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he business of varnishing and lacker…worke； against the Company of Painters； who take upon them to do the same thing； where I saw a great instance of the weakness of a young Counsel they used to such an audience； against the Solicitor…generall and two more able Counsel used to it。 Though he had the right of his side； and did prevail for what he pretended to against the rest； yet it was with much disadvantage and hazard。 Here I also heard Mr。 Papillion make his defence to the King against some complaints of the Farmers of Excise； but it was so weak； and done only by his own seeking； that it was to his injury more than profit； and made his case the worse； being ill…managed； and in a cause against the King。
25th （Lord's day）。 Up； and to my office awhile； and thither comes Lead with my vizard； with a tube fastened within both eyes； which； with the help which he prompts me to； of a glass in the tube； do content me mightily。 W。 How came and dined with us； and then I to my office； he being gone； to write down my Journal for the last twelve days： and did it with the help of my vizard and tube fixed to it； and do find it mighty manageable； but how helpfull to my eyes this trial will show me。 So abroad with my wife in the afternoon to the Park； where very much company； and the weather very pleasant。 I carried my wife to the Lodge； the first time this year； and there in our coach eat a cheesecake and drank a tankard of milk。 I showed her this day also first the Prince of Tuscany； who was in the Park； and many very fine ladies。
26th； after dinner comes Colonell Macknachan； one that I see often at Court； a Scotchman； but know him not； only he brings me a letter from my Lord Middleton； who； he says； is in great distress for 500l。 to relieve my Lord Morton ＇William； ninth Earl of Morton； who had married Lord Middleton's daughter Grizel。＇ with （but upon what account I know not；） and he would have me advance it without order upon his pay for Tangier； which I was astonished at； but had the grace to deny him with an excuse。 And so he went away； leaving me a little troubled that I was thus driven on a sudden to do any thing herein： but Creed coming just now to see me； be approves of what I have done。 A great fire happened in Durham…yard last night； burning the house of one Lady Hungerford； who was to come to town to it this night； and so the house is burned； new furnished； by carelessness of the girl sent to take off a candle from a bunch of candles； which she did by burning it off and left the rest； as is supposed； on fire。 The King and Court were here； it seems；； and stopped the fire by blowing up of the next house。 The King and Court； went out of town to Newmarket this morning betimes； for a week。
28th。 Up； and was called upon by Sir H。 Cholmly to discourse about some accounts of his of Tangier： and then to other talk。 And I find by him that it is brought almost to effect； the late endeavours of the Duke of York and Duchesse； the Queene…Mother； and my Lord St。 Alban's together with some of the contrary faction； as my Lord Arlington； that for a sum of money we shall enter into a league with the King of France； wherein； he says； my Lord Chancellor is also concerned； and that he believes that in the doing hereof it is meant that he shall come in again； and that this sum of money will so help the King as that he will not need the Parliament； and that in that regard it will be forwarded by the Duke of Buckingham and his faction； who dread the Parliament。 But hereby must leave the Dutch； and that I doubt will undo us； and Sir H。 Cholmly says he finds W。 Coventry do think the like。 My Lady Castlemaine is instrumental in this matter； and； he says； never more great with the King than she is now。 But this is a thing that will make the Parliament and kingdom mad； and will turn to our ruine； for with this money the King shall wanton away his time in pleasures； and think nothing of the main till it be too late。 This morning Mr。 Sheres sent me in two volumes； Marian his History of Spaine in Spanish； an excellent book； and I am much obliged to him for it。
30th。 Up； and by coach to the coachmaker's； and there I do find a great many ladies sitting in the body of a coach that must be ended by to…morrow； （they were my Lady Marquess of Winchester； ＇Isabella； daughter of William Viscount Stafford； third wife to James fifth Marquis of Winchester。＇ Bellasses； ＇John Lord Bellassis was thrice married： first； to Jane； daughter of Sir Robert Boteler； of Woodhall； Knt。； secondly； to Ann； daughter of Sir Robert Crane； of Chilton； Suffolk； thirdly； to Lady Anne Powlet； daughter of John； fourth Marquis of Winchester。 The lady here mentioned was the second or third wife； probably the latter。＇ and other great ladies；） eating of bread and butter； and drinking ale。 I to my coach； which is silvered over； but no varnish yet laid on； so I put it in a way of doing； and my self about other business； and particularly to see Sir W。 Coventry； with whom I talked a good while to my great content： and so to other places； among others； to my tailor's； and then to the belt…maker's； where my belt cost me 55s。 of the colour of my new suit； and here understanding that the mistress of the house； an oldish woman in a hat； hath some water good for the eyes； she did dress me； making my eyes smart most horribly； and did give me a little glass of it； which I will use； and hope it will do me good。 So to the cutler's； and there did give Tom； who was with me all day； a sword cost me 12s。 and a belt of my owne ； and sent my own silver…hilt sword agilding against to…morrow。 This morning I did visit Mr。 Oldenburgh； and did see the instrument for perspective made by Dr。 Wren； of which I have one making by Browne； and the sight of this do please me mightily。 At noon my wife came to me at my tailor's； and I sent her home； and myself and Tom dined at Hercules Pillars； and so about our business again； and particularly to Lilly's； the varnisher； about my prints； whereof some of them are pasted upon the boards； and to my full content。 Thence to the frame…maker's； one Norris； in Long Acre； who showed me several forms of frames； which were pretty； in little bits of mouldings to choose patterns by。 This done； I to my coachmaker's； and there vexed to see nothing yet done to my coach； at three in the afternoon； but I set it in doing； and stood by till eight at night； and saw the painter varnish it； which is pretty to see how every doing it over do make it more and more yellow： and it dries as fast in the sun as it can be laid on almost； and most coaches are now…a…days done so； and it is very pretty when laid on well； and not too pale as some are； even to show the silver。 Here I did make the workmen drink； and saw my coach cleaned and oyled； and staying among poor people there in the ally； did hear them call their fat child Punch； which pleased me mightily； that word being become a word of common use for all that is thick and short。
May 1； 1669。 Up betimes。 My wife extraordinary fine with her flowered tabby gown that she made two years ago； now laced exceeding pretty； and indeed was fine all over。 And mighty earnest to go； though the day was very lowering； and she would h