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st coming given back the ships which they had taken； and all their men； though they refused afterwards to make him restitution for the goods which they had taken。
5th。 My eyes beginning every day to grow less and less able to bear with long reading or writing； though it be by daylight； which I never observed till now。
13th。 In the Painted Chamber I heard a fine conference between some of the two Houses upon the Bill for Conventicles。 The Lords would be freed from having their houses searched by any but the Lord Lieutenant of the County： and upon being found guilty； to be tried only by their peers； and thirdly； would have it added； that whereas the Bill says； 〃That that； among other things； shall be a conventicle wherein any such meeting is found doing any thing contrary to the Liturgy of the Church of England；〃 they would have it added； 〃or practice。〃 The Commons to the Lords said； that they knew not what might hereafter be found out which might he called the practice of the Church of England： for there are many things may be said to be the practice of the Church； which were never established by any law either common； statute； or canon； as singing of psalms； binding up； prayers at the end of the Bible； and praying extempore before and after sermon： and though these are things indifferent； yet things for aught they at present know may be started； which may be said to be the practice of the Church which would not be fit to allow。 For the Lords' priviledges； Mr。 Waller told them how tender their predecessors had been of the priviledges of the Lords； but； however； where the peace of the kingdom stands in competition with them； they apprehend those priviledges must give place。 He told them that he thought； if they should own all to be the priviledges of the Lords which might be demanded； they should be led like the man （who granted leave to his neighbour to pull off his horse's tail； meaning that he could not do it at once；） that hair by hair had his horse's tail pulled off indeed： so the Commons； by granting one thing after another； might be served by the Lords。 Mr。 Vaughan； whom I could not to my grief perfectly hear； did say； if that they should be obliged in this manner to exempt the Lords from every thing； it would in time come to pass that whatever （be it ever so great） should be voted by the Commons as a thing penall for a commoner； the contrary should be thought a priviledge to the Lords： that also in this business； the work of a conventicle being but the work of an hour； the cause of a search would be over before a Lord Lieutenant； who may be many miles off； can be sent for； and that all this dispute is but about 100l。： for it is said in the Act； that it shall be banishment or payment of 100l。 I thereupon heard the Duke of Lennox say； that there might be Lords who could not always be ready to lose 100l。； or some such thing。 They broke up without coming to any end in it。 There was also in the Commons' House a great quarrel about Mr。 Prin； and it was believed that he should have been sent to the Tower； for adding something to a Bill （after it was ordered to be engrossed） of his own heada Bill for measures for wine and other things of that sort； and a Bill of his own bringing in； but it appeared he could not mean any hurt in it。 But； however； the King was fain to write in his behalf and all was passed over。 But it is worth my remembrance； that I saw old Ryly the Herald； and his son； and spoke to his son； who told me in very bad words concerning Mr。 Prin； that the King had given him an office of keeping the Records； but that he never comes thither； nor had been there these six months： so that I perceive they expect to get his employment from him。
19th； To a Committee of Tangier； where God forgive how our Report of my Lord Peterborough's accounts was read over and agreed to by the Lords； without one of them understanding it！ And had it been what it would； it had gone： and； besides； not one thing touching the King's profit in it minded or hit upon。
20th。 Mr。 Edward Montagu is turned out of the Court； not to return again。 His fault； I perceive； was his pride； and most of all his affecting to be great with the Queene： and it seems indeed he had more of her eare than every body else； and would be with her talking alone two or three hours together； insomuch that the Lords about the King； when he would be jesting with them about their wives； would tell the King that he must have a care of his wife too； for she hath now the gallant： and they say the King himself did once ask Montagu how his mistress （meaning the Queene） did。 He grew so proud and despised every body； besides suffering nobody he or she to get or do any thing about the Queene； that they all laboured to do him a good turn。 They all say that he did give some affront to the Duke of Monmouth； which the King himself did speak to him of。 So he is gone；nobody pitying； but laughing at him： and he pretends only that he is gone to his father that is sick in the country。
23rd。 The King is gone down with the Duke and a great crew this morning by break of day to Chatham。
29th。 Mr。 Coventry and I did a long discourse together of the business of the office； and the war with the Dutch； and he seemed to argue mightily with the little reason that there is for all this。 For first； as to the wrong we pretend they have done us； that of the East Indys； for their not delivering of Poleron； it is not yet known whether they have failed or no； that of their hindering the Leopard cannot amount to above 3000l。 if true； that of the Guinny Company； all they had done us did not amount to above 2 or 300l。 he told me truly； and that now； from what Holmes； without any commission； hath done in taking an island and two forts； hath set us much in debt to them； and he believes that Holmes will have been so puffed up with this； that he by this time hath been enforced with more strength than he had then； hath； I say； done a great deal more wrong to them。 He do； as to the effect of the war； tell me clearly that it is not any skill of the Dutch that can hinder our trade if we will； we having so many advantages over them； of winds； good ports； and men； but it is our pride； and the laziness of the merchant。 The main thing he desired to speak with me about was； to understand my Lord Sandwich's intentions as to going to sea with this fleet； saying； that the Duke； if he desires it； is most willing to do it； but thinking that twelve ships is not a fleet fit for my Lord to be troubled to go out with； he is not willing to offer it to him till he hath some intimations of his mind to go； or not。 To the King's closet； whither by and by the King come； my Lord Sandwich carrying the sword。 A Bishop preached； but he speaking too low for me to hear。 By and by my Lord Sandwich come forth； and called me to him： and we fell into discourse a great while about his business； wherein he seems to be very open with me； and to receive my opinion as he used to do： and I hope I shall become necessary to him again。 He desired me to think of the fitness； or not； for him to offer himself to go to sea； and to give him my thoughts in a day or two。 Thence after sermon among the ladies in the