with the King, and so the King pressed for it. But Mr. Wren do own that
the Duke of York is the most wounded in this, in the world, for it is done
and concluded without his privity, after his appearing for Lord Anglesey,
and that it is plain that they do ayme to bring the Admiralty into
Commission too, and lessen the Duke of York. This do put strange
apprehensions into all our Board; only I think I am the least troubled at
it, for I care not at all for it: but my Lord Brouncker and Pen do seem to
think much of it. So home to dinner, full of this news, and after dinner
to the office, and so home all the afternoon to do business towards my
drawing up an account for the Duke of York of the answers of this office
to his late great letter, and late at it, and so to bed, with great peace
from my wife and quiet, I bless God.

30th. Up betimes; and Mr. Povy comes to even accounts with me, which we
did, and then fell to other talk. He tells, in short, how the King is
made a child of, by Buckingham and Arlington, to the lessening of the Duke
of York, whom they cannot suffer to be great, for fear of my Lord
Chancellor's return, which, therefore, they make the King violent against.
That he believes it is impossible these two great men can hold together
long: or, at least, that the ambition of the former is so great, that he
will endeavour to master all, and bring into play as many as he can. That
Anglesey will not lose his place easily, but will contend in law with
whoever comes to execute it. That the Duke of York, in all things but in
his cod-piece, is led by the nose by his wife. That W. Coventry is now,
by the Duke of York, made friends with the Duchess; and that he is often
there, and waits on her. That he do believe that these present great men
will break in time, and that W. Coventry will be a great man again; for he
do labour to have nothing to do in matters of the State, and is so usefull
to the side that he is on, that he will stand, though at present he is
quite out of play. That my Lady Castlemayne hates the Duke of Buckingham.