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s Davis is for certain going away from the Duke's house； the King being in love with her； and a house is taken for her； and furnishing； and she hath a ring given her already worth 600l。： that the King did send several times for Nelly； and she was with him； and I am sorry for it； and can hope for no good to the State from having a Prince so devoted to his pleasure。 She told me also of a play shortly coming upon the stage of Sir Charles Sedley's； which； she thinks； will be called 〃The Wandering Ladys；〃 a comedy that she thinks will be most pleasant； and also another play； called 〃The Duke of Lorane：〃 besides 〃Catiline；〃 which she thinks； for want of the clothes which the King promised them； will not be acted for a good while。
14th。 To my bookseller； Martin； and there did receive my book I expected of China； a most excellent book with rare cuts； and there fell into discourse with him about the burning of Paul's when the City was burned； his house being in the church…yard。 And he tells me that it took fire first upon the end of a board that among others was laid upon the roof instead of lead； the lead being broke off； and thence down lower and lower： but that the burning of the goods under St。 Fayth's arose from the goods taking fire in the church…yard； and so got into St。 Fayth's church； and that they first took fire from the Draper's side； by some timber of the houses that were burned falling into the church。 He says that one warehouse of books was saved under Paul's； and there were several dogs found burned among the goods in the churchyard； and but one man； which was an old man； that said he would go and save a blanket which he had in the church； and being weak the fire overcame him。 He says that most of the booksellers do design to fall a…building again the next year； but that the Bishop of London do use them most basely； worse than any other landlords； and says he will be paid to this day the rent； or else he will not come to treat with them for the time to come； and will not； on that condition either； promise them in any thing how he will use them； and the Parliament sitting； he claims his privilege； and will not be cited before the Lord Chief Justice as others are there； to be forced to a fair dealing。 Thence by coach to Mrs。 Pierce's； where my wife is； and there they fell to discourse of the last night's work at Court； where the ladies and Duke of Monmouth and others acted。 〃The Indian Emperour；〃 wherein they told me these things most remarkable： That not any woman but the Duchesse of Monmouth and Mrs。 Cornwallis did any thing but like fools and stocks； but that these two did do most extraordinary well： that not any man did any thing well but Captain Olrigran； ＇SIC。 ORIG。＇ who spoke and did well； but above all things did dance most incomparably。 That she did sit near the players of the Duke's house； among the rest Miss Davis； who is the most impertinent slut； she says； in the world； and the more； now the King do show her countenance； and is reckoned his mistress； even to the scorne of the whole world； the King gazing on her； and my Lady Castlemaine being melancholy and out of humour； all the play not smiling once。 The King； it seems； hath given her a ring of 700l。 which she shows to every body； and owns that the King did give it her； and he hath furnished a house in Suffolke…street most richly for her； which is a most infinite shame。 It seems she is a bastard of Colonell Howard； my Lord Berkshire； and that he hath got her for the King： but Pierce says that she is a most homely jade as ever she saw； though she dances beyond any thing in the world。 She tells me that the Duchesse of Richmond do not yet come to the Court； nor hath seen the King； nor will not； nor do he own his desire of seeing her； but hath used means to get her to Court； but they do not take。
15th。 This afternoon my Lord Anglesy tells us that it is voted in Council to have a fleet of 50 ships out： but it is only a disguise for the Parliament to get some money by； but it will not take； I believe。
16th。 Lord Anglesy tells us again that a fleet is to be set out； and that it is generally； he hears； said that it is but a Spanish rhodomontado； and that he saying so just now to the Duke of Albemarle； who came to town last night （after the thing was ordered；） he told him a story of two seamen： one wished all the guns of the ship were his； and that they were silver； and says the other； 〃You are a fool； for if you can have it for wishing； why do you not wish them gold？〃 〃So；〃 says he； 〃if a rhodomontado will do any good； why do you not say 100 ships？〃 And it is true； for the Dutch and French are said to make such preparations as 50 sail will do no good。 Mightily pleased with Mr。 Gibson's talking； he telling me so many good stories relating to the war and practices of commanders which I will find a time to recollect； and he will be an admirable help to my writing a history of the Navy； if ever I do。
17th。 Much discourse of the duell yesterday between the Duke of Buckingham； Holmes； and one Jenkins； on one side； and my Lord of Shrewsbury； ＇Francis； eleventh Earl of Shrewsbury； died of his wounds March 16th following。＇ Sir John Talbot； ＇Sir John Talbot； a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber； M。P。 for Knaresborough。＇ and one Bernard Howard ＇Bernard Howard； eighth son of Henry Frederic Earl of Arundel。＇ on the other side： and all about； my Lady Shrewsbury； ＇Anna Maria； daughter of Robert Earl of Cardigan； the Duke of Buckingham's mistress； and said to have held his horse； in the habit of a page； while he was fighting with her husband。 She married； secondly； George Rodney Bridges； son of Sir Thomas Bridges of Keynsham； Somerset； and died April 20； 1702。＇ who is at this time； and hath for a great while been； a mistress to the Duke of Buckingham。 And so her husband challenged him； and they met yesterday in a close near Barne…Elmes and there fought： and my Lord Shrewsbury is run through the body； from the right breast through the shoulder； and Sir John Talbot all along up one of his armes； and Jenkins killed upon the place； and the rest all in a little measure wounded。 This will make the world think that the King hath good counsellors about him； when the Duke of Buckingham； the greatest man about him； is a fellow of no more sobriety than to fight about a mistress。 And this may prove a very bad accident to the Duke of Buckingham； but that my Lady Castlemaine do rule all at this time as much as ever she did； and she will； it is believed； keep all matters well with the Duke of Buckingham： though this is a time that the King will be very backward； I suppose； to appear in such a business。 And it is pretty to hear how the King had some notice of this challenge a week or two ago； and did give it to my Lord Generall to confine the Duke； or take security that he should not do any such thing as fight： and the Generall trusted to the King that he； sending for him； would do it； and the King trusted to the Generall。 And it is said that my Lord Shrewsbury's case is to be feared； that he may die too； and that may make it much worse for the Duke of Buckingham： and I shall not be much sorry for it； that we may have some sober man come in his room to assi