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r twelve days。 So I without seeing the Duke of York； but Mr。 Wren showed me the order of Council about the balancing Store…keeper's accounts； passed the Council in the very terms I drew it； only I did put in my name as he that presented the book of Hosier's preparing； and that is left out； I mean my name； which is no great matter。
8th。 To White Hall； from whence the King and the Duke of York went by three in the morning； and had the misfortune to be overset with the Duke of York； the Duke of Monmouth； and the Prince； ＇Rupert。＇ at the King's gate in Holborne； and the King all dirty； but no hurt。 How it come to pass I know not； but only it was dark； and the torches did not； they say； light the coach as they should do。 I thought this morning to have seen my Lord Sandwich before he went out of town； but I came half an hour too late； which troubles me； I having not seen him since my Lady Pall died。 And so to the Privy…Seal office； to examine what records I could find there for my help in the great business I am put upon of defending the present constitution of the Navy； but there could not have liberty without order from him that is in present； waiting； Mr。 Bickerstaffe； who is out of town。
9th。 Up； and to the Tower； and there find Sir W。 Coventry alone writing down his journall； which； he tells me； he now keeps of the material things； upon which I told him； （and he is the only man I ever told it to； I think；） that I kept it most strictly these eight or ten years； and I am sorry almost that I told it him； it not being necessary； nor maybe convenient； to have it known。 Here he showed me the petition he had sent to the King by my Lord Keeper； which was not to desire any admittance to employment； but submitting himself therein humbly to his Majesty； but prayed the removal of his displeasure； and that he might be set free。 He tells me that my Lord Keeper did acquaint the King with the substance of it； not showing him the petition； who answered； that he was disposing of his employments； and when that was done he might be led to discharge him： and this is what he expects； and what he seems to desire。 But by this discourse he was pleased to take occasion to show me and read to me his account； which he hath kept by him under his own hand； of all his discourse and the King's answers to him upon the great business of my Lord Clarendon； and how he had first moved the Duke of York with it twice at good distance； one after another； but without success； showing me thereby the simplicity and reasons of his so doing； and the manner of it； and the King's accepting it； telling him that he was not satisfied in his management； and did discover some dissatisfaction against him for his opposing the laying aside of my Lord Treasurer at Oxford； which was a secret the King had not discovered。 And really I was mighty proud to be privy to this great transaction； it giving me great conviction of the noble nature and ends of Sir W。 Coventry in it； and considerations in general of the consequences of great men's actions； and the uncertainty of their estates； and other very serious considerations。
11th。 Up； and to Sir W。 Coventry to the Tower； who tells me that he hears that the Commission is gone down to the King with a blank to fill for his place in the Treasury： and he believes it will be filled with one of our Treasurers of the Navy； but which he knows not； but he believes it will be Osborne。 We walked down to the stone…walk； which is called； it seems； my Lord of Northumberland's walk； being paved by some one of that title that was prisoner there； and at the end of it there is a piece of iron upon the wall with his arms upon it； and holes to put in a peg for every turn they make upon that walk。
12th。 With great content spent all the morning looking over the Navy accounts of several years； and the several patents of the Treasurers。 W。 Hewer carried me to Nott's； the famous bookbinder that bound for my Lord Chancellor's library： and here I did take occasion for curiosity to bespeak a book to be bound； only that I might have one of his binding。
13th。 That which put me in good humour both at noon and night； is the fancy that I am this day made a captain of one of the King's ships； Mr。 Wren having this day sent me the Duke of York's commission to be Captain of 〃The Jerzy；〃 in order to my being of a Court…martiall for examining the loss of 〃The Defyance〃 and other things； which do give me occasion of much mirth； and may be of some use to me； at least I shall get a little money for the time I have it； it being designed that I must really be a captain to be able to sit in this Court。
15th。 Up； and by water with W。 Hewer to the Temple； and thence to the Rolls； where I made enquiry for several rolls； and was soon informed in the manner of it： and so spent the whole morning with W。 Hewer； he taking little notes in short hand； while I hired a clerk there to read to me about twelve or more several rolls which I did call for。 And it was great pleasure to me to see the method wherein their rolls are kept； that when the master of the office； one Mr。 Case； do call for them； （who is a man that I have heretofore known by coming to my Lord Sandwich's；） he did most readily turn to them。 At noon they shut up； and W。 Hewer and I did walk to the Cocke； at the end of Suffolke…street； where I never was； a great ordinary mightily cried up； and there bespoke a pullet： which； while dressing； he and I walked into St。 James's Park； and thence back and dined very handsome with good soup and a pullet for 4s。 6d。 the whole。 Thence back to the Rolls； and did a little more business： and so by water to White Hall； whither I went to speak with Mr。 Williamson （that if he hath any papers relating to the Navy I might see them； which he promises me。） And so by water home with； great content for what I have this day found； having got almost as much as I desire of the history of the Navy； from 1618 to 1642； when the King and Parliament fell out。
16th。 Comes to me Mr。 Evelyn of Deptford； a worthy good man； and dined with me （but a bad dinner）： who is grieved for and speaks openly to me his thoughts of the times； and our ruin approaching； and all by the folly of the King。 His business to me was about some ground of his at Deptford； next to the King's yard： and after dinner we parted。 To Woolwich； where I saw； but did not go on board； my ship 〃The Jerzy；〃 she lying at the wharf under repair。 But my business was to speak with Ackworth about some old things and passages in the Navy； for my information therein； in order to my great business now of stating the history of the Navy。 This I did； and upon the whole do find that the late times； in all their management； were not more husbandly than we； and other things of good content to me。 Thence to Greenwich by water； and there landed at the King's house； which goes on slow； but is very pretty。 I to the Park； there to see the prospect of the hill； to judge of Dancre's picture which he hath made thereof for me； and I do like it very well： and it is a very pretty place。 Thence to Deptford； but staid not； Unthwayte being out of the way。 And so home； and then to the King's Tavern （Morrice's） and staid till W。 He