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like； and is a most admirable poem； and bravely acted； only both Betterton and Harris could not contain from laughing in the midst of a most serious part； from the ridiculous mistake of one of the men upon the stage； which I did not like。 This morning was told by Sir W。 Batten that he do hear from Mr。 Grey； who hath good intelligence； that our Queene is to go into a nunnery there to spend her days； and that my Lady Castlemaine is going to France； and is to have a pension of 4000l。 a…year。 This latter I do more believe than the other； it being very wise in her to do it and save all she hath； besides easing the King and kingdom of a burden and reproach。
8th。 Lord Brouncker says he do believe that my Lady Castlemaine is compounding with the King for a pension； and to leave the Court； but that her demands are mighty high： but he believes the King is resolved； and so do everybody else I speak with； to do all possible to please the Parliament； and he do declare that he will deliver every body up to give an account of their actions： and that last Friday； it seems； there was an Act of Council passed； to put out all Papists in office； and to keep out any from coming in。 Sir G。 Downing told he had been seven years finding out a man that could dress English sheep…akin as it should be； and indeed it is now as good in all respects as kidd； and； he says； will save 100；000l。 a…year that goes out to France for kidds'…skins。 He tells me that at this day the King in familiar talk do call the Chancellor 〃the insolent man；〃 and says that he would not let him speak himself in Council： which is very high； and do show that the Chancellor is like to be in a bad state； unless he can defend himself better than people think。 And yet Creed tells me that he do hear that my Lord Cornbury ＇Henry； afterwards second Earl of Clarendon。＇ do say that his father do long for the coming of the Parliament； in order to his own vindication； more than any one of his enemies。 And here it comes into my head to set down what Mr。 Rawlinson （whom I met in Fenchurch…street on Friday last looking over his ruines there） told me that he was told by one of my Lord Chancellor's gentlemen lately； that a grant coming to him to be sealed； wherein the King hath given my Lady Castlemaine； or somebody by her means； a place which he did not like well of； he did stop the grant； saying； that he thought this woman would sell every thing shortly： which she hearing of； she sent to let him know that she had disposed of this place； and did not doubt in a little time to dispose of his。 To White Hall； and saw the King and Queene at dinner； and observed （which I never did before） the formality； but it is but a formality； of putting a bit of bread wiped upon each dish into the mouth of every man that brings a dish； but it should be in the sauce。 Here were some Russes come to see the King at dinner； among others the interpreter； a comely Englishman； in the Envoy's own clothes； which the Envoy； it seems； in vanity did send to show his fine clothes upon this man's back； he being one； it seems； of a comelier presence than himself： and yet it is said that none of their clothes are their own； but taken out of the King's own Wardrobe； and which they dare not bring back dirty or spotted； but clean； or are in danger of being beaten； as they say： inasmuch that； Sir Charles Cotterell ＇Knight； and Master of the Ceremonies from 1641 to 1686； when he resigned in favour of his son。＇ says； when they are to have an audience they never venture to put on their clothes till he appears to come and fetch them； and as soon as ever they come home； put them off again。 I to Sir G。 Carteret's to dinner； where Mr。 Cofferer Ashburnham； who told a good story of a prisoner's being condemned at Salisbury for a small matter。 While he was on the bench with his father…in…law Judge Richardson； ＇Sir Thomas Richardson； Knight； appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 1626。＇ and while they were considering to transport him to save his life； the fellow flung a great stone at the Judge； that missed him； but broke through the wainscoat。 Upon this he had his hand cut off； and was hanged presently。 ＇This anecdote is thus confirmed in Chief Justice Treby's NOTES TO DYER'S REPORTS； FOLIO EDITION； p。188。 b。 〃Richardson； Ch。 Just。 de C。 Banc。 al Assises at Salisbury； in summer 1631； fuit assault per prisoner la condemne pur felony； que puis son condemnation ject un brick…bat a le dit Justice； qui narrowly mist； et pur ceo immediately fuit indictment drawn； per Noy； ＇The Attorney…General。＇ eavers le prisoner； et son dexter manus ampute； and fix at gibbet； sur que luy meme immediatement hange in presence de Court。〃＇
9th。 To White Hall； and here do hear； by Tom Killigrew and Mr。 Progers； that for certain news is come of Harman's having spoiled nineteen of twenty…two French ships； somewhere about the Barbadoes； I think they said； but wherever it is； it is a good service and very welcome。 To the Bear…garden； where now the yard was full of people； and those most of them seamen； striving by force to get in。 I got into the common pit； and there； with my cloak about my face； I stood and saw the prize fought； till one of them； a shoemaker； was so cut in both his wrists that he could not fight any longer； and then they broke off： his enemy was a butcher。 The sport very good； and various humours to be seen among the rabble that is there。
10th。 To St。 James's； where we all met and did our usual weekly business with the Duke of York。 But； Lord！ methinks both he and we are mighty flat and dull to what we used to be when Sir W。 Coventry was among us。 Met Mr。 Povy； and he and I to walk an hour or more in the Pell Mell； talking of the times。 He tells me among other things； that this business of the Chancellor do breed a kind of inward distance between the King and the Duke of York； and that it cannot be avoided； for though the latter did at first move it through his folly； yet he is made to see that he is wounded by it； and is become much a less man than be was； and so will be： but he tells me that they are； and have always been； great dissemblers one towards another； and that their parting heretofore in France is never to be thoroughly reconciled between them。 He tells me that he believes there is no such thing likely to be as a composition with my Lady Castlemaine； and that she shall be got out of the way before the Parliament comes； for he says she is high as ever she was； though he believes the King is as weary of her as is possible； and would give any thing to remove her； but he is so weak in his passion that he dare not do it： that he do believe that my Lord Chancellor will be doing some acts in the Parliament which shall render him popular； and that there are many people now do speak kindly of him that did not before； but that if he do do this； it must provoke the King and that party that removed him。 He seems to doubt what the King of France will do； in case an accommodation shall be made between Spain and him for Flanders； for then he will have nothing more easy to do with his army than to subdue us。
11th。 Come to dine with me Sir W。 Batten and his lady； and Mr。 Griffith their Ward； and Sir W。 Pen and his l