mself； I asking him； who is very kind to me。 To Sir G。 Carteret's to dinner； and before dinner he tells me that he believes the Duke of York will go to sea with the fleet； which I am sorry for in respect to his person； but yet there is no person in condition to command the fleet； now the Captains are grown so great； but him。 By and by to dinner； where very good company。 Among other discourse； we talked much of Nostradamus ＇Michael Nostradamus； a physician and astrologer； born in the diocese of Avignon； 1503。 Amongst other predictions he prophesied the death of Henry II。 of France； by which the celebrity he had before acquired was not a little increased。 He succeeded also in rendering assistance to the inhabitants of Aix； during the plague； by a powder of his own invention。 He died at Salon； July 1566。＇ his prophecy of these times； and the burning of the City of London； some of whose verses are put into Booker's Almanack this year： ＇John Booker； an eminent astrologer and writing… master at Hadley。＇ and Sir G。 Carteret did tell a story； how at his death he did make the town swear that he should never be dug up； or his tomb opened； after he was buried； but they did after sixty years do it； and upon his breast they found a plate of brasse； saying what a wicked and unfaithful people the people of that place were； who after so many vows should disturb and open him such a day and year and hour which； if true； is very strange。 Then we fell to talk of the burning of the City。 And my Lady Carteret herself did tell us how abundance of pieces of burnt papers were cast by the wind as far as Cranborne； and among others she took up one； or had one brought her to see； which was a little bit of paper that had been printed； whereon there remained no more nor less than these words： 〃Time is； it is done。〃 Away home； and received some letters from Sir W。 Coventry； touching the want of victuals to Kempthorne's fleet going to the Streights and now in the Downes： which did trouble me； he saying that this disappointment might prove fatal； and the more； because Sir W。 Coventry do intend to come to the office upon business to…morrow morning； and I shall not know what answer to give him。 ＇John Kempthorne； a distinguished Naval Officer； afterwards knighted and made Commissioner at Portsmouth； which place he represented in Parliament。 Ob。 1679。 Vide some curious letters about his election in the Correspondence。＇
4th。 When Sir W。 Coventry did come； and the rest met； I did appear uuconcerned； and did give him answer pretty satisfactory what he asked me； so that I did get off this meeting without any ground lost。 Soon as dined； my wife and I out to the Duke's playhouse； and there saw 〃Heraclius；〃 ＇A tragedy； by Lodowick Carlell； taken from Corneille。＇ an excellent play； to my extraordinary content； and the more from the house being very full； and great company； among others Mrs。 Stewart； very fine； with her locks done up with puffes； as my wife calls them： and several other great ladies had their hair so； though I do not like it； but my wife do mightily； but it is only because she sees it is the fashion。 Here I saw my Lord Rochester and his lady； Mrs。 Mallett； who hath after all this ado married him； and； as I hear some say in the pit； it is a great act of charity； for he hath no estate。 But it was so pleasant to see how every body rose up when my Lord John Butler； the Duke of 0rmond's son； come into the pit towards the end of the play； who was a servant to Mrs。 Mallett； and now smiled upon her； and she on him。 Home； and to my chamber； and there finished my Catalogue of my books with my own…hand。
5th。 Heard this morning that the Prince is much better； and hath good rest。 All the talk is that my Lord Sandwich hath perfected the peace with Spain； which is very good； if true。 Sir H。 Cholmly was with me this morning； and told me of my Lord Bellasses' base dealings with him by getting him to give him great gratuities to near 2000l。 for his friendship in the business of the Molle； and hath been lately underhand endeavouring to bring another man into his place as Governor； so as to receive his money of Sir H。 Cholmly for nothing。 To the King's house to see 〃The Chances。〃 ＇A comedy； by the Duke of Buckingham。＇； a good play I find it； and the actors most good in it。 and pretty to hear Knipp sing in the play very properly； 〃All night I weepe；〃 and sung it admirably。 The whole play pleases me well： and most of all； the sight of many fine ladies； among others my Lady Castlemaine and Mrs。 Middleton： the latter of the two hath also a very excellent face and body； I think。 And so home in the dark over the ruins with a link。
6th。 To Westminster Hall； and walked up and down； and hear that the Prince do still rest well by day and night； and out of pain； so as great hopes are conceived of him； though I did meet Dr。 Clerke and Mr。 Pierce； and they do say： they believe he will not recover it； they supposing that his whole head within is eaten by this corruption； which appeared in this piece of the inner table。 To White Hall to attend the Council； but they sat not to…day。 So to Sir W。 Coventry's chamber； and find him within； and with a letter from the Downes in his hands； telling the loss of the St。 Patricke coming from Harwich in her way to Portsmouth； and would needs chase two ships （she having the Malago fireship in company） which from English colours put up Dutch； and he would clap on board the Vice…Admirall； and after long dispute the Admirall comes on the other side of him； and both together took her。 Our fireship （Seely） not coming in to fire all three； but come away； leaving her in their possession； and carried away by them： a ship built at Bristoll the last year； of fifty guns and upwards； and a most excellent good ship。
8th。 Sir W。 Batten come this morning from the House； where the King hath prorogued this Parliament to October next。 I am glad they are up。 The Bill for Accounts was not offered； the party being willing to let it fall； but the King did tell them he expected it。 They are parted with great heart…burnings； one party against the other。 Pray God bring them hereafter together in better temper！ It is said that the King do intend himself in this interval to take away Lord Mordaunt's government ＇Windsor Castle。＇； so as to do something to appease the House against they come together； and let them see he will do that of his own accord which is fit without their forcing him； and that he will have his Commission for accounts go on： which will be good things。 At dinner we talked much of Cromwell； all saying he was a brave fellow； and did owe his crowne he got to himself as much as any man that ever got one。
9th。 Read a piece of a play； 〃Every Man in his Humour；〃 wherein is the greatest propriety of speech that； ever I read in my life； and so to bed。 This noon come my wife's watch…maker； and received 12l。 of me for her watch； but Captain Rolt coming to speak with me about a little business； he did judge of the work to be very good； and so I am well contented。
10th （Lord's day）。 To church； where Mr。 Mills made an unnecessary sermon upon Original Sin； neither understood by himself nor the people。 Home； where come Mr。 Carter； ＇Thomas Carter； S。T。P。 1669。＇ my old acquaintance of Magdalene College； who hath not been here of many years。 He hath spent his time in the country with the Bishop of Carlisle much。 He is grown a very comely person； and of good discourse； and one that I like very much。 We had much talk of all our old acquaintance of the College； concerning their various fortunes； wherein； to my joy； I met not with any that have sped better than myself。 Mrs。 Turner do tell me very odde stories how Mrs。 Williams do receive the applications of people； and hath presents； and she is the hand that receives all； while my Lord do the business。
12th。 With my Lord Brouncker by coach to his house； there to hear some Italian musique： and here we met Tom Killigrew； Sir Robert Murray； and the Italian Signor Baptista； ＇Giovanni Baptista Draghi； an Italian musician in the service of Queen Catherine； and a composer of merit。 BURNEY； HISTORY OF MUSIC。＇ who hath proposed a play in Italian for the Opera； which T。 Killigrew do intend to have up； and here he did sing one of the acts。 He himself is the poet as well as the musician； which is very much； and did sing the whole from the words without any musique prickt； and played all along upon a harpsicon most admirably； and the composition most excellent。 The words I did not understand； and so know not how they are fitted； but believe very well； and all in the recitative very fine。 But I perceive there is a proper accent in every country's discourse； and that do reach in their setting of notes to words； which； therefore； cannot be natural to any body else but them； so that I am not so much smitten with it as it may be I should be if I were acquainted with their accent。 But the whole composition is certainly most excellent； and the poetry； T。 Killigrew and Sir R。 Murray； who understood the words； did say most excellent。 I confess I was mightily pleased with the musique。 He pretends not to voice； though it be good； but not excellent。 This done； T。 Killigrew and I to talk：