ht in
against my Lord Mordaunt, and that another will be brought in against my
Lord Chancellor in a few days. Here I understand for certain that they
have ordered that my Lord Arlington's letters, and Secretary Morrice's
letters of intelligence, be consulted, about the business of the Dutch
fleete's coming abroad, which is a very high point, but this they have
done, but in what particular manner I cannot justly say, whether it was
not with the King's leave first asked. Here late, as I have said, and at
last they broke up, and we had our commissions again, and I do hear how
Birch is the high man that do examine and trouble every body with his
questions, and they say that he do labour all he can to clear Pett, but it
seems a witness has come in tonight, C. Millett, who do declare that he
did deliver a message from the Duke of Albemarle time enough for him to
carry up "The Charles," and he neglected it, which will stick very hard,
it seems, on him. So Sir W. Pen and I in his coach home, and there to
supper, a good supper, and so weary, and my eyes spent, to bed.

26th. Up, and we met all this morning at Sir W. Pen's roome, the office
being fowle with the altering of our garden door. There very busy, and at
noon home, where Mrs. Pierce and her daughter's husband and Mr. Corbet
dined with me. I had a good dinner for them, and mighty merry. Pierce
and I very glad at the fate of the officers of Ordnance, that they are
like to have so much blame on them. Here Mrs. Pierce tells me that the
two Marshalls at the King's house are Stephen Marshall's, the great
Presbyterian's daughters: and that Nelly and Beck Marshall, falling out
the other day, the latter called the other my Lord Buckhurst's whore. Nell
answered then, "I was but one man's whore, though I was brought up in a
bawdy-house to fill strong waters to the guests; and you are a whore to
three or four, though a Presbyter's praying daughter!" which was very
pretty. Mrs. Pierce is still very pretty, but paints red on her face,
which makes me hate her, that I thank God I take no pleasure in her at all
more. After much mirth and good company at dinner, I to the office and
left them, and Pendleton also, who come in to see my wife and talk of
dancing, and there I at the office all the afternoon very busy, and did
much business, with my great content to see it go off of hand, and so
home, my eyes spent, to supper and to bed.

27th (Lord's day). Up, and to my office, ther