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 na