of his resolution to give nothing to deceive any poor
man of what was his right by law, but ended in doing whatever any body
else would, and we did commission Sir R. Ford to give promise of not
beyond L350 to him and his Secretary, in case they did not oppose us in
the Phoenix (the net profits of which, as [Sir] R. Ford cast up before us,
the Admiral's tenths, and ship's thirds, and other charges all cleared,
will amount to L3,000) and that we did gain her. [Sir] R. Ford did pray
for a curse upon his family, if he was privy to anything more than he told
us (which I believe he is a knave in), yet we all concluded him the most
fit man for it and very honest, and so left it wholly to him to manage as
he pleased. Thence to the office a little while longer, and so home,
where W. Hewer's mother was, and Mrs. Turner, our neighbour, and supped
with us. His mother a well-favoured old little woman, and a good woman, I
believe. After we had supped, and merry, we parted late, Mrs. Turner
having staid behind to talk a little about her lodgings, which now my Lord
Bruncker upon Sir W. Coventry's surrendering do claim, but I cannot think
he will come to live in them so as to need to put them out. She gone, we
to bed all. This night, at supper, comes from Sir W. Coventry the Order
of Councill for my Lord Bruncker to do all the Comptroller's part relating
to the Treasurer's accounts, and Sir W. Pen, all relating to the
Victualler's, and Sir J. Minnes to do the rest. This, I hope, will do much
better for the King than now, and, I think, will give neither of them
ground to over-top me, as I feared they would; which pleases me mightily.
This evening, Mr. Wren and Captain Cocke called upon me at the office, and
there told me how the House was in better temper to-day, and hath passed
the Bill for the remainder of the money, but not to be passed finally till
they have done some other things which they will have passed with it;
wherein they are very open, what their meaning is, which was but doubted
before, for they do in all respects doubt the King's pleasing them.

22nd. Up, and there come to me Darnell the fiddler, one of the Duke's
house, and brought me a set of lessons, all three parts, I heard them play
to the Duke of York after Christmas at his lodgings, and bid him get me
them. I did give him a crowne for them, and did enquire after the musique
of the "Siege of Rhodes," which, he tells me, he can get me, which I am
mighty glad of