to it。 I do hear also that they have desired the King to use means to stop his escape out of the nation。 This day Gilsthrop is buried； who hath made all the late discourse of the great discovery of 65；000l。 of which the King hath been wronged。
6th。 With Sir J。 Minnes to the Duke of York； the first time that I have seen him； or we waited on him； since his sickness： and blessed be God； he is not at all the worse for the small…pox； but is only a little weak yet。 We did much business with him； and so parted。 My Lord Anglesy told me how my Lord Northampton ＇James third Earl of Northampton； Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire； and constable of the Tower； Ob。 1681。＇ brought in a Bill into the House of Lords yesterday； under the name of a Bill for the Honour and Privilege of the House； and Mercy to my Lord Clarendon： which； he told me； he opposed； saying that he was a man accused of treason by the House of Commons； and mercy was not proper for him； having not been tried yet； and so no mercy needful for him。 However； the Duke of Buckingham and others did desire that the Bill； might be read； and it was for banishing my Lord Clarendon from all his Majesty's dominions； and that it should be treason to have him found in any of them： the thing is only a thing of vanity； and to insult over him。 By and by home with Sir J。 Minnes； who tells me that my Lord Clarendon did go away in a Custom…house boat； and is now at Callis： and； I confess； nothing seems to hang more heavy than his leaving of this unfortunate paper behind him； that hath angered both Houses； and hath； I think； reconciled them in that which otherwise would have broke them in pieces： so that I do hence； and from Sir W。 Coventry's late example and doctrine to me； learn that on these sorts of occasions there is nothing like silence； it being seldom any wrong to a man to say nothing； but for the most part it is to say any thing。 Sir J。 Minnes told me a story of Lord Cottington； who； wanting a son； intended to make his nephew his heir； a country boy； but did alter his mind upon the boy's being persuaded by another young heir （in roguery） to crow like a cock at my Lord's table； much company being there； and the boy having a great trick at doing that perfectly。 My Lord bade them take away that fool from the table； and so gave over the thoughts of making him his heir from this piece of folly。 Captain Cocke comes to me； and； among other discourse； tells me that he is told that an impeachment against Sir W。 Coventry will be brought in very soon。 He tells me that even those that are against my Lord Chancellor and the Court in the House； do not trust nor agree one with another。 He tells me that my Lord Chancellor went away about ten at night； on Saturday last； at Westminster； and took boat at Westminster； and thence by a vessel to Callis； where he believes he now is； and that the Duke of York and Mr。 Wren knew of it； and that himself did know of it on Sunday morning： that on Sunday his coach； and people about it； went to Twittenham； and the world thought that he had been there： that nothing but this unhappy paper hath undone him； and that he doubts that this paper hath lost him every where： that his withdrawing do reconcile things so far as； he thinks； the heat of their fury will be over； and that all will be made well between the two brothers： that Holland do endeavour to persuade the King of France to break peace with us： that the Dutch will； without doubt； have sixty sail of ships out the next year： so knows not what will become of us； but hopes the Parliament will find money for us to have a fleet。
7th。 Somebody told me this day that they hear that Thomson with the wooden leg； and Wildman； the Fifth…Monarchy man （a great creature of the Duke of Buckingham's）； are in nomination to be Commissioners； among others； upon the Bill of Accounts。
8th。 To White Hall； where I saw the Duchesse of York （in a fine dress of second mourning for her mother； being black edged with ermin） go to make her first visit to the Queene since the Duke of York's being sick； and by and by she being returned； the Queene came and visited her。 But it was pretty to observe that Sir W。 Coventry and I walking an hour and more together in the Matted Gallery； he observed； and so did I； how the Duchesse； soon as she spied him； turned her head a' one side。 Here he and I walked thus long； which we have not done a great while before。 Our discourse was upon every thing： the unhappiness of having our matters examined by people that understand them not； that it is better for us in the Navy to have men that do understand the whole； and that are not passionate； that we that have taken the most pains are called upon to answer for all crimes； while those that； like Sir W。 Batten and Sir J。 Minnes； did sit and do nothing； do lie still without any trouble： that if it were to serve the King and kingdom again in a war； neither of us could do more； though upon this experience we might do better than we did： that the commanders； the gentlemen that could never be brought to order； but undid all； are now the men that find fault and abuse others： that it had been much better for the King to have given Sir J。 Minnes and Sir W。 Batten 1000l。 a…year to have sat still； than to have had them in this business this war： that the serving a prince that minds not his business is most unhappy for them that serve him well； and an unhappiness so great that he declares he will never have more to do with a war under him。 That he hath papers which do flatly contradict the Duke of Albemarle's Narrative； and that he hath been with the Duke of Albemarle and showed him them； to prevent his falling into another like fault： that the Duke of Albemarle seems to be able to answer them； but he thinks that the Duke of Albemarle and the Prince are contented to let their Narratives sleep； they being not only contradictory in some things （as he observed about the business of the Duke of Albemarle's being to follow the Prince upon the dividing the fleet in case the enemy come out）； but neither of them to be maintained in others。 That the business the other night of my Lord Anglesy at the Council was happily got over for my Lord； by his dexterous silencing it； and the rest not urging it further； forasmuch as had the Duke of Buckingham come in time enough and had got it by the end； he would have touched him in it； Sir W。 Coventry telling me that my Lord Anglesy did with such impudence maintain the quarrel against the Commons and some of the Lords； in the business of my Lord Clarendon； that he believes there are enough would be glad but of this occasion to be revenged of him。 He tells me that he hears some of the Thomsons are like to be of the Commission for the Accounts； and Wildman； which he much wonders at； as having been a false fellow to every body； and in prison most of the time since the King's coming in。 But he do tell me that the House is in such a condition that nobody can tell what to make of them； and； he thinks； they were never in before； that every body leads； and nobody follows； and that he do now think that； since a great many are defeated in their expectation of being of the Commission； now they would put it into such hands as it shall get no credit from： for if they do look to the bottom and see the King's case； they think they are then bound to give the King money； whereas they would be excused from that； and therefore endeavour to make this business of the Accounts to signify little。 Comes Captain Cocke to me； and there he tells me； to my great satisfaction； that Sir Robert Brookes did dine with him to…day； and that he told him； speaking of me； that he would make me the darling of the House of Commons； so much he is satisfied concerning me。 And this Cocke did tell me that I might give him thanks for it； and I do think it may do me good； for he do happen to be held a considerable person； of a young man； both for sobriety and ability。
9th。 Comes Sir G。 Carteret to talk with me； who seems to think himself safe as to his particular； but do doubt what will become of the whole kingdom； things being so broke in pieces。 He tells me that the King himself did the other day very particularly tell the whole story of my Lord Sandwich's not following the Dutch ships； with which he is charged； and shows the reasons of it to be the only good course he could have taken； and do discourse it very knowingly。 This I am glad of； though； as the King is now； his favour； for aught I see； serves very little in stead at this day； but rather is an argument against a man； and the King do not concern himself to relieve or justify any body； but is wholly negligent of every body's concernment。
10th。 The King did send a message to the House to…day that he would adjourn them on the 17th instant to February； by which time； at least； I shall have more respite to prepare things on my own behalf and the office； against their return。
11th。 I met Harris the player； and talked of 〃Catiline；〃 which is to be suddenly acted at the King's house； and there all agree that it cannot be well done at that house； there not being good actors enough： and Burt ＇Davies； says Burt； ranked in the list of good actors without possessing superior talents。DRAMATIC MISCELLAN