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dy very civil to me when they came； being Sir George Viner； and his lady in rich jewells； but most in beauty： almost the finest woman that ever I saw。 That which I went chiefly to see was the young ladies of the schools； whereof there is great store； very pretty； and also the organ； which is handsome； and tunes the psalm and plays with the people； which is mighty pretty； and makes me mighty earnest to have a pair at our church： I having almost a mind to give them a pair if they would settle a maintenance on them for it。
22nd。 To the Lord Chancellor's house； the first time I have been therein； and it is very noble； and brave pictures of the ancient and present nobility。 The King was vexed the other day for having no paper laid for him at the Council table； as was usual； and Sir Richard Browne did tell his Majesty he would call the person whose work it was to provide it： who being come； did tell his Majesty that he was but a poor man； and was out 4 or 500l。 for it； which was as much as he is worth； and that he cannot provide it any longer without money； having not received a penny since the King's coming in。 So the King spoke to my Lord Chamberlain。 And many such mementos the King do now…a…days meet withall； enough to make an ingenuous man mad。
23rd。 St。 George's…day； the feast being kept at White Hall； out of design； as it is thought； to make the best coutenance we can to the Swede's Embassadors before their leaving us to go to the treaty abroad； to show some jollity。
24th。 To Sir John Duncomb's lodging in the Pell Mell； in order to the money spoken of in the morning； and there awhile sat and discoursed： and I find that he is a very proper man for business； being very resolute and proud； and industrious。 He told me what reformation they had made in the office of the Ordnance； taking away Legg's fees： have got an order that no Treasurer after him shall ever sit at the Board； and it is a good one： that no Master of the Ordnance here shall ever sell a place。 He tells me they have not paid any increase of price for any thing during this war； but in most have paid less； and at this day have greater stores than they know where to lay if there should be peace； and than ever was any time this war。 Then to talk of news： that he thinks the want of money hath undone the King； for the Parliament will never give the King more money without； calling all people to account； nor； as he believes； will ever make war again； but they will manage it themselves： unless； which I proposed； he would visibly become a severer inspector into his own business and accounts； and that would gain upon the Parliament yet： which he confesses and confirms as the only lift to set him upon his legs； but says that it is not； in his nature ever to do。 He thinks that much of our misfortune hath been for want of an active Lord Treasurer； and that such a man as Sir W。 Coventry would do the business thoroughly。
26th。 To White Hall； and there saw the Duke of Albemarle； who is not well； and do grow crazy。 While I was waiting in the Matted Gallery； a young man was working in Indian inke； the great picture of the King and Queene sitting by Van Dike； and did it very finely。 Then I took a turn with Mr。 Evelyn； with whom I walked two hours； till almost one of the clock： talking of the badness of the Government； where nothing but wickedness； and wicked men and women command the King： that it is not in his nature to gainsay any thing that relates to his pleasures； that much of it arises from the sickliness of our Ministers of State； who cannot be about him as the idle companions are； and therefore he gives way to the young rogues； and then from the negligence of the clergy； that a Bishop shall never be seen about him； as the King of France hath always： that the King would fain have some of the same gang to be Lord Treasurer； which would be yet worse； for now some delays are put to the getting gifts of the King； as Lady Byron； ＇Eleanor； daughter of Robert Needham； Viscount Kilmurrey； and widow of Peter Warburton； became in 1644 the second wife of Richard first Lord Byron。 Ob。 1663。＇ who had been； as he called it； the King's seventeenth mistress abroad； did not leave him till she had got him to give her an order for 4000l。 worth of plate to be made for her； but by delays； thanks be to God！ she died before she had it。 He confirmed to me the business of the want of paper at the Council table the other day； which I have observed； Wooly being to have found it； and did； being called； tell the King to his face the reason of it。 And Mr。 Elvelyn tells me of several of the menial servants of the Court lacking bread； that have not received a farthing wages since the King's coming in。 He tells me the King of France hath his mistresses； but laughs at the foolery of our King； that makes his bastards princes； and loses his revenue upon them； and makes his mistresses his masters。 And the King of France did never grant Lavaliere any thing to bestow on others； and gives a little subsistence； but no more； to his bastards。 We told me the whole story of Mrs。 Stewart's going away from Court； he knowing her well； and believes her； up to her leaving the Court； to be as virtuous as any woman in the world： and told me； from a Lord that she told it to but yesterday with her own mouth； and a sober man； that when the Duke of Richmond did make love to her； she did ask the King； and he did the like also； and that the King did not deny it； and told this Lord that she was come to that pass as to resolve to have married any gentleman of 1500l。 a…year that would have had her in honour： for it was come to that pass； that she could not longer continue at Court without prostituting herself to the King； whom she had so long kept off； though he had liberty more than any other had； or he ought to have； as to dalliance。 She told this Lord that she had reflected upon the occasion she had given the world to think her a bad woman； and that she had no way but to marry and leave the Court； rather in this way of discontent than otherwise； that the world might see that she sought not any thing but her honour； and that she will never come to live at Court； more than when she comes to town to kiss the Queene her mistress's hand： and hopes； though she hath little reason to hope； she can please her Lord so as to reclaim him； that they may yet live comfortably in the country on his estate。 She told this Lord that all the jewells she ever had given her at Court； or any other presents （more than the King's Allowance of 700l。 per annum out of the Privy…purse for her clothes）； were at her first coming； the King did give her a necklace of pearl of about 1100l。； and afterwards； about seven months since； when the King had hopes to have obtained some courtesy of her； the King did give her some jewells； I have forgot what； and I think a pair of pendants。 The Duke of York； being once her Valentine； did give her a jewell of about 800l。； and my Lord Mandeville； her Valentine this year； a ring of about 300l。； and the King of France would have had her mother （who； he says； was one of the most cunning women in the world；） to have let her stay in France； saying that he loved her not as a mistress； but as