some rising discovered. So after supper home, and then to my study, and
making up my monthly account to myself. I find myself, by my expense in
bands and clothes this month, abated a little of my last, and that I am
worth L679 still; for which God be praised. So home and to bed with
quiett mind, blessed be God, but afeard of my candle's going out, which
makes me write thus slubberingly.

27th. Up, and after giving order to the plasterer now to set upon the
finishing of my house, then by water to wait upon the Duke, and walking in
the matted Gallery, by and by comes Mr. Coventry and Sir John Minnes, and
then to the Duke, and after he was ready, to his closet, where I did give
him my usual account of matters, and afterwards, upon Sir J. Minnes'
desire to have one to assist him in his employment, Sir W. Pen is
appointed to be his, and Mr. Pett to be the Surveyor's assistant. Mr.
Coventry did desire to be excused, and so I hope (at least it is my
present opinion) to have none joined with me, but only Mr. Coventry do
desire that I would find work for one of his clerks, which I did not deny,
but however I will think of it, whether without prejudice to mine I can do
it. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who now-a-days calls me into his chamber,
and alone did discourse with me about the jealousy that the Court have of
people's rising; wherein he do much dislike my Lord Monk's being so eager
against a company of poor wretches, dragging them up and down the street;
but would have him rather to take some of the greatest ringleaders of
them, and punish them; whereas this do but tell the world the King's fears
and doubts. For Dunkirk; he wonders any wise people should be so troubled
thereat, and scorns all their talk against it, for that he says it was not
Dunkirk, but the other places, that did and would annoy us, though we had
that, as much as if we had it not. He also took notice of the new
Ministers of State, Sir H. Bennet and Sir Charles Barkeley, their bringing
in, and the high game that my Lady Castlemaine plays at Court (which I