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ors； it seems； very rarely were。 To Sir Philip Warwick's； and there he did contract with me a kind of friendship and freedom of communication； wherein he assures me to make me understand the whole business of the Treasurer of the Navy； that I shall know as well as Sir G。 Carteret what money he hath； and will needs have me come to him sometimes； or he meet me； to discourse of things tending to the serving the King： and I am mighty proud and happy in becoming so known to such a man。 And I hope shall pursue it。
MARCH 1； 1664…65。 To Gresham College； where Mr。 Hooke read a second very curious lecture about the late Comet； among other things proving very probably that this is the very same Comet that appeared before in the year 1618； and that in such a time probably it will appear again； which is a very new opinion； but all will be in print。 Then to the meeting； where Sir G。 Carteret's two sons； his own； and Sir N。 Slaning； ＇Sir Nicholas Slaning K。B。； married a daughter of Sir George Carteret。＇ were admitted of the society： and this day I did pay my admission money； 40s。 to the society。
4th。 William Howe come to see me； being come up with my Lord from sea： he is grown a discreet； but very conceited fellow。 He tells me how little respectfully Sir W。 Pen did carry it to my Lord on board the Duke's ship at sea； and that Captain Minnes； a favourite of Prince Rupert's； do show my Lord little respect； but that every body else esteems my Lord as they ought。 This day was proclaimed at the 'Change the war with Holland。
5th。 To my Lord Sandwich's and dined with my Lord； it being the first time he hath dined at home since his coming from sea： and a pretty odd demand it was of my Lord to my Lady before me： 〃How do you； sweetheart？ How have you done all this week？〃 himself taking notice of it to me； that he had hardly seen her the week before。 At dinner he did use me with the greatest solemnity in the world； in carving for me； and nobody else； and calling often to my Lady to cut for me； and all the respect possible。
6th。 With Sir J。 Minnes to St。 James's； and there did our business with the Duke。 Great preparations for his speedy return to sea。 I saw him try on his buff coat and hat…piece covered with black velvet。 It troubles me more to think of his venture； than of any thing else in the whole warr。
8th。 This morning is brought me to the office the sad news of The London； in which Sir J。 Lawson's men were all bringing her from Chatham to the Hope； and thence he was to go to sea in her； but a little on this side the buoy of the Nower； she suddenly blew up。 About 21 men and a woman that were in the round…house and coach saved； the rest； being about 300； drowned： the ship breaking all in pieces； with 80 pieces of brass ordnance。 She lies sunk； with her round…house above water。 Sir J。 Lawson hath a great loss in this of so many good chosen men； and many relations among them。 I went to the 'Change； where the news taken very much to heart。
10th。 At noon to the 'Change； where very hot； people's proposal of the City giving the King another ship for The London； that is lately blown up。 It would be very handsome； and if well managed； might be done； but I fear if it be put into ill hands； or that the courtiers do solicit it； it will never be done。
13th。 This day my wife begun to wear light…coloured locks； quite white almost； which； though it makes her look very pretty； yet not being natural； vexes me； that I will not have her wear them。 This day I saw my Lord Castlemaine at St。 James's； lately come from France。
17th。 The Duke did give us some commands； and so broke up； not taking leave of him。 But the best piece of newes is； that instead of a great many troublesome Lords； the whole business is to be left； with the Duke of Albemarle to act as Admirall in his stead； which is a thing that do cheer my heart。 For the other would have vexed us with attendance； and never done the business。
19th。 Mr。 Povy and I in his coach to Hyde Parke； being the first day of the tour there。 Where many brave ladies； among others； Castlemaine lay impudently upon her back in her coach asleep； with her mouth open。 There was also my Lady Kerneguy； ＇Daughter of William Duke of Hamilton； wife of Lord Carnegy； who became Earl of Southesk on his father's death。 She is frequently mentioned in the 〃Memoires de Grammont。〃＇ once my Lady Anne Hambleton。
20th。 Creed and I had Mr。 Povy's coach sent for us； and we to his house； where we did some business in order to the work of this day。 Povy and I to my Lord Sandwich； who tells me that the Duke is not only a friend to the business； but to me； in terms of the greatest love and respect。 The Duke did direct Secretary Bennet to declare his mind to the Tangier committee； that he approves of me for treasurer； and with a character of me to be a man whose industry and discretion he would trust soon as any man's in England： and did； the like to my Lord Sandwich。 So to White Hall to the Committee of Tangier where there were present； my Lord of Albemarle； my Lord Peterborough； Sandwich； Barkeley； FitzHarding； Secretary Bennet； Sir Thomas Ingram； Sir John Lawson； Povy and I。 Where； after other business； Povy did declare his business very handsomely； that he was sorry he had been so unhappy in his accounts； as not to give their Lordships the satisfaction he intended； and that he was sure his accounts were right； and continues to submit them to examination； and is ready to lay down in ready money the fault of his account； and that for the future； that the work might be better done and with more quiet to him； he desired； by approbation of the Duke； he might resign his place to Mr。 Pepys。 Whereupon； Secretary Bennet did deliver the Duke's command； which was received with great content and allowance beyond expectation； the Secretary repeating also the Duke's character of me。 And I could discern my Lord FitzHarding was well pleased with me； and signified full satisfaction； and whispered something seriously of me to the Secretary。 And there I received their constitution under all their hands presently； so that I am already confirmed their treasurer； and put into a condition of striking of tallys； and all without； one harsh word of dislike； but quite the contrary； which is a good fortune beyond all imagination。
22nd。 Sir William Petty did tell me that in good earnest he hath in his will left some parts of his estate to him that could invent such and such things。 As among others； that could discover truly the way of milk coming into the breasts of a woman； and he that could invent proper characters to express to another the mixture of relishes and tastes。 And says； that to him that invents gold； he gives nothing for the philosopher's stone； for （says he） they that find out that； will be able to pay themselves。 But； says he； by this means it is better than to go to a lecture； for here my executors； that must part with this； will be sure to be well convinced of the invention before they do part with their money。 I saw the Duke； kissed his hand； and had his most kind expressions of his value and opinion of me； which comforted me above all things in the world the like from Mr。 Coventry most heartily and affectionately。 Saw； among other fine ladies； Mrs。 Middleton； ＇Jane； daughter to Sir Robert Needham； frequently mentioned in the 〃Memoires de Grammont。〃 Her portrait is at Windsor Castle amongst the beauties of Charles II。's court。＇ a very great beauty； and I saw Waller ＇Edmund Waller。＇ the poet； whom I never saw before。
23rd。 To my Lord Sandwich； who follows the Duke this day by water down to the Hope； where the Prince lies。 He received me； busy as he was； with mighty kindness and joy at my promotions； telling me most largely how the Duke hath expressed on all occasions his good opinion of my service and love for me。 I paid my thanks and acknowledgement to him； and so back home； where at the office all the morning。
27th。 Up betimes to Mr。 Povy's； and there did sign and seal my agreement with him about my place of being treasurer for Tangier。 Thence to the Duke of Albemarle； the first time that we officers of the Navy have waited upon him since the Duke of York's going； who hath deputed him to be Admiral in his absence。 And I find him a quiet heavy man； that will help business when he can； and hinder nothing。 I did afterwards alone give him thanks for his favour to me about my Tangier business； which he received kindly； and did speak much of his esteem of me。 Thence； and did the same to Sir H。 Bennet； who did the like to me very fully。
APRIL 1； 1665。 With Sir G。 Carteret； Sir W。 Batten； and Sir J。 Minnes to my Lord Treasurer； and there did lay open the expence for the six months past； and an estimate of the seven months to come； to November next： the first arising to above 500；000l。； and the latter will； as we judge； come to above 1；000；000l。 But to see how my Lord Treasurer did bless himself； crying he would do no more than he could； nor give more money than he had； if the occasion and expence were never so great； which is but a bad story。
3rd。 To a play at the Duke's； of my Lord Orrery's； called 〃Mustapha；〃 ＇There was another tragedy of this name； by Fulk； Lord Brook。＇