the diary of samuel pepys-第178章
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t the time other fruits of France and our own country。 After dinner comes in Mr。 Townsend： and there I was witness of a horrid rateing which Mr。 Ashburnham； as one of the Grooms of the King's Bedchamber； did give him for want of linen for the King's person； which he swore was not to be endured； and that the King would not endure it； and that the King his father would have hanged his Wardrobe…man should he have been served so； the King having at this day no hankerchers； and but three bands to his neck； he swore。 Mr。 Townsend pleaded want of money and the owing of the linendraper 5000l。； and that he hath of late got many rich things made； beds and sheets and saddles； without money； and that he can go no further： but still this old man （indeed like an old loving servant） did cry out for the King's person to be neglected。 But when he was gone； Townsend told me that it is the Grooms taking away the King's linen at the quarter's end； as their fees； which makes this great want； for whether the King can get it or no； they will run away at the quarter's end with what he hath had； let the King get more as he can。 All the company gone； Sir G。 Carteret and I to talk： and it is pretty to observe how already he says that he did always look upon the Chancellor indeed as his friend； though he never did do him any service at all； nor ever got any thing by； nor was a man apt （and that； I think； is true） to do any man any kindness of his own nature； though I do know he was believed by all the world to be the greatest support of Sir G。 Carteret with the King of any man in England： but so little is now made of it！ He observes that my Lord Sandwich will lose a great friend in him； and I think so too； my Lord Hinchingbroke being about a match calculated purely out of respect to my Lord Chancellor's family。 By and by Sir G。 Carteret； and Townsend； and I to consider of an answer to the Commissioners of the Treasury about my Lord Sandwich's profits in the Wardrobe； which seem as we make them to be very small； not 1000l。 a…year； but only the difference in measure at which he buys and delivers out to the King； and then 6d。 in the pound from the tradesman for what money he receives for him； but this； it is believed； these Commissioners will endeavour to take away。 From him I went to see a great match at tennis； between Prince Rupert and one Captain Cooke against Bab。 May and the elder Chichly； where the King was； and Court； and it seems they are the best players at tennis in the nation。 But this puts me in mind of what I observed in the morning； that the King playing at tennis had a steele…yard carried to him； and I was told it was to weigh him after he had done playing； and at noon Mr。 Ashburnham told me that it is only the King's curiosity； which he usually hath of weighing himself before and after his play； to see how much he loses in weight by playing； and this day he lost 4 1/2lbs。 I to Sir W。 Batten and Sir W。 Pen； and there discoursed of Sir W。 Coventry's leaving the Duke of York； and Mr。 Wren's succeeding him。 They told me both seriously that they had long cut me out for Secretary to the Duke of York； if ever Sir W。 Coventry left him； which agreeing with what I have heard from other hands heretofore； do make me not only think that something of that kind hath been thought on； but do comfort me to see that the world hath such an esteem of my qualities as to think me fit for any such thing： though I am glad with all my heart that I am not so； for it would never please me to be forced to the attendance that that would require； and leave my wife and family to themselves； as I must do in such a case； thinking myself now in the best place that ever man was in to please his own mind in； and therefore I will take to preserve it。
3rd。 Attended the Duke of York about the list of ships that we propose to sell： and here there attended Mr。 Wren the first time； who hath not yet； I think； received the Duke of York's seal and papers。 At our coming hither we found the Duke and Duchesse all alone at dinner； methought melancholy： or else I thought so； from the late occasion of the Chancellor's fall； who； they say； however； takes it very contentedly。
4th。 By coach to White Hall to the Council…chamber； and there met with Sir W。 Coventry going in； who took me aside； and told me that he was just come from delivering up his seal and papers to Mr。 Wren； and told me he must now take his leave of me as a naval man； but that he shall always bear respect to his friends there； ＇The officers of the Navy。＇ and particularly to myself with great kindness； which I returned to him with thanks； and so with much kindness parted； and he into the Council。 Staid and heard Alderman Barker's case of his being abused by the Council of Ireland； touching his lands there。 All I observed there is the silliness of the King； playing with his dog all the while； and not minding the business； and what he said was mighty weak： but my Lord Keeper I observed to be a mighty able man。 To the Duke of York's playhouse； and there saw 〃Mustapha；〃 which the more I see the more I like； and is a most admirable poem； and bravely acted； only both Betterton and Harris could not contain from laughing in the midst of a most serious part； from the ridiculous mistake of one of the men upon the stage； which I did not like。 This morning was told by Sir W。 Batten that he do hear from Mr。 Grey； who hath good intelligence； that our Queene is to go into a nunnery there to spend her days； and that my Lady Castlemaine is going to France； and is to have a pension of 4000l。 a…year。 This latter I do more believe than the other； it being very wise in her to do it and save all she hath； besides easing the King and kingdom of a burden and reproach。
8th。 Lord Brouncker says he do believe that my Lady Castlemaine is compounding with the King for a pension； and to leave the Court； but that her demands are mighty high： but he believes the King is resolved； and so do everybody else I speak with； to do all possible to please the Parliament； and he do declare that he will deliver every body up to give an account of their actions： and that last Friday； it seems； there was an Act of Council passed； to put out all Papists in office； and to keep out any from coming in。 Sir G。 Downing told he had been seven years finding out a man that could dress English sheep…akin as it should be； and indeed it is now as good in all respects as kidd； and； he says； will save 100；000l。 a…year that goes out to France for kidds'…skins。 He tells me that at this day the King in familiar talk do call the Chancellor 〃the insolent man；〃 and says that he would not let him speak himself in Council： which is very high； and do show that the Chancellor is like to be in a bad state； unless he can defend himself better than people think。 And yet Creed tells me that he do hear that my Lord Cornbury ＇Henry； afterwards second Earl of Clarendon。＇ do say that his father do long for the coming of the Parliament； in order to his own vindication； more than any one of his enemies。 And here it comes into my head to set down what Mr。 Rawlinson （whom I met in Fenchurch…street on Friday last looking over his ruines there） told me that he was told by one of my Lord Chancellor's gentlemen lately； that a grant coming to him to be sealed； wherein the King hath given my Lady Castlemaine； or somebody by her means； a place which he did not like well of； he did stop the grant； saying； that he thought this woman would sell every thing shortly： which she hearing of； she sent to let him know that she had disposed of this place； and did not doubt in a little time to dispose of his。 To White Hall； and saw the King and Queene at dinner； and observed （which I never did before） the formality； but it is but a formality； of putting a bit of bread wiped upon each dish into the mouth of every man that brings a dish； but it should be in the sauce。 Here were some Russes come to see the King at dinner； among others the interpreter； a comely Englishman； in the Envoy's own clothes； which the Envoy； it seems； in vanity did send to show his fine clothes upon this man's back； he being one； it seems； of a comelier presence than himself： and yet it is said that none of their clothe
