按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
istance of Commissioner Middleton and me； forasmuch as there might be need of advice in what relates to the government of the ships in harbour。 And so I did lay the law open to them； and rattle the master…attendants out of their wits almost； and made the trial last till seven at night； not eating a bit all the day； only when he had done examination； and I given my thoughts that the neglect of the gunner of the ship was as great as I thought any neglect could be； which might by the law deserve death； but Commissioner Middleton did declare that he was against giving the sentence of death； we withdrew； as not being of the Court； and so left them to do what they pleased： and while they were debating it； the boatswain of the ship did bring us out of the kettle a piece of hot salt beef； and some brown bread and brandy； and there we did make a little meal； but so good as I never would desire to eat better meat while I live； only I would have cleaner dishes。 By and by they had； done； and called us down from the quarterdeck； and there we find they do sentence that the gunner of 〃The Defyance〃 should stand upon 〃The Charles〃 three hours with his fault writ upon his breast； and with a halter about his neck； and so be made incapable of any service。 The truth is； the man do seem； and is； I believe； a good man； but his neglect； in trusting a girl to carry fire into his cabin； is not to be pardoned。 This being done； we took boat and home； and there a good supper was ready for us； which should have been our dinner。 The captains； desirous to be at London； went away presently for Gravesend； to get thither by this night's tide。 And so we to supper； it having been a great snowy and mighty cold； foul day； and so after supper to bed。
26th。 Up； and with Middleton all the morning at the Docke； looking over the store…houses and Commissioner Pett's house； in order to Captain Cox's coming to live there in his stead as Commissioner。 But it is a mighty pretty house； and pretty to see how every thing is said to be out of repair for this new man； though 10l。 would put it into as good condition in every thing as it ever was in； so free every body is of the King's money！ And so to dinner at the Hill…house； and after dinner till eight at night close； Middleton and I； examining the business of Mr。 Pett about selling a boat； and we find him a very knave； and some other quarrels of his； wherein to justify himself he hath made complaints of others。 This being done； we to supper； and so to talk； Commissioner Middleton being mighty good company upon a journey； and so to bed。
27th。 We took coach again； and got home about six at night。
29th。 Up； and by water to White Hall； and there to the Duke of York to show myself after my journey to Chatham； but did no business to…day with him： only after gone from him； I to Sir T。 Clifford's； and there； after an hour's waiting； he being alone in his closet； I did speak with him； and give him the account he gave me to draw up； and he did like it very well： and then fell to talk of the business of the Navy； and giving me good words； did fall foul of the constitution； and did then discover his thoughts； that Sir J。 Minnes was too old； and so was Colonell Middleton； and that my Lord Brouncker did mind his mathematics too much。 I did not give much encouragement to that of finding fault with my fellow…officers； but did stand up for the constitution； and did say that what faults there were in our office would be found not to arise from the constitution； but from the failures of the officers in whose hands it was。 This he did seem to give good ear to； but did give me of myself very good words； which pleased me well； though I shall not build upon them any thing。 Thence home； and after dinner by water with Tom down to Greenwich； he reading to me all the way coming and going my collections out of the Duke of York's old manuscript of the Navy； which I have bound up； and do please me mightily。 At Greenwich I came to Captain Cocke's； where the house full of company at the burial of James Temple； who it seems hath been dead these five days。 Here I had a very good ring； which I did give my wife as soon as I came home。 I spent my time there walking in the garden talking with James Pierce； who tells me that he is certain that the Duke of Buckingham had been with his wenches all the time that he was absent； which was all the last week； nobody knowing where he was。 The great talk is of the King's being hot of late against Conventicles； and to see whether the Duke of Buckingham's being returned will turn the King； which will make him very popular； and some think it is his plot to make King thus； to show his power in the making him change his mind。 But Pierce did tell me that the King did certainly say； that he that took one stone from the Church did take two from his Crown。 By and by the corpse came out； and I with Sir Richard Browne and Mr。 Evelyn in their coach to the church； where Mr。 Plume preached。 ＇Thomas Plume； D。D。； Vicar of Greenwich 1662； and installed Archdeacon of Rochester 1679。 Ob； 1704。＇
30th。 Up； and to Sir W。 Coventry； to see and discourse with him； and he tells me that he hath lately been with my Lord Keeper； and had much discourse about the Navy： and particularly he tells me that he finds they are divided touching me and my Lord Brouncker； some are for removing； and some for keeping us。 He told my Lord Keeper that it should cost the King 10；000l。 before he had made another as fit to serve him in the Navy as I am； which though I believe it is true； yet I am much pleased to have that character given me by Sir W。 Coventry； whatever be the success of it。 But I perceive they do think that I know too much； and shall impose upon whomever shall come next； and therefore must be removed； though he tells me that Sir T。 Clifford is inclined well enough to me； and Sir T。 Osborne； by what I have lately done； I suppose。 This news is but what I ought not to be much troubled for； considering my incapacity； in regard to my eyes； to continue long at this work。
31st。 Up； and by water to Sir W。 Coventry's； there to talk with him about business of the Navy； and received from him direction what to advise the Duke of York at this time； which was to submit and give way to the King's naming a man or two that the people about him have a mind should be brought into the Navy； and perhaps that may stop their fury in running further against the whole： and this； he believes； will do it。 After much discourse with him； I walked out with him into St。 James's Park； where； being afraid to be seen with him； （he having not leave yet to kiss the King's hand； but notice taken； as I hear； of all that go to him；） I did take the pretence of my attending the Tangier Committee to take my leave； though to serve him I should； I think； stick at nothing。 At the Committee this morning my Lord Middleton declares at last his being ready to go； as soon as ever money can be made ready to pay the garrison： and so I have orders to get money； but how soon I know not。 Thence to Dancre's； and there saw our pictures which are in doing： and I did choose a view of Rome instead of Hampton Court； and mightily pleased I shall be in them。 Here were Si