htily。
6th。 A full Board。 Here； talking of news； my Lord Anglesy did tell us that the Dutch do make a further bogle with us about two or three things； which they will be satisfied in； he says； by us easily； but only in one； it seems； they do demand that we shall not interrupt their East Indiamen coming home； and of which they are in some fear； and we are full of hopes that we have light upon some of them and carried them into Lisbon by Harman； which God send！ But they （which do show the low esteem they have of us） have the confidence to demand that we shall have a cessation on our parts； and yet they at liberty to take what they will； which is such an affront； as another cannot be devised greater。
7th。 Though the King and my Lady Castlemaine are friends again； she is not at White Hall； but at Sir D。 Harvy's； whither the King goes to her； and he says she made him ask her forgiveness upon his knees and promised to offend her no more so： and that； indeed； she did threaten to bring all his bastards to his closet door； and hath nearly hectored him out of his wits。
8th。 Sir Henry Bellasses is dead of the duell he fought about ten days ago with Tom Porter； and it is pretty to see how the world talk of them as of a couple of fools that killed one another out of love。 I to my bookseller's； where by and by I met Mr。 Evelyn； and talked of several things； but particularly of the times： and he tells me that wise men do prepare to remove abroad what they have； for that we must be ruined； our case being past relief； the kingdom so much in debt； and the King minding nothing but his lust； going two days a…week to see my Lady Castlemaine at Sir D。 Harvy's。
9th。 To St。 James's； and there met Sir W。 Coventry； and he and I walked in the Park an hour。 And then to his chamber； where he read to me the heads of the late great dispute between him and the rest of the Commissioners of the Treasury； and our new Treasurer of the Navy； where they have overthrown him the last Wednesday； in the great dispute touching his having the payment of the Victualler； which is now settled by Council that he is not to have it： and； indeed； they have been most just as well as most severe and bold in the doing this against a man of his quality： but I perceive he does really make no difference between any man。 He tells me this day it is supposed the Peace is ratified at Bredah； and all that matter over。 We did talk of many retrenchments of charge of the Navy which he will put in practice； and every where else； though； he tells me； he despairs of being able to do what ought to be done for the saving of the kingdom； （which I tell him； indeed； all the world is almost in hopes of； upon the proceeding of these gentlemen for the regulating of the Treasury；） it being so late； and our poverty grown so great； that they want where to set their feet to begin to do any thing。 He tells me how weary he hath for this year and a half been of the warr； and how in the Duke of York's bedchamber at Christ Church； at Oxford； when the Court was there； he did labour to persuade the Duke to fling off the care of the Navy； and get it committed to other hands； which； if he had done； would have been much to his honour； being just come home with so much honour from sea as he was。 I took notice of the sharp letter he wrote （which he sent us to read） to Sir Edward Spragg； where he is very plain about his leaving his charge of the ships at Gravesend； when the enemy came last up； and several other things； a copy whereof I have kept。 But it is done like a most worthy man； and he says it is good now and then to tell these gentlemen their duty； for they need it。 And it seems； as he tells me； all our Knights are fallen out one with another； he and Jenings and Hollis； and （his words were） they are disputing which is the coward among them； and yet men that take the greatest liberty of censuring others！ Here with him very late； till I could hardly get a coach or link willing to go through the ruines； but I do； but will not do it again； being indeed very dangerous。
10th。 Sir John Denham's Poems are going to be all printed together； and； among others； some new things； and among them he showed me a copy of verses of his upon Sir John Minnes's going heretofore to Bullogne to eat a pig。 Cowly； he tells me； is dead； who； it seems； was a mighty civil； serious man； which I did not know before。
11th。 To the Wells at Barnett； by seven o'clock； and there found many people a…drinking； but the morning is a very cold morning； so as we were very cold all the way in the coach。 And so to Hatfield； to the inn next my Lord Salisbury's house； and there rested ourselves； and drank； and bespoke dinner： and so to church。 In this church lies the former Lord of Salisbury （Cecil）； buried in a noble tomb。 Then we to our inn； and there dined very well； and mighty merry； and walked out into the Park through the fine walk of trees； and to the Vineyard； and there showed them that which is in good order； and indeed a place of great delight； which； together with our fine walk through the Park； was of as much pleasure as could be desired in the world for country pleasure and good ayre。 Being come back and weary with the walk； the women had pleasure in putting on some straw… hats； which are much worn in this country； and did become them mightily but especially my wife。
12th。 To my bookseller's； and did buy Scott's Discourse of Witches； and to hear Mr。 Cowly mightily lamented （his death） by Dr。 Ward； the Bishop of Winchester； and Dr。 Bates； who were standing there； as the best poet of our nation； and as good a man。
13th。 Attended the Duke of York； with our usual business； who upon occasion told us that he did expect this night or to…morrow to hear from Bredah of the consummation of the peace。
15th。 Sir W。 Pen and I to the Duke's house； where a new play。 The King and Court there： the house full； and an act begun。 And so we went to the King's； and there saw 〃The Merry Wives of Windsor；〃 which did not please me at all； in no part of it。
16th。 My wife and I to the Duke's playhouse； where we saw the new play acted yesterday； 〃The Feign Innocence； or Sir Martin Marall；〃 a play made by my Lord Duke of Newcastle； but； as every body says； corrected by Dryden。 It is the most entire piece of mirth； a complete farce from one end to the other； that certainly was ever writ。 I never laughed so in all my life； and at very good wit therein； not fooling。 The House full； and in all things of mighty content to me。 Every body wonders that we have no news from Bredah of the ratification of the peace； and do suspect that there is some stop in it。
17th。 To the King's playhouse； where the house extraordinary full； and there the King and Duke of York to see the new play； 〃Queene Elizabeth's Troubles； and the history of Eighty Eight。〃 I confess I have sucked in so much of the sad story of Queene Elizabeth from my cradle； that I was ready to weep for her sometimes； but the play is the most ridiculous that sure ever came upon stage； and； indeed； is merely a show； only shows the true garbe of the Queene in those days； just as we see Queene Mary and Queene Elizabeth painted： but the play is merely a puppet play； acted by living puppets。 Neither the design nor language better； and one stands by and tells us the meaning of things： only I was pleased to see Knipp dance among the milk maids； and to hear her sing a song to Queene Elizabeth； and to see her come out in her night…gowne with no lockes on； but her bare face and hair only tied up in a knot behind； which is the comeliest dress that ever I saw her in to her advantage。
18th。 To Cree Church； to see it how it is； but I find no alteration there； as they say there was； for my Lord Mayor and Aldermen to come to sermon； as they do every Sunday； as they did formerly to Paul's。
20th。 Sir W。 Coventry fell to discourse of retrenchments： and therein he tells how he would have but only one Clerk of the Acts。 He do tell me he hath propounded how the charge of the Navy in peace shall come within 200；000l。； by keeping out twenty… four ships in summer； and ten in the winter。 And several other particulars we went over of retrenchment： and I find I must provide some things to offer； that I may be found studious to lessen the King's charge。 Sir W。 Coventry did single Sir W。 Pen and me； and desired us to lend the King some money； out of the prizes we have taken by Hogg。 He did not much press it； and we made but a merry answer thereto： but I perceive he did ask it seriously； and did tell us that there never was so much need of it in the world as now； we being brought to the lowest straits that can be in the world。
22nd。 Up； and to the office： whence Lord Brouncker； J。 Minnes； and W。 Pen； and I went to examine some men that are put in there for rescuing of men that were pressed into the service： and we do plainly see that the desperate condition that we put men into for want of their pay makes them mad； they being as good men as over were in the world； and would as readily serve the King again； were they but paid。 Two men leapt overboard； among others； into the Thames out of the vessel into which they were pressed； and were shot by the soldiers placed there to kee