Produced by David Widger
(Unabridged)
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS. APRIL 1667
April 1st. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes in his coach, set him down at theTreasurer's Office in Broad-streete, and I in his coach to White Hall, andthere had the good fortune to walk with Sir W. Coventry into the garden,and there read our melancholy letter to the Duke of York, which he likes.And so to talk: and he flatly owns that we must have a peace, for wecannot set out a fleete; and, to use his own words, he fears that we shallsoon have enough of fighting in this new way, which we have thought on forthis year. He bemoans the want of money, and discovers himself jealousthat Sir G. Carteret do not look after, or concern himself for getting,money as he used to do, and did say it is true if Sir G. Carteret wouldonly do his work, and my Lord Treasurer would do his own, Sir G. Carterethath nothing to do to look after money, but if he will undertake my LordTreasurer's work to raise money of the Bankers, then people must expectthat he will do it, and did further say, that he [Carteret] and my LordChancellor do at this very day labour all they can to villify this new wayof raising money, and making it payable, as it now is, into the Exchequer;and expressly said that in pursuance hereof, my Lord Chancellor hathprevailed with the King, in the close of his last speech to the House, tosay, that he did hope to see them come to give money as it used to begiven, without so many provisos, meaning, as Sir W. Coventry says, thisnew method of the Act. While we were talking, there come Sir Thomas Allenwith two ladies; one of which was Mrs. Rebecca Allen, that I knewheretofore, the clerk of the rope-yard's daughter at Chatham, who, poorheart! come to desire favour for her husband, who is clapt up, being aLieutenant [Jowles], for sending a challenge to his Captain, in the mostsaucy, base language that could be writ. I perceive [Sir] W. Coventry iswholly resolved to bring him to punishment; for, "bear with this," sayshe, "and no discipline shall ever be expected." She in this sad conditiontook no notice of me, nor I of her. So away we to the Duke of York, andthere in his closett [Sir] W. Coventry and I delivered the letter, whichthe Duke of York made not much of, I thought, as to laying it to heart, asthe matter deserved, but did promise to look after the getting of moneyfor us, and I believe Sir W. Coventry will add what force he can to it. Idid speak to [Sir] W. Coventry about Balty's warrant, which is ready, andabout being Deputy Treasurer, which he very readily and friendlily agreedto, at which I was glad, and so away and by coach back to Broad-streete toSir G. Carteret's, and there found my brother passing his accounts, whichI helped till dinner, and dined there, and many good stories at dinner,among others about discoveries of murder, and Sir J. Minnes did tell ofthe discovery of his own great-grandfather's murder, fifteen years afterhe was murdered. Thence, after dinner, home and by water to Redriffe, andwalked