es out of the vessel into which they were pressed； and were shot by the soldiers placed there to keep them； two days since； so much people do avoid the King's service！ And then these men are pressed without money； and so we cannot punish them for any thing； so that we are forced only to make a show of severity by keeping them in prison； but are unable to punish them。 ＇Shooting the men was rather more than a show of severity。＇ Returning to the office； I did ask whether we might visit Commissioner Pett （to which； I confess； I have no great mind）； and it was answered that he was close prisoner； and we could not； but the Lieutenant of the Tower would send for him to his lodgings； if we would： so we put it off to another time。 To Captain Cocke's to dinner； where Lord Brouncker and his lady； Matt。 Wren； and Bulteale； and Sir Allan Apsly； the last of whom did make good sport； he being already fallen under the retrenchments of the new Committee； as he is Master Falconer； which makes him mad。 With my Lord Brouncker and his mistress to the King's Playhouse； and there saw 〃The Indian Emperour：〃 ＇A tragi…comedy； by Dryden。＇ where I find Nell come again； which I am glad of； but was most infinitely displeased with her being put to act the Emperour's daughter； which is a great and serious part； which she does most basely。 This evening Mr。 Pelling comes to me； and tells me that this night the Dutch letters are come； and that the peace was proclaimed there the 19th inst。 and that all is finished： which for my life I know not whether to be glad or sorry for； a peace being so necessary； and yet so bad in its terms。
23rd。 To White Hall to attend the Council。 The King there： and it was about considering how the fleet might be discharged at their coming in shortly； the peace being now ratified； and it takes place on Monday next。 To the Treasury…chamber； where I waited talking with Sir G。 Downing till the Lords met。 He tells me how he will make all the Exchequer officers； of one side and the other； to lend the King money upon the Act； and that the least Clerk shall lend money； and he believes the least will 100l。： but this I do not believe。 He made me almost ashamed that we of the Navy had not in all this time lent any； so that I find it necessary I should； and so will speedily do it before any of my fellows begin and lead me to a bigger sum。 By and by the Lords come； and I perceive Sir W。 Coventry is the man； and nothing done till he comes。 Among other things I heard him observe； looking over a paper； that Sir John Shaw is a miracle of a man； for he thinks he executes more places than any man in England： for there he finds him a Surveyor of some of the King's woods； and so reckoned up many other places； the most inconsistent in the world。 Their business with me was to consider how to assigne such of our commanders as will take assignements upon the Act for their wages； and the consideration thereof was referred to me to give them an answer the next sitting： which is a horrid poor thing； but they scruple at nothing of honour in the case。 I find most people pleased with their being at ease； and safe of a peace； that they may know no more charge or hazard of an ill managed war； but nobody speaking of the peace with any content or pleasure； but are silent in it； as of a thing they are ashamed of； no； not at Court； much less in the City。
24th。 St。 Bartholomew's Day。 This morning was proclaimed the peace between us and the States of the United Provinces； and also of the King of France and Denmarke； and in the afternoon the Proclamations were printed and came out； and at night the bells rung； but no bonfires that I hear of any where； partly from the dearness of firing； but principally from the little content most people have in the peace。 This day comes a letter from the Duke of York to the Board； to invite us； which is as much as to fright us； into the lending the King money； which is a poor thing； and most dishonourable； and shows in what a case we are at the end of the war to our neighbours。 And the King do now declare publickly to give 10 per cent。 to all lenders； which make some think that the Dutch themselves will send over money； and lend it upon our publick faith； the Act of Parliament。
28th。 To the office； where we sat upon a particular business all the morning： and my Lord Anglesy with us； who； and my Lord Brouncker； do bring us news how my Lord Chancellor's seal is to be taken away from him to…day。 The thing is so great and sudden to me； that it put me into a very great admiration what should be the meaning of it； and they do not own that they know what it should be； but this is certain； that the King did resolve it on Saturday； and did yesterday send the Duke of Albemarle （the only man fit for those works） to him for his purse： to which the Chancellor answered； that he received it from the King； and would deliver it to the King's own hand； and so civilly returned the Duke of Albemarle without it； and this morning my Lord Chancellor is to be with the King； to come to an end in the business。 Dined at Sir W。 Batten's； where Mr。 Boreman was； who came from White Hall； who tells us that he saw my Lord Chancellor come in his coach with some of his men； without his seal； to White Hall to his chamber； and thither the King and Duke of York came and staid together alone an hour or more： and it is said that the King do say that he will have the Parliament meet； and that it will prevent much trouble by having of him out of their enmity by his place being taken away； for that all their enmity will be at him。 It is said also that my Lord Chancellor answers； that he desires he may be brought to his trial； if he have done anything to lose his office； and that he will be willing and is most desirous to lose that and his head both together。 Upon what terms they parted nobody knows； but the Chancellor looked sad； he says。 Then in comes Sir Richard Ford； and says he hears that there is nobody more presses to reconcile the King and Chancellor than the Duke of Albemarle and Duke of Buckingham： the latter of which is very strange； not only that he who was so lately his enemy should do it； but that this man； that but the other day was in danger of losing his own head； should so soon come to be a mediator for others： it shows a wise Government。 They all say that he is but a poor man； not worth above 3000l。 a…year in land； but this I cannot believe： and all do blame him for having built so great a house； till he had got a better estate。 Sir W。 Pen and I had a great deal of discourse with Mall； ＇Orange Moll； mentioned before。＇ who tells us that Nell is already left by Lord Buckhurst； and that he makes sport of her； and swears she hath had all she could get of him； and Hart ＇The celebrated actor。＇ her great admirer now hates her； and that she is very poor； and hath lost my Lady Castlemaine； who was her great friend also： but she is come to the playhouse； but is neglected by them all。
27th。 To White Hall； and there hear how it is like to go well enough with my Lord Chancellor； that he is like to keep his Seal； desiring that he may stand his trial in Parliament； if they will accuse him of any thing。 This day Mr。 Pierce； the surgeon was with me； and tells me how this business of my Lord Chancellor's was certainly designed in my Lady Castlemaine's chamber； and that when he went from the King on Monday morning she was in bed （though about twelve o'clock）； and ran out in her smock into her aviary looking into White Hall garden； and thither her woman brought； her her nightgown； and stood blessing herself at the old man's going away： and several of the gallants of White Hall （of which there were many staying to see the Chancellor's return） did talk to her in her bird…cage； among others Blancford； telling her she was the bird of passage。
28th。 To White Hall： till past twelve in a crowd of people in the lobby； expecting the hearing of the great cause of Alderman Barker against my Lord Deputy of Ireland for his ill usage in his business of land there； but the King and Council sat so long as they neither heard them nor me。 Went twice round Bartholomew fayre； which I was glad to see again； after two years missing it by the plague。
29th。 I find at Sir G。 Carteret's that they do mightily joy themselves in the hopes of my Lord Chancellor's getting over this trouble； and I make them believe （and so； indeed； I do believe he will） that my Lord Chancellor is become popular by it。 I find by all hands that the Court is at this day all to pieces； every man of a faction of one sort or other； so as it is to be feared what it will come to。 But that that pleases me is； I hear to…night that Mr。 Brouncker is turned away yesterday by the Duke of York； for some bold words he was heard by Colonel Werden to say in the garden the day the Chancellor was with the Kingthat he believed the King would be hectored out of every thing。 For this the Duke of York； who all say hath been very strong for his father…in…law at this trial； hath turned him away： and every body； I think； is glad of it； for he was a pestilent rogue； an atheist； that would have sold his King and country for 6d。 almost； so corrupt and wicked a rogue he is by all men's report。 But one ob