er Hall； where I met with Mr。 Pierce； surgeon： and among other things he asked me seriously whether I knew any thing of my Lord's being out of favour with the King； and told me； that for certain the King do take mighty notice of my Lord's living obscurely in a corner not like himself； and becoming the honour that he is come to。 I was sorry to hear； and the truth is； from my Lord's discourse among his people （which I am told） of the uncertainty of princes' favour； and his melancholy keeping from Court； I am doubtful of some such thing； but I seemed wholly strange to him in it； but will make my use of it。 We told me also how loose the Court is； nobody looking after business； but every man his lust and gain； and how the King is now become besotted upon Mrs Stewart； that he gets into corners； and will be with her half an hour together kissing her to the observation of all the world； and she now stays by herself and expects it； as my Lady Castlemaine did used to do； to whom the King； he says； is still kind； so as now and then he goes to her as he believes； but with no such fondness as he used to do。 But yet it is thought that this new wench is so subtle； that it is verily thought if the Queene had died； he would have married her。 Mr。 Blackburne and I fell to talk of many things； wherein he was very open to me： first； in that of religion； he makes it greater matter of prudence for the King and Council to suffer liberty of conscience； and imputes the loss of Hungary to the Turke from the Emperor's denying them this liberty of their religion。 He says that many pious ministers of the word of God； some thousands of them； do now beg their bread： and told me how highly the present clergy carry themselves every where so as that they are hated and laughed at by every body； among other things； for their excommunications； which they send upon the least occasions almost that can be。 And I am convinced in my judgement； not only from his discourse； but my thoughts in general； that the present clergy will never heartily go down with the generality of the commons of England； they have been so used to liberty and freedom； and they are so acquainted with the pride and debauchery of the present clergy。 He did give me many stories of the affronts which the clergy receive in all places of England from the gentry and ordinary persons of the parish。 He do tell me what the City thinks of General Monk； as of a most perfidious man that hath betrayed every body； and the King also； who； as he thinks； and his party； and so I have heard other good friends of the King say； it might have been better for the King to have had his hands a little bound for the present； than be forced to bring such a crew of poor people about him； and be liable to satisfy the demands of every one of them。 He told me that to his knowledge； （being present at every meeting at the Treaty at the Isle of Wight；） that the old King did confess himself over…ruled and convinced in his judgement against the Bishopps； and would have suffered and did agree to exclude the service out of the churches； nay his own chapell； and that he did always say； that this he did not by force； for that he would never abate one inch by any violence； but what he did was out of his reason and judgement。 He tells me that the King by name； with all his dignities； is prayed for by them that they call Fanatiques； as heartily and powerfully as in any of the other churches that are thought better： and that； let the King think what he will； it is them that must help him in the day of warr。 For so generally they are the most substantiall sort of people； and the soberest； and did desire me to observe it to my Lord Sandwich； among other things； that of all the old army now you cannot see a man begging about the streets； but what？ You shall have this captain turned a shoemaker； the lieutenant； a baker； this a brewer； that a haberdasher； this common soldier； a porter； and every man in his apron and frock； &c。； as if they had never done anything else： whereas the other go with their belts and swords； swearing and cursing； and stealing； running into people's houses； by force oftentimes； to carry away something； and this is the difference between the temper of one and the other； and concludes （and I think： with some reason；） that the spirits of the old parliament soldiers are so quiet and contented with God's providences； that the King is safer from any evil meant him by them one thousand times more than from his own discontented Cavalier。 And then to the publick management of business： it is done； as he observes； so loosely and so carelessly； that the kingdom can never be happy with it； every man looking after himself； and his own lust and luxury； and that half of what money the Parliament gives the King is not so much as gathered。 And to the purpose he told me how the Bellamys （who had some of the northern counties assigned them for their debt for the petty warrant victnalling） have often complained to him that they cannot get it collected； for that nobody minds； or if they do； they won't pay it in。 Whereas （which is a very remarkable thing；） he hath been told by some of the Treasurers at Warr here of late； to whom the most of the 120；000l。 monthly was paid； that for most months the payments were gathered so duly； that they seldom had so much or more than 40s。 or the like short in the whole collection； whereas now the very Commissioners for Assessments and other publick payments are such persons； and those that they choose in the country so like themselves； that from top to bottom there is not a man carefull of any thing； or if he be； is not solvent； that what between the beggar and the knave； the King is abused the best part of all his revenue。 We then talked of the Navy； and of Sir W。 Pen's rise to be a general。 We told me he was always a conceited man； and one that would put the best side outward； but that it was his pretence of sanctity that brought him into play。 Lawson； and Portman； and the fifth…monarchy men； among whom he was a great brother； importuned that he might be general； and it was pleasant to see how Blackburne himself did act it； how when the Commissioners of the Admiralty would enquire of the captains and admirals of such and such men； how they would with a sigh and casting up the eyes say； 〃such a man fears the Lord；〃 or； 〃I hope such a man hath the Spirit of God。〃 But he tells me that there was a cruel articling against Pen after one fight； for cowardice； in putting himself within a coyle of cables； of which he had much ado to acquit himself： and by great friends did it； not without remains of guilt； but that his brethren had a mind to pass it by； and Sir H。 Vane did advise him to search his heart； and see whether this fault or a greater sin was not the occasion of this so great tryall。 And he tells me； that what Pen gives out about Cromwell's sending and entreating him to go to Jamaica； is very false； he knows the contrary； besides； the Protector never was a man that needed to send for any man； specially such a one as he； twice。 He tells me that the business of Jamaica did miscarry absolutely by his pride； and that when he was in the Tower he would cry like a child。 And that just upon the turne； when Monk was come from the North to the City； and did begin to think of bringing in the King； Pen was then turned Quaker。 That Lawson was never counted any thing but only a seaman； and a stout man； but a false man； and that now he appears the greatest hypocrite in the world。 And Pen the same。 He tells me that it is much talked of； that the King intends to legitimate the Duke of Monmouth； and that neither he； nor his friends of his persuasion； have any hopes of getting their consciences at Liberty but by God Almighty's turning of the King's heart； which they expect； and are resolved to live and die in quiet hopes of it； but never to repine； or act any thing more than by prayers towards it。 And that not only himself but； all of them have； and are willing at any time to take the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy。 Mr。 Blackburne observed further to me； some certain notice that he had of the present plot； so much talked of； that he was told by Mr。 Rushworth； ＇John Rushworth； Clerk assistant to the House of Commons； and author of the Historical Collections。 Ob。 1690。＇ how one Captain Oates； a great discoverer； did employ several to bring and seduce others into a plot； and that one of his agents met with one that would not listen to him； nor conceal what he had offered him； but so detected the trapan。 He also did much insist upon the cowardice and corruption of the King's guards and militia。
11th。 At noon to the Coffee…house； were with Dr。 Allen some good discourse about physick and chymistry。 And among other things； I telling him what Dribble the German Doctor do offer of an instrument to sink ships； he tells me that which is more strange； that something made of gold； which they call in chymistry AURUM FULMINANS； a grain； I think he said； of it put into a silver spoon and fired； will give a blow like a musquett； and strike a hole through the silver spoon downward； without the least force upward； and this he can make a cheaper experiment of； he says； with iron prepared。
15th。 This day bein