g had spoke
to me as he did to them, and then I could have said something to the
purpose I think. So we withdrew, and the merchants were called in.
Staying without, my Lord Fitz Harding come thither, and fell to
discourse of Prince Rupert, and made nothing to say that his disease was
the pox and that he must be fluxed, telling the horrible degree of the
disease upon him with its breaking out on his head. But above all I
observed how he observed from the Prince, that courage is not what men
take it to be, a contempt of death; for, says he, how chagrined the
Prince was the other day when he thought he should die, having no more
mind to it than another man. But, says he, some men are more apt to
think they shall escape than another man in fight, while another is
doubtfull he shall be hit. But when the first man is sure he shall die,
as now the Prince is, he is as much troubled and apprehensive of it as
any man else; for, says he, since we told [him] that we believe he would
overcome his disease, he is as merry, and swears and laughs and curses,
and do all the things of a [man] in health, as ever he did in his life;
which, methought, was a most extraordinary saying before a great many
persons there of quality. So by and by with Sir W. Pen home again, and
after supper to the office to finish my vows, and so to bed.

16th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen to White Hall, where we
did our business with the Duke. Thence I to Westminster Hall and walked
up and down. Among others Ned Pickering met me and tells me how active
my Lord is at sea, and that my Lord Hinchingbroke is now at Rome,
and, by all report, a very noble and hopefull gentleman. Thence to Mr.
Povy's, and there met Creed, and dined well after his old manner of
plenty and curiosity. But I sat in pain to think whether he would begin
with me again after dinner with his enquiry after my bill, but he did
not, but fell into other discourse, at which I was glad, but was vexed
this morning meeting of Creed at some bye questions that he demanded of
me about some such thing, which made me fear he meant that very matter,
but I perceive he did not. Thence to visit my Lady Sandwich and so to
a Tangier Committee, where a great company of the new Commissioners,
Lords, that in behalfe of my Lord Bellasses are very loud and busy and
call for Povy's accounts, but it was a most sorrowful thing to see
how he answered to questions so little to the purpose, but to his owne
wrong.