mself obliged by it。 My Lord Sandwich hath referred it to my Lord Crewe； Sir G。 Carteret； and Mr。 Montagu； to end it。 My Lord Hinchingbroke and the ladies know nothing yet of it。 It will； I think； be very happy。
30th； I met with Mr。 Pierce； and he tells me the Duke of Cambridge is very ill and full of spots about his body； that Dr。 Frazier knows not what to think of it。
MAY 1。 1667。 To Westminster； in the way meeting many milk…maids with their garlands upon their pails； dancing with a fiddler before them； and saw pretty Nelly ＇Nell Gwynne。＇ standing at her lodgings' door in Drury…lane in her smock sleeves and bodice； looking upon one： she seemed a mighty pretty creature。 My Lord Crewe walked with me； giving me an account of the meeting of the Commissioners for Accounts； whereof he is one。 How some of the gentlemen； Garraway； Littleton； and others； did scruple at their first coming there； being called thither to act； as Members of Parliament； which they could not do by any authority but that of the Parliament； and therefore desired the King's direction in it； which was sent for by my Lord Bridgewater； who brought answer； very short； that the King expected they should obey his Commission。 Then they went on and observed upon a power to be given them of administering and framing an oath； which they thought they could not do by any power but Act of Parliament； and the whole Commission did think fit to have the Judges' opinion in it； and so drawing up their scruples in writing they all attended the King； who told them he would send to the Judges to be answered； and did so； who have； my Lord tells me； met three times about it； not knowing what answer to give it： and they have met this week； doing nothing but expecting the solution of the Judges in this point。 My Lord tells me he do believe this Commission will do more hurt than good： it may undo some accounts； if these men shall think fit； but it can never clear an account； for he must come into the Exchequer for all this。 Besides； it is a kind of inquisition that hath seldom ever been granted in England： and he believes it will never； besides； give any satisfaction to the People or Parliament； but be looked upon as a forced； packed business of the King； especially if these Parliament…men that are of it shall not concur with them； which he doubts they will not； and therefore wishes much that the King would lay hold of this fit occasion and let the Commission fall。 Then to talk of my Lord Sandwich； whom my Lord Crewe hath a great desire might get to be Lord Treasurer if the present Lord should die； as it is believed he will in a little time； and thinks he can have no competitor but my Lord Arlington； who； it is given out； desires it： but my Lord thinks not； for that the being Secretary do keep him a greater interest with the King than the other would do； at least do believe that if my Lord would surrender him his Wardrobe place； it would be a temptation to Arlington to assist my Lord in getting the Treasurer's。 I did object to my Lord that it would be no place of content； nor safety； nor honour for my Lord； the State being so indigent as it is； and the King so irregular； and those about him； that my Lord must be forced to part with any thing to answer his warrants； and that； therefore； I do believe the King had rather have a man that may be one of his vicious caball； than a sober man that will mind the publick； that so they may sit at cards and dispose of the revenue of the kingdom。 This my Lord was moved at； and said he did not indeed know how to answer it； and bid me think of it； and so said he himself would also do。 He do mightily cry out of the bad management of our monies； the King having had so much given him； and yet when the Parliament do find that the King should have 900；000l。 in his purse by the best account of issues they have yet seen； yet we should report in the Navy a debt due from the King of 900；000l。： which I did confess I doubted was true in the first； and knew to be true in the last； and did believe that there was some great miscarriages in it： which he owned to believe also； saying； that at this rate it is not in the power of the kingdom to make a war； nor answer the King's wants。 Thence away to the King's playhouse； and saw 〃Love in a Maze：〃 ＇Downes mentions this play； which was never printed； nor is the author known。＇ but a sorry play； only Lacy's clowne's part； which he did most admirably indeed； and I am glad to find the rogue at liberty again。 Here was but little； and that ordinary company。 We sat at the upper bench next the boxes； and I find it do pretty well； and have the advantage of seeing and hearing the great people； which may be pleasant when there is good store。 Now was only Prince Rupert and my Lord Lauderdale； and my Lord ； ＇Probaby Craven。＇ the naming of whom puts me in mind of my seeing at Sir Robert Viner's two or three great silver flagons； made with inscriptions as gifts of the King to such and such persons of quality as did stay in town the late great plague； for the keeping things in order in the town。 Thence Sir W。 Pen and I in his coach Tiburne way into the Park； where a horrid dust； and number of coaches； without pleasure or order。 That which we and almost all went for was to see my Lady Newcastle； which we could not； she being followed and crowded upon by coaches all the way she went； that nobody could come near her； only I could see she was in a large black coach adorned with silver instead of gold； and so white curtains； and every thing black and white； and herself in her cap。 Sir W。 Pen did give me an account this afternoon of his design of buying Sir Robert Brookes's fine house at Wansted： which I so wondered at； and did give him reasons against it； which he allowed of： and told me that he did intend to pull down the house and build a less； and that he should get 1500l。 by the old house； and I know not what fooleries。 But I will never believe he ever intended to buy it； for my part； though he troubled Mr。 Gauden to go and look upon it； and advise him in it；
3rd。 To the Duke of York's chamber； which； as it is now fretted at the top； and the chimney…piece made handsome； is one of the noblest and best…proportioned rooms that ever； I think I saw。 To Westminster by coach： the Cofferer ＇Mr。 Ashburnham。＇ telling us odd stories how he was dealt with by the men of the Church at Westminster in taking a lease of them at the King's coming in； and particularly the devilish covetousness of Dr。 Busby。 ＇Richard Busby； D。D。； Master of Westminster School； and in 1660 made a Prebendary of Westminster。 Notwithstanding the character given of him here； he was a liberal benefactor to Christ Church； Oxford； and Lichfield Cathedral。 Ob。 1695；； aged 89。＇ Took a turn with my old acquaintance Mr。 Pechell； whose red nose makes me ashamed to be seen with him； though otherwise a good…natured man。 This day the news is come that the fleet of the Dutch； of about 20 ships； which come upon our coasts upon design to have intercepted our colliers （but by good luck failed）； is gone to the Frith； and there lies； perhaps to trouble the Scotch privateers； which have galled them of late very much； it may be more than all our last year's fleet。
5th。 Sir John Robinson tells me he hath now got a street ordered to be continued； forty feet broad； from Paul's through Cannon… street to the Tower； which will be very fine。 He and others this day； where I was in the afternoon； do tell me of at least six or eight fires within these few days； and continually stirs of fire； and real fires there have been； in one place or other； almost ever since the late great fire； as if there was a fate sent people for fire。 I walked over the Park to Sir W。 Coventry's。 We talked of Tangier； of which he is ashamed； also that it should put the King to this charge for no good in the world： and now a man going over that is a good soldier； but a debauched man； which the place need not to have。 And so used these words： 〃That this place was to the King as my Lord Carnarvon ＇Charles Dormer succeeded his father； who fell at the battle of Newbury； as Earl of Carnarvon。 Ob。 s。p。 1709。＇ says of wood； that it is an excrescence of the earth provided by God for the payment of debts。 〃This day Sir W。 Coventry tells me the Dutch fleet shot some shot； four or five hundred； into Burnt Island in the Frith； but without any hurt； and so are gone。
7th。 To St。 James's； but there find Sir W。 Coventry gone out betimes this morning on horseback with the King and Duke of York to Putny…heath； to run some horses。
8th。 In our street； at the Three Tuns Tavern； I find a great hubbub： and what was it but two brothers had fallen out； and one killed the other？ And who should they be but the two Fieldings？ one whereof； Bazill； was page to my Lady Sandwich； and he hath killed the other； himself being very drunk； and so is sent to Newgate。
10th。 At noon to Kent's； at the Three Tuns Tavern： and there the constable of the parish did show us the picklocks and dice that were found in the dead man's pocket； and but 18d。 in money； and a table…book； wherein were entered the names of several places where he was to go； and among others his house； where he was to dine； and did dine yesterd