me yesterday, and I think it is a wise act of [Sir] G. Carteret. Pierce
tells me that he hears for certain fresh at Court, that France and we
shall agree; and more, that yesterday was damned at the Council, the
Canary Company; and also that my Lord Mordaunt hath laid down his
Commission, both good things to please the Parliament, which I hope will
do good. Pierce tells me that all the town do cry out of our office, for
a pack of fools and knaves; but says that everybody speaks either well, or
at least the best of me, which is my great comfort, and think I do deserve
it, and shall shew I have; but yet do think, and he also, that the
Parliament will send us all going; and I shall be well contented with it,
God knows! But he tells me how Matt. Wren should say that he was told
that I should say that W. Coventry was guilty of the miscarriage at
Chatham, though I myself, as he confesses, did tell him otherwise, and
that it was wholly Pett's fault. This do trouble me, not only as untrue,
but as a design in some [one] or other to do me hurt; for, as the thing is
false, so it never entered into my mouth or thought, nor ever shall. He
says that he hath rectified Wren in his belief of this, and so all is
well. He gone, I to business till the evening, and then by chance home,
and find the fellow that come up with my wife, Coleman, last from
Brampton, a silly rogue, but one that would seem a gentleman; but I did
not stay with him. So to the office, where late, busy, and then to walk a
little in the garden, and so home to supper and to bed. News this tide,
that about 80 sail of the Dutch, great and small were seen coming up the
river this morning; and this tide some of them to the upper end of the
Hope.

28th. Up, and hear Sir W. Batten is come to town: I to see him; he is
very ill of his fever, and come to town only for advice. Sir J. Minnes, I
hear also, is very ill all this night, worse than before. Thence I going
out met at the gate Sir H. Cholmly coming to me, and I to him in the