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now hid at my Lord's till night; that he do intend to make his escape away。
5th。 Into the Hall; and there saw my Lord Treasurer 'Earl of Southampton。' (who was sworn to…day at the Exchequer; with a great company of Lords and persons of honour to attend him) go up to the Treasury Offices; and take possession thereof; and also saw the heads of Cromwell; Bradshaw; and Ireton; set up at the further end of the Hall。
7th。 To Westminster Hall。 And after a walk to my Lord's; where; while I and my Lady were in her chamber in talk; in comes my Lord from sea; to our great wonder。 He had dined at Havre de Grace on Monday last; and come to the Downes the next day; and lay at Canterbury that night; and so to Dartford; and thence this morning to White Hall。 Among others; Mr。 Creed and Captn。 Ferrers tell me the stories of my Lord Duke of Buckingham's and my Lord's falling out at Havre de Grace; at cards; they two and my Lord St。 Alban's playing。 The Duke did; to my Lord's dishonour; often say that he did in his conscience know the contrary to what he then said; about the difference at cards; and so did take up the money that he should have lost to my Lord。 Which my Lord resenting; said nothing then; but that he doubted not but; there were ways enough to get his money of him。 So they parted that night; and my Lord sent Sir R。 Stayner the next morning to the Duke; to know whether he did remember what he said last night; and whether he would owne it with his sword and a second; which he said he would; and so both sides agreed。 But my Lord St。 Alban's; and the Queen; and Ambassador Montagu; did way… lay them at their lodgings till the difference was made up; to my Lord's honour; who hath got great reputation thereby。
8th。 Captn。 Cuttle; and Curtis; and Mootham; and I; went to the Fleece Taverne to drink; and there we spent till four o'clock; telling stories of Algiers; and the manner of life of slaves there。 And truly Captn。 Mootham and Mr。 Dawes (who have been both slaves there) did make me fully acquainted with their condition there: as; how they eat nothing but bread and water。 At their redemption they pay so much for the water they drink at the public fountaynes; during their being slaves。 How they are beat upon the soles of their feet and bellies at the liberty of their padron。 How they are all; at night; called into their master a Bagnard; and there they lie。 How the poorest men do love their slaves best。 How some rogues do live well; if they do invent to bring their masters in so much a week by their industry or theft; and then they are put to no other work at all。 And theft there is counted no great crime at all。
12th。 By coach to the Theatre; and there saw 〃The Scornfull Lady;〃 'A Comedy; by Beaumont and Fletcher。' now done by a woman; which makes the play appear much better than ever it did to me。
14th。 The talk of the towne now is; who the King is like to have for his Queene: and whether Lent shall be kept with the strictnesse of the King's proclamation; which is thought cannot be; because of the poor; who cannot buy fish。 And also the great preparation for the King's crowning is now much thought upon and talked of。
18th; It is much talked that the King is already married to the niece of the Prince de Ligne; and that he hath two sons already by her: which I am sorry to hear; but yet am gladder that it should be so; than that the Duke of York and his family should come to the crowne; he being a professed friend to the Catholiques。 Met with Sir G。 Carteret: who afterwards; with the Duke of York; my Lord Sandwich; and others; went into a private room to consult: and we were a little troubled that we were not called in with the rest。 But I do believe it was upon something very private。 We staid walking in the gallery; where we met with Mr。 Slingsby; who showed me the stamps of the King's new coyne; which is strange to see; how good they are in the stamp and bad in the money; for lack of skill to make them。 But he says Blondeau will shortly come over; and then we shall have it better; and the best in the world。 He tells me; he is sure that the King is not yet married; as it is said; nor that it is known who he will have。
22nd。 My wife to Sir W。 Batten's; and there sat a while; he having yesterday sent my wife half…a…dozen pair of gloves; and a pair of silk stockings and garters; for her Valentines。
23rd。 This my birthday; 28 years。 Mr。 Hartlett told me how my Lord Chancellor had lately got the Duke of York and Duchesse; and her woman; my Lord Ossory; 'Thomas; Earl of Ossory; son of the Duke of Ormond。 Ob。 1680; aged 46。' and a Doctor; to make oath before most of the Judges of the kingdom; concerning all the circumstances of their marriage。 And in fine; it is confessed that they were not fully married till about a month or two before she was brought to bed; but that they were contracted long before; and time enough for the child to be legitimate。 But I do not hear that it was put to the Judges to determine whether it was so or no。 To the Play…house; and there saw 〃The Changeling;〃 '〃The Changeling;〃 a Tragedy; by Thomas Middleton。 The plot is taken from a story in 〃God's Revenge against Murder。〃' the first time it hath been acted these twenty years; and it takes exceedingly。 Besides; I see the gallants do begin to be tyred with the vanity and pride of the theatre actors; who are indeed grown very proud and rich。 I also met with the Comptroller; who told me how it was easy for us all; the principal officers; and proper for us; to labour to get into the next Parliament; and would have me to ask the Duke's letter; but I shall not endeavour it。 This Is now 28 years that I am born。 And blessed be God; in a state of full content; and a great hope to be a happy man in all respects; both to myself and friends。
27th。 I called for a dish of fish; which we had for dinner; this being the first day of Lent; and I do intend to try whether I can keep it or no。
28th。 Notwithstanding my resolution; yea for want of other victualls; I did eat flesh this Lent; but am resolved to eat as little as I can。 This month ends with two great secrets under dispute but yet known to very few: first; Who the King will marry; and What the meaning of this fleet is which we are now sheathing to set out for the southward。 Most think against Algier against the Turke; or to the East Indys against the Dutch who; we hear; are setting out a great fleet thither。
MARCH 1; 1660…61。 After dinner Mr。 Shepley and I in private talking about my Lord's intentions to go speedily into the country; but to what end we know not。 We fear he is to go to sea; with his fleet now preparing。 But we wish that he could get his 4000l。 per annum settled before he do go。 To White… fryars; and saw 〃The Bondman〃 acted; 'By Massinger。' an excellent play and well done。 But above all that ever I saw; Beterton do the Bondman the best。
2nd。 After dinner I went to the theatre; where I found so few people (which is strange; and the reason I do not know) that I went out again; and so to Salsbury Court; where the house as full as could be; and it seems it was a new play; 〃The Queen's Maske;〃 '〃Love's Mistress; or The Queen's Masqu