December 7. I returned from York, a place then full of company (my Lord Carlisle and many other families being come to winter there), to keep Christmas at Thrybergh.

December 13. Hearing the sad news that the Duchess of Albemarle was gone distracted (eldest daughter to the Duke of Newcastle), I went to condole with him at Welbeck, where I found him very sensibly afflicted for so great a misfortune.

December 20. I received a letter from the Marquis of Halifax, wherein he gave me his thoughts that though he approved the laying Alderman Thompson aside from being lord mayor (as had been proposed), yet he thought it not safe to venture the King's letter upon it to the

and soldiers, and about one-fourth part as is computed of the citizens. The second of the mayor and whole magistracy (two aldermen only excepted), the sheriffs and most of the common council, with the rest of that city. Not that this number so much exceeds the former by reason of principle as influence, there ever being a great many in such a body that either from fear or interest join with the strongest, and several there have confessed that they dare not act according to their judgments (viz. for the Government) for fear of being undone in their trade. It is now come to that, that there is not only a separation of interests, but few do buy of, or have any commerce but with those of their own principle. And this nice difference has been contrived by eight or ten persons of that city and this countyviz., Sir Henry Thompson and Sir Jo. Hewley, the late burgesses of York; Ed. Thompson, alderman (a close sensible fellow); Alderman Waller, a rich attorney, very spiteful but open, that put up the inscription in the church (the memorial against the papists); and which the chancellor tells me he has now order to take down; . . . . . one Rooksby, a lawyer rich and well versed in his calling, that steers them in their proceedings as to points of law; Sir John Brook, who married Sir William Waller's daughter, has been twice burgess for Boroughbridge, one of little judgment and less courage, but the only churchman among them; Mr. Stockdale and Mr. Paulins, who are only called to advise as emergency requires; with some few others more inferior. I fear there is little to be hoped for from these leaders; the only way to gain others will be to possess them that whilst they that are the magistrates suffer themselves to be so governed by men for their particular advantage, who can never essentially serve them, they expose themselves to several hazards, and which is the greatest (both as to interest or reputation), his Majesty's displeasure. . . . My Lord Fairfax, it is thought, will not stand for knight of the shire, nor Sir Jo. Hewley for burgess of York.'

corporation, except the success was absolutely certain; and the rather because affairs went so well above (especially that of the quo warranto against the City charter), that all other corporations would truckle; and should the King's letter not be considered, it would rebound in the face of the Court, and be an encouragement to that party. As to the second, which was the choosing his highness for their lord steward, he did judge it unfit for him upon several accounts; but for himself (if it were so done as that it should not seem to be desired by his lordship, and that it appeared, should the thing miscarry, that he had a considerable number of friends for him therein,) he was content to attempt it, and would put himself and the management to me; using this compliment, that he knew himself to be in very good hands as to this affair if I undertook it.

I returned him this answer, that I would not undertake it but under such cautions as his lordship directed.

December 24. I kept Christmas at Thrybergh, which it was formerly the custom to observe with great mirth and ceremony, but was much lessened, few keeping up the custom of it in those parts at that time but myself, when I was at Thrybergh. The manner of it for this year was thus :—

On

Sunday being Christmas Eve, I invited all the poorer sort of my tenants of Denby and Hooton, being nineteen in number. On Christmas Day the poorer sort of Thrybergh, Brinsford, and Mexborough, being twenty-six. St. Stephen's Day all the farmers and better sort of tenants of Thrybergh, Brinsford, and Rotherham, being in all fifty-four. On St. John's Day all the chief tenants of Denby, Hooton, and Mexborough, being in number fortyfive.

On the 30th of December there were invited to dine with me eighteen gentlemen and their wives from several parts of the neighbourhood. On the 1st of January

were invited sixteen more gentlemen; on the 3rd, twenty others; on the 4th, twelve of the neighbouring clergy, and on the 6th, seven gentlemen and tradesmen of Rotherham and other places.

There lay at my house upon these several days Sir Gervase Cutler; Anthony Francland, Esq.; Jasper Blythman, Esq., justice of the peace; John Peebles, Esq., a justice of the peace; Mr. Turner; Captain King, an officer from York; Mr. Rigden, merchant of York, and his wife, a handsome woman; Mrs. Blythman and her daughter; Mr. Belton, an ingenious clergyman, but too much a good fellow; the cornet and quarter-master to my troop, with others. For music, I had two violins and a bass from Doncaster that wore my livery, that played well for the country; two bagpipes for the common people; a trumpeter and a drummer. The expense of liquor, both of wine and others, was considerable, as well as of other provisions; and my friends appeared well satisfied. I dined two days from home this Christmas; one day at Sir Gervase Cutler's, another at my Lord Strafford's. Though such remarks as these may seem frivolous to others, yet to posterity of one's own family (for whom this work is chiefly designed) they may appear otherwise; that sort of curiosity being as well pleased with enquiry into less things sometimes as greater.

CHAPTER X.

Halifax and Lord Rochester-The missing Hearth-money-The Duke of York and his Favourites-Opinions in the City-Despondency of Halifax -Court influence used against him-Danby still in the Tower-The Duchess of Albemarle-The Duke of Richmond supersedes Buckingham as High Steward of York-Celebrations there-The Rye House Plot-Alarm in Yorkshire-Activity of the Justices-Lord Burlington The Scotch Pedlars-The Doncaster Corporation-Dispute in York Minster with Sir John Brook-Archbishop Dolben-Affairs in London -Monmouth surrenders himself—Charles's fondness for him-Jealousy of the Duke of York's Party-The Lord Mayor of York summoned before the King-The Duke of York and Halifax-A Duel by Moonlight.

1683.

February 9. I set forward for London, as my Lord Halifax had directed, in the hackney-coach, and on the 14th I arrived there. Waiting on my lord, he said these things to me in return of my thanks for his extraordinary kindness to me, that so long as he had power to serve any man, I might be sure he would not decline the serving of me. He told me the steps and progress of his late dispute with my Lord Hyde, now made Earl of Rochester, the First Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, occasioned by his lordship's telling the King of 40,000l., part of his revenue of hearth-money, being converted to some private use of which the Lord Rochester could not but know, and was grossly suspected to have a share; besides some other miscarriages in the management of the revenue, which no man had the courage to inform his Majesty of, but my Lord Privy Seal. He told me they had first a dispute about me, which he could not forget, Lord Rochester being angry at my being

made governor of York, when he endeavoured to get it for my Lord Burlington, and which his lordship told me. was the root of their endeavours to throw me out ever since.

He told me further that he had lately brought in my Lord Sunderland to be secretary, by engaging the Duke of York for him, who now seemed kinder to that lordwho had done all he could against him in the late Parliaments-than to his lordship, who did all he could to serve him, and had most considerably opposed the passing of the Bill of Exclusion (with some other disappointments of the same kind from that quarter). For all this he was very well with the King. It was not in their power to remove him, though all the other interest engaged against him.

February 16. My Lord Halifax told me some hard usage he had received from my Lord Rochester, contrary to their mutual engagements of confidence and friendship one towards another when he first entered into business at Court; and that when he had a promise to be Lord President or Lord Privy Seal (which should first happen, as the Privy Seal did), the Lord Rochester underhand did endeavour to obtain it for Mr. Seymour, rather than for his lordship; that the King gave him then the honour of marquis, which he never desired, hoping that it should satisfy him instead of Privy Seal, but that his lordship would not decline the other also, and so got both, which occasioned Seymour's leaving the Court as dissatisfied. That however, the King commanding it, he would live fairly with Rochester, but he must give him some assurances of his being more his lordship's friend than my Lord Sunderland's, ere he could much confide in him. That he would keep in his corner, and hear what was offered for the King's service, and not be afraid to declare what he heard to his Majesty's disadvantage, whoever was concerned in it; and whenever he had power, he would distinguish between his friends and those that were not so.

February 19. The fraud concerning the 40,000%.