the diary of samuel pepys-第200节
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11th。 Up； and with W。 Hewer by water to Somerset…house； and there I to my Lord Brouncker before he went forth to the Duke of York； and there told him my confidence that I should make Middleton appear a fool； and that it was； I thought； best for me to complain of the wrong he hath done； but brought it about that my Lord desired me I would forbear； and promised that he would prevent Middleton till I had given in my answer to the Board； which I desired。 And so away to White Hall； and there did our usual attendance： and no word spoke before the Duke of York by Middleton at all； at which I was glad to my heart； because by this means I have time to draw up my answer to my mind。 Concluded upon giving 50l。 for a fine pair of black horses we saw this day se'nnight； and so set Mr。 Pickering down near his house （whom I am much beholden to for his care herein； and he hath admirable skill； I perceive； in this business）； and so home。
12th。 I hear this day that there is fallen down a new house not quite finished in Lumberd…street； and that there have been several so； they making use of bad mortar and bricks； but no hurt yet； as God hath ordered it。 This day was brought home my pair of black coach…horses； the first I ever was master of； a fine pair。
14th。 This day I hear； and am glad； that the King hath prorogued the Parliament to October next； and； among other reasons； it will give me time to go to France； I hope。
15th。 Up； and to the office； where sat all the morning； and the new Treasurers there； and； for my life； I cannot keep Sir J。 Minnes and others of the Board from showing our weakness； to the dishonour of the Board； though I am not concerned； but it do vex me to the heart to have it before these people； that would be glad to find out all our weaknesses。
18th。 To Lord Brouncker； and got him to read over my paper； who owns most absolute content in it； and the advantages I have in it； and the folly of the Surveyor。 At noon home to dinner； and then to Brooke…house； and there spoke with Colonell Thomson； I by order carrying them our Contract…books； from the beginning to the end of the late war。 I found him finding of errors in a ship's book； where he showed； me many； which must end in the ruin； I doubt； of the Controller； who found them not out in the pay of the ship； or the whole office。 To the office； and after some other business done we fell to mine。 The Surveyor began to be a little brisk at the beginning； but when I came to the point to touch him； which I had all the advantages in the world to do； he became as calm as a lamb； and owned； as the whole Board did； their satisfaction； and cried excuse： and so all made friends； and their acknowledgment put into writing and delivered into Sir J。 Minnes's hand； to be kept there for the use of the board or us； when I shall call for it； they desiring it might be so； that I might not make use of it to the prejudice of the Surveyor； whom I had an advantage over by his extraordinary folly in this matter。 So Middleton desiring to be friends； I forgave him； and all mighty quiet； and fell to talk of other stories； and there staid all of us till nine or ten at night （more than ever we did in our lives before together）。
19th。 My wife and I by Hackney to the King's playhouse； and there； the pit being full； sat in the box above； and saw 〃Catiline's Conspiracy；〃 yesterday being the first day： a play of much good sense and words to read； but that do appear the worst upon the stage； I mean the least diverting； that ever I saw any； though most fine in clothes； and a fine scene of the Senate and of a fight as ever I saw in my life。 We sat next to Betty Hall； that did belong to this house； and was Sir Philip Howard's mistress； a mighty pretty wench。
20th。 The Duke of York in good humour did fall to tell us many fine stories of the wars in Flanders； and how the Spaniards are the best disciplined foot in the world； will refuse no extraordinary service if commanded； but scorn to be paid for it as in other countries； though at the same time they will beg in the streets： not a soldier will carry you a cloak…bag for money for the world； though he will beg a penny and will do the thing if commanded by his commander。 That in the citadel of Antwerp a soldier hath not a liberty of begging till he hath served three years； They will cry out against their King and commanders and generals； none like them in the world； and yet will not hear a stranger say a word of them but they will cut his throat。 That upon a time some of the commanders of their army exclaiming against their generals； and particularly the Marquis of Caranen； the Confessor of the Marquis coming by and hearing them； he stops and gravely tells them that the three great trades of the world are； the lawyers； who govern the world； the churchmen； who enjoy the world； and a sort of fellows whom they call soldiers； who make it their work to defend the world。 He told us too； that Turenne being now become a Catholique； he is likely to get over the head of Colbert； their interests being contrary； the latter to promote trade and the sea （which； says the Duke of York； is that we have most cause to fear）； and Turenne to employ the King and his forces by land to encrease his conquests。 W。 Hewer tells me to…day that he hears that the King of France hath declared in print； that he do intend this next summer to forbid his commanders to strike to us； but that both we and the Dutch shall strike to him； and that he hath made his captains swear it already that； they will observe it： which is a great thing if he do it； as I know nothing to hinder him。
21st。 Went into Holborne； and there saw the woman that is to be seen with a beard。 She is a little plain woman； a Dane； her name； Ursula Dyan； about forty years old； her voice like a little girl's； with a beard as much as any man I ever saw； black almost and grizly： it began to grow at about seven years old； and was shaved not above seven months ago； and is now so big as any man's almost that ever I saw； I say； bushy and thick。 It was a strange sight to me； I confess； and what pleased me mightily。 Thence to the Duke's playhouse； and saw 〃Macbeth。〃 The King and Court there； and we sat just under them and my Lady Castlemaine； and close to a woman that comes into the pit； a kind of a loose gossip； that pretends to be like her； and is so something。 And my wife； by my troth； appeared； I think； as pretty as any of them； I never thought so much before； and so did Talbot and W； Hewer； as they said； I heard； to one another。 The King and Duke of York minded me； and smiled upon me； at the handsome woman near me： but it vexed me to see Moll Davis； in the box over the King's and my Lady Castlemaine； look down upon the King； and he up to her； and so did my Lady Castlemaine once； to see who it was； but when she saw Moll Davis； she looked like fire； which troubled me。
23rd。 Discoursed with Sir John Bankes； who thinks this prorogation will please all but the Parliament itself； which will； if ever they meet； be vexed at Buckingham； who yet governs all。 He says the Nonconformists are glad of it； and； he believes； will get the upper hand in a little time； for the King must trust to them or nobody； and he thinks the King will be forced to it。 He says that Sir D。 Gauden is mightily troubled at Pen's being put upon him by the Duke of York； and that he believes he will get clear of it； which； though it will trouble me to have Pen still at the office； yet I shall think D。 Gauden do well in it； and what I would advise him to； because I love him。 I up to my Lord Brouncker at his lodgings； and sat with him an hour on purpose to talk over the wretched state of this office at present； according to the present hands it is made up of； wherein he do fully concur with me； and that it is our part not only to prepare for defending it and ourselves against the consequences of it； but to take the best ways we can to make it known to the Duke of York； for； till Sir J。 Minnes be removed； and a sufficient man brought into W。 Pen's place when he is gone； it is impossible for this office to support itself。
25th。 Christmas day。 To dinner alone with my wife； who； poor wretch！ sat undressed all day till ten at night； altering and lacing of a noble petticoat； while I by her making the boy read to me the Life of Julius Caesar； and Des Cartes' book of Musick。
27th。 Lord's day。 Saw the King at chapel； but staid not to hear any thing； but went to walk in the Park with W。 Hewer； and there； among others； met with Sir G。 Downing； and walked with him an hour talking of business； and how the late war was managed； there being nobody to take care of it： and he telling； when he was in Holland； what he offered the King to do if he might have power； and then upon the least word； perhaps of a woman； to the King； he was contradicted again； and particularly to the loss of all that we lost in Guinny。 He told me that he had so good spies； that he hath had the keys taken out of De Witt's pocket when he was a… bed； and his closet opened and papers brought to him and left in his hands for an hour； and carried back and laid in the place again； and keys put into his pocket again。 He says he hath always had their most private debates； tha
