Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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19th. I was told this day that Lory Hide, [Laurence Hyde, Master
of the Robes, afterwards created Earl of Rochester.] second son
of my Lord Chancellor, did some time since in the House say, that
if he thought his father was guilty but of one of the things then
said against him, he would be the first that should call for
judgement against him: which Mr. Waller the poet did say was
spoke like the old Roman, like Brutus, for its greatness and
worthiness.

20th. This afternoon Mr. Mills told me how fully satisfactory my
first Report was to the House in the business of Chatham: which
I am glad to hear; and the more, for that I know that he is a
great creature of Sir R. Brookes's.

21st. Among other things of news I do hear, that upon the
reading of the House of Commons' Reasons of the manner of their
proceedings in the business of my Lord Chancellor, the Reasons
were so bad, that my Lord Bristoll himself did declare that he
would not stand, to what he had and did still advise the Lords to
concur to, upon any of the Reasons of the House of Commons; but
if it was put to the question whether it should be done on their
Reasons, he would be against them: and indeed it seems the
Reasons, however they come to escape the House of Commons (which
shows how slightly the greatest matters are done in this world,
and even in Parliaments), were none of them of strength, but the
principle of them untrue; they saying, that where any man is
brought before a Judge accused of Treason in general, without
specifying the particular, the Judge is obliged to commit him.
The question being put by the Lords to my Lord Keeper, he said
that quite the contrary was true. And then in the Sixth Article
(I will get a copy of them if I can) there are two or three
things strangely asserted to the diminishing of the King's power,
as is said at least; things that heretofore would not have been
heard of. But then the question being put among the Lords, as my
Lord Bristoll advised, whether, upon the whole matter and Reasons
that had been laid before them, they would commit my Lord
Clarendon, it was carried five to one against it; there being but
three Bishops against him, of whom Cosens [John Cosins, Master of
Peter House and Dean of Peterborough in the time of Charles I.;
afterwards Bishop of Durham. Ob. 1671-2, aged 78.] and Dr.
Reynolds [Edward Reynolds, Bishop of Norwich. Ob. 1676.] were
two, and I know not the third. This made the opposite Lords, as
Bristoll and Buckingham, so mad that they declared and protested
against it, speaking very broad that there was mutiny and
rebellion in the hearts of the Lords, and that they desired they
might enter their dissents, which they did do in great fury. So
that upon the Lords sending to the Commons, as I am told, to have
a conference for them to give their answer to the Commons'
Reasons, the Commons did desire a free conference: but the Lords
do deny it; and the reason is, that they hold not the Commons any
Court, but that themselves only are a Court, and the Chief Court
of Judicature, and therefore are not to dispute the laws and
method of their own Court with them that are none, and so will
not submit so much as to have their power disputed. And it is
conceived that much of this eagerness among the Lords do arise
from the fear some of them have that they may be dealt with in
the same manner themselves, and therefore to stand upon it now.
It seems my Lord Clarendon hath, as is said and believed, had his
coach and horses several times in his coach, ready to carry him
to the Tower, expecting a message to that purpose; but by this
means his case is like to be laid by. With Creed to a Tavern,
where Dean Wilkins and others: and good discourse; among the
rest, of a man that is a little frantic (that hath been a kind of
Minister, Dr. Wilkins saying that he hath read for him in his
church), that is poor and a debauched man, that the College have
hired for 20s. to have some of the blood of a sheep let into his
body; and it is to be done on Saturday next. They purpose to let
in about twelve ounces; which, they compute, is what will be let
in in a minute's time by a watch. On this occasion Dr. Whistler
told a pretty story related by Muffett, a good author, of Dr.
Cayus that built Caius College; that being very old, and living
only at that time upon woman's milk, he, while he fed upon the
milk of an angry fretful woman, was so himself; and then being
advised to take it of a good-natured patient woman, he did become
so beyond the common temper of his age.

22nd. Met with Cooling, my Lord Chamberlain's Secretary, and
from him learn the truth of all I heard last night; and
understand further, that this stiffness of the Lords is in no
manner of kindness to my Lord Chancellor, for he neither hath,
nor do, nor for the future can oblige any of them, but rather the
contrary; but that they do fear what the consequence may be to
themselves, should they yield in his case, as many of them have
reason. And more, he showed me how this is rather to the wrong
and prejudice of my Lord Chancellor, for that it is better for
him to come to be tried before the Lords, where he can have right
and make interest, than, when the Parliament is up, be committed
by the King, and tried by a Court on purpose made by the King of
what Lords the King pleases, who have a mind to have his head.
So that my Lord Cornbury himself, his son, (he tells me,) hath
moved that if they have Treason against my Lord of Clarendon,
that they would specify it and send it up to the Lords, that he
might come to his trial; so full of intrigues this business is!
Walked a good while in the Temple church, observing the plainness
of Selden's tomb, and how much better one of his executors hath,
who is buried by him.

23rd. Busy till late preparing things to fortify myself and
fellows against the Parliament; and particularly myself against
what I fear is thought, that I have suppressed the Order of the
Board by which the discharging the great ships at Chatham by
tickets was directed; whereas, indeed, there was no such Order.

25th. This morning Sir W. Pen tells me that the house was very
hot on Saturday last upon the business of liberty of speech in
the House and damned the vote in the beginning of the Long-
Parliament against it; so that he fears that there may be some
bad thing which they have a mind to broach, which they dare not
do without more security than they now have. God keep us, for
things look mighty ill!

26th. This evening comes to me to my closet at the office Sir
John Chichly, of his own accord, to tell me what he shall answer
to the Committee, when, as he expects, he shall be examined about
my Lord Sandwich; which is so little as will not hurt my Lord at
all, I know.

27th. Mr. Pierce comes to me, and there in general tells me, how
the King is now fallen in and become a slave to the Duke of
Buckingham, led by none but him, whom he (Mr. Pierce) swears he
knows do hate the very person of the King, and would as well, as
will certainly, ruin him. He do say, and I think is right, that
the King do in this do the most ungrateful part of a master to a
servant that ever was done, in this carriage of his to my Lord
Chancellor: that it may be the Chancellor may have faults, but
none such as these they speak of; that he do now really fear that
all is going to ruin, for he says he hears that Sir W. Coventry
hath been just before his sickness with the Duke of York, to ask
his forgiveness and peace for what he had done; for that he never
could foresee that what he meant so well, in the counselling to
lay by the Chancellor, should come to this.

30th. To Arundell House, to the election of officers [Of the
Royal Society.] for the next year; where I was near being chosen
of the Council, but am glad I was not, for I could not have
attended, though above all things I could wish it; and do take it
as a mighty respect to have been named there. Then to Cary
House, a house now of entertainment, next my Lord Ashly's; where
I have heretofore heard Common Prayer in the time of Dr. Mossum.
[Probably Robert Massum, D.D., Dean of Christ Church, Dublin; and
in 1666 made Bishop of Derry.] I was pleased to see the person
who had his blood taken out. He speaks well, and did this day
give the Society a relation thereof in Latin, saying that he
finds himself much better since, and as a new man; but he is
cracked a little in his head, though he speaks very reasonably,
and very well. He had but 20s. for his suffering it, and is to
have the same again tried upon him: the first sound man that
ever had it tried on him in England, and but one that we hear of
in France. My Lord Anglesy told me this day that he did believe
the House of Commons would the next week yield to the Lords; but
speaking with others this day, they conclude they will not, but
that rather the King will accommodate it by committing my Lord
Clarendon himself. I remember what Mr. Evelyn said, that he did
believe we should soon see ourselves fall into a Commonwealth
again.

DECEMBER 1, 1667. I to church: and in our pew there sat a great
lady, whom I afterwards understood to be my Lady Carlisle, [Anne,
daughter of Edward Lord Howard of Escrick, wife to Charles first
Earl of Carlisle.] a very fine woman indeed in person.

2nd. The Lords' answer is come down to the Commons, that they
are not satisfied in the Commons reasons; and so the Commons are
hot, and like to sit all day upon the business what to do herein,
most thinking that they will remonstrate against the Lords.
Thence to Lord Crewe's, and there dined with him; where, after
dinner, he took me aside and bewailed the condition of the
nation, now the King and his brother are at a distance about this
business of the Chancellor, and the two houses differing: and he
do believe that there are so many about the King like to be
concerned and troubled by the Parliament, that they will get him
to dissolve or prorogue the Parliament; and the rather, for that
the King is likely by this good husbandry of the Treasury to get
out of debt, and the Parliament is likely to give no money.
Among other things, my Lord Crewe did tell me with grief that he
hears that the King of late hath not dined nor supped with the
Queene, as he used of late to do. To Westminster Hall, where my
cosen Roger tells me of the high vote of the Commons this
afternoon, that the proceedings of the Lords in the case of my
Lord Clarendon are an obstruction to justice, and of ill
precedent to future times.

3rd. To Sir W. Coventry's, the first time I have seen him at his
new house since he came to lodge there. He tells me of the vote
for none of the House to be of the Commission for the Bill of
Accounts; which he thinks is so great a disappointment to Birch
and others that expected to be of it, that he thinks, could it
have been seen, there would not have been any Bill at all. We
hope it will be the better for all that are to account; it being
likely that the men, being few and not of the House will hear
reason. The main business I went about was about Gilsthrop, Sir
W. Batten's clerk; who being upon his death-bed, and now dead,
hath offered to make discoveries of the disorders of the Navy and
of 65,000l. damage to the King: which made mighty note in the
Commons House; and members appointed to go to him, which they
did; but nothing to the purpose got from him, but complaints of
false musters, and ships being refitted with victuals and stores
at Plymouth after they were fitted from other ports. But all
this to no purpose, nor more than we know and will owne. But the
best is, that this logger-head should say this, that understands
nothing of the Navy, nor ever would; and hath particularly
blemished his master by name among us. I told Sir W. Coventry of
my letter to Sir R. Brookes, and his answer to me. He advises
me, in what I write to him, to be as short as I can, and obscure,
saving in things fully plain; for that all that he do is to make
mischief; and that the greatest wisdom in dealing with the
Parliament in the world is to say little, and let them get out
what they can by force: which I shall observe. He declared to
me much of his mind to be ruled by his own measures, and not to
go so far as many would have him to the ruin of my Lord
Chancellor, and for which they do endeavour to do what they can
against Sir W. Coventry. "But," says he, "I have done my do in
helping to get him out of the administration of things, for which
he is not fit; but for his life or estate I will have nothing to
say to it: besides that, my duty to my master the Duke of York
is such, that I will perish before I will do any thing to
displease or disoblige him, where the very necessity of the
kingdom do not in my judgment call me." Home; and there met W.
Batelier, who tells me the first great, news, that my Lord
Chancellor is fled this day, and left a paper behind him for the
House of Lords, telling them the reason of his retiring,
complaining of a design for his ruin. But the paper I must get:
only the thing at present is great, and will put the King and
Commons to some new counsels certainly. Sir Richard Ford told us
this evening an odd story of the basenesse of the Lord Mayor, Sir
W. Bolton, in cheating the poor of the City (out of the
collections made for the people that were burned) of 1800l.; of
which he can give no account, and in which he hath forsworn
himself plainly, so as the Court of Aldermen have sequestered him
from their Court till he do bring in an account. He says also
that this day hath been made appear to them that the Keeper of
Newgate hath at this day made his house the only nursery of
rogues, prostitutes, pickpockets and thieves, in the world; where
they were bred and entertained and the whole society met; and
that for the sake of the Sheriffes they durst not this day commit
him, for fear of making him let out the prisoners but are fain to
go by artifice to deal with him. He tells me also, speaking of
the new street that is to be made from Guild Hall down to
Cheapside, that the ground is already most of it bought. And
tells me of one particular, of a man that hath a piece of ground
lying in the very middle of the street that must be; which, when
the street is cut out of it, there will remain ground enough, of
each side, to build a house to front the street. He demanded
700l. for the ground, and to be excused paying any thing for the
melioration of the rest of his ground that he was to keep. The
Court consented to give him 700l., only not to abate him the
consideration: which the man denied; but told them, and so they
agreed, that he would excuse the City the 700l., that he might
have the benefit of the melioration without paying any thing for
it. So much some will get by having the City burned! Ground by
this means, that was not worth 4d. a-foot before, will now, when
houses are built, be worth 15s. a-foot. But he tells me of the
common standard now reckoned on between man and man, in places
where there is no alteration of circumstances, but only the
houses burnt, there the ground, which with a house on it did
yield 100l. a year, is now reputed worth 33l. 6s. 8d.; and that
this is the common market-price between one man and another, made
upon a good and moderate medium.

4th. I hear that the House of Lords did send down the paper
which my Lord Clarendon left behind him, directed to the Lords,
to be seditious and scandalous; and the Commons have voted that
it be burned by the hands of the hangman, and that the King be
desired to agree to it. I do hear also that they have desired
the King to use means to stop his escape out of the nation. This
day Gilsthrop is buried, who hath made all the late discourse of
the great discovery of 65,000l. of which the King hath been
wronged.

6th. With Sir J. Minnes to the Duke of York, the first time that
I have seen him, or we waited on him, since his sickness: and
blessed be God, he is not at all the worse for the small-pox, but
is only a little weak yet. We did much business with him, and so
parted. My Lord Anglesy told me how my Lord Northampton [James
third Earl of Northampton, Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, and
constable of the Tower, Ob. 1681.] brought in a Bill into the
House of Lords yesterday, under the name of a Bill for the Honour
and Privilege of the House, and Mercy to my Lord Clarendon:
which, he told me, he opposed, saying that he was a man accused
of treason by the House of Commons, and mercy was not proper for
him, having not been tried yet, and so no mercy needful for him.
However, the Duke of Buckingham and others did desire that the
Bill, might be read; and it was for banishing my Lord Clarendon
from all his Majesty's dominions, and that it should be treason
to have him found in any of them: the thing is only a thing of
vanity, and to insult over him. By and by home with Sir J.
Minnes, who tells me that my Lord Clarendon did go away in a
Custom-house boat, and is now at Callis: and, I confess, nothing
seems to hang more heavy than his leaving of this unfortunate
paper behind him, that hath angered both Houses, and hath, I
think, reconciled them in that which otherwise would have broke
them in pieces: so that I do hence, and from Sir W. Coventry's
late example and doctrine to me, learn that on these sorts of
occasions there is nothing like silence; it being seldom any
wrong to a man to say nothing, but for the most part it is to say
any thing. Sir J. Minnes told me a story of Lord Cottington,
who, wanting a son, intended to make his nephew his heir, a
country boy; but did alter his mind upon the boy's being
persuaded by another young heir (in roguery) to crow like a cock
at my Lord's table, much company being there, and the boy having
a great trick at doing that perfectly. My Lord bade them take
away that fool from the table, and so gave over the thoughts of
making him his heir from this piece of folly. Captain Cocke
comes to me; and, among other discourse, tells me that he is told
that an impeachment against Sir W. Coventry will be brought in
very soon. He tells me that even those that are against my Lord
Chancellor and the Court in the House, do not trust nor agree one
with another. He tells me that my Lord Chancellor went away
about ten at night, on Saturday last, at Westminster; and took
boat at Westminster, and thence by a vessel to Callis, where he
believes he now is; and that the Duke of York and Mr. Wren knew
of it, and that himself did know of it on Sunday morning: that
on Sunday his coach, and people about it, went to Twittenham, and
the world thought that he had been there: that nothing but this
unhappy paper hath undone him, and that he doubts that this paper
hath lost him every where: that his withdrawing do reconcile
things so far as, he thinks, the heat of their fury will be over,
and that all will be made well between the two brothers: that
Holland do endeavour to persuade the King of France to break
peace with us: that the Dutch will, without doubt, have sixty
sail of ships out the next year: so knows not what will become
of us, but hopes the Parliament will find money for us to have a
fleet.

7th. Somebody told me this day that they hear that Thomson with
the wooden leg, and Wildman, the Fifth-Monarchy man (a great
creature of the Duke of Buckingham's), are in nomination to be
Commissioners, among others, upon the Bill of Accounts.

8th. To White Hall, where I saw the Duchesse of York (in a fine
dress of second mourning for her mother, being black edged with
ermin) go to make her first visit to the Queene since the Duke of
York's being sick; and by and by she being returned, the Queene
came and visited her. But it was pretty to observe that Sir W.
Coventry and I walking an hour and more together in the Matted
Gallery, he observed, and so did I, how the Duchesse, soon as she
spied him, turned her head a' one side. Here he and I walked
thus long, which we have not done a great while before. Our
discourse was upon every thing: the unhappiness of having our
matters examined by people that understand them not; that it is
better for us in the Navy to have men that do understand the
whole, and that are not passionate; that we that have taken the
most pains are called upon to answer for all crimes, while those
that, like Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, did sit and do
nothing, do lie still without any trouble: that if it were to
serve the King and kingdom again in a war, neither of us could do
more, though upon this experience we might do better than we did:
that the commanders, the gentlemen that could never be brought to
order, but undid all, are now the men that find fault and abuse
others: that it had been much better for the King to have given
Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten 1000l. a-year to have sat still,
than to have had them in this business this war: that the
serving a prince that minds not his business is most unhappy for
them that serve him well, and an unhappiness so great that he
declares he will never have more to do with a war under him.
That he hath papers which do flatly contradict the Duke of
Albemarle's Narrative; and that he hath been with the Duke of
Albemarle and showed him them, to prevent his falling into
another like fault: that the Duke of Albemarle seems to be able
to answer them; but he thinks that the Duke of Albemarle and the
Prince are contented to let their Narratives sleep, they being
not only contradictory in some things (as he observed about the
business of the Duke of Albemarle's being to follow the Prince
upon the dividing the fleet in case the enemy come out), but
neither of them to be maintained in others. That the business
the other night of my Lord Anglesy at the Council was happily got
over for my Lord, by his dexterous silencing it, and the rest not
urging it further; forasmuch as had the Duke of Buckingham come
in time enough and had got it by the end, he would have touched
him in it; Sir W. Coventry telling me that my Lord Anglesy did
with such impudence maintain the quarrel against the Commons and
some of the Lords, in the business of my Lord Clarendon, that he
believes there are enough would be glad but of this occasion to
be revenged of him. He tells me that he hears some of the
Thomsons are like to be of the Commission for the Accounts, and
Wildman, which he much wonders at, as having been a false fellow
to every body, and in prison most of the time since the King's
coming in. But he do tell me that the House is in such a
condition that nobody can tell what to make of them, and, he
thinks, they were never in before; that every body leads, and
nobody follows; and that he do now think that, since a great many
are defeated in their expectation of being of the Commission, now
they would put it into such hands as it shall get no credit from:
for if they do look to the bottom and see the King's case, they
think they are then bound to give the King money; whereas they
would be excused from that, and therefore endeavour to make this
business of the Accounts to signify little. Comes Captain Cocke
to me; and there he tells me, to my great satisfaction, that Sir
Robert Brookes did dine with him to-day; and that he told him,
speaking of me, that he would make me the darling of the House of
Commons, so much he is satisfied concerning me. And this Cocke
did tell me that I might give him thanks for it; and I do think
it may do me good, for he do happen to be held a considerable
person, of a young man, both for sobriety and ability.

9th. Comes Sir G. Carteret to talk with me, who seems to think
himself safe as to his particular, but do doubt what will become
of the whole kingdom, things being so broke in pieces. He tells
me that the King himself did the other day very particularly tell
the whole story of my Lord Sandwich's not following the Dutch
ships, with which he is charged; and shows the reasons of it to
be the only good course he could have taken, and do discourse it
very knowingly. This I am glad of, though, as the King is now,
his favour, for aught I see, serves very little in stead at this
day, but rather is an argument against a man; and the King do not
concern himself to relieve or justify any body, but is wholly
negligent of every body's concernment.

10th. The King did send a message to the House to-day that he
would adjourn them on the 17th instant to February; by which
time, at least, I shall have more respite to prepare things on my
own behalf and the office, against their return.

11th. I met Harris the player, and talked of "Catiline," which
is to be suddenly acted at the King's house; and there all agree
that it cannot be well done at that house, there not being good
actors enough: and Burt [Davies, says Burt, ranked in the list
of good actors without possessing superior talents.--DRAMATIC
MISCELLANIES.] acts Cicero, which they all conclude he will not
be able to do well. The King gives them 500l. for robes, there
being, as they say, to be sixteen scarlet robes. Comes Sir W.
Warren [I have been recently informed that Charles II., April 12,
1662, knighted a rich tradesman of Wapping, named WILLIAM WARREN;
and there is still in that parish a place called "SIR WILLIAM
WARREN'S SQUARE," perhaps built on the site of the knight's
residence.] to talk about some business of his and mine: and
he, I find, would have me not to think that the Parliament, in
the mind they are in, and having so many good offices in their
view to dispose of, will leave any of the King's officers in, but
will rout all, though I am likely to escape as well as any, if any
can escape. And I think he is in the right, and I do look for it
accordingly.