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！
ed with him。 After dinner to chapel in the Tower with the Lieutenant； with the keyes carried before us； and the Warders and Gentleman…porter going before us。 And I sat with the Lieutenant in his pew； in great state。 None； it seems； of the prisoners in the Tower that are there now； though they may； will come to prayers there。
29th。 To Sir Philip Warwick； who showed me many excellent collections of the state of the Revenue in former Kings' and the late times； and the present。 He showed me how the very assessments between 1643 and 1659； which were taxes； （besides Excise； Customes； Sequestrations； Decimations； King and Queene's and Church Lands； or any thing else but just the Assessments；） come to above fifteen millions。 He showed me a discourse of his concerning the Revenues of this and foreign States。 How that of Spayne was great but divided with his kingdoms； and so come to little。 How that of France did； and do much exceed ours before for quantity； and that it is at the will of the Prince to tax what he will upon his people； which is not here。 That the Hollanders have the best manner of tax； which is only upon the expence of provisions； by an excise； and do conclude that no other tax is proper for England but a pound…rate； or excise upon the expence of provisions。 He showed me every particular sort of payment away of money； since the King's coming in； to this day； and told me； from one to one； how little he hath received of profit from most of them： and I believe him truly。 That the 1；200；000l。 which the Parliament with so much ado did first vote to give the King； and since hath been re…examined by several committees of the present Parliament； is yet above 300；000l。 short of making up really to the King the 1；200；000l。 as by particulars he showed me。 And in my Lord Treasurer's excellent letter to the King upon this subject； he tells the King how it was the spending more than the revenue that did give the first occasion of his fathers ruine； and did since to the rebels； who； he says； just like Henry the Eighth； had great and sudden increase of wealth； but yet by overspending both died poor： and further tells the King how much of this 1；200；000l。 depends upon the life of the Prince； and so must be renewed by Parliament again to his successor； which is seldom done without parting with some of the prerogatives of the Crowne； or if denied and he persists to take it of the people； it gives occasion to a civill war； which did in the late business of tonnage and poundage prove fatal to the Crowne。 He showed me how many ways the Lord Treasurer did take before he moved the King to farme the Customes in the manner he do； and the reasons that moved him to do it。 He showed me a very excellent argument to prove； that our importing lesse than we export； do not impoverish the kingdom； according to the received opinion： which； though it be a paradox； and that I do not remember the argument； yet methought there was a great deal in what he said。 And upon the whole I find him a most exact and methodicall man； and of great industry： and very glad that he thought fit to show me all this； though I cannot easily guess the reason why he should do it to me； unless from the plainness that he sees I use to him in telling him how much the King may suffer for our want of understanding the case of our Treasury。
MARCH 2； 1663…64。 This morning Mr。 Burgby； one of the writing clerks belonging to the Council； a knowing man； complains to me how most of the Lords of the Council do look after themselves and their own ends； and none the public； unless Sir Edward Nicholas。 Sir G。 Carteret is diligent； but for all his own ends and profit。 My Lord Privy Seale； a destroyer of every body's business； and do no good at all to the public。 The Archbishop of Canterbury ＇Gilbert Sheldon。＇ speaks very little； nor do much； being now come to the highest pitch that he can expect。 He tells me； that he believes that things will go very high against the Chancellor by Digby； and that bad things will be proved。 Talks much of his neglecting the King； and making the King to trot every day to him； when he is well enough to go to visit his cosen Chief… Justice Hide； but not to the Council or King。 He commends my Lord of Ormond mightily in Ireland； but cries out cruelly of Sir G。 Lane for his corruption； and that he hath done my Lord great dishonour by selling of places here； which are now all taken away； and the poor wretches ready to starve。 But nobody almost understands or judges of business better than the King； if he would not be guilty of his father's fault to be doubtfull of himself and easily be removed from his own opinion。 That my Lord Lauderdale is never from the King's care nor council； and that he is a most cunning fellow。 Upon the whole； that he finds things go very bad every where； and even in the Council nobody minds the public。
4th。 There were several people trying a new…fashion gun brought my Lord Peterborough this morning； to shoot off often； one after another； without trouble or danger。 At Greenwich I observed the foundation laying of a very great house for the King； which will cost a great deal of money。
10th。 At the Privy Seale I enquired； and found the Bill come for the Corporation of the Royall Fishery： whereof the Duke of York is made present Governor； and severall other very great persons； to the number of thirty…two； made his assistants for their lives： whereof； by my Lord Sandwich's favour； I am one： and take it not only as a matter of honour； but that； that may come to be of profit to me。
14th。 To White Hall； and in the Duke's chamber； while he was dressing； two persons of quality that were there did tell his Regal Highness how the other night； in Holborne； about midnight； being at cards； a link…boy come by and run into the house； and told the people the house was a…falling。 Upon this the whole family was frighted； concluding that the boy had said that； the house was a…fire： so they left their cards above； and one would have got out of the balcony； but it was not open； the other went up to fetch down his children； that were in bed： so all got clear out of the house。 And no sooner so； but the house fell down indeed； from top to bottom。 It seems my Lord Southampton's canaille did come too near their foundation； and so weakened the house； and down it come： which； in every respect； is a most extraordinary passage。 The business between my Lords Chancellor and Bristoll； they say； is hushed up： and the latter gone or going； by the King's licence； to France。
15th。 My poor brother Tom died。
16th。 To the office； where we sat this afternoon； having changed this day our sittings from morning to afternoon； because of the Parliament which returned yesterday； but was adjourned till Monday next； upon pretence that many of the members were said to be upon the road； and also the King had other affairs； and so desired them to adjourn till then。 But the truth is； the King is offended at my Lord of Bristoll； as they say； whom he hath found to have been all this while （pretending a desire of leave to go into France； and to have all the differences between him and the Chancellor made up；） endeavouring to make： factions in