第 120 节
作者:敏儿不觉      更新:2022-11-28 19:16      字数:9322
  hey cry up so much; a young man; and of a mighty ready tongue。  I heard a little of his sermon。  Captain Cooke; who is mighty conversant with Garraway and those people; tells me what they object as to the mal…administration of things as to money。  But that they mean well; and will do well; but their reckonings are very good; and show great faults; as I will insert here。  They say the King hath had towards this war expressly thus much:
  Royal Ayde  。      。      。      。      。      。  L2;450;000   More        。      。      。      。      。      。   1;250;000
  Three months tax given the King by a power of   )   raising a month's tax of 70;000l。 every year for)  0;210;000   three years。                                    )
  Customes; out of which the King did promise to  )  0;480;000   pay 240;000l。 which for two years come to       )
  Prizes; which they moderately reckon at            0;300;000   A debt declared by the Navy; by us                 0;900;000                                                      …                                                      5;590;000
  The whole charge of the Navy; as we state it    )  3;200;000   for two years and a month; hath been but        )
  So what is become of all this sum?                L2;390;000   'The remainder of the receipts。'
  He and I did bemoan our public condition。  He tells me the Duke of Albemarle is under a cloud; and they have a mind at Court to lay him aside。  This I know not; but all things are not right with him:  and I am glad of it; but sorry for the time。
  11th。  MEMORANDUM。  I had taken my Journal during the fire and the disorders following in loose papers until this very day; and could not get time to enter them in my book till January 18; in the morning; having made my eyes sore by frequent attempts this winter to do it。  But now it is done; for which I thank God; and pray never the like occasion may happen。
  12th。  The House have cut us off 150;000l。 of our wear and tear; for that which was saved by the King while the fleet lay in harbour in winter。  However; he seems pleased; and so am I; that they have abated no more:  and do intend to allow of 28;000 men for the next year; and this day have appointed to declare the sum they will give the King; and to propose the way of raising it; so that this is likely to be the great day。
  13th。  To White Hall; and there the Duke of York (who is gone over to all his pleasures again; and leaves off care of business; what with his woman; my Lady Denham; and his hunting three times a week was just come in from hunting。  So I stood and saw him dress himself; and try on his vest; which is the King's new fashion; and he will be in it for good and all on Monday next; and the whole Court:  it is a fashion; the King says; he will never change。  He being ready; he and my lord Chancellor; and Duke of Albemarle; and Prince Rupert; Lord Bellasses; Sir H。 Cholmly; Povy; and myself; met at a Committee for Tangier。  My Lord Bellasses's propositions were read and discoursed of; about reducing the garrison to less charge; and indeed I am mad in love with my Lord Chancellor; for he do comprehend and speak out well; and with the greatest easiness and authority that ever I saw man in my life。  I did never observe how much easier a man do speak when he knows all the company to be below him; than in him; for though he spoke indeed excellent well; yet his manner and freedom of doing it; as if he played with it; and was informing only all the rest of the company; was mighty pretty。  He did call again and again upon Mr。 Povy for his accounts。  I did think fit to make the solemn tender of my accounts that I intended。  I said something that was liked; touching the want of money; and the bad credit of our tallies。  My Lord Chancellor moved that without any trouble to any of the rest of the Lords; I might alone attend the King; when he was with his private Council; and open the state of the garrisons; want of credit:  and all that could be done; should。  Most things moved were referred to Committees; and so we broke up。  And at the end Sir W。 Coventry come; so I away with him; and he discoursed with me something of the Parliament's business。  They have voted giving the King for the next year 1;800;000l。; which; were it not for his debts; were a great sum。
  14th。  I met with Sir Stephen Fox; who told me much right I have done myself; and how well it is represented by the Committee to the House my readiness to give them satisfaction in every thing when they were at the office。  I was glad of this。  He did further discourse of Sir W。 Coventry's great abilities; and how necessary it were that I were of the House to assist him。  I did not own it; but do myself think it were not unnecessary; if either he should die; or be removed to the Lords; or anything happen to hinder his doing the like service the next trial; which makes me think that it were not a thing very unfit; but I will not move in it。
  15th。  Colvill tells me of the viciousness of the Court; the contempt the King brings himself into thereby; his minding nothing; but doing all things just as his people about him will have it!  The Duke of York becoming a slave to this Lady Denham; and wholly minds her。  That there really were amours between the Duchesse and Sidny; that there is reason to fear that; as soon as the Parliament have raised this money; the King will see that he hath got all that he can get; and then make up a peace; that Sir W。 Coventry is of the caball with the Duke of York; and Brouncker with this Lady Denham:  which is a shame; and I am sorry for it; and that Sir W。 Coventry do make her visits:  but yet I hope it is not so。  Pierce tells me; that Lady Castlemaine is concluded to be with child again; and that all the people about the King do make no scruple of saying that the King do intrigue with Mrs。 Stewart; who; he says; is a most excellent…natured lady。  This day the King begins to put on his vest; and I did see several persons of the House of Lords and Commons too; great courtiers; who are in it; being a long cassocke close to the body; of black cloth; and pinked with white silk under it; and a coat over it; and the legs ruffled with black riband like a pigeon's leg:  and upon the whole I wish the King may keep it; for it is a very fine and handsome garment。  Lady Carteret tells me ladies are to go into a new fashion shortly and that is; to wear short coats; above their ancles; which she and I not like; but conclude this long trayne to be mighty graceful。  But she cries out of the vices of the Court; and how they are going to set up plays already; and how; the next day after the late great fast; the Duchesse of York did give the King and Queene a play。  Nay; she told me that they have heretofore had plays at Court; the very nights before the fast for the death of the late King。  She do much cry out upon these things; and that which she believes will undo the whole nation:  and I fear so too。  This day the great debate was in Parliament; the manner of raising the 1;800;000l。 they voted the King on Friday:  and at last; after many proposals; one moved that the Chimney…money might be taken from the King; and an equal revenue of something else might be found for the King; and people be enjoyned to buy off this tax of Chimney…money for ever at eight years' purchase; which will raise present money; as they think; 1;600;000l。; and the State be eased of an ill burthen; and the King be supplied of something as good or better for his use。  The House seems to like this; and put off the debate to to…morrow。
  17th。  The Court is all full of vests; only my Lord St。 Albans not pinked; but plain black; and they say the King says the pinking upon whites makes them look too much like magpyes; and therefore hath bespoke one of plain velvet。
  18th。  To Lovett's house; where I stood godfather。  But it was pretty that; being a Protestant; a man stood by and was my proxy to answer for me。  A priest christened it; and the boy's name is Samuel。  The ceremonies many; and some foolish。  The priest in a gentleman's dress; more than my own:  but is a Capuchin; one of the Queen…mother's priests。  He did give my proxy and the woman proxy; (my Lady Bills; 'Probably the widow of Sir Thomas Pelham; who re…married John Bills; Esq; of Caen Wood; and retained the title derived from her first husband with the name of her second。'  absent; had a proxy also;) good advice to bring up the child; and at the end that he ought never to marry the child nor the godmother; nor the godmother the child or the godfather: but; which is strange; they say the mother of the child and the godfather may marry。  By and by the Lady Bills come in; a well… bred but crooked woman。  The poor people of the house had good wine; and a good cake; and she a pretty woman in her lying…in dress。  It cost me near 40s。 the whole christening:  to midwife 20s。; nurse 10s。; maid 2s。 6d。; and the coach 5s。 The business of buying off the Chimney…money is passed in the House; and so the King to be satisfied some other way; and the King supplied with the money raised by this purchasing off of the chimnies。
  19th。  Nothing but distraction and confusion in the affairs of the Navy; which makes me wish with all my heart; that I