hath a pretty while been in good condition, finished and made very convenient. By my last years diligence
in my office, blessed be God! I am come to a good degree of knowledge therein; and am acknowledged
so by all the world, even the Duke himself, to whom I have a good accesse: and by that, and by my
being Commissioner for Tangier, he takes much notice of me; and I doubt not but, by the continuance
of the same endeavours, I shall in a little time come to be a man much taken notice of in the world,
specially being come to so great an esteem with Mr Coventry. Publick matters stand thus: The King is
bringing, as is said, his family, and Navy, and all other his charges, to a less expence. In the mean time,
himself following his pleasures more than with good advice he would do; at least, to be seen to all the
world to do so. His dalliance with my Lady Castlemaine being publick, every day, to his great reproach; and
his favouring of none at Court so much as those that are the confidants of his pleasure, as Sir H. Bennet
and Sir Charles Barkeley; which, good God! put it into his heart to mend, before he makes himself too
much contemned by his people for it! The Duke of Monmouth is in so great splendour at Court, and
so dandled by the King, that some doubt, that, if the King should have no child by the Queene (which
there is yet no appearance of), whether he would not be acknowledged for a lawful son; and that there
will be a difference follow between the Duke of York and him; which God prevent! My Lord Chancellor
is threatened by people to be questioned, the next sitting of the Parliament, by some spirits that do not
love to see him so great: but certainly he is a good servant to the King. The Queene-Mother is said to
keep too great a Court now; and her being married to my Lord St Albans is commonly talked of; and that
they had a daughter between them in France, how true, God knows. The Bishops are high, and go on
without any diffidence in pressing uniformity; and the Presbyters seem silent in it, and either conform or
lay down, though without doubt they expect a turn, and would be glad these endeavours of the other
Fanatiques would take effect; there having been a plot lately found, for which four have been publickly
tried at the Old Bayley and hanged. My Lord Sandwich is still in good esteem, and now keeping his
Christmas in the country; and I in good esteem, I think, as any man can be, with him. In fine, for the
good condition of myself, wife, family, and estate, in the great degree that it is, and for the public state
of the nation, so quiet as it is, the Lord God be praised!