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DIARY OF                          LONDON

16th February, 1690. The Duchess of Monmouth's
chaplain preached at St. Martin's an excellent discourse
exhorting to peace and sanctity, it being now the time
of very great division and dissension in the nation; first,
among the Churchmen, of whom the moderate and sober
part were for a speedy reformation of divers things,
which it was thought might be made in our Liturgy,
for the inviting of Dissenters; others more stiff and
rigid, were for no condescension at all. Books and
pamphlets were published every day pro and con; the
Convocation were forced for the present to suspend any
further progress. There was fierce and great carousing
about being elected in the new Parliament. The King
persists in his intention of going in person for Ireland,
whither the French are sending supplies to King James,
and we, the Danish horse to Schomberg.

19th February, 1690. I dined with the Marquis of
Carmarthen (late Lord Danby), where was Lieutenant-
General Douglas, a very considerate and sober comman-
der, going for Ireland. He related to us the exceeding
neglect of the English soldiers, suffering severely for
want of clothes and necessaries this winter, exceedingly
magnifying their courage and bravery during all their
hardships. There dined also Lord Lucas, Lieutenant of
the Tower, and the Bishop of St. Asaph. The Privy
Seal was again put in commission, Mr. Cheny (who
married my kinswoman, Mrs. Pierrepoint), Sir Thomas
Knatchbull, and Sir P. W. Pultney. The imprudence of
both sexes was now become so great and universal, per-
sons of all ranks keeping their courtesans publicly, that
the King had lately directed a letter to the Bishops to
order their clergy to preach against that sin, swearing,
etc., and to put the ecclesiastical laws in execution with-
out any indulgence.

25th February, 1690. I went to Kensington, which
King William had bought of Lord Nottingham, and al-
tered, but was yet a patched building, but with the gar-
den, however, it is a very sweet villa, having to it the
park and a straight new way through this park.

7th March, 1690. I dined with Mr. Pepys, late Secre-
tary to the Admiralty, where was that excellent ship-
wright and seaman (for so he had been, and also a
Commission of the Navy), Sir Anthony De^ne, Amongand little honor —so strangely negligent andlly,