he company he carried with him to sea, took above
two-thirds Irish and French. He tells me the King do hate my Lord
Chancellor; and that they, that is the King and my Lord FitzHarding, do
laugh at him for a dull fellow; and in all this business of the Dutch
war do nothing by his advice, hardly consulting him. Only he is a good
minister in other respects, and the King cannot be without him; but,
above all, being the Duke's father-in-law, he is kept in; otherwise
FitzHarding were able to fling down two of him. This, all the wise and
grave lords see, and cannot help it; but yield to it. But he bemoans
what the end of it may be, the King being ruled by these men, as he hath
been all along since his coming; to the razing all the strong-holds in
Scotland, and giving liberty to the Irish in Ireland, whom Cromwell had
settled all in one corner; who are now able, and it is feared everyday
a massacre again among them. He being gone I abroad to the carrier's, to
see some things sent away to my father against Christmas, and thence to
Moorfields, and there up and down to several houses to drink to look for
a place 'pour rencontrer la femme de je sais quoi' against next Monday,
but could meet none. So to the Coffeehouse, where great talke of the
Comet seen in several places; and among our men at sea, and by my Lord
Sandwich, to whom I intend to write about it to-night. Thence home to
dinner, and then to the office, where all the afternoon, and in the
evening home to supper, and then to the office late, and so to bed. This
night I begun to burn wax candles in my closett at the office, to try
the charge, and to see whether the smoke offends like that of tallow
candles.

16th. Up, and by water to Deptford, thinking to have met 'la femme de'
Bagwell, but failed, and having done some business at the yard, I back
again, it being a fine fresh morning to walk. Back again, Mr. Wayth
walking with me to Half-Way House talking about Mr. Castle's fine knees
lately delivered in. In which I am well informed that they are not as
they should be to make them knees, and I hope shall make good use of it
to the King's service. Thence home, and having dressed myself, to the
'Change, and thence home to dinner, and so abroad by coach with my wife,
and bought a looking glasse by the Old Exchange, which costs me L5 5s.
and 6s. for the hooks. A very fair glasse. So toward my cozen Scott's,
but meeting my Lady Sandwich's coach, my wife turned back to follow
the