December 1st. This morning, observing some things to be laid up not as
they should be by the girl, I took a broom and basted her till she
cried extremely, which made me vexed, but before I went out I left her
appeased. So to Whitehall, where I found Mr. Moore attending for me at
the Privy Seal, but nothing to do to-day. I went to my Lord St. Albans
lodgings, and found him in bed, talking to a priest (he looked like one)
that leaned along over the side of the bed, and there I desired to know
his mind about making the catch stay longer, which I got ready for him
the other day. He seems to be a fine civil gentleman. To my Lord's, and
did give up my audit of his accounts, which I had been then two days
about, and was well received by my Lord. I dined with my Lord and Lady,
and we had a venison pasty. Mr. Shepley and I went into London, and
calling upon Mr. Pinkney, the goldsmith, he took us to the tavern, and
gave us a pint of wine, and there fell into our company old Mr. Flower
and another gentleman; who tell us how a Scotch knight was killed basely
the other day at the Fleece in Covent Garden, where there had been a
great many formerly killed. So to Paul's Churchyard, and there I took
the little man at Mr. Kirton's and Mr. Shepley to Ringstead's at the
Star, and after a pint of wine I went home, my brains somewhat troubled
with so much wine, and after a letter or two by the post I went to bed.
2d (Lord's day). My head not very well, and my body out of order by last
night's drinking, which is my great folly. To church, and Mr. Mills made
a good sermon; so home to dinner. My wife and I all alone to a leg of
mutton, the sawce of which being made sweet, I was angry at it, and eat
none, but only dined upon the marrow bone that we had beside. To church
in the afternoon, and after sermon took Tom Fuller's Church History and
read over Henry the 8th's life in it, and so to supper and to bed.
3rd. This morning I took a resolution to rise early in the morning, and
so I rose by candle, which I have not done all this winter, and spent my
morning in fiddling till time to go to the office, where Sir G. Carteret
did begin again discourse on Mr. Holland's proposition, which the King
do take very ill, and so Sir George in lieu of that do propose that the
seamen should have half in ready money and tickets for the other half,
to be paid in three months after, which we judge to be very practicable.
After office home to dinner, where come in my cozen Snow by chance, and
I had a very good capon to dinner. So to the office till night, and so
home, and then come Mr. Davis, of Deptford (the first time that ever
he was at my house), and after him Mons. L'Impertinent, who is to go to
Ireland to-morrow, and so came to take his leave of me. They both found
me under the barber's hand; but I had a bottle of good sack in the
house, and so made them very welcome. Mr. Davis sat with me a good while
after the other was gone, talking of his hard usage and of the endeavour
to put him out of his place in the time of the late Commissioners, and
he do speak very highly of their corruption. After he was gone I fell
a reading 'Cornelianum dolium' till 11 o'clock at night with great
pleasure, and after that to bed.
4th. To Whitehall to Sir G. Carteret's chamber, where all the officers
met, and so we went up to the Duke of York, and he took us into his
closet, and we did open to him our project of stopping the growing
charge of the fleet by paying them in hand one moyety, and the other
four months hence. This he do like, and we returned by his order to Sir
G. Carteret's chamber, and there we did draw up this design in order to
be presented to the Parliament. From thence I to my Lord's, and dined
with him and told him what we had done to-day. Sir Tho. Crew dined with
my Lord to-day, and we were very merry with Mrs. Borfett, who dined
there still as she has always done lately. After dinner Sir Tho. and my
Lady to the Playhouse to see "The Silent Woman." I home by water, and
with Mr. Hater in my chamber all alone he and I did put this morning's
design into order, which being done I did carry it to Sir W. Batten,
where I found some gentlemen with him (Sir W. Pen among the rest pretty
merry with drink) playing at cards, and there I staid looking upon them
till one o'clock in the morning, and so Sir W. Pen and I went away,
and I to bed. This day the Parliament voted that the bodies of Oliver,
Ireton, Bradshaw, &c., should be taken up out of their graves in the
Abbey, and drawn to the gallows, and there hanged and buried under it:
which (methinks) do trouble me that a man of so great courage as he was,
should have that dishonour, though otherwise he might deserve it enough.
5th. This morning the Proposal which I wrote the last night I showed to
the officers this morning, and was well liked of, and I wrote it fair
for Sir. G. Carteret to show to the King, and so it is to go to the
Parliament. I dined at home, and after dinner I went to the new Theatre
and there I saw "The Merry Wives of Windsor" acted, the humours of the
country gentleman and the French doctor very well done, but the rest but
very poorly, and Sir J. Falstaffe t as bad as any. From thence to Mr.
Will. Montagu's chamber to have sealed some writings tonight between Sir
R. Parkhurst and myself about my Lord's L2000, but he not coming, I went
to my father's and there found my mother still ill of the stone, and
had just newly voided one, which she had let drop into the chimney, and
looked and found it to shew it me. From thence home and to bed.
6th. This morning some of the Commissioners of Parliament and Sir W.
Batten went to Sir G. Carteret's office here in town, and paid off the
Chesnut. I carried my wife to White Friars and landed her there, and
myself to Whitehall to the Privy Seal, where abundance of pardons to
seal, but I was much troubled for it because that there are no fees now
coming for them to me. Thence Mr. Moore and I alone to the Leg in King
Street, and dined together on a neat's tongue and udder. From thence
by coach to Mr. Crew's to my Lord, who told me of his going out of town
to-morrow to settle the militia in Huntingdonshire, and did desire me to
lay up a box of some rich jewels and things that there are in it, which
I promised to do. After much free discourse with my Lord, who tells me
his mind as to his enlarging his family, &c., and desiring me to look
him out a Master of the Horse and other servants, we parted. From thence
I walked to Greatorex (he was not within), but there I met with Mr.
Jonas Moore,
[Jonas Moore was born at Whitley, Lancashire, February 8th, 1617,
and was appointed by Charles I. tutor to the Duke of York. Soon
after the Restoration he was knighted and made Surveyor-General of
the Ordnance. He was famous as a mathematician, and was one of the
founders of the Royal Society. He died August 27th, 1679, and at
his funeral sixty pieces of ordnance were discharged at the Tower.]
and took him to the Five Bells,' and drank a glass of wine and left him.
To the Temple, when Sir R. Parkhurst (as was intended the last night)
did seal the writings, and is to have the L2000 told to-morrow. From,
thence by water to Parliament Stairs, and there at an alehouse to Doling
(who is suddenly to go into Ireland to venture his fortune); Simonds
(who is at a great loss for L200 present money, which I was loth to let
him have, though I could now do it, and do love him and think him honest
and sufficient, yet lothness to part with money did dissuade me from
it); Luellin (who was very drowsy from a dose that he had got the last
night), Mr. Mount and several others, among the rest one Mr. Pierce,
an army man, who did make us the best sport for songs and stories in
a Scotch tone (which he do very well) that ever I heard in my life. I
never knew so good a companion in all my observation. From thence to
the bridge by water, it being a most pleasant moonshine night, with
a waterman who did tell such a company of bawdy stories, how once he
carried a lady from Putney in such a night as this, and she bade him lie
down by her, which he did, and did give her content, and a great deal
more roguery. Home and found my girl knocking at the door (it being 11
o'clock at night), her mistress having sent her out for some trivial
business, which did vex me when I came in, and so I took occasion to go
up and to bed in a pet. Before I went forth this morning, one came to
me to give me notice that the justices of Middlesex do meet to-morrow
at Hicks Hall, and that I as one am desired to be there, but I fear I
cannot be there though I much desire it.
7th. This morning the judge Advocate Fowler came to see me, and he and
I sat talking till it was time to go to the office. To the office and
there staid till past 12 o'clock, and so I left the Comptroller and
Surveyor and went to Whitehall to my Lord's, where I found my Lord gone
this morning to Huntingdon, as he told me yesterday he would. I staid
and dined with my Lady, there being Laud the page's mother' there, and
dined also with us, and seemed to have been a very pretty woman and of
good discourse. Before dinner I examined Laud in his Latin and found him
a very pretty boy and gone a great way in Latin. After dinner I took a
box of some things of value that my Lord had left for me to carry to the
Exchequer, which I did, and left them with my Brother Spicer, who also
had this morning paid L1000 for me by appointment to Sir R. Parkhurst.
So to the Privy Seal, where I signed a deadly number of pardons, which
do trouble me to get nothing by. Home by water, and there was much
pleased to see that my little room is likely to come to be finished
soon. I fell a-reading Fuller's History of Abbys, and my wife in Great
Cyrus till twelve at night, and so to bed.
8th. To Whitehall to the Privy Seal, and thence to Mr. Pierces the
Surgeon to tell them that I would call by and by to go to dinner. But I
going into Westminster Hall met with Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Pen (who
were in a great fear that we had committed a great error of L100,000 in
our late account gone into the Parliament in making it too little), and
so I was fain to send order to Mr. Pierces to come to my house; and also
to leave the key of the chest with Mr. Spicer; wherein my Lord's money
is, and went along with Sir W. Pen by water to the office, and there
with Mr. Huchinson we did find that we were in no mistake. And so I
went to dinner with my wife and Mr. and Mrs. Pierce the Surgeon to Mr.
Pierce, the Purser (the first time that ever I was at his house) who
does live very plentifully and finely. We had a lovely chine of beef and
other good things very complete and drank a great deal of wine, and her
daughter played after dinner upon the virginals,
[All instruments of the harpsichord and spinet kind were styled
virginals.]
and at night by lanthorn home again, and Mr. Pierce and his wife being
gone home I went to bed, having drunk so much wine that my head was
troubled and was not very well all night, and the wind I observed was
rose exceedingly before I went to bed.
9th (Lord's day). Being called up early by Sir W. Batten I rose and went
to his house and he told me the ill news that he had this morning from
Woolwich, that the Assurance (formerly Captain Holland's ship, and now
Captain Stoakes's, designed for Guiny and manned and victualled), was by
a gust of wind sunk down to the bottom. Twenty men drowned. Sir Williams
both went by barge thither to see how things are, and I am sent to the
Duke of York to tell him, and by boat with some other company going to
Whitehall from the Old Swan. I went to the Duke. And first calling upon
Mr. Coventry at his chamber, I went to the Duke's bed-side, who had sat
up late last night, and lay long this morning, who was much surprised,
therewith. This being done I went to chappell, and sat in Mr. Blagrave's
pew, and there did sing my part along with another before the King, and
with much ease. From thence going to my Lady I met with a letter from
my Lord (which Andrew had been at my house to bring me and missed me),
commanding me to go to Mr. Denham, to get a man to go to him to-morrow
to Hinchinbroke, to contrive with him about some alterations in his
house, which I did and got Mr. Kennard. Dined with my Lady and staid all
the afternoon with her, and had infinite of talk of all kind of things,
especially of beauty of men and women, with which she seems to be much
pleased to talk of. From thence at night to Mr. Kennard and took him to
Mr. Denham, the Surveyor's. Where, while we could not speak with him,
his chief man (Mr. Cooper) did give us a cup of good sack. From thence
with Mr. Kennard to my Lady who is much pleased with him, and after a
glass of sack there; we parted, having taken order for a horse or two
for him and his servant to be gone to-morrow. So to my father's, where
I sat while they were at supper, and I found my mother below, stairs
and pretty well. Thence home, where I hear that the Comptroller had some
business with me, and (with Giffin's lanthorn) I went to him and there
staid in discourse an hour 'till late, and among other things he showed
me a design of his, by the King's making an Order of Knights of the Seal
to give an encouragement for persons of honour to undertake the service
of the sea, and he had done it with great pains and very ingeniously. So
home and to prayers and to bed.
10th. Up exceedingly early to go to the Comptroller, but he not being
up and it being a very fine, bright, moonshine morning I went and walked
all alone twenty turns in Cornhill, from Gracious Street corner to the
Stockes and back again, from 6 o'clock till past 7, so long that I was
weary, and going to the Comptroller's thinking to find him ready, I
found him gone, at which I was troubled, and being weary went home,
and from thence with my wife by water to Westminster, and put her to my
father Bowyer's (they being newly come out of the country), but I could
not stay there, but left her there. I to the Hall and there met with
Col. Slingsby. So hearing that the Duke of York is gone down this
morning, to see the ship sunk yesterday at Woolwich, he and I returned
by his coach to the office, and after that to dinner. After dinner he
came to me again and sat with me at my house, ands among other discourse
he told me that it is expected that the Duke will marry the Lord
Chancellor's daughter at last which is likely to be the ruin of Mr.
Davis and my Lord Barkley, who have carried themselves so high against
the Chancellor; Sir Chas. Barkley swearing that he and others had lain
with her often, which all believe to be a lie. He and I in the evening
to the Coffee House in Cornhill, the first time that ever I was there,
and I found much pleasure in it, through the diversity of company and
discourse. Home and found my wife at my Lady Batten's, and have made a
bargain to go see the ship sunk at Woolwich, where both the Sir Williams
are still since yesterday, and I do resolve to go along with them. From
thence home and up to bed, having first been into my study, and to ease
my mind did go to cast up how my cash stands, and I do find as near as I
can that I am worth in money clear L240, for which God be praised. This
afternoon there was a couple of men with me with a book in each of their
hands, demanding money for pollmoney,
[Pepys seems to have been let off very easily, for, by Act of
Parliament 18 Car. II. cap. I (1666), servants were to pay one
shilling in the pound of their wages, and others from one shilling
to three shillings in the pound.]
and I overlooked the book and saw myself set down Samuel Pepys, gent.
10s. for himself and for his servants 2s., which I did presently pay
without any dispute, but I fear I have not escaped so, and therefore
I have long ago laid by L10 for them, but I think I am not bound to
discover myself.
11th. My wife and I up very early this day, and though the weather was
very bad and the wind high, yet my Lady Batten and her maid and we two
did go by our barge to Woolwich (my Lady being very fearfull) where we
found both Sir Williams and much other company, expecting the weather
to be better, that they might go about weighing up the Assurance,
which lies there (poor ship, that I have been twice merry in, in Captn.
Holland's time,) under water, only the upper deck may be seen and the
masts. Captain Stoakes is very melancholy, and being in search for some
clothes and money of his, which he says he hath lost out of his cabin.
I did the first office of a justice of Peace to examine a seaman
thereupon, but could find no reason to commit him. This last tide the
Kingsale was also run aboard and lost her mainmast, by another ship,
which makes us think it ominous to the Guiny voyage, to have two of
her ships spoilt before they go out. After dinner, my Lady being very
fearfull she staid and kept my wife there, and I and another gentleman,
a friend of Sir W. Pen's, went back in the barge, very merry by the
way, as far as Whitehall in her. To the Privy Seal, where I signed
many pardons and some few things else. From thence Mr. Moore and I into
London to a tavern near my house, and there we drank and discoursed of
ways how to put out a little money to the best advantage, and at present
he has persuaded me to put out L250 for L50 per annum for eight years,
and I think I shall do it. Thence home, where I found the wench washing,
and I up to my study, and there did make up an even L100, and sealed it
to lie by. After that to bed.
12th. Troubled with the absence of my wife. This morning I went (after
the Comptroller and I had sat an hour at the office) to Whitehall
to dine with my Lady, and after dinner to the Privy Seal and sealed
abundance of pardons and little else. From thence to the Exchequer and
did give my mother Bowyer a visit and her daughters, the first time that
I have seen them since I went last to sea. From thence up with J. Spicer
to his office and took L100, and by coach with it as far as my father's,
where I called to see them, and my father did offer me six pieces of
gold, in lieu of six pounds that he borrowed of me the other day, but
it went against me to take it of him and therefore did not, though I was
afterwards a little troubled that I did not. Thence home, and took out
this L100 and sealed it up with the other last night, it being the first
L200 that ever I saw together of my own in my life. For which God be
praised. So to my Lady Batten, and sat an hour or two, and talked with
her daughter and people in the absence of her father and mother and my
wife to pass away the time. After that home and to bed, reading myself
asleep, while the wench sat mending my breeches by my bedside.
13th. All the day long looking upon my workmen who this day began to
paint my parlour. Only at noon my Lady Batten and my wife came home,
and so I stepped to my Lady's, where were Sir John Lawson and Captain
Holmes, and there we dined and had very good red wine of my Lady's own
making in England.
14th. Also all this day looking upon my workmen. Only met with the
Comptroller at the office a little both forenoon and afternoon, and at
night step a little with him to the Coffee House where we light upon
very good company and had very good discourse concerning insects and
their having a generative faculty as well as other creatures. This
night in discourse the Comptroller told me among other persons that were
heretofore the principal officers of the Navy, there was one Sir Peter
Buck, a Clerk of the Acts, of which to myself I was not a little proud.
15th. All day at home looking upon my workmen, only at noon Mr. Moore
came and brought me some things to sign for the Privy Seal and dined
with me. We had three eels that my wife and I bought this morning of
a man, that cried them about, for our dinner, and that was all I did
to-day.
16th. In the morning to church, and then dined at home. In the afternoon
I to White Hall, where I was surprised with the news of a plot against
the King's person and my Lord Monk's; and that since last night there
are about forty taken up on suspicion; and, amongst others, it was my
lot to meet with Simon Beale, the Trumpeter, who took me and Tom Doling
into the Guard in Scotland Yard, and showed us Major-General Overton,
where I heard him deny that he is guilty of any such things; but that
whereas it is said that he is found to have brought many arms to town,
he says it is only to sell them, as he will prove by oath. From thence
with Tom Doling and Boston and D. Vines (whom we met by the way) to
Price's, and there we drank, and in discourse I learnt a pretty trick to
try whether a woman be a maid or no, by a string going round her head to
meet at the end of her nose, which if she be not will come a great way
beyond. Thence to my Lady's and staid with her an hour or two talking of
the Duke of York and his lady, the Chancellor's daughter, between whom,
she tells me, that all is agreed and he will marry her. But I know not
how true yet. It rained hard, and my Lady would have had me have the
coach, but I would not, but to my father's, where I met my wife, and
there supped, and after supper by link home and to bed.
17th. All day looking after my workmen, only in the afternoon to the
office where both Sir Williams were come from Woolwich, and tell us
that, contrary to their expectations, the Assurance is got up, without
much damage to her body, only to the goods that she hath within her,
which argues her to be a strong, good ship. This day my parlour is
gilded, which do please me well.
18th. All day at home, without stirring at all, looking after my
workmen.
19th. At noon I went and dined with my Lady at Whitehall, and so back
again to the office, and after that home to my workmen. This night Mr.
Gauden sent me a great chine of beef and half a dozen of tongues.
20th. All day at home with my workmen, that I may get all done before
Christmas. This day I hear that the Princess Royal has the small pox.
21st. By water to Whitehall (leaving my wife at Whitefriars going to my
father's to buy her a muff and mantle), there I signed many things at
the Privy Seal, and carried L200 from thence to the Exchequer, and laid
it up with Mr. Hales, and afterwards took him and W. Bowyer to the Swan
and drank with them. They told me that this is St. Thomas's [day], and
that by an old custom, this day the Exchequer men had formerly, and do
intend this night to have a supper; which if I could I promised to
come to, but did not. To my Lady's, and dined with her: she told me how
dangerously ill the Princess Royal is and that this morning she was said
to be dead. But she hears that she hath married herself to young
Jermyn, which is worse than the Duke of York's marrying the Chancellor's
daughter, which is now publicly owned. After dinner to the office all
the afternoon. At seven at night I walked through the dirt to Whitehall
to see whether my Lord be come to town, and I found him come and at
supper, and I supped with him. He tells me that my aunt at Brampton has
voided a great stone (the first time that ever I heard she was troubled
therewith) and cannot possibly live long, that my uncle is pretty well,
but full of pain still. After supper home and to bed.
22nd. All the morning with my painters, who will make an end of all this
day I hope. At noon I went to the Sun tavern; on Fish Street hill, to a
dinner of Captn. Teddimans, where was my Lord Inchiquin (who seems to be
a very fine person), Sir W. Pen, Captn. Cuttance, and one Mr. Lawrence
(a fine gentleman now going to Algiers), and other good company, where
we had a very fine dinner, good musique, and a great deal of wine. We
staid here very late, at last Sir W. Pen and I home together, he so
overcome with wine that he could hardly go; I was forced to lead him
through the streets and he was in a very merry and kind mood. I home
(found my house clear of the workmen and their work ended), my head
troubled with wine, and I very merry went to bed, my head akeing all
night.
23rd (Lord's day). In the morning to Church, where our pew all covered
with rosemary and baize. A stranger made a dull sermon. Home and found
my wife and maid with much ado had made shift to spit a great turkey
sent me this week from Charles Carter, my old colleague, now minister in
Huntingdonshire, but not at all roasted, and so I was fain to stay till
two o'clock, and after that to church with my wife, and a good sermon
there was, and so home. All the evening at my book, and so to supper and
to bed.
24th. In the morning to the office and Commissioner Pett (who seldom
comes there) told me that he had lately presented a piece of plate
(being a couple of flaggons) to Mr. Coventry, but he did not receive
them, which also put me upon doing the same too; and so after dinner
I went and chose a payre of candlesticks to be made ready for me at
Alderman Backwell's. To the office again in the afternoon till night,
and so home, and with the painters till 10 at night, making an end of my
house and the arch before my door, and so this night I was rid of them
and all other work, and my house was made ready against to-morrow being
Christmas day. This day the Princess Royal died at Whitehall.
25th (Christmas day). In the morning very much pleased to see my house
once more clear of workmen and to be clean, and indeed it is so, far
better than it was that I do not repent of my trouble that I have been
at. In the morning to church, where Mr. Mills made a very good sermon.
After that home to dinner, where my wife and I and my brother Tom (who
this morning came to see my wife's new mantle put on, which do please me
very well), to a good shoulder of mutton and a chicken. After dinner to
church again, my wife and I, where we had a dull sermon of a stranger,
which made me sleep, and so home, and I, before and after supper, to my
lute and Fuller's History, at which I staid all alone in my chamber till
12 at night, and so to bed.
26th. In the morning to Alderman Backwell's for the candlesticks for Mr.
Coventry, but they being not done I went away, and so by coach to Mr.
Crew's, and there took some money of Mr. Moore's for my Lord, and so to
my Lord's, where I found Sir Thomas Bond (whom I never saw before) with
a message from the Queen about vessells for the carrying over of her
goods, and so with him to Mr. Coventry, and thence to the office (being
soundly washed going through the bridge) to Sir Wm. Batten and Pen (the
last of whom took physic to-day), and so I went up to his chamber, and
there having made an end of the business I returned to White Hall by
water, and dined with my Lady Sandwich, who at table did tell me how
much fault was laid upon Dr. Frazer and the rest of the Doctors, for the
death of the Princess! My Lord did dine this day with Sir Henry Wright,
in order to his going to sea with the Queen. Thence to my father
Bowyer's where I met my wife, and with her home by water.
27th. In the morning to Alderman Backwell's again, where I found the
candlesticks done, and went along with him in his coach to my Lord's and
left the candlesticks with Mr. Shepley. I staid in the garden talking
much with my Lord, who do show me much of his love and do communicate
his mind in most things to me, which is my great content. Home and with
my wife to Sir W. Batten's to dinner, where much and good company. My
wife not very well went home, I staid late there seeing them play at
cards, and so home to bed. This afternoon there came in a strange lord
to Sir William Batten's by a mistake and enters discourse with him, so
that we could not be rid of him till Sir Arn. Breames and Mr. Bens and
Sir W. Pen fell a-drinking to him till he was drunk, and so sent him
away. About the middle of the night I was very ill--I think with eating
and drinking too much--and so I was forced to call the maid, who pleased
my wife and I in her running up and down so innocently in her smock,
and vomited in the bason, and so to sleep, and in the morning was pretty
well, only got cold, and so had pain.... as I used to have.
28th. Office day. There all the morning. Dined at home alone with my
wife, and so staid within all the afternoon and evening; at my lute,
with great pleasure, and so to bed with great content.
29th. Within all the morning. Several people to speak with me; Mr.
Shepley for L100; Mr. Kennard and Warren, the merchant, about deals for
my Lord. Captain Robert Blake lately come from the Straights about
some Florence Wine for my Lord, and with him I went to Sir W. Pen,
who offering me a barrel of oysters I took them both home to my house
(having by chance a good piece of roast beef at the fire for dinner),
and there they dined with me, and sat talking all the afternoon-good
company. Thence to Alderman Backwell's and took a brave state-plate and
cupp in lieu of the candlesticks that I had the other day and carried
them by coach to my Lord's and left them there. And so back to my
father's and saw my mother, and so to my uncle Fenner's, whither my
father came to me, and there we talked and drank, and so away; I home
with my father, he telling me what bad wives both my cozen Joyces
make to their husbands, which I much wondered at. After talking of my
sister's coming to me next week, I went home and to bed.
30th (Lord's day). Lay long in bed, and being up, I went with Will to
my Lord's, calling in at many churches in my way. There I found Mr.
Shepley, in his Venetian cap, taking physique in his chamber, and with
him I sat till dinner. My Lord dined abroad and my Lady in her chamber,
so Mr. Hetly, Child and I dined together, and after dinner Mr. Child and
I spent some time at the lute, and so promising to prick me some lessons
to my theorbo he went away to see Henry Laws, who lies very sick. I to
the Abby and walked there, seeing the great confusion of people that
come there to hear the organs. So home, calling in at my father's,
but staid not, my father and mother being both forth. At home I fell
a-reading of Fuller's Church History till it was late, and so to bed.
31st. At the office all the morning and after that home, and not staying
to dine I went out, and in Paul's Church-yard I bought the play of
"Henry the Fourth," and so went to the new Theatre (only calling at Mr.
Crew's and eat a bit with the people there at dinner) and saw it acted;
but my expectation being too great, it did not please me, as otherwise I
believe it would; and my having a book, I believe did spoil it a little.
That being done I went to my Lord's, where I found him private at cards
with my Lord Lauderdale and some persons of honour. So Mr. Shepley and
I over to Harper's, and there drank a pot or two, and so parted. My boy
taking a cat home with him from my Lord's, which Sarah had given him for
my wife, we being much troubled with mice. At Whitehall inquiring for a
coach, there was a Frenchman with one eye that was going my way, so he
and I hired the coach between us and he set me down in Fenchurch Street.
Strange how the fellow, without asking, did tell me all what he was, and
how he had ran away from his father and come into England to serve the
King, and now going back again. Home and to bed.