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htily。
6th。 A full Board。 Here; talking of news; my Lord Anglesy did tell us that the Dutch do make a further bogle with us about two or three things; which they will be satisfied in; he says; by us easily; but only in one; it seems; they do demand that we shall not interrupt their East Indiamen coming home; and of which they are in some fear; and we are full of hopes that we have light upon some of them and carried them into Lisbon by Harman; which God send! But they (which do show the low esteem they have of us) have the confidence to demand that we shall have a cessation on our parts; and yet they at liberty to take what they will; which is such an affront; as another cannot be devised greater。
7th。 Though the King and my Lady Castlemaine are friends again; she is not at White Hall; but at Sir D。 Harvy's; whither the King goes to her; and he says she made him ask her forgiveness upon his knees and promised to offend her no more so: and that; indeed; she did threaten to bring all his bastards to his closet door; and hath nearly hectored him out of his wits。
8th。 Sir Henry Bellasses is dead of the duell he fought about ten days ago with Tom Porter; and it is pretty to see how the world talk of them as of a couple of fools that killed one another out of love。 I to my bookseller's; where by and by I met Mr。 Evelyn; and talked of several things; but particularly of the times: and he tells me that wise men do prepare to remove abroad what they have; for that we must be ruined; our case being past relief; the kingdom so much in debt; and the King minding nothing but his lust; going two days a…week to see my Lady Castlemaine at Sir D。 Harvy's。
9th。 To St。 James's; and there met Sir W。 Coventry; and he and I walked in the Park an hour。 And then to his chamber; where he read to me the heads of the late great dispute between him and the rest of the Commissioners of the Treasury; and our new Treasurer of the Navy; where they have overthrown him the last Wednesday; in the great dispute touching his having the payment of the Victualler; which is now settled by Council that he is not to have it: and; indeed; they have been most just as well as most severe and bold in the doing this against a man of his quality: but I perceive he does really make no difference between any man。 He tells me this day it is supposed the Peace is ratified at Bredah; and all that matter over。 We did talk of many retrenchments of charge of the Navy which he will put in practice; and every where else; though; he tells me; he despairs of being able to do what ought to be done for the saving of the kingdom; (which I tell him; indeed; all the world is almost in hopes of; upon the proceeding of these gentlemen for the regulating of the Treasury;) it being so late; and our poverty grown so great; that they want where to set their feet to begin to do any thing。 He tells me how weary he hath for this year and a half been of the warr; and how in the Duke of York's bedchamber at Christ Church; at Oxford; when the Court was there; he did labour to persuade the Duke to fling off the care of the Navy; and get it committed to other hands; which; if he had done; would have been much to his honour; being just come home with so much honour from sea as he was。 I took notice of the sharp letter he wrote (which he sent us to read) to Sir Edward Spragg; where he is very plain about his leaving his charge of the ships at Gravesend; when the enemy came last up; and several other things; a copy whereof I have kept。 But it is done like a most worthy man; and he says it is good now and then to tell these gentlemen their duty; for they need it。 And it seems; as he tells me; all our Knights are fallen out one with another; he and Jenings and Hollis; and (his words were) they are disputing which is the coward among them; and yet men that take the greatest liberty of censuring others! Here with him very late; till I could hardly get a coach or link willing to go through the ruines; but I do; but will not do it again; being indeed very dangerous。
10th。 Sir John Denham's Poems are going to be all printed together; and; among others; some new things; and among them he showed me a copy of verses of his upon Sir John Minnes's going heretofore to Bullogne to eat a pig。 Cowly; he tells me; is dead; who; it seems; was a mighty civil; serious man; which I did not know before。
11th。 To the Wells at Barnett; by seven o'clock; and there found many people a…drinking; but the morning is a very cold morning; so as we were very cold all the way in the coach。 And so to Hatfield; to the inn next my Lord Salisbury's house; and there rested ourselves; and drank; and bespoke dinner: and so to church。 In this church lies the former Lord of Salisbury (Cecil); buried in a noble tomb。 Then we to our inn; and there dined very well; and mighty merry; and walked out into the Park through the fine walk of trees; and to the Vineyard; and there showed them that which is in good order; and indeed a place of great delight; which; together with our fine walk through the Park; was of as much pleasure as could be desired in the world for country pleasure and good ayre。 Being come back and weary with the walk; the women had pleasure in putting on some straw… hats; which are much worn in this country; and did become them mightily but especially my wife。
12th。 To my bookseller's; and did buy Scott's Discourse of Witches; and to hear Mr。 Cowly mightily lamented (his death) by Dr。 Ward; the Bishop of Winchester; and Dr。 Bates; who were standing there; as the best poet of our nation; and as good a man。
13th。 Attended the Duke of York; with our usual business; who upon occasion told us that he did expect this night or to…morrow to hear from Bredah of the consummation of the peace。
15th。 Sir W。 Pen and I to the Duke's house; where a new play。 The King and Court there: the house full; and an act begun。 And so we went to the King's; and there saw 〃The Merry Wives of Windsor;〃 which did not please me at all; in no part of it。
16th。 My wife and I to the Duke's playhouse; where we saw the new play acted yesterday; 〃The Feign Innocence; or Sir Martin Marall;〃 a play made by my Lord Duke of Newcastle; but; as every body says; corrected by Dryden。 It is the most entire piece of mirth; a complete farce from one end to the other; that certainly was ever writ。 I never laughed so in all my life; and at very good wit therein; not fooling。 The House full; and in all things of mighty content to me。 Every body wonders that we have no news from Bredah of the ratification of the peace; and do suspect that there is some stop in it。
17th。 To the King's playhouse; where the house extraordinary full; and there the King and Duke of York to see the new play; 〃Queene Elizabeth's Troubles; and the history of Eighty Eight。〃 I confess I have sucked in so much of the sad story of Queene Elizabeth from my cradle; that I was ready to weep for her sometimes; but the play is the most ridiculous that sure ever came upon stage; and; indeed; is merely a show; only shows the true garbe of the Queene in those days; just as we see Queene Mary and Queene Elizabeth painted: but the play is merely a puppet play