ps made to lower abaft of the mainmast； a business I understand not； and so can give no good account； but I do see that by how much greater the Council and the number of counsellors is； the more confused the issue is of their councils； so that little was said to the purpose regularly； and but little use was made of it； they coming to a very broken conclusion upon it to make trial in a ship or two。 From this they fell to other talk about the fleet's fighting this late war； and how the King's ships have been shattered； though the King said that the world would not have it that above ten or twenty ships in any fight did do any service； and that this hath been told so to him himself by ignorant people。 The Prince； who was there； was mightily surprised at it； and seemed troubled； but the King told him that it was only discourse of the world。 But Mr。 Wren whispered me in the eare； and said that the Duke of Albemarle had put it into his Narrative for the House； that not above twenty…five ships fought in the engagement wherein he was； but that he was advised to leave it out； but this he did write from sea； I am sure； or words to that effect： and did displease many commanders； among others Captain Batts； who the Duke of York said was a very stout man； all the world knew； and that another was brought into his ship that； had been turned out of his place when he was a boatswain； not long before； for being a drunkard。 This the Prince ＇Rupert。＇ took notice of； and would have been angry； I think； but they let their discourse fall： but the Duke of York was earnest in it。 And the Prince said to me； standing by me； 〃If they will turn out every man that will be drunk； they must turn out all the commanders in the fleet。 What is the matter if he be drunk； so when he comes to fight he do his work？ At least； let him be punished for his drunkenness； and not put out of his command presently。〃 This he spoke very much concerned for this idle fellow； one Greene。 After this the King began to tell stories of the cowardice of the Spaniards in Flanders； when he was there； at the siege of Mardike and Dunkirke； which was very pretty； though he tells them but meanly。 To Westminster Hall； and there staid a little： and then home； and by the way did find with difficulty the Life of Sir Philip Sidney。 And the bookseller told me that he had sold four within this week or two； which is more than ever he sold in all his life of them； and he could not imagine what should be the reason of it： but I suppose it is from the same reason of people's observing of this part therein； touching his prophecying our present condition here in England in relation to the Dutch； which is very remarkable。 It is generally believed that France is endeavouring a firmer league with us than the former； in order to his going on with his business against Spain the next year； which I am； and so every body else is； I think； very glad of； for all our fear is of his invading us。 This day at White Hall I overheard Sir W。 Coventry propose to the King his ordering of some particular thing in the Wardrobe； which was of no great value； but yet； as much as it was； it was of profit to the King and saving to his purse。 The King answered to it with great indifferency； as a thing that it was no great matter whether it was done or no。 Sir W。 Coventry answered； 〃I see your Majesty do not remember the old English proverb； 'He that will not stoop for a pin； will never be worth a pound。'〃 And so they parted； the King bidding him do as he would； which； methought； was an answer not like a King that did intend ever to do well。
4th。 It seems worth remembering that this day I did hear my Lord Anglesy at the table； speaking touching this new Act for Accounts； say that the House of Lords did pass it because it was a senseless； impracticable； ineffectual； and foolish Act； and that my Lord Ashly having shown that it was so to the House of Lords； the Duke of Buckingham did stand up and told the Lords that they were beholden to my Lord Ashly； that having first commended them for a most grave and honourable assembly； he thought it fit for the House to pass this Act for Accounts because it was a foolish and simple Act； and it seems it was passed with but a few in the House； when it was intended to have met in a grand Committee upon it。 And it seems that in itself it is not to be practised till after this session of Parliament； by the very words of the Act； which nobody regarded； and therefore cannot come in force yet； unless the next meeting they do make a new Act for the bringing it into force sooner； which is a strange omission。 But I perceive my Lord Anglesy do make a mere laughing…stock of this act； as a thing that can do nothing considerable； for all its great noise。
5th。 The business of putting out of some of the Privy…council is over； the King being at last advised to forbear it； for whereas he did design it to make room for some of the House of Commons that are against him； thereby to gratify them； it is believed that it will but so much the more fret the rest that are not provided for； and raise a new stock of enemies by them that are displeased； and it goes for a pretty saying of my Lord Anglesy's up and down the Court； that he should lately say to one of the great promoters of this putting him and others out of the Council； 〃Well； and what are we to look for when we are outed？ Will all things be set right in the nation？〃 The other said that he did believe that many things would be mended： 〃But；〃 says my Lord； 〃will you and the rest of you be contented to be hanged if you do not redeem all our misfortunes and set all right； if the power be put into your hands？〃 The other answered； No； he would not undertake that。 〃Why then；〃 says my Lord； 〃I and the rest of us that you are labouring to put out will be contented to be hanged if we do not recover all that is past； if the King will put the power into our hands and adhere wholly to our advice。〃
7th。 To the Nursery； but the house did not act to…day； and so I to the other two playhouses into the pit to gaze up and down； and there did by this means for nothing see an act in 〃The Schoole of Compliments〃 at the Duke of York's house； and 〃Henry the Fourth〃 at the King's house； but not liking either of the plays； I took my coach again； and home。
8th。 To White Hall； and by coach home； taking up Mr。 Prin at the Court gate （it raining）； and setting him down at the Temple： and by the way did ask him about the manner of holding of Parliaments； and whether the number of Knights and Burgesses were always the same？ And； he says that the latter were not； but that； for aught he can find； they were sent up at the discretion at first of the Sheriffes； to whom the writs are sent to send up generally the Burgesses and citizens of their county； and he do find that heretofore the Parliament…men being paid by the country； several burroughs have complained of the Sheriffes putting them to the charge of sending up Burgesses； which is a very extraordinary thing to me； that knew not this； but thought that the number had been known； and always the same。
10th。 To White Hall； and there to wait on the Duke of York with the rest of my brethren； which we did a little in the King's green…room while the King was in Council： and in this room we found my Lord Bristoll walking alone； which wondering at while the Council was sitting； I was answered that as being a Catholique he could not be of the Council； which I did not consider before。 This day I received a letter from my father； and another from my cosen Roger Pepys； who have had a view of Jackson's evidences of his estate； and do mightily like of the man and his condition and estate； and do advise me to accept of the match for my sister； and to finish it soon as I can； and he do it so as I confess I am contented to have it done； and so give her her portion。
11th。 To the King's house； to see 〃The Wildgoose Chase。〃 ＇By Beaumont and Fletcher。＇ In this play I met with nothing extraordinary at all； but very dull inventions and designs。 Knipp came and sat by us； and her talk pleased me a little； she tells me how Miss Davis is for certain going away from the Duke's house； the King being in love with her； and a house is taken for her； and furnishing； and she hath a ring given her already worth 600l。： that the King did send several times for Nelly； and she was with him； and I am sorry for it； and can hope for no good to the State from having a Prince so devoted to his pleasure。 She told me also of a play shortly coming upon the stage of Sir Charles Sedley's； which； she thinks； will be called 〃The Wandering Ladys；〃 a comedy that she thinks will be most pleasant； and also another play； called 〃The Duke of Lorane：〃 besides 〃Catiline；〃 which she thinks； for want of the clothes which the King promised them； will not be acted for a good while。
14th。 To my bookseller； Martin； and there did receive my book I expected of China； a most excellent book with rare cuts； and there fell into discourse with him about the burning of Paul's when the City was burned； his house being in the church…yard。 And he tells me that it took fire first upon the end of a board that among others was laid upon the roof instead of lead； the lead bei