the diary of samuel pepys-第173章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　them；　and　both　before　and　after　dinner　had　excellent　discourse；　and　showed　them　my　closet　and　my　office；　and　the　method　of　it；　to　their　great　content：　　and　more　extraordinary　manly　discourse　and　opportunity　of　showing　myself；　and　learning　from　others；　I　have　not　in　ordinary　discourse　had　in　my　life；　they　being　all　persons　of　worth；　but　especially　Sir　H。　Capell；　whose　being　a　Parliament…man；　and　hearing　my　discourse　in　the　Parliament…house；　hath；　as　May　tells　me；　given　him　a　long　desire　to　know　and　discourse　with　me。　　In　the　afternoon　we　walked　to　the　Old　Artillery…ground　near　the　Spitalfields；　where　I　never　was　before；　but　now　by　Captain　Deane's　invitation　did　go　to　see　his　new　gun　tryed；　this　being　the　place　where　the　officers　of　the　Ordnance　do　try　all　their　great　guns：　　and　when　we　came；　did　find　that　the　trial　had　been　made；　and　they　going　away；　with　extraordinary　report　of　the　proof　of　his　gun；　which；　from　the　shortness　and　bigness；　they　do　call　Punchinello。　　But　I　desired　Colonell　Legg　to　stay　and　give　us　a　sight　of　her　performance；　which　he　did；　and　there；　in　short；　against　a　gun　more　than　as　long　and　as　heavy　again；　and　charged　with　as　much　powder　again；　she　carried　the　same　bullet　as　strong　to　the　mark；　and　nearer　and　above　the　mark　at　a　point　blank　than　theirs；　and　is　more　easily　managed；　and　recoyles　no　more　than　that；　which　is　a　thing　so　extraordinary　as　to　be　admired　for　the　happiness　of　his　invention；　and　to　the　great　regret　of　the　old　gunners　and　officers　of　the　Ordnance　that　were　there；　only　Colonell　Legg　did　do　her　much　right　in　his　report　of　her；　and　so　having　seen　this　great　and　first　experiment　we　all　parted；　I　seeing　my　guests　into　a　hackney…coach；　and　myself；　with　Captain　Deane；　taking　a　hackney…coach；　did　go　out　towards　Bow；　and　went　as　far　as　Stratford；　and　all　the　way　talking　of　this　invention；　and　he　offering　me　a　third　of　the　profit　of　it；　which；　for　aught　I　know；　or　do　at　present　think；　may　prove　matter　considerable　to　us；　for　either　the　King　will　give　him　a　reward　for　it　if　he　keeps　it　to　himself；　or　he　will　give　us　a　patent　to　make　our　profit　of　it；　and　no　doubt　but　it　will　be　of　profit　to　merchantmen　and　others　to　have　guns　of　the　same　force　at　half　the　charge。　　This　was　our　talk；　and　then　to　talk　of　other　things；　of　the　Navy　in　general：　and；　among　other　things；　he　did　tell　me　that　he　do　hear　how　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　hath　a　spite　at　me；　which　I　knew　before；　but　value　it　not；　and　he　tells　me　that　Sir　T。　Allen　is　not　my　friend：　but　for　all　this　I　am　not　much　troubled；　for　I　know　myself　so　usefull　that；　as　I　believe；　they　will　not　part　with　me；　so　I　thank　God　my　condition　is　such　that　I　can　retire　and　be　able　to　live　with　comfort；　though　not　with　abundance。

21st。　　To　Auditor　Wood's；　and　met　my　Lord　Bellasses　upon　some　business　of　his　accounts。　　Attended　the　Duke　of　York　a　little；　being　the　first　time　of　my　waiting　on　him　at　St。　James's　this　summer；　whither　he　is　now　newly　gone。　　And　thence　walked　to　White　Hall；　and　so　by　and　by　to　the　Council…chamber；　and　heard　a　remarkable　cause　pleaded　between　the　Farmers　of　the　Excise　of　Wiltshire；　in　complaint　against　the　Justices　of　Peace　of　Salisbury：　　and　Sir　H。　Finch　was　for　the　former。　　But；　Lord！　　to　see　how　he　did　with　his　admirable　eloquence　order　the　matter；　is　not　to　be　conceived　almost：　　so　pleasant　a　thing　it　is　to　hear　him　plead！　　after　dinner　by　water　to　White　Hall；　where　the　Duke　of　York　did　meet　our　office；　and　went　with　us　to　the　Lords　Commissioners　of　the　Treasury：　　and　there　we　did　go　over　all　the　business　of　the　state　I　had　drawn　up　of　this　year's　action　and　expence；　which　I　did　do　to　their　satisfaction；　and　convincing　them　of　the　necessity　of　providing　more　money；　if　possible；　for　us。　　Thence　the　Duke　of　York　being　gone；　I　did　there　stay　walking　with　Sir　H。　Cholmly　in　the　Court；　talking　of　news；　where　he　told　me　that　now　the　great　design　of　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　is　to　prevent　the　meeting；　since　he　cannot　bring　about　with　the　King　the　dissolving　of　this　Parliament；　that　the　King　may　not　need　it；　and　therefore　my　Lord　St。　Alban's　is　hourly　expected　with　great　offers　of　a　million　of　money　to　buy　our　breach　with　the　Dutch；　and　this；　they　do　think；　may　tempt　the　King　to　take　the　money；　and　thereby　be　out　of　a　necessity　of　calling　the　Parliament　again；　which　these　people　dare　not　suffer　to　meet　again：　　but　this　he　doubts；　and　so　do　I；　that　it　will　be　the　ruin　of　the　nation　if　we　fall　out　with　Holland。

22nd。　　Up；　and　to　the　office；　where　all　the　morning。　　At　noon　home　to　dinner；　and　Captain　Deane　with　us；　and　very　good　discourse；　and　particularly　about　my　getting　a　book　for　him　to　draw　up　his　whole　theory　of　shipping；　which　at　my　desire　he　hath　gone　far　in；　and　hath　shown　me　what　he　hath　done　therein　to　admiration。　　I　did　give　him　a　parallelogram；　which　he　is　mightily　taken　with。　　And　so　after　dinner　to　the　office；　where　all　the　afternoon　till　night　late；　and　then　home。

23rd。　　To　the　Council…chamber；　and　heard　two　or　three　causes；　among　others　that　of　the　complaint　of　Sir　Philip　Howard　and　Watson；　the　inventors；　as　they　pretend；　of　the　business　of　varnishing　and　lacker…worke；　against　the　Company　of　Painters；　who　take　upon　them　to　do　the　same　thing；　where　I　saw　a　great　instance　of　the　weakness　of　a　young　Counsel　they　used　to　such　an　audience；　against　the　Solicitor…generall　and　two　more　able　Counsel　used　to　it。　　Though　he　had　the　right　of　his　side；　and　did　prevail　for　what　he　pretended　to　against　the　rest；　yet　it　was　with　much　disadvantage　and　hazard。　　Here　I　also　heard　Mr。　Papillion　make　his　defence　to　the　King　against　some　complaints　of　the　Farmers　of　Excise；　but　it　was　so　weak；　and　done　only　by　his　own　seeking；　that　it　was　to　his　injury　more　than　profit；　and　made　his　case　the　worse；　being　ill…managed；　and　in　a　cause　against　the　King。

25th　（Lord's　day）。　　Up；　and　to　my　office　awhile；　and　thither　comes　Lead　with　my　vizard；　with　a　tube　fastened　within　both　eyes；　which；　with　the　help　which　he　prompts　me　to；　of　a　glass　in　the　tube；　do　content　me　mightily。　　W。　How　came　and　dined　with　us；　and　then　I　to　my　office；　he　being　gone；　to　write　down　my　Journal　for　the　last　twelve　days：　　and　did　it　with　the　help　of　my　vizard　and　tube　fixed　to　it；　and　do　find　it　mighty　manageable；　but　how　helpfull　to　my　eyes　this　trial　will　show　me。　　So　abroad　with　my　wife　in　the　afternoon　to　the　Park；　where　very　much　company；　and　the　weather　very　pleasant。　　I　carried　my　wife　to　the　Lodge；　the　first　time　this　year；　and　there　in　our　coach　eat　a　cheesecake　and　drank　a　tankard　of　milk。　　I　showed　her　this　day　also　first　the　Prince　of　Tuscany；　who　was　in　the　Park；　and　many　very　fine　ladies。

26th；　after　dinner　comes　Colonell　Macknachan；　one　that　I　see　often　at　Court；　a　Scotchman；　but　know　him　not；　only　he　brings　me　a　letter　from　my　Lord　Middleton；　who；　he　says；　is　in　great　distress　for　500l。　to　relieve　my　Lord　Morton　＇William；　ninth　Earl　of　Morton；　who　had　married　Lord　Middleton's　daughter　Grizel。＇　with　（but　upon　what　account　I　know　not；）　and　he　would　have　me　advance　it　without　order　upon　his　pay　for　Tangier；　which　I　was　astonished　at；　but　had　the　grace　to　deny　him　with　an　excuse。　　And　so　he　went　away；　leaving　me　a　little　troubled　that　I　was　thus　driven　on　a　sudden　to　do　any　thing　herein：　　but　Creed　coming　just　now　to　see　me；　be　approves　of　what　I　have　done。　　A　great　fire　happened　in　Durham…yard　last　night；　burning　the　house　of　one　Lady　Hungerford；　who　was　to　come　to　town　to　it　this　night；　and　so　the　house　is　burned；　new　furnished；　by　carelessness　of　the　girl　sent　to　take　off　a　candle　from　a　bunch　of　candles；　which　she　did　by　burning　it　off　and　left　the　rest；　as　is　supposed；　on　fire。　　The　King　and　Court　were　here；　it　seems；；　and　stopped　the　fire　by　blowing　up　of　the　next　house。　　The　King　and　Court；　went　out　of　town　to　Newmarket　this　morning　betimes；　for　a　week。

28th。　　Up；　and　was　called　upon　by　Sir　H。　Cholmly　to　discourse　about　some　accounts　of　his　of　Tangier：　　and　then　to　other　talk。　And　I　find　by　him　that　it　is　brought　almost　to　effect；　the　late　endeavours　of　the　Duke　of　York　and　Duchesse；　the　Queene…Mother；　and　my　Lord　St。　Alban's　together　with　some　of　the　contrary　faction；　as　my　Lord　Arlington；　that　for　a　sum　of　money　we　shall　enter　into　a　league　with　the　King　of　France；　wherein；　he　says；　my　Lord　Chancellor　is　also　concerned；　and　that　he　believes　that　in　the　doing　hereof　it　is　meant　that　he　shall　come　in　again；　and　that　this　sum　of　money　will　so　help　the　King　as　that　he　will　not　need　the　Parliament；　and　that　in　that　regard　it　will　be　forwarded　by　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　and　his　faction；　who　dread　the　Parliament。　　But　hereby　must　leave　the　Dutch；　and　that　I　doubt　will　undo　us；　and　Sir　H。　Cholmly　says　he　finds　W。　Coventry　do　think　the　like。　　My　Lady　Castlemaine　is　instrumental　in　this　matter；　and；　he　says；　never　more　great　with　the　King　than　she　is　now。　　But　this　is　a　thing　that　will　make　the　Parliament　and　kingdom　mad；　and　will　turn　to　our　ruine；　for　with　this　money　the　King　shall　wanton　away　his　time　in　pleasures；　and　think　nothing　of　the　main　till　it　be　too　late。　　This　morning　Mr。　Sheres　sent　me　in　two　volumes；　Marian　his　History　of　Spaine　in　Spanish；　an　excellent　book；　and　I　am　much　obliged　to　him　for　it。

30th。　　Up；　and　by　coach　to　the　coachmaker's；　and　there　I　do　find　a　great　many　ladies　sitting　in　the　body　of　a　coach　that　must　be　ended　by　to…morrow；　（they　were　my　Lady　Marquess　of　Winchester；　＇Isabella；　daughter　of　William　Viscount　Stafford；　third　wife　to　James　fifth　Marquis　of　Winchester。＇　　Bellasses；　＇John　Lord　Bellassis　was　thrice　married：　　first；　to　Jane；　daughter　of　Sir　Robert　Boteler；　of　Woodhall；　Knt。；　secondly；　to　Ann；　daughter　of　Sir　Robert　Crane；　of　Chilton；　Suffolk；　thirdly；　to　Lady　Anne　Powlet；　daughter　of　John；　fourth　Marquis　of　Winchester。　　The　lady　here　mentioned　was　the　second　or　third　wife；　probably　the　latter。＇　　and　other　great　ladies；）　eating　of　bread　and　butter；　and　drinking　ale。　　I　to　my　coach；　which　is　silvered　over；　but　no　varnish　yet　laid　on；　so　I　put　it　in　a　way　of　doing；　and　my　self　about　other　business；　and　particularly　to　see　Sir　W。　Coventry；　with　whom　I　talked　a　good　while　to　my　great　content：　　and　so　to　other　places；　among　others；　to　my　tailor's；　and　then　to　the　belt…maker's；　where　my　belt　cost　me　55s。　of　the　colour　of　my　new　suit；　and　here　understanding　that　the　mistress　of　the　house；　an　oldish　woman　in　a　hat；　hath　some　water　good　for　the　eyes；　she　did　dress　me；　making　my　eyes　smart　most　horribly；　and　did　give　me　a　little　glass　of　it；　which　I　will　use；　and　hope　it　will　do　me　good。　　So　to　the　cutler's；　and　there　did　give　Tom；　who　was　with　me　all　day；　a　sword　cost　me　12s。　and　a　belt　of　my　owne　；　and　sent　my　own　silver…hilt　sword　agilding　against　to…morrow。　　This　morning　I　did　visit　Mr。　Oldenburgh；　and　did　see　the　instrument　for　perspective　made　by　Dr。　Wren；　of　which　I　have　one　making　by　Browne；　and　the　sight　of　this　do　please　me　mightily。　　At　noon　my　wife　came　to　me　at　my　tailor's；　and　I　sent　her　home；　and　myself　and　Tom　dined　at　Hercules　Pillars；　and　so　about　our　business　again；　and　particularly　to　Lilly's；　the　varnisher；　about　my　prints；　whereof　some　of　them　are　pasted　upon　the　boards；　and　to　my　full　content。　　Thence　to　the　frame…maker's；　one　Norris；　in　Long　Acre；　who　showed　me　several　forms　of　frames；　which　were　pretty；　in　little　bits　of　mouldin