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31st。 Prince Rupert I hear this day is to go to command this fleet going to Guinny against the Dutch。 I doubt few will be pleased with his going； being accounted an unhappy man。
SEPTEMBER 5； 1664。 With the Duke； where all our discourse of war in the highest measure。 Prince Rupert was with us； who is fitting himself to go to sea in the Heneretta。 And afterwards I met him and Mr。 Gray； and says he； 〃I can answer but for one ship； and in that I will do my part； for it is not in that as in the army； where a man can command every thing。〃
6th。 This day Mr。 Coventry did tell us how the Duke did receive the Dutch Embassador the other day： by telling him that； whereas they think us in jest； he believes that the Prince （Rupert） which goes in this fleet to Guinny will soon tell them that we are in earnest； and that he himself will do the like here； in the head of the fleet here at home； and that he did not doubt to live to see the Dutch as fearfull of provoking the English； under the government of a King； as he remembers there to have been under that of a Coquin。
11th。 With Mr。 Blagrave walking in the Abbey； he telling me the whole government and discipline of White Hall Chapel； and the caution now used against admitting any debauched persons。
12th。 Up； and to my cosen Anthony Joyce's； and there took leave of my aunt James； and both cosens； their wives； who are this day going down to my father's by coach。 I did give my aunt 20s。； to carry as a token to my mother； and 10s。 to Poll。 ＇His sister Paulina。＇ With the Duke； and saw him with great pleasure play with his little girle； like an ordinary private father of a child。
19th。 Dr。 Pierce tells me （when I was wondering that Fraizer should order things with the Prince in that confident manner；） that Fraizer is so great with my Lady Castlemaine； and Stewart； and all the ladies at Court； in helping to slip their calfes when there is occasion； and with the great men in curing of them； that he can do what he please with the King in spite of any man； and upon the same score with the Prince； they all having more or less occasion to make use of him。
22nd。 Home to…bed； having got a strange cold in my head； by flinging off my hat at dinner； and sitting with the wind in my neck。 ＇In Lord Clarendon's Essay on the decay of respect paid to Age； he says； that in his younger days he never kept his hat on before those older than himself； except at dinner。＇
23rd。 We were told to…day of a Dutch ship of 3 or 400 tons； where all the men were dead of the plague； and the ship cast ashore at Gottenburgh。
29th。 Fresh newes come of our beating the Dutch at Guinny quite out of all their castles almost； which will make them quite mad here at home sure。 and Sir G。 Carteret did tell me； that the King do joy mightily at it； but asked him laughing； 〃But；〃 says he； 〃how shall I do to answer this to the Embassador when he comes？〃 Nay they say that we have beat them out of the New Netherlands too； so that we have been doing them mischief for a great while in several parts of the world； without publick knowledge or reason。 Their fleete for Guinny is now； they say； ready； and abroad； and will be going this week。
OCTOBER 1； 1664。 We go now on with vigour in preparing against the Dutch； who； they say； will now fall upon us without doubt upon this high news come of our beating them so wholly in Guinny。
2nd。 After church I walked to my Lady Sandwich's； through my Lord Southampton's new buildings in the fields behind Gray's Inn； and； indeed； they are a very great and a noble work。
3rd。 With Sir J。 Minnes； by coach； to St。 James's； and there all the news now of very hot preparations for the Dutch： and being with the Duke； he told us he was resolved to take a tripp himself； and that Sir W。 Pen should go in the same ship with him。 Which honour； God forgive me！ I could grudge him； for his knavery and dissimulation； though I do not envy much the having the same place myself。 Talk also of great haste in the getting out another fleet； and building some ships； and now it is likely we have put one another's dalliance past a retreate。
4th。 After dinner to a play； to see 〃The Generall；〃 which is so dull and so ill…acted； that I think it is the worst I ever saw or heard in all my days。 I happened to sit near to Sir Charles Sedley： who I find a very witty man； and he did at every line take notice of the dullness of the poet and badness of the action； that most pertinently； which I was mightily taken with。
5th。 To the Musique…meeting at the Post…office； where I was once before。 And thither anon come all the Gresham College； and a great deal of noble company： and the new instrument was brought called the Arched Viall； where being tuned with lute…strings； and played on with kees like an organ； a piece of parchment is always kept moving； and the strings； which by the kees are pressed down upon it； are grated in imitation of a bow； by the parchment； and so it is intended to resemble several vyalls played on with one bow； but so basely and so harshly； that it will never do。 But after three hours' stay it could not be fixed in tune： and so they were fain to go to some other musique of instruments。 This morning； by three o'clock； the Prince ＇Rupert。＇ and King； and Duke with him； went down the River； and the Prince under sail the next tide after； and so is gone from the Hope。 God give him better success than he used to have！
10th。 This day； by the blessing of God； my wife and I have been married nine years： but my head being full of business； I did not think of it to keep it in any extraordinary manner。 But bless God for our long lives and loves and health together； which the same God long continue； I wish； from my very heart！
11th。 Luellin tells me what an obscene loose play this 〃Parson's Wedding〃 ＇A comedy； by Thomas Killigrew。＇ is； that is acted by nothing but women at the King's house。 My wife tells me the sad news of my Lady Castlemaine's being now become so decayed； that one would not know her； at least far from a beauty； which I am sorry for。 This day with great joy Captain Titus told us the particulars of the French's expedition against Gigery upon the Barbary Coast； in the Straights； with 6000 chosen men。 They have taken the Fort of Gigery； wherein were five men and three guns； which makes the whole story of the King of France's policy and power to be laughed at。
12th。 For news； all say De Ruyter is gone to Guinny before us。 Sir J。 Lawson is come to Portsmouth； and our fleet is hastening all speed： I mean this new fleet。 Prince Rupert with his is got into the Downes。
13th。 In my way to Brampton in this day's journey I met with Mr。 White； Cromwell's chaplin that was； and had a great deal of discourse with him。 Among others； he tells me that Richard is； and hath long been； in France； and is now going into Italy。 He owns publickly that he do correspond； and return him all his money。 That Richard hath been in some straits in the beginning； but relieved by his friends。 That he goes by another name； but do not disguise himself； nor deny himself to any man that challenges him。 He tells me； for certain； that offers had been made to the old man； of mar