d Willoughby of Parnham； drowned at Barbadoes； 1666。＇ and I think two ships thrown upon an island of the French； and so all the men （to 500） become their prisoners。 'Tis said too； that eighteen Dutch men… of…war are passed the Channell； in order to meet with our Smyrna ships； and some I hear do fright us with the King of Sweden's seizing our mast…ships at Gottenburgh。 But we have too much ill news true； to afflict ourselves with what is uncertain。 That which I hear from Scotland is； the Duke of York's saying yesterday； that he is confident the Lieutenant Generall there hath driven them into a pound somewhere towards the mountains。〃
To show how mad we are at home here； and unfit for any troubles： My Lord St。 John did a day or two since openly pull a gentleman in Westminster Hall by the nose； （one Sir Andrew Henly；） while the Judges were upon their benches； and the other gentleman did give him a rap over the pate with his cane。 Of which fray the Judges； they say； will make a great matter： men are only sorry the gentleman did proceed to return a blow； for otherwise my Lord would have been soundly fined for the affront； and may be yet for his affront to the Judges。
30th。 To White Hall； and pretty to see （it being St。 Andrew's day；） how some few did wear St。 Andrew's crosse； but most did make a mockery at it； and the House of Parliament； contrary to practice； did sit also： people having no mind to observe the Scotch saint's days till they hear better news from Scotland。
DECEMBER 1； 1666。 Walking to the Old Swan I did see a cellar in Tower…streete in a very fresh fire； the late great winds having blown it up。 It seemed to be only of log…wood that hath kept the fire all this while in it。 Going further I met my late Lord Mayor Bludworth； under whom the City was burned； but a very weak man he seems to be。 By coach home in the evening； calling at Faythorne's buying three of my Lady Castlemaine's heads； printed this day； which indeed is； as to the head； I think a very fine picture； and like her。 I did this afternoon get Mrs。 Michell to let me only have a sight of a pamphlet lately printed； but suppressed and much called after； called 〃The Catholique's Apology；〃 lamenting the severity of the Parliament against them； and comparing it with the lenity of other princes to Protestants。 Giving old and late instances of their loyalty to their princes； whatever is objected against them； and excusing their disquiets in Queene Elizabeth's time； for that it was impossible for them to think her a lawfull Queene； if Queene Mary； who had been owned as such； were so； one being the daughter of the true； and the other of a false wife： and that of the Gunpowder Treason； by saying that it was only the practice of some of us； if not the King； to trepan some of their religion into it； it never being defended by the generality of their Church； nor indeed known by them； and ends with a large Catalogue； in red letters； of the Catholiques which have lost their lives in the quarrel of the late King and this。 The thing is very well writ indeed。
2nd。 Took coach； and no sooner in the coach but something broke； that we were fain there to stay till a smith could be fetched； which was above an hour； and then it costing me 6s。 to mend。 Away round by the wall and Cow…lane； for fear it should break again； and in pain about the coach all the way。 I went to Sir W。 Batten's； and there I hear more ill news still： that all our New…England fleet； which went out lately； are put back a third time by foul weather； and dispersed； some to one port and some to another； and their convoys also to Plymouth； and whether any of them be lost or no； we do not know。 This； added to all the rest； do lay us flat in our hopes and courages； every body prophesying destruction to the nation。
3rd。 More cheerful than I have been a good while； to hear that for certain the Scott rebels are all routed； they having been so bold as to come within three miles of Edinburgh； and there given two or three repulses to the King's forces； but at last were mastered。 Three or four hundred killed or taken； among which their leader； Wallis； and seven ministers they having all taken the Covenant a few days before； and sworn to live and die in it； as they did； and so all is likely to be there quiet again。 There is also the very good news come of four New…England ships come home safe to Falmouth with masts for the King； which is a blessing mighty unexpected； and without which （if for nothing else） we must； have failed the next year。 But God be praised for thus much good fortune； and send us the continuance of his favour in other things！
6th。 After dinner my wife and brother ＇John Pepys； who； being in holy orders； had lately assumed the canonical habit。 He died in 1677； at which period he held some office in the Trinity…house。 PEPYS'S MS。 LETTERS。＇ （in another habit） go out to see a play； but I am not to take notice that I know of my brother's going。 This day； in the Gazette； is the whole story of defeating of Scotch rebells； and of the creation of the Duke of Cambridge； Knight of the Garter。
7th。 To the King's playhouse； where two acts were almost done when I come in； and there I sat with my cloak about my face； and saw the remainder of 〃The Mayd's Tragedy；〃 ＇By Beaumont and Fletcher。＇ a good play； and well acted； especially by the younger Marshall； who is become a pretty good actor； and is the first play I have seen in either of the houses； since before the great plague； they having acted now about fourteen days publickly。 But I was in mighty pain； lest I should be seen by any body to be at a play。
8th。 The great Proviso passed the House of Parliament yesterday： which makes the King and Court mad； the King having given order to my Lord Chamberlain to send to the playhouses and brothels； to bid all the Parliament…men that were there to go to the Parliament presently。 This is true； it seems； but it was carried against the Court by thirty or forty voices。 It is a Proviso to the Poll Bill； that there shall be a Committee of nine persons that shall have the inspection upon oath； and power of giving others； of all the accounts of the money given and spent for this warr。 This hath a most sad face； and will breed very ill blood。 He tells me； brought in by Sir Robert Howard； ＇A younger son of Thomas Earl of Berkshire； educated at Magdalene College； Cambridge； knighted at the Restoration； and chosen M。P。 for Stockbridge； and afterwards for Castle Rising。 He was Auditor of the Exchequer； and a creature of Charles II。； who employed him in cajoling the Parliament for money。 He published some poems； plays； and political tracts。 Ob。 1698。＇ who is one of the King's servants； at least hath a great office； and hath got； they say； 20；000l。 since the King come in。 Mr。 Pierce did also tell me as a great truth； as being told it by Mr。 Cowly； ＇Abraham Cowley； the poet。＇ who was by and heard it； that Tom Killigrew should publickly tell the King that his matters were coming into a very ill state； but that yet there was a way to help all。 Says he； 〃There is a good； honest； able man that I could name； that if your Majesty would employ； and command to see all things well executed； all things would soon be mended； and this is one Charles Stuart； who now spends his time in employing his lips about the Court； and hath no other employment； but if you would give him this employment； he were the fittest man in the world to perform it。〃 This； he says； is most true； but the King do not profit by any of this； but lays all aside； and remembers nothing； but to his pleasures again： which is a sorowful consideration。 To the King's play…house； and there did see a good part of 〃The English Monsieur；〃 ＇A comedy； by James Howard。＇ which is a mighty pretty play； very witty and pleasant。 And the women do very well； but above all； little Nelly。 I hear that this Proviso in Parliament is mightily ill taken by all the Court party as a mortal blow； and that that strikes deep into the King's prerogative； which troubles me mightily。 In much fear of ill news of our colliers。 A fleet of 200 sail； and 14 Dutch men…of… war between them and us： and they coming home with small convoy； and the City in great want； coals being at 3l。 3s。 per chaldron； as I am told。 I saw smoke in the ruines this very day。
10th。 Captain Cocke； with whom I walked in the garden； tells me how angry the Court is at the late Proviso brought in by the House。 How still my Lord Chancellor is； not daring to do or say any thing to displease the Parliament； that the Parliament is in a very ill humour； and grows every day more and more so； and that the unskilfulness of the Court； and their difference among one another； is the occasion of all not agreeing in what they would have； and so they give leisure and occasion to the other part to run away with what the Court would not have。
11th。 This day the Poll Bill was to be passed； and great endeavours used to take away the Proviso。
12th。 Sir H。 Cholmly did with grief tell me how the Parliament hath been told plainly that the King hath been heard to say； that he would dissolve them rather than pass this Bill with the Proviso。 But tells me； that the Proviso is removed； and now carried that it