d for and speaks openly to me his thoughts of the times； and our ruin approaching； and all by the folly of the King。 His business to me was about some ground of his at Deptford； next to the King's yard： and after dinner we parted。 To Woolwich； where I saw； but did not go on board； my ship 〃The Jerzy；〃 she lying at the wharf under repair。 But my business was to speak with Ackworth about some old things and passages in the Navy； for my information therein； in order to my great business now of stating the history of the Navy。 This I did； and upon the whole do find that the late times； in all their management； were not more husbandly than we； and other things of good content to me。 Thence to Greenwich by water； and there landed at the King's house； which goes on slow； but is very pretty。 I to the Park； there to see the prospect of the hill； to judge of Dancre's picture which he hath made thereof for me； and I do like it very well： and it is a very pretty place。 Thence to Deptford； but staid not； Unthwayte being out of the way。 And so home； and then to the King's Tavern （Morrice's） and staid till W。 Hewer fetched his uncle Blackburn by appointment to me； to discourse of the business of the Navy in the late times； and he did do it by giving me a most exact account in writing of the several turns in the Admiralty and Navy of the persons employed therein； from the beginning of the King's leaving the Parliament to his son's coming in； to my great content； and now I am fully informed in all I at present desire。 We fell to other talk； and I find by him that the Bishops must certainly fall； and their hierarchy； these people have got so much ground upon the King and kingdom as is not to be got again from them： and the Bishops do well deserve it。 But it is all the talk； I find； that Dr。 Wilkins； my friend； Bishop of Chester； shall be removed to Winchester and be Lord Treasurer。 Though this be foolish talk； yet I do gather that he is a mighty rising man； as being a Latitudinarian； and the Duke of Buckingham his great friend。
18th。 Up； and to see Sir W。 Coventry； and walked with him a good while in the stone…walk： and brave discourse about my Lord Chancellor and his ill managements and mistakes； and several things of the Navy。
19th。 Sir Thomas Clifford did speak to me； as desirous that I would some time come and confer with him about the Navy； which I am glad of； but will take the direction of the Duke of York before I do it； though I would be glad to do something to secure myself； if I could； in my employment。 Thence to the plaisterer's； and took my face and my Lord Duke of Albemarle's home with me by coach； they being done to my mind； and mighty glad I am of understanding this way of having the pictures of any friends。 After dinner with Commissioner Middleton and Kempthorne to a Court…martiall； to which； by virtue of my late captainship； I am called； the first I was ever at； where many commanders； and Kempthorne president。 Here was tried a difference between Sir L。 Van Hemskirke； the Dutch captain who commands 〃The Nonsuch；〃 built by his direction； and his lieutenant； a drunken kind of silly business。 We ordered the lieutenant to ask him pardon； and have resolved to lay before the Duke of York what concerns the captain； which was striking of his lieutenant and challenging him to fight； which comes not within any article of the laws martiall。 But upon discourse the other day with Sir W。 Coventry I did advise Middleton； and he and I did forbear to give judgment； but after the debate did withdraw into another cabin； （the Court being held in one of the yachts； which was on purpose brought up over against St。 Katherine's） it being to be feared that this precedent of our being made captains in order to the trying of the loss of 〃The Defyance；〃 wherein we are the proper persons to enquire into the want of instructions while ships do lie in harbour； might be hereafter made of evil use； by putting the Duke of Buckingham； or any of these rude fellows that now are uppermost； to make packed Courts by captains made on purpose to serve their turns。 The other cause was of the loss of the Providence at Tangier； where the captain's being by chance on shore may prove very inconvenient to him； for example's sake； though the man be a good man； and one whom for Norwood's sake I would be kind to； but I will not offer any thing to the excusing such a miscarriage。 He is at present confined till he can bring better proofs on his behalf of the reasons of his being on shore。 So Middleton and I away to the office； and there I late busy； making my people； as I have done lately； to read Mr。 Holland's Discourse of the Navy； and what other things I can get to inform me fully in all。 And here late； about eight at night； comes Mr。 Wren to me； who had been at the Tower to visit Sir W。 Coventry。 He came only to see how matters go； and tells me as a secret； that the last night the Duke of York's closet was broken open； and his cabinets； and shut again one of them； that the rogue that did it hath left plate and a watch behind him； and therefore they fear that it was only for papers； which looks like a very malicious business in design to hurt the Duke of York； but they cannot know that till the Duke of York comes to town about the papers； and therefore make no words of it。 He gone； I to work again； and then to supper home； and to bed。
20th。 Up； and to the Tower to Sir W。 Coventry； and there walked with him alone on the stone…walk till company came to him； and there about the business of the Navy discoursed with him； and about my Lord Chancellor and Treasurer； that they were against the war at first； declaring； as wise men and statesmen； at first to the King； that they thought it fit to have a war with them at some time or other； but that it ought not to be till we found the Crowns of Spain and France together by the eares； the want of which did ruin our war。 But then he told me that a great while before the war my Lord Chancellor did speak of a war with some heat as a thing to be desired； and did it upon a belief that he could with his own speeches make the Parliament give what money he pleased； and do what he would； or would make the King desire； but he found himself soon deceived of the Parliament； they having a long time before his removal been cloyed with his speeches and good words； and being come to hate him。 Sir W。 Coventry did tell me it as the wisest thing that ever was said to the King by any statesman of his time； and it was by my Lord Treasurer that is dead； whom； I find； he takes for a very great statesman；that when the King did show himself forward for passing the Act of Indemnity； he did advise the King that he would hold his hand in doing it till he had got his power restored that had been diminished by the late times； and his revenue settled in such a manner as he might depend on himself without resting upon Parliaments； and then pass it。 But my Lord Chancellor； who thought he could have the command of Parliaments for ever； because for the King's sake they were awhile willing to grant all the King desired； did press for its being done； and so it was； and the King from that time able to do nothing with the Parliament almost。 Mightily pleased with the news brought me to… night； that the King and Duke of York are come back this afternoon； and no sooner come but a warrant was sent to the Tower for the releasing Sir W。 Coventry： which do put me in some hopes that there may be in this absence some accommodation made between the Duke of York and the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Arlington。
21st。 To White Hall； in a scull； where to the Duke of York's dressing…room； and there met Harry Saville； and do understand that Sir W。 Coventry is come to his house last night。 I understand by Mr。 Wren that his friends having by Secretary Trevor and my Lord Keeper applied to the King upon his first coming home； and a promise made that he should be discharged this day； my Lord Arlington did anticipate them by sending a warrant presently for his discharge； which looks a little like kindness； or a desire of it； which God send！ though I fear the contrary。 However； my heart is glad that he is out。 Thence up and down the House。 Met Mr。 May； who tells me the story of his being put by Sir John Denham's place （of Surveyor of the King's Works； who； it seems； is lately dead） by the unkindness of the Duke of Buckingham； who hath brought in Dr。 Wren。 Though； he tells me； he hath been his servant for twenty years together in all his wants and dangers； saving him from want of bread by his care and management； and with a promise of having his help in his advancement； and an engagement under his hand for 1000l。 not yet paid； and yet the Duke of Buckingham is so ungrateful as to put him by： which is an ill thing though Dr。 Wren is a worthy man。 But he tells me that the King is kind to him； and hath promised him a pension of 300l。 a year out of the Works； which will be of more content to him than the place； which under their present wants of money is a place that disobliges most people； being not able to do what they desire to their lodgings。 Here meeting with Sir R。 Cholmly and Povy； they tell me that my Lord Middleton is resolved in the caball that he shall not g