o ruin us； we shall make a good defence。 I find him in great anxiety； though he will not discover it； in the business of the proceedings of Parliament； and would as little as is possible have his name mentioned in our discourse to them。 And particularly the business of selling places is now upon his hand to defend himself in； wherein I did help him in his defence about the flag…maker's place； which is named in the House。 We did here do the like about the complaint of want of victuals in the fleet in the year 1666； which will lie upon me to defend also。
2nd。 Mr。 Moore was with me； and do tell me； and so W。 Hewer tells me； he hears this morning that all the town is full of the discourse that the officers of the Navy shall be all turned out； but honest Sir John Minnes； who； God knows； is fitter to have been turned out himself than any of us； doing the King more hurt； by his dotage and folly than all the rest can do by their knavery； if they had a mind to it。 This day I have the news that my sister was married on Thursday last to Mr。 Jackson； so that work is； I hope； well over。
3rd。 Up betimes to work again； and then met at the office； where to our great business of this answer to the Parliament； where to my great vexation I find my Lord Brouncker prepared only to excuse himself； while I； that have least reason to trouble myself； am preparing with great pains to defend them all： and more； I perceive he would lodge the beginning of discharging ships by ticket upon me； but I care not； for I believe I shall get more honour by it when the Parliament against my will shall see how the whole business of the office was done by me。 Down by water to Deptford； where the King； Queene； and Court are to see launched the new ship built by Mr。 Shish； called 〃The Charles。〃 God send her better luck than the former！ Here some of our brethren； who went in a boat a little before my boat； did by appointment take opportunity of asking the King's leave that we might make full use of the want of money in our excuse to the Parliament for the business of tickets and other things they will lay to our charge； all which arise from nothing else： and this the King did readily agree to； and did give us leave to make our full use of it。 The ship being well launched； I back again by boat。
5th。 To Westminster； where I found myself come time enough； and my brethren all ready。 But I full of thoughts and trouble touching the issue of this day： and to comfort myself did go to the Dog and drink half…a…pint of mulled sack； and in the hall did drink a dram of brandy at Mrs。 Hewlett's； and with the warmth of this did find myself in better order as to courage； truly。 So we all up to the lobby； and between eleven and twelve o'clock were called in； with the mace before us； into the House； where a mighty full House： and we stood at the bar； namely； Brouncker； Sir J。 Minnes； Sir T。 Harvey； and myself； W。 Pen being in the House as a Member。 I perceive the whole House was full of expectation of our defence what it would be； and with great prejudice。 After the Speaker had told us the dissatisfaction of the House； and read the Report of the Committee； I began our defence most acceptably and smoothly； and continued at it without any hesitation or losse； but with full scope； and all my reason free about me； as if it had been at my own table； from that； time till past three in the afternoon； and so ended； without any interruption from the Speaker； but we withdrew。 And there all my fellow officers； and all the world that was within hearing； did congratulate me； and cry up my speech as the best thing they ever heard； and my fellow…officers were overjoyed in it。 And we were called in again by and by to answer only one question touching our paying tickets to ticket…mongers； and so out。 And we were in hopes to have had a vote this day in our favour； and so the generality of the House was； but； my speech being so long many had gone out to dinner and come in again half…drunk。 And then there are two or three that are professed enemies to us and every body else； among others； Sir T。 Littleton； Sir Thomas Lee； ＇Of Hartwell； Bucks； created a Baronet 1660。＇ Mr。 Wiles （the coxcomb whom I saw heretofore at the cock…fighting）； and a few others： I say； these did rise up and speak against the coming to a vote now； the House not being full by reason of several being at dinner； but most because that the House was to attend the King this afternoon about the business of religion （wherein they pray him to in force all the laws against Nonconformists and Papists）： and this prevented it； so that they put it off to to…morrow come se'nnight。 However； it is plain we have got great ground； and every body says I have got the most honour that any could have had opportunity of getting： and so our hearts mightily overjoyed at this success。 After dinner to the King's house； and there saw part of 〃The Discontented Colonell。〃 ＇Brennoralt； or The Discontented Colonel； a tragedy； by Sir John Suckling。＇
6th。 Up betimes； and with Sir D。 Gauden to Sir W。 Coventry's chamber； where the first word he said to me was； 〃Good…morrow； Mr。 Pepys； that must be Speaker of the Parliament…house：〃 and did protest I had got honour for ever in Parliament。 He said that his brother； that sat by him； admires me； and another gentleman said that I could not get less than 1000l。 a…year； if I would put on a gown and plead at the Chancery…bar。 But； what pleases me most； he tells me that the Solicitor…generall did protest that he thought I spoke the best of any man in England。 After several talks with him alone touching his own businesses； he carried me to White Hall； and there parted。 And I to the Duke of York's lodgings； and find him going to the Parke； it being a very fine morning； and I after him： and as soon as he saw me； he told me with great satisfaction that I had converted a great many yesterday； and did with great praise of me go on with the discourse with me。 And by and by overtaking the King； the King and Duke of York came to me both； and he ＇The King。＇ said； 〃Mr。 Pepys； I am very glad of your success yesterday：〃 and fell to talk of my well speaking。 And many of the Lords there。 My Lord Barkeley did cry me up for what they had heard of it； and others； Parliament…men there about the King； did say that they never heard such a speech in their lives delivered in that manner。 Progers of the Bedchamber swore to me afterwards before Brouncker； in the afternoon； that he did tell the King that he thought I might match the Solicitor…generall。 Every body that saw me almost came to me； as Joseph Williamson and others； with such eulogys as cannot be expressed。 From thence I went to Westminster Hall； where I met Mr。 G。 Montagu； who came to me and kissed me； and told me that he had often heretofore kissed my hands； but now he would kiss my lips； protesting that I was another Cicero； and said； all the world said the same of me。 Mr。 Ashburnham； and every creature I met there of the Parliament； or that knew any thing of the Parliament's actings； did salute me with this honour： Mr。 Godolphin； Mr。 Sands； who swore he would go twenty miles at any time to hear the like again； and that he never saw so many sit four hours together to hear any man in his life as there did to hear me； Mr。 Chichly； Sir John Duncomb； and every body do say that the kingdom will ring of my abilities； and that I have done myself right for my whole life； and so Captain Cocke and others of my friends say that no man had ever such an opportunity of making his abilities known。 And that I may cite all at once； Mr。 Lieutenant of the Tower did tell me that Mr。 Vaughan did protest to him； and that in his hearing it said so to the Duke of Albemarle； and afterwards to Sir W。 Coventry； that he had sat twenty…six years in Parliament and never heard such a speech there before： for which the Lord God make me thankful； and that I may make use of it； not to pride and vain…glory； but that； now I have this esteem； I may do nothing that may lessen it！ To White Hall to wait on the Duke of York； where he again and all the company magnified me； and several in the Gallery： among others； my Lord Gerard； who never knew me before nor spoke to me； desires his being better acquainted with me： and that； at table where he was； he never heard so much said of any man as of me in his whole life。 So waited on the Duke of York； and thence into the Gallery； where the House of Lords waited the King's coming out of the Park； which he did by and by。 And there in the Vane…roome my Lord Keeper delivered a Message to the King； the Lords being about him； wherein the Barons of England； from many good arguments very well expressed in the part he read out of； do demand precedence in England of all noblemen of either of the King's other two kingdoms； be their title what it will； and did show that they were in England reputed but as Commoners； and sat in the House of Commons and at conferences with the Lords did stand bare。 It was mighty worth my hearing； but the King did say only that he would consider of it； and so dismissed them。
8th。 With Sir W。 Coventry； who I find full of care in his own business； how to defend himself against those that have a mind to cheque him； and though