第 213 节
作者:
敏儿不觉 更新:2022-11-28 19:17 字数:9322
hree Fathers; and us。 Discourse good and pleasant。 And here was an Oxford scholar; in Doctor of Laws' gowne; sent from the College where the Embassador lay when the Court was there; to salute him before his return to Spain。 This man; though a gentle sort of scholar; yet sat like a fool for want of French or Spanish; but knew only Latin; which he spoke like an Englishman; to one of the Fathers。 And by and by he and I to talk; and the company very merry at my defending Cambridge against Oxford; and I made much use of my French and Spanish here; to my great content。 But the dinner not extraordinary at all; either quantity or quality。
7th。 Up; and by coach to Sir W。 Coventry's; and there to talk with him a great deal with great content。 And so to the Duke of York; having a great mind to speak to him about Tangier; but when I came to it; his interest for my Lord Middleton is such that I dared not。
8th。 After dinner all the afternoon within; with Mr。 Hater; Gibson; and W。 Hewer; reading over and drawing up new things in the Instructions of Commanders; which will be good; and I hope to get them confirmed by the Duke of York; though I perceive nothing will effectually perfect them but to look over the whole body of the Instructions of all the officers of a ship; and make them all perfect together。 This being done; comes my bookseller; and brings me home hound my collection of papers; about my Addresse to the Duke of York in August; which makes me glad; it being that which shall do me more right many years hence than perhaps all I ever did in my life: and therefore I do; both for my own and the King's sake; value it much。 By and by also comes Browne; the mathematical instrument…maker; and brings me home my instrument for perspective; made according to the description of Dr。 Wren's in the late Transactions; and he hath made it; I think; very well; and that I believe will do the thing; and therein gives me great content; but I have; I fear; all the content that must be received by my eyes; which are almost lost。
10th。 To White Hall; where the Duke of York met the office; and there discoursed of several things; particularly the Instructions of Commanders of ships。 But here happened by chance a discourse of the Council of Trade; against which the Duke of York is mightily displeased; and particularly Mr。 Child; against whom he speaking hardly; Captain Cox did second the Duke of York; by saying that he was talked on for an unfayre dealer with masters of ships about freight: to which Sir T。 Littleton very hotly and foolishly replied presently; that he never heard any honest man speak ill of Child; to which the Duke of York did make a smart reply; and was angry: so as I was sorry to hear it come so far; and that I; by seeming to assent to Cox; might be observed too much by Littleton; though I said nothing aloud; for this must breed great heart…burnings。 After this meeting done; the Duke of York took the Treasurers into his closet to chide them; as Mr。 Wren tells me; for that my Lord Keeper did last night at the Council say; when nobody was ready to say anything against the constitution of the Navy; that he did believe the Treasurers of the Navy had something to say; which was very foul on their part; to be parties against us。 They being gone; Mr。 Wren took boat; thinking to dine with my Lord of Canterbury; 'Gilbert Sheldon。' but when we came to Lambeth; the gate was shut; which is strictly done at twelve o'clock; and nobody comes in afterwards; so we lost our labour; and therefore back to White Hall; and thence walked to my Lord Crewe; whom I have not seen since he was sick; which is eight months ago; I think; and there dined with him。 He is mightily broke。 A stranger; a country gentleman; was with him; and he pleased with my discourse accidentally about the decay of gentlemen's families in the country; telling us that the old rule was; that a family might remain fifty miles from London one hundred years; one hundred miles from London two hundred years; and so farther or nearer London more or less years。 He also told us that he hath heard his father say; that in his time it was so rare for a country gentleman to come to London; that when he did come; he used to make his will before he set out。 Thence to St。 James's; and there met the Duke of York; who told me with great content that he did now think he should master our adversaries; for that; the King did tell him that he was satisfied in the constitution of the Navy; but that it was well to give these people leave to object against it; which they having not done; he did give order to give warrant to the Duke of York to direct Sir Jeremy Smith to be a Commissioner of the Navy in the room of Pen; which; though he be an impertinent fellow; yet I am glad of it; it showing that the other side is not so strong as it was: and so in plain terms the Duke of York did tell me; that they were every day losing ground; and particularly that he would take care to keep out Child: at all which I am glad; though yet I dare not think myself secure: but the King may yet be wrought upon by these people to bring changes in our office; and remove us ere it be long。 To White Hall to a Committee of Tangier; where I see all things going to rack in the business of the Corporation; and consequently in the place; by Middleton's going。 Thence walked a little with Creed; who tells me he hears how fine my horses and coach are; and advises me to avoid being noted for it; which I was vexed to hear taken notice of; being what I feared; and Povy told me of my gold…laced sleeves in the Park yesterday which vexed me also; so as to resolve never to appear in Court with them; but presently to have them taken off; as it is fit I should。
11th。 My wife up by four o'clock; to go to gather May…dew。 Some trouble at…Court for fear of the Queene's miscarrying; she being; as they all conclude; far gone with child。
12th。 My brother John tells me the first news that my sister Jackson is with child and far gone。
13th。 At noon comes my Lord Hinchingbroke; and Sidney; and Sir Charles Harbord; and Roger Pepys; and dined with me; and had a good dinner; and very merry with us all the afternoon; it being a farewell to Sidney。
14th。 At noon to dinner with Mr。 Wren to Lambeth; with the Archbishop of Canterbury; the first time I was ever there; and I have long longed for it。 Where a noble house; and well furnished with good pictures and furniture; and noble attendance in good order; and a great deal of company though an ordinary day; and exceeding great cheer; no where better; or so much; that ever I think I saw for an ordinary table: and the Bishop mighty kind to me particularly; desiring my company another time when less company there。 Most of the company gone; and I going; I heard by a gentleman of a sermon that was to be there; and so I staid to hear it; thinking it serious; till by and by the gentleman told me it was a mockery; by one Cornet Bolton a very gentleman…like man; that behind a chair did pray and preach like a Presbyter Scot; with all the possible imitation in grimaces and voice。 And his text about the hanging up their harps upon the willows: and a serious good sermon too; exclaiming against Bishops; and crying up of my good Lord Eglington; till it made us all burst; but I did wonder to have the Bishop at this time to make himself sport with things of this kind; but I perceive it was shown him as a rarity。 And he took care to have the room…door shut; but there were about twenty gentlemen there: and myself infinitely pleased with the novelty。 So over to White Hall to a little Committee of Tangier; and thence walking in the Gallery; I met Sir Thomas Osborne; who; to my great content did of his own accord fall into discourse with me; with such professions of value and respect; placing the whole virtue of the office of the Navy upon me; and that for the Controller's place no man in England was fit for it but me; when Sir J。 Minnes; as he says it is necessary; is removed: but then knows not what to do for a man in my place; and in discourse; though I have no mind to the other; did bring in Tom Hater to be the fittest man in the world for it; which; he took good notice of。 But in the whole I was mightily pleased; reckoning myself fifty per cent。 securer in my place than I did before think myself to be。 By water with my brother as high as Fulham; talking and singing; and playing the rogue with the Western bargemen about the women of Woolwich; which mads them。
16th。 I all the afternoon drawing up a foul draught of my petition to the Duke of York about my eyes; for leave to spend three or four months out of the office; drawing it so as to give occasion to a voyage abroad; which I did to my pretty good liking。 And then with my wife to Hyde Park; where a good deal of company and good weather。
17th。 Great news now of the French taking St。 Domingo; in Spaniola; from the Spaniards; which troubles us; that they should have got it; and have the honour of taking it; when we could not。
19th。 With my coach to St。 James's; and there finding the Duke of York gone to muster his men in Hyde Park; I alone with my boy thither; and there saw more; walking out of my coach as other gentlemen did; of a s