efore the Lords Commissioners, and
to very good effect, I think, and with reputation. That business being
over, the Lords and I had other things to talk about, and among the
rest, about our making more assignments on the Exchequer since they bid
us hold, whereat they were extraordinary angry with us, which troubled
me a little, though I am not concerned in it at all. Waiting here some
time without, I did meet with several people, among others Mr. Brisband,
who tells me in discourse that Tom Killigrew hath a fee out of the
Wardrobe for cap and bells,

[The Lord Chamberlain's Records contain a copy of a warrant dated
July 12th, 1661, "to deliver to Mr. Killegrew thirty yards of
velvett, three dozen of fringe, and sixteene yards of Damaske for
the year 1661." The heading of this entry is "Livery for ye jester"
(Lowe's "Betterton," p. 70).]

under the title of the King's Foole or jester; and may with privilege
revile or jeere any body, the greatest person, without offence, by the
privilege of his place. Thence took up my wife, and home, and there busy
late at the office writing letters, and so home to supper and to bed.
The House was called over to-day. This morning Sir G. Carteret come to
the Office to see and talk with me: and he assures me that to this day
the King is the most kind man to my Lord Sandwich in the whole world;
that he himself do not now mind any publick business, but suffers things
to go on at Court as they will, he seeing all likely to come to ruin:
that this morning the Duke of York sent to him to come to make up one
of a Committee of the Council for Navy Affairs; where, when he come, he
told the Duke of York that he was none of them: which shews how things
are now-a-days ordered, that there should be a Committee for the
Navy; and the Lord Admiral not know the persons of it! And that Sir G.
Carteret and my Lord Anglesey should be left out of it, and men wholly
improper put into it. I do hear of all hands that there is a great
difference at this day between my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry,
which I am sorry for.

14th (Valentine's day). Up, being called up by Mercer, who come to be my
Valentine, and so I rose and my wife, and were merry a little, I staying
to talk, and did give her a guinny in gold for her Valentine's gift.
There comes also my cozen Roger Pepys betimes, and comes to my wife, for
her to be his Valentine, whose Valentine I was also, by agreement to be
so to