Cholmly and Povy； they tell me that my Lord Middleton is resolved in the caball that he shall not go to Tangier； and that Sir Edward Harlow； whom I know not； is propounded to go； who was Governor of Dunkirke； and； they say； a most worthy brave man； which I shall be very glad of。 News lately come of the Algerines taking 13；000l。 in money out of one of our Company's East India ships outward…bound； which will certainly make the war last； which I am sorry for； being so poor as we are； and broken in pieces。
22nd。 Up； and by water with W。 Hewer to White Hall； there to attend the Lords of the Treasury； but before they sat； I did make a step to see Sir W。 Coventry at his house； where； I bless God； he is come again； but in my way I met him； and so he took me into his coach and carried me to White Hall； and there set me down； where he ought not； at least he hath not yet leave to come； nor hath thought fit yet to ask it； hearing that Harry Saville is not only denied to kiss the King's hand； but the King being asked it by the Duke of York； the King did deny it； and directed that he shall not receive him to wait upon him in his chamber till further orders。 Sir W。 Coventry told me that he was going to visit Sir John Trevor； who hath been kind to him； and he showed me a long list of all his friends that he must this week make visits to； that came to visit him in the Tower： and seems mighty well satisfied with his being out of business； but I hope he will not long be so； at least； I do believe that all must go to rack if the King do not come to see the want of such a servant。 Thence to the Treasury…chamber； and there all the morning to my great grief put to do Sir G。 Downing's work of dividing the Customes for this year between the Navy； the Ordnance； and Tangier： but it did so trouble my eyes； that I had rather have given 20l。 than have had it to do； but I did thereby oblige Sir Thomas Clifford and Sir J。 Duncomb； and so am glad of the opportunity to recommend myself to the former； for the latter I need not； he loving me well already： at it till noon； here being several of my brethren with me； but doing nothing； but I all。 But this day I did also represent to our Treasurers； which was read here； a state of the charge of the Navy； and what the expence of it this year would likely be； which is done so as will appear well done and to my honour； for so the Lords did take it； and I oblige the Treasurers by doing it at their request。 I to look over my papers for the East India Company against the afternoon： which done； I with them to White Hall； and there to the Treasury…chamber； where the East India Company and three Counsellors pleaded against me alone for three or four hours； till seven at night； before the Lords； and the Lords did give me the conquest on behalf of the King； but could not come to any conclusion； the Company being stiff； and so I think we shall go to law with them。 This done； and my eyes mighty bad with this day's work； I to Mr。 Wren's； and then up to the Duke of York； and there with Mr。 Wren did propound to him my going to Chatham to… morrow with Commissioner Middleton； and so this week to make the pay there； and examine the business of 〃The Defyance〃 being lost。
23rd。 I took coach with Commissioner Middleton； Captain Tinker； and Mr。 Huchinson； and out towards Chatham； and dined at Dartford； where we staid an hour or two； it being a cold day； and so on； and got to Chatham just at night； with very good discourse by the way； but mostly of matters of religion； wherein Huchinson his vein lies。
24th。 To the Hill house； and there did give order for a coach to be made ready； and got Mr。 Gibson； whom I carried with me； to go with me and Mr。 Coney； the surgeon； towards Maydstone； which I had a mighty mind to see。 A mighty cold and windy； but clear day； and had the pleasure of seeing the Medway running winding up mightily； and a very fine country： and I went a little out of the way to have visited Sir John Bankes； but he at London； but here I had a sight of his seat and house； ＇The Friary in Aylesford parish； now the property of the Earl of Aylesford； whose ancestor Heneage Finch married the eldest daughter and co… heiress of Sir John Bankes。＇ the outside； which is an old abbey just like Hinchingbroke； and as good at least； and mightily finely placed by the river； and he keeps the grounds about it； and walls and the house； very handsome： I was mightily pleased with the sight of it。 Thence to Maydstone； which I had a mighty mind to see； having never been there； and walked all up and down the town； and up to the top of the steeple and had a noble view； and then down again： and in the town did see an old man beating of flax； and did step into the barn and give him money； and saw that piece of husbandry； which I never saw； and it is very pretty。 In the street also I did buy and send to our inne； the Bell； a dish of fresh fish。 And so having walked all round the town； and found it very pretty as most towns I ever saw； though not very big； and people of good fashion in it； we to our inne and had a good dinner； and a barber came to me and there trimmed me； that I might be clean against night to go to Mrs。 Allen。 And so staying till four o'clock we set out； I alone in the coach going and coming： and in our way back I light out of the way to see a Saxon monument； as they say； of a King； which is of three stones standing upright； and a great round one lying on them； of great bigness； although not so big as those on Salisbury Plain。 But certainly it is a thing of great antiquity； and I am mightily glad to see it： it is near to Alesford； where Sir John Bankes lives。 So homeward to Chatham； Captain Allen's； and there light。
25th。 Up； and by and by； about eight o'clock； came Rear…Admirall Kempthorne and seven captains more； by the Duke of York's order； as we expected； to hold the Court…martiall about the loss of 〃The Defyance。〃 And so presently we by boat to 〃The Charles；〃 which lies over…against Upner Castle； and there I did manage the business； the Duke of York having by special order directed them to take the assistance of Commissioner Middleton and me； forasmuch as there might be need of advice in what relates to the government of the ships in harbour。 And so I did lay the law open to them； and rattle the master…attendants out of their wits almost； and made the trial last till seven at night； not eating a bit all the day； only when he had done examination； and I given my thoughts that the neglect of the gunner of the ship was as great as I thought any neglect could be； which might by the law deserve death； but Commissioner Middleton did declare that he was against giving the sentence of death； we withdrew； as not being of the Court； and so left them to do what they pleased： and while they were debating it； the boatswain of the ship did bring us out of the kettle a piece of hot salt beef； and some brown bread and brandy； and there we did make a little meal； but so good as I never would desire to eat better meat while I live； only I would have cleaner dishes。 By and by they had； done； and called us down from the quarterdeck； and there we find they do sentence that the gunner of 〃The Defyance〃 should stand upon 〃The Charles〃 three hours with his fault writ upon his breast； and with a halter about his neck； and so be made incapable of any service。 The truth is； the man do seem； and is； I believe； a good man； but his neglect； in trusting a girl to carry fire into his cabin； is not to be pardoned。 This being done； we took boat and home； and there a good supper was ready for us； which should have been our dinner。 The captains； desirous to be at London； went away presently for Gravesend； to get thither by this night's tide。 And so we to supper； it having been a great snowy and mighty cold； foul day； and so after supper to bed。
26th。 Up； and with Middleton all the morning at the Docke； looking over the store…houses and Commissioner Pett's house； in order to Captain Cox's coming to live there in his stead as Commissioner。 But it is a mighty pretty house； and pretty to see how every thing is said to be out of repair for this new man； though 10l。 would put it into as good condition in every thing as it ever was in； so free every body is of the King's money！ And so to dinner at the Hill…house； and after dinner till eight at night close； Middleton and I； examining the business of Mr。 Pett about selling a boat； and we find him a very knave； and some other quarrels of his； wherein to justify himself he hath made complaints of others。 This being done； we to supper； and so to talk； Commissioner Middleton being mighty good company upon a journey； and so to bed。
27th。 We took coach again； and got home about six at night。
29th。 Up； and by water to White Hall； and there to the Duke of York to show myself after my journey to Chatham； but did no business to…day with him： only after gone from him； I to Sir T。 Clifford's； and there； after an hour's waiting； he being alone in his closet； I did speak with him； and give him the account he gave me to draw up； and he did like it very well： and then fell to talk of the business of the Navy； and giving me good words； did fall foul of the constitution； and did then discover his thou