At Sheerness, I gave his Majesty and his Royal Highness an account of my charge, and returned to Queenborough; next day dined at Major Dorel's, Governor of Sheerness; thence, to Rochester; and the following day, home.
12th June, 1672. To London to his Majesty, to solicit for money for the sick and wounded, which he promised me.
19th June, 1672. To London again, to solicit the same.
21st June, 1672. At a Council of Plantations. Most of this week busied with the sick and wounded.
3d July, 1672. To Lord Sandwich's funeral, which was by water to Westminster, in solemn pomp.
31st July, 1672. I entertained the Maids of Honor (among whom there was one I infinitely esteemed for her many and extraordinary virtues[31]) at a comedy this afternoon, and so went home.
[Footnote 31: Mrs. Blagg whom Evelyn never tires of instancing and characterizing as a rare example of piety and virtue, in so rare a wit, beauty, and perfection, in a licentious court, and depraved age. She was afterward married to Mr. Godolphin, and her life, written by Evelyn, has been edited and published by the Bishop of Oxford.]
1st August, 1672. I was at the betrothal of Lord Arlington's only daughter (a sweet child if ever there was any[32]) to the Duke of Grafton, the King's natural son by the Duchess of Cleveland; the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating, the King and the grandees being present. I had a favor given me by my Lady; but took no great joy at the thing for many reasons.
[Footnote 32: She was then only fifteen years old.]
18th August, 1672. Sir James Hayes, Secretary to Prince Rupert, dined with me; after dinner I was sent to Gravesend to dispose of no fewer than 800 sick men. That night I got to the fleet at the buoy of the "Nore," where I spoke with the King and the Duke; and, after dinner next day, returned to Gravesend.
1st September, 1672. I spent this week in soliciting for moneys, and in reading to my Lord Clifford my papers relating to the first Holland war. Now, our Council of Plantations met at Lord Shaftesbury's (Chancellor of the Exchequer) to read and reform the draft of our new Patent, joining the Council of Trade to our political capacities. After this, I returned home, in order to another excursion to the seaside, to get as many as possible of the men who were recovered on board the fleet.