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all possible ways of showing it。 And it was the other day a strange saying； as I am told by my cosen Roger Pepys； in the House； when it was moved that the King's Speech should be considered； that though the first part of the Speech； meaning the league that is there talked of； be the only good publick thing that hath been done since the King come into England； yet it might bear with being put off to consider till Friday next； which was this day。 Secretary Morrice did this day in the House； when they talked of intelligence； say that he was allowed but 700l。 a…year for intelligence； whereas in Cromwell's time he did allow 70；000l。 a…year for it； and was confirmed therein by Colonell。 Birch； who said that thereby Cromwell carried the secrets of all the princes of Europe at his girdle。 The House is in a most broken condition； nobody adhering to any thing； but reviling and finding fault： and now quite mad at the Undertakers； as they are commonly called； Littleton； Lord Vaughan； Sir R。 Howard； and others that are brought over to the Court； and did undertake to get the King money： but they despise and will not hear them in the House； and the Court do as much； seeing that they cannot be useful to them； as was expected。 In short； it is plain that the King will never be able to do any thing with this Parliament； and that the only likely way to do better （for it cannot do worse） is to break this and call another Parliament； and some do think that it is intended。 I was told to…night that my Lady Castlemaine is so great a gamester as to have won 15；000l。 in one night； and lost 25；000l。 in another night at play； and hath played 1000l。 and 1500l。 at a cast。
16th。 Mr。 Hollier ＇He was a Surgeon。＇ dined with my wife and me。 Much discourse about the bad state of the Church； and how the Clergy are come to be men of no worth in the world； and； as the world do now generally discourse； they must be reformed： and I believe the Hierarchy will in a little time be shaken； whether they will or no； the King being offended with them and set upon it； as I hear。
17th。 Great high words in the House on Saturday last upon the first part of the Committee's Report about the dividing of the fleet； wherein some would have the counsels of the King to be declared； and the reasons of them； and who did give them； where Sir W。 Coventry laid open to them the consequences of doing that； that the King would never have any honest and wise men ever to be of his Council。 They did here in the House talk boldly of the King's bad Counsellors； and how they must all be turned out； and many others； and better brought in： and the proceedings of the Long…Parliament in the beginning of the war were called to memory； and the King's bad intelligence was mentioned； wherein they were bitter against my Lord Arlington； saying； among other things； that whatever Morrice's was； who declared he had but 750l。 a…year allowed him for intelligence； the King paid too dear for my Lord Arlington's in giving him 10；000l。 and a Barony for it。 Sir W。 Coventry did here come to his defence in the business of the letter that was sent to call back Prince Rupert after he was divided from the fleet； wherein great delay was objected； but he did show that he sent it at one in the morning； when the Duke of York did give him the instructions after supper that night； and did clear himself well of it； only it was laid as a fault； which I know not how he removes； of not sending it by an express； but by the ordinary post； it coming not to Sir Philip Honiwood's hand at Portsmouth till four in the afternoon that day； being about fifteen or sixteen hours in going。 The dividing of the fleet however is； I hear； voted a miscarriage； and the not building a fortification at Sheernesse： and I have reason every hour to expect that they will vote the like of our paying men off by ticket； and what the consequence of that will be； I know not。
18th。 Sir W。 Coventry and I did look over the list of commanders； and found that we could presently recollect thirty… seven commanders that have been killed in actuall service this war。 He tells me that Sir Fr。 Hollis is the main man that hath prosecuted him hitherto in the business of dividing the fleet； saying vainly that the want of that letter to the Prince hath given him that that he shall remember it by to his grave； meaning the loss of his arme ＇Vide Note June 10； 1667。＇ when； God knows； he is as idle and insignificant a fellow as ever came into the fleet。 I well remember what in mirth he said to me this morning； when upon this discourse he said if ever there was another Dutch war they should not find a Secretary； 〃Nor；〃 said I； 〃a Clerk of the Acts； for I see the reward of it； and； thank God； I have enough of my own to buy me a book and a good fiddle； and I have a good wife；〃〃Why；〃 says he； 〃I have enough to buy me a good book； and shall not need a fiddle because I have never a one of your good wives。〃 This morning the House is upon a Bill； brought in to…day by Sir Richard Temple； for obliging the King to call Parliaments every three years； or if he fail； for others to be obliged to do it； and to keep him from a power of dissolving any Parliament in less than forty days after their first day of sitting： which is such a Bill as do speak very high proceedings to the lessening of the King； and this they will carry； and whatever else they desire； before they will give any money； and the King must have money； whatever it cost him。 I to see Kate Joyce； where I find her and her friends in great ease of mind； the Jury having this day given in their verdict that her husband died of a fever。 Some opposition there was； the foreman pressing them to declare the cause of the fever； thinking thereby to obstruct it； but they did adhere to their verdict； and would give no reason： so all trouble is now over； and she safe in her estate。
19th。 In the evening to White Hall； where I find Sir W。 Coventry a great while with the Duke of York in the King's drawing…room； they two talking together all alone； which did mightily please me。 I do hear how La Roche； a French captain； who was once prisoner here； being with his ship at Plymouth； hath played some freakes there； for which his men being beat out of the town； he hath put up a flag of defiance； and also somewhere there about did land with his men and go a mile into the country； and did some prank； which sounds pretty odd to our disgrace； but we are in condition now to bear any thing。 But； blessed be God！ all the Court is full of good news of my Lord Sandwich having made a peace between Spain and Portugall； which is mighty great news； and above all to my Lord's honour more than any thing he ever did； and yet I do fear it will not prevail to secure him in Parliament against incivilities there。
20th。 The House most of the morning upon the business of not prosecuting the first victory： which they have voted one of the greatest miscarriages of the whole war； though they cannot lay the fault any where yet； because Harman is not come home。 Dined； and by one o'clock to the King's house： a new play； 〃The Duke of Lerma；〃 of Sir Robert Howard's： where the King and Court was； and Knipp and Nell spoke the prologue most excelle