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Mr。 Fountain； called 〃The Rewards of Virtue。〃＇ but the silliest for words and design； and every thing； that ever I saw in my whole life； there being nothing in the world pleasing in it； but a good martiall dance of pikemen； where Harris and another do handle their pikes in a dance to admiration； but never less satisfied with a play in my life。
26th。 To the King's playhouse； and saw 〃The Faithfull Shepherdesse。〃 But； Lord！ what an empty house； there not being； as I could tell the people； so many as to make up above 10l。 in the whole house！ But I plainly discern the musick is the better； by how much the house the emptier。
1668…9。 MARCH 1。 I do hear that my Lady Paulina Montagu did die yesterday！ at which I went to my Lord's lodgings； but he is shut up with sorrow； and so not to be spoken with： and therefore I returned； and to Westminster Hall； where I have not been； I think； in some months。 And here the Hall was very full； the King having by Commission to some Lords this day prorogued the Parliament till the 19th of October next； at which I am glad； hoping to have time to go over to France this year。 But I was most of all surprised this morning by my Lord Bellasses； who by appointment met me at Auditor Wood's at the Temple； and tells me of a duell designed between the Duke of Buckingham and my Lord Halifax； or Sir W。 Coventry； the challenge being carried by Harry Saville； but prevented by my Lord Arlington； and the King told of it： and this was all the discourse at Court this day。 But I meeting Sir W。 Coventry in the Duke of York's chamber； he would not own it to me； but told me he was a man of too much peace to meddle with fighting； and so it rested： but the talk is full in the town of the business。 Thence； having walked some turns with my cosen Pepys； and most people by their discourse believing that this Parliament will never sit more； I away。 I did bring home a piece of my face cast in plaister； for to make a visard upon for my eyes。
2nd。 My wife this day put on first her French gown； called a Sac； which becomes her very well。
3rd。 To White Hall； where W。 Hewer met me； and he and I took a turn in St。 James's Park； and in the Mall did meet Sir W。 Coventry and Sir J。 Duncomb； and did speak； with them about some business； before the Lords of the Treasury： but I did find them more than usually busy； though I knew not then the reason of it； though I guessed it by what followed next day。 Thence to Dancre's the painter's and there saw my picture of Greenwich； finished to my very good content； though this manner of distemper do make the figures not so pleasing as in oyle。 To the Duke of York's playhouse； and there saw an old play； the first time acted these forty years； called 〃The Lady's Tryall；〃 ＇A tragedy； by John Ford。＇ acted only by the young people of the house but the house very full。 To the New Exchange； and so called at my cousin Turner's； and there meeting Mr。 Bellwood； did hear how my Lord Mayor being invited this day to dinner at the Reader's at the Temple； and endeavoring to carry his sword up； the students did pull it down； and forced him to go and stay all the day in a private Counsellor's chamber until the Reader himself could get the young gentlemen to dinner； and then my Lord Mayor did retreat out of the Temple by stealth； with his sword up。 This do make great heat among the students； and my Lord Mayor did send to the King； and also I hear that Sir Richard Browne did cause the drums to beat for the Train…bands； but all is over； only I hear that the students do resolve to try the Charter of the City。 So we home； and betimes to bed； and slept well all night。
4th。 To White Hall； where in the first Court I did meet Sir Jeremy Smith； who did tell me that Sir W。 Coventry was just now sent to the Tower； about the business of the challenging the Duke of Buckingham； and so was also Harry Saville to the Gate…house； which； as he is a gentleman； and of the Duke of York's Bedchamber； I heard afterwards that the Duke of York is mightily incensed at； and do appear very high to the King that he might not be sent thither； but to the Tower； this being done only in contempt of him。 This news of Sir W。 Coventry did strike me to the heart； and with reason； for by this and my Lord of Ormond's business I do doubt that the Duke of Buckingham will be so flushed that he will not stop at any thing； but be forced to do any thing now； as thinking it not safe to end here； and； Sir W。 Coventry being gone； the King will have no good Counsellor left； nor the Duke of York any sure friend to stick to him； nor any good man will remain to advise what is good。 This； therefore； do heartily trouble me； as any thing that ever I heard。 So up into the House； and met with several people； but the Committee did not meet。 And the whole House I find full of the business of Sir W。 Coventry's； and most men very sensible of the cause and effects of it。 So； meeting with my Lord Bellasses； he told me the particulars of this matter； that it arises about a quarrel which Sir W。 Coventry had with the Duke of Buckingham； about a design between him and Sir Robert Howard to bring him into a play at the King's house； which W。 Coventry not enduring； did by H。 Saville send a letter to the Duke of Buckingham； that he had a desire to speak with him。 Upon which the Duke of Buckingham did bid Holmes （his champion ever since my Lord Shrewsbury's business） go to him to do the business； but H。 Saville would not tell it to any but himself； and therefore did go presently to the Duke of Buckingham； and told him that his uncle Coventry was a person of honour； and was sensible of his Grace's liberty taken of abusing him； and that he had a desire of satisfaction； and would fight with him。 But that here they were interrupted by my Lord Chamberlain's coming in； who was commanded to go to bid the Duke of Buckingham to come to the King； Holmes having discovered it。 He told me that the King did last night at the Council ask the Duke of Buckingham； upon his honour； whether he received any challenge from W。 Coventry？ which he confessed that he had； and then the King asking W。 Coventry； he told him that he did not owne what the Duke of Buckingham had said； though it was not fit for him to give him a direct contradiction。 But； being by the King put upon declaring the truth upon his honour； be answered that he had understood that many hard questions had upon this business been moved to some lawyers； and that therefore he was unwilling to declare any thing that might from his own mouth render him obnoxious to his Majesty's displeasure； and therefore prayed to be excused： which the King did think fit to interpret to be a confession； and so gave warrant that night for his commitment to the Tower。 Being very much troubled at this； I away by coach homewards； and directly to the Tower； where I find him in one Mr。 Bennet's house； son to Major Bayly； one of the Officers of the Ordnance； in the Bricke Tower： where I find him busy with my Lord Halifax and his brother； so I would not stay to interrupt them； but only to give him comfort and offer my service to him； which he kindly and cheerfully received； only owning his being troubled for the King his master's displea