ey were upon： but； however； one of the horses fell over； and was drowned。 Stacks of faggots carried as high as a steeple； and other dreadful things； which Sir Thomas Crewe showed me letters to him about from Mr。 Freemantle and others； that it is very true。 The Portugalls have choused us； it seems； in the Island of Bombay； in the East Indys； for after a great charge of our fleets being sent thither with full commission from the King of Portugall to receive it； the Governour by some pretence or other will not deliver it to Sir Abraham Shipman； sent from the King； nor to my Lord of Marlborough； ＇James Ley； third Earl of Marlborough； killed in the great sea…fight with the Dutch； 1665。＇ which the King takes highly ill； and I fear our Queene will fare the worse for it。 The Dutch decay there exceedingly； it being believed that their people will revolt from them there； and they forced to give up their trade。 Sir Thomas showed me his picture and Sir Anthony Vandyke's in crayon in little； done exceedingly well。
18th。 I walked to White Hall； and into the Parke； seeing the Queene and Maids of Honour passing through the house going to the Parke。 But above all； Mrs。 Stuart is a fine woman； and they say now a common mistress to the King； as my Lady Castlemaine is； which is a great pity。
19th。 With Sir John Minnes to the Tower； and by Mr。 Slingsby； and Mr。 Howard； Controller of the Mint we were shown the method of making this new money。 That being done； the Controller would have us dine with him and his company； the King giving them a dinner every day。 And very merry and good discourse upon the business we have been upon。 They now coyne between 16 and 24；000 pounds in a week。 At dinner they did discourse very finely to us of the probability that there is a vast deal of money hid in the land； from this：that in King Charles's time there was near ten millions of money coyned； besides what was then in being of King James's and Queene Elizabeth's； of which there is a good deal at this day in being。 Next； that there was but 750；000l。 coyned of the Harp and Crosse money； and of this there was 500；000l。 brought in upon its being called in。 And from very good arguments they find that there cannot be less of it in Ireland and Scotland than 100；000l。； so that there is but 150；000l。 missing； and of that； suppose that there should be not above 50；000l。 still remaining； either melted down； hid； or lost； or hoarded up in England； there will then be but 100；000l。 left to be thought to have been transported。 Now； if 750；000l。 in twelve years' time lost but a 100；000l。 in danger of being transported； then 10；000；000l。 in thirty…five years' time will have lost but 3；888；880l。 and odd pounds； and as there is 650；000l。 remaining after twelve years time in England； so after thirty…five years' time； which was within this two years； there ought in proportion to have resting 6；111；120l。 or thereabouts； besides King James and Queene Elizabeth's money。 Now； that most of this must be hid is evident； as they reckon； because of the dearth of money immediately upon the calling in of the State's money； which was 500；000l。 that come in； and then there was not any money to be had in this City； which they say to their own observation and knowledge was so。 And therefore； though I can say nothing in it myself； I do not dispute it。
23rd。 To White Hall； where； in the Matted Gallery； Mr。 Coventry was； who told us how the Parliament have required of Sir G。 Carteret and him an account what money shall be necessary to be settled upon the Navy for the ordinary charge； which they intend to report 200；000l。 per annum。 And how to allott this we met； this afternoon； and took their papers for our perusal； and so parted。
24th。 Meeting Mr。 Lewis Phillips of Brampton； he and afterwards others tell me that news come last night to Court； that the King of France is sick of the spotted fever； and that they are struck in again； and this afternoon my Lord Mandeville is gone from the King to make him a visit which will be great news； and of great import through Europe。 By and by； in comes my Lord Sandwich： he told me this day a vote hath passed that the King's grants of land to my Lord Monk and him should be made good； which pleases him very much。 He also tells me that things do not go right in the House with Mr。 Coventry； I suppose he means in the business of selling places； but I am sorry for it。
27th。 With Pett to my Lord Ashley； Chancellor of the Exchequer； where we met the auditors about settling the business of the accounts of persons to whom money is due before the King's time in the Navy； and the clearing of their imprests for what little of their debts they have received。 I find my Lord； as he is reported； a very ready； quiet； and diligent person。 Roger Pepys tells me that the King hath sent to the Parliament to hasten to make an end by midsummer； because of his going into the country； so they have set upon four bills to dispatch： the first of which is； he says； too devilish a severe act against conventicles； so beyond all moderation； that he is afraid it will ruin all： telling me that it is matter of the greatest grief to him in the world； that he should be put upon this trust of being a Parliament…man； because he says nothing is done； that he can see； out of any truth and sincerity； but mere envy and design。 Then into the Great Garden up to the Banqueting House； and there by my Lord's glass we drew in the species very pretty。 ＇This word is here used as an optical term； and signifies the image painted on the retina of the eye； and the rays of light reflected from the several points of the surface of objects。＇ Afterwards to nine… pins； Creed and I playing against my Lord and Cooke。
28th。 By water to the Royal Theatre； but that was so full they told us we could have no room。 And so to the Duke's house； and there saw 〃Hamlett〃 done； giving us fresh reason never to think enough of Betterton。 Who should we see come upon the stage but Gosnell； my wife's maid？ but neither spoke； danced； nor sung； which I was sorry for。
29th。 This day is kept strictly as a holy…day； being the King's Coronation。 Creed and I abroad； and called at several churches； and it is a wonder to see； and by that to guess the ill temper of the City； at this time； either to religion in general； or to the King； that in some churches there was hardly ten people； and those poor people。 To the Duke's house； and there saw 〃The Slighted Mayde；〃 ＇A comedy； by Sir Robert Stapylton。＇ wherein Gosnell acted AEromena； a great part； and did it very well。 Then with Creed to see the German Princesse； ＇Mary Carleton； of whom see more June 7 following； and April 15； 1664。＇ at the Gate… house； at Westminster。
31st。 This month the greatest news is； the height and heat that the Parliament is in； in enquiring into the revenue； which displeases the Court； and their backwardness to give the King any money。 Their enquiring into the selling of places do trouble a great many； among the chief； my Lord Chancellor （against whom particularly it is carried）； and Mr。 Coventry； for which I am sorry。 The King of France was given out to be poisoned and dead； but it proves to be the meazles： and he is well； or likely to be soon well again。 I find myself growing in the esteem and credit that I have in the office； and I hope falling to my business again will confirm me in it。
JUNE 1； 1663。 The Duke having been a…hunting to…day； and so lately come home and gone to bed； we could not see him； and we walked away。 And I with Sir J。 Minnes to the Strand May…pole； and there light out of his coach； and walked to the New Theatre； which； since the King's players are gone to the Royal one； is this day begun to be employed by the fencers to play prizes at。 And here I come and saw the first prize I ever saw in my life： and it was between one Mathews； who did beat at all weapons； and one Westwicke； who was soundly cut several times both in the head and legs； that he was all over blood： and other deadly blows they did give and take in very good earnest； till Westwicke was in a sad pickle。 They fought at eight weapons； three boutes at each weapon。 This being upon a private quarrel； they did it in good earnest； and I felt one of the swords； and found it to be very little； if at all blunter on the edge； than the common swords are。 Strange to see what a deal of money is flung to them both upon the stage between every boute。 This day I hear at Court of the great plot which was lately discovered in Ireland； made among the Presbyters and others； designing to cry up the Covenant； and to secure Dublin Castle and other places； and they have debauched a good part of the army there； promising them ready money。 Some of the Parliament there； they say； are guilty； and some withdrawn upon it； several persons taken； and among others a son of Scott's； that was executed here for the King's murder。 What reason the King hath； I know not； but it seems he is doubtfull of Scotland： and this afternoon； when I was there； the Council was called extraordinary； and they were opening the letter this last post's coming and going between Scotland and us and other places。 The King of France is well again。
2nd。 To St。 James's； to Mr。 Coven