objected; but he did show that he sent it at one in the morning, when the Duke of York did give him the instructions after supper that night, and did clear himself well of it:  only it was laid as a fault, which I know not how he removes, of not sending it by an express, but by the ordinary post; but I think I have heard he did send it to my Lord Arlington’s; and that there it lay for some hours; it coming not to Sir Philip Honiwood’s hand at Portsmouth till four in the afternoon that day, being about fifteen or sixteen hours in going; and about this, I think, I have heard of a falling out between my Lord Arlington, heretofore, and W. Coventry.  Some mutterings I did hear of a design of dissolving the Parliament; but I think there is no ground for it yet, though Oliver would have dissolved them for half the trouble and contempt these have put upon the King and his councils.  The dividing of the fleete, however, is, I hear, voted a miscarriage, and the not building a fortification at Sheernesse:  and I have reason every hour to expect that they will vote the like of our paying men off by ticket; and what the consequence of that will be I know not, but I am put thereby into great trouble of mind.  I did spend a little time at the Swan, and there did kiss the maid, Sarah.  At noon home, and there up to my wife, who is still ill, and supped with her, my mind being mighty full of trouble for the office and my concernments therein, and so to supper and talking with W. Hewer in her chamber about business of the office, wherein he do well understand himself and our case, and it do me advantage to talk with him and the rest of my people.  I to bed below as I did last night.

18th.  Up by break of day, and walked down to the old Swan, where I find little Michell building, his booth being taken down, and a foundation laid for a new house, so that that street is like to be a very fine place.  I drank, but did not see Betty, and so to Charing Cross stairs, and thence walked to Sir W. Coventry’s,

     [Sir William Coventry’s love of money is said by Sir John Denham to
     have influenced him in promoting naval officers, who paid him for
     their commissions.

               “Then Painter! draw cerulian Coventry
               Keeper, or rather Chancellor o’ th’ sea
               And more exactly to express his hue,
               Use nothing but ultra-mariuish blue. 
               To pay his fees, the silver trumpet spends,
               And boatswain’s whistle for his place depends. 
               Pilots in vain repeat their compass o’er,
               Until of him they learn that one point more
               The constant magnet to the pole doth hold,
               Steel to the magnet, Coventry to gold. 
               Muscovy sells us pitch, and hemp, and tar;
               Iron and copper, Sweden; Munster, war;
               Ashley, prize; Warwick, custom;
               Cart’ret, pay;
               But Coventry doth sell the fleet away.”—­B.]