the diary of samuel pepys-第157章
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22nd。 To the 'Change； and thence home； and took London…bridge in my way； walking down Fish…street and Gracious…street； to see how very fine a descent they have now made down the hill； that it is become very easy and pleasant。
23rd。 To church； and heard a good sermon of Mr。 Gifford's at our church； upon 〃Seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness； and all things shall be added to you。〃 A very excellent and persuasive； good and moral sermon。 He showed； like a wise man； that righteousness is a surer moral way of being rich； than sin and villany。 After dinner to the office； Mr。 Gibson and I； to examine my letter to the Duke of York； which； to my great joy； I did very well by my paper tube； without pain to my eyes。 And I do mightily like what I have therein done； and did according to the Duke of York's order make haste to St。 James's； and about four o'clock got thither： and there the Duke of York was ready expecting me； and did hear it all over with extraordinary content； and did give me many and hearty thanks； and in words the most expressive tell me his sense of my good endeavours； and that he would have a care of me on all occasions； and did with much inwardness tell me what was doing； suitable almost to what Captain Cocke tells me； of designs to make alterations in the Navy： and is most open to me in them； and with utmost confidence desires my further advice on all occasions： and he resolves to have my letter transcribed and sent forthwith to the office。 So with as much satisfaction as I could possibly or did hope for； and obligation on the Duke of York's side professed to me； I away。
25th。 Up； and by water to St。 James's； and there with Mr。 Wren did discourse about my great letter； which the Duke of York hath given him； and he hath set it to be transcribed by Billings his man； whom； as be tells me； he can most confide in for secresy； and is much pleased with it； and earnest to have it be： and he and I are like to be much together in the considering how to reform the office； and that by the Duke of York's command。 Thence I； mightily pleased with this success； away to the office； where all the morning； my head full of this business。 And it is pretty how Lord Brouncker this day did tell me how he hears that a design is on foot to remove us out of the office； and proposes that we two do agree to draw up a form of new constitution of the office； there to provide remedies for the evils we are now under； that so we may be beforehand with the world； which I agreed to； saying nothing of my design： and the truth is； he is the best man of them all； and I would be glad next myself to save him； for as he deserves best； so I doubt he needs his place most。
26th。 It is strange to see with what speed the people employed do pull down Paul's steeple； and with what ease： it is said that it and the quire are to be taken down this year； and another church begun in the room thereof the next。 Home by coach with Sir D。 Gauden； who by the way tells me how the City do go on in several things towards the building of the public places； which I am glad to hear； and gives hope that in a few years it will be a glorious place。 But we met with several stops and troubles in the way in the streets； so as makes it bad to travel in the dark： now through the City。 So I to Mr。 Batelier's by appointment； where I find my wife and Deb。 and Mercer； Mrs。 Pierce and her husband； son； and daughter； and Knipp and Harris； and W。 Batelier and his sister Mary and cosen Gumbleton； a good…humoured fat young gentleman； son to the Jeweller； that dances well。 And here danced all night long； with a noble supper； and about two in the morning the table spread again for a noble breakfast beyond all moderation； and then broke up。
27th。 To St。 James's； and there with Mr。 Wren did correct his copy of my letter； which the Duke of York hath signed in my very words； without alteration of a syllable。 And so； pleased therewith； I to my Lord Brouncker； who I find within； but hath business； and so comes not to the office to…day。 And so I by water to the office； where we sat all the morning： and just as the Board rises comes the Duke of York's letter； which I knowing； and the Board not being full； and desiring rather to have the Duke of York deliver it himself to us； I suppressed it for this day； my heart beginning to falsify in this business； as being doubtful of the trouble it may give me by provoking them； but； however； I am resolved to go through it； and it is too late to help it now。 At noon to dinner to Captain Cocke's； where I met with Mr。 Wren； my going being to tell him what I have done； which he likes； and to confer with Cocke about our office； who tells me that he is confident the design of removing our officers do hold； but that he is sure that I am safe enough。 So away home； and there met at Sir Richard Ford's with the Duke of York's Commissioners about our prizes； with whom we shall have some trouble before we make an end with them。
28th。 To White Hall； where the Duke of York did call me aside； and told me that he must speak with me in the afternoon and with Mr。 Wren； for that now he hath got the paper from my Lord Keeper about the exceptions taken against the management of the Navy； and so we are to debate upon answering them。 At noon I home with Sir W。 Coventry to his house； and there dined with him； and talked freely with him； and did acquaint him with what I have done； which he is well pleased with and glad of： and do tell me that there are endeavours on foot to bring the Navy into new； but； he fears； worse hands。 The Duke of York fell to work with us （the Committee being gone） in the Council…chamber； and there with his own hand did give us his long letter； telling us that he had received several from us； and now did give us one from him； taking notice of our several doubts and failures； and desired answer to it as he therein desired： this pleased me well。 And so fell to other business； and then parted。 And the Duke of York and Wren and I； it being now candle…light； into the Duke of York's closet in White Hall； and there read over this paper of my Lord Keeper's； wherein are laid down the faults of the Navy； so silly； and the remedies so ridiculous； or else the same that are now already provided； that we thought it not to need any answer； the Duke of York being able himself to do it： that so it makes us admire the confidence of these men to offer things so silly in a business of such moment。 But it is a most perfect instance of the complexion of the times！ And so the Duke of York said himself； who； I perceive； is mightily concerned in it； and do again and again recommend it to Mr。 Wren and me together； to consider upon remedies fit to provide for him to propound to the King； before the rest of the world； and particularly the Commissioners of Accounts； who are men of understanding and order； to find our faults； and offer remedies of their own： which I am glad of； and will endeavour to do something in it。 So parted； and with much difficulty by candle…light walked over the Matted Gallery； as it is now with the mats and boards all taken up； so that we walked over the rafters。 But strange to see how hard matter the plaister of Paris is that is there taken up； as hard as stone！ And pity to see Holben's work in the ceiling blotted on and only whited over！ My wife this day with Hales； to sit for her hand to be mended in her picture。
29th。 Up； and all the morning at the office； where the Duke of York's long letter was read to their great trouble； and their suspecting me to have been the writer of it。 And at noon comes by appointment Harris to dine with me： and after dinner he and I to Chyrurgeons'…hall； where they are building it new； very fine； and there to see their theatre； which stood all the fire； and （which was our business） their great picture of Holben's； thinking to have bought it by the help of Mr。 Pierce for a little money： I did think to give 200l。 for it； it being said to be worth 1000l。； but it is so spoiled that I have no mind to it； and is not a pleasant though a good picture。 Thence carried Harris to his playhouse； where； though four o'clock； so few people there are at 〃The Impertinents；〃 as I went out； and do believe they did not act； though there was my Lord Arlington and his company there。 So I out； and met my wife in a coach； and stopped her going thither to meet me； and took her and Mercer and Deb。 to Bartholomew fair； and there did see a ridiculous； obscene little stage…play； called 〃Marry Audrey；〃 a foolish thing； but seen by every body： and so to Jacob Hall's ＇Jacob Hall； the famous rope… dancer； was said to have received a salary from Lady Castlemaine； who had become enamoured of him。＇ dancing on the ropes； a thing worth seeing； and mightily followed。
30th。 Lord's day。 Walked to St。 James's and Pell Mell； and； read over with Sir W。 Coventry my long letter to the Duke of York； and which the Duke of York hath from mine wrote to the Board； wherein he is mightily pleased； and I perceive do put great value upon me； and did talk very openly on all matters of State； and how some people have got the Bill into their mouths （meaning the Duke of Buckingham and his party）； and would likely run away with all。 But what pleased me mightily was to hear the good character he did give of my Lord Falmouth for his generosity； good…nature； desire of public good； and low thoughts of his own wisdom； his employing his interest in the King to do good offices to all people； without any other fault than the freedom he do learn in France of thinking himself obliged to serve his King in his pleasures； and was Sir W。 Coventry's particular friend； and Sir W。 Coventry do tell me very odde circumstances about the fatality of his death； which are very strange。 ＇I have read the particulars of this prediction in a MS。 in the Pepysian Collection； but the reference to it is unfortunately mislaid。＇ Thence to White Hall to chapel； and heard the anthem； and did dine with the Duke of Albemarle in a dirty manner as ever。 All the afternoon I sauntered up and down the house and Park。 And there was a Committee for Tangier met； wherein Lord Middleton would； I think； have found fault with me for want of coles； but I slighted it；； and he made nothing of it； but was thought to be drunk； and I see that he hath a mind to find fault with me and Creed； neither of us having yet applied ourselves to him about any thing： but do talk of his profits and perquisites taken from him； and garrison reduced； and that it must be increased； and such things as I fear he will be just such another as my Lord Tiviott； and the rest to ruin that place。 So I to the Park； and there walk an hour or two； and in the King's garden； and saw the Queene and ladies walk； and I did steal some apples off the trees； and here did see my Lady Richmond； who is of a noble person as ever I did see； but her face worse than it was considerably by the small…pox： her sister is also very handsome。 So to White Hall in the evening to the Queene's side； and there met the Duke of York； and he did tell me and Sir W。 Coventry； who was with me； how the Lord Anglesy did take notice of our reading his long and sharp letter to the Board； but that it was the better； at least he said so。 Th
