon Sir W。 Pen come and talked with me in the garden； and tells me that for certain the Duke of Richmond is to marry Mrs。 Stewart； he having this day brought in an account of his estate and debts to the King on that account。 This day Mr。 Caesar told me a pretty experiment of his of angling with a minikin； a gut… string varnished over； which keeps it from swelling； and is beyond any hair for strength and smallness。 The secret I like mightily。
19th。 It comes in my mind this night to set down how a house was the other day in Bishopsgate…street blowed up with powder； a house that was untenanted； but； thanks be to God； it did no more hurt； and all do conclude it a plot。 This afternoon I am told again that the town do talk of my Lord Arlington's being to be Lord Treasurer； and Sir W。 Coventry to be Secretary of State； and that for certain the match is concluded between the Duke of Richmond and Mrs。 Stewart； which I am well enough pleased with： and it is pretty to consider how his quality will allay people's talk； whereas had a meaner person married her； he would for certain have been derided at first dash。
20th。 To our church to the vestry； to be assessed by the late Poll Bill； where I am rated as an Esquire； and for my office all will come to about 50l。 But not more than I expected； nor so much by a great deal as I ought to be for all my offices。 The Duke of Richmond and Mrs。 Stewart were betrothed last night。 It is strange how 〃Rycaut's Discourse of Turky；〃 which before the fire I was asked but 8s。 for； there being all but twenty…two or thereabouts burned； I did now offer 20s。； and he demands 50s。； and I think I shall give it him； though it be only as a monument of the fire。
21st。 To the Duke of York's playhouse； where unexpectedly I come to see only the young men and women of the house act； they having liberty to act for their own profit on Wednesdays and Fridays this Lent： and the play they did yesterday； being Wednesday； was so well taken； that they thought fit to venture it publickly to… day； a play my Lord Falkand's； ＇Henry Carey； third Viscount Falkland； M。P； for Arundell 1661。 Ob。 1664。＇ called 〃The Wedding Night；〃 a kind of a tragedy； and some things very good in it； but the whole together； I thought； not so。 I confess I was well enough pleased with my seeing it； and the people did do better （without the great actors） than I did expect； but yet far short of what they do when they are there。 Our trial for a good prize came on to…day； 〃The Phoenix； worth 2 or 3000l。〃 when by and by Sir W。 Batten told me we had got the day； which was mighty welcome news to me and us all。 But it is pretty to see what money will do。 Yesterday Walker ＇Sir W。 Walker。＇ was mighty cold on our behalf； till Sir W。 Batten promised him； if we sped in this business of the goods； a coach； and if at the next trial we sped for the ship； we would give him a pair of horses。 And he hath strove for us to…day like a prince。 Though the Swedes' Agent was there with all the vehemence he could to save the goods； but yet we carried it against him。
23rd。 At the office； where Sir W。 Pen come； being returned from Chatham； from considering the means of fortifying the river Medway； by a chain at the stakes； and ships laid there with guns to keep the enemy from coming up to burn our ships； all our care being now to fortify ourselves against their invading us。
24th。 With Sir G。 Carteret and Sir J。 Minnes； and they did talk of my Lord Brouncker； whose father it seems did give Mr。 Ashburnham and the present Lord Digby ＇The Earl of Bristol； frequently called in the Diary Lord Digby； long after he had succeeded to the Earldom。＇ 1200l。 to be made an Irish lord； and swore the same day that he had not 12d。 left to pay for his dinner： they made great mirth at this； my Lord Brouncker having lately given great matter of offence both to them and us all； that we are at present mightily displeased with him。 By and by to the Duke of York； where we all met； and there was the King also； and all our discourse was about fortifying of the Medway and Harwich； which is to be entrenched quite round； and Portsmouth： and here they advised with Sir Godfrey Lloyd and Sir Bernard de Gunn； ＇Engineer…general； who had been employed in 1661 to construct the works at Dunkirk。＇ the two great engineers； and had the plates drawn before them； and indeed all their care they now take is to fortify themselves； and are not ashamed of it； for when by and by my Lord Arlington come in with letters； and seeing the King and Duke of York give us and the officers of the Ordnance directions in this matter； he did move that we might do it as privately as we could； that it might not come into the Dutch Gazette presently； as the King's and Duke of York's going down the other day to Sheerenesse was the week after in the Harlem Gazette。 The King and Duke of York both laughed at it； and made no matter； but said； 〃Le