to my
viall maker's, who has begun it and has a good appearance, and so to the
Exchange, where I met Dr. Pierce, who tells me of his good luck to
get to be groom of the Privy-Chamber to the Queen, and without my Lord
Sandwich's help; but only by his good fortune, meeting a man that hath
let him have his right for a small matter, about L60, for which he can
every day have L400. But he tells me my Lord hath lost much honour in
standing so long and so much for that coxcomb Pickering, and at last not
carrying it for him; but hath his name struck out by the King and Queen
themselves after he had been in ever since the Queen's coming. But he
tells me he believes that either Sir H. Bennet, my Lady Castlemaine, or
Sir Charles Barkeley had received some money for the place, and so the
King could not disappoint them, but was forced to put out this fool
rather than a better man. And I am sorry to hear what he tells me that
Sir Charles Barkeley hath still such power over the King, as to be
able to fetch him from the Council-table to my Lady Castlemaine when he
pleases. He tells me also, as a friend, the great injury that he
thinks I do myself by being so severe in the Yards, and contracting the
ill-will of the whole Navy for those offices, singly upon myself. Now I
discharge a good conscience therein, and I tell him that no man can (nor
do he say any say it) charge me with doing wrong; but rather do as many
good offices as any man. They think, he says, that I have a mind to get
a good name with the King and Duke, who he tells me do not consider any
such thing; but I shall have as good thanks to let all alone, and do as
the rest. But I believe the contrary; and yet I told him I never go to
the Duke alone, as others do, to talk of my own services. However, I
will make use of his council, and take some course to prevent having the
single ill-will of the office. Before I went to the office I went to
the Coffee House, where Sir J. Cutler and Mr. Grant were, and there Mr.
Grant showed me letters of Sir William Petty's, wherein he says, that
his vessel which he hath built upon two keeles (a modell whereof,
built for the King, he showed me) hath this month won a wager of L50
in sailing between Dublin and Holyhead with the pacquett-boat, the best
ship or vessel the King hath there; and he offers to lay with any vessel
in the world. It is about thirty ton in burden, and carries thirty men,
with good accommodation, (as much more as any ship of