Ashburnham, the great man, who is a pleasant man, and that hath seen much of the world, and more of the Court.  After dinner Sir G. Carteret and I to another room, and he tells me more and more of our want of money and in how ill condition we are likely to be soon in, and that he believes we shall not have a fleete at sea the next year.  So do I believe; but he seems to speak it as a thing expected by the King and as if their matters were laid accordingly.  Thence into the Court and there delivered copies of my report to my Lord Treasurer, to the Duke of York, Sir W. Coventry, and others, and attended there till the Council met, and then was called in, and I read my letter.  My Lord Treasurer declared that the King had nothing to give till the Parliament did give him some money.  So the King did of himself bid me to declare to all that would take our tallys for payment, that he should, soon as the Parliament’s money do come in, take back their tallys, and give them money:  which I giving him occasion to repeat to me, it coming from him against the ‘gre’

[Apparently a translation of the French ‘contre le gre’, and presumably an expression in common use.  “Against the grain” is generally supposed to have its origin in the use of a plane against the grain of the wood.]

I perceive, of my Lord Treasurer, I was content therewith, and went out, and glad that I have got so much.  Here staid till the Council rose, walking in the gallery.  All the talke being of Scotland, where the highest report, I perceive, runs but upon three or four hundred in armes; but they believe that it will grow more, and do seem to apprehend it much, as if the King of France had a hand in it.  My Lord Lauderdale do make nothing of it, it seems, and people do censure him for it, he from the beginning saying that there was nothing in it, whereas it do appear to be a pure rebellion; but no persons of quality being in it, all do hope that it cannot amount to much.  Here I saw Mrs. Stewart this afternoon, methought the beautifullest creature that ever I saw in my life, more than ever I thought her so, often as I have seen her; and I begin to think do exceed my Lady Castlemayne, at least now.  This being St. Catherine’s day, the Queene was at masse by seven o’clock this morning; and.  Mr. Ashburnham do say that he never saw any one have so much zeale in his life as she hath:  and, the question being asked by my Lady Carteret, much beyond the bigotry that ever the old Queen-mother had.  I spoke with Mr. Maya who tells me that the design of building the City do go on apace, and by his description it will be mighty handsome, and to the satisfaction of the people; but I pray God it come not out too late.  The Council up, after speaking with Sir W. Coventry a little, away home with Captain Cocke in his coach, discourse about the forming of his contract he made with us lately for hempe, and so home, where we parted, and I find my uncle Wight and Mrs. Wight and Woolly, who staid and supped, and mighty merry together, and then I to my chamber to even my journal, and then to bed.  I will remember that Mr. Ashburnham to-day at dinner told how the rich fortune Mrs. Mallett reports of her servants; that my Lord Herbert would have had her; my Lord Hinchingbroke was indifferent to have her;