ass this Bill with the Proviso。 But tells me； that the Proviso is removed； and now carried that it shall be done by a Bill by itself。 He tells me how the King hath lately paid above 30；000l。 to clear the debts of my Lady Castlemaine's； and that she and her husband are parted for ever； upon good terms； never to trouble one another more。 He says that he hears that above 400；000l。 hath gone into the Privy… purse since this warr； and that that hath consumed so much of our money； and makes the King and Court so mad to be brought to discover it。 The very good newes is just come of our four ships from Smyrna； come safe without convoy even into the Downes； without seeing any enemy； which is the best； and indeed only considerable good news to our Exchange； since the burning of the City； and it is strange to see how it do cheer up men's hearts。 Here I saw shops now come to be in this Exchange； and met little Batelier who sits here but at 3l。 per annum； whereas he sat at the other at 100l。； which he says he believes will prove as good account to him now as the other did at that rent。 They talk for certain； that now the King do follow Mrs。 Stewart wholly； and my Lady Castlemaine not above once a…week； that the Duke of York do not haunt my Lady Denham so much； that she troubles him with matters of State； being of my Lord Bristoll's faction； and that he avoids； that she is ill still。 News this day from Brampton； of Mr。 Ensum； my sister's sweetheart； being dead： a clowne。
13th。 W。 Hewer dined with me； and showed me a Gazette； in April last； （which I wonder should never be remembered by any body；） which tells how several persons were then tried for their lives； and were found guilty of a design of killing the King； and destroying the Government； and as a means to it； to burn the City； and that the day intended for the plot was the 3rd of last September。 And the fire did indeed break out on the 2nd of September： which is very strange； methinks。 ＇This circumstance was so remarkable that it has been thought worth while extracting the whole passage from the Gazette of April 23…26； 1666：
〃At the Sessions in the Old Bailey； John Rathbone； an old Army Colonel； William Saunders； Henry Tucker； Thomas Flint； Thomas Evans； John Myles； Will。 Westcot； and John Cole； officers or soldiers in the late Rebellion； were indicted for conspiring the death of his Majesty； and the overthrow of the Government。 Having laid their plot and contrivance for the surprisal of the Tower； the killing his Grace the Lord General； Sir John Robinson； Lieutenant of the Tower； and Sir Richard Brown； and then to have declared for an equal division of lands； &c。 THE BETTER TO EFFECT THIS HELLISH DESIGN； THE CITY WAS TO HAVE BEEN FIRED； and the portcullis let down to keep out all assistance； and the Horse Guards to have been suprised in the Inns where they were quartered； several ostlers having been gained for that purpose。 The Tower was accordingly viewed； and its suprise ordered by boats over the moat； and from thence to scale the wall。 One Alexander； not yet taken； had likewise distributed money to these conspirators； and for the carrying on the design most effectually； they were told of a Council of the great ones that sat frequently in London； from whom issued all orders； which Council received their directions from another in Holland； who sat with the States； and that the THIRD OF SEPTEMBER was pitched on for the attempt； as being found by Lilly's Almanack； and a scheme erected for that purpose； to be a lucky day； a planet then ruling which prognosticated the downfall of Monarchy。 The evidence against these persons was very full and clear； and they were accordingly found guilty of High Treason。〃＇
14th。 Met my good friend Mr。 Evelyn； and walked with him a good while； lamenting our condition for want of good council； and the King's minding of his business and servants。 The House sat till three o'clock； and then up： and I home with Sir Stephen Fox to his house to dinner； and the Cofferer ＇William Ashburnham； an officer of distinction in the King's Army during the Civil War； and after the Restoration made Cofferer to Charles II。 Ob。 s。p。 1671。＇ with us。 There I found his Lady； a fine woman； and seven the prettiest children of theirs that ever I knew almost。 A very genteel dinner； and in great state and fashion； and excellent discourse： and nothing like an old experienced man and a courtier； and such is the Cofferer Ashburnham。 The House have been mighty hot to…day against the Paper Bill； showing all manner of averseness to give the King money； which these courtiers do take mighty notice of； and look upon the others as bad rebells as ever the last were。 But the courtiers did carry it against those men upon a division of the House； a great many； that it should be committed； and so it was： which they reckon good news。
15th。 To the office； where my Lord Brouncker （newly come to town from his being at Chatham and Harwich to spy enormities）： and at noon I with him and his lady； Williams； to Captain Cocke's； where a good dinner； and very merry。 Good news to…day upon the Exchange； that our Hamburgh fleet is got in； and good hopes that we will soon have the like of our Gottenburgh； and then we shall be well for this winter。 And by and by comes in Matt Wren ＇Matthew Wren； eldest son of the Bishop of Ely of both his names； M。P。 for St。 Michael's 1661； and made Secretary to Lord Clarendon； after whose fall he filled the same office under the Duke of York till his death in 1672。 He was one of the earliest Members of the Royal Society； and published two tracts in answer to Harrington's Oceana。＇ from the Parliament…House； and tells us that he and all his party of the House； which is the Court party； are fools； and have been made so this day by the wise men of the other side； for after the Court party had carried it yesterday so powerfully for the Paper Bill； yet now it is laid aside wholly； and to be supplied by a land…tax； which it is true will do well and will be the sooner finished； which was the great argument for the doing of it。 But then it shows them fools； that they would not permit this to have been done six weeks ago； which they might have had。 And next they have parted with the Paper Bill； which when once begun might have proved a very good flower in the Crowne； as any there。 So they are truly outwitted by the other side。
16th。 To White Hall； and there walked up and down to the Queene's side； and there saw my dear Lady Castlemaine； who continues admirable； methinks； and I do not hear that but the King is the same to her still as ever。 Anon to chapel by the King's closet； and heard a very good anthem。 Then with Lord Brouncker to Sir W。 Coventry's chamber； and there we sat with him and talked。 He is weary of any thing to do； he says； in the Navy。 He tells us this Committee of Accounts will enquire sharply into our office。 To Sir P。 Neale's chamber； Sir Edward Walker being there；； and telling us how he hath lost many fine rowles of antiquity in heraldry by the late fire； but hath saved the most of his papers。 Here was also Dr。 Wallis； ＇John Wallis； S。T。P。 F。R。S。 Savilian Professor of Geometry。 Ob。 1703； aged 87。＇ the famous scholar and mathematician； but he promises little。 The Duke of Monmonth； Lord Brouncker says； spends his time the most viciously and idle of any man； nor will be fit for any thing； yet he speaks as if it were not impossible but the King would own him for his son； and that there was marriage between his mother and him。
17th。 My wife well home in the evening from the play； which I was glad of； it being cold and dark； and she having her necklace of pearl on； and none but Mercer with her。
19th。 Talked of the King's family with Mr。 Hingston； the organist。 He says many of the musique are ready to starve； they being five years behind hand for their wages： nay； Evens； the famous man upon the Harp； having not his equal in the world； did the other day die for mere want； and was fain to be buried at the almes of the parish； and carried to his grave in the dark at night without one linke； but that Mr。 Hingston met it by chance； and did give 12d。 to buy two or three links。 Thence I up to the Lords' House to enquire for my Lord Bellasses； and there hear how at a conference this morning between the two Houses about the business of the Canary Company； my Lord Buckingham leaning rudely over my Lord Marquis Dorchester； ＇Henry second Earl of Kingston； created Marquis of Dorchester 1645。 Ob。 1680。 See an account of this quarrel in Lord Clarendon's Life。＇ my Lord Dorchester removed his elbow。 Duke of Buckingham asked whether he was uneasy； Dorchester replied； yes； and that he durst not do this were he any where else： Buckingham replied； yes he would； and that he was a better man than himself； Dorchester said that he lyed。 With this Buckingham struck off his hat； and took him by his periwigg； and pulled it aside； and held him。 My Lord Chamberlain and others interposed； and upon coming into the House the Lords did order them both to the Tower； whither they are to go this afternoon。 I down into the Hall； and there the Lieutenant of the Tower took me with him； and would have me to the Tower to dinner； where I dined at the head o