gainst the Chancellor； is one of the lewdest fellows of the age； worse than Sir Charles Sedley； and that he was heard to swear he would do my Lord Clarendon's business。 ＇John Lord Vaughan； eldest surviving son to Richard Earl of Carbery； whom he succeeded。 He was well versed in literature； and President of the Royal Society from 1686 to 1689； and had been Governor of Jamaica。 He was amongst Dryden's earliest patrons Ob。 1712…13。＇ That he do find that my Lord Clarendon hath more friends in both Houses than he believes he would have； by reason that they do see what are the hands that pull him down； which they do not like。 That Harry Coventry was scolded at by the King severely the other day； and that his answer was； that if he must not speak what he thought in this business in Parliament； he must not come thither。 And he says that by this very business Harry Coventry hath got more fame and common esteem than any gentleman in England hath at this day； and is an excellent and able person。 That the King； who not long ago did say of Bristoll； that he was a man able in three years to get himself a fortune in any kingdom in the world； and lose all again in three months； do now hug him and commend his parts every where； above all the world。 How fickle is this man； and how unhappy we like to be！ That he fears some furious courses will be taken against the Duke of York； and that he hath heard that it was designed； if they cannot carry matters against the Chancellor； to impeach the Duke of York himself； which God forbid！ That Sir Edward Nicholas； whom he served while Secretary； is one of the best men in the world； but hated by the Queene…Mother； （for a service he did the old King against her mind and her favourites；） and that she and my Lady Castlemaine did make the King to lay him aside： but this man says that he is one of the most heavenly and charitable men in the whole world。 That the House of Commons resolve to stand by their proceedings； and have chosen a Committee to draw up the reason thereof to carry to the Lords； which is likely to breed great heat between them。 That the Parliament； after all this； is likely to give the King no money； and therefore； that it is to be wondered what makes the King give way to so great extravagancies； which do all tend to the making him less than he is； and so will every day more and more： and by this means every creature is divided against the other； that there never was so great an uncertainty in England； of what would be the event of things； as at this day； nobody being at ease； or safe。 To White Hall； and there got into the theatre room； and there heard both the vocall and instrumentall musick。 Here was the King and Queene； and some of the ladies； among whom none more jolly than my Lady Buckingham； her Lord being once more a great man。
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 l