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