the timber, which should have been the King's, if it had continued the
Duke of Albemarle's, was concealed by us in favour of my Lord Chancellor;
for, says he, he is a great man, and all such as he, and he himself
particularly, have a great many enemies that would be glad of such an
advantage against him. When I told him it was strange that Sir J. Minnes
and Sir G. Carteret, that knew my Lord Chancellor's concernment therein,
should not at first inform us, he answered me that for Sir J. Minnes, he
is looked upon to be an old good companion, but by nobody at the other end
of the towne as any man of business, and that my Lord Chancellor, he dares
say, never did tell him of it, only Sir G. Carteret, he do believe, must
needs know it, for he and Sir J. Shaw are the greatest confidants he hath
in the world. So for himself, he said, he would not mince the matter, but
was resolved to do what was fit, and stand upon his owne legs therein, and
that he would speak to the Duke, that he and Sir G. Carteret might be
appointed to attend my Lord Chancellor in it. All this disturbs me
mightily. I know not what to say to it, nor how to carry myself therein;
for a compliance will discommend me to Mr. Coventry, and a discompliance
to my Lord Chancellor. But I think to let it alone, or at least meddle in
it as little more as I can. From thence walked toward Westminster, and
being in an idle and wanton humour, walked through Fleet Alley, and there
stood a most pretty wench at one of the doors, so I took a turn or two,
but what by sense of honour and conscience I would not go in, but much
against my will took coach and away, and away to Westminster Hall, and
there 'light of Mrs. Lane, and plotted with her to go over the water. So
met at White's stairs in Chanel Row, and over to the old house at Lambeth
Marsh, and there eat and drank, and had my pleasure of her twice, she
being the strangest woman in talk of love to her husband sometimes, and
sometimes again she do not care for him, and yet willing enough to allow
me a liberty of doing what I would with her. So spending 5s. or 6s. upon
her, I could do what I would, and after an hour's stay and more back again