word to the Duke of Yorke, if any occasion there were
of speaking of me, he told me he had reason to do
so; for there had been nothing done in the Navy without
me. His going, I hear, is upon putting the sea
business into order, and, as some say, and people of
his owne family, that he is agog to go to sea himself
the next year. Here I met with a letter from
Sir G. Carteret, who is come to Cranborne, that he
will be here this afternoon and desires me to be with
him. So the Duke would have me dine with him.
So it being not dinner time, I to the Swan, and there
found Sarah all alone in the house . . . .
So away to the Duke of Albemarle again, and there
to dinner, he most exceeding kind to me to the observation
of all that are there. At dinner comes Sir G.
Carteret and dines with us. After dinner a great
deal alone with Sir G. Carteret, who tells me that
my Lord hath received still worse and worse usage from
some base people about the Court. But the King
is very kind, and the Duke do not appear the contrary;
and my Lord Chancellor swore to him “by—–I
will not forsake my Lord of Sandwich.”
Our next discourse is upon this Act for money, about
which Sir G. Carteret comes to see what money can be
got upon it. But none can be got, which pleases
him the thoughts of, for, if the Exchequer should
succeede in this, his office would faile. But
I am apt to think at this time of hurry and plague
and want of trade, no money will be got upon a new
way which few understand. We walked, Cocke and
I, through the Parke with him, and so we being to
meet the Vice-Chamberlayne to-morrow at Nonesuch,
to treat with Sir Robert Long about the same business,
I into London, it being dark night, by a hackney coach;
the first I have durst to go in many a day, and with
great pain now for fear. But it being unsafe
to go by water in the dark and frosty cold, and unable
being weary with my morning walke to go on foot, this
was my only way. Few people yet in the streets,
nor shops open, here and there twenty in a place almost;
though not above five or sixe o’clock at night.
So to Viner’s, and there heard of Cocke, and
found him at the Pope’s Head, drinking with
Temple. I to them, where the Goldsmiths do decry
the new Act, for money to be all brought into the
Exchequer, and paid out thence, saying they will not
advance one farthing upon it; and indeed it is their
interest to say and do so. Thence Cocke and I
to Sir G. Smith’s, it being now night, and there
up to his chamber and sat talking, and I barbing—[shaving]—against
to-morrow; and anon, at nine at night, comes to us
Sir G. Smith and the Lieutenant of the Tower, and there
they sat talking and drinking till past midnight,
and mighty merry we were, the Lieutenant of the Tower
being in a mighty vein of singing, and he hath a very
good eare and strong voice, but no manner of skill.
Sir G. Smith shewed me his lady’s closett,
which was very fine; and, after being very merry,
here I lay in a noble chamber, and mighty highly treated,
the first time I have lain in London a long time.