s； I took leave： and at noon； comes Mr。 Wade with my Lord's letter。 So we consulted for me to go first to Sir H。 Bennet； who is now with many of the Privy Counsellors at the Tower； examining of their late prisoners； to advise with him when to begin。 So I went； and the guard at the Tower Gate； making me leave my sword at the gate； I was forced to stay so long in the ale…house close by； till my boy run home for my cloak； that my Lord Mayor that now is； Sir John Robinson； Lieutenant of the Tower； with all his company； was gone with their coaches to his house in Minchen Lane。 So my cloak being come； I walked thither： and there； by Sir G。 Carteret's means； did presently speak with Sir H。 Bennet； who did give me the King's warrant； for the paying of 2000l。 to my Lord； and other two to the discoverers。 After a little discourse； dinner come in； and I dined with them。 There was my Lord Mayor； my Lord Lauderdale； Mr。 Secretary Morris； to whom Sir H。 Bennet would give the upper hand； Sir Wm。 Compton； Sir G。 Carteret； and myself； and some other company； and a brave dinner。 After dinner； Sir H。 Bennet did call aside the Lord Mayor and me； and did break the business to him； who did not； nor durst appear the least averse to it； but did promise all assistance forthwith to set upon it。 So Mr。 Lee and I to our office； and there walked till Mr。 Wade and one Evett his guide did come； and W。 Griffin； and a porter with his pick…axes； &c。： and so they walked along with us to the Tower； and Sir H。 Bennet and my Lord Mayor did give us full power to fall to work。 So our guide demands a candle； and down into the cellars he goes； enquiring whether they were the same that Baxter alway had。 He went into several little cellars； and then went out a…doors to view； and to the Cole Harbour； but none did answer so well to the marks which was given him to find it by； as one arched vault。 Where； after a great deal of council whether to set upon it now； or delay for better and more full advice； to digging we went till almost eight o'clock at night； but could find nothing。 But； however； our guides did not at all seem discouraged； for that they being confident that the money is there they look for； but having never been in the cellars； they could not be positive to the place； and therefore will inform themselves more fully now they have been there； of the party that do advise them。 So locking the door after us； we left here to…night； and up to the Deputy Governor； （my Lord Mayor； and Sir H。 Bennet； with the rest of the company being gone an hour before；） and he do undertake to keep the key of the cellars； that none shall go down without his privity。 But； Lord！ to see what a young simple fantastick coxcombe is made Deputy Governor； would make me mad； and how he called out for his night…gowne of silk； only to make a show to us： and yet for half an hour I did not think he was the Deputy Governor； and so spoke not to him about the business； but waited for another man； but at last I broke our business to him； and he promising his care； we parted。 And Mr。 Lee and I by coach to White Hall； where I did give my Lord Sandwich a full account； of our proceedings； and some encouragement to hope for something hereafter。 This morning； walking with Mr。 Coventry in the garden； he did tell me how Sir G。 Carteret had carried the business of the Victuallers' money to be paid by himself； contrary to old practice； at which he is angry I perceive； but I believe means no hurt； but that things may be done as they ought。 He expects Sir George should not bespatter him privately； in revenge； not openly。 Against which he prepares to bedaube him； and swears he will do it from the beginning； from Jersey to this day。 But as to his own taking of too large fees or rewards for places that he had sold； he will prove that he was directed to it by Sir George himself among others。 And yet he did not deny Sir G。 Carteret his due； in saying that he is a man that do take the most pains； and gives himself the most to do business of any about the Court； without any desire of pleasure or divertisements： which is very true。 But which pleased me mightily； he said in these words； that he was resolved； whatever it cost him； to make an experiment； and see whether it was possible for a man to keep himself up in Court by dealing plainly and walking uprightly。 In the doing whereof if his ground do slip from under him； he will be contented： but he is resolved to try； and never to baulke taking notice of anything that is to the King's prejudice； let it fall where it will； which is a most brave resolution。 He was very free with me： and by my troth； I do see more reall worth in him than in most men that I do know。 I would not forget two passages of Sir J。 Minnes's at yesterday's dinner。 The one； that to the question how it comes to pass that there are no boars seen in London； but many sowes and pigs； it was answered； that the constable gets them a…nights。 The other； Thos。 Killigrew's way of getting to see plays when he was a boy。 He would go to the Red Bull； and when the man cried to the boys； 〃Who will go and be a devil； and he shall see the play for nothing？〃 then would he go in； and be a devil upon the stage； and so get to see plays。
31st。 I thank God I have no crosses； but only much business to trouble my mind with。 In all other things as happy a man as any in the world； for the whole world seems to smile upon me； and if my house were done that I could diligently follow my business； I would not doubt to do God； and the King； and myself good service。 And all I do impute almost wholly to my late temperance； since my making of my vowes against wine and plays； which keeps me most happily and contentfully to my business； which God continue！ Public matters are full of discontent； what with the sale of Dunkirke； and my Lady Castlemaine； and her faction at Court； though I know not what they would have more than to debauch the King； whom God preserve from it！ And then great plots are talked to be discovered； and all the prisons in towne full of ordinary people； taken from their meeting…places last Sunday。 But for certain some plots there hath been； though not brought to a head。
NOVEMBER 1； 1662。 To my office； to meet Mr。 Lee again； from Sir H。 Bennet。 And he and I； with Wade； and his intelligencer and labourers； to the Tower cellars； to make one triall more； where we staid two or three hours； and dug a great deal all under the arches； as it was now most confidently directed； and so seriously； and upon pretended good grounds； that I myself did truly expect to speed； but we missed of all： and so we went away the second time like fools。 And to our office； and I by appointment to the Dolphin Taverne； to meet Wade and the other； Capt。 Evett； who now do tell me plainly； that he that do put him upon this is one that had it from Barkestead's own mouth； and was advised with by him； just before the King's coming in； how to get it out； and had all the signs told him how and where it lay； and had always been the great confident of Barkestead even to the trusting him with his life and all he had。 So that he did much convince me that there is good ground for what he goes about。 But I fear it may be that he did find some conveyance of it away； without the help of this man； before he died。 But he is resolved to go to the party once more； and then to determine what we shall do further。
3rd。 To White Hall； to the Duke's； but found him gone a…hunting。 Thence to my Lord Sandwich； from whom I receive every day more and more signs of his confidence and esteem of me。 Here I met with Pierce the chyrurgeon； who tells me that my Lady Castlemaine is with child； but though it be the King's； yet her Lord being still in towne； and sometimes seeing of her； it will be laid to him。 He tells me also how the Duke of York is smitten in love with my Lady Chesterfield； ＇Lady Elizabeth Butler； daughter of James； Duke of Ormond； married Philip； second Earl of Chesterfield。 Ob。 1665。 Vide 〃MEMOIRES DE GRAMMONT。〃＇ （a virtuous lady； daughter to my Lord of Ormond）； and so much； that the Duchesse of York hath complained to the King and her father about it； and my Lady Chesterfield is gone into the country for it。 At all which I am sorry； but it is the effect of idlenesse； and having nothing else to employ their great spirits upon。 At night to my office； and did business； and there come to me Mr。 Wade and Evett； who have been again with their prime intelligencer； a woman； I perceive： and though we have missed twice； yet they bring such an account of the probability of the truth of the thing； though we are not certain of the place； that we shall set upon it once more； and I am willing and hopefull in it。 So we resolved to set upon it again on Wednesday morning and the woman herself will be there in a disguise； and confirm us in the place。
4th。 This morning we had news by letters that Sir Richard Stayner is dead at sea in the Mary； which is now come into Portsmouth from Lisbon； which we are sorry for； he being a very stout seaman。
7th。 Being by appointment called upon by Mr。 Lee； he and I to the Tower； to make our third attempt upon the cellar。 And now privately the woman； Barkestead's great confident； is brought； who do positively say that this is the place which he did say the money was hid in； and where he and she did put up the 7000l。 in butter firkins； and the very day that he went out of England did say that neither he nor his would be the better for that money； and therefore wishing that she and hers might。 And so left us； and we full of hope did resolve to dig all over the cellar； which by seven o'clock at night we performed。 At noon we sent for a dinner； and upon the head of a barrel dined very merrily； and to work again。 But at last we saw we were mistaken； and after digging the cellar quite through； and removing the barrels from one side to the other； we were forced to pay our porters； and give over our expectations； though I do believe there must be money hid somewhere by him； or else he did delude this woman in hopes to oblige her to further serving him； which I am apt to believe。
9th。 （Lord's…day。） Walked to my brother's； where my wife is； calling at many churches； and then to the Temple； hearing a bit