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。 There met Lord Brouncker and Mr。 Coventry； and discoursed about the Navy business； and all of us much at a loss that we yet can hear nothing of Sir Jeremy Smith's fleet； that went away to the Straights the middle of December； through all the storms that we have had since that have driven back three or four of them with their masts by the board。 Yesterday come out the King's Declaration of War against the French； but with such mild invitations of both them and the Dutch to come over here with promise of their protection； that every body wonders at it。
12th。 Comes Mr。 Caesar； my boy's lute…master； whom I have not seen since the plague before； but he hath been in Westminster Hall all this while very well； and tells me in the height of it； how bold people there were； to go in sport to one another's burials： and in spite too； ill people would breathe in the faces （out of their windows） of well people going by。
13th。 Ill news this night that the plague is encreased this week； and in many places else about the town； and at Chatham and elsewhere。
14th。 I took Mr。 Hill to my Lord Chancellor's new house that is building； and went with trouble up to the top of it； and there is the noblest prospect that ever I saw in my life； Greenwich being nothing to it； and in everything is a beautiful house； and most； strongly built in every respect； and as if； as it hath； it had the Chancellor for its master。 I staid a meeting of the Duke of York's； and the officers of the Navy and Ordnance。 My Lord Treasurer lying in bed of the gowte。
15th。 Mr。 Hales ＇John Hayls； or Hales； a portrait…painter remarkable for copying Vandyke well； and being a rival of Lely。＇ began my wife's portrait in the posture we saw one of my Lady Peters； like a St。 Katharine。 While he painted； Knipp； ＇Of Mrs。 Knipp's history； nothing seems known； except that she was a married actress belonging to the King's house； and as late as 1677； her name occurs among the performers in the 〃Wily False One。〃＇ and Mercer； and I； sang。 We hear this night of Sir Jeremy Smith； that he and his fleet have been seen at Malaga； which is good news。
16th。 To the Coffee…House； the first time I have been there； where very full； and company it seems hath been there all the plague time。 The Queene comes to Hampton Court to…night。
18th。 It being a brave day； I walked to White Hall； where the Queene and ladies are all come： I saw some few of them； but not the Queene； nor any of the great beauties。
19th。 I am told for certain； what I have heard once or twice already； of a Jew in town； that in the name of the rest do offer to give any man 10l。 to be paid 100l。； if a certain person now at Smyrna be within these two years owned by all the Princes of the East； and particularly the grand Segnor as the King of the world； in the same manner we do the King of England here； and； that this man is the true Messiah。 One named a friend of his that had received ten pieces in gold upon this score； and says that the Jew hath disposed of 1100l。 in this manner； which is very strange； and certainly this year of 1666 will be a year of great action； but what the consequences of it will be； God knows！ To White Hall； and there saw the Queene at cards with many ladies； but none of our beauties were there。 But glad I was to see the Queene so well； who looks prettily； and methinks hath more life than before； since it is confessed of all that she miscarried lately； Dr。 Clerke telling me yesterday of it at White Hall。 ＇The details in the original leave no doubt of the fact；and exculpate the Chancellor from the charge of having selected the Queen as incapable of bearing children。＇
20th。 Up； and to the office； where； among other businesses； Mr。 Evelyn's proposition about publick Infirmarys was read and agreed on； he being there： and at noon I took him home to dinner； being desirous of keeping my acquaintance with him； and a most excellent humoured man I still find him； and mighty knowing。
21st。 The Duke did bring out a book of great antiquity of some of the customs of the Navy； about 100 years since； which he did lend us to read and deliver him back again。 To Trinity…house； being invited to an Elder Brother's feast； and there met and sat by Mr。 Prin； and had good discourse about the privileges of Parliament； which； he says； are few to the Commons' House； and those not examinable by them； but only by the House of Lords。 Thence with my Lord Brouncker to Gresham College； the first time after the sickness that I was there； and the second time any met。 And here a good lecture of Mr。 Hooke's about the trade of felt… making； very pretty。 And anon alone with me about the art of drawing pictures by Prince Rupert's rule and machine； and another of Dr。 Wren's； ＇Sir Christopher Wren。＇ but he says nothing do like squares； or； which is the best in the world； like a darke roome。
22nd。 We are much troubled that the sickness in general （the town being so full of people） should be but three； and yet of the particular disease of the plague there should be ten encrease。
23rd。 To my Lord Sandwich's； who did lie the last night at his house in Lincoln's Inne Fields。 It being fine walking in the morning； and the streets full of people again。 There I staid； and the house full of people come to take leave of my Lord； who this day goes out of towne upon his embassy towards Spayne。 And I was glad to find Sir W。 Coventry to come； though I know it is only a piece of courtshipp。 Comes Mrs。 Knipp to see my wife； and I spent all the night talking with this baggage； and teaching her my song of 〃Beauty retire；〃 which she sings and makes go most rarely； and a very fine song it seems to be。 She also entertained me with repeating many of her own and others' parts of the play…house； which she do most excellently； and tells me the whole practices of the play…house and players； and is in every respect most excellent company。
25th。 With our coach of four horses to Windsor； and so to Cranborne； about eleven o'clock； and found my Lord ＇Sandwich。＇ and the ladies at a sermon in the house； which being ended we to them； and all the company glad to see us； and mighty merry to dinner。 Here was my Lord； and Lord Hinchingbroke； and Mr。 Sidney； ＇Sidney Montagu； Lord Sandwich's second son。＇ Sir Charles Herbert； and Mr。 Carteret； my Lady Carteret； my Lady Jemimah； and Lady Slaning。 ＇Sir G。 Carteret's daughter Caroline。＇ After dinner to walk in the Park； my Lord and I alone； and he tells me my Lord of Suffolk； Lord Arlington； Archbishop of Canterbury； Lord Treasurer； Mr。 Atturny Montagu； Sir Thomas Clifford in the House of Commons； Sir G。 Carteret； and some others I cannot presently remember； are friends that I may rely on for him。 He dreads the issue of this year； and fears there will be some very great revolutions before his coming back again。 He doubts it is needful for him to have a pardon for his last year's actions； all which he did without commission； and at most but the King's private single single word for that of Bergen； but he dares not ask it at this time； lest it should make them think that there is something more in it than yet they know； and if it should be denied； it would be of very ill consequence。 He s