re or divertisements： which is very true。 But which pleased me mightily； he said in these words； that he was resolved； whatever it cost him； to make an experiment； and see whether it was possible for a man to keep himself up in Court by dealing plainly and walking uprightly。 In the doing whereof if his ground do slip from under him； he will be contented： but he is resolved to try； and never to baulke taking notice of anything that is to the King's prejudice； let it fall where it will； which is a most brave resolution。 He was very free with me： and by my troth； I do see more reall worth in him than in most men that I do know。 I would not forget two passages of Sir J。 Minnes's at yesterday's dinner。 The one； that to the question how it comes to pass that there are no boars seen in London； but many sowes and pigs； it was answered； that the constable gets them a…nights。 The other； Thos。 Killigrew's way of getting to see plays when he was a boy。 He would go to the Red Bull； and when the man cried to the boys； 〃Who will go and be a devil； and he shall see the play for nothing？〃 then would he go in； and be a devil upon the stage； and so get to see plays。
31st。 I thank God I have no crosses； but only much business to trouble my mind with。 In all other things as happy a man as any in the world； for the whole world seems to smile upon me； and if my house were done that I could diligently follow my business； I would not doubt to do God； and the King； and myself good service。 And all I do impute almost wholly to my late temperance； since my making of my vowes against wine and plays； which keeps me most happily and contentfully to my business； which God continue！ Public matters are full of discontent； what with the sale of Dunkirke； and my Lady Castlemaine； and her faction at Court； though I know not what they would have more than to debauch the King； whom God preserve from it！ And then great plots are talked to be discovered； and all the prisons in towne full of ordinary people； taken from their meeting…places last Sunday。 But for certain some plots there hath been； though not brought to a head。
NOVEMBER 1； 1662。 To my office； to meet Mr。 Lee again； from Sir H。 Bennet。 And he and I； with Wade； and his intelligencer and labourers； to the Tower cellars； to make one triall more； where we staid two or three hours； and dug a great deal all under the arches； as it was now most confidently directed； and so seriously； and upon pretended good grounds； that I myself did truly expect to speed； but we missed of all： and so we went away the second time like fools。 And to our office； and I by appointment to the Dolphin Taverne； to meet Wade and the other； Capt。 Evett； who now do tell me plainly； that he that do put him upon this is one that had it from Barkestead's own mouth； and was advised with by him； just before the King's coming in； how to get it out； and had all the signs told him how and where it lay； and had always been the great confident of Barkestead even to the trusting him with his life and all he had。 So that he did much convince me that there is good ground for what he goes about。 But I fear it may be that he did find some conveyance of it away； without the help of this man； before he died。 But he is resolved to go to the party once more； and then to determine what we shall do further。
3rd。 To White Hall； to the Duke's； but found him gone a…hunting。 Thence to my Lord Sandwich； from whom I receive every day more and more signs of his confidence and esteem of me。 Here I met with Pierce the chyrurgeon； who tells me that my Lady Castlemaine is with child； but though it be the King's； yet her Lord being still in towne； and sometimes seeing of her； it will be laid to him。 He tells me also how the Duke of York is smitten in love with my Lady Chesterfield； ＇Lady Elizabeth Butler； daughter of James； Duke of Ormond； married Philip； second Earl of Chesterfield。 Ob。 1665。 Vide 〃MEMOIRES DE GRAMMONT。〃＇ （a virtuous lady； daughter to my Lord of Ormond）； and so much； that the Duchesse of York hath complained to the King and her father about it； and my Lady Chesterfield is gone into the country for it。 At all which I am sorry； but it is the effect of idlenesse； and having nothing else to employ their great spirits upon。 At night to my office； and did business； and there come to me Mr。 Wade and Evett； who have been again with their prime intelligencer； a woman； I perceive： and though we have missed twice； yet they bring such an account of the probability of the truth of the thing； though we are not certain of the place； that we shall set upon it once more； and I am willing and hopefull in it。 So we resolved to set upon it again on Wednesday morning and the woman herself will be there in a disguise； and confirm us in the place。
4th。 This morning we had news by letters that Sir Richard Stayner is dead at sea in the Mary； which is now come into Portsmouth from Lisbon； which we are sorry for； he being a very stout seaman。
7th。 Being by appointment called upon by Mr。 Lee； he and I to the Tower； to make our third attempt upon the cellar。 And now privately the woman； Barkestead's great confident； is brought； who do positively say that this is the place which he did say the money was hid in； and where he and she did put up the 7000l。 in butter firkins； and the very day that he went out of England did say that neither he nor his would be the better for that money； and therefore wishing that she and hers might。 And so left us； and we full of hope did resolve to dig all over the cellar； which by seven o'clock at night we performed。 At noon we sent for a dinner； and upon the head of a barrel dined very merrily； and to work again。 But at last we saw we were mistaken； and after digging the cellar quite through； and removing the barrels from one side to the other； we were forced to pay our porters； and give over our expectations； though I do believe there must be money hid somewhere by him； or else he did delude this woman in hopes to oblige her to further serving him； which I am apt to believe。
9th。 （Lord's…day。） Walked to my brother's； where my wife is； calling at many churches； and then to the Temple； hearing a bit there too； and observing that in the streets and churches the Sunday is kept in appearance as well as I have known it at any time。
10th。 A little to the office； and so with Sir J。 Minnes； Sir W。 Batten； and myself by coach to White Hall； to the Duke； who； after he was ready； did take us into his closett。 Thither come my Lord General Monk； and did privately talk with the Duke about having the life…guards pass through the City to…day only for show and to fright people； for perceive there are great fears abroad； for all which I am troubled and full of doubt that things will not go well。 He being gone； we fell to business of the Navy。 Among other things； how to pay off this fleet that is now come from Portugall； the King of Portugall sending them home； he having no more use for them； which we wonder at； that his condition should be so soon altered。 And our landmen also are coming back； being almost starved in that poor country。 To my Lord Crewe's； and dined with him and his brother； I know not his name。 Where very good discourse。 Among others； of France's intention to make a patriarch of his own； independent from the Pope； by which he will be able to cope with the Spaniard in all councils； which hitherto he has never done。 My Lord Crewe told us how he heard my Lord of Holland ＇Henry Rich； Earl of Holland。＇ say； that being Embassador about the match with the Queene…Mother that now is； the King of France insisted upon a dispensation from the Pope； which my Lord Holland making a question of； as he was commanded to yield to nothing to the prejudice of our religion； says the King of France； 〃You need not fear that； for if the Pope will not dispense with the match； my Bishop of Paris shall。〃 By and by come in the great Mr。 Swinfen； ＇John Swinfen； M。P。 for Tamworth。＇ the Parliament…man； who； among other discourse of the rise and fall of familys； told us of Bishop Bridgeman ＇John Bridgeman； Bishop of Chester。＇ （father of Sir Orlando） who lately hath bought a seat anciently of the Levers； and then the Ashtons； and so he hath in his great hall window （having repaired and beautified the house） caused four great places to be left for coates of armes。 In one he hath put the Levers； with this motto； 〃Olim。〃 In another the Ashtons； with this； 〃Heri。〃 In the next his own； with this； 〃Hodie。〃 In the fourth nothing but this motto； 〃Cras nescio cujus。〃 The towne I hear is full of discontents； and all know of the King's new bastard by Mrs。 Haslerigge； and as far as I can hear will never be contented with Episcopacy； they are so cruelly set for Presbytery； and the Bishops carry themselves so high； that they are never likely to gain anything upon them。 To the Dolphin Tavern near home； by appointment； and there met with Wade and Evett； and have resolved to make a new attempt upon another discovery； in which God give us better fortune than in the other； but I have great confidence that there is no cheat in these people； but that they go upon good grounds； though they have been mistaken in the place of the first。
13th。 To m