o go to Bredah to the treaty； and do design to be going the next week。
11th。 To White Hall； thinking there to have seen the Duchesse of Newcastle's coming this night to Court to make a visit to the Queene； the King having been with her yesterday to make her a visit since her coming to town。 The whole story of this lady is a romance； and all she does is romantic。 Her footmen in velvet coats； and herself in an antique dress； as they say； and was the other day at her own play； 〃The Humourous Lovers；〃 the most ridiculous thing that ever was wrote； but yet she and her Lord mightily pleased with it； and she at the end made her respects to the players from her box； and did give them thanks。 There is as much expectation of her coming to Court； that so people may come to see her； as if it were the Queene of Sweden； but I lost my labour； for she did not come this night。 There have been two fires in the City within this week。
12th。 By water to White Hall； and there did our usual business before the Duke of York： but it fell out that； discoursing of matters of money； it rose to a mighty heat； very high words arising between Sir G。 Carteret and Sir W。 Coventry； the former in his passion saying that the other should have helped things if they were so bad； and the other answered； so he would； and things should have been better had he been Treasurer of the Navy。 I was mightily troubled at this heat； and it will breed ill blood between them； I fear； but things are in that bad condition； that I do daily expect we shall all fly in one another's faces； when we shall be reduced every one to answer for himself。 We broke up； and I soon after to Sir G。 Carteret's chamber； where I find the poor man telling his lady privately； and she weeping。 I went in to them； and did seem； as indeed I was； troubled for this； and did give the best advice I could； which I think did please them： and they do apprehend me their friend； as indeed I am； for I do take the Vice…chamberlain for a most honest man。 He did assure me that he was not； all expences and things paid； clear in estate 15；000l。 better than he was when the King come in； and that the King and Lord Chancellor did know that he was worth； with the debt the King owed him； 50；000l。 （I think he said） when the King come into England。
15th。 Called up by Sir H。 Cholmly； who tells me that my Lord Middleton ＇John first Earl of Middleton in Scotland。＇ is for certain chosen Governor of Tangier； a man of moderate understanding； not covetous； but a soldier of fortune； and poor。 To the King's house by chance； where a new play： so full as I never saw it； I forced to stand all the while close to the very door till I took cold； and many people went away for want of room。 The King and Queene and Duke of York and Duchesse there； and all the Court； and Sir W。 Coventry。 The play called； 〃The Change of Crownes：〃 a play of Ned Howard's； ＇A younger son of the Earl of Berkshire； and brother to Sir Robert Howard。＇ the best that I ever saw at that house； being a great play and serious； only Lacy did act the country…gentleman come up to Court； who do abuse the Court with all the imaginable wit and plainness about selling of places； and doing every thing for money。 The play took very much。 Thence I to my new bookseller's； and there bought 〃Hooker's Polity；〃 the new edition； and 〃Dugdale's History of the Inns of Court；〃 of which there was but a few saved out of the fire。 Carried my wife to see the new play I saw yesterday： but there； contrary to expectation； I find 〃The Silent Woman。〃
16th。 Knipp tells me the King was so angry at the liberty taken by Lacy's part to abuse him to his face； that he commanded they should act no more； till Moone ＇Michael Mohun； a celebrated actor belonging to the King's Company； he had served as a Major in the Royal Army。＇ went and got leave for them to act again； but not this play。 The King mighty angry； and it was bitter indeed； but very fine and witty I never was more taken with a play than I am with this 〃Silent Woman；〃 as old as it is； and as often as I have seen it。 There is more wit in it than goes to ten new plays。 Pierce told us the story how in good earnest the King is offended with the Duke of Richmond's marrying and Mrs。 Stewart's sending the King his jewels again。 As she tells it； it is the noblest romance： and example of a brave lady that ever I read in my life。
17th。 In our way in Tower…street we saw Desbrough ＇Major…general John Desborough； Cromwell's brother…in…law； and one of his CounciI of State； afterwards promoted to the （Chancellorship of Ireland by his nephew Richard。＇ walking on foot； who is now no more a prisoner； and looks well； and just as he used to do heretofore。
19th。 Some talk about Sir W。 Pen's being to buy Wanstead…House of Sir Robert Brookes。
20th。 Met Mr。 Rolt； who tells me the reason of no play today at the King's house。 That Lacy had been committed to the porter's lodge for his acting his part in the late new play； and being thence released to come to the King's house； he there met with Ned Howard； the poet of the play； who congratulated his release； upon which Lacy cursed him as that it was the fault of his nonsensical play that was the cause of his ill usage。 Mr。 Howard did give him some reply： to which Lacy answered him； that he was more a fool than a poet； upon which Howard did give him a blow on the face with his glove； on which Lacy； having a cane in his hand； did give him a blow over the pate。 Here Rolt and others that discoursed of it； in the pit this afternoon； did wonder that Howard did not run him through； he being too mean a fellow to fight with。 But Howard did not do any thing but complain to the King of it； so the whole house is silenced： and the gentry seem to rejoice much at it； the house being become too insolent。 I have a mind to buy enough ground to build a coach…house and stable； for I have had it much in my thoughts lately that it is not too much for me now in degree or cost to keep a coach； but contrarily； that I am almost ashamed to be seen in a hackney。 To Hackney church。 A knight and his lady very civil to me when they came； being Sir George Viner； and his lady in rich jewells； but most in beauty： almost the finest woman that ever I saw。 That which I went chiefly to see was the young ladies of the schools； whereof there is great store； very pretty； and also the organ； which is handsome； and tunes the psalm and plays with the people； which is mighty pretty； and makes me mighty earnest to have a pair at our church： I having almost a mind to give them a pair if they would settle a maintenance on them for it。
22nd。 To the Lord Chancellor's house； the first time I have been therein； and it is very noble； and brave pictures of the ancient and present nobility。 The King was vexed the other day for having no paper laid for him at the Council table； as was usual； and Sir Richard Browne did tell his Majesty he would call the person whose work it was to provide it： who being come； did tell his Majesty that he was but a poor man； and was out 4 or 500l。 for it； which was as much as he is worth； and that he cannot provide it any longer without money； having not received a penny since the King's coming in。 So the King spoke to my Lord Chamberlain。 And many such mementos the King do now…a…days meet withall； enough to make an ingenuous man mad。
23rd。 St。 George's…day； the feast being kept at White Hall； out of design； as it is thought； to make the best coutenance we can to the Swede's Embassadors before their leaving us to go to the treaty abroad； to show some jollity。
24th。 To Sir John Duncomb's lodging in the Pell Mell； in order to the money spoken of in the morning； and there awhile sat and discoursed： and I find that he is a very proper man for business； being very resolute and proud； and industrious。 He told me what reformation they had made in the office of the Ordnance； taking away Legg's fees： have got an order that no Treasurer after him shall ever sit at the Board； and it is a good one： that no Master of the Ordnance here shall ever sell a place。 He tells me they have not paid any increase of price for any thing during this war； but in most have paid less； and at this day have greater stores than they know where to lay if there should be peace； and than ever was any time this war。 Then to talk of news： that he thinks the want of money hath undone the King； for the Parliament will never give the King more money without； calling all people to account； nor； as he believes； will ever make war again； but they will manage it themselves： unless； which I proposed； he would visibly become a severer inspector into his own business and accounts； and that would gain upon the Parliament yet： which he confesses and confirms as the only lift to set him upon his legs； but says that it is not； in his nature ever to do。 He thinks that much of our misfortune hath been for want of an active Lord Treasurer； and that such a man as Sir W。 Coventry would do the business thoroughly。
26th。 To White Hall； and there saw the Duke of Albemarle； who is not well； and do grow crazy。 While I was waiting in the Matted Gallery； a young man was working in Indian inke； the great picture of the King and Queene s