is books； （but Mr。 Davis himself was not there）； and I do not perceive that there is one…third of their duties performed； but I perceive； to my great content； Mr。 Coventry will have things performed。 In the evening come Mr。 Lewis to me； and very ingeniously did enquire whether I ever did look into the business of the Chest at Chatham； and after my readiness to be informed did appear to him； he did produce a paper； wherein he stated the government of the Chest to me； and upon the whole did tell me how it hath ever been abused； and to this day is； and what a meritorious act it would be to look after it； which I am resolved to do； if God bless me： and do thank him very much for it。
3rd。 Dined with the Officers of the Ordnance； where Sir W。 Compton； Mr。 O'Neale； and other great persons； were。 After dinner； was brought to Sir W。 Compton a gun to discharge seven times； the best of all devices that ever I saw； and very serviceable； and not a bawble； for it is much approved of； and many thereof made。
6th。 To supper with my Lady （Sandwich）； who tells me； with much trouble； that my Lady Castlemaine is still as great with the King； and that the King comes as often to her as ever he did。 Jack Cole； my old friend； found me out at the Wardrobe； and； among other things； he told me that certainly most； of the chief ministers of London would fling up their livings； and that； soon or late； the issue thereof would be sad to the King and Court。
8th。 To the Wardrobe； where； all alone with my Lord above an hour； and he do seem still to have his old confidence in me； and tells me to boot； that Mr。 Coventry hath spoke of me to him to great advantage； wherein I am much pleased。 By and by comes in Mr。 Coventry to visit my Lord； and so my Lord and he and I walked together in the great chamber a good while； and I found him a most ingenuous man and good company。
16th。 This day I was told that my Lady Castlemaine （being quite fallen out with her husband） did yesterday go away from him； with all her plate； jewels； and other best things； and is gone to Richmond to a brother of hers； which； I am apt to think； was a design to get out of town； that the King might come at her the better。
17th。 To my office； and by and by to our sitting； where much business。 Mr。 Coventry took his leave； being to go with the Duke over for the Queene…Mother。
19th。 In the afternoon I went upon the river： it raining hard upon the water； I put ashore and sheltered myself； while the King come by in his barge； going down towards the Downes to meet the Queene： the Duke being gone yesterday。 But methought it lessened my esteem of a king； that he should not be able to command the rain。
21st。 To Woolwich to the Rope…yard； and there looked over several sorts of hemp； and did fall upon my great survey of seeing the working and experiments of the strength and the charge in the dressing of every sort； and I do think have brought it to so great a certainty； as I have done the King some service in it； and do purpose to get it ready against the Duke's coming to towne to present to him。 I see it is impossible for the King to have things done as cheap as other men。
22nd。 I had letters from the Downes from Mr。 Coventry； who tells me of the foul weather they had last Sunday； that drove them back from near Bologne； whither they were going for the Queene； back again to the Downes； with the loss of their cables； sayles； and masts； but are all safe； only my Lord Sandwich； who went before with the yacht： they know not what is become of him； which do trouble me much； but I hope he got ashore before the storm begun； which God grant！
23rd。 Much disturbed； by reason of the talk up and downe the towne； that my Lord Sandwich is lost： but I trust in God the contrary。
24th。 I hear； to my great content； that my Lord Sandwich is safe landed in France。
26th。 I had a letter from Mr。 Creed； who hath escaped narrowly in the King's yacht； and got safe to the Downes after the late storm； and he says that there the King do tell him； that he is sure my Lord is landed in Callis safe。 This afternoon I went to Westminster： and there hear that the King and Queene intend to come to White Hall from Hampton Court next week； for all winter。 Thence to Mrs。 Sarah； ＇Lord Sandwich's Housekeeper。＇ and there looked over my Lord's lodgings； which are very pretty； and White Hall garden and the Bowling…ally （where lords and ladies are now at bowles）； in brave condition。 Mrs。 Sarah told me how the falling out between my Lady Castlemaine and her Lord was about christening of the child lately； which he would have； and had done by a priest： and some days after； she had it again christened by a minister； the King； and Lord of Oxford； ＇Aubrey de Vere； twentieth and last Earl of Oxford。 Ob。 1702…3。 s。 p。＇ and Duchesse of Suffolk ＇Perhaps a mistake for Countess； as there was no Duchess of Suffolk at that period。＇ being witnesses： and christened with a proviso； that it had not already been christened。 Since that she left her Lord； carrying away every thing in the house； so much as every dish； and cloth； and servant but the porter。 He is gone discontented into France； they say； to enter a monastery； and now she is coming back again to her house in King…streete。 But I hear that the Queene did prick her out of the list presented her by the King； desiring that she might have that favour done her； or that he would send her from whence she come： and that the King was angry and the Queene discontented a whole day and night upon it； but that the King hath promised to have nothing to do with her hereafter。 But I cannot believe that the King can fling her off so； he loving her too well： and so I writ this night to my Lady to be my opinion； she calling her my lady； and the lady I admire。 Here I find that my Lord hath lost the garden to his lodgings； and that it is turning into a tennis…court。
27th。 I to walk in the Parke； which is now every day more and more pleasant； by the new works upon it。
28th。 Walked to the water…side； and there took boat for the Tower； hearing that the Queene…Mother is come this morning already as high as Woolwich： and that my Lord Sandwich was with her； at which my heart was glad。
30th。 By water to White Hall； and there waited upon my Lord Sandwich； and joyed him； at his lodgings； of his safe coming home after all his danger； which he confesses to be very great。 And his people do tell me how bravely my Lord did carry himself； while my Lord Crofts ＇William Crofts； created Baron Crofts of Saxham in Suffolk 1658 and died s。p。 1677。＇ did cry； and I perceive all the town talk how poorly he carried himself。 But the best was one of Mr。 Rawlins； a courtier； that was with my Lord； and in the greatest danger cried； 〃My Lord I won't give you three…pence for your place now。〃 But all ends in the honour of the pleasure…boats； which； had they not been very good boats； they could never have endured the sea as they did。
31st。 At noon Mr。 Coventry and I by his coach to the Exchange together； and in Lombard…Streete met Captn。 Browne of the Rosebush： at which he was cruel angry； and did threaten to go to…day to the Duke at Hampton Court； and get him turned out because he was not sailed。
AUGUST 3； 1662。 This day Commissioner Pett told me how despicable a thing it is to be a hangman in Poland； although it be a place of credit。 And that； in his time； there was some repairs to be made of the gallows there； which was very fine of stone； but nobody could be got to mend it till the Burgo…master； or Mayor of the towne； with all the companies of those trades which were necessary to be used about those repairs； did go in their habits with flags； in solemn procession to the place； and there the Burgo…master did give the first blow with the hammer upon the wooden work； and the rest of the Masters of the Companys upon the works belonging to their trades； that so workmen might not be ashamed to be employed upon doing of the gallows works。
6th。 By water to White Hall； and so to St。 James's； but there found Mr。 Coventry gone to Hampton Court。 So to my Lord's； and he is also gone： this being a great day at the Council about some business before the King。 Here Mr。 Pierce； the chyrurgeon； told me how Mr。 Edward Montagu hath lately had a duell with Mr。 Cholmely； that is first gentleman…usher to the Queene； and was a messenger to her from the King of Portugall； and is a fine gentleman； but had received many affronts from Mr。 Montagu； and some unkindness from my Lord； upon his score； （for which I am sorry。） He proved too hard for Montagu； and drove him so far backward that he fell into a ditch； and dropt his sword； but with honour would take no advantage over him； but did give him his life： and the world says Mr。 Montagu did carry himself very poorly in the business； and hath lost his honour for ever with all people in it。 This afternoon Mr。 Waith was with me； and did tell me much concerning the Chest； which I am resolved to look into； and I perceive he is sensible of Sir W。 Batten's carriage； and is pleased to see any thing work against him。
8th。 Dined with Mr。 Falconer； thence we walked talking all the way to Greenwich； and I do find excellent discourse from him。 Among other t