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k！ And how poor the men are in clothes； and yet what a show they make on the stage by candle…light； is very observable。 But to see how Nell cursed； for having so few people in the pit； was strange； the other house carrying away all the people at the new play； and is said now…a…days to have generally most company； as being better players。 By and by into the pit； and there saw the play； which is pretty good。
7th。 I and my wife； and Willet； ＇Mrs。 Pepys's maid。＇ set out in a coach I have hired with four horses； and W。 Hewer and Murford rode by us on horse…back； and before night come to Bishop… Stafford。 ＇Stortford。＇ Took coach to Audly…End； and did go all over the house and garden； and mighty merry we were。 The house indeed do appear very fine； but not so fine as it hath heretofore to me； particularly the ceilings are not so good as I always took them to be； being nothing so well wrought as my Lord Chancellor's are； and though the figure of the house without be very extraordinary good； yet the stayre…case is exceeding poor； and a great many pictures； and not one good one in the house but one of Harry the Eighth； done by Holben； and not one good suit of hangings in all the house； but all most ancient things； such as I would not give the hanging…upon in my house； and the other furniture； beds and other things； accordingly。 Only the gallery is good； and above all things the cellars； where we went down and drank of much good liquor。 And indeed the cellars are fine： and here my wife and I did sing to my great content。 And then to the garden； and there eat many grapes； and took some with us： and so away thence exceeding well satisfied； though not to that degree that by my old esteem of the house I ought and did expect to have done； the situation of it not pleasing me。 Thence away to Cambridge； and did take up at the Rose。
9th。 Up； and got ready； and eat our breakfast； and then took coach； and the poor； as they did yesterday； did stand at the coach to have something given them； as they do to all great persons； and I did give them something： and the town musick did also come and play； but； Lord！ what sad musick they made！ So through the town； and observed at our College of Magdalene the posts new painted； and understand that the Vice Chancellor is there this year。 And so away for Huntingdon； and come to Brampton at about noon； and there find my father and sister and brother all well： and up and down to see the garden with my father； and the house； and do altogether find it very pretty； and I bless God that I am like to have such a pretty place to retire to。 After dinner I walked up to Hinchingbroke； where my Lady expected me； and there spent all the afternoon with her： the same most excellent； good； discreet lady that ever she was； and； among other things； is mightily pleased with the lady that is like to be her son Hinchingbroke's wife。 I am pleased with my Lady Paulina ＇A mistake for Lady Catherine； Lady Paulina being dead。＇ and Anne； who are both grown very proper ladies； and handsome enough。 But I do find by my Lady that they are reduced to great straits for money； having been forced to sell her plate； 8 or 900l。 worth； and she is now going to sell a suit of her best hangings； of which I could almost wish to buy a piece or two； if the pieces will be broke。 But the house is most excellently furnished； and brave rooms and good pictures； so that it do please me infinitely beyond Audley End。
10th。 Up； to walk up and down in the garden with my father； to talk of all our concernments： about a husband for my sister； whereof there is at present no appearance； but we must endeavour to find her one now； for she grows old and ugly。 My father and I with a dark lantern； it being now night； into the garden with my wife； and there went about our great work to dig up my gold。 But； Lord！ what a tosse I was for some time in； that they could not justly tell where it was： but by and by poking with a spit we found it； and then begun with a spudd to lift up the ground。 But； good God！ to see how sillily they did it； not half a foot under ground； and in the sight of the world from a hundred places； if any body by accident were near hand； and within sight of a neighbour's window： only my father says that he saw them all gone to church before he began the work； when he laid the money。 But I was out of my wits almost； and the more from that； upon my lifting up the earth with the spudd； I did discern that I had scattered the pieces of gold round about the ground among the grass and loose earth： and taking up the iron head…pieces wherein they were put； I perceived the earth was got among the gold； and wet so that the bags were all rotten； and all the notes； that I could not tell what in the world to say to it； not knowing how to judge what was wanting or what had been lost by Gibson in his coming down： which； all put together； did make me mad； and at last I was forced to take up the head…pieces； dirt and all； and as many of the scattered pieces as I could with the dirt discern by candle light； and carry them up into my brother's chamber； and there locke them up till I had eat a little supper： and then； all people going to bed； W。 Hewer and I did all alone with several pails of water and besoms at last wash the dirt off the pieces； and parted the pieces and the dirt； and then began to tell them by a note which I had of the value of the whole （in my pocket。） And do find that there was short above a hundred pieces： which did make me mad； and considering that the neighbour's house was so near that we could not possibly speak one to another in the garden at that place where the gold lay （especially my father being deaf） but they must know what we had been doing； I feared that they might in the night come and gather some pieces and prevent us the next morning； so W。 Hewer and I out again about midnight （for it was now grown so late） and there by candle…light did make shift to gather forty…five pieces more。 And so in and to cleanse them： and by this time it was past two in the morning； and so to bed； and there lay in some disquiet all night telling of the clock till it was day…light。
11th。 And then W。 Hewer and I； with pails and a sieve； did lock ourselves into the garden； and there gather all the earth about the place into pails； and then sift those pails in one of the summer…houses （just as they do for dyamonds in other parts of the world）； and there to our great content did by nine o'clock make the last night's forty…five up seventy…nine： so that we are come to about twenty or thirty of what I think the true number should be。 So do leave my father to make a second examination of the dirt； and my mind at rest in it； being but an accident： and so give me some kind of content to remember how painful it is sometimes to keep money； as well as to get it； and how doubtful I was to keep it all night； and how to secure it to London。 About ten o'clock took coach； my wife and I； and Willett； and W。 Hewer； and Murford and Bowles （whom my Lady lent me to go along with me my journey； not telling her the reason； but it was only to secure my gold；） and my brother John on horseback； and with these four I thought myself pretty safe。