and writing to him； as I used heretofore to do。 The King and Duke are to go to…morrow to Audly End； in order to the seeing and buying of it of my Lord Suffolke。
9th。 Made a visit to the Duke of Albemarle； and to my great joy find him the same man to me that heretofore； which I was in great doubt of； through my negligence in not visiting of him a great while； and having now set all to rights there； I shall never suffer matters to run so far backwards again as I have done of late； with reference to my neglecting him and Sir W。 Coventry。 The truth is； I do indulge myself a little the more in pleasure； knowing that this is the proper age of my life to do it； and out of my observation that most men that do thrive in the world； do forget to take pleasure during the time that they are getting their estate； but reserve that till they have got one； and then it is too late for them to enjoy it。
12th。 My Uncle Talbot Pepys died the last week。 All the news now is； that Sir Jeremy Smith is at Cales ＇Cadiz。＇ with his fleet； and Mings in the Elve。 The King is come this noon to town from Audly End； with the Duke of York and a fine train of gentlemen。
13th。 The plague encreased this week 29 from 28； though the total fallen from 238 to 207。
14th。 With my Lord Brouncker towards London； and in our way called in Covent Garden； and took in Sir John （formerly Dr。） Baber； who hath this humour that he will not enter into discourse while any stranger is in company； till he be told who he is that seems a stranger to him。 This he did declare openly to me； and asked my Lord who I was。 Thence to Guildhall； （in our way taking in Dr。 Wilkins；） and there my Lord and I had full and large discourse with Sir Thomas Player； ＇One of the City Members in the Oxford and Westminster Parliaments。 See more of him in the Notes； by Scott； to Absalom and Achitophel； in which poem he is introduced under the designation of 〃railing Rabsheka。〃＇ the Chamberlain of the City （a man I have much heard of） about the credit of our tallies； which are lodged there for security to such as should lend money thereon to the use of the Navy。 I had great satisfaction therein： and the truth is； I find all our matters of credit to be in an ill condition。 To walk all alone in the fields behind Grayes Inne； making an end of reading over my dear 〃Faber fortunae；〃 of my Lord Bacon's。
15th。 To Hales； where I met my wife and people； and do find the picture； above all things； a most pretty picture； and mighty like my wife； and I asked him his price： he says 14l。 and the truth is； I think he do deserve it。
17th。 To Hales's； and paid him 14l。 for the picture； and 1l。 5s。 for the frame。 This day I began to sit； and he will make me； I think； a very fine picture。 He promises it shall be as good as my wife's； and I sit to have it full of shadows； and do almost break my neck looking over my shoulder to make the posture for him to work by。 Home； having a great cold： so to bed； drinking butter…ale。
19th。 After dinner we walked to the King's play…house； all in dirt； they being altering of the stage to make it wider。 But God knows when they will begin to act again； but my business here was to see the inside of the stage and all the tiring…rooms and machines： and； indeed； it was a sight worthy seeing。 But to see their clothes； and the various sorts； and what a mixture of things there was； here a wooden…leg； there a ruff； here a hobby… horse； there a crown； would make a man split himself with laughing； and particularly Lacy's ＇John Lacy； the celebrated comedian； author of four plays。 Ob。 1681。＇ wardrobe； and Shotrell's。 ＇Robert and William Shotterel both belonged to the King's company at the opening of their new Theatre in 1663。 One of them had been Quarter…master to the troop of horse in which Hart was serving as Lieutenant under Charles the First's standard。 He is called by Downs a good actor； but nothing further is recorded of his merits or career。 NOTE TO CIBBER'S APOLOGY。＇ But then again； to think now fine they show on the stage by candle…light； and how poor things they are to look at too near hand； is not pleasant at all。 The machines are fine； and the paintings very pretty。 With Sir W。 Warren； talking of many things belonging to us particularly； and I hope to get something considerably by him before the year be over。 He gives me good advice of circumspection in my place； which I am now in great mind to improve； for I think our office stands on very ticklish terms； the Parliament likely to sit shortly and likely to be asked more money； and we able to give a very bad account of the expence of what we have done with what they did give before。 Besides； the turning out the prize officers may be an example for the King's giving us up to Parliament's pleasure as easily； for we deserve it as much。 Besides； Sir G。 Carteret did tell me to… night how my Lord Brouncker； whose good…will I could have depended as much on as any； did himself to him take notice of the many places I have； and though I was a painful man； yet the Navy was enough for any man to go through with in his own single place there； which much troubles me； and shall yet provoke me to more and more care and diligence than ever。
21st。 Sir Robert Long ＇Sir Robert Long； Secretary to Charles II。 during his exile； and subsequently made Auditor of the Exchequer； and a privy Counsellor； and created a Baronet 1662； Ob。 unmarried； 1673。＇ told us of the plenty of partridges in France； where he says the King of France and his company killed with their guns； in the plain de Versailles； 300 and odd partridges at one bout。 With Sir W。 Warren； who tells me that at the Committee of the Lords for the prizes to…day； there passed very high words between my Lord Ashly and Sir W。 Coventry； about our business of the prize ships。 And that my Lord Ashly did snuff and talk as high to him； as he used to do to any ordinary man。 And that Sir W。 Coventry did take it very quietly； but yet for all did speak his mind soberly and with reason； and went away； saying that he had done his duty therein。
24th。 After the Committee up。 I had occasion to follow the Duke into his lodgings； into a chamber where the Duchesse was sitting to have her picture drawn by Lilly； who was then at work。 But I was well pleased to see that there was nothing near so much resemblance of her face in his work； which is now the second； if not the third time； as there was of my wife's at the very first time。 Nor do I think at last it can be like； the lines not being in proportion to those of her face。
28th。 My Lord Brouncker and I to the Tower； to see the famous engraver； to get him to grave a seal for the office。 And did see some of the finest pieces of work in embossed work； that ever I did see in my life； for fineness and smallness of the images thereon。
28th。 To the Cockpitt； and dined with a great deal of company at the Duke of Albemarle's； and a bad and dirty； nasty dinner。 This night； I am told； the Queene of Portugall； the mother to our Queene； is lately dead； and news brought of it hither this day。
30th。 I out to Lombard…streete； and there received 2200l。 and brought it home； and； contrary to expectation； received 35l。 for the use of 2000l。 of it for a quarter of a year； where it hath produced me this profit； and hath been a convenience to me as to care and security at my house； and demandable at two days' warning； as this hath been。 To Hales's； and there sat till almost quite dark upon working my gowne； which I hired to be drawn in； an Indian gowne。
April 1； 1666。 To Charing Cross； to wait on Sir Philip Howard； whom I found in bed： and he do receive me very civilly。 My request was about suffering my wife's brother to go to sea； and to save his pay in the Duke's guards； which after a little difficulty he did with great respect agree to。 I find him a very fine…spoken gentleman； and one of great parts； and very courteous。 Meeting Dr。 Allen； ＇Probably Thomas Allen； M。D。 of Caius College； Cambridge； and Member of the College of Physicians。 Ob。 1685。＇ the physician； he and I and another walked in the Park； a most pleasant warm day and to the Queene's chapel； where I do not so dislike the musick。 Here I saw on a post an invitation to all good Catholics to pray for the soul of such a one departed this life。 The Queene； I hear； do not yet hear of the death of her mother； she being in a course of physick； that they dare not tell it her。 Up and down my Lord St。 Albans his new building and market…house； looking to and again into every place building。 I this afternoon made a visit to my Lady Carteret； whom I understood newly come to towne； and she took it mighty kindly； but I see her face and heart are dejected from the condition her husband's matters stand in。 But I hope they will do all well enough。 And I do comfort her as much as I can； for she is a noble lady。
5th。 The plague is； to our great grief； encreased nine this week； though decreased a few in the total。 And this encrease runs through many parishes； which makes us much fear the next year。
6th。 Met by agreement with Sir Stephen Fox and Mr。 Ashburnham； and discoursed the business of our Excise tallies； the former being Treasurer of the guards； and the other