3rd.I waited upon Monsieur Van Beuninghen,[1] but did not find him at home.
5th.I paid for the plate; after dinner I went to my Lord Chancellor;[2] to talk to him first of my own business, which he approved of, then of the King's, which he thinks in an ill condition, and thinks Lord Shaftesbury the chief cause of it, who being joined with the Duke of Monmouth will obstruct all till they are at the top of all affairs: that they certainly did the King much harm the last sessions, making the members believe that he was for those things which every body knows he is utterly against (meaning the excluding the Duke from the succession). It was thought that they would do so again unless the King did make it appear by removing him that he had no such interest as he would endeavour to make people believe he had: that he might do better at this time than any, seeing that he was resolved to do all the popular things; and then he would have no
- ↑ Monsieur Van Beuninghen had been ambassador from the States, and was succeeded by Monsieur Van Lewin.
- ↑ Lord Chancellor Finch, afterwards created Earl of Nottingham. "Finch," says Burnet, "was a man of probity, and well versed in the laws. He was long much admired for his eloquence, but it was laboured and affected."
