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e of York and Prince Rupert; and the rest of the Committee of the Navy; were sitting: and I did get some of them to read it there; and they would have had it passed presently; but Sir John Nichollas desired they would first have it approved by a full council; and therefore a Council Extraordinary was readily summoned against the afternoon; and; the Duke of York run presently to the King; as if now they were really set to mind their business; which God grant! Mr。 Montagu did tell me how Mr。 Vaughan in that very room did say that I was a great man; and had great understanding; and I know not what; which; I confess; I was a little proud of; if I may believe him。 Here I do hear as a great secret that the King; and Duke of York and Duchesse; and my lady Castlemaine; are now all agreed in a strict league; and all things like to go very current; and that it is not impossible to have my Lord Clarendon in time here again。 But I do hear that my Lady Castlemaine is horribly vexed at the late libell; the petition of the poor prostitutes about the town whose houses were pulled down the other day。 I have got one of them; and it is not very witty; but devilish severe against her and the King: and I wonder how it durst be printed and spread abroad; which shows that the times are loose; and come to a great disregard of the King; or Court; or Govermment。 To the Park; and then to the House; and there at the door eat and drank; whither came my Lady Kerneagy 'Carnegie。' of whom Creed tells me more particulars: how her Lord; finding her and the Duke of York at the King's first coming in; too kind; did get it out of her that he did dishonour him; and did take the most pernicious and full piece of revenge that ever I heard of; and he at this day owns it with great glory; and looks upon the Duke of York and the world with great content in the ampleness of his revenge。 'VIDE Memoires de Grammont。' This day in the afternoon; stepping with the Duke of York into St。 James's Park; it rained; and I was forced to lend the Duke of York my cloak; which he wore through the Park。
7th。 To the King's playhouse; and there saw 〃The English Monsieur〃 'A Comedy by James Howard。' (sitting for privacy sake in an upper box): the play hath much mirth in it as to that particular humour。 After the play done I down to Knipp; and did stay her undressing herself: and there saw the several players; men and women; go by; and pretty to see how strange they are all; one to another; after the play is done。 Here I hear Sir W。 Davenant is just now dead; and so who will succeed him in the mastership of the House is not yet known。 The eldest Davenport is; it seems; gone from this house to be kept by somebody; which I am glad of; she being a very bad actor。 Mrs。 Knipp tells me that my Lady Castlemaine is mightily in love with Hart of their house; and he is much with her in private; and she goes to him and do give him many presents; and that the thing is most certain; and Beck Marshall only privy to it; and the means of bringing them together: which is a very odd thing; and by this means she is even with the King's love to Mrs。 Davis。
8th。 To Drumbleby's; and there did talk a great deal about pipes; and did buy a recorder; which I do intend to learn to play on; the sound of it being; of all sounds in the world; most pleasing to me。
9th。 I up and down to the Duke of York's playhouse; there to see; which I did; Sir W。 Davenant's corpse; carried out towards Westminster; there to be buried。 Here were many coaches and six horses; and many hacknies; that made it look; methought; as if it were the buriall of a poor poet。 He seemed to have many children; by five or six in the first mourning…coach; all boys。 To my office; where is come a packet from the Downes from my brother Balty; who with Harman are arrived there; of which this day comes the first news。 And now the Parliament will be satisfied; I suppose; about the business they have so long desired between Brouncker 'Henry Brouncker。' and Harman; about not prosecuting the first victory。
16th。 To Westminster Hall; where I hear W。 Pen is ordered to be impeached。 There spoke with many; and particularly with G。 Montagu; and went with him and Creed to his house; where he told how Sir W。 Pen hath been severe to Lord Sandwich; but the Coventrys both labouring to save him by laying it on Lord Sandwich; which our friends cry out upon; and I am silent; but do believe they did it as the only way to save him。 It could not be carried to commit him。 It is thought the House do cool: Sir W。 Coventry's being for him provoked Sir R。 Howard; and his party: Court all for W。 Pen。
17th。 I hear that the House is upon the business of Harman; who; they say; takes all on himself。
18th。 Do hear this morning that Harman is committed by the Parliament last night; the day he came up; which is hard: but he took all upon himself first; and then; when a witness came in to say otherwise; he would have retracted; and the House took it so ill; they would commit him。
19th。 Roger Pepys did tell me the whole story of Harman; how he prevaricated; and hath undoubtedly been imposed on and wheedled; and he is like the miller's man that in Richard the Third's time was hanged for his master。
20th。 To White Hall; and there hear how Brouncker is tied; which I think will undo him; but what good it will do Harman I know not; he hath so befouled himself; but it will be good sport to my Lord Chancellor to hear how his great enemy is fain to take the same course that he is。 There met Robinson; who tells me that he fears his master; Sir W。 Coventry; will this week have his business brought upon the stage again about selling of places; which I shall be sorry for; though the less since I hear his standing up for Pen the other day; to the prejudice; though not to the ruin; of my Lord Sandwich; and yet I do think what he did; he did out of a principle of honesty。 Meeting Sir William Hooker the Alderman; he did cry out mighty high against Sir W。 Pen for his getting such an estate and giving 15;000l。 with his daughter; which is more by half than ever he did give; but this the world believes; and so let them。
21st。 I hear how Sir W。 Pen's impeachment was read and agreed to in the House this day; and ordered to be engrossed; and he suspended the House: Harman set at liberty; and Brouncker put out of the House; and a writ 'At Romney; which Brouncker represented。' for a new election; and an impeachment ordered to be brought in against him; he being fled。
22nd。 To White Hall; and there we attended the Duke of York as usual; and I did present Mrs。 Pett the widow and her petition to the Duke of York; for some relief from the King。 Here was to…day a proposition made to the Duke of York by Captain Von Hemskirke for 20;000l。 to discover an art how to make a ship go two feet for one what any ship do now: which the King inclines to try; it costing him nothing to try and it is referred to us to contract with the man。 Then by water from the Privy…stairs to Westminster Hall: and taking water the King and the Duke of York were in the new buildings; and the Duke of York called to me whither I was going? And I answered aloud; 〃To wait on our maste