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n in the world；） to have let her stay in France； saying that he loved her not as a mistress； but as one that he could marry as well as any lady in France； and that； if she might stay； for the honour of his court he would take care she should not repent。 But her mother； by command of the Queene…mother； thought rather to bring her into England； and the King of France did give her a jewell： so that Evelyn believes she may be worth in jewells about 6000l。 and that is all she hath in the world： and a worthy woman； and in this hath done as great an act of honour as ever was done by woman。 That now the Countesse Castlemaine do carry all before her： and among other arguments to prove Mrs。 Stewart to have been honest to the last； he says that the King's keeping in still with my Lady Castlemaine do show it； for he never was known to keep two mistresses in his life； and would never have kept to her had he prevailed any thing with Mrs。 Stewart。 She is gone yesterday with her Lord to Cobham。 He did tell me of the ridiculous humour of our King and Knights of the Garter the other day； who； whereas heretofore their robes were only to be worn during their ceremonies and service； these； as proud of their coats； did wear them all day till night； and then rode into the Park with them on。 Nay； and he tells me he did see my Lord Oxford and Duke of Monmouth in a hackney…coach with two footmen in the Park； with their robes on； which is a most scandalous thing； so as all gravity may be said to be lost among us。 By and by we discoursed of Sir Thomas Clifford； whom I took for a very rich and learned man； and of the great family of that name。 He tells me he is only a man of about seven…score pounds a…year； of little learning more than the law of a justice of peace； which he knows well； a parson's son； ＇Collins states； that Sir Thomas Clifford's father was a Colonel in the King's Army during the Scotch Rebellion 1639； and died the same year on his return from the Northern March。＇ got to be burgess in a little borough in the West； and here fell into the acquaintance of my Lord Arlington； whose creature he is； and never from him； a man of virtue； and comely； and good parts enough； and hath come into his place with a great grace； though with a great skip over the heads of a great many； as Chichly and Denham； and some Lords that did expect it。 By the way； he tells me that of all the great men of England there is none that endeavours more to raise those that he takes into favour than my Lord Arlington； and that on that score he is much more to be made one's patron than my Lord Chancellor； who never did； nor never will do any thing； but for money。 Certain news of the Dutch being abroad on our coast with twenty…four great ships。 Met my Lady Newcastle going with her coaches and footmen all in velvet： herself （whom I never saw before）； as I have heard her often described （for all the town… talk is now…a…days of her extravagancies）； with her velvet…cap； her hair about her ears； many black patches； because of pimples about her mouth； naked…necked； without any thing about it； and a black just…au…corps。 She seemed to me a very comely woman： but I hope to see more of her on May…day。
28th。 To Deptford； and there I walked down the Yard； Shish and Cox with me； and discoursed about cleaning of the wet docke； and heard （which I had before） how； when the docke was made； a ship of near 500 tons was there found； a ship supposed of Queene Elizabeth's time； and well wrought； with a great deal of stone shot in her of eighteen inches diameter； which was shot then in use： and afterwards meeting with Captain Perriman and Mr。 Castle at Half…way Tree； they tell me of stone…shot of thirty…six inches diameter； which they shot out of mortar…pieces。
29th。 I hear that the Duke of Cambridge； the Duke of York's son； ＇James； second son to the Duke of York。 Born 1663； and created Duke of Cambridge that year。＇ is very sick； and my Lord Treasurer very bad of the stone； and hath been so some days。 Sir G。 Carteret tells me my Lord Arlington hath done like a gentleman by him in all things。 He says； if my Lord were here； he were the fittest man to be Lord Treasurer of any man in England； and he thinks it might be compassed； for he confesses that the King's matters do suffer through the inability of this man； who is likely to die； and he will propound him to the King。 It will remove him from his place at sea； and the King will have a good place to bestow。 He says to me； that he could wish when my Lord comes that he would think fit to forbear playing as a thing below him； and which will lessen him； as it do my Lord St。 Albans； in the King's esteem： and as a great secret tells me that he hath made a match for my Lord Hinchingbroke to a daughter of my Lord Burlington's； ＇Richard Boyle second Earl of Cork； created Earl of Burlington； 1663。＇ where there is great alliance； 10；000l。 portion； a civil family； and relation to my Lord Chancellor； whose son hath married one of the daughters： and that my Lord Chancellor do take it with very great kindness； so that he do hold himself obliged by it。 My Lord Sandwich hath referred it to my Lord Crewe； Sir G。 Carteret； and Mr。 Montagu； to end it。 My Lord Hinchingbroke and the ladies know nothing yet of it。 It will； I think； be very happy。
30th； I met with Mr。 Pierce； and he tells me the Duke of Cambridge is very ill and full of spots about his body； that Dr。 Frazier knows not what to think of it。
MAY 1。 1667。 To Westminster； in the way meeting many milk…maids with their garlands upon their pails； dancing with a fiddler before them； and saw pretty Nelly ＇Nell Gwynne。＇ standing at her lodgings' door in Drury…lane in her smock sleeves and bodice； looking upon one： she seemed a mighty pretty creature。 My Lord Crewe walked with me； giving me an account of the meeting of the Commissioners for Accounts； whereof he is one。 How some of the gentlemen； Garraway； Littleton； and others； did scruple at their first coming there； being called thither to act； as Members of Parliament； which they could not do by any authority but that of the Parliament； and therefore desired the King's direction in it； which was sent for by my Lord Bridgewater； who brought answer； very short； that the King expected they should obey his Commission。 Then they went on and observed upon a power to be given them of administering and framing an oath； which they thought they could not do by any power but Act of Parliament； and the whole Commission did think fit to have the Judges' opinion in it； and so drawing up their scruples in writing they all attended the King； who told them he would send to the Judges to be answered； and did so； who have； my Lord tells me； met three times about it； not knowing what answer to give it： and they have met this week； doing nothing but expecting the solution of the Judges in this point。 My Lord tells me he do believe this Commission will do more hurt than good： it may undo some accounts； if these men shall think fit； but it can never clear an account； for he must come into the Exchequer for all this。 Besides； it is a kind of inquisition that hath seldom ever been granted in England： and he believes it will never； besides； giv