Here we shewed him Sir J. Minnes’s propositions
about balancing Storekeeper’s accounts; and I
did shew him Hosier’s, which did please him
mightily, and he will have it shewed the Council and
King anon, to be put in practice. Thence to
the Treasurer’s; and I and Sir J. Minnes and
Mr. Tippets down to the Lords Commissioners of the
Treasury, and there had a hot debate from Sir Thomas
Clifford and my Lord Ashly (the latter of which, I
hear, is turning about as fast as he can to the Duke
of Buckingham’s side, being in danger, it seems,
of being otherwise out of play, which would not be
convenient for him), against Sir W. Coventry and Sir
J. Duncomb, who did uphold our Office against an accusation
of our Treasurers, who told the Lords that they found
that we had run the King in debt L50,000 or more,
more than the money appointed for the year would defray,
which they declared like fools, and with design to
hurt us, though the thing is in itself ridiculous.
But my Lord Ashly and Clifford did most horribly
cry out against the want of method in the Office.
At last it come that it should be put in writing
what they had to object; but I was devilish mad at
it, to see us thus wounded by our own members, and
so away vexed, and called my wife, and to Hercules
Pillars, Tom and I, there dined; and here there coming
a Frenchman by with his Shew, we did make him shew
it us, which he did just as Lacy acts it, which made
it mighty pleasant to me. So after dinner we
away and to Dancre’s, and there saw our picture
of Greenwich in doing, which is mighty pretty, and
so to White Hall, my wife to Unthank’s, and
I attended with Lord Brouncker the King and Council,
about the proposition of balancing Storekeeper’s
accounts and there presented Hosier’s book,
and it was mighty well resented and approved of.
So the Council being up, we to the Queen’s side
with the King and Duke of York: and the Duke
of York did take me out to talk of our Treasurers,
whom he is mighty angry with: and I perceive he
is mighty desirous to bring in as many good motions
of profit and reformation in the Navy as he can, before
the Treasurers do light upon them, they being desirous,
it seems, to be thought the great reformers: and
the Duke of York do well. But to my great joy
he is mighty open to me in every thing; and by this
means I know his whole mind, and shall be able to secure
myself, if he stands. Here to-night I understand,
by my Lord Brouncker, that at last it is concluded
on by the King and Buckingham that my Lord of Ormond
shall not hold his government of Ireland, which is
a great stroke, to shew the power of Buckingham and
the poor spirit of the King, and little hold that
any man can have of him. Thence I homeward, and
calling my wife called at my cozen Turner’s,
and there met our new cozen Pepys (Mrs. Dickenson),
and Bab. and Betty’ come yesterday to town, poor
girls, whom we have reason to love, and mighty glad
we are to see them; and there staid and talked a little,
being also mightily pleased to see Betty Turner, who
is now in town, and her brothers Charles and Will,
being come from school to see their father, and there
talked a while, and so home, and there Pelling hath
got me W. Pen’s book against the Trinity.