great trouble is brought among the people that endeavoured it； and thought they had compassed it。 But Lord！ to think that at this time the King should mind no other cares but these！ We tells me that my Lord of Canterbury is a mighty stout man； and a man of a brave； high spirit； and cares not for this disfavour that he is under at Court； knowing that the King cannot take away his profits during his life； and therefore do not value it。
28th。 To the King's house； and there saw 〃The Mad Couple；〃 which is but an ordinary play； but only Nell's and Hart's mad parts are most excellent done； but especially her's： which makes it a miracle to me to think how ill she do any serious part； as the other day； just like a fool or changeling； and； in a mad part； do beyond all imitation almost。 It pleased us mightily to see the natural affection of a poor woman； the mother of one of the children brought on the stage： the child crying she by force got upon the stage； and took up her child and carried it away off of the stage from Hart。 Many fine faces here to…day。 I am told to… day； which troubles me； that great complaint is made upon the 'Change； among our merchants； that the very Ostend little pickaroon men…of…war do offer violence to our merchant…men and search them； beat our masters； and plunder them； upon pretence of carrying Frenchmen's goods。
29th。 At night comes Mrs。 Turner to see us； and there； among other talk； she tells me that Mr。 William Pen； who is lately come over from Ireland； is a Quaker again； or some very melancholy thing； that he cares for no company； nor comes into any which is a pleasant thing； after his being abroad so long； and his father such a hypocritical rogue； and at this time an atheist。
30th。 Sir G。 Carteret and I alone did talk of the ruinous condition we are in； the King being going to put out of the Council so many able men； such as my Lord Anglesy； Ashly； Hollis； Secretary Morrice （to bring in Mr。 Trevor； ＇John Trevor； knighted by Charles II。 who made him Secretary of State； 1668； which office he held till his death in 1672。＇） and the Archbishop of Canterbury and my Lord Bridgewater。 He tells me that this is true； only the Duke of York do endeavour to hinder it； and the Duke of York himself did tell him so； that the King and the Duke of York do not in company disagree； but are friendly； but that there is a core in their hearts； he doubts； which is not to be easily removed； for these men so suffer only for their constancy to the Chancellor； or at least from the King's ill…will against him。 He do suggest that something is intended for the Duke of Monmouth； and； it may be； against the Queene also： that we are in no manner sure against an invasion the next year： that the Duke of Buckingham do rule all now； and the Duke of York comes indeed to the Caball； but signifies little there。 That this new faction do not endure； nor the King； Sir W。 Coventry； but yet that he is so usefull that they cannot be without him； but that he is not now called to the Caball。 That my Lord of Buckingham； Bristoll； and Arlington do seem to agree in these things； but that they do not in their hearts trust one another； but do drive several ways all of them。 In short； he do bless himself that he is no more concerned in matters now； and the hopes he hath of being at liberty； when his accounts are over； to retire into the country。 That he do give over the kingdom for wholly lost。 This day I got a little rent in my new fine camlett cloak with the latch of Sir G。 Carteret's door； but it is darned up at my tailor's； that it will be no great blemish to it； but it troubled me。 I could not but observe that Sir Philip Carteret ＇Sir G。 Carteret's eldest son； mentioned before； who had been knighted。＇ would fain have given me my going into a play； but yet when he came to the door he had no money to pay for himself I having refused to accept of it for myself； but was fain； and I perceive he is known there； and do run upon the score for plays； which is a shame； but I perceive always he is in want of money。 In the pit I met with Sir Ch。 North （formerly Mr。 North； who was with my Lord at sea）； and he； of his own accord； was so silly as to tell me he is married； and for her quality； being a Lord's daughter； ＇Catherine； daughter to William Lord Grey of Warke； and widow of Sir Edward Moseley。＇ （my Lord Grey） and person and beauty； and years and estate and disposition； he is the happiest man in the world。 I am sure he is an ugly fellow； but a good scholar and sober gentleman； and heir to his father； now Lord North； the old Lord being dead。
31st。 Thus ends the year； with great happiness to myself and family as to health and good condition in the world； blessed be God for it！ only with great trouble to my mind in reference to the publick； there being little hopes left but that the whole nation must in a very little time be lost； either by troubles at home； the Parliament being dissatisfied； and the King led into unsettled councils by some about him； himself considering little； and divisions growing between the King and Duke of York； or else by foreign invasion； to which we must submit if any at this bad point of time should come upon us； which the King of France is well able to do。 These thoughts； and some cares upon me； concerning my standing in this office when the Committee of Parliament shall come to examine our Navy matters； which they will now shortly do。 I pray God they may do the kingdom service therein； as they will have sufficient opportunity of doing it！
JANUARY 1； 1667…8。 Dined with my Lord Crewe； with whom was Mr。 Browne； Clerk of the House of Lords； and Mr。 John Crewe。 Here was mighty good discourse； as there is always： and among other things my Lord Crewe did turn to a place in the Life of Sir Philip Sidney； wrote by Sir Fulke Greville； which do foretell the present condition of this nation； in relation to the Dutch； to the very degree of a prophecy； and is so remarkable that I am resolved to buy one of them； it being quite through a good discourse。 Here they did talk much of the present cheapness of corne； even to a miracle； so as their farmers can pay no rent； but do fling up their lands； and would pay in corne： but （which I did observe to my Lord； and he liked well of it） our gentry are grown so ignorant in every thing of good husbandry that they know not how to bestow this corne； which； did they understand but a little trade； they would be able to joyne together and know what markets there are abroad； and send it thither； and thereby ease their tenants and be able to pay themselves。 They did talk much of the disgrace the Archbishop is fallen under with the King； and the rest of the Bishops also。 Thence I after dinner to the Duke of York's playhouse； and there saw 〃Sir Martin Mar…all；〃 which I have seen so often； and yet am mightily pleased with it； and think it mighty witty； and the fullest of proper matter for mirth that； ever was writ； and I do clearly see that they do improve in their acting of it。 Here a mighty company of citizens； prentices； and others； and it makes me observe； that when I began first to be able to bestow a play on myself； I do not remember that I saw so many by half of the ordinary prentices and mean people in the pit at 2s。 6d。 a…piece as now； I going for several years no higher than the 12d。 and then the 18d。 places； though I strained hard to go in then when I did： so much the vanity and prodigality of the age is to be observed in this particular。 Thence I to White Hall； and there walked up and down the house a while； and do hear nothing of any thing done further in this business of the change of Privy…counsellors： only I hear that Sir G。 Savile； ＇Of Rufford； co。 Notts； Bart。； created Lord Savile of Eland； and Viscount Halifax； 1668； Earl of Halifax； 1679； and Marquis of Halifax； 1682。 Ob。 1695。＇ one of the Parliament Committee of nine for examining the Accounts； is by the King made a Lord； the Lord Halifax； which； I believe； will displease the Parliament。 By and by I met with Mr。 Brisband； and having it in my mind this Christmas to do （what I never can remember that I did） go to see the gaming at the groome…porters （I having in my coming from the playhouse stepped into the two Temple…halls； and there saw the dirty prentices and idle people playing； wherein I was mistaken； in thinking to have seen gentlemen of quality playing there）； he did lead me thither； where； after staying an hour； they began to play； at about eight at night。 And to see the formality of the groome…porter； who is their judge of all disputes in play and all quarrels that may arise therein； and how his under…officers are there to observe true play at each table； and to give new dice； is a consideration I never could have thought had been in the world； had I not now seen it。 And so I having enough for once； refusing to venture； though Brisband pressed me hard； went away。
2nd。 Attended the King and the Duke of York in the Duke of York's lodgings； with the rest of the officers and many of the commanders of the fleet； and some of our master shipwrights； to discourse the business of having the topmasts of ships made to lower abaft of the mainmast； a business I understand not； and so can give no good account