ver； stayed there； and stayed the coach； till the coachman's patience was quite spent； and beat the dumb boy by force； and so went away。 So the dumb boy came up and told him all the story； which they below did see all that passed； and knew it to be true。 After supper another dance or two； and then news that the fire is as great as ever； which put us all to our wits' end； and I mightily anxious to go home； but the coach being gone； and it being about ten at night； and rainy dirty weather； I knew not what to do； but to walk out with Mr。 Batelier； myself resolving to go home on foot； and leave the women there。 And so did； but at the Savoy got a coach； and come back and took up the women； and so （having； by people come from the fire； understood that the fire was overcome； and all well；） we merrily parted； and home。 Stopped by several guards and constables quite through the town； （round the wall as we went；） all being in arms。
10th。 The Parliament did fall foul of our accounts again yesterday； and we must arme to have them examined； which I am sorry for： it will bring great trouble to me； and shame upon the office。 This is the fatal day that every body hath discoursed for a long time to be the day that the Papists； or I know not who； have designed to commit a massacre upon； but； however； I trust in God we shall rise to…morrow morning as well as ever。 I hear that my Lady Denham is exceeding sick； even to death； and that she says； and every body else discourses； that she is poisoned； and Creed tells me； that it is said that there hath been a design to poison the King。 What the meaning of all these sad signs is the Lord only knows； but every day things look worse and worse。 God fit us for the worst！
12th。 Creed tells me of my Lady Denham； whom every body says is poisoned； and she hath said it to the Duke of York； but is upon the mending hand； though the town says she is dead this morning。 This day I received 450 pieces of gold more of Mr。 Stokes； but cost me 22 1/2d。 change。 But I am well contented with it； I having now nearly 2800l。 in gold； and will not rest till I get full 3000l。 Creed and I did stop （the Duke of York being just going away from seeing of it） at Pauls； and in the Convocation… House Yard did there see the body of Robert Braybrooke； Bishop of London； that died 1404。 He fell down in the tomb out of the great church into St。 Fayth's this late fire； and is here seen his skeleton with the flesh on； but all tough and dry like a spongy dry leather； or touchwood all upon his bones。 His head turned aside。 A great man in his time； and Lord Chancellor。 And now exposed to be handled and derided by some； though admired for its duration by others。 Many flocking to see it。
14th； Knipp tells me how Smith； of the Duke's house； hath killed a man upon a quarrel in play； which makes every body sorry； he being a good actor； and they say a good man； however this happens。 The ladies of the Court do much bemoan him。 Sir G。 Carteret tells me that just now my Lord Hollis had been with him； and wept to think in what a condition we are fallen。 Dr。 Croone ＇William Croune of Emmanuel College； Cambridge； chosen Rhetoric Professor at Gresham College 1659； F。R。S。 and M。D。 Ob。 1684。＇ told me； that at the meeting at Gresham College to…night （which it seems； they now have every Wednesday again；） there was a pretty experiment of the blood of one dog let out （till he died） into the body of another on one side； while all his own run out on the other side。 The first died upon the place； and the other very well； and likely to do well。 This did give occasion to many pretty wishes； as of the blood of a Quaker to be let into an Archbishop； and such like； but； as Dr。 Croone says； may； if it takes； be of mighty use to man's health； for the amending of bad blood by borrowing from a better body。
15th。 To Mrs。 Pierce's； where I find her as fine as possible； and Mr。 Pierce going to the ball at night at Court； it being the Queene's birthday。 I also to the ball； and with much ado got up to the loft； where with much trouble I could see very well。 Anon the house grew full； and the candles light； and the King and Queene and all the ladies sat： and it was； indeed； a glorious sight to see Mrs。 Stewart in black and white lace； and her head and shoulders dressed with diamonds； and the like many great ladies more （only the Queene none；） and the King in his rich vest of some rich silk and silver trimming； as the Duke of York and all the dancers were； some of cloth of silver； and others of other sorts； exceeding rich。 Presently after the King was come in； he took the Queene； and about fourteen more couple there was； and begun the Bransles。 As many of the men as I can remember presently； were； the King； Duke of York； Prince Rupert； Duke of Monmouth； Duke of Buckingham； Lord Douglas； Mr。 Hamilton； Colonell Russell； Mr。 Griffith； Lord Ossory； Lord Rochester； and of the ladies； the Queene； Duchesse of York； Mrs。 Stewart； Duchesse of Monmouth； Lady Essex Howard； ＇Only daughter of James third Earl of Suffolk； by his first wife Susan； daughter of Henry Rich Earl of Holland； afterwards married to Edward Lord Griffin of Braybrooke。 There is a portrait of her at Audley End； by Lely。＇ Mrs。 Temple； Swedes Embassadresse； Lady Arlington； ＇Isabella； of Nassau； daughter of Lord Beverweert； natural son of Prince Maurice。 She was sister to the Countess of Ossory； and mother of the first Duchess of Grafton。＇ Lord George Barkeley's daughter； and many others I remember not； but all most excellently dressed in rich petticoats and gowns； and dyamonds and pearls。 After the Bransles； then to a Corant； and now and then a French dance； but that so rare that the Corants grew tiresome； that I wished it done。 Only Mrs。 Stewart danced mighty finely； and many French dances； specially one the King called the New Dance； which was very pretty。 But upon the whole matter； the business of the dancing of itself was not extraordinary pleasing。 But the clothes and sight of the persons were indeed very pleasing； and worth my coming； being never likely to see more gallantry while I live； if I should come twenty times。 Above twelve at night it broke up。 My Lady Castlemaine （without whom all is nothing） being there very rich； though not dancing。
16th。 This noon I met with Mr。 Hooke； and he tells me the dog which was filled with another dog's blood； at the College the other day； is very well； and like to be so as ever； and doubts not its being found of great use to men； and so do Dr。 Whistler； who dined with us at the tavern。
19th。 To Barkeshire…house； ＇Belonging to the Earl of Berkshire： afterwards purchased by Charles II。； and presented to the Duchess of Cleveland； it was then of great extent； and stood on or near the site of Lord Stafford's present residence。＇ where my Lord Chancellor hath been ever since the fire。 Sir Thomas Crewe told me how hot words grew again to…day in the House of Lords between my Lord Ossory and Ashly； the former saying that something said by the other was said like one of Oliver's Council。 Ashly said he must give him reparation； or he would take it his own way。 The House therefore did bring my Lord Ossory to confess his fault； and ask pardon for it； as he did also to my Lord Buckingham； for saying that something was not truth that my Lord Buckingham had said。
20th。 To church； it being thanksgiving…day for the cessation of the plague； but； Lord！ how the town do say that it is hastened before the plague is quite over； there being some people still ill of it； but only to get ground of plays to be publickly acted； which the Bishops would not suffer till the plague was over； and one would think so； by the suddenness of the notice given of the day； which was last Sunday； and the little ceremony。 By coach to Barkeshire…house； and there did get a very great meeting； the Duke of York being there； and much business done； though not in proportion to the greatness of the business； and my Lord Chancellor sleeping and snoring the greater part of the time。
21st。 I to wait on Sir Philip Howard； whom I find dressing himself in his night…gown and turban like a Turke； but one of the finest persons that ever I saw in my life。 He had several gentlemen of his own waiting on him； and one playing finely on the gittar。 He discourses as well as ever I heard a man； in few words and handsome。 He expressed all kindness to Balty； when I told him how sicke he is。 He says that before he comes to be mustered again； he must bring a certificate of his swearing the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy； and having taken the Sacrament according to the rites of the Church of England。 This； I perceive； is imposed on all。
22nd。 My Lord Brouncker did show me Hollar's new print of the City； with a pretty representation of that part which is burnt； very fine indeed； and tells me； that he was yesterday sworn the King's servant； and that the King hath commanded him to go on with his great map of the City； which he was upon before the City was burned； like Gombout of Paris； which I am glad of。 Mr。 Batelier tells me the news how the King of France hath in defiance to the King of England caused all his footmen to be put into vests； and that the noblemen of France will do the lik