Creed, neither of us having yet applied ourselves to
him about anything: but do talk of his profits
and perquisites taken from him, and garrison reduced,
and that it must be increased, and such things, as;
I fear, he will be just such another as my Lord Tiviott
and the rest, to ruin that place. So I to the
Park, and there walk an hour or two; and in the King’s
garden, and saw the Queen and ladies walk; and I did
steal some apples off the trees; and here did see
my Lady Richmond, who is of a noble person as ever
I saw, but her face worse than it was considerably
by the smallpox: her sister’ is also very
handsome. Coming into the Park, and the door
kept strictly, I had opportunity of handing in the
little, pretty, squinting girl of the Duke of York’s
house, but did not make acquaintance with her; but
let her go, and a little girl that was with her, to
walk by themselves. So to White Hall in the evening,
to the Queen’s side, and there met the Duke
of York; and he did tell me and W. Coventry, who was
with me, how that Lord Anglesey did take notice of
our reading his long and sharp letter to the Board;
but that it was the better, at least he said so.
The Duke of York, I perceive, is earnest in it, and
will have good effects of it; telling W. Coventry that
it was a letter that might have come from the Commissioners
of Accounts, but it was better it should come first
from him. I met Lord Brouncker, who, I perceive,
and the rest, do smell that it comes from me, but dare
not find fault with it; and I am glad of it, it being
my glory and defence that I did occasion and write
it. So by water home, and did spend the evening
with W. Hewer, telling him how we are all like to be
turned out, Lord Brouncker telling me this evening
that the Duke of Buckingham did, within few hours,
say that he had enough to turn us all out which I am
not sorry for at all, for I know the world will judge
me to go for company; and my eyes are such as I am
not able to do the business of my Office as I used,
and would desire to do, while I am in it. So
with full content, declaring all our content in being
released of my employment, my wife and I to bed, and
W. Hewer home, and so all to bed.
31st. Up, and to my office, there to set my
journal for all the last week, and so by water to
Westminster to the Exchequer, and thence to the Swan,
and there drank and did baiser la fille there, and
so to the New Exchange and paid for some things, and
so to Hercules Pillars,’ and there dined all
alone, while I sent my shoe to have the heel fastened
at Wotton’s, and thence to White Hall to the
Treasury chamber, where did a little business, and
thence to the Duke of York’s playhouse and there
met my wife and Deb. and Mary Mercer and Batelier,
where also W. Hewer was, and saw “Hamlet,”
which we have not seen this year before, or more; and
mightily pleased with it; but, above all, with Betterton,
the best part I believe, that ever man acted.
Thence to the Fayre, and saw “Polichinelle,”
and so home, and after a little supper to bed.
This night lay the first night in Deb.’s chamber,
which is now hung with that that hung our great chamber,
and is now a very handsome room. This day Mrs.
Batelier did give my wife a mighty pretty Spaniel bitch
[Flora], which she values mightily, and is pretty;
but as a new comer, I cannot be fond of her.