Isham on board with a gentleman going to the King, by whom very cunningly, my Lord tells me, he intends to send an account of this day’s and yesterday’s actions here, notwithstanding he had writ to the Parliament to have leave of them to send the King the answer of the fleet. Since my writing of the last paragraph, my Lord called me to him to read his letter to the King, to see whether I could find any slips in it or no. And as much of the letter’ as I can remember, is thus:
“May it please your Most Excellent Majesty,” and so begins.
“That he yesterday received from General Monk his Majesty’s letter
and direction; and that General Monk had desired him to write to the
Parliament to have leave to send the vote of the seamen before he
did send it to him, which he had done by writing to both Speakers;
but for his private satisfaction he had sent it thus privately (and
so the copy of the proceedings yesterday was sent him), and that
this come by a gentleman that came this day on board, intending to
wait upon his Majesty, that he is my Lord’s countryman, and one
whose friends have suffered much on his Majesty’s behalf. That my
Lords Pembroke and Salisbury are put out of the House of Lords.
That my Lord is very joyful that other countries do pay him the
civility and respect due to him; and that he do much rejoice to see
that the King do resolve to receive none of their assistance (or
some such words), from them, he having strength enough in the love
and loyalty of his own subjects to support him. That his Majesty
had chosen the best place, Scheveling—[Schevingen, the port of the
Hague]—for his embarking, and that there is nothing in the world of
which he is more ambitious, than to have the honour of attending his
Majesty, which he hoped would be speedy. That he had commanded the
vessel to attend at Helversluce—[Hellevoetsluis, in South Holland]
—till this gentleman returns, that so if his Majesty do not think
it fit to command the fleet himself, yet that he may be there to
receive his commands and bring them to his Lordship. He ends his
letter, that he is confounded with the thoughts of the high
expressions of love to him in the King’s letter, and concludes,
“Your most loyall, dutifull, faithfull and obedient subject and
servant, E. M.”
The rest of the afternoon at ninepins. In the evening came a packet from London, among the rest a letter from my wife, which tells me that she has not been well, which did exceedingly trouble me, but my Lord sending Mr. Cook at night, I wrote to her and sent a piece of gold enclosed to her, and wrote also to Mrs. Bowyer, and enclosed a half piece to her for a token. After supper at the table in the coach, my Lord talking concerning the uncertainty of the places of the Exchequer to them that had them now; he did at last think of an office which do belong to him in case the King do restore every man to his places that ever had been patent, which is to be one of the clerks of the signet, which will be a fine employment for one of his sons. After all this discourse we broke up and to bed.
In the afternoon came a minister on board, one Mr. Sharpe, who is going to the King; who tells me that Commissioners are chosen both of Lords and Commons to go to the King; and that Dr. Clarges
[Thomas Clarges, physician to the army, created a baronet, 1674,
died 1695. He had been previously knighted; his sister Anne married
General Monk. “The Parliament also permitted General Monk to send
Mr. Clarges, his brother-in-law, accompanied with some officers of
the army, to assure his Majesty of the fidelity and obedience of the
army, which had made publick and solemn protestations thereof, after
the Letter and Declaration was communicated unto them by the
General.”—Sir William Lowers Relation … of the Voiage and
Residence which … Charles the II. Hath made in Holland,
Hague, 1660, folio.]
is going to him from the Army, and that he will be here to-morrow. My letters at night tell me, that the House did deliver their letter to Sir John Greenville, in answer to the King’s sending, and that they give him £500 for his pains, to buy him a jewel, and that besides the £50,000 ordered to be borrowed of the City for the present use of the King, the twelve companies of the City do give every one of them to his Majesty, as a present, £1000.
5th. All the morning very busy writing letters to London, and a packet to Mr. Downing, to acquaint him with what had been done lately in the fleet. And this I did by my Lord’s command, who, I thank him, did of himself think of doing it, to do me a kindness, for he writ a letter himself to him, thanking him for his kindness to me. All the afternoon at ninepins, at night after supper good musique, my Lord, Mr. North, I and W. Howe. After that to bed. This evening came Dr. Clarges to Deal, going to the King; where the towns-people strewed the streets with herbes against his coming, for joy of his going. Never was there so general a content as there is now. I cannot but remember that our parson did, in his prayer to-night, pray for the long life and happiness of our King and dread Soveraign, that may last as long as the sun and moon endureth.
6th (Lord’s day). This morning while we were at sermon comes in Dr. Clarges and a dozen gentlemen to see my Lord, who, after sermon, dined with him; I remember that last night upon discourse concerning Clarges my Lord told me that he was a man of small entendimiento.—[Entendimiento, Spanish: the understanding.]—This afternoon there was a gentleman with me, an officer of Dunkirk going over, who came to me for an order and told me he was lately with my uncle and Aunt Fenner and that Kate’s fits of the convulsions did hold her still. It fell very well to-day, a stranger preached here for Mr. Ibbot, one Mr. Stanley, who prayed for King Charles, by the Grace of God, &c., which gave great contentment to the gentlemen that were on board here, and they said they would talk of it, when they come to Breda, as not having it done yet in London so publickly. After they were gone from on board, my Lord writ a letter to the King and give it to me to carry privately to Sir William Compton’ on board the Assistance, which I did, and after a health to his Majesty on board there, I left them under sail for Breda. Back again and found them at sermon. I went up to my cabin and looked over my accounts, and find that, all my debts paid and my preparations to sea paid for, I have £640 clear in my purse. After supper to bed.
7th. This morning Captain Cuttance sent me 12 bottles of Margate ale. Three of them I drank presently with some friends in the Coach. My Lord went this morning about the flag-ships in a boat, to see what alterations there must be, as to the arms and flags. He did give me order also to write for silk flags and scarlett waistcloathes.
[Waist-cloths are the painted canvas coverings of the hammocks which
are stowed in the waist-nettings.]
For a rich barge; for a noise of trumpets,
[A set or company of musicians, an expression constantly used by old
writers without any disparaging meaning. It is sometimes applied to
voices as well as to instruments.]
and a set of fidlers. Very great deal of company come today, among others Mr. Bellasses, Sir Thomas Lenthropp, Sir Henry Chichley, Colonel Philip Honiwood, and Captain Titus, the last of whom my Lord showed all our cabins, and I suppose he is to take notice what room there will be for the King’s entertainment. Here were also all the Jurates of the town of Dover come to give my Lord a visit, and after dinner all went away. I could not but observe