按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
days； just as we see Queene Mary and Queene Elizabeth painted： but the play is merely a puppet play； acted by living puppets。 Neither the design nor language better； and one stands by and tells us the meaning of things： only I was pleased to see Knipp dance among the milk maids； and to hear her sing a song to Queene Elizabeth； and to see her come out in her night…gowne with no lockes on； but her bare face and hair only tied up in a knot behind； which is the comeliest dress that ever I saw her in to her advantage。
18th。 To Cree Church； to see it how it is； but I find no alteration there； as they say there was； for my Lord Mayor and Aldermen to come to sermon； as they do every Sunday； as they did formerly to Paul's。
20th。 Sir W。 Coventry fell to discourse of retrenchments： and therein he tells how he would have but only one Clerk of the Acts。 He do tell me he hath propounded how the charge of the Navy in peace shall come within 200；000l。； by keeping out twenty… four ships in summer； and ten in the winter。 And several other particulars we went over of retrenchment： and I find I must provide some things to offer； that I may be found studious to lessen the King's charge。 Sir W。 Coventry did single Sir W。 Pen and me； and desired us to lend the King some money； out of the prizes we have taken by Hogg。 He did not much press it； and we made but a merry answer thereto： but I perceive he did ask it seriously； and did tell us that there never was so much need of it in the world as now； we being brought to the lowest straits that can be in the world。
22nd。 Up； and to the office： whence Lord Brouncker； J。 Minnes； and W。 Pen； and I went to examine some men that are put in there for rescuing of men that were pressed into the service： and we do plainly see that the desperate condition that we put men into for want of their pay makes them mad； they being as good men as over were in the world； and would as readily serve the King again； were they but paid。 Two men leapt overboard； among others； into the Thames out of the vessel into which they were pressed； and were shot by the soldiers placed there to keep them； two days since； so much people do avoid the King's service！ And then these men are pressed without money； and so we cannot punish them for any thing； so that we are forced only to make a show of severity by keeping them in prison； but are unable to punish them。 ＇Shooting the men was rather more than a show of severity。＇ Returning to the office； I did ask whether we might visit Commissioner Pett （to which； I confess； I have no great mind）； and it was answered that he was close prisoner； and we could not； but the Lieutenant of the Tower would send for him to his lodgings； if we would： so we put it off to another time。 To Captain Cocke's to dinner； where Lord Brouncker and his lady； Matt。 Wren； and Bulteale； and Sir Allan Apsly； the last of whom did make good sport； he being already fallen under the retrenchments of the new Committee； as he is Master Falconer； which makes him mad。 With my Lord Brouncker and his mistress to the King's Playhouse； and there saw 〃The Indian Emperour：〃 ＇A tragi…comedy； by Dryden。＇ where I find Nell come again； which I am glad of； but was most infinitely displeased with her being put to act the Emperour's daughter； which is a great and serious part； which she does most basely。 This evening Mr。 Pelling comes to me； and tells me that this night the Dutch letters are come； and that the peace was proclaimed there the 19th inst。 and that all is finished： which for my life I know not whether to be glad or sorry for； a peace being so necessary； and yet so bad in its terms。
23rd。 To White Hall to attend the Council。 The King there： and it was about considering how the fleet might be discharged at their coming in shortly； the peace being now ratified； and it takes place on Monday next。 To the Treasury…chamber； where I waited talking with Sir G。 Downing till the Lords met。 He tells me how he will make all the Exchequer officers； of one side and the other； to lend the King money upon the Act； and that the least Clerk shall lend money； and he believes the least will 100l。： but this I do not believe。 He made me almost ashamed that we of the Navy had not in all this time lent any； so that I find it necessary I should； and so will speedily do it before any of my fellows begin and lead me to a bigger sum。 By and by the Lords come； and I perceive Sir W。 Coventry is the man； and nothing done till he comes。 Among other things I heard him observe； looking over a paper； that Sir John Shaw is a miracle of a man； for he thinks he executes more places than any man in England： for there he finds him a Surveyor of some of the King's woods； and so reckoned up many other places； the most inconsistent in the world。 Their business with me was to consider how to assigne such of our commanders as will take assignements upon the Act for their wages； and the consideration thereof was referred to me to give them an answer the next sitting： which is a horrid poor thing； but they scruple at nothing of honour in the case。 I find most people pleased with their being at ease； and safe of a peace； that they may know no more charge or hazard of an ill managed war； but nobody speaking of the peace with any content or pleasure； but are silent in it； as of a thing they are ashamed of； no； not at Court； much less in the City。
24th。 St。 Bartholomew's Day。 This morning was proclaimed the peace between us and the States of the United Provinces； and also of the King of France and Denmarke； and in the afternoon the Proclamations were printed and came out； and at night the bells rung； but no bonfires that I hear of any where； partly from the dearness of firing； but principally from the little content most people have in the peace。 This day comes a letter from the Duke of York to the Board； to invite us； which is as much as to fright us； into the lending the King money； which is a poor thing； and most dishonourable； and shows in what a case we are at the end of the war to our neighbours。 And the King do now declare publickly to give 10 per cent。 to all lenders； which make some think that the Dutch themselves will send over money； and lend it upon our publick faith； the Act of Parliament。
28th。 To the office； where we sat upon a particular business all the morning： and my Lord Anglesy with us； who； and my Lord Brouncker； do bring us news how my Lord Chancellor's seal is to be taken away from him to…day。 The thing is so great and sudden to me； that it put me into a very great admiration what should be the meaning of it； and they do not own that they know what it should be； but this is certain； that the King did resolve it on Saturday； and did yesterday send the Duke of Albemarle （the only man fit for those works） to him for his purse： to which the Chancellor answered； that he received it from the King； and would deliver it to the King's own hand； and so civilly returned the Duke of Albemarle without it； and this morning my Lord Chancellor is to be with the King； to come to an end in the business。 Dined at Sir W。 Batten's； where Mr。 Boreman was； who came from White Hall； who tells us that he saw my Lord Chan