expence bath been since the King's coming home,
which he believes will be one of the first things they shall enquire
into: which I promised him, and from time to time, which he desires,
will give him an account of what I can think of worthy his knowledge. I
am mighty glad of this opportunity of professing my joy to him in what
choice the King hath made, and the hopes I have that it will save the
kingdom from perishing and how it do encourage me to take pains again,
after my having through despair neglected it! which he told me of
himself that it was so with him, that he had given himself up to more
ease than ever he expected, and that his opinion of matters was so bad,
that there was no publick employment in the kingdom should have been
accepted by him but this which the King hath now given him; and therein
he is glad, in hopes of the service he may do therein; and in my
conscience he will. So into the Duke of York's closet; and there, among
other things, Sir W. Coventry did take notice of what he told me the
other day, about a report of Commissioner Pett's dealing for timber
in the Navy, and selling it to us in other names; and, besides his own
proof, did produce a paper I had given him this morning about it, in the
case of Widow Murford and Morecocke, which was so handled, that the Duke
of York grew very angry, and commanded us presently to fall into the
examination of it, saying that he would not trust a man for his sake
that lifts up the whites of his eyes. And it was declared that if he be
found to have done so, he should be reckoned unfit to serve the Navy;
and I do believe he will be turned out; and it was, methought, a worthy
saying of Sir W. Coventry to the Duke of York, "Sir," says he, "I do
not make this complaint out of any disrespect to Commissioner Pett, but
because I do love to do these things fairly and openly." Thence I to
Westminster Hall with Sir G. Carteret to the Chequer Chamber to hear our
cause of the Lindeboome prize there before the Lords of Appeal, where
was Lord Ashly, Arlington, Barkely, and Sir G. Carteret, but the latter
three signified nothing, the former only either minding or understanding
what was said. Here was good pleading of Sir Walter Walker's and worth
hearing, but little done in our business. Thence by coach to the Red
Lyon, thinking to meet my father, but I come too soon, but my wife is
gone out of town to meet him. I am in great pain, poor man, for him,
lest he should come up in