ch we did at White Hall, whither
he came, and after talking with him and me about his going to sea, he
called me by myself to go along with him into the garden, where he asked
me how things were with me, and what he had endeavoured to do with my
uncle to get him to do something for me but he would say nothing too. He
likewise bade me look out now at this turn some good place, and he would
use all his own, and all the interest of his friends that he had in
England, to do me good. And asked me whether I could, without too much
inconvenience, go to sea as his secretary, and bid me think of it. He
also began to talk of things of State, and told me that he should want
one in that capacity at sea, that he might trust in, and therefore he
would have me to go. He told me also, that he did believe the King would
come in, and did discourse with me about it, and about the affection
of the people and City, at which I was full glad. After he was gone, I
waiting upon him through the garden till he came to the Hall, where I
left him and went up to my office, where Mr. Hawly brought one to me,
a seaman, that had promised Rio to him if he get him a purser's place,
which I think to endeavour to do. Here comes my uncle Tom, whom I
took to Will's and drank with, poor man, he comes to inquire about the
knights of Windsor, of which he desires to get to be one.
[The body of Poor Knights of Windsor was founded by Edward III. The
intention of the king with regard to the poor knights was to provide
relief and comfortable subsistence for such valiant soldiers as
happened in their old age to fall into poverty and decay. On
September 20th, 1659, a Report having been read respecting the Poor
Knights of Windsor, the House "ordered that it be referred to a
Committee, to look into the revenue for maintenance of the Poor
Knights of Windsor," &c. (See Tighe and Davis's "Annals of
Windsor.")]
While we were drinking, in comes Mr. Day, a carpenter in Westminster, to
tell me that it was Shrove Tuesday, and that I must go with him to their
yearly Club upon this day, which I confess I had quite forgot. So I went
to the Bell, where were Mr. Eglin, Veezy, Vincent a butcher, one more,
and Mr. Tanner, with whom I played upon a viall, and he a viallin, after
dinner, and were very merry, with a special good dinner, a leg of veal
and bacon, two capons and sausages and fritters, with abundance of wine.
After that I we
|