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my office； blessed be God！ I am come to a good degree of knowledge therein； and am acknowledged so by all the world； even the Duke himself to whom I have a good accesse： and by that； and by my being Commissioner for Tangier； he takes much notice of me； and I doubt not but； by the continuance of the same endeavours； I shall in a little time come to be a man much taken notice of in the world； specially being come to so great an esteem with Mr。 Coventry。 Publick matters stand thus： The King is bringing； as is said； his family； and Navy； and all other his charges； to a less expence。 In the mean time； himself following his pleasures more than with good advice he would do； at least； to be seen to all the world to do so。 His dalliance with my Lady Castlemaine being publick； every day； to his great reproach； and his favouring of none at Court so much as those that are the confidants of his pleasure； as Sir H。 Bennet and Sir Charles Barkeley； which； good God！ put it into his heart to mend； before he makes himself too much contemned by his people for it！ The Duke of Monmouth is in so great splendour at Court； and so dandled by the King； that some doubt； that； if the King should have no child by the Queene （which there is yet no appearance of）； whether he would not be acknowledged for a lawful son； and that there will be a difference follow between the Duke of York and him； which God prevent！ My Lord Chancellor is threatened by people to be questioned； the next sitting of the Parliament； by some spirits that do not love to see him so great： but certainly he is a good servant to the King。 The Queene…Mother is said to keep too great a Court now； and her being married to my Lord St。 Alban's is commonly talked of； and that they had a daughter between them in France； how true； God knows。 The Bishops are high； and go on without any diffidence in pressing uniformity； and the Presbyters seem silent in it； and either conform or lay down； though without doubt they expect a turn； and would be glad these endeavours of the other Fanatiques would take effect； there having been a plot lately found for which four have been publickly tried at the Old Bayley and hanged。 My Lord Sandwich is still in good esteem； and now keeping his Christmas in the country； and I in good esteem； I think； as any man can be； with him。 In fine； for the good condition of myself； wife； family； and estate； in the great degree that it is； and for the public state of the nation； so quiet as it is； the Lord God be praised！
1662…63； JANUARY 1。 Among other discourse； Mrs。 Sarah tells us how the King sups at least four times every week with my Lady Castlemaine； and most often stays till the morning with her； and goes home through the garden all alone privately； and that so as the very centrys take notice of it and speak of it。 She tells me； that about a month ago she quickened at my Lord Gerard's ＇Charles Lord Gerard of Brandon； Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Charles II and Captain of his Guards； created Earl of Macclesfield 1679； and died about 1693。 His wife； mentioned afterwards； was a French lady； whose name has not been preserved。＇ at dinner； and cried out that she was undone； and all the lords and men were fain to quit the room； and women called to help her。
5th。 To the Duke； who himself told me that Sir J。 Lawson was come home to Portsmouth from the Streights with great renowne among all men； and； I perceive； mightily esteemed at Court by all。 The Duke did not stay long in his chamber； but to the King's chamber； whither by and by the Russia Embassadors come； who； it seems； have a custom that they will not come to have any treaty with our or any King's Commissioners； but they will themselves see at the time the face of the King himself； be it forty days one after another； and so they did to…day only go in and see the King； and so out again to the Council…chamber。 To the Duke's closet； where Sir G。 Carteret； Sir J。 Minnes； Sir W。 Batten； Mr。 Coventry； and myself attended him about the business of the Navy； and after much discourse and pleasant talk he went away。 To the Cockpitt； where we saw 〃Claracilla；〃 ＇A Tragi… comedy by Thomas Killigrew。＇ a poor play； done by the King's house； but neither the King nor Queene were there； but only the Duke and Duchesse。 Elborough （my old school…fellow at Paul's） do tell me； and so do others； that Dr。 Calamy is this day sent to Newgate for preaching； Sunday was se'nnight without leave； though he did it only to supply the place； otherwise the people must have gone away without ever a sermon； they being disappointed of a minister： but the Bishop of London will not take that as an excuse。 Dined at home； and there being the famous new play acted the first time to…day； which is called 〃The Adventures of Five Hours；〃 at the Duke's house； being； they say； made or translated by Colonel Tuke； ＇Sir George Tuke of Crossing Temple in Essex； Mr。 Evelyn's cousin。 The play was taken from the original of the Spanish poet Calderon。＇ I did long to see it； and so we went； and though early； were forced to sit； almost out of sight； at the end of one of the lower formes； so full was the house。 And the play； in one word； is the best； for the variety and the most excellent continuance of the plot to the very end； that ever I saw； or think ever shall。
12th。 I found my Lord within； and he and I went out through the garden towards the Duke's chamber； to sit upon the Tangier matters； but a lady called to my Lord out of my Lady Castlemaine's lodgings； telling him that the King was there and would speak with him。 My Lord could not tell me what to say at the Committee to excuse his absence； but that he was with the King； nor would suffer me to go into the Privy Garden； （which is now a through…passage and common；） but bid me to go through some other way； which I did； so that I see that he is a servant of the King's pleasures too； as well as business。
19th。 Singled out Mr。 Coventry into the matted gallery； and there I told him the complaints I meet every day about our Treasurer's or his people's paying no money； but at the goldsmith's shops； where they are forced to pay fifteen or twenty sometimes per cent； for their money； which is a most horrid shame； and that which must not be suffered。 Nor is it likely that the Treasurer （at least his people） will suffer Maynell the Goldsmith to go away with 10；000l。 per annum； as he do now get； by making people pay after this manner for their money。
To my Lord Chancellor's； where the King was to meet my Lord Treasurer and many great men； to settle the revenue of Tangier。 I staid talking awhile there； but the King not coming I walked to my brother's。 This day by Dr。 Clarke I was told the occasion of my Lord Chesterfield's going and taking his lady （my Lord Ormond's daughter） from Court。 It seems he not only hath been long jealous of the Duke of York； but did find them two talking together； though there were others in the room； and the lady by all opinions a most good； virtuous woman。 He the next day （of which the Duke was warned by somebody that saw the passion my Lord Chesterfield was in the night before；） went and told the Duke how much he did apprehend himself wronged； in his picking out hi