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in the Tower 1683。＇ who hath a great value it seems for me； and they appoint a day to come and dine with me； and see my books and papers of the office； which I shall be glad to show them； and have opportunity to satisfy them therein。 Here all the discourse is； that now the King is of opinion to have the Parliament called； notwithstanding his late resolutions for proroguing them； so unstable are his councils and those about him。
18th。 To Sir W。 Coventry's； and there discourse the business of my Treasurer's place at Tangier； wherein he consents to my desire； and concurs therein： which I am glad of； that I may not be accountable for a man so far off。 And so I to my Lord Sandwich's； and there walk with him through the garden to White Hall； where he tells me what he hath done about this Treasurer's place； （and I perceive the whole thing did proceed from him：） that finding it would be best to have the Governor have nothing to do with the pay of the garrison； he did propose to the Duke of York alone that a paymaster should be there； and that being desirous to do a courtesy to Sir Charles Harbord； ＇Sir Charles Harbord； M。P。 for Launceston。＇ and to prevent the Duke of York's looking out for any body else； he did name him to the Duke of York。 That when be came the other day to move this to the board of Tangier； the Duke of York it seems readily reply； that it was fit to have Mr。 Pepys satisfied therein first； an that it was not good to make places for persons。 This my Lord in great confidence tells me that he do take very ill from the Duke of York； though nobody knew the meaning of these words but him； and that he did take no notice of them； but bit his lip； being satisfied that the Duke of York's care of me was as desirable to him as it could be to have Sir Charles Harbord； and did seem industrious to let me see that he was glad that the Duke of York and he might come to contend who shall be the kindest to me； which I owned as his great love； and so I hope and believe it is； though my Lord did go a little too far in this business； to move it so far without consulting me。 But I took no notice of that； but was glad to see this competition come about； that my Lord Sandwich is apparently jealous of my thinking that the Duke of York do mean me more kindness than him。 So we walked together； and I took this occasion to invite him to dinner to my house； and he readily appointed Friday next； which I shall be glad to have over to his content； he having never yet eat a bit of my bread。 Thence to the Duke of York on the King's side； and meeting Mr。 Sidney Montagu and Sheres； a small invitation served their turn to carry them to London； where I paid Sheres his 100l。 given him for his pains in drawing the plate of Tangier fortifications。 At White Hall； and there in the Queenes withdrawing…room invited my Lord Peterborough to dine with me with my Lord Sandwich； who readily accepted it。
19th。 To the King's house； to see 〃 Horace；〃 ＇There were two translations about this period of the 〃Horace〃 of P。 Corneille； one by Charles Cotton； the other （which was performed at Court；） by Catherine Phillips； the fifth act being added by Sir John Denham。＇ this the third day of its acting： a silly tragedy； but Lacy hath made a farce of several dancesbetween each act one： but his words are but silly and invention not extraordinary as to the dances； only some Dutchmen come out of the mouth and tail of a Hamburgh sow。
20th。 Heard at the Council…board the City； by their single Counsel Symson； and the Company of Strangers Merchants； debate the business of water…baylage； a tax demanded upon all goods； by the City； imported and exported： which these merchants oppose； and demanding leave to try the justice of the City's demand by a Quo Warranto； which the City opposed； the Merchants did quite lay the City on their backs with great triumph； the City's cause being apparently too weak： but here I observed Mr。 Gold； the merchant； to speak very well and very sharply against the City。 This afternoon before the play I called with my wife at Dancre's； ＇Henry Dankers； born at the Hague； employed by Charles II。 to paint views of his sea…ports and palaces。 He followed his profession for some years in London。＇ the great landscape… painter； by Mr。 Povy's advice； and have bespoke him to come to take measure of my dining…room panels。
22nd。 At the 'Change I met with Mr。 Dancre； with whom I was on Wednesday； and he took measure of my panels in my dining…room； where； in the four； I intend to have the four houses of the King； White Hall； Hampton Court； Greenwich； and Windsor； Mightily pleased with the fellow that came to lay the cloth and fold the napkins； which I like so well as that I am resolved to give him 40s。 to teach my wife to do it。
23rd。 To the office till noon； when word brought me that my Lord Sandwich was come； so I presently rose； and there I found my Lords Sandwich； Peterborough； and Sir Charles Harbord； and presently after them comes my Lord Hichingbroke； Mr。 Sidney； and Sir William Godolphin。 And after greeting them and some time spent in talk； dinner was brought up； one dish after another； but a dish at a time； but all so good： but； above all things； the variety of wines and excellent of their kind I had for them； and all in so good order； that they were mightily pleased； and myself full of content at it： and indeed it was； of a dinner of about six or eight dishes； as noble as any man need to have； I think； at least； all was done in the noblest manner that ever I had any； and I have rarely seen in my life better any where else； even at the Court。 After dinner my Lords to cards； and the rest of us sitting about them and talking； and looking on my books and pictures； and my wife's drawings； which they commended mightily： and mighty merry all day long With exceeding great content； and so till seven at night； and so took their leaves； it being dark and foul weather。 Thus was this entertainment over； the best of its kind and the fullest of honour and content to me that ever I had in my life； and I shall not easily have so good again。
24th （Lord's day）。 An order brought me in bed； for the principal officers to attend the King at my Lord Keeper's this afternoon； it being resolved late the last night； and by the warrant I find my Lord Keeper did not then know the cause of it； the messenger being ordered； to call upon him to tell it him by the way； as he came to us。 I to White Hall； and here I met Will。 Batelier； newly come post from France； his boots all dirty。 He brought letters to the King； and I glad to see him； it having been reported that he was drowned for some days past。 By and by the King comes out； and so I took coach and followed his coaches to my Lord Keeper's at Essex…house； where I never was before； since I saw my old Lord Essex lie in state when he was dead。 A large； but ugly house。 Here all the officers of the Navy attended； and by and by were called in to the King and Cabinet； where my Lord； who was ill； did lie upon the bed； as my old Lord Treasurer or Chancellor heretofore used to do。 And the business was to know in what time all the King's ships might be repaired fit for service。 The Surveyor answered； in two years；