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rning all the Ladies of Honour appeared early at Court for their vindication； so that nobody could tell whose this mischance should be。 But it seems Mrs。 Wells ＇Maid of Honour to the Queen； and one of Charles II。's numerous mistresses。 Vide 〃MEMOIRES DE GRAMMONT。〃＇ fell sick that afternoon； and hath disappeared ever since； so that it is concluded it was her。 The little Duke of Monmouth； it seems； is ordered to take place of all Dukes； and so do follow Prince Rupert now； before the Duke of Buckingham； or any else。
13th。 To my office； where late upon business； Mr。 Bland sitting with me； talking of my Lord Windsor's being come home from Jamaica； unlooked for； which makes us think that these young Lords are not fit to do any service abroad； though it is said that he could not have his health there； but hath raced a fort of the King of Spain upon Cuba； which is considerable； or said to be so； for his honour。
16th。 To Westminster Hall； and there find great expectation what the Parliament will do； when they come two days hence to sit again； in matters of religion。 The great question is； whether the Presbyters will be contented to let the Papists have the same liberty of conscience with them； or no； or rather be denied it themselves： and the Papists； I hear； are very busy in designing how to make the Presbyters consent to take their liberty； and to let them have the same with them； which some are apt to think they will。 It seems a priest was taken in his vests officiating somewhere in Holborne the other day； and was committed by Secretary Morris according to law； and they say the Bishop of London did give him thanks for it。
17th。 To my Lord Sandwich； whom I found at cards with Pickering； but he made an end soon： and so all alone； he told me he had a great secret to tell me； such as no flesh knew but himself； nor ought； which was this：that yesterday morning Eschar； Mr。 Edward Montagu's man； did come to him from his master with some of the Clerkes of the Exchequer； for my Lord to sign to their books for the Embassy money； which my Lord very civilly desired not to do till he had spoke with his master himself。 In the afternoon； my Lord and my Lady Wright being at cards in his chamber； in comes Mr。 Montagu； and desiring to speak with my Lord at the window in his chamber； he began to charge my Lord with the greatest ingratitude in the world： that he that had received his earldom； garter； 4000l。 per annum； and whatever he has in the world； from him； should now study him all the dishonour that he could： and so fell to tell my Lord； that if he should speak all that he knew of him； he could do so and so。 In a word； he did rip up all that； could be said they was unworthy； and in the basest terms they could be spoken in。 To which my Lord answered with great temper； justifying himself； but endeavouring to lessen his heat； which was a strange temper in him； knowing that he did owe all he hath in the world to my Lord； and that he is now all that he is by his means and favour。 But my Lord did forbear to increase the quarrel； knowing that it would be to no good purpose for the world to see a difference in the family； but did allay them so as that he fell to weeping。 And after much talk （among other things Mr。 Montagu telling him that there was a fellow in the towne； naming me； that had done ill offices； and that if he knew it to be so； he would have him cudgelled） my Lord did promise him； that； if upon account he saw that there was not many tradesmen unpaid； he would sign the books； but if there was； he could not bear with taking too great a debt upon him。 So this day he sent him an account； and a letter assuring him there was not above 200l。 unpaid； and so my Lord did sign to the Exchequer books。 Upon the whole； I understand fully what a rogue he is； and how my Lord do think and will think of him for the future； telling me that thus he has served his father my Lord Manchester； and his whole family； and now himself： and； which is worst； that he hath abused； and in speeches every day do abuse my Lord Chancellor； whose favour he hath lost； and hath no friend but Sir H。 Bennet； and that （I knowing the rise of his friendship） only from the likeness of their pleasures； and acquaintance； and concealments； they have in the same matters of lust and baseness； for which； God forgive them！ But he do flatter himself； from promises of Sir H。 Bennet； that he shall have a pension of 2000l。 per annum； and be made an Earl。 My Lord told me he expected a challenge from him； but told me there was no great fear of him； for there was no man lies under such an imputation as he do in the business of Mr。 Cholmly； who； though a simple sorry fellow； do brave him and struts before him with the Queene； to the sport and observation of the whole Court。 Mr。 Pickering tells me the story is very true of a child being dropped at the ball at Court； and that the King had it in his closet a week after； and did dissect it； and making great sport of it； said that in his opinion it must have been a month and three houres old； and that； whatever others think； he hath the greatest loss； （it being a boy； as he says；） that hath lost a subject by the business。 He tells me too； that Sir H。 Bennet is a Catholique； and how all the Court almost is changed to the worse since his coming in； they being affraid of him。 And that the Queene…Mother's Court is now the greatest of all； and that our own Queene hath little or no company come to her； which I know also to be very true； and am sorry to see it。
18th。 Mr。 Hater and I alone at the office； finishing our account of the extra charge of the Navy； not properly belonging to the Navy； since the King's coming in to Christmas last； and all extra things being abated； I find that the true charge of the Navy to that time hath been after the rate of 374；743l。 a year。 I made an end by eleven o'clock at night。 This day the Parliament met again； after their long prorogation； but I know not any thing what they have done； being within doors all day。
19th。 This day I read the King's speech to the Parliament yesterday； which is very short； and not very obliging； but only telling them his desire to have a power of indulging tender consciences； and that he will yield to have any mixture in the uniformity of the Church's discipline； and says the same for the Papists； but declares against their ever being admitted to have any offices or places of trust in the kingdom； but； God knows； too many have。
21st。 To the office； where Sir J。 Minnes （most of the rest being at the Parliament…house；） all the morning answering petitions and other business。 Towards noon there comes a man as if upon ordinary business； and shows me a writ from the Exchequer； called a Commission of Rebellion； and tells me that I am his prisoner in Field's business； which methought did strike me to the heart； to think that we could not sit in the middle of the King's business。 I told him how and where we were employed； and bid him have a care； and perceiving that we were busy； he said he would； and did withdraw for an houre： in which time Sir J。 Minnes took coach and to Court； to see what he could do from thence； and our solicitor against Field come by chance and