Then to
talk of news: that he thinks the want of money hath undone the
King, for the Parliament will never give the King more money
without; calling all people to account, nor, as he believes, will
ever make war again, but they will manage it themselves: unless,
which I proposed, he would visibly become a severer inspector
into his own business and accounts, and that would gain upon the
Parliament yet: which he confesses and confirms as the only lift
to set him upon his legs, but says that it is not, in his nature
ever to do. He thinks that much of our misfortune hath been for
want of an active Lord Treasurer, and that such a man as Sir W.
Coventry would do the business thoroughly.
26th. To White Hall, and there saw the Duke of Albemarle, who is
not well, and do grow crazy. While I was waiting in the Matted
Gallery, a young man was working in Indian inke, the great
picture of the King and Queene sitting by Van Dike; and did it
very finely. Then I took a turn with Mr. Evelyn; with whom I
walked two hours, till almost one of the clock: talking of the
badness of the Government, where nothing but wickedness, and
wicked men and women command the King: that it is not in his
nature to gainsay any thing that relates to his pleasures; that
much of it arises from the sickliness of our Ministers of State,
who cannot be about him as the idle companions are, and therefore
he gives way to the young rogues; and then from the negligence of
the clergy, that a Bishop shall never be seen about him, as the
King of France hath always: that the King would fain have some
of the same gang to be Lord Treasurer, which would be yet worse,
for now some delays are put to the getting gifts of the King; as
Lady Byron, [Eleanor, daughter of Robert Needham, Viscount
Kilmurrey, and widow of Peter Warburton, became in 1644 the
second wife of Richard first Lord Byron.
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