er a pretty gentleman； too good for Peg。 Sir W。 Pen was much troubled to hear the song I sung； 〃The New Droll；〃 it touching him home。
5th。 With my wife to the Duke's house； and there saw 〃Mustapha；〃 ＇A tragedy； by Roger Earl of Orrery。＇ a most excellent play。
6th。 Young Michell and I； it being an excellent frosty day； did walk out。 He showed me the baker's house in Pudding…lane； where the late great fire begun： and thence all along Thames…street； where I did view several places； and so up by London Wall by Blackfriars to Ludgate； and thence to Bridewell； which I find to have been heretofore an extraordinary good house； and a fine coming to it before the house by the bridge was built。
7th。 Lord Brouncker tells me that my Lady Denham is at last dead。 Some suspect her poisoned； but it will be best known when her body is opened to…day； she dying yesterday morning。 The Duke of York is troubled for her； but hath declared he will never have another public mistress again； which I shall be glad of； and would the King would do the like。 He tells me how the Parliament is grown so jealous of the King's being unfayre to them in the business of the Bill for examining Accounts； Irish Bill； and the business of the Papists； that they will not pass the business for money till they see themselves secure that those Bills will pass； which they do observe the Court to keep off till all the Bills come together； that the King may accept what he pleases； and what he pleases to object to。 He tells me how Mr。 Henry Howard of Norfolke hath given our Royal Society all his grandfather's library： which noble gift they value at 2000l。； and gives them accommodation to meet in at his house （Arundell House）； they being now disturbed at Gresham College。 To the Duke's house； and saw 〃Macbeth；〃 which though I saw it lately； yet appears a most excellent play in all respects； but especially in divertisement； though it be a deep tragedy； which is a strange perfection in a tragedy； it being most proper here； and suitable。
9th。 In a hackney…coach to White Hall； the way being most horribly bad upon the breaking up of the frost； so as not to be passed almost。 I do hear by my Lord Brouncker； that for certain Sir W。 Coventry hath resigned his place of Commissioner up； which I believe he hath done upon good grounds of security to himself from all the blame which must attend our office this next year； but I fear the King will suffer by it。 Thence to Westminster Hall； and there to the conference of the Houses about the word 〃Nusance；〃 which the Commons would have； and the Lords will not； in the Irish Bill。 The Commons do it professedly to prevent the King's dispensing with it； which Sir Robert Howard and others did expressly repeat often： viz。； 〃that no King ever could do any thing which was hurtful to his people。〃 Now the Lords did argue that it was an ill precedent； and that which will ever hereafter be used as a way of preventing the King's dispensation with acts； and therefore rather advise to pass the Bill without that word； and let it go accompanied with a petition to the King that he will not dispense with it； this being a more civil way to the King。 They answered well； that this do imply that the King should pass their Bill； and yet with design to dispense with it； which is to suppose the King guilty of abusing them。 And more； they produce precedents for it； namely； that against new buildings； and about leather； where the word 〃Nusance〃 is used to the purpose： and further； that they do not rob the King of any right he ever had； for he never had a power to do hurt to his people； nor would exercise it； and therefore there is no danger in the passing this Bill of imposing on his prerogative； and concluded that they think they ought to do this； so as the people may really have the benefit of it when it is passed； for never any people could expect so reasonably to be indulged something from a King； they having already given him so much money and are likely to give more。 Thus they broke up； both adhering to their opinions； but the Commons seemed much more full of judgment and reason than the Lords。 Then the Commons made their Report to the Lords of their vote that their Lordships' proceedings in the Bill for examining Accounts were unparliamentary； they having； while a Bill was sent up to them from the Commons about the business； petitioned his Majesty that he would do the same thing by his Commission。 They did give their reasons： viz。 that it had no precedent； that the King ought not to be informed of any thing passing in the Houses till it comes to a Bill； that it will wholly break off all correspondence between the two Houses； and in the issue wholly infringe the very use and being of Parliaments。 Thence to Faythorne； and bought a head or two； one of them my Lord of Ormond's； the best I ever saw。 To Arundell House； where first the Royal Society meet by the favour of Mr。 Harry Howard； who was there。 And here was a great meeting of worthy noble persons； but my Lord Brouncker； who pretended to make a congratulatory speech upon their coming hither； and great thanks to Mr。 Howard； did do it in the worst manner in the world。
14th。 Sir W。 Batten tells me the Lords do agree at last with the Commons about the word 〃Nusance〃 in the Irish Bill； and do desire a good correspondence between the two Houses； and that the King do intend to prorogue them the last of this month。
16th。 Sir W。 Coventry came to me aside in the Duke's chamber to tell that he had not answered part of a late letter of mine； because LITTERA SCRIPTA MANET。 About his leaving the office； he tells me； it is because he finds that his business at Court will not permit him to attend it； and then he confesses that he seldom of late could come from it with satisfaction； and therefore would not take the King's money for nothing。 I professed my sorrow for it； and prayed the continuance of his favour； which he promised； I do believe he hath acted like a very wise man in reference to himself； but I doubt it will prove ill for the King； and for the office。 Prince Rupert； I hear； is very ill； yesterday given over； but better to…day。 Sir Stephen Fox； among other things； told me his whole mystery in the business of the interest he pays as Treasurer for the Army。 They give him 12d。 per pound quite through the Army； with condition to be paid weekly； This he undertakes for his own private credit； and to be paid by the King at the end of every four months。 If the King pay him not at the end of every four months； then； for all the time he stays longer； my Lord Treasurer by agreement allows him eight per cent。 per annum for the forbearance。 So that； in fine； he hath about twelve per cent。 from the King； and the Army； for fifteen or sixteen months' interest； out of which he gains soundly； his expense being about 130；000l。 per annum； and hath no trouble in it； compared （as I told him） to the trouble I must have to bring in an account of interest。 Talk there is of a letter to come from Holland； desiring a place of treaty； but I do doubt it。 This day I observe still in many places the smoking remains of the late fire： the ways mighty bad and dirty。 This night Sir R。 Ford told me how this day； at Christ church Hospital； they have given a living of 200l。 per annum to Mr。 Sanchy； my old acquaintance； which I wonder at； he commending him mightily； but am glad of it。 He tells me too how the famous Stillingfleete was a Blue…coat boy。
18th。 This morning come Captain Cocke to me； and tells me that the King comes to the House this day to pass the Poll Bill and the Irish Bill； and that； though the Faction is very froward in the House； yet all will end well there。 But he says that one had got a Bill ready to present in the House against Sir W。 Coventry for selling of places； and says he is certain of it； and how he was withheld from doing it。 He says that the Vice…chamberlaine is now one of the greatest men in England again； and was he that did prevail with the King to let the Irish Bill go with the word 〃Nusance。〃 He told me that Sir G。 Carteret's declaration of giving double to any man that will prove that any of his people have demanded or taken any thing for forwarding the payment of the wages of any man； （of which he sent us a copy yesterday； which we approved of；） is set up； among other places； upon the House of Lords' door。 I do not know how wisely this is done。 Sir W。 Pen told me this night how the King did make them a very sharp speech in the House of Lords to…day； saying that he did expect to have had more Bills； that he purposes to prorogue them on Monday come se'nnight； that whereas they have unjustly conceived some jealousys of his making a peace； he declares he knows of no such thing or treaty： and so left them。 But with so little effect； that as soon as he came into the house； Sir W。 Coventry moved； that now the King hath declared his intention of proroguing them； it would be loss of time to go on with the thing they were upon when they were called to the King； which was the calling over the defaults of Members appearing in the House； for that before any person could now come or be brought to town； the House would be up。 Yet the Faction did desire to delay time； and contend so