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11th。 Come to dine with me Sir W。 Batten and his lady； and Mr。 Griffith their Ward； and Sir W。 Pen and his lady； and Mrs。 Lowther； （who is grown either through pride or want of manners a fool； having not a word to say； and； as a further mark of a beggarly proud fool； hath a bracelet of diamonds and rubies about her wrist； and a sixpenny necklace about her neck； and not one good rag of clothes upon her back；） and Sir John Chichly in their company； and Mr。 Turner。 Here I had an extraordinary good and handsome dinner for them； better than any of them deserve or understand （saving Sir John Chichly and Mrs。 Turner。） To the Duke of York's playhouse； and there saw part of the 〃Ungrateful Lovers；〃 and sat by Beck Marshall； whose hand is very handsome。 Here came Mr。 Moore； and sat and discoursed with me of public matters： the sum of which is； that he do doubt that there is more at the bottom than the removal of the Chancellor； that is； he do verily believe that the King do resolve to declare the Duke of Monmouth legitimate； and that we shall soon see if。 This I do not think the Duke of York will endure without blows； but his poverty； and being lessened by having the Chancellor fallen and Sir W。 Coventry gone from him； will disable him from being able to do any thing almost； he being himself almost lost in the esteem of people； and will be more and more； unless my Lord Chancellor （who is already begun to be pitied by some people； and to be better thought of than was expected） do recover himself in Parliament。 He do say that that is very true； that my Lord Chancellor did lately make some stop of some grants of 2000l。 a…year to my Lord Grandison； ＇George Villiers； fourth Viscount Grandison； and younger brother of Lady Castlemaine's father； who had died without male issue。＇ which was only in his name； for the use of my Lady Castlemaine's children； and that this did incense her； and she did speak very scornful words and sent a scornful message to him about it。
14th。 The King and Duke of York and the whole Court is mighty joyful at the Duchesse of York's being brought to bed this day； or yesterday； of a son； which will settle men's minds mightily。 And Pierce tells me that he do think that what the King do； of giving the Duke of Monmouth the command of his Guards； and giving my Lord Gerard 12；000l。 for it； is merely to find an employment for him upon which he may live； and not out of any design to bring him into any title to the Crowne； which Mr。 Moore did the other day put me into great fear of。 To the King's playhouse to see 〃The Northerne Castle；〃 which I think I never did see； before。 Knipp acted is it； and did her part very extraordinary well； but the play is but a mean； sorry play。 Sir H。 Cholmly was with me a good while； who tells me that the Duke of York's child is christened； the Duke of Albemarle and the Marquis of Worcester ＇Edward； second Marquis of Worcester； author of 〃The Century of Inventions。〃＇ godfathers； and my Lady Suffolke godmother； and they have named it Edgar； which is a brave name。 But it seems they are more joyful in the Chancellor's family； at the birth of this Prince； than in wisdom they should； for fear it should give the King cause of jealousy。 Sir H。 Cholmly thinks there may possibly be some persons that would be glad to have the Queene removed to some monastery； or somewhere or other； to make room for a new wife； for they will all be unsafe under the Duke of York。 He says the King and Parliament will agree； that is； that the King will do any thing that they will have him。 I met with 〃a fourth Advice to the Painter upon the coming in of the Dutch to the River and end of the war；〃 ＇In the Collection of Poems on Affairs of State； there are four pieces called 〃DIRECTIONS TO A PAINTER；〃 the first of them 〃CONCERNING THE DUTCH WAR； 1667； BY SIR JOHN DENHAM。〃 The same book also contains 〃THE LAST INSTRUCTIONS TO A PAINTER ABOUT THE DUTCH WARS； BY ANDREW MARVEL； ESQ。；〃 which from its severity I suppose to be the work here alluded to。＇ that made my heart ake to read； it being too sharp and so true。 Here I also saw a printed account of the examinations taken touching the burning of the City of London； showing the plot of the Papists therein； which； it seems； hath been ordered to be burnt by the hands of the common hangman； in Westminster Palace。 My wife and Mercer and I away to the King's playhouse； to see 〃The Scornfull Lady；〃 but it being now three o'clock there was not one soul in the pit； whereupon； for shame we could not go in； but； against our wills； went all to see 〃Tu quoque〃 again； where there was pretty store of company。 Here we saw Madam Morland； ＇Sir Samuel Morland's first wife。＇ who is grown mighty fat； but is very comely。 Thence to the King's house； upon a wager of mine with my wife that there would be no acting there to…day there being no company： so I went in and found a pretty good company there； and saw their dance at the end of the play。
18th。 I walked in the Exchange； which is now made mighty pretty； by having windows and doors before all their shops； to keep out the cold。
20th。 By coach to the King's playhouse； and there saw； 〃The Mad Couple；〃 ＇Probably 〃A Mad Couple well Matched〃 a comedy by Richard Brome； printed in 1653。＇ my wife having been at the same play with Jane in the 18d。 seat。
21st。 The King； Duke of York； and the men of the Court have been these four or five days a…hunting at Bagshot。
22nd。 At noon comes Mr。 Sheres； whom I find a good； ingenious man； but do talk a little too much of his travels。 He left my Lord Sandwich well； but in pain to be at home for want of money； which comes very hardly。 I have indulged myself more in pleasure for these last two months than ever I did in my life before； since I came to be a person concerned in business； and I doubt； when I come to make up my accounts； I shall find it so by the expence。
23rd。 At my Lord Ashly's by invitation to dine there。 At table it is worth remembering that my Lord tells us that the House of Lords is the last appeal that a man can make upon a point of interpretation of the law； and that therein they are above the Judges； and that he did assert this in the Lords' House upon the late occasion of the quarrel between my Lord Bristoll and the Chancellor； when the former did accuse the latter of treason； and the Judges did bring it in not to be treason： my Lord Ashly did declare that the judgement of the Judges was nothing in the presence of their Lordships； but only as far as they were the properest men to bring precedents； but not to interpret the law to their Lordships； but only the inducements of their persuasions： and this the Lords did concur in。 Another pretty thing was my Lady Ashly's speaking of the bad Qualities of glass… coaches； among others； the flying open of the doors upon any great shake： but another was； that my Lady Peterborough being in her glass…coach with the glass up； and seeing a lady pass by in a coach whom she would salute； the glass was so clear that she thought it had been open； and so ran her head through the glass！ We were put into my Lord's room before he could come to us； and there had opportunity to look over his state of his accounts of the prizes； an