done General Monk’s very well Then to White Hall, where I was told by Mr Hutchinson at the Admiralty, that Mr Barlow, my predecessor, Clerke of the Acts, is yet alive, and coming up to town to look after his place, which made my heart sad a little At night told my Lord thereof, and he bad me get possession of my Patent, and he would do all that could be done to keep him out This night my Lord and I looked over the list of the Captains, and marked some that my Lord had a mind to put out.

30th By times to Sir R Fanshawe to draw up the preamble to my Lord’s patent So to my Lord, and with him to White Hall, where I saw a great many fine antique heads of marble, that my Lord Northumberland¹¹⁹ had given the King To White Hall with Mr Moore, where I met with a letter from Mr Turner, offering me £150 to be joined with me in my patent, and to advise me how to improve the advantage of my place, and to keep off Barlow This day come Will,¹²⁰ my boy, to me the maid continuing lame.

July 1st This morning come home my fine Camlett cloak, with gold buttons, and a silk suit, which cost me much money, and I pray God to make me able to pay for it In the afternoon to the Abbey, where agood sermon by a stranger, but no Common Prayer yet.

2nd All the afternoon with my Lord, going up and down the town, at seven at night he went home, and there the principal Officers of the Navy,¹²¹

3rd The Officers and Commissioners of the Navy met at Sir G Carteret’s¹²² chamber, and agreed upon orders for the Council to supersede the old ones, and empower us to act Dined with Mr Stephens, the treasurer of the Navy, and Mr Turner, to whom I offered £50 out of my own purse for one year, and the benefit of a Clerke’s allowance beside, which he thanked me for, but I find he hath some design yet in his head, which I could not think of In the afternoon my heart was quite pulled down, by being told that Mr Barlow was to enquire today for Mr Coventry, but at night I met with my Lord, who told me that I need not fear, for he would get me the place against the world And when I come to W Howe, he told me that Dr Petty had been with my Lord, and did tell him that Barlow was a sickly man, and did not intend to execute the place himself, which put me in great comfort again.

4th To Mr Backewell’s, the goldsmith, where I took my Lord’s £100 in plate for Mr Secretary Nicholas, and my own piece of plate, being a state dish and cup in chased work for Mr Coventry, cost me above £19 Carried these and the money by coach to my Lord’s at White Hall, and from thence carried Nicholas’s plate to his house and left it there, intending to speak with him anon So to my Lord’s, and walking all the afternoon in White Hall Court, in expectation of what shall be done in the Council as to our business It was strange to see how all the people flocked together bare, to see the King looking out of the Council window At night my Lord told me how my orders that I drew last night about giving us power to act, are granted by the Council At which I was very glad.

5th This morning my brother Tom brought me my jackanapes coat with silver buttons It rained this morning, which makes us fear that the glory of this day will be lost, the King and Parliament being to be entertained by the City today with great pomp Mr Hater was with me today, and I agreed with him to be my clerke Being at White Hall, I saw the King, the Dukes, and all their attendants go forth in the rain to the City, and it spoiled many a fine suit of clothes I was forced to walk all the morning in White Hall, not knowing how to get out because of the rain Met with Mr Cooling¹²³ my Lord Chamberlain’s secretary, who took me to dinner among the gentlemen waiters, and after dinner into the wine-cellar He told me how he had a project for all us Secretaries to join together, and get money by bringing all business into our hands Thence to the Admiralty, where Mr Blackburne and I (it beginning to hold up) went and walked an hour or two in the Park, he giving of me light in many things in my way in this office that I go about And in the evening I got my presents of plate carried to Mr Coventry’s At my Lord’s at night comes Dr Petty to me, to tell me that Barlow was come to town, and other things, which put me into a despair, and I went to bed very sad.