hn Hacket。＇ and Dean ＇Henry Greswold； A。M。＇ of Coventry and Lichfield； the former of whom did excommunicate the latter； and caused his excommunication to be read in the church while he was there； and after it was read； the Dean made the service be gone through with； though himself an excommunicate was present （which is contrary to the Canon）； and said he would justify the quire therein against the Bishop： and so they are at law in the Arches about it； which is a very pretty story。 He tells me that the King is for Toleration； though the Bishops be against it； and that he do not doubt but it will be carried in Parliament： but that he fears some will stand for the tolerating of Papists with the rest； and that he knows not what to say； but rather thinks that the sober party will be without it rather than have it upon those terms； and I do believe so。 It is observed； and is true； in the late fire of London； that the fire burned just as many parish…churches as there were hours from the beginning to the end of the fire； and next； that there were just as many churches left standing as there were taverns left standing in the rest of the City that was not burned； being； I think； thirteen in all of each： which is pretty to observe。
FEBRUARY 1； 1667…8。 To the office till past two o'clock； where at the Board some high words passed between Sir W。 Pen and I； begun by me； and yielded to by him； I being in the right in finding fault with him for his neglect of duty。 Home； my head mighty full of business now on my hands： viz。 of finishing my Tangier Accounts； of auditing my last year's accounts； of preparing answers to the Commissioners of Accounts； of drawing up several important letters to the Duke of York and the Commissioners of the Treasury； the marrying of my sister； the building of a coach and stables against summer； and the setting many things in the office right： and the drawing up a new form of Contract with the Victualler of the Navy； and several other things； which pains； however； will go through with。
5th。 Mr。 Moore mightily commends my Lord Hinchingbroke's match and lady； though he buys her 10；000l。 dear； by the jointure and settlement his father makes her； and says that the Duke of York and Duchesse of York did come to see them in bed together on their wedding…night； and how my Lord had fifty pieces of gold taken out of his pocket that night after he was in bed。 He tells me that an Act of Comprehension is likely to pass this Parliament for admitting of all persuasions in religion to the public observation of their particular worship； but in certain places； and the persons therein concerned to be listed of this or that church； which； it is thought； will do them more hurt than good； and make them not own their persuasion。 He tells me that there is a pardon passed to the Duke of Buckingham； my Lord of Shrewsbury and the rest； for the late duell and murder； which he thinks a worse fault than any ill use my late Lord Chancellor ever put the great Seal to； and will be so thought by the Parliament； for them to be pardoned without bringing them to any trial： and that my Lord Privy…seale therefore would not have it pass his hand； but made it go by immediate warrant； or at least they knew that he would not pass it； and so did direct it to go by immediate warrant； that it might not come to him。 He tells me what a character my Lord Sandwich hath sent over of Mr。 Godolphin； ＇Sidney Godolphin； Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles II。； made a Commissioner of the Treasury 1678…9； and in 1684 created Baron Godolphin。＇ as the worthiest man； and such a friend to him as he may be trusted in any thing relating to him in the world； as one whom； he says； he hath infallible assurances that he will remaine his friend： which is very high； but indeed they say the gentleman is a fine man。
6th。 Sir H。 Cholmly tells me how the Parliament （which is to meet again to…day） are likely to fall heavy on the business of the Duke of Buckingham's pardon； and I shall be glad of it： and that the King hath put out of the Court the two Hides； my Lord Chancellor's two sons； and also the Bishops of Rochester ＇John Dolben。＇ and Winchester ＇George Morley。＇ the latter of whom should have preached before him yesterday； being Ash…Wednesday； and had sermon ready； but was put by； which is great news。 My wife being gone before； I to the Duke of York's playhouse； where a new play of Etheridge's； called 〃She would if she could；〃 and though I was there by two o'clock； there was 1000 people put back that could not have room in the pit； and I at last； because my wife was there； made shift to get into the 18d。 box； and there saw： but； Lord！ how full was the house； and how silly the play； there being nothing in the world good in it； and few people pleased in it。 The King was there； but I sat mightily behind； and could see but little； and hear not all。 The play being done； I into the pit to look for my wife； it being dark and raining； but could not find her； and so staid going between the two doors and through the pit an hour and half； I think； after the play was done； the people staying there till the rain was over； and to talk one with another。 And among the rest here was the Duke of Buckingham to…day openly sat in the pit； and there I found him with my Lord Buckhurst； and Sedley； and Etheridge the poet； the last of whom I did hear mightily find fault with the actors； that they were out of humour and had not their parts perfect； and that Harris did do nothing； nor could so much as sing a ketch in it； and so was mightily concerned： while all the rest did through the whole pit blame the play as a silly； dull thing； though there was something very roguish and witty； but the design of the play and end mighty insipid。 At last I did find my wife。
7th。 Met my cosen Roger Pepys； （the Parliament meeting yesterday and adjourned to Monday next；） and here he tells me that Mr。 Jackson my sister's servant is come to town； and hath this day suffered a recovery on his estate in order to the making her a settlement。 There is a great triall between my Lord Gerard and Carr to…day； who is indicted for his life at the King's Bench for running from his colours； but all do say that my Lord Gerard； though he designs the ruin of this man； will not get any thing by it。 Met my cosen Roger again； and Mr。 Jackson； who is a plain young man； handsome enough for her； ＇Paulina Peps。＇ one of no education nor discourse； but of few words； and one altogether that； I think； will please me well enough。 My cosen had got me to give the odd sixth 100l。 presently； which I intended to keep to the birth of the first child： and let it goI shall be eased of the care。 So there parted； my mind pretty well satisfied with this plain fellow for my sister； though I shall； I see； have no pleasure nor content in him； as if he had been a man of reading and parts； like Cumberland。
8th。 The great talk is of Carr's coming off in all his trials； to the disgrace of my Lord Gerard to that degree； and the ripping up of so many notorious rogueries and cheats of my Lord's； that my Lord； it is thought； will be ruined： and above all do show the madness of the House of Commons； who rejected the petition of this poor man by a combination of a few in the House； and； much more； the base proceedings （just the epitome of all our publick managements in this age） of the House of Lords； that ordered him to stand in the pillory for those very things； without hearing and examining what he hath now； by the seeking of my Lord Gerard himself； cleared himself of in open Court； to the gaining himself the pity of all the world； and shame for ever to my Lord Gerard。
10th。 Made a visit to Mr。 Godolphin at his chamber； and I do find him a very pretty and able person； a man of very fine parts； and of infinite zeal to my Lord Sandwich； and one that says； he is （he believes） as wise and able a person as any prince in the world hath。 He tells me that he meets with unmannerly usage by Sir Robert Southwell； ＇He was knighted and sent as Envoy Extraordinary to Portugal 1666； and with the same rank to Brussels in 1671。 He became afterwards Clerk to the Privy Council and was five times elected President of the Royal Society。 Ob。 1702； aged 60。＇ in Portugall； who would sign with him in his negociations there； being a forward young man； but that my Lord mastered him in that point； it being ruled for my Lord here at a hearing of a Committee of the Council。 He says that if my Lord can compass a peace between Spain and Portugall； and hath the doing of it and the honour himself； it will be a thing of more honour than ever any man had； and of as much advantage。 Thence to Westminster Hall； where the Hall mighty full： and； among other things； the House begins to sit to…day； and the King came。 But before the King's coming the House of Commons met； and upon information given them of a Bill intended to be brought in as common report said； for Comprehension； they did mightily and generally inveigh against it； and did vote that the King should be desired by the House； and the message delivered by the Privy…counsellors of the House； that the laws against breakers of the Act for Uniformity should be put in execution： and it was moved in the House t