is really persuaded that the design of the Duke of Buckingham is； by bringing the State into such a condition as； if the King do die without issue； it shall upon his death break into pieces again； and so put by the Duke of York； whom they have disobliged； they know； to that degree as to despair of his pardon。 He tells me that there is no way to rule the King but by brisknesse； which the Duke of Buckingham hath above all men； and that the Duke of York having it not； his best way is what he practices； that is to say； a good temper； which will support him till the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Arlington fall out； which cannot be long first； the former knowing that the latter did； in the time of the Chancellor； endeavour with the Chancellor to hang him at that time； when he was proclaimed against。 And here； by the by； he told me that the Duke of Buckingham did by his friends treat with my Lord Chancellor； by the mediation of Matt。 Wren and Clifford； to fall in with my Lord Chancellor； which； he tells me； he did advise my Lord Chancellor to accept of； as that； that with his own interest and the Duke of York's； would undoubtedly have secured all to him and his family； but that my Lord Chancellor was a man not to be advised； thinking himself too high to be counselled： and so all is come to nothing； for by that means the Duke of Buckingham became desperate； and was forced to fall in with Arlington； to his ruin。 This morning at the Treasury…chamber I did meet Jack Fenn； and there he did show me my Lord Anglesy's petition and the King's answer： the former good and stout； as I before did hear it； but the latter short and weak； saying that he was not by what the King had done hindered from taking the benefit of his laws； and that the reason he had to suspect his mismanagement of his money in Ireland did make him think it unfit to trust him with his Treasury in England till he was satisfied in the former。
15th。 After dinner； W。 How to tell me what hath happened between him and the Commissioners of late； who are hot again； more than ever； about my Lord Sandwich's business of prizes； which I am troubled for； and the more because of the great security and neglect with which I think my Lord do look upon this matter； that may yet； for aught I know； undo him。
17th。 To the office all the morning； where the new Treasurers come their second time； and before they sat down did discourse with the Board； and particularly my Lord Brouncker； about their place； which they challenge as having been heretofore due and given to their predecessor； which； at last； my Lord did own hath been given him only out of courtesy to his quality； and that he did not take it as of right at the Board： so they； for the present； sat down and did give him the place； but I think with an intent to have the Duke of York's directions about it。
20th。 This evening comes Mr。 Billup to me； to read over Mr。 Wren's alterations of my draught of a letter for the Duke of York to sign to the Board； which I like mighty well； they being not considerable； only in mollifying some hard terms which I had thought fit to put in。 From this to other discourse； and do find that the Duke of York and his master； Mr。 Wren； do look upon this service of mine as a very seasonable service to the Duke of York； as that which he will have to show to his enemies in his own justification of his care of the King's business： and I am sure I am heartily glad of it； both for the King's sake and the Duke of York's； and my own also； for if I continue； my work by this means will be the less； and my share in the blame also。
22nd。 This day my boy's livery is come home； the first I ever had； of greene lined with red； and it likes me well enough。
23rd。 To visit my Lord Sandwich； who is now so reserved； or moped rather I think with his own business； that he bids welcome to no man； I think； to his satisfaction。 I met with Mr。 Povy； who tells me： that this discourse which I told him of； of the Duke of Monmouth being made Prince of Wales； hath nothing in it； though he thinks there are all the endeavours used in the world to overthrow the Duke of York。 He would not have me doubt of my safety in the Navy； which I am doubtful of； from the reports of a general removal； but he will endeavour to inform me what he can gather from my Lord Arlington。 That he do think that the Duke of Buckingham hath a mind rather to overthrow all the kingdom； and bring in a Commonwealth； wherein he may think to be General of their Army； or to make himself King； which； he believes； he may be led to by some advice he hath had with conjurors； which he do affect。
25th。 Mr。 Wren and I to his chamber； and there talked： and he seems to hope that these people； the Duke of Buckingham and Arlington； will run themselves off of their legs； they being forced to be always putting the King upon one idle thing or other； against the easiness of his nature； which he will never be able to bear nor they to keep him to； and so will lose themselves。 And； for instance of their little progress； he tells me that my Lord of Ormond is like yet to carry it； and to continue in his command in Ireland； at least； they cannot get the better of him yet。 But he tells me that the Keeper is wrought upon； as they say； to give his opinion for the dissolving of the Parliament； which； he thinks； will undo him in the eyes of the people。 He do not seem to own the hearing or fearing of any thing to be done in the Admiralty to the lessening of the Duke of York； though he hears how the town…talk is full of it。
26th。 Troubled at W。 Hewer's losing of a tally of 1000l。； which I sent him this day to receive of the Commissioners of Excise。
27th。 Comes Mr。 Povey by appointment to dine with me； and much pleasant discourse with him； and some serious： and he tells me that he would by all means have me get to be a Parliament…man the next Parliament。 By and by comes my cosen Roger； and dines with us； and； after dinner； did seal his mortgage； wherein I do wholly rely on his honesty； not having so much as read over what he hath given me for it； nor minded it； but do trust to his integrity therein。
28th。 This day presented to the Board the Duke of York's letter； which； I perceive； troubled Sir W。 Pen； he declaring himself meant in that part that concerned excuse by sickness； but I do not care； but am mightily glad that it is done； and now I shall begin to be at pretty good ease in the office。 This morning； to my great content； W。 Hewer tells me that a porter is come who found my tally in Holborn； and brings it him； for which he gives him 20s。
29th。 My wife lately frighted me about her being a Catholique； and I dare not； therefore； move her to go to church； for fear she should deny me。 But this morning； of her own accord； she spoke of going to church the next Sunday： which pleases me mightily。
30th。 My wife after dinner went the first time abroad in her coach； calling on Roger Pepys； and visiting Mrs。 Creed and my cosen Turner。 Thus ended this month with very good content； but most expenseful to my purse on things of pleasure； having furnished my wife's closet； and the best chamber； and a coach and horses； that ever I knew in the world； and I am put into the greatest condition of outward state that ever I was in； or hoped ever to be； or desired： and this at a time when we do daily expect great changes in this office； and by all reports we must all of us turn out。 But my eyes are come to that condition that I am not able to work； and therefore that and my wife's desire make me have no manner of trouble in my thoughts about it。 So God do his will in it！
DECEMBER 2； 1668。 Abroad with my wife； the first time that ever I rode in my own coach； which do make my heart rejoice and praise God； and pray him to bless it to me and continue it。 So she and I to the King's playhouse； and there saw 〃The Usurper：〃 ＇A tragedy by Edward Howard。＇ a pretty good play in all but what is designed to resemble Cromwell and Hugh Peters； which is mighty silly。 The play done； we to White Hall； where my wife staid while I up to the Duchesse and Queene's side； to speak with the Duke of York： and here saw all the ladies； and heard the silly discourse of the King with his people about him； telling a story of my Lord Rochester's having of his clothes stole while he was with a wench； and his gold all gone； but his clothes found afterwards stuffed into a feather…bed by the wench that stole them。 I spoke with the Duke of York； just as he was set down to supper with the King； about our sending of victuals to Sir Thomas Allen's fleet hence to Cales； to meet him。
3rd。 Sir Jer。 Smith with me； who is a silly； prating； talking man； but he tells me what he hears；that Holmes and Spragg now rule all with the Duke of Buckingham as to sea…business； and will be great men： but he do prophecy what will be the fruit of it； so I do。 So to the office； where we sat all the morning； and at noon home to dinner； and then abroad again with my wife to the Duke of York's playhouse； and saw 〃The Unfortunate Lovers：〃 ＇A tragedy； by Sir Wm。 Davenant。＇ a mean play I think； but some parts very good； and excellently acted。 We sat under the boxes； and saw the fine ladies； among others； my Lady Kerneguy； who is