n
in a little time. Then to church again, and heard a simple Scot preach
most tediously. So home, and to see Sir W. Batten, who is pretty well
again, and then to my uncle Wight's to show my fine band and to see Mrs.
Margaret Wight, but she was not there. All this day soldiers going up
and down the town, there being an alarm and many Quakers and others
clapped up; but I believe without any reason: only they say in
Dorsetshire there hath been some rising discovered. So after supper
home, and then to my study, and making up my monthly account to myself.
I find myself, by my expense in bands and clothes this month, abated
a little of my last, and that I am worth L679 still; for which God be
praised. So home and to bed with quiett mind, blessed be God, but afeard
of my candle's going out, which makes me write thus slubberingly.

27th. Up, and after giving order to the plasterer now to set upon the
finishing of my house, then by water to wait upon the Duke, and walking
in the matted Gallery, by and by comes Mr. Coventry and Sir John Minnes,
and then to the Duke, and after he was ready, to his closet, where I
did give him my usual account of matters, and afterwards, upon Sir J.
Minnes' desire to have one to assist him in his employment, Sir W. Pen
is appointed to be his, and Mr. Pett to be the Surveyor's assistant.
Mr. Coventry did desire to be excused, and so I hope (at least it is my
present opinion) to have none joined with me, but only Mr. Coventry do
desire that I would find work for one of his clerks, which I did not
deny, but however I will think of it, whether without prejudice to mine
I can do it. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who now-a-days calls me into
his chamber, and alone did discourse with me about the jealousy that the
Court have of people's rising; wherein he do much dislike my Lord Monk's
being so eager against a company of poor wretches, dragging them up and
down the street; but would have him rather to take some of the greatest
ringleaders of them, and punish them; whereas this do but tell the world
the King's fears and doubts. For Dunkirk; he wonders any wise people
should be so troubled thereat, and scorns all their talk against it,
for that he says it was not Dunkirk, but the other places, that did and
would annoy us, though we had that, as much as if we had it not. He also
took notice of the new Ministers of State, Sir H. Bennet and Sir Charles
Barkeley, their bringing in, and the high game that my Lady C