g a great many naked men without
armes, and he told them she was well as she was. Both these have little
in them indeed, but yet both did stick close against him; and he is the
weakest man in the world to make his defence, and so is like to have
much fault laid on him therefrom. Spragg was in with them all the
afternoon, and hath much fault laid on him for a man that minded his
pleasure, and little else of his whole charge. I walked in the lobby,
and there do hear from Mr. Chichly that they were (the Commissioners
of the Ordnance) shrewdly put to it yesterday, being examined with all
severity and were hardly used by them, much otherwise than we, and did
go away with mighty blame; and I am told by every body that it is likely
to stick mighty hard upon them: at which every body is glad, because
of Duncomb's pride, and their expecting to have the thanks of the House
whereas they have deserved, as the Parliament apprehends, as bad as bad
can be. Here is great talk of an impeachment brought in against my Lord
Mordaunt, and that another will be brought in against my Lord Chancellor
in a few days. Here I understand for certain that they have ordered
that my Lord Arlington's letters, and Secretary Morrice's letters of
intelligence, be consulted, about the business of the Dutch fleete's
coming abroad, which is a very high point, but this they have done, but
in what particular manner I cannot justly say, whether it was not with
the King's leave first asked. Here late, as I have said, and at last
they broke up, and we had our commissions again, and I do hear how
Birch is the high man that do examine and trouble every body with his
questions, and they say that he do labour all he can to clear Pett, but
it seems a witness has come in tonight, C. Millett, who do declare that
he did deliver a message from the Duke of Albemarle time enough for him
to carry up "The Charles," and he neglected it, which will stick very
hard, it seems, on him. So Sir W. Pen and I in his coach home, and there
to supper, a good supper, and so weary, and my eyes spent, to bed.

26th. Up, and we met all this morning at Sir W. Pen's roome, the office
being fowle with the altering of our garden door. There very busy,
and at noon home, where Mrs. Pierce and her daughter's husband and Mr.
Corbet dined with me. I had a good dinner for them, and mighty merry.
Pierce and I very glad at the fate of the officers of Ordnance, that
they are like to have so much blame on t