re we and my Lord Brouncker
attended the Council, to discourse about the fitness of entering of men
presently for the manning of the fleete, before one ship is in condition
to receive them. W. Coventry did argue against it: I was wholly silent,
because I saw the King, upon the earnestness of the Prince, was willing
to it, crying very sillily, "If ever you intend to man the fleete,
without being cheated by the captains and pursers, you may go to bed,
and resolve never to have it manned;" and so it was, like other things,
over-ruled that all volunteers should be presently entered. Then there
was another great business about our signing of certificates to
the Exchequer for [prize] goods, upon the L1,20,000 Act, which the
Commissioners of the Treasury did all oppose, and to the laying fault
upon us. But I did then speak to the justifying what we had done, even
to the angering of Duncomb and Clifford, which I was vexed at: but, for
all that, I did set the Office and myself right, and went away with the
victory, my Lord Keeper saying that he would not advise the Council
to order us to sign no more certificates. But, before I began to say
anything in this matter, the King and the Duke of York talking at the
Council-table, before all the Lords, of the Committee of Miscarriages,
how this entering of men before the ships could be ready would be
reckoned a miscarriage; "Why," says the King, "it is then but Mr. Pepys
making of another speech to them;" which made all the Lords, and there
were by also the Atturny and Sollicitor-Generall, look upon me. Thence
Sir W. Coventry, W. Pen and I, by hackney-coach to take a little ayre in
Hyde Parke, the first time I have been there this year; and we did meet
many coaches going and coming, it being mighty pleasant weather; and so,
coming back again, I 'light in the Pell Mell; and there went to see Sir
H. Cholmly, who continues very ill of his cold. And there come in Sir H.
Yelverton, whom Sir H. Cholmly commended me to his acquaintance, which
the other received, but without remembering to me, or I him, of our
being school-fellows together; and I said nothing of it. But he took
notice of my speech the other day at the bar of the House; and indeed I
perceive he is a wise man by his manner of discourse, and here he do say
that the town is full of it, that now the Parliament hath resolved
upon L300,000, the King, instead of fifty, will set out but twenty-five
ships, and the Dutch as many; and that