openly on all matters of State, and how some people have got the bit into
their mouths, meaning the Duke of Buckingham and his party, and would
likely run away with all. But what pleased me mightily was to hear the
good character he did give of my Lord Falmouth for his generosity,
good-nature, desire of public good, and low thoughts of his own wisdom;
his employing his interest in the King to do good offices to all people,
without any other fault than the freedom he, do learn in France of
thinking himself obliged to serve his King in his pleasures: and was W.
Coventry's particular friend: and W. Coventry do tell me very odde
circumstances about the fatality of his death, which are very strange.
Thence to White Hall to chapel, and heard the anthem, and did dine with
the Duke of Albemarle in a dirty manner as ever. All the afternoon, I
sauntered up and down the house and Park. And there was a Committee for
Tangier met, wherein Lord Middleton would, I think, have found fault with
me for want of coles; but I slighted it, and he made nothing of it, but
was thought to be drunk; and I see that he hath a mind to find fault with
me and Creed, neither of us having yet applied ourselves to him about
anything: but do talk of his profits and perquisites taken from him, and
garrison reduced, and that it must be increased, and such things, as; I
fear, he will be just such another as my Lord Tiviott and the rest, to
ruin that place. So I to the Park, and there walk an hour or two; and in
the King's garden, and saw the Queen and ladies walk; and I did steal some
apples off the trees; and here did see my Lady Richmond, who is of a noble
person as ever I saw, but her face worse than it was considerably by the
smallpox: her sister' is also very handsome. Coming into the Park, and
the door kept strictly, I had opportunity of handing in the little,
pretty, squinting girl of the Duke of York's house, but did not make
acquaintance with her; but let her go, and a little girl that was with
her, to walk by themselves. So to White Hall in the evening, to the
Queen's side, and there met the Duke of York; and he did tell me and W.