y the Eighth； had great and sudden increase of wealth； but yet by overspending both died poor： and further tells the King how much of this 1；200；000l。 depends upon the life of the Prince； and so must be renewed by Parliament again to his successor； which is seldom done without parting with some of the prerogatives of the Crowne； or if denied and he persists to take it of the people； it gives occasion to a civill war； which did in the late business of tonnage and poundage prove fatal to the Crowne。 He showed me how many ways the Lord Treasurer did take before he moved the King to farme the Customes in the manner he do； and the reasons that moved him to do it。 He showed me a very excellent argument to prove； that our importing lesse than we export； do not impoverish the kingdom； according to the received opinion： which； though it be a paradox； and that I do not remember the argument； yet methought there was a great deal in what he said。 And upon the whole I find him a most exact and methodicall man； and of great industry： and very glad that he thought fit to show me all this； though I cannot easily guess the reason why he should do it to me； unless from the plainness that he sees I use to him in telling him how much the King may suffer for our want of understanding the case of our Treasury。
MARCH 2； 1663…64。 This morning Mr。 Burgby； one of the writing clerks belonging to the Council； a knowing man； complains to me how most of the Lords of the Council do look after themselves and their own ends； and none the public； unless Sir Edward Nicholas。 Sir G。 Carteret is diligent； but for all his own ends and profit。 My Lord Privy Seale； a destroyer of every body's business； and do no good at all to the public。 The Archbishop of Canterbury ＇Gilbert Sheldon。＇ speaks very little； nor do much； being now come to the highest pitch that he can expect。 He tells me； that he believes that things will go very high against the Chancellor by Digby； and that bad things will be proved。 Talks much of his neglecting the King； and making the King to trot every day to him； when he is well enough to go to visit his cosen Chief… Justice Hide； but not to the Council or King。 He commends my Lord of Ormond mightily in Ireland； but cries out cruelly of Sir G。 Lane for his corruption； and that he hath done my Lord great dishonour by selling of places here； which are now all taken away； and the poor wretches ready to starve。 But nobody almost understands or judges of business better than the King； if he would not be guilty of his father's fault to be doubtfull of himself and easily be removed from his own opinion。 That my Lord Lauderdale is never from the King's care nor council； and that he is a most cunning fellow。 Upon the whole； that he finds things go very bad every where； and even in the Council nobody minds the public。
4th。 There were several people trying a new…fashion gun brought my Lord Peterborough this morning； to shoot off often； one after another； without trouble or danger。 At Greenwich I observed the foundation laying of a very great house for the King； which will cost a great deal of money。
10th。 At the Privy Seale I enquired； and found the Bill come for the Corporation of the Royall Fishery： whereof the Duke of York is made present Governor； and severall other very great persons； to the number of thirty…two； made his assistants for their lives： whereof； by my Lord Sandwich's favour； I am one： and take it not only as a matter of honour； but that； that may come to be of profit to me。
14th。 To White Hall； and in the Duke's chamber； while he was dressing； two persons of quality that were there did tell his Regal Highness how the other night； in Holborne； about midnight； being at cards； a link…boy come by and run into the house； and told the people the house was a…falling。 Upon this the whole family was frighted； concluding that the boy had said that； the house was a…fire： so they left their cards above； and one would have got out of the balcony； but it was not open； the other went up to fetch down his children； that were in bed： so all got clear out of the house。 And no sooner so； but the house fell down indeed； from top to bottom。 It seems my Lord Southampton's canaille did come too near their foundation； and so weakened the house； and down it come： which； in every respect； is a most extraordinary passage。 The business between my Lords Chancellor and Bristoll； they say； is hushed up： and the latter gone or going； by the King's licence； to France。
15th。 My poor brother Tom died。
16th。 To the office； where we sat this afternoon； having changed this day our sittings from morning to afternoon； because of the Parliament which returned yesterday； but was adjourned till Monday next； upon pretence that many of the members were said to be upon the road； and also the King had other affairs； and so desired them to adjourn till then。 But the truth is； the King is offended at my Lord of Bristoll； as they say； whom he hath found to have been all this while （pretending a desire of leave to go into France； and to have all the differences between him and the Chancellor made up；） endeavouring to make： factions in both Houses to the Chancellor。 So the King did this to keep the Houses from meeting； and in the meanwhile sent a guard and a herald last night to have taken him at Wimbleton； where he was in the morning； but could not find him： at which the King was and is still mightily concerned； and runs up and down to and from the Chancellor's like a boy： and it seems would make Digby's articles against the Chancellor to be treasonable reflections against his Majesty。 So that the King is very high； as they say； and God knows what will follow upon it！
18th。 To church； and with the grave…maker chose a place for my brother to lie in； just under my mother's pew。 But to see how a man's tombes ＇QUERY Bones？＇ are at the mercy of such a fellow； that for sixpence he would； （as his own words were；） 〃I will justle them together but I will make room for him；〃 speaking of the fulness of the middle isle； where he was to lie。 I dressed myself； and so did my servant Besse； and so to my brother's again： whither； though invited； as the custom is； at one or two o'clock； they come not till four or five。 But at last one after another they come； many more than I bid： and my reckoning that I bid was one hundred and twenty； but I believe there was nearer one hundred and fifty。 Their service was six biscuits a…piece； and what they pleased of burnt claret。 My cosen Joyce Norton kept the wine and cakes above； and did give out to them that served； who had white gloves given them。 But above all； I am beholden to Mrs。 Holding； who was most kind； and did take mighty pains not only in getting the house and every thing else ready； but this day in going up and down to see the house filled and served； in order to mine and their great content； I think； the men sitting by themselves in some rooms； and the women by themselves in others； very close； but yet room enough。 Anon to church； walking out into the street to the Conduit； and so across the street； and had a very good company along with the corps and being come to the grave as above； Dr。 Pierson； the minister of the parish； did read the service for buriall： and so I saw my poor brother laid into the grave。
21st。 This day the Houses of Parliament met； and the King met them； with the Queene with him。 And he made a speech to them： among other things； discoursing largely of the plots abroad against him and the peace of the kingdom； and that the dissatisfied party had great hopes upon the effect of the Act for a Triennial Parliament granted by his father； which he desired them to peruse； and； I think； repeal。 So the Houses did retire to their own House； and did order the Act to be read to…morrow before them； and I suppose it will be repealed； though I believe much against the will of a good many that sit there。
23rd。 To the Trinity House； and there dined very well： and good discourse among the old men。 Among other things； they observed； that there are but two seamen in the Parliament； viz。 Sir W。 Batten and Sir W。 Pen； and not above twenty or thirty merchants； which is a strange thing in an island。
25th。 To White Hall； and there to chapel； where it was most infinite full to hear Dr。 Critton。 ＇Creighton。＇ The Doctor preached upon the thirty…first of Jeremy； and the twenty…first and twenty…second verses； about a woman compassing a man； meaning the Virgin conceiving and bearing our Saviour。 It was the worst sermon I ever heard him make； I must confess； and yet it was good； and in two places very bitter； advising the King to do as the Emperor Severus did； to hang up a Presbyter John （a short coat and a long gowne interchangeably） in all the Courts of England。 But the story of Severus was pretty； that he hanged up forty senators before the Senate…house； and then made a speech presently to the Senate in praise of his own lenity； and then decreed that never any senator after that time should suffer in the same manner without consent of the Senate： which he compared to the proceeding of the Long Parliament against my Lord Strafford。 He said the greatest part of the lay magistrates in England were Puritans； and would not do justice； and the Bishops' powers were so taken away and lessened； that they could not exercise the power they ought。 He told the King and the ladies； plainly speaking of death and of the skulls and bones of dead men and women； how there is no difference； that nobody could tell that of the great Marius or Alexander from a pyoneer； nor； for all the pains the ladies take with their faces； he that should look in a charnel…house could not distinguish which was Cleopatra's； or fair Rosamond's； or Jane Shore's。
26th。 Sir W。 Batten told me how Sir Richard Temple hath spoke very discontentful words in the house about the Triennial Bill； but it hath been read the second time to…day； and committed； and； he believes； will go on without more ado； though there are many in the house are displeased at it； though they dare not say much。 But above all expectation； Mr。 Prin is the man against it； comparing it to the idoll whose head was of gold； and his body and legs and feet of differen