ave
him cudgelled) my Lord did promise him that, if upon account he saw that
there was not many tradesmen unpaid, he would sign the books; but if
there was, he could not bear with taking too great a debt upon him. So
this day he sent him an account, and a letter assuring him there was not
above L200 unpaid; and so my Lord did sign to the Exchequer books. Upon
the whole, I understand fully what a rogue he is, and how my Lord do
think and will think of him for the future; telling me that thus he
has served his father my Lord Manchester, and his whole family, and now
himself: and which is worst, that he hath abused, and in speeches every
day do abuse, my Lord Chancellor, whose favour he hath lost; and hath
no friend but Sir H. Bennet, and that (I knowing the rise of the
friendship) only from the likeness of their pleasures, and acquaintance,
and concernments, they have in the same matters of lust and baseness;
for which, God forgive them! But he do flatter himself, from promises of
Sir H. Bennet, that he shall have a pension of L2000 per annum, and be
made an Earl. My Lord told me he expected a challenge from him, but told
me there was no great fear of him, for there was no man lies under such
an imputation as he do in the business of Mr. Cholmely, who, though a
simple sorry fellow, do brave him and struts before him with the Queen,
to the sport and observation of the whole Court. He did keep my Lord at
the window, thus reviling and braving him above an hour, my Lady Wright
being by; but my Lord tells me she could not hear every word, but did
well know what their discourse was; she could hear enough to know that.
So that he commands me to keep it as the greatest secret in the world,
and bids me beware of speaking words against Mr. Montagu, for fear I
should suffer by his passion thereby. After he had told me this I took
coach and home, where I found my wife come home and in bed with her
sister in law in the chamber with her, she not being able to stay to see
the wassel, being so ill..., which I was sorry for. Hither we sent for
her sister's viall, upon which she plays pretty well for a girl, but
my expectation is much deceived in her, not only for that, but in her
spirit, she being I perceive a very subtle witty jade, and one that will
give her husband trouble enough as little as she is, whereas I took her
heretofore for a very child and a simple fool. I played also, which I
have not done this long time before upon any instr