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25th。 Christmas day。 To dinner alone with my wife； who； poor wretch！ sat undressed all day till ten at night； altering and lacing of a noble petticoat； while I by her making the boy read to me the Life of Julius Caesar； and Des Cartes' book of Musick。
27th。 Lord's day。 Saw the King at chapel； but staid not to hear any thing； but went to walk in the Park with W。 Hewer； and there； among others； met with Sir G。 Downing； and walked with him an hour talking of business； and how the late war was managed； there being nobody to take care of it： and he telling； when he was in Holland； what he offered the King to do if he might have power； and then upon the least word； perhaps of a woman； to the King； he was contradicted again； and particularly to the loss of all that we lost in Guinny。 He told me that he had so good spies； that he hath had the keys taken out of De Witt's pocket when he was a… bed； and his closet opened and papers brought to him and left in his hands for an hour； and carried back and laid in the place again； and keys put into his pocket again。 He says he hath always had their most private debates； that have been but between two or three of the chief of them； brought to him in an hour after； and an hour after that hath sent word thereof to the King； but nobody here regarded them。 But he tells me the sad news that he is out of all expectations that ever the debts of the Navy will be paid； if the Parliament do not enable the King to do it by money； all they can hope for to do out of the King's revenue being but to keep our wheels a…going on present services； and； if they can； to cut off the growing interest： which is a sad story； and grieves me to the heart。
28th。 Called up by drums and trumpets； these things and boxes having cost me much money this Christmas already； and will do more。
1668…9。 JANUARY 1。 Presented from Captain Beckford with a noble silver warming…pan。
4th。 W。 Hewer and I went and saw the great tall woman that is to be seen； who is but twenty…one years old； and I do easily stand under her arms。 To White Hall； where a Committee of Tangier met； and I did receive an instance of the Duke of York's kindness to me； and the whole Committee； that they would not order any thing about the Treasury for the Corporation now in establishing； without my assent and considering whether it would be to my wrong or no。 Thence up and down the house； and to the Duke of York's side； and there in the Duchesse's presence： and was mightily complimented by my Lady Peterborough in my Lord Sandwich's presence； whom she engaged to thank me for my kindness to her and her Lord。 We also declared our minds together to the Duke of York about Sir John Minnes's incapacity to do any service in the office： he promised to speak to the King about it。
7th。 My wife and I to the King's playhouse； and there saw 〃The Island Princesse；〃 ＇A tragi…comedy by Beaumont and Fletcher。＇ the first time I ever saw it ； and it is a pretty good play； many good things being in it； and a good scene of a town on fire。 We sat in an upper box； and the jade Nell came and sat in the next box； a bold merry slut； who lay laughing there upon people： and with a comrade of hers； of the Duke's house； that came in to see the play。
11th。 Abroad with my wife to the King's playhouse； and there saw 〃The Joviall Crew；〃 but ill acted to what it was heretofore in Clun's time； and when Lacy could dance。 Thence to the New Exchange； to buy some things； and； among others； my wife did give me my pair of gloves； which by contract she is to give me in her 30l。 a…year。 Here Mrs。 Smith tells us of the great murder thereabouts on Saturday last； of one Captain Bumbridge； by one Symons； both of her acquaintance； and hectors that were at play； and in drink： the former is killed； and is kinsman to my Lord of Ormond； which made him speak of it with so much passion。
12th。 Mr。 Pierce； I asking him whither he was going； told me as a great secret that he was going to his master's mistress； Mrs。 Churchill； ＇Arabella Churchill； sister to John Duke of Marlborough； one of the Maids of Honour to the Duchess of York。 James Duke of Berwick and three other children were the fruits of this intrigue。 She married subsequently Colonel Godfrey； Comptroller of the Household； and died 1730； aged 82。＇ with some physic； meaning； I suppose； that she is with child。
15th。 To Sir W。 Coventry； where with him a good while in his chamber； talking of the great factions at Court at this day； even to the sober engaging of great persons； and differences； and making the King cheap and ridiculous。 It is about my Lady Harvy's being offended at Doll Common's acting of Sempronia； to imitate her； for which she got my Lord Chamberlain； her kinsman； to imprison Doll： upon which my Lady Castlemaine made the King to release her； and to order her to act it again worse than ever； the other day where the King himself was； and since it was acted again； and my Lady Harvy provided people to hiss her and fling oranges at her： but it seems the heat is come to a great height； and real troubles at Court about it。 Through the Park； where I met the King and the Duke of York； and so walked with them； and I did give the Duke of York thanks for his favour to me yesterday； at the Committee of Tangier； in my absence； （where some business was brought forward which the Duke of York would not suffer to go on without my presence at the debate。） And he answered me just thus： that he ought to have a care of him that do the King's business in the manner that I do； and words of more force than that。 Then down with Lord Brouncker to Sir R。 Murray； into the King's little elaboratory under his closet； a pretty place； and there saw a great many chymical glasses and things； but understood none of them。
16th。 Mr。 Wren thinks that the Parliament is likely to meet again； the King being frighted with what the Speaker hath put him in mind of；his promise not to prorogue； but only to adjourne them。 They speak mighty freely of the folly of the King this foolish women's business of my Lady Harvy。 Povy tells me that Sir W。 Coventry was with the King alone an hour this day； and that my Lady Castlemaine is now in a higher command over the King than ever；not as a mistress； for she scorns him； but as a tyrant； to command him： and says that the Duchesse of York and the Duke of York are mighty great with her； which is a great interest to my Lord Chancellor's family； and that they do agree to hinder all they can the proceedings of the Duke of Buckingham and Arlington。 And so we are in the old mad condition； or rather worse than any； no man knowing what the French intend to do next summer。
17th。 Spoke with my Lord Bellasses and Peterborough about the business now in dispute about my deputing a Treasurer to pay the garrison at Tangier； which I would avoid and not be accountable； and they will serve me therein。 Here I met Hugh May； and he brings me to the knowledge of Sir Harry Capell； ＇Made K。B。 at the Coronation of Charles II。 and created Lord Capel 1692； died at Dublin； while Lord Lieutenant of Ireland； 1696。＇ a member of Parliament and brother of my Lord Essex； ＇Arthur Capel； created Earl of Essex 1661； found dead in