[The motive for Sir Edward Montagu’s so suddenly altering his
intended title is not explained; probably, the change was adopted as
a compliment to the town of Sandwich, off which the Fleet was lying
before it sailed to bring Charles from Scheveling. Montagu had also
received marked attentions from Sir John Boys and other principal
men at Sandwich; and it may be recollected, as an additional reason,
that one or both of the seats for that borough have usually been
placed at the disposal of the Admiralty. The title of Portsmouth
was given, in 1673, for her life, to the celebrated Louise de
Querouaille, and becoming extinct with her, was, in 1743, conferred
upon John Wallop, Viscount Lymington, the ancestor of the present
Earl of Portsmouth.—B.]
Home, with my mind pretty quiet: not returning, as I said I would, to see the bride put to bed.
11th. With Sir W. Pen by water to the Navy office, where we met, and dispatched business. And that being done, we went all to dinner to the Dolphin, upon Major Brown’s invitation. After that to the office again, where I was vexed, and so was Commissioner Pett, to see a busy fellow come to look out the best lodgings for my Lord Barkley, and the combining between him and Sir W. Pen; and, indeed, was troubled much at it. Home to White Hall, and took out my bill signed by the King, and carried it to Mr. Watkins of the Privy Seal to be despatched there, and going home to take a cap, I borrowed a pair of sheets of Mr. Howe, and by coach went to the Navy office, and lay (Mr. Hater, my clerk, with me) at Commissioner Willoughby’s’ house, where I was received by him very civilly and slept well.
12th. Up early and by coach to White Hall with Commissioner Pett, where, after we had talked with my Lord, I went to the Privy Seal and got my bill perfected there, and at the Signet: and then to the House of Lords, and met with Mr. Kipps, who directed me to Mr. Beale to get my patent engrossed; but he not having time to get it done in Chancery-hand, I was forced to run all up and down Chancery-lane, and the Six Clerks’ Office
[The Six Clerks’ Office was in Chancery Lane, near the Holborn end.
The business of the office was to enrol commissions, pardons,
patents, warrants, &c., that had passed the Great Seal; also other
business in Chancery. In the early history of the Court of
Chancery, the Six Clerks and their under-clerks appear to have acted
as the attorneys of the suitors. As business increased, these
under-clerks became a distinct body, and were recognized by the
court under the denomination of ‘sworn clerks,’ or ‘clerks in
court.’ The advance of commerce, with its consequent accession of
wealth, so multiplied the subjects requiring the judgment of a Court
of Equity, that the limits of a public office were found wholly
inadequate to supply a sufficient number of officers to conduct the
business of the suitors. Hence originated the ‘Solicitors’ of the
“Court of Chancery.” See Smith’s “Chancery Practice,” p. 62, 3rd
edit. The “Six Clerks” were abolished by act of Parliament,
5 Vict. c. 5.]
but could find none that could write the hand, that were at leisure. And so in a despair went to the Admiralty, where we met the first time there, my Lord Montagu, my Lord Barkley, Mr. Coventry, and all the rest of the principal Officers and Commissioners, [except] only the Controller, who is not yet chosen. At night to Mr. Kipps’s lodgings, but not finding him, I went to Mr. Spong’s and there I found him and got him to come to me to my Lord’s lodgings at 11 o’clock of night, when I got him to take my bill to write it himself (which was a great providence that he could do it) against to-morrow morning. I late writing letters to sea by the post, and so home to bed. In great trouble because I heard at Mr. Beale’s to-day that Barlow had been there and said that he would make a stop in the business.
13th. Up early, the first day that I put on my black camlett coat with silver buttons. To Mr. Spong, whom I found in his night-down writing of my patent, and he had done as far as he could “for that &c.” by 8 o’clock. It being done, we carried it to Worcester House to the Chancellor, where Mr. Kipps (a strange providence that he should now be in a condition to do me a kindness, which I never thought him capable of doing for me), got me the Chancellor’s recepi to my bill; and so carried it to Mr. Beale for a dockett; but he was very angry, and unwilling to do it, because he said it was ill writ (because I had got it writ by another hand, and not by him); but by much importunity I got Mr. Spong to go to his office and make an end of my patent; and in the mean time Mr. Beale to be preparing my dockett, which being done, I did give him two pieces, after which it was strange how civil and tractable he was to me. From thence I went to the Navy office, where we despatched much business, and resolved of the houses for the Officers and Commissioners, which I was glad of, and I got leave to have a door made me into the leads. From thence, much troubled in mind about my patent, I went to Mr. Beale again, who had now finished my patent and made it ready for the Seal, about an hour after I went to meet him at the Chancellor’s. So I went away towards Westminster, and in my way met with Mr. Spong, and went with him to Mr. Lilly and ate some bread and cheese, and drank with him, who still would be giving me council of getting my patent out, for fear of another change, and my Lord Montagu’s fall. After that to Worcester House, where by Mr. Kipps’s means, and my pressing in General Montagu’s name to the Chancellor, I did, beyond all expectation, get my seal passed; and while it was doing in one room, I was forced to keep Sir G. Carteret (who by chance met me there, ignorant of my business) in talk, while it was a doing. Went home and brought my wife with me into London, and some money, with which I paid Mr. Beale £9 in all, and took my patent of him and went to my wife again, whom I had left in a coach at the door of Hinde Court, and presented her with my patent at which she was overjoyed; so to the Navy office, and showed her my house, and were both mightily pleased at all things there, and so to my business. So home with her, leaving her at her mother’s door. I to my Lord’s, where I dispatched an order for a ship to fetch Sir R. Honywood home, for which I got two pieces of my Lady Honywood by young Mr. Powell. Late writing letters; and great doings of music at the next house, which was Whally’s; the King and Dukes there with Madame Palmer,
[Barbara Villiers, only child of William, second Viscount Grandison,
born November, 1640, married April 14th, 1659, to Roger Palmer,
created Earl of Castlemaine, 1661. She became the King’s mistress
soon after the Restoration, and was in 1670 made Baroness Nonsuch,
Countess of Southampton, and Duchess of Cleveland. She had six
children by the King, one of them being created Duke of Grafton, and
the eldest son succeeding her as Duke of Cleveland. She
subsequently married Beau Fielding, whom she prosecuted for bigamy.
She died October 9th, 1709, aged sixty-nine. Her life was written
by G. Steinman Steinman, and privately printed 1871, with addenda
1874, and second addenda 1878.]
a pretty woman that they have a fancy to, to make her husband a cuckold. Here at the old door that did go into his lodgings, my Lord, I, and W. Howe, did stand