him in the breast, but no hurt done; but I see that
Grove would have done our business to them if we had
bid him. By and by comes Mr. Clerke, our solicitor,
who brings us a release from our adverse atturney,
we paying the fees of the commission, which comes
to five marks, and pay the charges of these fellows,
which are called the commissioners, but are the most
rake-shamed rogues that ever I saw in my life; so
he showed them this release, and they seemed satisfied,
and went away with him to their atturney to be paid
by him. But before they went, Sir W. Batten
and my lady did begin to taunt them, but the rogues
answered them as high as themselves, and swore they
would come again, and called me rogue and rebel, and
they would bring the sheriff and untile his house,
before he should harbour a rebel in his house, and
that they would be here again shortly. Well,
at last they went away, and I by advice took occasion
to go abroad, and walked through the street to show
myself among the neighbours, that they might not think
worse than the business is. Being met by Captn.
Taylor and Bowry, whose ship we have hired for Tangier,
they walked along with me to Cornhill talking about
their business, and after some difference about their
prices we agreed, and so they would have me to a tavern,
and there I drank one glass of wine and discoursed
of something about freight of a ship that may bring
me a little money, and so broke up, and I home to
Sir W. Batten’s again, where Sir J. Lawson,
Captain Allen, Spragg, and several others, and all
our discourse about the disgrace done to our office
to be liable to this trouble, which we must get removed.
Hither comes Mr. Clerke by and by, and tells me that
he hath paid the fees of the Court for the commission;
but the men are not contented with under; L5 for their
charges, which he will not give them, and therefore
advises me not to stir abroad till Monday that he
comes or sends to me again, whereby I shall not be
able to go to White Hall to the Duke of York, as I
ought. Here I staid vexing, and yet pleased
to see every body, man and woman, my Lady and Mr. Turner
especially, for me, till 10 at night; and so home,
where my people are mightily surprized to see this
business, but it troubles me not very much, it being
nothing touching my particular person or estate.
Being in talk to-day with Sir W. Batten he tells
me that little is done yet in the Parliament-house,
but only this day it was moved and ordered that all
the members of the House do subscribe to the renouncing
of the Covenant, which is thought will try some of
them. There is also a bill brought in for the
wearing of nothing but cloth or stuffs of our own manufacture,
and is likely to be passed. Among other talk
this evening, my lady did speak concerning Commissioner
Pett’s calling the present King bastard, and
other high words heretofore; and Sir W. Batten did
tell us, that he did give the Duke or Mr. Coventry
an account of that and other like matters in writing