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and one Mr。 Smallwood; Posers。
8th。 Mr。 Pierce told me how the King still do doat upon his women; even beyond all shame: and that the good Queene will of herself stop before she goes sometimes into her dressing…room; till she knows whether the King be there; for fear he should be; as she hath sometimes taken him; with Mrs。 Stewart; and that some of the best parts of the Queene's joynture are; contrary to faith; and against the opinion of my Lord Treasurer and his Council; bestowed or rented; I know not how; to my Lord Fitzhardinge and Mrs。 Stewart; and others of that crew; that the King do doat infinitely upon the Duke of Monmouth; apparently as one that he intends to have succeed him。 God knows what will be the end of it!
9th。 Great talk of the Dutch proclaiming themselves in India; Lords of the Southern Seas; and denying traffick to all ships but their own; upon pain of confiscation: which makes our merchants mad。 Great doubt of two ships of ours; the Greyhound and another; very rich; coming from the Streights; for fear of the Turkes。 Matters are made up between the Pope and the King of France; so that now all the doubt is; what the French will do with their armies。
10th。 I did give my wife's brother 10s。 and a coat that I had by me; a close…bodied; light…coloured cloth coat; with a gold edgeing in each seam; that was the lace of my wife's best pettycoat that she had when I married her。 He is going into Holland to seek his fortune。
15th。 To White Hall; to the Duke: where he first put on a periwigg to…day: but methought his hair cut short in order thereto did look very prettily of itself; before he put on his periwigg。 Great news of the arrivall of two rich ships; the Greyhound and another; which they were mightily afraid of; and great insurance given。 This afternoon Sir Thomas Chamberlin 'Son of William Chamberlayne; an English Judge; and created a Baronet 1642。' come to the office to me; and showed me several letters from the East Indys; showing the height that the Dutch are come to there; showing scorn to all the English; even in our only Factory there at Surat; beating several men; and hanging the English standard St。 George under the Dutch flag in scorn: saying; that whatever their masters do or say at home; they will do what they list; and be masters of all the world there; and have so proclaimed themselves Soveraine of all the South Seas; which certainly our King cannot endure; if the Parliament will give him money。 But I doubt and yet do hope they will not yet; till we are more ready for it。
17th。 Mr。 Pierce tells me of the King's giving of my Lord FitzHarding two leases which belong indeed to the Queene; worth 20;000l。 to him; and how people do talk of it。
19th。 Mr。 Cutler come; and walked and talked with me a great while; and then to the 'Change together; and it being early; did tell me several excellent examples of men raised upon the 'Change by their great diligence and saving; as also his own fortune; and how credit grew upon him; that when he was not really worth 1;100l。; he had credit for 100;000l。; of Sir W。 Rider how he rose; and others。 By and by joyned with us Sir John Bankes; 'An opulent merchant; residing in Lincoln's Inn Fields。' who told us several passages of the East India Company; and how in every case; when there was due to him and Alderman Mico 64;000l。 from the Dutch for injury done to them in the East Indys; Oliver presently after the peace; they delaying to pay them the money; sent them word; that if they did not pay them by such a day; he would grant letters of mark to those merchants against them; by which they were so fearful of him; they did presently pay the money every farthing。 Took my wife; and taking a coach; went to visit; my Ladys Jemimah and Paulina Montagu; and Mrs。 Elizabeth Pickering; 'Lord Sandwich's niece。' whom we found at their father's new house in Lincolne's Fields; but the house all in dirt。 They received us well enough; but I did not endeavour to carry myself over familiarly with them: and so after a little stay; there coming in presently after us my Lady Aberguenny 'Probably Mary; daughter of Thomas Clifford; Esq。; of Dunton Walet; Essex; wife to George; ninth Lord Abergavenny。' and other ladies; we back again by coach。
22nd。 This evening come Mr。 Alsopp the King's brewer; with whom I spent an hour talking and bewailing the posture of things at present; the King led away by half…a…dozen men; that none of his serious servants and friends can come at him。 These are Lauderdale; Buckingham; Hamilton; FitzHarding; (to whom he hath; it seems; given 12;000l。 per annum in the best part of the King's estate); and that the old Duke of Buckingham could never get of the King。 Projers is another; 'Edward Progers; Esq。; the King's Valet…de…Chambre; and the confidant of his amours。 Ob。 1713; aged ninety…six。' and Sir H。 Bennett。 He loves not the Queene at all; but is rather sullen to her; and she; by all reports; incapable of children。 He is so fond of the Duke of Monmouth; that every body admires it; and he says that the Duke hath said; that he would be the death of any man that says the King was not married to his mother: though Alsopp says; it is well known that she was a common strumpet before the King was acquainted with her。 But it seems; he says; that the King is mighty kind to these his bastard children; and at this day will go at midnight to my Lady Castlemaine's nurses; and take the child and dance it in his arms: that he is not likely to have his tables up again in his house; for the crew that are about him will not have him come to common view again; but keep him obscurely among themselves。 He hath this night; it seems; ordered that the Hall (which there is a ball to be in to…night before the King) be guarded; as the Queene…Mother's is; by his Horse Guards; whereas heretofore they were by the Lord Chamberlain or Steward; and their people。 But it is feared they will reduce all to the soldiery; and all other places be taken away; and what is worst of all; will alter the present militia; and bring all to a flying army。 That my Lord Lauderdale; being Middleton's enemy; 'John Earl of Middleton; General of the Forces in Scotland。' and one that scorns the Chancellor even to open affronts before the King; hath got the whole power of Scotland into his hand; whereas the other day he was in a fair way to have had his whole estate; and honour; and life; voted away from him。 That the King hath done himself all imaginable wrong in the business of my Lord Antrim; 'Randall; second Earl; and first Marquis of Antrim。 Ob。 1673。' in Ireland; who; though he was the head of rebels; yet he by his letter owns to have acted by his father's and mother's and his commissions: but it seems the truth is; he hath obliged himself upon the clearing of his estate; to settle it upon a daughter of the Queene…Mother's (by my Lord Germin; 'Earl of St。 Albans。' I suppose;) in marriage be it to whom the Queene pleases: which is a sad story。 It seems a daughter of the Duke of Lenox's was; by force; going to be married the other day at Somerset House; to Harry Germin; but she got away and run to the King; and he says he will protect her。 She is; it seems