the diary of samuel pepys-第199章
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em and set upon it； as I hear。
17th。 Great high words in the House on Saturday last upon the first part of the Committee's Report about the dividing of the fleet； wherein some would have the counsels of the King to be declared； and the reasons of them； and who did give them； where Sir W。 Coventry laid open to them the consequences of doing that； that the King would never have any honest and wise men ever to be of his Council。 They did here in the House talk boldly of the King's bad Counsellors； and how they must all be turned out； and many others； and better brought in： and the proceedings of the Long…Parliament in the beginning of the war were called to memory； and the King's bad intelligence was mentioned； wherein they were bitter against my Lord Arlington； saying； among other things； that whatever Morrice's was； who declared he had but 750l。 a…year allowed him for intelligence； the King paid too dear for my Lord Arlington's in giving him 10；000l。 and a Barony for it。 Sir W。 Coventry did here come to his defence in the business of the letter that was sent to call back Prince Rupert after he was divided from the fleet； wherein great delay was objected； but he did show that he sent it at one in the morning； when the Duke of York did give him the instructions after supper that night； and did clear himself well of it； only it was laid as a fault； which I know not how he removes； of not sending it by an express； but by the ordinary post； it coming not to Sir Philip Honiwood's hand at Portsmouth till four in the afternoon that day； being about fifteen or sixteen hours in going。 The dividing of the fleet however is； I hear； voted a miscarriage； and the not building a fortification at Sheernesse： and I have reason every hour to expect that they will vote the like of our paying men off by ticket； and what the consequence of that will be； I know not。
18th。 Sir W。 Coventry and I did look over the list of commanders； and found that we could presently recollect thirty… seven commanders that have been killed in actuall service this war。 He tells me that Sir Fr。 Hollis is the main man that hath prosecuted him hitherto in the business of dividing the fleet； saying vainly that the want of that letter to the Prince hath given him that that he shall remember it by to his grave； meaning the loss of his arme ＇Vide Note June 10； 1667。＇ when； God knows； he is as idle and insignificant a fellow as ever came into the fleet。 I well remember what in mirth he said to me this morning； when upon this discourse he said if ever there was another Dutch war they should not find a Secretary； 〃Nor；〃 said I； 〃a Clerk of the Acts； for I see the reward of it； and； thank God； I have enough of my own to buy me a book and a good fiddle； and I have a good wife；〃〃Why；〃 says he； 〃I have enough to buy me a good book； and shall not need a fiddle because I have never a one of your good wives。〃 This morning the House is upon a Bill； brought in to…day by Sir Richard Temple； for obliging the King to call Parliaments every three years； or if he fail； for others to be obliged to do it； and to keep him from a power of dissolving any Parliament in less than forty days after their first day of sitting： which is such a Bill as do speak very high proceedings to the lessening of the King； and this they will carry； and whatever else they desire； before they will give any money； and the King must have money； whatever it cost him。 I to see Kate Joyce； where I find her and her friends in great ease of mind； the Jury having this day given in their verdict that her husband died of a fever。 Some opposition there was； the foreman pressing them to declare the cause of the fever； thinking thereby to obstruct it； but they did adhere to their verdict； and would give no reason： so all trouble is now over； and she safe in her estate。
19th。 In the evening to White Hall； where I find Sir W。 Coventry a great while with the Duke of York in the King's drawing…room； they two talking together all alone； which did mightily please me。 I do hear how La Roche； a French captain； who was once prisoner here； being with his ship at Plymouth； hath played some freakes there； for which his men being beat out of the town； he hath put up a flag of defiance； and also somewhere there about did land with his men and go a mile into the country； and did some prank； which sounds pretty odd to our disgrace； but we are in condition now to bear any thing。 But； blessed be God！ all the Court is full of good news of my Lord Sandwich having made a peace between Spain and Portugall； which is mighty great news； and above all to my Lord's honour more than any thing he ever did； and yet I do fear it will not prevail to secure him in Parliament against incivilities there。
20th。 The House most of the morning upon the business of not prosecuting the first victory： which they have voted one of the greatest miscarriages of the whole war； though they cannot lay the fault any where yet； because Harman is not come home。 Dined； and by one o'clock to the King's house： a new play； 〃The Duke of Lerma；〃 of Sir Robert Howard's： where the King and Court was； and Knipp and Nell spoke the prologue most excellently； especially Knipp； who spoke beyond any creature I ever heard。 The play designed to reproach our King with his mistresses； that I was troubled for it； and expected it should be interrupted； but it ended all well； which salved all。
21st。 The House this day is still as backward for giving any money as ever； and do declare they will first have an account of the disposals of the last Poll…bill； and eleven months' tax。 And it is pretty odde that the very first sum mentioned in the account brought in by Sir Robert Long of the disposal of the Poll…bill money is 5000l。 to my Lord Arlington for intelligence； which was mighty unseasonable； so soon after they had so much cried out against his want of intelligence。 The King do also own but 250；000l。 or thereabouts yet paid on the Poll…bill； and that he hath charged 350；000l。 upon it。 This makes them mad； for that the former Poll…bill； that was so much less in its extent than the last； which took in all sexes and qualities； did come to 350；000l。 Upon the whole； I perceive they are like to do nothing in this matter to please the King； or relieve the State； be the case never so pressing； and therefore it is thought by a great many that the King cannot be worse if he should dissolve them； but there is nobody dares advise it； nor do he consider any thing himself。 My cosen Roger Pepys showed me Granger's written confession； of his being forced by imprisonment； &c。 by my Lord Gerard； most barbarously to confess his forging of a deed in behalf of Fitton； in the great case between him and my Lord Gerard； which business is under examination； and is the foulest against my Lord Gerard that ever any thing in the world was； and will； all do believe； ruine him； and I shall be glad of it。
22nd。 To the Duke's playhouse； and there saw 〃Alblemanazar；〃 ＇Albumazar； a comedy； by Tomkins of Trin。 Coll。 Cambridge。＇ an old play； this the second time of acting。 It is said to have been the ground of B。 Jonson's 〃Alchymist；〃 but； saving the ridiculousnesse of Angell's part； which is called Trinkilo； I do not see any thing extraordinary in it； but was indeed wary of it before it was done。 The King here； and indeed all of us pretty merry at the mimique tricks of Trinkilo。
23rd。 I met with Sir W。 Coventry； and he and I walked awhile together in the Matted Gallery； and there he told me all the proceedings yesterday： that the matter is found in general a miscarriage； but no persons named； and so there is no great matter to our prejudice yet； till； if ever； they come to particular persons。 He told me Birch was very industrious to do what he could； and did like a friend； but they were resolved to find the thing in general a miscarriage： and says； that when we shall think fit to desire its being heard； as to our own defence； it will be granted。 He tells me how he hath with advantage cleared himself in what concerns himself therein； by his servant Robson； which I am glad of。 He tells me that there is a letter sent by conspiracy to some of the House； which he hath seen； about the manner
