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ch pleasure to see them； but I thought they were strange one to another。
20th。 To work till past twelve at night； that I might get my great letter to the Duke of York ready against to…morrow； which I shall do； to my great content。
21st。 Up betimes； and with my people again to work； and finished all before noon： and then I by water to White Hall； and there did tell the Duke of York that I had done； and he hath desired me to come to him at Sunday next in the afternoon； to read it over； by which I have more time to consider and correct it。 To St。 James's： and by and by comes Monsieur Colbert the French Ambassador； to make his first visit to the Duke of York； and then to the Duchesse。 And I saw it： a silly piece of ceremony； he saying only a few formal words。 A comely man； and in a black suit and cloak of silk； which is a strange fashion now it hath been so long left off。 This day I did first see the Duke of York's room of pictures of some Maids of Honour； done by Lilly： good； but not like。
22nd。 To the 'Change； and thence home； and took London…bridge in my way； walking down Fish…street and Gracious…street； to see how very fine a descent they have now made down the hill； that it is become very easy and pleasant。
23rd。 To church； and heard a good sermon of Mr。 Gifford's at our church； upon 〃Seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness； and all things shall be added to you。〃 A very excellent and persuasive； good and moral sermon。 He showed； like a wise man； that righteousness is a surer moral way of being rich； than sin and villany。 After dinner to the office； Mr。 Gibson and I； to examine my letter to the Duke of York； which； to my great joy； I did very well by my paper tube； without pain to my eyes。 And I do mightily like what I have therein done； and did according to the Duke of York's order make haste to St。 James's； and about four o'clock got thither： and there the Duke of York was ready expecting me； and did hear it all over with extraordinary content； and did give me many and hearty thanks； and in words the most expressive tell me his sense of my good endeavours； and that he would have a care of me on all occasions； and did with much inwardness tell me what was doing； suitable almost to what Captain Cocke tells me； of designs to make alterations in the Navy： and is most open to me in them； and with utmost confidence desires my further advice on all occasions： and he resolves to have my letter transcribed and sent forthwith to the office。 So with as much satisfaction as I could possibly or did hope for； and obligation on the Duke of York's side professed to me； I away。
25th。 Up； and by water to St。 James's； and there with Mr。 Wren did discourse about my great letter； which the Duke of York hath given him； and he hath set it to be transcribed by Billings his man； whom； as be tells me； he can most confide in for secresy； and is much pleased with it； and earnest to have it be： and he and I are like to be much together in the considering how to reform the office； and that by the Duke of York's command。 Thence I； mightily pleased with this success； away to the office； where all the morning； my head full of this business。 And it is pretty how Lord Brouncker this day did tell me how he hears that a design is on foot to remove us out of the office； and proposes that we two do agree to draw up a form of new constitution of the office； there to provide remedies for the evils we are now under； that so we may be beforehand with the world； which I agreed to； saying nothing of my design： and the truth is； he is the best man of them all； and I would be glad next myself to save him； for as he deserves best； so I doubt he needs his place most。
26th。 It is strange to see with what speed the people employed do pull down Paul's steeple； and with what ease： it is said that it and the quire are to be taken down this year； and another church begun in the room thereof the next。 Home by coach with Sir D。 Gauden； who by the way tells me how the City do go on in several things towards the building of the public places； which I am glad to hear； and gives hope that in a few years it will be a glorious place。 But we met with several stops and troubles in the way in the streets； so as makes it bad to travel in the dark： now through the City。 So I to Mr。 Batelier's by appointment； where I find my wife and Deb。 and Mercer； Mrs。 Pierce and her husband； son； and daughter； and Knipp and Harris； and W。 Batelier and his sister Mary and cosen Gumbleton； a good…humoured fat young gentleman； son to the Jeweller； that dances well。 And here danced all night long； with a noble supper； and about two in the morning the table spread again for a noble breakfast beyond all moderation； and then broke up。
27th。 To St。 James's； and there with Mr。 Wren did correct his copy of my letter； which the Duke of York hath signed in my very words； without alteration of a syllable。 And so； pleased therewith； I to my Lord Brouncker； who I find within； but hath business； and so comes not to the office to…day。 And so I by water to the office； where we sat all the morning： and just as the Board rises comes the Duke of York's letter； which I knowing； and the Board not being full； and desiring rather to have the Duke of York deliver it himself to us； I suppressed it for this day； my heart beginning to falsify in this business； as being doubtful of the trouble it may give me by provoking them； but； however； I am resolved to go through it； and it is too late to help it now。 At noon to dinner to Captain Cocke's； where I met with Mr。 Wren； my going being to tell him what I have done； which he likes； and to confer with Cocke about our office； who tells me that he is confident the design of removing our officers do hold； but that he is sure that I am safe enough。 So away home； and there met at Sir Richard Ford's with the Duke of York's Commissioners about our prizes； with whom we shall have some trouble before we make an end with them。
28th。 To White Hall； where the Duke of York did call me aside； and told me that he must speak with me in the afternoon and with Mr。 Wren； for that now he hath got the paper from my Lord Keeper about the exceptions taken against the management of the Navy； and so we are to debate upon answering them。 At noon I home with Sir W。 Coventry to his house； and there dined with him； and talked freely with him； and did acquaint him with what I have done； which he is well pleased with and glad of： and do tell me that there are endeavours on foot to bring the Navy into new； but； he fears； worse hands。 The Duke of York fell to work with us （the Committee being gone） in the Council…chamber； and there with his own hand did give us his long letter； telling us that he had received several from us； and now did give us one from him； taking notice of our several doubts and failures； and desired answer to it as he therein desired： this pleased me well。 And so fell to other business； and then parted。 And the Duke of York and Wren and I； it being now candle…light； into the Duke of York's closet in White Hall； and there read over this paper of my Lord Keeper's； wherein are laid down the faults of the Navy； so silly； a